Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins is the best player available in free agency.
But he isn’t the top-ranked player on my annual NFL free-agent Top 100 list.
That’s because of position value, which is why Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold tops my list. In a league of quarterback-starved teams, Darnold should command a mega deal if he hits the market, which is likely.
Darnold is coming off his best season in the league by far, rejuvenating a career that looked to be derailed. He threw 35 touchdowns and 12 picks last season in leading the Vikings to a 14-3 record. But Darnold didn’t play well in the season finale, losing to the Lions, and also didn’t play well in the playoff loss to the Rams.
So the doubters are back out again, wondering if the regular season was mostly an aberration rather than the norm considering his career before that.
The Vikings probably won’t bring him back after drafting J.J. McCarthy in the first round last year, only to see him suffer a knee injury in training camp. The Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans could be spots for Darnold, who will likely command a deal that pays an average of close to $40 million per season.
Would I pay that? I do think it’s risky, but if you don’t have a quarterback, you better get one.
That’s why he tops my list.
This free agency class isn’t great, but that’s mostly because teams do a better job of keeping their own before they hit the market. There are some positions of strength, including corner and some good pass rushers, led by Philadelphia’s Josh Sweat and Milton Williams, who are fresh off their impressive showings in the Super Bowl.
Free agency is a month away. Before it opens, expect veterans to be released, guys who would be on this list like Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins. For now, this is my Top 100.
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