Building through the draft is always the preference, but free agency is where NFL teams go for instant gratification, seeking out proven veterans who have shown themselves at the pro level already.
Esteemed colleague Kevin Seifert and the collective ESPN NFL Nation compiled a list in early October with a forecast of the top 25 free agents of 2019. I made a couple of changes for my list, and here's the fun part: I get to take a stab at projecting where these players might make sense for 2019 and beyond.
A couple of caveats: Some of the top players are destined for a franchise tag. That doesn't whittle the list down entirely, but a $100 million player on the open market is unlikely to play anywhere else than where he currently calls home because of his franchise tag. Additionally, while I will be mindful of potential cap constraints a team would have in signing a player, there's a lot of housekeeping to be done ahead. Teams that are currently cap-strapped can open up resources through other roster movement.
Let's play matchmaker.
Kwon Alexander, LB
The fit: Buccaneers (extension)
An ACL injury cut Alexander's 2018 season short, but the tackling machine figures to be ready to compete again in time for Week 1 of 2019. He's a core part of Tampa Bay's nucleus and a natural candidate for an extension. He won't turn 25 until training camp of 2019; I expect that to be in Tampa Bay.
Ezekiel Ansah, DE
The fit: Rams
Ansah has had an injury-riddled season, concluding with a shoulder issue that landed him on injured reserve. Ansah is at his best when he gets to pin his ears back and rush the passer, something the Rams are going to continue to hunt for if they are unable to retain Dante Fowler Jr. The reality for Los Angeles is that one-year deals for non-core players are going to be a massive resource: The team has recently paid Aaron Donald and Todd Gurley on record-setting deals, with Marcus Peters and others (Jared Goff, eventually) on the horizon. Ansah on a one-year prove-it deal makes sense.
Anthony Barr, LB
The fit: Raiders
The Vikings spent big this past offseason to secure a number of their pending free agents (Stefon Diggs and Danielle Hunter among them), but Barr is still set to hit the open market this offseason. Barr hasn't produced the same level of on-ball plays this season but remains a capable play-in-space 'backer. The Raiders have ample resources in the draft to help get their roster back in shape, but Barr at age 27 (when the free-agency period begins) would be a nice cog to work with going forward.
Le'Veon Bell, RB
The fit: Jets
No other contract saga came close to dominating the headlines in 2018 like Bell's did, with the chance to hit the market looming after he sat out the entire season. It's going to take a team willing to pay Bell at the top of the running back market ($15 million per season) if not reset it, something he ultimately desires. Bell's versatility and talent are undeniable, but it's going to take to a cap-flush team with a need for immediate offensive upgrades to acquiesce to Bell's wishes. Which brings me back to a particular franchise whose fortunes will be dictated by the development of a young quarterback and building a supporting cast around him.
Teddy Bridgewater, QB
The fit: Giants
As the Giants improved during the second half of the season, chatter picked up that retaining Eli Manning as the starter into 2019 would be prudent. But standing pat puts a ceiling on this team's success, as Manning's career is now at a juncture where he won't be the catalyst of a top-flight offense, which is why a move to Bridgewater -- even if as a bridge to a young quarterback of the future -- makes sense. Bridgewater has hardly played football of consequence in three seasons, but he'll likely draw significant free-agent interest.
Frank Clark, DE
The fit: Seahawks (franchise tag)
There aren't too many universal rules in free agency, but here's one: Teams don't allow young, productive home-grown pass-rushers to get to the open market. Clark has at least 10 sacks in two of his four seasons and would command an incredible price tag if he were to hit the open market. That being said, with the writing seemingly on the wall for his teammate Earl Thomas, Clark looks destined for a franchise tag.
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S
The fit: Chiefs
Clinton-Dix hasn't been great since being traded to the Redskins midseason, leading to what could be a limited free-agency market. The safety market never developed last offseason, and while it's hard to say if it will move as deliberately this offseason, Clinton-Dix doesn't figure to be a priority add. The Chiefs have dealt with numerous safety injuries and would provide Clinton-Dix a chance to pad depth and make an impact for one of the best teams in the league on a short-term deal.
Jadeveon Clowney, DE
The fit: Texans (franchise tag)
Clowney is one of the game's most unique players, as he can be used on the same series to rush a quarterback off the edge, generate pressure on an interior rush game or even spy a mobile quarterback, using his uncommon athletic skills at 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds. Houston has the benefit of a quarterback who will be on the third year of his rookie deal, which affords a team the chance to spend big elsewhere.
Landon Collins, S
The fit: Giants
There are certain players whose statistical output is obvious and significant. Collins checks that box, as he's piled up over 100 tackles in each of his four pro seasons. There are also players who serve as a team's emotional heartbeat and a leader who can be turned to and counted on. Collins checks that box, too. It's hard to envision the Giants letting him go anywhere.
Trey Flowers, DE
The fit: Patriots (extension)
Flowers has emerged as arguably the Patriots' best defensive player, and while his production doesn't indicate a story of dominance, he's brought exactly that for them. He's versatile, powerful, a key cog in defending the running game and the team's best pass-rusher. A homegrown product who doesn't turn 26 until training camp, Flowers is a natural retention candidate for the Patriots.
Dee Ford, OLB
The fit: Chiefs (franchise tag)
Ford has enjoyed his best season to date, setting career highs in tackles and sacks while tripling his career forced fumbles total. He'd be a truly coveted free agent if he were to reach the open market, though it's unclear if he'll even make it that far with a possible franchise tag in Kansas City. The Chiefs have a window during the duration of Patrick Mahomes' rookie contract -- or at least until he's signed long term -- to aggressively retain and build the roster around him. Ford fits.
Brandon Graham, DE
The fit: Panthers
Graham is a really good player who is going to benefit from the names at the top of this list who also rush the passer and are likely to receive the franchise tag, as he'll vault upward in the ranks of available players. Julius Peppers has defied age for much of his career, but at 38 is a year-to-year proposition to keep playing. Graham, who turns 31 in April, would provide the Panthers a plug-and-play defensive end for a team that has struggled to generate pressure in 2018.
Mark Ingram, RB
The fit: Saints (extension)
A homegrown talent and integral part of both the offense and the locker room, Ingram makes too much sense in New Orleans. During a time when the league is finding running backs at affordable contracts through the draft, Ingram doesn't figure to command huge money at age 29, but he's an ideal fit as a duo with Alvin Kamara in New Orleans.
Grady Jarrett, DT
The fit: Falcons (extension)
The two sides have already opened up about the possibility of striking a long-term deal, as Jarrett -- a fifth-round pick in 2015 -- is part of a core of homegrown talent that Atlanta wants to keep around. Whether the franchise tag is used or an extension is reached, Garrett figures to go nowhere. He's a force for the interior of Atlanta's defense whose work extends way beyond the box score.
Lamarcus Joyner, S
The fit: Packers
For all the talk about the Packers' pedestrian offense in 2018, the defense hasn't been much better. Since waving goodbye to Micah Hyde via free agency two offseasons ago, Packers followers have winced when seeing Hyde flex his versatility in Buffalo. Joyner is a defensive Swiss army knife, with experience at cornerback prior to landing in his current safety role.
DeMarcus Lawrence, DE
The fit: Cowboys (franchise tag)
Imagining a world where Lawrence hits the open market is fun, as he'd be at an absolutely ridiculous level of demand from virtually every team. (We're talking $20 million or more per season over a five-plus-year deal.) But the reality is he's not going anywhere. The Cowboys have the franchise tag ready for a second placement on Lawrence.
Tyrann Mathieu, S
The fit: Texans (extension)
Sometimes we view a one-year contract as only a way for a player to re-establish his value, as can certainly be the case. It can also be a trial balloon for both a player and team in regard to his overall fit with the franchise. Mathieu has been phenomenal for the Texans, playing an essential role during what has been a standout season for the entire team. His contributions merit a long-term deal from the Texans, who would seemingly love to keep him around.
C.J. Mosley, LB
The fit: Ravens
There is something to be said for a team with an identity and the personnel that fits it. The Ravens have one -- hard-nosed defense leads the way -- and a good defense needs an excellent middle man to operate -- a defensive quarterback. Mosley is that as one of the team's several homegrown products who played under Nick Saban at Alabama. As the team transitions to new general manager Eric DeCosta, expect Mosley to be a priority item on the to-do list.
Sheldon Richardson, DT
The fit: Jets
It might seem a curious choice on the surface after the Jets traded Richardson to Seattle in 2017, but circumstances change quickly in the NFL. After a one-year pact in Minnesota, Richardson figures to covet a long-term deal at age 28, perhaps the prime of his career. The Jets lack playmakers defensively, and reuniting with Richardson would be part of what figures to be a splashy free agency, with plenty of money to spend.
Donovan Smith, OT
The fit: Buccaneers (extension)
The Bucs landed a pair of quality linemen in the 2015 draft, when they selected both Smith and guard Ali Marpet. Marpet has already inked a lucrative deal, and Smith is a no-brainer to be the next man up. He's dependable, high-character and durable -- Smith has never missed a start in his career.
Ndamukong Suh, DT
The fit: Chiefs
A return to L.A. should not be discounted, but the idea of Suh taking yet another one-year deal with a contending team has merit. Having collected north of $100 million in his playing career already, Suh is in a different financial position than most on this list, with less of a need for a monster long-term deal. The Chiefs have a window to be more aggressive in free agency prior to an eventual extension kicking in for Patrick Mahomes. Suh would help fortify a defense that has had holes this season.
Golden Tate, WR
The fit: Redskins
With Jamison Crowder set to be a free agent, the Redskins will be searching for slot answers this offseason. Moreover, the team is going to need to invest heavily in playmakers to give this offense some life; Tate is excellent running after the catch and can gobble up 100 or more targets per season.
Tyrod Taylor, QB
The fit: Jaguars
The Jaguars figure to be active in the quarterback market, it's just a matter of which avenue they travel down. The team has a long list of roster decisions to make, with high-priced defensive veterans it could deem no longer a part of the core. Taylor is not the long-term solution for Jacksonville but a path for the team to subsequently look for its franchise quarterback.
Earl Thomas, S
The fit: 49ers
Thomas' holdout to begin 2018 ended quickly, and unfortunately his season was cut short, too. A broken leg figures to be healed by the time free agency begins, and Thomas' skill set clearly has not diminished. A return to Seattle feels far-fetched, but a reunion with a former Seahawks teammate does not. The 49ers have a glut of cap space and a need to beef up all three levels of their defense. GM John Lynch has shown aggressiveness in spending and surely wouldn't mind adding a player at the position he too played.
K.J. Wright, LB
The fit: Seahawks (extension)
The Seahawks have surpassed expectations this season after a transitional offseason that included the departure of several notable veterans. Wright has been banged up with a knee injury, but he surpassed 100 tackles in each of the preceding four seasons. He's a key part of the defense not just from a skill-set standpoint but also from a culture standpoint. Sticking around makes sense.