NFL free agency matchmaker: Projecting contracts, landing spots for 25 big-name 2022 free agents

NFL free agency matchmaker: Projecting contracts, landing spots for 25 big-name 2022 free agents

The 2022 NFL offseason will officially begin on March 16, but free agency talk is already well underway. Veterans with expiring contracts can begin negotiations with other teams on March 14, and that’s not even accounting for the uncertain futures of big names like Aaron Rodgers, who may or may not be back in Green Bay.

As we approach the open market, here’s one stab at where some of the top names could end up, and what kind of money they could fetch in free agency — a look at 25 different potential landing spots for players at every position:

Note: The following players were not included because they are projected to re-sign with their current teams: Packers WR Davante Adams, Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin, Chargers WR Mike Williams, Rams WR Odell Beckham Jr., Chiefs OT Orlando Brown Jr., Bengals S Jessie Bates III.

Projected terms: Three years, $61.5 million | Per year: $20.5 million

Regardless of whether the Colts replace QB Carson Wentz, they need better pass protection. Armstead is a major upgrade on Eric Fisher when healthy, not to mention a proven locker-room leader. GM Chris Ballard pays up to protect whomever’s under center.

Projected terms: Four years, $72 million | Per year: $18 million

Houston needs play-makers everywhere, but especially at corner. New coach Lovie Smith gets a building block for his defense, and general manager Nick Caserio knows Jackson from New England. At 26, the ex-Patriots star instantly boosts their secondary.

Projected terms: One year, $17 million | Per year: $17 million

A key piece of the Rams’ Super Bowl rotation, he has the flexibility to be picky at 33, and a big one-year payday allows him a chance to latch onto another contender before re-evaluating in 2023. Baltimore gets itself a plug-and-play No. 1 edge

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Los Angeles Rams win Super Bowl LVI with 23-20 comeback win over Cincinnati Bengals | NFL News

Los Angeles Rams win Super Bowl LVI with 23-20 comeback win over Cincinnati Bengals | NFL News

Los Angeles Rams receiver Cooper Kupp named Super Bowl MVP after 92-yard and two-TD game; Odell Beckham Jr exits with knee injury in the first half; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow sacked a joint-Super-Bowl-record seven times

Last Updated: 14/02/22 6:51pm


Highlights of Super Bowl LVI between the LA Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals

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Highlights of Super Bowl LVI between the LA Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals

Highlights of Super Bowl LVI between the LA Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals

The Los Angeles Rams came back to beat the Cincinnati Bengals in stunning fashion in Super Bowl LVI, lifting the Vince Lombardi Trophy after a 23-20 win at home in SoFi Stadium.

Story of the Game

Trailing 20-16 with six minutes and 13 seconds to go, Matthew Stafford – who gets a ring in his first season in Los Angeles – led the Rams on a 15-play, 79-yard drive capped with a one-yard touchdown pass to Super Bowl MVP Cooper Kupp, who also converted a key fourth down play earlier on the same series.

Joe Burrow and the Bengals would get the ball back with a minute and 25 left but, with the Rams pass rush repeatedly getting home in the second half, Aaron Donald delivered the game-ending hit on fourth down.

Aaron Donald sacked Joe Burrow to seal the win for the Rams in Super Bowl LVI

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Aaron Donald sacked Joe Burrow to seal the win for the Rams in Super Bowl LVI

Aaron Donald sacked Joe Burrow to seal the win for the Rams in Super Bowl LVI

Burrow was sacked a league-high 51 times in the regular season and was taken down a playoff-record nine times in Cincinnati’s divisional round win over the Tennessee Titans, but he was only dropped once in the first half by the much-vaunted Rams pass rush – with Donald

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NFL legend Joe Theismann on the Tremendous Bowl, player security and sports betting

NFL legend Joe Theismann on the Tremendous Bowl, player security and sports betting

Tremendous Bowl LVI has a lot to dwell up to. This year’s Nationwide Soccer League playoff video games have been amid the most enjoyable of all time, and Tremendous Bowl champion quarterback Joe Theismann thinks Sunday’s game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Cincinnati Bengals will proceed to have lovers on the edge of their seats.

“If the playoffs are any sign of what we may perhaps see in this Tremendous Bowl, it need to be a basic,” the NFL MVP explained to Yahoo Finance Are living.

The Rams will be likely for their second Super Bowl get soon after their victory in 2000 from the Tennessee Titans, although the Bengals are hoping to provide house the Lombardi trophy for the first time in franchise historical past.

“I imagine it is really likely to be really aggressive,” Thiesmann said. “When you seem at the playoffs that we have had about the previous two or 3 months, you have to consider that this game is going to be that sort of a soccer game. The Rams are favored by 4 and a 50 percent. I never assume they can win by that numerous. I imagine it will be a much closer soccer activity. I am finding the Rams. This is the earliest I’ve at any time picked a crew.”

Theismann predicts the Rams will beat the Bengals by a discipline objective, but did not discounted a Bengals upset.

“If the Bengals acquire, I will not consider any one would be stunned. I know it really is their first opportunity. The Rams have been below just a couple of a long time back, and failed to really get it performed. So now they’re again once more to have a further shot at the brass ring, but I imagine it really is

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NFL games today: Expert picks, predictions, props for NFL playoffs, Sunday divisional round schedule 2022

NFL games today: Expert picks, predictions, props for NFL playoffs, Sunday divisional round schedule 2022

This weekend will decide who makes up our NFL “Final Four.” The divisional round of the playoffs has the potential to be the most entertaining round of the postseason and it certainly got off to a rousing start on Saturday.

The Cincinnati Bengals punched their ticket with a walk-off win on the road over the top-seeded Titans, while the 49ers sent Aaron Rodgers and the top-seeded Packers home early with a walk-off win as well. On Sunday, Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford face off for the second time this year, while the Chiefs and Bills tangle in a rematch of last season’s AFC title game. If you’re looking for advice on what lines to play on Sunday, you’ve come to the right spot.  

Every week, we collect all of the best picks and gambling content from CBSSports.com and SportsLine in one place, so you can get picks against the spread from our CBS Sports experts as well as additional feature content for each game, including plays from top SportsLine experts and the SportsLine Projection Model, best bets from our staff and more.

All NFL odds via Caesars Sportsbook.

Which picks can you make with confidence in the divisional round? And which Super Bowl contender goes down hard? Visit SportsLine, as their incredible model simulates every NFL game 10,000 times and is up over $7,500 for $100 players on top-rated NFL picks since its inception six-plus years ago.

Time: Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET (CBS), stream on Paramount+ (click here)
Open: Chiefs -2.5, O/U 54.5
Current: Chiefs -2, O/U 54

“This is a rematch from a game earlier this season that the Bills won on the Chiefs’ home field. The Bills and Chiefs are both coming off impressive victories. Both Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen lit up their opponents

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NFL insider notes: Why coach hirings could shift back to defense, Giants come to senses and more on carousel

NFL insider notes: Why coach hirings could shift back to defense, Giants come to senses and more on carousel

Could this be the head coaching cycle where defensive coordinators prevail? Might the pendulum end up swinging back to side of the ball, at least a smidge?

It’s fair to at least ponder the possibility.

Yes, the game is all about scoring points and protecting quarterbacks and the rules tend to favor the offense. And NFL owners have displayed a growing propensity to hire from that side of the ball, looking for quarterback whisperers and play callers and favoring that profile above all others. But color me at least somewhat optimistic that perhaps some of these decision-makers will keep a more open mind when it comes to which attributes and specialties matter most when hiring a head coach.

We are still quite early in this process, obviously. And I’ve felt like a sucker at times in the past when some of the initial candidate lists represented a wider panorama of potential hires. I won’t fully believe that preferences are changing and searches are more merit-based until I see it with my own eyes, but there is reason to believe maybe this cycle will be different than many in recent history.

There seem to be a higher number of genuinely sought after defensive coaches, and more men on that side of the ball getting the chance to interview for multiple jobs. As it should be. The coupling of an experienced, defensive minded head coach and an innovative offensive coordinator has always made the most sense to me when it comes to managing the entirety of a football team, and maybe that will carry the day in some of these instances.

Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn was always shaping up to be one of the most in-demand coaches on this market, reaching a Super Bowl as head coach in Atlanta and getting

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Prisco’s NFL picks for wild-card round: Bills roll over Patriots in AFC East rubber match, 49ers upset Cowboys

Prisco’s NFL picks for wild-card round: Bills roll over Patriots in AFC East rubber match, 49ers upset Cowboys

Like some of the NFL teams did with their players, I rested last week. That awful showing you saw with my picks came from my backup. It wasn’t me. Blame the backup. He was terrible. I was getting ready for the postseason.

OK. It was me. I played, and I got abused. LOOOOOOSER.

That certainly is not the week I wanted heading into the playoffs. I went 7-9 ATS, 8-8 straight up and 2-4 with my Best Bets as part of the Pick Six Podcast. That brings my season records to 144-125-3 ATS, 168-103-1 straight up and 59-54 with my Best Bets.

I do like the Super Wild Card Weekend games this week, so I am getting back on track.

My backup did a terrible job last week when I sat out, so I am ready to go.

Bring on the playoffs.

Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET (NBC)

Latest Odds:

Cincinnati Bengals
-5.5

The Raiders got into the playoffs by beating the Chargers on Sunday night, while the Bengals are coming off a loss where they rested most of their top players. That’s an edge to the Bengals. Cincinnati has an explosive offense, but the Raiders counter with a wicked pass rush. This will be decided by how well the Bengals can protect Joe Burrow. I think they do it well enough to win the game, but it will be close. The Bengals win their first playoff game since the 1990 season.

Pick: Bengals 27, Raiders 24

Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET (CBS, Paramount+)

Latest Odds:

Buffalo Bills
-4.5

This is the third game featuring these two this season, with each winning on the other’s field. New England won the first meeting in a wind storm in early December, while the Bills dominated the Pats at their place in late December.

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