Evan Mathis, Shonn Greene, Chris Johnson, Steven Jackson and Wes Welker are some of the notable names left on the free agent market this offseason and heading into training camp, teams like the Oakland Raiders, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers could be options to sign some of the players.
According to NFL.com, some teams that could be interested in Mathis include the Seattle Seahawks, New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos and Oakland Raiders. The Miami Dolphins previously showed interest in Mathis in a trade, but the teams did not agree on a deal.
Greene was released by the Titans and it comes after the team picked David Cobb in the draft earlier in the offseason. According to Mike Fisher at 103.5 the Fan in Dallas, the Cowboys are "open" to looking at Shonn Greene ahead of training camp, as the team has been receptive to "veteran running backs" cut in free agency over making a trade.
CBS Miami reports that "at least half a dozen" teams are interested in Mathis, with the Patriots, Rams, Dolphins and Bills all considered to be in the mix. The Giants are in need of help on the line after losing Will Beatty in the offseason to an injury, while the Broncos are also dealing with a major injury to Ryan Clady.
Adding a player like Mathis could help stabilize the line for the Giants and it would take some pressure off of Ereck Flowers, who may have to start as a rookie. Kelly said that the team looked into trading Mathis, but according to Pro Football Talk, the team made "no serious effort...to trade" Mathis and now he is on the market. Kelly has dumped a number of players from the Eagles roster and now he is moving forward with players that are "his guys" and clearly he is satisfied with the roster makeup.
NFL.com writes that the Raiders could still sign Mathis under the salary cap and they could use to improve the offensive line after bringing in Trent Richardson in the offseason. The Raiders are a team that can offer Mathis what he was making with the Eagles and possibly more and that could put them a step above some other teams. The Seahawks lost James Carpenter in the offseason in free agency, while the Bills have been trying to add to their line this offseason, including with the signing of Richie Incognito.
The Eagles opted to move on from the former Pro Bowl player and it comes as another strong move by Kelly to get anyone off the roster who is not buying into his program, as Mathis was away from the team during offseason workouts.
