With the early free agent frenzy in the rearview mirror and the second wave, where teams can sign players without affecting their compensatory draft picks, already passed, there remain quality players currently jobless. So why are guys like Eric Berry, Michael Crabtree and Morris Claiborne still out of work?
Until a player is in deep negotiations with a team, news doesn’t leak so we don’t know if these guys have been in conversations with NFL squads.
Take a look at Berry. The Chiefs cut him without much fanfare because he’s pretty much been in street clothes for the last two seasons. Injuries limited the three-time All Pro to just three total starts since 2016. He’s just 30 and if he’s looking for a long-term contract past two years, that’s likely while he’s still on the couch. His former general manager is Cleveland right now, John Dorsey, so you’d think a one-year deal to join the Browns’ defensive backfield could happen before camp.
Eric Berry, anyone? https://t.co/TOdyELHNzW
— Blogging The Boys (@BloggingTheBoys) July 6, 2019
Injuries and past performance doesn’t explain Claiborne’s continued unemployment. He’s coming off the two best seasons of his career with the New York Jets. Last season he had 57 tackles, 14 passes defended, two interceptions and one defensive touchdown. His issue is likely the numbers being talked about for his services. Claiborne is probably smart not to jump on an undervalued contract, considering once some of these teams open camp and realize how much they’re hurting at corner, he’ll add some crooked numbers to his final deal.
CB Ryan Smith has been suspended for the first 4 games of 2019. He has a base salary of 2 million. Maybe this opens the door for the Bucs to revisit this. Go Bucs!https://t.co/h8nFkROvcH
— Macabee (@macabee1143) July 10, 2019
Crabtree has always been more of a possession receiver and lining up in the Baltimore Ravens high school offense for the majority of last season didn’t help him. He caught 54 passes for 607 yards and three touchdowns last season at a position that always has an abundance of bodies coming out of college to fill in any given year. Crabtree will probably find a job, but it might be closer to September when it happens.
Arrowheadlines: Does Michael Crabtree make sense for the #Chiefs? https://t.co/l2dJjwnZ0x
— Arrowhead Pride (@ArrowheadPride) July 12, 2019
Other notable available free agents: Jay Ajayi (RB), Corey Liuget (DT), Kelvin Benjamin (WR), Muhammad Wilkerson (DT), Derrick Morgan (OLB), Nick Perry (OLB), Tre Boston (S), Ryan Schraeder (OT), Jeremy Parnell (OT), Allen Bailey (DE), Pierre Garcon (WR)
