Finding the Best Spots for the NFL's Remaining Free Agents

Every year, teams change. Players leave teams by being traded or released, and players can be added via the draft and free agency. Free agent signings can be risky, because often times players want to be paid for what they have done in the past, and not always what they will be able to do in the future. This leads to teams shelling out big contracts to players who were once-but-no-longer-good, only to be disapointed the following season. Because of this, teams are sometimes weary to sign a free agent, even if their past performances indicate that they can help the team win games. This leads to a pool of serviceable players in the summertime who are available to be added to teams but do not yet have a roster to call their home. This list will go over free agent-team matches that make the most sense to us.

1.) Player: WR Wes Welker Team: New England Patriots

Wes Welker has developed a lot of rapport with the recently controversial New England quarterback Tom Brady during their 6 year stint together in which Welker became the all-time leader in receptions for the Patriots. Welker and Brady have enough chemistry together where the potential benefits of bringing the 33 year old on for a 1-year-contract far outweigh the $3M in cap room that he would warrant. Patriots coach Bill Belichick historically has a great track record of squeezing production from small white men at the wide receiver position. The Patriots have been producing with small white recievers (Danny Amendola, Julian Edelman) in his absense but a 1-year deal seems like best case scenario for both sides. Besides, it gives Pats fans a reason to break out their old #83 jersey for one last season.

Risk Factor: Low Proposed Deal: 1 yr/ $2.5 M

2.) Player: RB Ray Rice Team: Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals need a power back to spell Andre Ellington, as it was apparent last season that he does not have the frame to carry a full workload for an offense. Former Ravens RB Ray Rice has had a rough (for lack of a better word) offseason, but with over a year removed from the league Rice deserves a second chance to go along with a pair of fresh legs. I mean, everybody deserves a second chance. \Besides, there are more world ending scenarios than if Ray Rice joined the Cardinals, turned in a 600 yard season in a comitee with Andre Ellington while simultaneously being the face of a new movement against domestic violence. I mean seriously, look at this talent. It's a shame that he chose hitting hoes over hitting holes.

Risk Factor: High Proposed Deal: 2 year/$1.5M

Player: TE Jermaine Gresham Team: Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings are a team on the upswing. Several succesful drafts have stocked this team with promising offensive starters who are actually not named Adrian Peterson (What??) Minnesota's tight end play wasn't terrible last year with Rhett Ellison and Kyle Rudolph, but the position is evolving and if the Vikings offense is to move into the upper eschalon of talent as it appears it will with Teddy Bridgewater, it is essential that Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner has a big, fast, "move" tight end that can consistently win one-on-one matchups with linebackers over the middle. Enter Jermaine Gresham: The best consensus and first selected Tight End in a draft which also contained All-Planet TE's Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham, as well as Aaron Hernandez* and Dennis Pitta. (For those of you wondering "Those guys were all in the same draft?! Yes. The year was 2011")