When the Washington Redskins signed Jets return maven Chad Morton to a five-year, $8 million offer sheet Thursday, it proved to be a reminder of the forgotten class of free agents -- restricted free agents.
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Laveranues Coles is the kind of receiver worth giving up a first-round pick. (Getty Images) |
Call them free agents with a catch.
Each man can be had but with a wall of stipulations that must be overcome.
Among them is convincing a player to sign immediately rather than wait one more year and try unrestricted free agency. Another is devising a deal that the player's former team will not or cannot match. The last is parting with draft-choice compensation (the round depends upon the qualifying offer made by the player's original team).
Though there have been hundreds of restricted free agents since 1993, only 42 have jumped teams upon signing offer sheets. In fact, last year only one player defected, when the expansion Houston Texans signed Steelers kicker Kris Brown.
In the past four years just 11 players have decided to exercise the right of a restricted free agent and actually left.
A look back at those aforementioned 42 players hardly paints a precedent that would excite GMs.
- The best value pick among the free agents and clearly the crown jewel was the Jets' signing of Pro Bowl running back Curtis Martin in 1998 from the Patriots.
- Charlie Clemons, now an unrestricted free agent, starred two seasons ago for the Saints after leaving the Rams.
- Wide receiver Patrick Jeffers had a 1,000-yard season after bolting Dallas for Charlotte.
- The Giants saw long-term stardom for guard Ron Stone when they signed him to a huge offer halfway through the '90s and Stone eventually turned into a Pro Bowl lineman a couple of years ago.
But after the few who excelled comes a long list of the anonymous. The forgotten signings of the likes of Tony Horne, Mike Sellers, Robert Chancey, Andre Royals, Larry Tharpe, Kevin Turner, Oliver Barnett, Floyd Fields, etc. ... not exactly household names.
Still, there are some players who may be worth the gamble, provided the Redskins don't sign them all. The following is a list of 10 restricted free agents who might be worth consideration.
1. Jets wide receiver Laveranues Coles: -- The Jets have tendered him enough to warrant first-round compensation. Is he worth a first-round pick? For some teams he certainly appears to be.
"If you are a team looking for a No. 1 wideout and you can't get one of those first two receivers in the draft (Michigan State's Charles Rogers and Miami's Andre Johnson), you might as well go after Coles," said one personnel director. "The next group of receivers in the draft is not on Coles' level. You know what you are going to get with him so you'll probably get better value with him than if you use a first-rounder on a kid coming out."
There are other receivers available such as the Bears' Dez White, but compensation is too high (third-round pick).
2. Dolphins defensive tackle Jermaine Haley: A seventh-round pick for a young defensive tackle with a very good upside? In a heartbeat. Many personnel people believe Haley can be a solid starter and good young defensive tackles are hot commodities in the NFL. He did a fine job in a three-man rotation last season for the 'Phins.
3. Giants linebacker Dhani Jones: How about a show of hands: How many teams would trade a sixth-rounder for a bona fide starting weakside linebacker? Yeah, so would we. Jones took his lumps last year early in the task of replacing Jessie Armstead but quickly learned on the job and became a solid player. Considering his high intelligence level and massive upper body, Jones has great upside.
4. Jaguars defensive end Paul Spicer: Clearly Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (first-round compensation) is the best defensive end available among restricted free agents but No. 1 draft picks are not given away for part-time players. Gbaja-Biamila started this year because Vonnie Holliday and Joe Johnson were hurt. He's a demon as a pass rusher but has yet to prove he can be an every-down player. The next best option is Spicer, who the Jaguars tendered enough to earn them the right of first refusal but no compensation.
"He's a great effort guy," said one scout. "He jumps off the ball well, great intensity and I love the way he attacks. Good motor guy."
5. Texans tight end Billy Miller: Miller is a good tight end who can be a decent downfield weapon. In the right system he can be utilized extremely well in the passing game. For a seventh-round pick he's certainly worth the risk.
6. Giants center Chris Bober: Tore a biceps muscle last year yet missed just one start all season. Not only is he tough, he made all the line calls for the Giants' offensive line in 2002.
"He's as smart as there is on our line," said one Giants coach. "He made all of our calls, what does that say about him? He may not look the part but he's a tough SOB."
Yet he was also tendered an offer that would require no draft compensation, just the right of first refusal.
7. Steelers linebacker Clark Haggans: Terrific upside but some teams may be scared off by the fifth-round compensation. Still, if a team could be assured that their fifth-rounder would have 6½ sacks this year, wouldn't they celebrate the pick? You bet.
8. Titans linebacker Peter Sirmon: A fourth-round pick is difficult to part with. However, Sirmon is already somewhat proven and his numbers as a starter for Gunther Cunningham's linebackers last year speak loudly. Sirmon started 14 games and had three picks, one of which he returned for a touchdown. Sirmon also had an eight-tackle game against the Colts, a nine-tackle performance versus the Ravens and a 10-tackle showing against Jacksonville.
9. Bears kicker Paul Edinger: The Bears require a sixth-round pick as compensation. How many teams at the end of last year would have traded away their right arm, much less a sixth-rounder, for a capable kicker? The kicking game was abysmal at times last year so a sixth-rounder for an 80 percent career field-goal kicker may be well worth the trade.
10. Jaguars linebacker Danny Clark: Seventh-round compensation for a guy who started 16 games last season. Clark is another linebacker bolstering an already deep overall free-agent class at the position. What makes him so attractiveness is his versatility.
"He can play over a tight end outside but he can also help a team looking for a mikebacker (middle LB)," said a personnel chief. "He doesn't play the middle right now but he can. He's a good prospect with good size, can run well, good instincts and he's a decent tackler. I'd trade a seventh-rounder for him if we needed a linebacker."
Notables
Bucs RB Aaron Stecker: Since there is no compensation required, Stecker would be a solid signing for any team looking for a tremendous special teams player. In addition, Stecker is a very capable backup runner. Sammy Morris of Buffalo, who started eight games his rookie season, is also restricted but comes with a fifth-round price tag. However, remember that there are not many good buys in the running back department among the unrestricted class. Rams DT Brian Young (fifth rounder for former starter on defensive line); Seattle's John Hilliard (sixth-round); Ravens TE John Jones (right of first refusal) for a big receiving target and adequate blocker for a team seeking a No. 2 tight end.
