Old when it comes to professional sports is a relative term. I don’t feel old, and yet I’m about to write about players that are all at or near the end of their careers. Men who might even decide not to play this year and instead close down operations and head on back to the ranch for good. I am older than all of them.
Yet, that’s the reality of sports, but there are a few older free agents that still have some real value and can make an impact on a team. Here are the guys I would look at on offense if I wanted to make an inexpensive upgrade and add some real leadership to my team.
Quarterbacks
Matt Hasselbeck, 39, Indianapolis Colts
2014: 68.2 completion percentage, 301 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions
Hasselbeck hasn’t started a game since 2012 for the Tennessee Titans and his five-game stint there wasn’t terrible. This quarterback free agent class isn’t making anyone sit up and notice, but if you have a shaky young quarterback situation, and I’m looking at you Buffalo Bills and New York Jets, you could do worse than add Hasselbeck as a little insurance.
Where he should end up: Houston Texans
If I’m Hasselbeck and I don’t just outright retire, I don’t want to play anywhere cold. Hasselbeck has spent the last two years in a dome and I don’t see him leaving one if he has the chance. The Rams and Dolphins are also options for Hasselbeck to sit for two more years and collect checks before hitting the trail for good.
Josh McCown, 35, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2014: 56.3 completion percentage, 2,206 yards, 11 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, three rushing touchdowns
McCown played well enough in Chicago in 2013 to warrant a good payday as a free agent in Tampa, but after a season and a 1-10 record, the Bucs had seen enough. Yes, McCown is only a spot-starter, but you can’t tell me you wouldn’t rather have him on your team if your starter goes down than Shaun Hill, Ryan Lindley or Chase Daniel.
Where he should end up: St. Louis Rams
The Rams have talked about bringing back Hill and Austin Davis, a restricted free agent, as back ups and the potential of even picking a QB high in the draft, but none of those options will offer the Sam Bradford insurance as well as McCown. Sam Bradford is the guy in St. Louis, at least for one more year, but Jeff Fisher can’t afford to go to war without a Plan B for the third season in a row.
[related_post_one]
Wide Receivers
Brandon Lloyd, 33, San Francisco 49ers
2014: 14 receptions, 294 yards, one touchdown
Those numbers may look like a guy heading out the door, but you can hardly count Lloyd’s lack of production in San Francisco against him with Colin Kaepernick throwing the ball four feet over his head. Just two years ago Lloyd had a solid year with the Patriots, catching 74 passes for 911 yards and four touchdowns and he had a good year in St. Louis the year before after they acquired him in a trade from Denver. Lloyd’s totals in 2011 were 70 catches for 966 yards and five TDs. No, he’s not a No. 1, but he’s a solid No. 2 and teams looking to add another weapon could do worse than Lloyd at the price he’ll command.
Where he should end up: Carolina Panthers
Lloyd would be a great compliment for second-year wideout Kelvin Benjamin and be a significant upgrade over Jerricho Cotchery, who caught only one touchdown in 15 starts last season. Cam Newton needs more options in the passing game and adding a veteran with good hands who knows how to get open will make the entire offense better.
Wes Welker, 33, Denver Broncos
2014: 49 catches, 464 yards, two touchdowns
Last season was Welker’s worst year since his second year in the NFL back with the Dolphins. With only eight starts, Welker was a full-time slot guy and was overshadowed by Denver’s big-play threats Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders. The important stats to look at are Welker’s 49 catches on 64 targets and 9.5 yards per catch.
Where he should end up: Baltimore Ravens
Welker is an odd case as a free agent. He’s made plenty of money and played in three Super Bowls, but he’s never won one. That ship has likely sailed in Denver and he probably burned a bridge or two in New England so his next best option is in Baltimore and Joe Flacco desperately needs him. The Ravens have proven that they’re not afraid of old players at all as long as they don’t have to pay them a fortune and Welker could be the ingredient that helps them win their second title in four seasons.
Reggie Wayne, 36, Indianapolis Colts
2014: 64 catches, 779 yards, two touchdowns
Not a bad season for the veteran wideout, especially coming off knee injury he suffered halfway through 2013. Wayne has never wanted to play anywhere other than Indianapolis and had the chance to leave before, but didn’t, significantly impacting quarterback Andrew Luck’s development in ways that will likely pay off with a Lombardi Trophy or two in a few years.
Where he should end up: Indianapolis Colts
If Wayne wants to play, it’s obvious he still can and the Colts should do the right thing and keep him in Indianapolis. Sure, they need to find a replacement for him in the draft and look to the future, but the tried to replace him with Hakeem Nicks last year and that didn’t work out. Donte Moncrief might be ready to step into that No. 2 role opposite T.Y. Hilton, but the Colts should keep Wayne as insurance at least. What’s the worst that can happen? That he average 12.2 yards per catch and score a couple of touchdowns for them again? Perish the thought.
Tight End
Owen Daniels, 32, Baltimore Ravens
2014: 48 catches, 527 yards, four touchdowns
With the playoff performances that Daniels had for the Ravens, they could seriously consider bringing him back at the right price. Owens delivered the complete package for Baltimore, catching passes and blocking in the run game helping Justin Forssett break out in the Ravens’ playoff run.
Where he should end up: Atlanta Falcons
Falcons 2014 starter Levine Toilolo was all but invisible for most of the season, catching just 31 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns. Toilolo averaged 7.7 yards per catch, which is decent, but Matt Ryan is missing a legitimate target at tight end bad after spending the first six years of his career throwing passes to future Hall of Famer Tony Ganzalez. Daniels isn’t that, but he’s a significant upgrade over Toilolo.
Offensive Tackle
Michael Roos, 32, Tennessee Titans
Roos played in just five games last year after a season-ending knee injury. The three-time All-Pro had only missed one game in the previous nine seasons before that. Can Roos bounce back from a knee injury at his age? It’s hard to tell. Jake Long, who was signed by the Rams from the Dolphins was in a similar circumstance has just been mediocre in his two years with the team and will likely be cut before June 1. The upside for a healthy Roos is obvious and he should have plenty of suitors after March 9.
Where he should end up: Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars need offensive linemen and they can’t afford to be picky. They have tons of cap space and signing Roos along with any other starter-caliber linemen they can get in the building will allow them to use their draft picks on skill position players. Players they desperately need.
