Ranking The Top 15 NFL Free Agent Acquisitions For 2016

Ranking The Top 15 NFL Free Agent Acquisitions For 2016

By Farzin Vousoughian

March 18, 2016

Free agency is a chance for NFL teams to bring in proven veterans who can make a positive impact. Some teams have taken advantage of the talent pool this year by picking up multiple key free agents.

Some teams have filled certain voids with big additions, but which team has had the best signing so far? Here’s how the top 15 free agent signings rank so far this offseason.

arrow-left — Coming from the Cincinnati Bengals, Marvin Jones was on an offense stacked with good pass-catchers. With Calvin Johnson retiring, Jones is bound to get more attention in the passing game with the Detroit Lions in 2016.

arrow-right — Coming from the Cincinnati Bengals, Marvin Jones was on an offense stacked with good pass-catchers. With Calvin Johnson retiring, Jones is bound to get more attention in the passing game with the Detroit Lions in 2016.

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arrow-left — The Kansas City Chiefs have seen five different players start at right tackle in the past two years. The Chiefs hope they’ve ended the excessive switching by adding Mitchell Schwartz, one of the top right tackles in the NFL today.

arrow-right — The Kansas City Chiefs have seen five different players start at right tackle in the past two years. The Chiefs hope they’ve ended the excessive switching by adding Mitchell Schwartz, one of the top right tackles in the NFL today.

arrow-left — In his last season with the Chicago Bears, Matt Forte had a career-low in rushing but still managed to amass 898 yards. Now with the New York Jets, a change of scenery might help Forte achieve the 1,000-yard mark.

arrow-right — In his last season with the Chicago Bears, Matt Forte had a career-low in rushing but still managed to amass 898 yards. Now with the New York Jets, a change of scenery might help Forte achieve the 1,000-yard mark.

arrow-left — Mario Williams saw some success with the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills, and he hopes to give the Miami Dolphins the same after a surprisingly quiet 2015 campaign. Williams logged double-digit sacks each of the last three years prior to 2015.

arrow-right — Mario Williams saw some success with the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills, and he hopes to give the Miami Dolphins the same after a surprisingly quiet 2015 campaign. Williams logged double-digit sacks each of the last three years prior to 2015.

arrow-left — Brock Osweiler started only seven games in 2015, but he had some flashes while filling in for Peyton Manning. The Houston Texans went through a myriad of quarterbacks last season and picked up the only viable signal-caller in free agency this year.

arrow-right — Brock Osweiler started only seven games in 2015, but he had some flashes while filling in for Peyton Manning. The Houston Texans went through a myriad of quarterbacks last season and picked up the only viable signal-caller in free agency this year.

arrow-left — The Oakland Raiders snagged Sean Smith from an AFC West rival in the Kansas City Chiefs. Smith, a heavily underrated player at his position, might be one of the tallest cornerbacks to ever play in the NFL, standing at 6-foot-3. The Raiders should significantly improve from their 26th ranked pass defense.

arrow-right — The Oakland Raiders snagged Sean Smith from an AFC West rival in the Kansas City Chiefs. Smith, a heavily underrated player at his position, might be one of the tallest cornerbacks to ever play in the NFL, standing at 6-foot-3. The Raiders should significantly improve from their 26th ranked pass defense.

arrow-left — Bruce Irvin helps the Oakland Raiders complete a young, rising linebacking corps, consisting of former Seattle Seahawks teammate Malcolm Smith and middle linebacker Ben Heeney. Irvin also has a better opportunity to reach his potential on a Raiders team looking to go to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years.

arrow-right — Bruce Irvin helps the Oakland Raiders complete a young, rising linebacking corps, consisting of former Seattle Seahawks teammate Malcolm Smith and middle linebacker Ben Heeney. Irvin also has a better opportunity to reach his potential on a Raiders team looking to go to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years.

arrow-left — Travis Benjamin fell just shy of the 1,000-yard mark after playing with three different starting quarterbacks in 2015 with the Cleveland Browns. Now, Benjamin joins the San Diego Chargers and will get a chance to showcase his talents with Philip Rivers as his quarterback.

arrow-right — Travis Benjamin fell just shy of the 1,000-yard mark after playing with three different starting quarterbacks in 2015 with the Cleveland Browns. Now, Benjamin joins the San Diego Chargers and will get a chance to showcase his talents with Philip Rivers as his quarterback.

arrow-left — Russell Okung is one of two new offensive tackles joining a fairly new-looking Denver Broncos offense with Mark Sanchez on the roster. Okung has struggled with injuries, having yet to play a full season. If he stays healthy, he will be a valuable asset to Denver’s offensive front.

arrow-right — Russell Okung is one of two new offensive tackles joining a fairly new-looking Denver Broncos offense with Mark Sanchez on the roster. Okung has struggled with injuries, having yet to play a full season. If he stays healthy, he will be a valuable asset to Denver’s offensive front.

arrow-left — After a knee injury kept Danny Trevathan sidelined for most of 2014, he bounced back with the Denver Broncos with a 100-tackle season and coming away with two fumble recoveries in the 24-10 Super Bowl win over the Carolina Panthers. The Chicago Bears were in need of a key linebacker and will improve with Trevathan.

arrow-right — After a knee injury kept Danny Trevathan sidelined for most of 2014, he bounced back with the Denver Broncos with a 100-tackle season and coming away with two fumble recoveries in the 24-10 Super Bowl win over the Carolina Panthers. The Chicago Bears were in need of a key linebacker and will improve with Trevathan.

arrow-left — Alex Mack reunited with Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, whose offense Mack played under with the Cleveland Browns in 2014. The Falcons addressed a big hole in the middle of the offensive line by adding a top-notch center in Mack.

arrow-right — Alex Mack reunited with Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, whose offense Mack played under with the Cleveland Browns in 2014. The Falcons addressed a big hole in the middle of the offensive line by adding a top-notch center in Mack.

arrow-left — Oakland Raiders fans have to be in love with this offseason, as major additions were made on both sides of the football. Along with re-signing Donald Penn, Oakland’s offensive line has a new face in Kelechi Osemele, who’s given up just 6.5 sacks in a 35-game span over the last three years.

arrow-right — Oakland Raiders fans have to be in love with this offseason, as major additions were made on both sides of the football. Along with re-signing Donald Penn, Oakland’s offensive line has a new face in Kelechi Osemele, who’s given up just 6.5 sacks in a 35-game span over the last three years.

arrow-left — The Baltimore Ravens came away with one of the best safeties in the league in Eric Weddle. Despite seeing limited success with the San Diego Chargers and not coming up with an interception last year, Weddle was rated the second best cover safety by Pro Football Focus.

arrow-right — The Baltimore Ravens came away with one of the best safeties in the league in Eric Weddle. Despite seeing limited success with the San Diego Chargers and not coming up with an interception last year, Weddle was rated the second best cover safety by Pro Football Focus.

arrow-left — The Denver Broncos’ Super Bowl championship defense was led by outside linebackers Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware, but Malik Jackson had a big hand in the defensive success as well. Among interior defensive linemen, Jackson is one of the better pass-rushers in the NFL and will help the Jacksonville Jaguars do better defensively.

arrow-right — The Denver Broncos’ Super Bowl championship defense was led by outside linebackers Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware, but Malik Jackson had a big hand in the defensive success as well. Among interior defensive linemen, Jackson is one of the better pass-rushers in the NFL and will help the Jacksonville Jaguars do better defensively.

arrow-left — The New York Giants scored big when they signed Olivier Vernon, who never missed a game in his four years with the Miami Dolphins. Vernon recorded 61 tackles in 2015, the most he’s ever had in a season. He’s improved in stopping the run and should form a strong duo with Jason Pierre-Paul, which quarterbacks will not want to face.

arrow-right — The New York Giants scored big when they signed Olivier Vernon, who never missed a game in his four years with the Miami Dolphins. Vernon recorded 61 tackles in 2015, the most he’s ever had in a season. He’s improved in stopping the run and should form a strong duo with Jason Pierre-Paul, which quarterbacks will not want to face.

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