Five underrated potential free agents: Offense
NFL free agency is almost here.
In a recent article, we covered the best free agents projected to go on the market this offseason.
While every fan wants their team to sign a big-name superstar, more often than not there will be loads of great value in players who have been underrated by many franchises.
Here, we’ll be giving you some names that may have gone under the radar but should definitely be considered good options for many teams.
Barring any last-minute franchise tags, the following players should be available this offseason for your team to claim.
Honourable mentions: Will Fuller V, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Marcus Mariota
Ben Jones, C, Tennessee Titans
Offensive linemen are always in high demand during free agency and we expect center Ben Jones will be attracting a lot of attention this offseason.
A consistent player who doesn’t get the plaudits next to Taylor Lewan and Rodger Saffold in Tennessee, Jones has never finished with a PFF grade lower than 70 since his 2012 rookie year.
Tennessee will want the interior lineman back for next, but we’re sure that Harold Landry will be taking priority in the Titans re-signing order.
A team like the Bengals or the Seahawks could easily swoop in and snap up Jones with a deal he cannot refuse.
Raheem Mostert, RB, San Francisco 49ers
With Elijah Mitchell breaking the 49ers rookie rushing record and Deebo Samuel showcasing his versatility at the position last season, San Francisco seem well-equipped at running back for the time being.
That means the electric Raheem Mostert, who excelled during the Niners run to the Super Bowl in 2019-20, could depart.
After an injury hit past couple of seasons, including a torn ACL in 2021, Mostert might not be as sought after as people think.
Any contract for Mostert is all dependant on whether he can stay healthy but this presents a undervalued opportunity for a team to go out and claim the veteran.
If he can return to 100%, Mostert can go back to being one of the more versatile and destructive backs in the league.
His explosiveness and ability to beat players is very attractive, and he could be a gamble worth taking for many teams if he leaves San Francisco.
Russell Gage, WR, Atlanta Falcons
Russell Gage might not be the best receiver in free agency, but he can certainly be a valuable asset for a lot of teams.
Following his best season to date in 2021, where he become the de facto number one receiver in Atlanta, Gage moulded into an electric and reliable receiver for his team.
He’s extremely versatile and can perform well in the slot or on the outside, which will boost the interest he’s likely to receive.
Given Calvin Ridley’s recent suspension from the NFL, we’re convinced the Falcons will likely be looking to keep Gage.
But if he does walk, no doubt that he can be a very useful number two receiver for a lot of teams in the NFL.
Dalton Schultz, TE, Dallas Cowboys
Schultz is coming off a very productive 2021.
With 78 receptions, 8 touchdowns and more than 800 receiving yards, the former fourth rounder proved to be a valuable asset on offense for Dallas last season.
This may not sound like an underrated pick given how productive Schultz was in 2021. But at just 25, he’s still got a lot to prove and needs another standout year in 2022.
There is definitely big upside to Schultz. While we expect that the Cowboys will be looking to franchise tag the tight end, he’ll surely be commanding a big contract sometime soon.
There is a chance that he’ll hit free agency and if he does, lining Schultz up at the Los Angeles Chargers or the Cincinnati Bengals would be attractive.
Rashaad Penny, RB, Seattle Seahawks
It’s taken a while for Penny to show why the Seahawks spent a first-round pick on him back in 2018.
But after amassing more than 700 rushing yards and six touchdowns over the final six games of 2021, the former San Diego State running back is starting to look like a decent player.
He’ll likely only get a short-term deal whether he stays in Seattle or tries somewhere else, but there is definitely a talented running back in him there.
Given the usual abundance of talent in running backs during free agency with names like Leonard Fournette, James Conner and Cordarrelle Patterson available, Penny might not be too high on many teams rankings.
We hope Penny can stay fit for the sake of his career. He’d be available for a reasonable price this summer and could be prove to be a real free agency steal in years to come.
