3 days Ago By David Kenyon
The playoff race rightfully commands most attention during the latter half of the NFL season, but many players are using this closing stretch for a particularly important reason, too. Soon enough, they'll be headed to free agency. Every remaining game is an audition, whether it's for a player's current team or potential suitors when the market opens in March.
And the better he performs, the more appealing his contract offer may be. The choices are subjective but look at players with expiring deals—no cut candidates—who are expected to hold significant roles down the stretch. Through eight games, Sam Darnold has rebuilt his reputation and earned more time as a starter in the NFL.
Whether it's with the Minnesota Vikings is an open question, but that's not the focus here. How much money should he expect? Even if the 6-2 Vikings collapse down the stretch, a QB-needy roster will take a chance on Darnold. In that situation, it'd be fair to expect at least a slight increase on his one-year, $10 million pact .
However, he's trending toward shattering career-high passing stats this season. Darnold absolutely can maintain this success with a supporting cast featuring All-Pro wideout Justin Jefferson in a sturdy offensive system led by head coach and play-caller Kevin O'Connell. Minnesota, again, may decide to stick with the original plan if J.
J. McCarthy's recovery goes as expected. But if Darnold plays well and leads the Vikings to the playoffs, he might be the best QB available.
And that would make him a very expensive free agent. Fellow late-career breakouts Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield signed contracts with $27.3 and $40 million in guaranteed money.
Something similar would be logical if Darnold continues his strong play. Lost in the disaster that has become the Dallas Cowboys' year is a quality season from Rico Dowdle. So far, he's averaged 4.
5 yards per carry despite the offensive line being an average group through eight games. Dowdle has also tallied 21 catches for 163 yards and three touchdowns. Dowdle's role might be about to grow substantially, too.
For several weeks, the Cowboys will be without quarterback Dak Prescott because of a hamstring injury. Dallas, in theory, will be leaning heavily on Dowdle and the ground game to ease the burden on Cooper Rush. Running backs don't carry as much value in free agency these days, but Dowdle can land a sharp raise from his $1.
3 million rate . As he continued to recover from a significant knee injury, Mike Williams didn't make the impact hoped on the New York Jets. He mustered 12 catches for 166 yards in nine games.
Perhaps a fresh start is exactly what he needs. Now a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the veteran has a chance to secure a greater role. He logged 53 percent of snaps in New York but commanded just 21 targets.
That percentage can increase quickly if Williams emerges as the clear No. 2 receiver behind George Pickens in Pittsburgh. Looking ahead to free agency, he needs that to happen, too.
Williams' value has dropped considerably, even accounting for that recovery. The quiet half-season makes another $10 million offer unlikely. Become a steady contributor with the Steelers, though, and that perception could change in a hurry.
If I said a receiver from the Tennessee Titans is riding a four-game touchdown streak, would you believe me? At this point, you have likely inferred the answer is Nick Westbrook-Ikhine—and not Calvin Ridley or someone else. The wideout, who's making only $2 million , is building an intriguing profile for the offseason. The scoring run predates the DeAndre Hopkins trade.
Since the Titans moved D-Hop to the Kansas City Chiefs, nevertheless, Westbrook-Ikhine has soared from three catches for 19 yards in 99 offensive snaps (over six games combined) to seven receptions for 89 yards in two games. More playing time doesn't automatically lead to more production, but the 27-year-old has capitalized on the opportunity. Receiver-needy rosters should be keeping their peripherals on Westbrook-Ikhine and his return to a significant role.
Two years of forgettable production led Mike Gesicki to the Cincinnati Bengals for just $2.5 million this season. Gesicki averaged 30.
5 receptions for 303 yards and 3.5 scores in those recent two years. At the halfway mark of the 2024 campaign, however, he's nabbed 30 passes for 353 yards and two touchdowns.
The payday is looming. As with Darnold, for example, the challenge is sustaining what he's done. Gesicki has been most effective when Tee Higgins is sidelined, but Cincy would rather have him available than not.
(Shocking, I know.) Gesicki's value can climb further if he produces when Higgins is also healthy. While the veteran has started to rehab his value nicely, Gesicki still has untapped upside to chase in the second half.
As the deadline approached, the Atlanta Falcons stood out in the edge-rushing market. Perhaps they would be able to swing a deal for a player like Azeez Ojulari from the New York Giants. Atlanta ultimately didn't address the position, which is probably a relief for veteran Matt Judon.
The season hasn't gone according to plan, to say the least. Following a contract stalemate, the New England Patriots dealt him to the Falcons. The trade came without an extension, and Judon has made a minimal impact in Atlanta.
He notched four sacks and 11 pressures in four games (184 snaps before injury) last season; he has 1.5 and five, respectively, in nine appearances (372 snaps) this year. Since the Falcons didn't add anyone at the deadline, Judon will remain a regular piece of the rotation.
His playing time has dipped recently, but a couple of productive games can kickstart his season in a hurry. And bolster his offseason paycheck, too. Josh Uche exploded for 11.
5 sacks during the 2022 season, so it seemed the Patriots had have found a potential long-term piece. That vision dissipated in 2023 as Uche mustered three sacks and 15 pressures. His production didn't improve much early in 2024 with two sacks and five pressures in seven appearances for the Pats.
New England recently traded him to the Kansas City Chiefs, where Uche regains something he'd lacked in the last year-plus. Judon has struggled this season in Atlanta, yes, but he'd been a force with the Patriots. It's reasonable to believe the presence of Judon—who posted 15.
5 sacks in 2022—allowed Uche to thrive in a complementary role. But when an injury sidelined Judon in 2023, Uche struggled. So, back to Kansas City.
The defensive front boasts All-Pro pocket-wrecker Chris Jones and young standout George Karlaftis III. Jones often aligns on the inside, so Uche can share the field with both players. Maybe he's not a cornerstone of a D-line, but a pass-rushing specialist can command much more than the $3 million Uche is pocketing this season.
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