Prisco: Proceed with caution with these free agents
Commissioner Roger Goodell is taking a pay cut. The league office just reduced its work force. And the NFL's clubs are in the process of downsizing, with almost everyone outside of Oakland cutting payrolls and staff to reduce their costs.
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| Ronald Bartell might command $40 million on the open market. (Getty Images) |
OK, I get it. What I don't get is how it affects free agency.
A year ago free agents like Javon Walker, Jerry Porter and Gibril Wilson cashed in big, only to produce little or no returns. Now the league is preaching fiscal responsibility, with everyone outside the 510 area code nodding their heads in agreement as profit margins shrink everywhere.
So clubs promise to be careful with their money. Smart. But where do they go for the next free agent? Let's start by answering where they don't go: Albert Haynesworth, Ray Lewis and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. They will command the big bucks, and if you're looking for the next bargain you're not knocking on their doors.
So where are you going? I thought you'd never ask. I have five addresses where you can start:
Ronald Bartell, CB, St. Louis: He is young. He is good. And he's only going to get better. Bartell was a starter for the Rams and one of the league's best-kept secrets. Sure, he had only three interceptions but that was good enough that it made him second on the Rams. Let's face it: The St. Louis defense stunk. But Bartell didn't. He defended 20 passes, twice as many as the next best defensive back, and gained a reputation as a reliable playmaker who can thrive in a man-to-man scheme. The Rams have made re-signing him a priority, and there's a good reason: He has a ton of upside, he was one of their few consistent performers last season, and he is one of the team's top players, period. There was a report that he could command as much as $40 million on the open market. If that's true it will reduce his chances of re-signing with the Rams.
Jim Leonhard, S, Baltimore: A year ago Leonhard was in the same position he is now: A man without a team. But then he found the Ravens and Rex Ryan, and he found a home. Baltimore wanted to re-sign him, but Leonhard declined -- and you have to believe he follows Ryan to the Jets or general manager George Kokinis to Cleveland. He's athletic, he's tough and he's a terrific special-teams performer who adds depth to any secondary. When Dawan Landry was hurt last season the Ravens plugged Leonhard into Landry’s spot, and he not only passed the test -– he made a passel of game-changing plays. But he must be in the right scheme, and playing next to Ed Reed is the right scheme. Leonhard is a big hitter with decent range, and his hands are so good the Ravens had him returning punts. Bottom line: This is someone who will help your team and help it for years. He's only 26.
Chauncey Davis, DE, Atlanta: He is young and slightly undersized for the position, but when he had a chance to make plays Davis excelled. A backup who stepped in as an injury replacement, Davis was so impressive there were thoughts of moving Jamal Anderson inside and making Davis the starter at left end. Davis wants to test the free-agent market because he believes his time to start is now. He also believes his time to cash in on a lucrative long-term deal is now, too. We'll see. The guy is a pass-rush specialist who can play either side and who produced four sacks last season. He's durable, not missing a game in four seasons, and he becomes expendable only because the Falcons have Anderson and John Abraham to hold down the outside spots ... and because they figure they can replace him with a future draft pick. It's what is known as pure economics, and it should drive Davis to a new employer.
Colin Cole, DT, Green Bay: The Packers want to re-sign Cole, and I can see why. First of all, he's huge. He's 6-feet-1, 330 pounds. Second he played in every game last season and played consistently well. Third, he had the best year of his career, with 11½ quarterback pressures and four deflected passes. Fourth, he's 27, which means there is a lot of time left in his career. Cole was strictly a backup in the Packers' 4-3, but he showed so much promise last season you wondered if maybe, just maybe, he wouldn't be more productive with more playing time. Someone will give it to him, and it could be the Packers, who see Cole as an ideal nose tackle in their new 3-4 scheme. Cole has been a bit of a journeyman in his career, but he always managed to hang on with clubs. He hasn't done much in eight NFL starts, but he could be a massive run-stopper in the middle of a defense. Look for Green Bay to try to keep him.
Nate Washington, WR, Pittsburgh: He was the fourth-best receiver on the Super Bowl champions and often was lost in all the attention paid to Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes. But, quick now, who was the fastest and most athletic receiver on the Steelers? It was Washington. Who had the best yards-per-catch average? It was Washington at 15.8. Who produced the longest reception? Again, Washington, on a 65-yard touchdown. Washington isn't a No. 1 receiver, but he could thrive as someone's No. 2 -- a receiver who can stretch the field and make big plays. He has decent size, he's young and he has reliable hands. He also is the product of a successful environment. All of that makes him someone who should be attractive on the open market -- especially this market where there is a dearth of talent at wide receiver.
