Turning To Free Agents
It is time for teams to shift their focus towards acquiring players via free agency. The NFL trade deadline has come and gone. There were a few notable moves made. Those include Von Miller being traded to the Rams and Mark Ingram returning to the Saints. One big name that did not was Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. The rumor mill for him surprisingly started up again recently, but ultimately nothing materialized for him.
One signing has already occurred. Three-tine All-Pro running back Adrian Paterson reached an agreement with the Tennessee Titans. This came shortly after the Titans potentially lost Derrick Henry for the season. There are still plenty more players of value out there who are still free agents.
Free Agent: Cam Newton
Cam Newton is a lightning rod in every aspect of his game and life. The former MVP quarterback was released by the New England Patriots before this season. This happened because the team wanted to give rookie Mac Jones the opportunity to develop as a starter. That was the reason the Patriots offered to the public for his release. There were other potential factors that may have contributed to this outcome. These included his issues related to COVID-19 and the attention he would bring to New England as a backup.
The market for free-agent quarterbacks is not great at the moment. Teams that would be interested in bringing in a player with his pedigree are limited. Those clubs would need a starter at the position and need to be in the hunt for a spot in the postseason. One club fits this description. The New Orleans Saints just lost their starting quarterback Jameis Winston for the season due to a knee injury. They are currently 5-2 and are contending for a playoff berth. New Orleans was quick to squash that possibility. They said they have no interest in signing Newton.
Free Agent: Frank Gore
Frank Gore played running back for the New York Jets last season. Gore was one of the few bright spots on a team that only won two games that year. The five-time pro bowler is getting up there in years. He is currently38 years young. He could be playing in the league at the same time as his son who is in college right now. That could very well become a reality. He may be in his late 30s, but is still playing as he did 10 seasons ago. All that needs to happen to make this come true is for a franchise to sign him. He would make a great complimentary back to a team that needs a downhill runner.
Free Agent: Mitchell Schwartz
There was a time where experts called Mitchell Schwartz the best right tackle in the league. He helped the Kansas City Chiefs win their first Super Bowl in over half a century. The very next year he suffered a back injury that cost him the rest of the season. Schwartz would undergo surgery to resolve those issues and he expected to be healthy for the 2021 season. His recovery hit a few snags along the way.
He is currently finishing up on the recovery path. In the meantime, he has helped Chiefs rookie Trey Smith develop his skills. This is great for Kansas City. You have a talented player who is currently a free agent aiding another on your team. It is all but a guarantee that he will be signed by the Chiefs once he is healthy. That being said, there are other teams that would be interested in acquiring him if he recovers.
Free Agent: Geno Atkins
Defensive lineman Geno Atkins was once a dominant player during his prime. He amassed 75.5 SCK during his 11 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. Atkins was limited to just nine games last year due to a shoulder injury. He would undergo surgery to repair that joint. Atkins would later be released by the Bengals. He is fully healthy now and looking to join a team to chase a Super Bowl ring. He may not be able to produce like he once did but could be a great addition to a contender. Atkins can still bring some solid production and veteran leadership to a club.
Free Agent: Larry Fitzgerald
I put Larry Fitzgerald on this list purely because he is the free agent that deserves a championship the most. He was part of an Arizona Cardinals team that made it all the way to the Super Bowl in 2008. They would end up losing that game to the Steelers, but Fitzgerald never stopped fighting. He has signed a one-year contract season after season. The Cardinals are finally looking like they have a chance this year, but Fitzgerald has yet to return. He said earlier this year that he no longer felt the urge to play. That is completely understandable. Anyone that can dedicate over a decade to professional football has the right to retire in my books. If Fitzgerald decides to play this season though, he may be able to get what he has been chasing all those years.
Closing Thoughts
This article was published on the Belly Up Sports website and specifically its NFL page. Belly Up Sports also has a Twitter page where you can interact with the network. I also have written for this outlet before so see my most recent story if you would like. If you would like to talk to me directly, feel free to chat with me on my Twitter as well. Try to keep it clean and proper. If you are incapable of doing so, ignore that completely and battle it out with me. Just a few warnings for those who dare challenge me. I am highly competitive and hate to admit when I am wrong. So be prepared for a war of words.
