Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions
It’s no secret that Ndamukong Suh will be the most sought free agent this upcoming offseason. There will be a lot of teams putting a lot of money on the table, but Suh will use his discretion and consider more than just financial ramifications, but also the dissemination of his brand. Suh has dug in his roots in Detroit, and Lions team president, Tom Lewand, has shown strong indications of the team’s interest in retaining him. At the end of the day, Suh remaining in Detroit makes sense on every level, not least of which being his tremendous on-field presence.
Nick Fairley, Oakland Raiders
Whatever happens with Suh will strongly dictate where Nick Fairley ends up next season. The Lions may find themselves with an either-or situation, and there is a strong indication that they will strongly pursue retaining Suh. Although Fairley didn’t have the type of contract year he would have liked, he has shown to be among the league’s top interior pass rushers when healthy. New Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio will want to pair young nose tackle Justin Ellis with another massive tackle to occupy the opposition’s offensive line.
Terrance Knighton, Cleveland Browns
Terrance Knighton isn’t feeling the love in Denver, if his intimations are to be given any weight. The Broncos will likely allow many of their free agents test their value in the open market this year, and Knighton may be one of the more popular players in consideration. The Cleveland Browns’ defense failed to live up to expectations last year, and that was primarily due to the ineffectiveness of their defense. Knighton would immediately bolster the defensive front, allowing the talented second and third level defenders to make plays.
Jason Pierre-Paul, New York Giants
Since leading the charge in the Giants’ 2011 Super Bowl campaign, Jason Pierre-Paul hasn’t quite lived up to expectations. It wasn’t until week 13 of this past season that we finally saw the JPP everyone expected to see. Perhaps no player made more money in five games than Pierre-Paul, totaling nine in that span. Giants president, John Mara, has expressed interest in retaining Pierre-Paul, even if it comes at the cost using the franchise tag. Typically, teams aren’t liberal with their use of the tag, which should indicate the Giants are projecting to lock up Jason before he can hit the open market.
Greg Hardy, Cincinnati Bengals
A part of the domestic violence issues that plagued the NFL last season, Greg Hardy will be an interesting option for teams in free agency. His talent is undeniable, but his ongoing litigation regarding domestic violence charges—which he has been convicted of—limit the opportunities he’ll have in free agency. Bengals head coach, Marvin Lewis, is no stranger to giving players second chances. If Hardy can turn his situation around, the pay-off could be big for he and the Bengals.