As a former No. 1 general choose with a cannon for an arm and 10 seasons below your belt as an NFL quarterback, free company could be a funky expertise.
How a lot would you count on to be paid for beating the division-winning Baltimore Ravens and playoff-qualifier Pittsburgh Steelers (in a snow globe Thursday evening recreation) in a stretch of 4 weeks?
That is the place Jameis Winston’s thoughts goes earlier than Tuesday, when groups can formally use the franchise tag and the NFL’s seemingly half-day offseason involves an in depth.
Winston just isn’t the highest free agent or veteran quarterback in the marketplace, in fact. However whereas others would possibly make a severe play for Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins, Sam Darnold and Russell Wilson, might Winston be a shock moneymaker whereas looking for a spot to throw his a hundred and fifty fifth profession TD go?
With profession earnings over $76 million after signing for $1.2 million to again up Deshaun Watson with the Cleveland Browns in 2024, Winston is a doable placeholder for groups such because the Tennessee Titans or Las Vegas Raiders whereas they develop a youthful possibility.
Backups are cost-effective by way of their potential significance and general significance. A former No. 2 general draft choose, Carson Wentz was No. 2 for the Chiefs in 2024 with a assured take of solely $2.2 million, a modest determine for the one-snap-away circumstance he walked into behind Patrick Mahomes in Kansas Metropolis.
Winston might strategy the $8 million vary the New England Patriots paid Jacoby Brissett to be the non permanent frontman earlier than handing the keys to Drake Maye in 2024. Marcus Mariota, yet one more former No. 2 general choose chosen one spot behind Winston in 2015, was paid $6 million to assist educate and peer-coach Jayden Daniels for the Washington Commanders.
Which different NFL free brokers would possibly get extra money than anticipated in March?
Vikings CB Byron Murphy
Estimated Worth: $16 million per season
Nov 27, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; A Minnesota Vikings helmet sits idle on the sphere earlier than the sport between the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Photographs Murphy picked off a team-leading six passes in 2024, and the Vikings are burdened on salaries, together with legendary sidekick Harrison Smith—a free agent with 13 seasons in Minnesota—at security. If Charvarius Ward leaves the San Francisco 49ers as anticipated, he’s within the working with Murphy as the most effective cowl man in the marketplace. Nonetheless, groups on the prime of the draft would possibly have already got their eye on Colorado’s Travis Hunter or Michigan’s Will Johnson, who could be had at a fraction of the worth of a prime free agent nook.
Murphy is simply 27 and will command greater than $15 million per yr after becoming a member of the Vikings in 2023 on a two-year deal at $8.75 million yearly.
49ers LB Dre Greenlaw
Worth: $10 million per season
Feb 8, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw (57) throughout a press convention earlier than Tremendous Bowl LVIII at Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort and Spa. credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports activities He is 27 and did not erase doubts about his capability to return to the junkyard canine type of play that made him a perennial Professional Bowl candidate alongside Fred Warner. The positives? His age and well-known work ethic.
He additionally mastered the 3-4 protection and can be utilized in a number of methods relying on the scheme. The negatives? Simply now over the one-year mark since rupturing his left Achilles, Greenlaw lasted 30 snaps in his first recreation again in December, then tried to play by way of Achilles and knee discomfort every week later, solely to be shut down after 4 performs. Greenlaw retains a excessive worth due to his rep and the proliferation of former 49ers staffers all through the league, particularly DeMeco Ryans with the Houston Texans and former assistant GM Adam Peters, who now calls the photographs for the Commanders.
Cardinals LG Will Hernandez
Worth: $11 million per season
Sep 29, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals guard Will Hernandez (76) towards the Washington Commanders at State Farm Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photographs Given a selection between Hernandez and Chiefs RG Trey Smith, one other unrestricted free agent, most groups are going to lean into Smith.
If the Chiefs do tag Smith, contemplating left guard and part-time left deal with Joe Thuney is also up for a brand new deal, Hernandez represents a stellar fallback possibility. He wrapped up a two-year, $9 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals however performed simply 5 video games in 2024 as a consequence of a torn ACL. As a result of the damage occurred in October, he’s prone to be prepared for coaching camp however celebrates his thirtieth birthday on Sept. 2. A workforce with a gap to fill and a power-run scheme might simply provide $9 million to $12 million yearly on a three-year deal.