Finding Solutions for Biggest Remaining Hole on Every NFL Playoff Contender

Just because the major free-agent rush is done and the draft has now passed doesn’t mean that teams aren’t still looking to beef up their rosters. After they make their last pick and place frantic phone calls to the undrafted free agents they’d like to sign, coaches and general managers get right back to work on the remaining class of unsigned veterans who could still help them win, despite their “last at the dance” status.

There’s no reason to assume that just because players weren’t coveted right when free agency began, they’re not still potentially valuable. Sometimes, players are released from their former teams after the prime free-agency period. Other times, there’s a mass of players at a certain position, and the market softens accordingly. A player could come with red flags, or he might be holding out for more money than the market will bear.nfl jersey sales

Whatever the reason, there’s a late free-agent fit for every potential NFL playoff contender in 2018.

The Denver Broncos tried to trade running back C.J. Anderson to the Miami Dolphins before cutting him in April, saving $4.5 million against the salary cap and selecting Oregon running back Royce Freeman in the third round of the 2018 draft to try to match Anderson’s production.

That Anderson is still on the market is interesting. Last season, behind an offensive line very much in flux, he gained 1,007 yards on the ground and caught 28 passes for 224 yards from a series of questionable quarterbacks.nike jerseys nfl

Anderson isn’t a franchise back, but he has talent and would perform well in a system with an above-average offensive line and credible signal-callers. The Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles have a need at the position, and they seem to prefer running back by committee. Right now, they have Jay Ajayi as the front-line power back and Corey Clement as the third-down specialist, while Wendell Smallwood and Donnel Pumphrey have provided few answers at the position.china nfl jersey

The Eagles did not address the running back position at all in the draft, which leaves them a bit short. Of course, they ran the table with a relatively limited running back rotation, so head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Howie Roseman could credibly argue the positional need is overstated.

But should Ajayi go down for any length of time, the Eagles might have to avail themselves of the best talent available in-season or make a trade. Or, they could sign Anderson now and save the trouble.nfl official jerseys cheap

Because Anderson does fit what the Eagles do. He’s a quick first-cut runner with a gliding style and some power after contact. He’s a decent blocker and can catch the ball on screens and quick swing passes. He’d be the ideal addition for an offense that doesn’t need much to set things up for a potential repeat.  nfl jerseys online

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