Best Team Fits For The Top 25 NFL Free Agents [16-19]
If you missed the start of the countdown, head on over here for an explanation of how we put this list together and what rankings we're using. If you've already read part one, let's continue the countdown once again starting in reverse order.
19) Jason Worilds, OLB, Pittsburgh Steelers - There are multiple good players at this edge rusher position this offseason, we covered Brian Orakpo yesterday. Worilds comes from that Steelers linebacker factory and fits best as an edge rusher in a 3-4 defense. Worilds has 25.5 sacks in his first five seasons in the league. Reports are the Eagles will chase him, and he'd fit well there. I think the Colts would be great for Worilds as well as a playoff team who has a ton of money and needs a guy like Worilds with Robert Mathis suffering a setback in his attempt to return. Worilds would offer a longterm replacement for Mathis.
18) Brandon Graham, OLB/DE, Philadelphia Eagles - Speaking of edge rushers, Graham had to transition into that kind of role for the Eagles the last two years and really broke out last season with 5.5 sacks in spot duty. The question mark with Graham is what scheme fits him best and at this point I'm convinced he's more of a 4-3 DE than a 3-4 OLB because his coverage skills aren't great. In that role, a team like the Jaguars under Gus Bradley who comes from that Seattle mindset of rotating guys in and out on the defensive line situationally would be very beneficial for Graham.
17) Torrey Smith, WR, Baltimore Ravens - Smith is an interesting player. Definitely a burner who can take the top off the defense and is coming off a year in which he caught 11 TD's. He's pretty surehanded as well with only 6 drops last season. I think a team like the Carolina Panthers would be a beautiful fit. Cam Newton needs receiving help to go with Greg Olsen and Kelvin Benjamin and Smith would provide that deep threat they're missing.
16) Terrance Knighton, NT, Denver Broncos - "Pot Roast" has been a stalwart in the middle of the Denver defense and really helped stop the run game over the past couple of seasons. A team that's been looking for an answer at that nose tackle spot the past couple seasons? Green Bay. They got good contributions from Letroy Guion last season and Ted Thompson usually doesn't make a ton of noise in free agency, but we saw him dip into the pool successfully last season for Julius Peppers, maybe he drops in again to help shore up what was the 23rd ranked run defense in the league last season.
Numbers 11-15 will be coming your way tomorrow afternoon as we continue to run down the top free agents leading up to the open of the league year on Tuesday.
Ryan Mayer is an Associate Producer for CBS Local Sports. Ryan lives in NY but comes from Philly and life as a Philly sports fan has made him cynical. Anywhere sports are being discussed, that's where you'll find him.