Free agency fits: Eric Berry to Titans? Alshon Jeffery to Rams?
By Elliot Harrison
NFL Media analyst
Published: Feb. 15, 2017 at 01:16 p.m.
Updated: Feb. 16, 2017 at 12:27 p.m.
Kirk Cousins, quarterback - Potential fits: Redskins, 49ers, Browns.
Cousins will, barring a major surprise, end up with the Redskins -- either via the franchise tag (again) for $24 million or under a long-term deal that won't come much cheaper per year. But major surprises do happen every so often, so who else could be out there? The Browns and 49ers could make sense.
Long-starved for a franchise quarterback, the Browns have tons of money -- as in, the most cap space in the league, according to OverTheCap.com. They also have enough draft capital that the blow for handing over two first-round picks (the price for signing a player under the non-exclusive franchise tag, should the Redskins go that route with Cousins) would be softened a tad. Trading down in last year's draft -- allowing the Eagles to nab Carson Wentz -- provided the Browns with a gaggle of picks. That said, paying multiple first-round picks for Cousins wouldn't seem to fit into Cleveland's Moneyball approach. Not to mention, adding Cousins would be highly unusual unless the Browns are completely scrapping the RGIII project, given that Cousins was Griffin's former caddy in D.C.
The 49ers have a ton of available cap space, as well, should Jed York sign off on using it. They also have a brand new offensive-minded head coach who was part of the process of drafting Cousins three rounds after RGIII back in his Washington days. Kyle Shanahan surely would like nothing more than to start his new gig with an established QB who can handle his run-on-sentence-long play calls. New Niners general manager John Lynch is a fan of Cousins, as well.
Likely that the Redskins let Cousins walk? No. Worth two first-round picks? Did you watch the quarterbacks in the Super Bowl?
Le'Veon Bell, running back - Potential fits: Steelers, Buccaneers, Jaguars.
Like Cousins, Bell almost certainly will get franchise-tagged. Unlike the quarterback, though, this running back wouldn't draw a pair of first-round picks from anyone. Nothing against him or his versatile skill set. It's just, well, over the past four drafts, we've seen a grand total of three running backs go in Round 1 (Ezekiel Elliott, Todd Gurley and Melvin Gordon). So forget about someone giving up two first-rounders. Not to mention, Bell has encountered some off-field issues that make his availability a concern. Lastly, RB shelf life is like milk shelf life -- and Bell already has an injury history.
Yet, if the Steelers know something we don't and allow Bell to hit the open market without using the franchise tag, two teams should pounce: the Jags and Bucs.
Jacksonville has plenty of cap space -- and hasn't fielded even a top-20 run game since my colleague Maurice Jones-Drew led the league in rushing back in 2011. Also, Bell's pass-catching prowess certainly would significantly help the development of QB Blake Bortles. The addition of Bell wouldn't render last offseason's signing of Chris Ivory moot, either -- the big man could still be used situationally.
Meanwhile, the Bucs need an every-down back. Doug Martin is enduring personal challenges off the field and will be suspended for the first four games of 2017. Jacquizz Rodgers, who gave the team a nice boost last season, is a free agent. The offense has talented youngsters in Jameis Winston, Mike Evans and Cameron Brate, but Bell would give the unit a whole other dimension. Throw in an emerging defense, and we could be talking about an instant contender. The Bucs have a healthy amount of cap space, too.
Eric Berry, safety - Potential fits: Titans, Browns, Raiders.
If Kansas City can't get a long-term deal done -- like the Vikings did with Harrison Smith and the Cardinals managed with Tyrann Mathieu last offseason -- why wouldn't a team make a bold move and pay Berry like the top-flight player he is? The safety would be a fantastic coup for the Titans -- and a fun toy to play with for DC Dick LeBeau (who made the Hall of Fame as a DB, by the way). Then there's the Browns, sitting on that pile of cash, inserting sabermetrics into their analytics processor -- the same concoction that said no dice on retaining Tashaun Gipson last year. Would Berry's all-around play (five takeaways, three scores and 77 tackles in 2016) influence a different line of thinking in the Haslam halls? New defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has said he thinks the organization will be "aggressive" in acquiring personnel. Berry would alter the tenor of that defense.
Granted, this is a stretch -- call it fun speculation -- but why can't the Raiders kick the tires on Berry? Upgrade a position while taking away from a division rival? Team brass missed out last offseason on Eric Weddle, who left the Chargers to make a huge difference in Baltimore. Oakland did sign Reggie Nelson, but he'll be 34 in September. A few more potential fits for Berry: Colts, Panthers, Bears, Redskins, Jags.