NFL

The 2015 NFL All Free-Agent Team

The 2015 NFL All Free-Agent Team

DeMarco Murray Dallas Cowboys
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The final days of February mean that free agency, a period that never fails to send shockwaves across the NFL, is right around the corner. Let’s examine the cream of the free agency crop through the lens of an All-Pro roster.

Quarterbacks

Brian Hoyer Cleveland Browns
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Quarterbacks

Brian Hoyer Cleveland Browns
Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Brian Hoyer, Josh McCown, Mark Sanchez

The free-agent market for quarterback is remarkably thin this year. Although they each may be experienced starters, none of these guys instill much excitement and would be more serviceable as backups. Hoyer provides the most upside.

Running Backs, Full Back

DeMarco Murray Dallas Cowboys
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Running Backs, Full Back

DeMarco Murray Dallas Cowboys
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

RB: DeMarco Murray, C.J. Spiller, Ryan Mathews, Stevan Ridley
FB: Jerome Felton

Headed by the 2014 rushing champ, the free-agent running back crop is especially deep this offseason. Keep an eye on the situation with Ridley in New England, as the Patriots aren’t usually too keen on overpaying their ball carriers. Felton snowplowed for Adrian Peterson in Minnesota and can bolster any rushing attack.

Wide Receivers

Dez Bryant Dallas Cowboys
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Wide Receivers

Dez Bryant Dallas Cowboys
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

WRs: Dez Bryant, Demaryius Thomas, Randall Cobb, Jeremy Maclin, Torrey Smith, Michael Crabtree

It’s pretty likely that Bryant and Thomas will return to their teams (although Dez won’t be happy if he’s tagged), but the situations of the other guys aren’t as clear. The Jets are courting Cobb, and Smith’s name has been linked to Carolina. After establishing himself as a sure-fire No. 1 receiver, Maclin is a hot commodity as well.

Tight Ends

Julius Thomas Denver Broncos
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Tight Ends

Julius Thomas Denver Broncos
Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

TEs: Julius Thomas, Jermaine Gresham, Charles Clay

It is quite possible that all three of these guys will be playing on new teams in 2015. Whispers around the Thomas situation indicate that the Jaguars will be aggressively pursuing him. With the emergence of Tyler Eifert, Cincy will probably let Gresham walk, and some rumors have the Patriots signing Clay to play second fiddle to Gronk.

Offensive Line

Stefen Wisniewski Oakland Raiders
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Offensive Line

Stefen Wisniewski Oakland Raiders
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

OT: Bryan Bulaga, Michael Roos, Doug Free, Byron Bell
OG: Mike Iupati, Dan Connolly, Clint Boling, James Carpenter
C: Stefen Wisniewski

The most-coveted guys out of this group will be Bulaga, Iupati and Wisnewski. Keep an eye on the Bell situation as well; his split from the Panthers has been made official, so he is the freest of any free agents. Defending Super Bowl champion Connolly will draw significant interest out of New England.

Defensive LIne

Justin Houston Kansas City Chiefs
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive LIne

Justin Houston Kansas City Chiefs
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

DE: Justin Houston, Greg Hardy, Jerry Hughes, Cory Redding
DT: Ndamukong Suh, Terance Knighton, Nick Fairley

It is not every offseason when such a power quadrangle of Houston, Hardy, Suh and Knighton is on the open market. The release of Reggie Bush may indicate that the Lions are angling to bring Suh back. The future of Knighton will likely not involve orange and navy, according to recent whispers.

Linebackers

David Harris New York Jets
Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

Linebackers

David Harris New York Jets
Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

OLB: Brian Orakpo, Jason Worilds, Jabaal Sheard, Sean Weatherspoon
ILB: David Harris, Rey Maualuga

Harris wearing anything but Gang Green is hard to imagine, but rumor has it that the Bears and Falcons will try to sign him should the veteran fall through the Jets’ grasp. Those two AFC North guys, Worilds (26) and Sheard (25), have a lot of good years left in them and ought to cash in this offseason.

Secondary

Devin McCourty New England Patriots
Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

Secondary

Devin McCourty New England Patriots
Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

CB: Byron Maxwell, Brandon Flowers, Tramon Williams, Buster Skrine
FS: Devin McCourty, Antrel Rolle
SS: Marcus Gilchrist, Stevie Brown

Without a doubt, McCourty is the best overall secondary player in the 2015 free agency class. Expect Maxwell and Skrine, who have played behind elite corners Richard Sherman and Joe Haden, to draw more interest than proven No. 1’s Flowers and Williams.

Special Teams

Stephen Gostkowski New England Patriots
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Special Teams

Stephen Gostkowski New England Patriots
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

K: Stephen Gostkowski
P: Brett Kern
LS: Cullen Loeffler

Put your mortgage on the Patriots retaining Gostkowski with a long-term deal or by slapping him with the franchise tag. Kern is far and away the best free-agent punter, and Loeffler has done good work in Minnesota for a decade now.

Share Tweet