Henry Roldán
Once the NFL season is over, we can officially start talking about the transaction market and the players who will participate in it, as free agents, once the window opens on March 16. On this occasion, the offensive figures available will not be as striking as in previous campaigns, but there are still interesting names on the market and here are the five most striking ones.
5.- Offensive Free Agents: Orlando Brown Jr. (OT)
The 25-year-old offensive tackle came to Kansas City in 2021 via trade from the Baltimore Ravens for a first-round pick, so it seems logical that they would try to keep one of Patrick Mahomes’ top point guards after spending a significant cap hit in that year’s draft.
Brown Jr. is available for selection as a franchise player, so the Chiefs have two options on the table: either give him the franchise man tag to trade him next year or get out the checkbook to retain the three-time Pro-Bowler for a number of campaigns.
4.- Offensive Free Agents: Mike Williams (WR)
The 27-year-old wide receiver will be one of the most prized free agents during the offseason after coming off his best NFL performance in a Los Angeles Chargers uniform. Williams set personal bests in receptions (76) and air yards (1,146), in addition to scoring nine touchdowns.
The Chargers could keep Williams from going on the market as he is available for selection as a franchise player. However, if he is not considered for this option, trading him will mean shelling out a good amount of money due to the receiver’s quality for vertical and red zone play.
3.- Offensive Free Agents: Chris Godwin (WR)
Even though he will enter as a free agent on March 16, everything seems to indicate that both the receiver and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will make efforts to bring last year’s franchise player back to the team.
Under this status Godwin had a very good performance, so opening the checkbook seems not to be a problem for the Bucs instead of offering him for the second consecutive year to be the franchise player, something that would cost him much more money for just one more campaign.
Godwin finished the campaign with 98 receptions, 1,103 air yards and five touchdowns. Numbers that demonstrate the quality of the 25-year-old wide receiver who could be of great help to whoever has to take Tom Brady’s place as the team’s quarterback.
2.- Offensive Free Agents: Terron Armstead (OT)
Armstead is positioned as the best offensive tackle on the market for next season despite some knee discomfort that led him to play only eight games in 2021.
The three-time Pro-Bowl player played all nine of his NFL seasons with the New Orleans Saints, but the value he is likely to command on the market does not appear to be to the organization’s liking in terms of retaining him.
Many are the teams reported to be after one of the best quarterback guards in the league, but there is one that is sounding the loudest: the Jacksonville Jaguars. They have the salary cap space to pay him the $20 million per season he is expected to ask for, plus they desperately need someone to watch young Trevon Lawrence’s back.
1.- Offensive Free Agents: Davante Adams (WR)
Legally Adams could become a free agent in March, but this seems highly unlikely to happen as the Packers have it in their hands to take him as a franchise player. A move that could help them retain Aaron Rodgers.
However, if Rodgers ultimately decides not to stay in Green Bay, the organization could opt not to sign Adams and he could become the league’s most coveted free agent because he is the best wide receiver in the league.
Adams not only averaged 97.1 yards per game in 2021 but also totaled 123 receptions, 1,553 air yards, 11 touchdowns, one Pro-Bowl call and made the All-Pro team. All statistics that increase his value if he ever enters the free agency market.
