The NFL playoffs are in full swing and as the divisional round is coming up this weekend, teams around the league not in the postseason are getting their coaching staffs together and planning on moves for the offseason and some of the top 2014 free agents that will be targets includes names like Michael Vick, Ben Tate, Jimmy Graham, Knowshon Moreno, Darren McFadden, Eric Decker and Hakeem Nicks.
Jay Cutler would have been at the top of this list had he not re-signed with the Chicago Bears and now there are a number of intriguing players behind him on the market, including Michael Vick and Hakeem Nicks. Vick is getting past 30 and while he is not the player he once was, he could be an upgrade for a number of teams that could have young players to develop, including the Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars and maybe even the St. Louis Rams. Vick showed that he can be a team player with the way he stepped aside for Nick Foles and now he could get another chance to start in the league despite being 33 years old.
Nicks comes in as the top receiver on the market with Eric Decker and the way he played last season means he likely will not get as much money as he originally thought, but that doesn't mean someone won't pay up for him. Nicks has been a fantastic receiver for the Giants and helped them win a Super Bowl, but since that season he has been a mess, dealing with injuries and other issues and this year he finished without scoring a touchdown and while the G-mean want to keep him, they already signed Victor Cruz and have plenty of other areas that need cash money right now.
Knowshon Moreno, Darren McFadden and Ben Tate are three of the top running backs and this comes as Tate had to fill in for Arian Foster this season and that could equal a nice pay day. Tate looks to be the next Michael Turner, not by size, but by the fact that he has been a solid and steady backup to a top running back for multiple years (like Turner was to LaDanian Tomlinson in San Diego) and now likely will sign a contract with a new team as a starter (like Turner did with the Falcons). Tate could end up with Oakland, who is likely losing Darren McFadden and maybe Rashad Jennings, or a number of other teams like the Browns or even the Giants. Moreno has had a great season and he should cash in, while McFadden may not get a ton of money, but someone will pay the man his moolah.
Tate ended up playing with broken ribs this season and ended up with over 770 yards and now the Texans will likely let him go in free agency. The most interesting player to watch is Jimmy Graham (and Eric Decker as well) as he is looking to get paid like a wide receiver and that's for good reason, as he has put up stats as good as anyone over the past couple years.
