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Top 10 Free Agent Kickers and Punters - Eric Eager
King’s age (27), strong leg, and gradual improvement (he’s gone from the 30th-highest graded punter as a rookie in 2013, to 18th in 2014, and 10th in 2015) make him an attractive specialist in the free agent market. His 41 punts downed inside the 20 were second in the league in 2015, while his four touchbacks were tied for the eighth-fewest. Only 36.1 percent of King’s punts were even returned in 2015, which was fourth-lowest in the league.
Top 5 free agent guards and centers - Thomas Maney
The top spot in a somewhat lackluster center group goes to Wisniewski, who's coming off of a one-year deal in Jacksonville. Only three centers had a better pass-blocking efficiency than Wisniewski did last season, after allowing just 14 pressures in 686 snaps in pass protection, and he's graded well above average there in four of five seasons. As a run blocker, he struggled at times in 2015âparticularly during the Jaguars' two-game stretch against Baltimore and Tennessee in Weeks 10 and 11âbut for his career, he's graded above average there.
Antonio Gates leads PFF's top 10 tight ends hitting free agency - Thomas Maney
Gates is getting up there in age, but still managed to haul in 56 passes in 2015. He finished with a player grade of 82.5 â seventh-best among tight ends. He doesn't offer much as a blocker at this point after three straight seasons with a negative grade in both pass protection and run blocking. Nevertheless, Gates shouldn't have much trouble finding work as a short-term receiving threat, whether back in San Diego or elsewhere.
Top 9 free agent wide receivers - Nathan Jahnke
Jones is coming off a season with career-highs in receptions and yards. The Bengal had a breakout season in 2013 with 10 touchdowns. He proceeded to miss the entire 2014 season with injury, but had a solid rebound in 2015. Part of what makes Jones a good option is his ability to make defenders miss after the catch. Typically, the top receivers in missed tackles caused are a combination of the elite outside receivers or the slot receivers.
Wilkerson leads top 10 free agent interior defenders - Gordon McGuinness
Just 10 players on the defensive interior finished 2015 with a higher rating than Wilkerson's 89.2, and with how well he's played in the past four years, it seems crazy to think that the Jets might let him go. With Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams on board, the Jets got creative last year and we even saw him play a little bit of outside linebacker. If they do opt to spend their money elsewhere, Wilkerson becomes one of the top free agents available. Outstanding against the run, and as a pass rusher, he registered 12 sacks, 23 hits and 45 hurries in 2015.
Top 10 free agent edge defenders - Ben Stockwell
This season, we once again have genuine top-tier, game-changing pass-rushers set to hit the open market, with teams eager to tie up their own players, leaving other teams to find impact players ready to emerge from the second tier of free agency.