The best fits for 5 NFL veteran free agents in 2018

The first week of official free agency was a whirlwind of contracts and trades. The league’s young studs have cashed in on early success with big money guarantees and long-term deals. Players like Kirk Cousins, Trumaine Johnson, and Malcolm Butler all changed teams thanks to eight-figure pacts that set up the second acts of their pro careers.

But several players on their third, fourth, and fifth acts are still waiting to see where they’ll spend 2018. Former All-Pros remain on the market through the fourth week of March, either due to their veteran status, a late start in free agency due to roster cuts, or a combination of the two. A handful of these names stand out above the rest.

With apologies to Frank Gore, DeMarco Murray, and Brian Cushing, here’s where the five biggest-name veteran free agents could wind up in 2018 — and why these spots are their best fit.

The Dolphins’ lack of impulse control and long-term planning made Suh a late addition to this year’s free agent class. He’s capable of playing at a Pro Bowl-level when motivated thanks to the size and athleticism that occupies multiple blockers in the interior of the defensive line. However, his waning impact in 2017 and his advancing age (31) make him a candidate for a short-term, front-loaded contract a team can walk away from if his play hits a serious decline

While his 4.5 sacks were the lowest he’s had since 2011, he remained a hole-clogging presence up front, limiting opponents to just under three yards per carry up the middle — two yards fewer than tailbacks gained running off the tackles last season. Pro Football Focus rated him as a top-five defensive lineman, and his ability to stop the run while creating a pocket-collapsing presence from the middle of the line will make him an expensive luxury.

There are a handful of teams that combine the D-line need and salary cap space that fit Suh’s profile. The Colts have holes everywhere and after trading down from the No. 3 pick are more likely to take a shotgun approach to roster building than target veteran stars. The Buccaneers are a better fit, but just paid Beau Allen to pair with Gerald McCoy up front. Instead, Suh’s free agency seems like just the place for Washington and owner Dan Snyder to step in with a rich contract and hope his latest big-ticket signing is finally the one that restores his franchise to glory.

The fit: Three years, $45 million with Washington (if the team doesn’t sign Johnathan Hankins first. Otherwise, three years and $45 million with the Raiders, who are also committed to spending bizarrely now that Jon Gruden’s on board).

Another victim of the Dolphins’ mismanagement, Pouncey asked for and was granted his release once he realized Miami has the forward momentum of a turtle flipped onto its back. It could be a win for both sides; Pouncey’s release saved his former franchise $7 million and cleared a path for the 28-year-old, three-time Pro Bowler to procure a big guarantee on the open market. After seeing 32-year-old center John Sullivan sign a two-year, $15 million deal to re-up with the Rams, Pouncey is looking at at least $8 million annually on a deal set to carry him through his early 30s.

The Giants need a center after losing Weston Richburg in free agency, but can’t afford Pouncey. The Bills need to find a replacement for Eric Wood, whose career was ended by a neck injury last fall. Both are solid landing spots, but Baltimore would give Pouncey the opportunity to play against his brother — Steelers center Maurkice — twice per season. He’d be the perfect replacement after Ryan Jensen left in free agency. The Ravens don’t have a ton of spending room — approximately $16.5 million in cap space after signing Michael Crabtree — but could still squeeze Pouncey’s big contract under the limit.

The fit: Five years, $40 million — similar to the contract the Falcons’ Alex Mack got — with Baltimore.

EDIT: Whoops. Two years, $15 million for Pouncey with the Chargers.

Pryor’s stock in the NFL has never been higher than it was in the two seasons he spent with the Browns. The former quarterback transitioned into his team’s only reliable target in 2016 with an unlikely 1,000-yard performance as a 6’4 mismatch creator. He was supposed to parlay that performance into a lucrative long-term contract last spring, but was forced to settle for a one-year deal with Washington.

Pryor’s stint in the nation’s capital went poorly, as he had just 20 receptions in nine games and missed the rest of the season due to a ankle injury suffered in Week 2. He’s entertained overtures from the Jets and Seahawks this March, but there could be a familiar landing spot waiting for him. Cleveland has its deep threat back with Josh Gordon, added one of the league’s most consistent slot receivers by trading for Jarvis Landry, and now has Tyrod Taylor to give them a by-god above-average quarterback. The missing piece for that rebuilding offense is a big target who can stretch the field, thrive along the sideline space Landry opens up, and make hay in the red zone.

That’s where Pryor comes in — and restores his value as an NFL wideout.

The fit: One year, $5 million with Cleveland.

Maclin’s production as waned as his primary weapon — the explosive athleticism that made him an elite deep threat — has grown less and less effective over time. He’s no longer able to separate himself from defensive backs, and his catch rate, while never great, fell to a career-low 55.6 percent last season. Normally you’d be able to explain that away with the degree of difficulty tied to hauling in deep balls, but his average target distance in 2017 was just 9.7 yards downfield — or the same as Carolina backup tight end Ed Dickson.

Anyone investing in Maclin knows he’s no longer the dynamic 1,000-yard player he once was, but understands he can still add value — especially now that he’s no longer catching passes from regression king Joe Flacco He can fit the role of X receiver thanks to a 6’0 frame. While his hands aren’t the greatest, Maclin’s ability to run after the catch remains useful — even if it’s half what it was at its peak (3.0 YAC in 2017 vs. 6.1 in 2014).

So who needs a savvy veteran wideout looking to prove himself at age 30 after the least productive season of his career? The Eagles have thrived with a deep receiving corps and could fit a likely to be inexpensive Maclin into their limited cap space. The Saints need veteran depth behind Michael Thomas. The Bills need more help than Maclin could provide, but he’d be a plus provided he’s not the only addition.

In the end, however, Maclin’s best opportunity as his routes shade closer and closer to the line of scrimmage may be as part of a veteran receiving corps alongside an accurate short-range quarterback. As long as new Cardinals quarterback Sam Bradford stays healthy, that’s him.

The fit: One year, $3 million with Arizona.

Peterson looked washed for all but two games last fall, and the correct fit for him may just be a quiet retirement. But he’s just one rushing touchdown from 100 in his career, and his unceasing competitiveness is unlikely to let him just walk away from the game. Remember how he stared a hole through Sean Payton just for daring not to play him over 2017 offensive rookie of the year Alvin Kamara?

Peterson proved the haters wrong after being traded to Arizona midway through the season with a 134-yard, two-touchdown performance in his first game as a Cardinal. Then proved them right by rushing for 21 yards in the following game. Then proved them wrong with a 37-carry, 159-yard game against the 49ers. Then finally proved them right by rushing for 134 yards on 55 carries (2.4 YPC) in his next three games before missing the rest of the season with a neck injury.

So Peterson’s a complicated case.

Any team betting on the 33-year-old back has to have low expectations and plenty of contingency plans in place. Peterson wants badly to be an unquestioned starter, but the only way that was possible in 2017 was thanks to David Johnson’s season-ending wrist injury and the Cardinals’ impossibly thin depth chart behind him. So who can fit him in as a stop-gap, one-year veteran presence — preferably somewhere where he won’t have to cede snaps to an emerging young runner?

He could fit the old DeAngelo Williams role in Pittsburgh, biding his time in case Le’Veon Bell misses more time. The Jets need running back help and didn’t shy away from adding an aging Matt Forte two years ago. The Giants could add him to their stable of underperforming backs. With other targets still on the free agent market — including more effective veterans like Frank Gore and DeMarco Murray — it may be a while before this one gets sorted out.

The fit: A veteran’s minimum deal, plus incentives, with whichever team loses their starting running back to a serious injury in the preseason.