Free Agency is one of the most exciting times in the NFL’s offseason, as fans pay close attention to which players their favorite teams will bring in, with the hope of making a Super Bowl run.
However, the best teams have learned to take a passive, finance-concious approach to the signing period, distancing themselves from the overpriced veterans that have “star power,” instead, targeting several key role players or spot starters at an inexpensive rate, as a means to fill the holes on their depth chart.
So, while players like Demarcus Ware, Jairus Byrd and Eric Decker, among others, have seen the majority of national coverage throughout the week, there have been a handful of intelligent signings that should eventually result in victories for their respective teams. Listed below are five potentially great signings that have flew under the radar over the past week.
Golden Tate, Wide Receiver, Detroit Lions (Five-Years, $31 Million)
The Detroit Lions have made multiple attempts to find a complementary receiving weapon opposite Calvin Johnson over the past few years through the NFL Draft, but after striking out with players like Titus Young and Ryan Broyles, they turned to free agency this year, by adding Golden Tate, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks.
Tate was a productive weapon for the Seahawks and was a focal point of their passing attack, hauling in 64 passes for 898 yards and five touchdowns in 2013. He’s a reliable target that should serve as an exceptional No. 2 target for Matthew Stafford.
Tate has sure hands, as he failed to secure just three, or 4.48 percent of catchable passes in his direction all season long, ranking 4th among wide receivers in Pro Football Focus’ “Drop Rate” (Subscription Required).
Toby Gerhart, Running Back, Jacksonville Jaguars (Three-Years, $10.5 Million)
The Jacksonville Jaguars had a serious problem rushing the ball in 2013, as star running back Maurice Jones-Drew is aging and was dealing with nagging injuries throughout the past two seasons. The Jaguars didn’t hesitate to add former Minnesota Vikings running back Toby Gerhart, a former second round pick of the 2010 NFL Draft that has backed up Adrian Peterson for the past four seasons, instead of re-signing the long-time veteran.
Due to sitting on the bench behind the best running back in the National Football League, the 6’0” 230-pounder comes to Jacksonville with low mileage, as he’s amassed just 276 carries over the past four years. Despite seeing a small amount of touches, Gerhart has accumulated 1,305 rushing yards at a 4.7 yards-per-carry average, while scoring five touchdowns, in addition to adding another 77 receptions for 600 yards and three more scores.
Gerhart is a powerful running back that should be an upgrade over the declining Jones-Drew, while Denard Robinson should see increased snaps as a change-of-pace back.
Arthur Jones, Defensive End, Indianapolis Colts (Five-Years, $33 Million)
The Indianapolis Colts are entering their third season under Head Coach Chuck Pagano, who has installed a 3-4 defense. Due to the scheme switch that required a personnel overhaul, the Colts allowed a horrendous 125.1 rushing yards per game, good for 26th in the NFL. The Colts went out and acquired Pagano’s former five-technique defensive end from the Baltimore Ravens, Arthur Jones, to a five-year deal.
Jones, a former fifth round pick out of Syracuse, has emerged into one of the best 3-4 defensive ends in the entire league during the past two seasons. A run-stopping specialist, Jones graded out as the fourth-best run defender at his position, according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics, as he racked up 30 “stops.”
However, Jones isn’t a one-dimensional player. He’s a solid pass rusher as well, grading out as the 10th best 3-4 defensive end in that aspect of the game, as he racked up five sacks and 25 quarterback pressures in his 238 snaps in which he was asked to get after the passer.
Alterraun Verner, Cornerback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Four-Years, $26.5 Million)
Upon the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hiring of head coach Lovie Smith, it became evident that All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis wasn’t the best fit for his Tampa 2 defense, that emphasized defensive backs capable of handling zone coverage on a regular basis.
When the team released Revis, they picked up the best zone coverage cornerback in the league, Alterraun Verner, formerly of the Tennessee Titans, to a four-year, $26.5 million deal—a significantly lower deal than what was widely expected.
Verner played at an elite level during the 2013 season, as the 5’10” 197 pounder racked up 57 tackles and five interceptions, while deflecting another 22 passes. According to Pro Football Focus, Verner was targeted 79 times, but allowed just 39 receptions and two scores. The 49.4% of passes he allowed was good for seventh-best among cornerbacks, and the 55.8 passer rating that quarterbacks posted when targeting him was fourth best. Verner should only continue to get better as he learns under a defensive mind that’s worked with a handful of dominant cornerbacks over the years.
Ben Tate, Running Back, Cleveland Browns (Two-Years, $7 Million)
The Cleveland Browns traded their former No. 3 overall pick, Trent Richardson, during the 2013 season, but didn't have a solid backup plan on the depth chart. The team ranked 28th in the league rushing, averaging just 86.4 yards per game last season. However, they were able to acquire arguably the best running back on the free agent market in Ben Tate, a former second-round pick of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans.
Tate was drafted with expectations of being the team’s No. 1 ball-carrier, however, he suffered a season-ending injury in his first preseason game that led to the emergence of Arian Foster, who eventually became a league leader in rushing yards and was named a Pro Bowler in 2010, 2011 and 2012. In 2013, Tate appeared in 14 games, making seven starts in place of Foster when he suffered an injury and excelled, racking up 771 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 179 carries.
Barring another setback, Tate will enter his first season as an expected full-time starter, and he should emerge as one of the top backs in the National Football League.