We're less than two weeks away from NFL free agency, and there's still no clarity on a deep class of quarterbacks. Proven veterans Tom Brady and Philip Rivers are available. Jameis Winston, Teddy Bridgewater and Ryan Tannehill are each looking for big deals on the open market. Quarterback-needy teams will have a chance to upgrade before April's 2020 draft.
But let's not forget about the edge defenders in this free-agent group, headlined by Jadeveon Clowney, Shaquil Barrett and Dante Fowler Jr.. And don't ignore the man-coverage traits of cornerbacks Byron Jones and Chris Harris Jr. Wide receiver Robby Anderson will bring big-time speed to a team looking for a boost on offense, and Derrick Henry's power will be coveted in NFL running games (if he doesn't get franchise tagged).
So where do the top players in this class fit best? That often goes under the radar, but it's a crucial part of the free-agent evaluation process. Teams can spend tens of millions of dollars to fill needs and create roster competition, but if those players don't fit in with how the coaching staff operates, the bust potential is much higher and their production won't match the contract.
So here are the best scheme fits for 28 of the top available free agents in 2020. These are realistic fits: I'm taking available salary cap into account. Let's start with a six-time Super Bowl champion and one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
Jump to:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL
EDGE | LB | DB
Tom Brady, QB
Best scheme fit: New England Patriots
We can find multiple spots for Brady. Give me the Chargers, Raiders, Dolphins and Titans as offenses that Brady would make better. But when looking at scheme, Josh McDaniels' system is still the best fit for Brady, who will be 43 by the time the season starts. Think quick game, play-action and the inside verticals.
Brady can still be surgical given the route combinations in McDaniels' playbook, at least if the Patriots upgrade the pass-catching talent around him. That means addressing the tight end position to open up the seams and crossers, with more size and speed at wide receiver to complement Julian Edelman. Those are necessary moves that need to be made in order to maximize the ability of Brady at this stage of his career.
Philip Rivers, QB
Best scheme fit: Indianapolis Colts
The Chargers' inability to protect Rivers last season contributed to the 38-year-old tossing 20 interceptions. In Indianapolis, Rivers' lack of movement traits would be cushioned by the Colts' top-tier offensive line in pass protection. And the scheme fit works here with coach Frank Reich's system: throw the crossers, work Hi-Lo combinations, utilize the tight ends and script deep-ball shots off play-action.
Plus, with the Colts in a position to target a first-round wide receiver with pick No. 13 to mesh with veteran T.Y. Hilton and second-year man Parris Campbell, Rivers would have multiple targets with catch-and-run ability. I like a two-year deal here for Rivers with the Colts, with Jacoby Brissett heading to a backup role.
Jameis Winston, QB
Best scheme fit: Pittsburgh Steelers
Winston threw for an eye-opening 5,109 yards last season with 33 touchdown passes. He can fill up the stat sheet ... in bad ways, too. With 30 interceptions also on his 2019 résumé, and the inconsistent decision-making that continues to show up with his game, how has his scouting report really changed since he entered the league out of Florida State in 2015?
Considering the number of veteran quarterbacks on the market, Winston could have to take on a No. 2 role in 2020. That's why I'm looking at Pittsburgh on a one-year deal, where Winston would settle for a backup role to Ben Roethlisberger for Mike Tomlin's team. Given Roethlisberger's injury history, it would allow the Steelers to upgrade the depth chart with a backup quarterback carrying legit starting experience. And the 26-year-old Winston could restart his career and work on his game.
Ryan Tannehill, QB
Best scheme fit: Tennessee Titans
Sure, Tannehill would be a good fit and upgrade for Matt Nagy's offense in Chicago given his athletic traits and ability to drive the ball off play-action. Maybe the Raiders make a play here, too. Looking at Tannehill's tape from his breakout season with the Titans in 2019, however, I would work to keep him in Tennessee if I were Titans general manager Jon Robinson.
The system, which leans on a heavy running game approach, caters to Tannehill as a thrower, as he registered a 90.8 Total QBR and completed 76.5% of his passes on play-action attempts. Tannehill was dialed in, throwing the ball through his targets on the Titans' run to the AFC title game. They should run it back in 2020 -- and keep the rapport between Tannehill and second-year wideout A.J. Brown.
Teddy Bridgewater, QB
Best scheme fit: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I originally mapped out Bridgewater to the Colts, but with Rivers a more logical fit, let's put the former Vikings and Saints quarterback in Tampa Bay. While he doesn't fit the exact profile of the quarterback traits we associate with Bruce Arians, Bridgewater's ability to operate as a timing, touch and rhythm thrower can work in this offense. And he won't turn the ball over at the rate we saw with Winston.
That would allow Bridgewater to target the middle of the field on throws to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin off play-action, while Arians schemes more vertical opportunities to stretch the field. This could be a two- or three-year deal for Bridgewater in Tampa, with the possibility that the Bucs target a quarterback at No. 14 in the first round of the 2020 draft.
Adam Schefter breaks down the futures of Taysom Hill and Teddy Bridgewater now that Drew Brees has decided to return for another season.
Derrick Henry, RB
Best scheme fit: Tennessee Titans
Given his running style, tread on his tires and limited passing-game usage, I don't see Henry generating a big market outside of Tennessee. That's just the reality of the way teams view veterans running backs in 2020. But that also points to Henry returning to a Titans system that maximizes his traits as a one-speed runner in outside zone schemes.
Last season, Henry rushed for 1,540 yards and 16 touchdowns while averaging 5.8 yards per rush versus eight or more defenders in the box. He's a freight train on the tracks who simply wears defenses down at 6-foot-3, 247 pounds with the top-end speed to rip off chunk plays. I would expect Henry to be back in Tennessee on a new multiyear deal, playing in an offense that leans on his ability as a downhill back.
Kenyan Drake, RB
Best scheme fit: Arizona Cardinals
When I look at Drake's skill set, along with the seamless fit in Kliff Kingsbury's system, re-signing in Arizona is the right play for both sides. From Weeks 9-17, after being acquired from the Dolphins in a trade, Drake averaged 5.2 yards per carry and rushed for eight touchdowns. He also caught 28 of 35 targets for Arizona, and we can see the explosive-play ability he brings to this offense.
With a one-cut running style that shows up in both zone and power run schemes, Drake hits the hole with speed. Toss in the receiving ability and Drake has all the traits of a No. 1 back for Kingsbury's club.
Melvin Gordon, RB
Best scheme fit: Los Angeles Chargers
Yes, that's all three running backs on my list who should return to their 2019 teams. Maybe the Dolphins make sense as an option for Gordon, but I see the best fit for him to head back to L.A. on a short-term deal, along with restricted free-agent running back Austin Ekeler.
After holding out for the first four games of 2019, Gordon didn't produce high-end numbers, rushing for just 612 yards and averaging only 3.8 yards per rush. And I didn't see the traits here of a top-10 back on tape. That's why I believe there will be a limited market for Gordon, who should return to pair with the explosive-play ability of Ekeler.
Robby Anderson, WR
Best scheme fit: Denver Broncos
Anderson didn't produce monster numbers in 2019 with the Jets, catching 52 passes for 779 yards and five scores. At 6-foot-3 with vertical speed and the ability to bend at the top of the route, however, Anderson should have a solid market to work with.
I love the fit for Anderson in Denver opposite Courtland Sutton, giving young quarterback Drew Lock another weapon in the passing game. Think of Anderson on fades or fly routes here, with the fluid cutting ability to break away from coverage on deeper inside cuts. The idea is to add speed and big-play opportunities to the Denver offense; Lock has the arm talent to push the ball over the top to Anderson.
Amari Cooper, WR
Best scheme fit: Dallas Cowboys
Re-signing with Dallas is the best fit for Cooper, particularly because the team traded away a first-round pick to get him in 2018. Cooper caught 79 passes for 1,189 yards and eight touchdown grabs last season, and his route running is super slick. Same with his separation ability. Coach Mike McCarthy and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore will feature deep in-cuts, quick-game throws to beat press, double moves and straight verticals off play-action and dropback schemes.
And with Cooper still in the mix, quarterback Dak Prescott retains his explosive-play weapon. Cooper produced 17 explosive-play receptions (receptions of 20 yards or more) last season. He's a glider with the juice to win over the top or produce after the catch. That's a key piece of the Dallas offense.
Austin Hooper, TE
Best scheme fit: New England Patriots
I wrote about upgrading the tight end position in New England up top, and Hooper fits here. He was a volume target for the Falcons last season, catching 79 passes with six touchdowns, with all six coming on red zone targets. While I don't view Hooper as a dynamic route runner, he has a really good feel for finding open voids in zone coverage and creating leverage. That meshes with the play-action game in New England.
Use Hooper as a middle-of-the-field matchup player on seams, crossers and stick routes. The Browns and Bears could be in the mix from a scheme perspective here too, and Hooper is likely to break the bank in a couple of weeks.
Hunter Henry, TE
Best scheme fit: Los Angeles Chargers
When healthy, Henry has the route-running chops and frame to win matchups in the Chargers' system. Health is a problem, though, as the 25-year-old missed the entire 2018 season and four games in 2019. But the talent is there for Henry to run intermediate in-cuts and stretch the seam and break outside on flood concepts.
With AFC West opponents Denver, Las Vegas and Kansas City leaning on split-safety defensive schemes, the need for a middle-of-the-field target is vital to the L.A. offense. Henry caught 55 passes in 12 games last season, and he is a prime candidate for the franchise tag to stay with L.A. as a high-percentage target for a new starting quarterback.
Jack Conklin, OT
Best scheme fit: Cleveland Browns
We could match Conklin with the Jets, Cardinals and Chargers. But I'm going with the Browns as an upgrade at the tackle position in Kevin Stefanski's new system. Conklin has the movement skills to make an easy transition from Tennessee to the zone-based running game under Stefanski and pass protect for quarterback Baker Mayfield in a play-action-heavy system. And, as the top tackle on the market, he's going to get paid.
Joe Thuney, G
Best scheme fit: New York Jets
The Jets have the need along the offensive line and the cap space, so why not bring in a proven player like Thuney at the guard spot? The former New England starter -- the top guard on the market -- would be an instant upgrade in New York, and the Jets need interior linemen with the ability to pull or climb in the running game, and to boost the pass protection for quarterback Sam Darnold. The Chargers also made sense here before they traded for Trai Turner.
Jadeveon Clowney, Edge
Best scheme fit: New York Giants
Clowney had only three sacks in 13 games with the Seahawks last season, but his 41 quarterback pressures ranked 14th in the league. There is some serious talent here. And with his straight-line burst, power and ability to play in multiple fronts, Clowney has the traits to be a disruptive force for the Giants.
Give him a multiyear deal here to fill a major need for a New York defensive front that couldn't get home to the quarterback in 2019. The Cardinals, Jets and Titans are great fits for Clowney too, but the bidding for his services will be high.
Dante Fowler Jr., Edge
Best scheme fit: New York Jets
Fowler had 46 quarterback pressures and a career-high 11.5 sacks for the Rams in 2019. He's a bendy edge player with the athleticism and agility to win one-on-ones. And those pass-rushing traits are a fit for defensive coordinator Gregg Williams' system, given the amount of zone pressure New York brings and the fronts we see from the Jets.
Fowler fills a need on a multiyear deal. Other landing spots I like for Fowler: Cincinnati, Detroit, Atlanta and Miami.
Matthew Judon, Edge
Best scheme fit: Baltimore Ravens
With 46 quarterback pressures and 9.5 sacks in 2019, Judon would have options if he hits the market. But either by using the tag or re-signing him to a long-term deal, the Ravens provide the best fit.
While Judon isn't as twitchy or explosive as former Ravens outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith, he's a productive edge player with pass-rush traits to win outside.
Shaquil Barrett, Edge
Best scheme fit: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Barrett's 19.5 sacks led the NFL last season, and his 58 quarterback pressures ranked third behind Za'Darius Smith and Nick Bosa. We know Barrett is a fit for Todd Bowles' scheme in Tampa as a stand-up edge rusher with quick-twitch traits. And his toolbox is deep: bend, dip, spin and redirect, with short-area burst to close to the quarterback.
But with one year of high-end production, after posting a total of just 14 sacks over his first four pro seasons, I would use the franchise tag here on Barrett -- and make him prove it again.
Vic Beasley Jr., Edge
Best scheme fit: Cincinnati Bengals
The former top-10 pick Beasley broke out in 2016 with 15.5 sacks, but he has just 18 combined over the past three seasons. And his 22 quarterback pressures ranked 65th in the NFL last season. Atlanta is moving on, which means Beasley will hit the open market for the first time.
The Bengals need players, and they need to spend some cash in free agency. Beasley still flashes that first-step quickness off the ball and can be schemed-up off twist stunts to create an interior rush lane. A one-year deal in Cincinnati is what I'm looking at here, with Beasley also possibly drawing interest from Detroit or Arizona.
Kyle Van Noy, Edge
Best scheme fit: Miami Dolphins
Given his role with the Patriots, Van Noy is an ideal fit for Brian Flores' system in Miami. He's a versatile chess piece for defenses that change or disguise fronts, and he can win schemed one-on-one matchups as a pass-rusher. Plus, with his ability to drop into coverage and match/carry in the route tree, Van Noy is a linebacker opposing teams have to identify on every snap.
Miami has the cap space and need, but the Patriots, Lions and Giants are other strong landing spots for the veteran linebacker.
Arik Armstead, DL
Best scheme fit: San Francisco 49ers
If Armstead hits the open market, Detroit and Miami are quality fits given his versatility on the defensive front. At 6-foot-7, 290 pounds, he can align as a defensive tackle or end, and he finished last season with 10 sacks and 33 quarterback pressures. But is there really a better fit for Armstead than back in San Francisco with the league's best front?
With the 49ers, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh can scheme one-on-ones for Armstead and cater to his power and length on interior stunts. That allows San Francisco to use its front-four pressure while running a zone-based coverage scheme. He would be a tough player to replace given his measurables and pass-rush traits.
Jamie Collins Sr., LB
Best scheme fit: New Orleans Saints
If Collins doesn't re-sign with the Patriots, he can fit as a 4-3 linebacker for Dennis Allen's defense in New Orleans. Collins has the size and physicality to pair with Demario Davis on that second level. With the ability to play in space and provide coverage value, he also could impact third downs, where Allen could scheme pressures for the 30-year-old veteran.
Cory Littleton, LB
Best scheme fit: Green Bay Packers
The Packers need speed and athleticism at linebacker. And with Blake Martinez expected to leave via free agency, Littleton fits defensive coordinator Mike Pettine's scheme in Green Bay. With the ability to tackle in space -- along with the run-and-hit traits to get sideline to sideline -- Littleton is a three-down upgrade for the Packers.
The coverage skills jump here, with Littleton matching to tight ends and running backs. Look for the Raiders, Eagles and Cardinals as teams that could make offers too, as Littleton is the best off-ball linebacker on the market.
Joe Schobert, LB
Best scheme fit: Cincinnati Bengals
Schobert was around the ball a bunch in 2019, and that doesn't happen by accident. He has natural instincts, which allow him to make plays despite not having high-end traits. He racked up 133 total tackles, four interceptions, two sacks and two forced fumbles last season.
Adding Schobert would upgrade a Bengals linebacking group that was a tough watch on tape. Other landing spots? Vegas and Green Bay make sense.
Anthony Harris, S
Best scheme fit: Las Vegas Raiders
Harris could be re-signed by the Vikings, but after grabbing six interceptions in 2019, I could see the 28-year-old safety instead landing with the Raiders. The scheme fit works, given Las Vegas' split safety coverages, and Harris could pair with second-year pro Johnathan Abram in the secondary.
With the range and ball skills to finish plays, plus the ability to cut or jump crossing routes, Harris would be a quality pickup for the Raiders as they continue to build out the back end of the defense.
Byron Jones, CB
Best scheme fit: Philadelphia Eagles
Jones' lack of on-the-ball production -- only two interceptions in five NFL seasons -- has to be discussed here. You want to pay up for defensive backs who find the ball and finish. But Jones does have the coverage traits to fit as a man/outside third defender in Philadelphia. That's the hips, length and speed.
The Eagles, who played single-high coverages like Cover 1 and Cover 3 on 70.9% of opponent dropbacks this season, desperately need to upgrade at the cornerback position. We can all see that on film. That's why I'm looking at Jones, who should be in demand if the Cowboys don't find a way to bring him back.
Chris Harris Jr., CB
Best scheme fit: Houston Texans
Harris played outside the numbers for Vic Fangio's Denver defense in 2019, but I still see his best fit as a slot defender. He checks all the boxes of a nickel cornerback.
The soon-to-be-31-year-old veteran can play in space, tackle, match a two-way go and close on crossing routes. The Texans top my landing spots for Harris, but the Patriots and Chiefs make sense as championship contenders as well.
James Bradberry, CB
Best scheme fit: Washington Redskins
With Ron Rivera taking over as the new coach in Washington, this is a logical fit for Bradberry if he doesn't re-sign with the Panthers, Rivera's former club. The 26-year-old has a smooth pedal and can transition with speed at the top of the route. That's a fit for a quarters scheme, with the man-coverage traits to match up.
With three interceptions and eight pass breakups in 2019, Bradberry can locate the ball in coverage.