Ideal landing spots for the 10 best NFL free agents left on the market

The second wave of NFL free agency is upon us. With the May 7 cutoff for signings that affect the teams’ compensatory draft pick formula (you can read more on that here), you’ll start to see some of the bigger names left on the market get signed in the coming weeks.

So with free agency activity starting up once again, we’ve ranked the 10 best players left on the open market. We’ve also picked out the best landing spots for each free agent in our top-10. Those picks are based on both team needs and scheme fit. Let’s start at the top…

1. DT Ndamukong Suh

(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Suh showed during the Rams’ postseason run that he still has it in him to be a dominant force on the interior of the defensive line. He may have sleepwalked through the regular season, but in January, Suh was simply unblockable, in both the run and pass games.

Ideal landing spot: Kansas City

The Chiefs are clearly desperate for pass rush help after trading for Frank Clark and giving him a $100 million dollar contract. Suh will give them that, while also making things easier for Clark and Chris Jones by eating up double teams inside. Kansas City’s run defense was non-existent last year, and Suh has been one of the league’s very best run defenders over the course of his career.

2. DE Ezekiel Ansah

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Ansah has played more than 600 snaps only twice in his career, but he’s always been a productive pass rusher and that isn’t easy to find at this point in the offseason. Teams looking for a rotational pass rusher who can make a difference on third down should give the former Lion a call.

Ideal landing spot: Carolina

The Panthers drafted two edge rushers a few weeks ago and depth at the position is still a concern, with Mario Addison as the only known quantity backing up presumed starters Brian Burns, a rookie, and Bruce Irvin, who will be on this third team in two years. Ansah is no longer a three-down player, but he’d be a valuable addition to Carolina’s rotation of pass rushers.

3. S Eric Berry

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I don’t know what Berry has left at this point in his career, but the last time we saw him healthy, he was an elite defensive player. For what it’s worth, the Chiefs coaches trusted him to take Rob Gronkowski man-to-man at the end of the AFC Championship loss. It didn’t work (at all) but they must have seen something in practice to inspire that confidence.

Ideal landing spot: Cleveland

Browns GM John Dorsey has brought in several of his former players over from Kansas City and Berry would fill a need after Jabrill Peppers was included in the trade for Odell Beckham. Cleveland is stockpiling defensive backs who can play man-to-man coverage; if healthy, Berry can match-up with the best tight ends in the league.

4. S Tre Boston

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For whatever reason, Boston has had trouble finding work during the early part of free agency in recent years, but wherever he ends up, the versatile safety produces. He can play deep or in the box, and his coaches do not have to worry about him being exposed in coverage. Boston isn’t a game changer, but he’ll shore up any secondary he lands with.

Ideal landing spot: Dallas

The Cowboys, a team with Super Bowl aspirations (no matter how unrealistic they may be), cannot go into another season with Jeff Heath penciled in as a starter. Dallas brought in George Illoka to compete for a starting job, but it’s been a while since the former Bengal has produced at the level Boston has these past two seasons.

5. WR Michael Crabtree

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Crabtree’s 2018 season won’t have teams clamoring to pay a receiver on the wrong side of 30. But there is some reason to believe he has some game left in him. He caught 38 passes for 440 yards and two touchdowns before Lamar Jackson took over as quarterback and the Ravens transitioned into a run-first offense. In a more traditional passing offense, Crabtree could be a decent No. 2 option.

Ideal landing spot: New England

If the 2019 season started today, the Patriots’ two starting outside receivers would be rookie N’Keal Harry and Phillip Dorsett. So, yeah, they could use a proven player who can still get open on the perimeter. Crabtree would be an ideal replacement for Chris Hogan.

6. DE Muhammad Wilkerson

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NFL teams don’t give up on talent easily, and even though Wilkerson hasn’t been an impact player (or a good presence in the locker room) in years, he has still shown enough flashes to keep teams interested. The former Jets star played well in Green Bay before an injury wiped out most of his 2018 season.

Ideal landing spot: New England

Wilkerson may not be the best culture fit, but we’ve seen the Patriots take on plenty of talented guys with attitude concerns and it has typically worked out. And Bill Belichick could get very creative with a player like Wilkerson, who can play all over the line and affect both the run and pass games, when drawing up his gameplans.

7. CB Morris Claiborne

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Claiborne isn’t the most consistent player, but he does have a very valuable skill that every team in the league covets: The ability to play man coverage. On 224 man coverage snaps in 2018, Claiborne gave up positive plays on only 37% of the plays he was targeted, per Sports Info Solutions. Stephon Gilmore, who was arguably the best man cover corner in football last year, gave up positive plays on 38% of his targets.

Ideal landing spot: Tampa Bay

The Bucs offered Claiborne a contract during free agency, so there’s obviously interest there. He turned down the league-minimum offer, but if his market remains cold, Claiborne may be forced to accept the offer and rejoin Todd Bowles, whom he played under in New York.

8. OT Donald Penn

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Not too long ago Penn was considered one of the very best left tackles in the game. Two injuries and a position change have taken a toll on the veteran pass blocker in the meantime, but a return to good health (and to the left side of the line) could lead to a late-career renaissance for the former Raider.

Ideal landing spot: Houston

Julie’n Davenport, who is slated to start at left tackle for the Texans, was one of the worst starting linemen in the NFL last season. The Texans took Tytus Howard in the first round of the draft, but by all accounts, the Alabam State product is raw and will need time to develop. Penn would not only add a veteran presence to the line, but he could also serve as a mentor for the Texans’ left tackle of the future.

9. DE William Hayes

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When we last saw Hayes play, he suffered a freak injury while attempting to avoid a roughing the passer call. Before that play, Hayes had been an underrated pass rusher who also made an impact in the run game. Hayes is now 34 and coming off a major injury, but it shouldn’t require much of an investment to sign him and the reward for such a move far outweighs the risk.

Ideal landing spot: Atlanta

I mean, Atlanta can’t get any worse at defensive end with first-round disappointments Takkarist McKinley and Vic Beasley slated to start in 2019. The Falcons have tried and failed to address their need at edge rusher in the draft. Maybe it’s time to give free agency a crack.

10. DT Danny Shelton

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Look, nobody is going to get excited about signing a one-dimensional run-stuffer, but with the way the NFL is going — with spread concepts that manipulate numbers in the box infiltrating the league — there will be a need for defenders who can occupy two gaps at once. Shelton is that guy and was used as such during his time in New England.

Ideal landing spot: Los Angeles

Either Los Angeles team could use a guy like Shelton. Both the Rams and Chargers have holes to fill at nose tackle, and both had trouble defending the run during the 2018 season. Neither team has much in the way of cap space, but signing Shelton won’t require a big offer.