The first and second waves of NFL free agency came and went with teams overpaying for players based on their market value. Typically, after the draft, another wave of free agency occurs. Looking at the market, there are plenty of players still available that could provide quality depth to teams looking to fill out their roster. Analyzing each team’s situation it becomes clearer who still needs to add players before the start of the season.
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Odell Beckham Jr. – Green Bay Packers
A player that has been to a few teams now, including the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, and Los Angeles Rams is on the hunt for a new team. After suffering a torn ACL in the Super Bowl matchup with the Rams, Beckham entered free agency with uncertainty. The Rams went out and gave Allen Robinson a good chunk of change leaving Beckham’s future with the Rams in doubt. The best place for Beckham to be is up north with the Packers and Aaron Rodgers. Beckham has a play style that fits with Rodgers perfectly. A player that specializes in crossing routes and dig routes will open so much on the field for Rodgers.
Akiem Hicks – Dallas Cowboys
Hicks is an older veteran in this NFL by now, especially at the age of 32. A guy who has plugged the middle for the past six years with the Chicago Bears has yet to get his contract renewed by the new general manager, Ryan Poles. That’s where the Cowboys enter. A team that has struggled to handle the run up the middle for years needs a run-stopper and a space-eater. Hicks won’t be expected to do much, but adding a piece like Hicks to the defensive line will go a long way in helping the Cowboys alleviate the run-stopping issues seen against the San Francisco 49ers this past postseason.
Julio Jones – Chicago Bears
Jones has always been seen as one of the best receivers in the NFL. However, with age and wear and tear on his body, the end of his career is coming. Enter a team like the Bears who are in desperate need of a veteran receiver. Robinson bolted for Los Angeles and Darnell Mooney is the only key weapon returning for a second-year signal-caller Justin Fields. It’s blatantly obvious Fields needs help, especially in a key year for his development as a quarterback. Jones can come in and be a solid option and a veteran leader in the locker room. This is a no-brainer move for Poles and company.
Jadeveon Clowney – Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals are coming off a very successful season where they proved many doubters wrong, reaching the Super Bowl. Now, they may not have won the game but they did show they are more than just a talented roster on paper. Adding Clowney to the mix would create a nightmare for opposing teams. The pairing of Clowney and Trey Hendrickson would be very fun to watch and give the Bengals secondary more opportunities to create takeaways with flustered quarterbacks running for their lives.
Rob Gronkowski – Buffalo Bills
Gronk is getting up there in age and has already retired once. He also will probably never play without Tom Brady. More than likely Gronk will head back to Tampa Bay or will decide to call it quits. However, imagine if Gronk went to Buffalo and teamed up with Josh Allen. It may seem unimaginable, but there have been crazier things to happen in the NFL this offseason.
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