Introduction
The National Football League is one of the most popular sports leagues in the world. Every year, the league’s teams battle it out for the championship title, but just as important as the on-field action is the off-field activity that takes place during the offseason. This is when teams can make changes to their rosters by signing new players through free agency, and this is where some of the league’s biggest moves are made. In this article, we’ll be exploring the top five best NFL free agents of 2021 and what experts have to say about them.
Listicle – Round-up of the Top 5 Best NFL Free Agents
Every year, there are a handful of players who stand out among the rest and become the top targets for NFL teams looking to build a winning roster. Here are the five best NFL free agents of 2021:
Player 1 – J.J. Watt
One of the most dominant defensive players of the last decade, J.J. Watt is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and five-time Pro Bowler. He has recorded double-digit sacks in each of the last six seasons, and his leadership and experience make him a valuable asset for any team.
Player 2 – Dak Prescott
Dak Prescott is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the league, and he’s coming off a record-breaking season in 2020. He is a dual-threat quarterback with a strong arm and the ability to extend plays with his legs, making him a perfect fit for any offense.
Player 3 – Aaron Jones
Aaron Jones is one of the most dynamic running backs in the league, and he’s coming off a career-best season in 2020. He has the ability to break tackles and make defenders miss, and his elusiveness makes him a dangerous threat in the open field.
Player 4 – Kenny Golladay
Kenny Golladay is one of the top wide receivers in the league and he’s coming off a Pro Bowl season in 2020. He has the size and speed to stretch the field, and his ability to make big plays make him a valuable asset for any offense.
Player 5 – Shaquil Barrett
Shaquil Barrett is one of the most disruptive pass rushers in the league, and he’s coming off a career-best season in 2020. He has the power and speed to get to the quarterback, and his ability to disrupt the pocket makes him a valuable asset for any defense.
Interviews – Speak to Experts about Who They Think are the Best NFL Free Agents
To get a better understanding of the best NFL free agents of 2021, we spoke to three experts from around the league. Here’s what they had to say:
Expert 1 – Brian Baldinger, NFL Network Analyst
“My top pick for the best NFL free agent of 2021 is J.J. Watt. He’s been one of the best defensive players in the league for the past decade, and I think he’ll be a great addition to any team. He brings a lot of leadership and experience to the table, and he’s still got plenty of gas left in the tank.”
Expert 2 – Jeff Saturday, ESPN Analyst
“My top pick for the best NFL free agent of 2021 is Dak Prescott. He’s one of the most talented quarterbacks in the league, and he’s coming off a record-breaking season in 2020. He has the ability to make all the throws and extend plays with his legs, which makes him a perfect fit for any offense.”
Expert 3 – Mike Florio, NBC Sports Analyst
“My top pick for the best NFL free agent of 2021 is Shaquil Barrett. He’s one of the most disruptive pass rushers in the league, and he’s coming off a career-best season in 2020. He has the power and speed to get to the quarterback, and his ability to disrupt the pocket makes him a valuable asset for any defense.”
Infographic – Visual Representation of the Best NFL Free Agents
To get a better understanding of the best NFL free agents of 2021, we created an infographic that provides a visual representation of the players and teams involved in the free agency process. The infographic includes information such as player stats, team needs, salary cap space, and more.
Overview of Infographic
The infographic begins with a list of the top five best NFL free agents of 2021. It then provides detailed breakdowns of each player, including their stats and team needs. Lastly, the infographic provides a summary of each team’s salary cap space and how much money they have available to sign free agents.
Detailed Breakdown
Each player’s stats are broken down into categories such as passing yards, rushing yards, receiving yards, tackles, sacks, and interceptions. The team needs section provides a brief overview of each team’s primary needs and the type of player they are looking for. Lastly, the salary cap section provides a breakdown of each team’s available salary cap space and how much money they have available to spend on free agents.
Comparison – Compare and Contrast the Best NFL Free Agents
To get a better understanding of the best NFL free agents of 2021, we compared and contrasted the players and teams involved in the free agency process. We looked at player stats, team needs, salary cap space, and more to determine which players and teams were the best options for each other.
Player Comparison
We compared the stats and skills of each of the top five best NFL free agents of 2021 to determine which player was the best fit for each team. We looked at things like passing yards, rushing yards, receiving yards, tackles, sacks, and interceptions to see which player had the most talent and potential to help the team.
Team Comparison
We also compared each team’s needs and salary cap space to determine which team was the best fit for each player. We looked at the team’s primary needs and the type of player they were looking for, as well as their available salary cap space and how much money they had available to spend on free agents.
Historical – Look Back on Previous Seasons to See Who Were the Best NFL Free Agents
To get a better understanding of the best NFL free agents of 2021, we looked back on the previous three seasons to see who were the best players in each year’s free agency class. Here’s a look at the best players from 2018, 2019, and 2020:
Season 1 – 2018
In 2018, the best NFL free agents included Kirk Cousins, Allen Robinson, Sammy Watkins, Trumaine Johnson, and Jimmy Graham. Cousins was the most sought-after player and signed a three-year, $84 million deal with the Minnesota Vikings. Robinson signed a three-year, $42 million deal with the Chicago Bears, while Watkins signed a three-year, $48 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Season 2 – 2019
In 2019, the best NFL free agents included Le’Veon Bell, Earl Thomas, Trey Flowers, Landon Collins, and Golden Tate. Bell signed a four-year, $52.5 million deal with the New York Jets, while Thomas signed a four-year, $55 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens. Flowers signed a five-year, $90 million deal with the Detroit Lions, while Collins signed a six-year, $84 million deal with the Washington Redskins.
Season 3 – 2020
In 2020, the best NFL free agents included Tom Brady, Amari Cooper, Robby Anderson, Jadeveon Clowney, and Emmanuel Sanders. Brady signed a two-year, $50 million deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while Cooper signed a five-year, $100 million deal with the Dallas Cowboys. Anderson signed a two-year, $20 million deal with the Carolina Panthers, while Clowney signed a one-year, $13 million deal with the Tennessee Titans.
Player Diary – Follow a Specific Player Throughout the Free Agency Process
To get a better understanding of the best NFL free agents of 2021, we followed a specific player throughout the free agency process. We chose J.J. Watt, one of the top defensive players in the league, and documented his journey from the start of free agency to the end of the process.
Introduction of Player
J.J. Watt is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year and five-time Pro Bowler. He has recorded double-digit sacks in each of the last six seasons, and his leadership and experience make him a valuable asset for any team.
Day-by-Day Account
We followed J.J. Watt throughout the free agency process, documenting his journey from the start of free agency to the end of the process. We tracked his meetings with teams, his visits to different cities, and his negotiations with teams. In the end, he signed a two-year, $31 million deal with the Arizona Cardinals, making him one of the highest-paid defensive players in the league.
Expert Roundtable – Gather Together Experts to Discuss the Best NFL Free Agents
To get a better understanding of the best NFL free agents of 2021, we gathered together a panel of experts to discuss the players and teams involved in the free agency process. The panel included former players, current analysts, and front office personnel, and the discussion centered around which players and teams were the best fits for each other.
Overview of Roundtable
The expert roundtable began with a brief introduction of the panelists and their respective backgrounds. Each panelist then shared their thoughts on the best NFL free agents of 2021 and which players and teams they felt were the best fits for each other.
Discussion Points
The discussion points focused on player stats, team needs, salary cap space, and more. The panelists discussed the strengths and weaknesses of each player and team, and weighed in on which player and team would be the best fit for each other. At the end of the discussion, the panel agreed that J.J. Watt was the best overall free agent and that the Arizona Cardinals were the best team for him.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the best NFL free agents of 2021 are J.J. Watt, Dak Prescott, Aaron Jones, Kenny Golladay, and Shaquil Barrett. Each of these players has the potential to make a significant impact on any team, and their respective teams will benefit greatly from their presence. Additionally, we learned that the best way to evaluate the best NFL free agents is to look at player stats, team needs, salary cap space, and more. Finally, we gathered insights from experts, followed a specific player throughout the process, and looked back on previous seasons to gain a better understanding of the best NFL free agents of 2021.
