It’s easy to list the top free agents at every position, but unearthing hidden gems takes more than just copying and pasting from Pro Football Focus. It takes watching plenty of tape, and that’s exactly how I found edge rusher Shaquil Barrett in 2019. The little-known former Bronco signed a $4 million deal with Tampa Bay and went on to lead the NFL in sacks.
I’m not as high on any players this year, but here are five lower-tier free agents who could provide big bangs for little bucks:
🏈DESHON ELLIOTT (S/Lions)
The 26-year-old caught my attention in the two games between Green Bay and Detroit last season. Elliott’s physicality really stood out, especially when compared to most of the defensive backs wearing green and yellow. The former Texas star reminds me of a slightly inferior version of Adrian Amos circa 2019 to 2021. By that, I mean he doesn’t run very fast (mid-4.5s) but anticipates well and takes good angles to the ball. These traits allowed him to play all over for the Lions in 2022, although he’s best suited to line up at strong safety – the position Amos has called home since 2019. If he walks in unrestricted free agency – which seems more than likely – Elliott would be a younger and cheaper option to fill the void.
🏈OGBONNIA OKORONKWO (ED/Texans)
The 27-year-old was one of my “under-the-radar” players in the 2019 draft, and after three ho-hum seasons with the Rams, he finally got a chance to play in Houston and took advantage of the opportunity. Okoronkwo isn’t particularly big or fast, but he possesses enough natural bend, burst, and suddenness to give average tackles trouble off the edge. And while the former Oklahoma standout will never be great versus the run, he won’t be a liability. With Rashan Gary coming back from ACL surgery, the defense could use another edge rusher, and Okoronkwo would be a nice fit. The fact that he spent a pair of seasons (2019-2020) with defensive coordinator Joe Barry in Los Angeles would be another plus.
🏈ISAIAH OLIVER (DB/Falcons)
The 26-year-old played the best football of his career after returning from ACL surgery in Week 6. Oliver, who can line up anywhere in the secondary, was especially effective when used in the slot. He’s a big defensive back (6-0, 210) who’s physical vs. the run and athletic enough to stay with smaller receivers in the middle of the field. The former Colorado star had a tendency to be overaggressive and bite hard on play-action earlier in his career, but that hasn’t been as big of a problem the past two seasons. Oliver was the corner I wanted general manager Brian Gutekunst to select in the second round of the 2019 draft, and while he hasn’t been as good as I thought he’d be, he’s been a lot better than Josh Jackson.
🏈MAXX WILLIAMS (TE/Cardinals)
The 28-year-old hasn’t lived up to being the 55th overall pick by the Ravens in the 2015 draft, but he’s forged a solid career in the NFL by doing the dirty work. While Williams isn’t the biggest tight end (6-4, 250), he does a nice job of walling off “SAM” linebackers and sealing second-level defenders in the run game. He’s not as good in protection, although he hasn’t been charged with a sack in his career. The former Gopher isn’t as consistent as Marcedes Lewis, but unlike the Packers’ 38-year-old tight end, he can still pose a bit of a threat as a receiver and help out on special teams. Williams caught 16 passes for 193 yards and one touchdown in 2021 and contributed 53 snaps on returns last season.
🏈OLAMIDE ZACCHEAUS (WR/Falcons)
The 25-year-old stands just 5-foot-8, so he’s probably too small for the Packers. That’s a shame because the former Virginia star would be a really good fit in a Matt LaFleur offense being quarterbacked by Jordan Love. I didn’t know anything about Zaccheaus before watching some tape a few weeks ago, but it didn’t take long to be impressed by his ability to separate and find soft spots in the defense. He finished last season with 40 catches for 533 yards and three TDs and ranked among the league leaders in yards per target and first-down percentage. If Gutekunst is willing to overlook his size, Zaccheaus would be a fun piece to employ on offense, either as the motion man or lined up in the slot.
Of these five players, only Okoronkwo would seem to have any chance of cracking $5 million per year, and that’s far from a certainty. The others figure to be paid between $2 million and $4 million on short-term deals. Those numbers would work for the Packers, who should enter the new NFL year about $17 million under the cap if Aaron Rodgers is traded.
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Great post as always.
If you were the GM which of the five would you pick?
Thanks, Joe. That’s a tough question because I really like all five players. If I had to choose, it would be between Okoronkwo, Oliver, and Zaccheaus. Any of the three could really help the Packers next season.