NBA free agency just kicked off today (check out my predictions here), and basketball fans everywhere are pumped to find out where the best players available are ending up. From Kevin Durant to Andre Drummond, this class has a lot of talented free agents to offer.
But what should football fans do during this period?
If you’re not a basketball fan, odds are these next couple of weeks will be rough for you. After all, football is currently in its most boring stage of the year. However, to pass the time you can always prepare for next year’s free agency class. In this article, I will make a football team consisting of the best 2017 free agents at each position.
QB: Drew Brees
Brees is the only elite quarterback in this class, and he’s unlikely to leave New Orleans. Honorable mentions go to Kirk Cousins and Tyrod Taylor.
RB: Le’Veon Bell
Bell is arguably the best running back in the entire NFL. No surprise he’s the best in this class. Honorable mentions go to Eddie Lacy and Latavius Murray.
WR: Alshon Jeffery, Michael Floyd, Emmanuel Sanders
When healthy, Jeffery is a top 10 receiver. Floyd has shown improvement over the years and could reach elite status when not fighting for catches with Larry Fitzgerald. Sanders is also a top 20 receiver in the NFL. Honorable mentions go to Steve Smith, Vincent Jackson, and Kendall Wright.
TE: Martellus Bennett
The tight end class isn’t too strong this year, as Delanie Walker and Jordan Reed both signed extensions this offseason. Bennett may be the #2 tight end in New England, but he would be the main guy on almost any other team. An honorable mention goes to Jordan Cameron.
OL: Terron Armstead, Josh Sitton, Travis Frederick, David DeCastro, Andrew Whitworth
This year is a great year to be a team with a need on the o-line. Between these five players, there are eight Pro Bowls and an average age of 27.8 years. Honorable mentions go to Evan Mathis, Kevin Zeitler, and Russell Okung.
DL: Ezekiel Ansah, Kawann Short, Muhammad Wilkerson, Chandler Jones
This d-line class also has a ton of star players. All four of the men above are considered top-tier defensive linemen. Honorable mentions go to Star Lotulelei, Cameron Wake, and Vince Wilfork.
LB: Von Miller, Jamie Collins, Dont’a Hightower
Von Miller is one of the best defensive players in the NFL. Collins and Hightower are also two of the best linebackers in the league. Honorable mentions go to DeMarcus Ware, Julius Peppers, and Alec Ogletree.
CB: Desmond Trufant, Trumaine Johnson
Trufant and Johnson aren’t elite cornerbacks, but they are talented players with a lot of youth and upside. Honorable mentions go to Darius Slay and Stephon Gilmore.
S: Eric Berry, Tyrann Mathieu
Berry and Mathieu are arguably the two best safeties in the entire NFL. You can bet that they’ll get a ton of money out on the free agency market. An honorable mention goes to Kurt Coleman.
K: Steven Hauschka
Hauschka is one of the best kickers in the NFL, and he’s still relatively young as far as kickers go. An honorable mention goes to Greg Zuerlein.
P: Sam Martin
No punters truly stand out this year, but Martin is the best of the bunch. An honorable mention goes to Jeff Locke.
