As we’ve delved deeper into free agency, it’s clear that there’s plenty of talent still in the wind. If I was playing Madden, I’d be upgrading my No. 4 cornerback with some of these guys easy. But the real NFL doesn’t work that way. Coaches want to develop guys they drafted, even if a guy currently playing his PS4 on his couch would be better than they guy they’ve presently slotted in.
Eventually all of these men will wind up on a roster. They’ll likely just have to wait until a team panics in the preseason. Here are the four best guys currently roaming the country unfettered from a team.
Kayvon Webster
2017: 38 tackles, seven passes defended, one interception
Webster got his first shot as a starter with the Los Angeles Rams last season and didn’t squander it. He was excellent at corner until tore up his knee late in the season. It’s the recovery from that injury, and the fact the Rams traded for Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters, that put Webster on the street.
Though the injury happened 11 games into the season, Webster should be ready to go when training camp begins. He’s still young enough, at 27, to be a solid option for plenty of teams. He could land somewhere and hold down a spot for years.
Best fit: Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs
Jeremy Lane
2017: 28 tackles
Lane is famous for suffering one of the most horrific broken arms in Super Bowl history back in Super Bowl XLIX and you should definitely not Google it. He missed most of the next season recovering, but seemed solidly in the Seattle Seahawks’ plans until last year when they tried to trade him to the Houston Texans. Lane failed his physical and got shipped back to Seattle where he played in 13 games and started six.
The Seahawks have gone through a salary dump and roster purge this offseason and Lane hit the bricks along with fellow corner Richard Sherman. Lane is 27 years old and as long as he’s healthy, is definitely an NFL level corner that probably works best in the nickle.
Best fit: Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans, Atlanta Falcons
Bashaud Breeland
2017: 48 tackles, 19 passes defended, one interception returned for a touchdown
Breeland shouldn’t still be on the market, but he failed a physical with the Carolina Panthers back in March that killed a three-year, $24 million free agent deal. It’s apparently a “non-football” related injury, specifically an infected foot suffered after he cut it this offseason. According to Ian Rappaport of the NFL Network, he’s a “few months away” from recovering.
There’s no reason to think Breeland won’t be fully healed by the time training camp opens for most teams so there’s little doubt the four-year starter will find a forever (or at least a multi-year) home. Don’t be surprised to see the Panthers hit up the 26-year old’s DMs again when his foot clears up.
Best fit: Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Indianapolis Colts
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
2017: 48 tackles, 0.5 sacks, one pass defended
Unlike the other three guys on the list, Rodgers-Cromartie is getting a little long in the tooth. He’ll be 32 years old and in his 11th NFL season this year. He played in 15 games for the New York Giants and started six, in spite of openly feuding with then head coach Ben McAdoo.
Rodgers-Cromartie can still play at an elite level and could probably sit back and wait out a few injuries before picking his team.
Best fit: New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens
