best nfl players 2021

• Home
• Blog
• About
• Tutorials

The rookie quarterback took plenty of hits last year before going down with a season-ending torn ACL, so investing in the offensive line is the No. He looked like he had lost a step at times last season, but he still only gave up two sacks. Trevor Lawrence*, QB, Clemson Lawrence could have been the No. In the first week, most of the key signings and re-signings were made across the league. He's been a steady run-blocker since he first took the field and has evolved into one of the better pass protectors the league has at the guard spot after some struggles early in his career. 1 receiver still available as the first week of free agency comes to a close. Mar 24, 2021 … 1 like • 3 shares. What isn't abundant are true outside corners with the athleticism to perform on an island and make plays on the ball. NFL Draft 2021 Ranking: Die Quarterback Top 10 10. Predicted 2021 Team: New England Patriots Henry is the top tight end available this offseason and is likely to be paid as one of the best players at his position because of it. That decision opened the door for Barrett's exit a bit wider, especially since he has made it quite clear he wants to sign a big contract for the first time in his career. In the first day of the 2020 legal tampering period, NFL teams threw millions of dollars at their own players to re-sign, and committed future dollars which became real when the 2021 league year kicked in last Wednesday.. Now is when the real work gets done. Ben Hendricks March 19, 2021 March 18, 2021. by Ben Hendricks March 19, 2021 March 18, 2021 0. That's not even mentioning the fact that he's still an athletic road-grader in the run game. A team such as the Green Bay Packers, who will likely be parting ways with free agent Kevin King this offseason, is a great fit for Sherman on paper. It also doesn't account for how well Clowney defends the run. Okung has surrendered just seven sacks over the last four seasons. The sacks don't tell the whole story, though. All three teams could use a wide receiver with his skills and would be celebrating the acquisition of one of the best players in free agency. Prediction: Two years, $12 million ($6M APY). ESPN's Dianna Russini reported the Cincinnati Bengals have already extended an offer to Golladay. In a February tweet, Schwartz announced that he was undergoing surgery to fix the issue and gave no indication he is planning on retiring. The Jets shouldn't miss out on the opportunity to bring aboard a rock-solid defender to shore up a big hole on defense. White … NFL Media reporter Jim Trotter recently spoke with new Texans head coach David Culley, and it appears inevitable a trade will take place before the 2021 campaign kicks off. He still only allowed a 55.4 percent completion rate this season, putting him right on track with the 56.2 percent he allowed in his 2018 All-Pro season. That leaves a duo of starting tackles with plenty of playoff experience on the market. Given the turbulence in the organization, it would be understandable that he was just extremely cautious knowing he was hitting free agency. It's exceedingly rare that a team wouldn't immediately dismiss any offer for a 25-year-old franchise quarterback, but Houston doesn't seem to have a choice in the matter and will likely need to take the best deal on the table. Cleveland must find a way to pair another strong edge-rusher with Myles Garrett. He has played in all 16 games in each of the last two seasons and posted 19 sacks in that time frame. He is coming off a season in which he missed all but three games because of injury, but it's important to note he played in the team's final games. Teams also went from targeting him 121 times in 2018 to just 83 in 2020. The free-agent receiver would pair nicely with emerging star Terry McLaurin to form one of the more exciting wideout tandems in the league, as either can break games open with their playmaking abilities at any time. NFL free agency has been fast and furious again in 2021. Either way, he's well worth the risk now given what he can do in pass protection. The New England Patriots declined to franchise-tag Joe Thuney this week, opening the door for his exit. 2021 NFL free agency: Top 25 overall players available, with signing updates Frank Schwab 2 days ago. Whether it's a cap casualty who was a little late to the party or a player still waiting to see just how much money they can make next season, there are still a lot of options for teams who have to fill some needs. He may not be the big playmaker he was, but he has had only five drops over the last two seasons, and his 8.2 yards per target last season was in line with what he did in many of his prime seasons. He had the fourth-most blown blocks in the league last season. 142. The latter two are the kinds of injuries that can linger for an entire season, but rest should help him come back for the 2021 season, at least to start. In 2020, he gave up the same amount of sacks on just 226 pass-blocking snaps, before a back injury took the rest of the season from him. While it will likely cost a bit over $10 million per season to acquire the Arkansas product, the potential for a strong return on investment is undeniable. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson Almost from the beginning, Trevor Lawrence was anointed as a franchise quarterback in the NFL and a player who would eventually be the first pick of the draft. Williams is the ideal anchor for any offensive line with his incredible strength, massive size and surprising athleticism for a 6'5", 320-pound tackle. "I'm most definitely looking forward to getting a long-term deal done," Barrett recently told Mad Dog Sports Radio's Adam Schein (h/t NFL.com). Offensive tackles Mitchell Schwartz and Alejandro Villanueva are the top players available, but many elite players are already off the board. 100-81 (Photo: Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch, USA TODAY Sports) 3 overall in 2018. Names like Nelson Agholor signed on Day 1, while players like Kenny Golladay are still unsigned. Click here to view the best draft prospects in the class! Fuller shouldn't have to wait long to find a new home. Which teams are most active in free agency? In essence, opponents finally learned not to throw the ball his way. Schwartz is one year removed from giving up just three sacks on a Super Bowl-winning team. Villanueva is a prime candidate to play well into his mid-30s. Plenty of players will be finding new homes this offseason, perhaps more than usual with a lowered salary cap forcing organizations to scramble to make trades and release players prior to the start of the new league year. The initial rush of signings for the 2021 edition of NFL free agency has come and gone. Fuller makes perfect sense for the Washington Football Team, who struggled to create big gains through the air, finishing with the sixth-fewest passing plays of 20 or more yards last year. The initial rush of signings for the 2021 edition of NFL free agency has come and gone. 2020-2021 NFL … Seeing the name ‘Horn’ on the outside will be no surprise to NFL fans. By Bryan DeArdo & Jeff Kerr. With the Texans now on the verge of a complete rebuild, it's unlikely the franchise will make any serious effort to retain the speedy wideout in free agency. Kansas City clearly missed Eric Fisher and Mitchell Schwartz in the Super Bowl, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers pass rush had Patrick Mahomes running for his life. JuJu Smith-Schuster once appeared to be Pittsburgh's long-term option for a No. Former Pro-Bowler and New Orleans Saints legend Joe Horn lined up in the league for twelve years. "Based on the conversation [with Culley], I firmly believe Deshaun Watson will be traded," Trotter tweeted. Sporting News' NFL free agency hub features a complete list of the top overall unrestricted free agents in 2021, plus the best players ranked by position and updates on the latest deals. He’s been one of the best players on an otherwise poor defense in Detroit, and with a strong finish to the 2020 season, he could earn himself one last significant multi-year contract. His veteran presence in the locker room is an added bonus, and he can help Green Bay get over the hump next year after back-to-back losses in the NFC Championship Game. The tools are prodigious. Shaq Barrett helped guide the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a Super Bowl as part of one of the league's most dangerous defenses. Unfortunately for the Texans, Fuller struggled to do exactly that during his five seasons in Houston, playing in just 53 of 80 regular-season games. Those drawbacks aside, he still graded extremely well by Pro Football Focus' metrics. Now, his son, Jaycee Horn, looks to rewrite the Horn legacy as one of the top cornerback prospects in the upcoming NFL Draft. Even if the Panthers can't get the deal done, another team almost certainly will, and Watson will be starting Week 1 of the upcoming campaign in a new city, ending this saga and the quarterback's four-year tenure in Houston. His exit is all but certain at this point, so it just remains to be seen which organization believes in the wideout enough to commit a big chunk of change in free agency. 1 option are behind him. Linebacker. Some team is going to scoop up Villanueva on a short-term contract, and their quarterback will thank them. Presumably, they want to give second-year signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa—or potentially Deshaun Watson, if they can trade for him—a legitimate top target in 2021. Ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft, the TGH staff have ranked their top 100 players for the 2021 season. Now, scouts, coaches, and general managers will hit the road as all eyes will turn to the draft. The Minnesota Vikings have brought along Anthony Harris from an undrafted free agent to one of the top safeties in the NFL during the last six years. QB Trey Lance, North Dakota State. There are several organizations linked to Watson in trade rumors, including the Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers. He played in just five games last year, hauling in 20 receptions for 338 yards and two touchdowns. Will Fuller is one of the top athletes at the wide receiver position in the NFL right now, using his game-breaking speed to make plays—when he's actually on the field. So now, the Bears' misfortunate is going to be some other team's great addition to its secondary. Under Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots have a long history of utilizing their tight ends creatively, and Henry would be a great fit for the cash-flush club. The defensive back could still command upwards of $10 million per season on a short-term deal, which will likely come from an organization poised to compete for a Super Bowl in 2021. Tag : 2021 NFL top 100 players. Salary-cap figures and contract projections courtesy of Spotrac. Just two years removed from a breakout 111-catch, 1,426-yard, seven-touchdown sophomore outing, Smith-Schuster heads into free agency for the first time having failed to breach the 1,000-yard mark in either of the last two seasons, failing to live up to the hype that surrounded him after the 2018 campaign. Updated 2021 Small School Prospects; Updated 2021 NFL Draft Big Board (Top 75 Players) CB Trae Meadows (Western Kentucky) Interview; 2022 NFL Mock Draft (First Round) BlitzCast #153: Perfect Linebacker They don't come without baggage, though. Unfortunately for Clowney, missing eight games this past season with a meniscus tear isn't going to do much to get him a big, long-term contract. Tannehill is set to count $29.5 million against the cap in 2021. A familiar weapon could assist in developing the signal-caller into the player they hoped he would become when he was drafted No. He didn't become a starter until he was 27 years old and has started every game for the Steelers over the last five seasons, missing just 3 percent of the snaps once, in 2017, during that time. Houston isn't on those guys' level anymore, but he's still a pass-rusher who has done nothing but produce in his time in Indianapolis. Part of that is a lack of production in the pass-rush department. NFL free agency updated Big Board: T.Y. That's a bona fide No. $5 million total guaranteed/fully guaranteed. While injuries kept him sidelined for much of his first four years in the league, Fuller finally appeared healthy before being hit with a six-game PED suspension that cut his breakout 2020 campaign short. The best edge-rushers were off the table quickly this year. "I feel like it's time for me to break the bank now, and I most definitely want to do that to be able to set my family up better and most definitely going to keep producing, so it's not like anything is going to fall off.". Adoree' Jackson fits that bill. The market was full of excellent pass-rushers, and they found the money they were seeking. Sherman, whose top assets at this stage of his career are his intelligence and understanding of the game, would be a great fit for zone coverages. At this point in the game, that's good enough to make him one of the top talents available. Predicted 2021 Team: Los Angeles Chargers. 10 NFL players who could break out in 2021 #10 Isaiah Simmons (Arizona Cardinals) Best remaining NFL free agents who could interest Patriots originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston. Simms doesn’t even have him in his top 6, and even though I love the Gators, there is no way I can tell you with a straight face that Wilson is better than Horn. He's lost a step in recent years and isn't the shutdown corner he once was, but a smart defensive coordinator can still get plenty of mileage out of the 32-year-old before his career wraps up. The prodigiously talented edge defender is seeking his fourth team in four years after signing a one-year deal with the Tennessee Titans last season. Whether their current team is looking to move in a different direction, the player wants a change of scenery or the organization simply cannot afford them any longer, here is a ranked list of the best players who will be wearing a different uniform in 2021. Tackle is such a hard role to fill, and they both have a track record of strong play, but injuries and age keep them on the market and toward the bottom of this list. But that doesn't mean the Eagles will be bereft of talented players to choose from at No. He turns 32 in June, so it wouldn't be surprising if he retired. sportingnews.com - Vinnie Iyer • 5h. But … Read more on sportingnews.com. Trey Hendrickson, Yannick Ngakoue, Carl Lawson, Matthew Judon and Romeo Okwara all got more than $12 million per year. Advanced stats courtesy of Sports Info Solutions unless otherwise noted. The Kansas City Chiefs made a somewhat surprising move when they axed both of their starting tackles to clear some salary space. It seems fair to assume he'll only be brought in on a one-year deal again. Nos. Jaycee Horn 2021 NFL Draft Player Profile. Thuney is a great fit for almost any offensive line, but the Bengals have the most need, and with the fifth-most cap space in the league, they should be able to get a deal done. Henry is the top tight end available this offseason and is likely to be paid as one of the best players at his position because of it. The Big Board also undergoes an adjustment process during post-season All-Star games, the NFL Combine workouts, and … In the first week, most of the key signings and re-signings were made across the league. While Smith-Schuster still must prove he has what it takes to be a legitimate No. He was PFF's 19th-graded edge defender, which included being ranked in the 95th percentile against the run. Kyle Fuller was a bit of a surprise cap casualty in Chicago. Of the tackles on this list, Alejandro Villanueva ranks the highest because he's the healthiest. While he wasn't able to put up those same ball-hawking numbers this past season with quarterbacks less likely to look his way, Harris showed he is one of the best coverage safeties in the game while also being a solid tackler (104 in 2020) and limiting mistakes. Hilton is clearly a cut or two below some of the big names who were looking for new homes, but he's an underrated option for teams looking to give their quarterbacks new weapons. Kenny Golladay is the best receiver on the open market this offseason and likely won't return to Detroit after the Lions elected to jump-start a rebuild by trading longtime quarterback Matthew Stafford. The organization struggled to get much of anything from their incumbent TEs in 2020, meaning Henry would step into a situation with loads of opportunity. 1 priority in Cincinnati this offseason. Since 2018, Jackson has the fourth-highest coverage grade on the outside, per PFF. 2021 NFL top 100 players. While Henry has yet to play a full 16-game season during his five-year career with the Los Angeles Chargers, he has still been a steady producer when active in an offense that hasn't exactly relied heavily on its tight ends. The New England Patriots have thrown a ton of money around in 2021 NFL … Predicted 2021 Team: Washington Football Team. If he fails to take the next step while wearing a Patriots uniform, it's almost certain he never will. The wideout is in line to command a huge payday, with estimates of his value somewhere in the range of $17 million per year, a hefty price for a team looking to get younger and build for the future. The 24-year-old would reunite with quarterback Sam Darnold after the pair played together at USC. The 6'5", 250-pound Henry has prototypical size for the position and brings plenty of athleticism and savvy to the table, but he still hasn't shown he can put up the type of numbers that the transcendent tight ends like Rob Gronkowski and Travis Kelce do. Sherman just concluded the final season of the three-year, $27 million deal he signed in San Francisco and should be hitting the open market with a decent amount of interest in his services. Take a look at why Aaron Rodgers should take the MVP Award and potentially be the number one player on the NFL Top 100 list for 2021. T.Y. NFL free agency 2021: Chargers' Melvin Ingram headlines the top 10 remaining players Several top free agents are still sitting on the market. PFF's 2021 NFL Draft Guide contains a full list of pros/cons, a long-form written analysis above a bar chart of stable PFF metrics and Mike Renner's “Bottom Line” and “NFL Draft Projection” for every prospect in the guide. The disgruntled Texans quarterback apparently no longer has any faith in the organization to surround him with a winning team and wants out, demanding a trade that should take place sooner rather than later if Houston wants to get the most value out of the superstar signal-caller. Patriots awarded extra 2021 comp pick after NFL error John Breech 2 min read Giants sign Adoree' Jackson to 3-year, $39M deal: report Fortunately for teams who have taken a more patient approach to free agency, there are still quite a few difference-makers who have yet to figure out where they are playing next season. The veteran quarterback became the highest-paid QB in the league in 2018 … Teams looking to add a reliable slot receiver or an experienced veteran would only improve with Hilton. At a position where simply being average is valuable, teams should be willing to roll the dice that Fisher can get healthy and put together another strong season. The market for Golladay still seems to be healthy despite the prolonged back-and-forth. It remains to be seen how the market will materialize for Fuller in the wake of this suspension, but the receiver could command around $17 million per year on a long-term deal. Rank With the 2021 NFL draft closing in, mock drafts are heating up with potential landing spots for the Crimson Tide products. Where he ends up remains to be seen, but there is no shortage of organizations that should be interested in Henry. The 2021 NFL Draft season is upon us and the first wave of free agency is now over. Or, like Andrew Whitworth, maybe he gets back to his peak level and plays well into his 30s. It's beginning to feel like Jadeveon Clowney is just going to be a perennial presence on "best free agents available" lists. Hilton, Richard Sherman and the top unsigned players By Sheil Kapadia Mar 23, 2021 46 Below is a look at the best un-signed NFL free agents. Cornerback play is always volatile, so that blip while playing through injury should only serve to give an organization a chance to sign him to a team-friendly deal. The New York Jets, flush with the third-most cap space in the league this offseason, are a potential landing spot for Smith-Schuster. Adam Schefter reported he has also taken visits with both the Bears and New York Giants as he weighs his options. The Bolts appear to have found their heir to Philip Rivers in Justin Herbert, and now that they have the cornerstone of the franchise under center, they must do a better job of protecting him. 2021 NFL Draft Big Board: Top-500 Players Ranked Regardless of Position Drafttek.com's Big Board of 2021's top NFL draft prospects is compiled by our internal staff of talent evaluators. "Culley didn't explicitly say that, but when using terms like on the roster 'right now' and 'we want guys who are all in'—writing is on the wall.". Golladay's injury isn't a particularly scary one despite all the missed time. Mitchell Schwartz could be in the same boat as Okung. He led the league in receiving touchdowns just two seasons ago and should hit paydirt wherever he signs in free agency. One organization that's reportedly heavily interested in signing a marquee receiver this spring is the Miami Dolphins. NFL Draft Prospects 2021 | Top Five Players 1. The Panthers are one of the more intriguing spots for Watson to land, as the club can offer up a strong package that includes star running back Christian McCaffrey, a capable stopgap quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater, young standouts who are still on their rookie deals and a plethora of picks highlighted by the No. Alexander and Gilmore are unavailable, and Sherman is 32 years old, whereas Jackson is 25. Then again, if he could stay healthy, he probably wouldn't be a free agent in the first place. 1 WR in the NFL, the Jets can give him that chance during these low-stakes, rebuilding years. Former South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn is one of the top cornerbacks in the 2021 NFL Draft. The five-time Pro Bowler will not have to shoulder the heaviest burden in Joe Barry's defense, as Jaire Alexander—one of the top emerging talents at the position—can handle man-to-man coverage on top receivers better than almost anyone in the NFL right now. His film is fantastic, and his pro day solidified his stock as a first-round pick, in my opinion. Considering their talent, age, production and level of risk, here's a look at some of the best free agents who are still available. He's been one of the true greats at his position since coming into the league as the 2010 No. Seattle had less than $5 million in 2021 cap space based on an estimated salary cap of $180.5 million, and even if the final number comes in at a few million dollars more, there’s no way Pete Carroll and John Schneider were going to blow their 2021 free-agency opportunities on a 32-year-old edge-rusher, no matter how good he is. If Russell Okung could stay healthy, he would be closer to the top of this list. But some of his best games in 2020 came in the second half of the season, including a two-game stretch in Weeks 13 and 14 in which he had 13 catches for 196 yards and three touchdowns. Those 10 players have the potential to have break out years in the 2021 NFL Season. While he'll be turning 30 in October, he hasn't shown any signs of slowing down and should have little trouble remaining one of the best safeties in the game for the next few years. The Barrett-Garrett duo is not only fun to say but would also significantly improve Cleveland's ability to pressure opposing QBs in 2021, one of its biggest needs this offseason. 1 pick in the last two drafts. Both parties would be best served staying together to make another run in 2021, but there's a chance the two cannot come to terms on a longer deal after Barrett played out the 2020 campaign on the franchise tag. He's now ready to hit the open market and should command upwards of $14 million per year. 12, especially if they want to select a defensive player. Pittsburgh has gotten incredible production from younger receivers Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool, so the club isn't likely to offer Smith-Schuster market value, around $16 million per year over multiple seasons. The NFL draft prospect rankings are adjusted regularly during the NCAA Football season. Fisher has clearly lost a step. NFL free agents 2021: Best players still available at each position, including Alex Smith, Richard Sherman. The wide receiver market has been one of the most interesting to track during free agency. Jackson didn't look great, giving up 10 completions and three touchdowns on 13 targets. Plenty of teams will be coming out of the woodwork with offers for Williams, who should make over $18 million per year on his next contract. Teams should feel comfortable signing him for a pass-rushing role and will likely get great value from his contract. 1 overall pick Joe Burrow. Thuney has developed into one of the best interior offensive linemen during his half-decade in New England and will likely get paid as such in free agency. He's 32 years old, so he isn't the most exciting option, but then again, 32-year-old Trent Williams just became the highest-paid tackle in the game. We have three seasons' worth of data that show that isn't the kind of player he is, though. One team that will be especially desperate to improve its offensive line is the Cincinnati Bengals, who must commit more resources to protecting 2020 No. Trent Williams is proving to be an ageless wonder at the left tackle position, coming back from sitting out the 2019 season to play at an extremely high level during his first year with the San Francisco 49ers in 2020. He suffered a hip flexor sprain that kept him out, but it's important to note that by the time the receiver was on the mend, the Lions were well out of contention. One such team that can't afford to miss out on Williams is the Los Angeles Chargers, who had the worst offensive line in football this past season, according to Pro Football Focus. The NFL is defined by parity, with a revolving door of teams contending each year largely thanks to the salary cap and free agency. He registered 45 pressures in 13 games in 2019, a rate almost as good as DeMarcus Lawrence' and better than Brandon Graham's. Golladay's 2020 season, which was marred by a hip injury, seems to have made people forget just how good he was in 2019. Predicted 2021 Team: New England Patriots. What’s unique about this year’s linebacker class is the number of different body types represented toward the top. Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported the Denver Broncos are expected to make a "strong push" for the corner, which would reunite him with former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Fuller's new team is going to get a free agent with a track record of success and few red flags. He had the 16th-highest grade in their tackle rankings. A club in need of a field-stretching, No. Deshaun Watson may not be a free agent, but he's undoubtedly the top player in the league likely to find a new home for the 2021 NFL season. Patterson is ranked this high because he’s one of the best special teams players in NFL history, not because of his efficiency as an offensive weapon (no matter how hard coaches still try). At 6'4", 214 pounds, Golladay has the big frame and impressive athleticism to be a serious threat to score on every possession. With that in mind, scroll down to take a look at PFF’s rankings of the top 100 prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft. 4 overall pick and should continue performing at the highest level throughout the life of his next contract. Thuney has started every game since he was drafted in the third round back in 2016 and hasn't missed a single contest to date. NFL free agency has been fast and furious again in 2021. The 27-year-old Golladay projects to be one of the better wideouts in the game over the life of his next deal, but he has to prove he can bounce back from an injury-plagued 2020 campaign. NFL Draft prospects 2021: Big board of top 100 players 1. 8 overall selection in the upcoming draft. As PFF noted, Fuller was their 16th-highest-graded corner from 2015-18, when he was playing in Fangio's defense.