Five bold NFL free agency predictions includes 49ers surprise

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It's only been a month since Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were crowned Super Bowl champions, but it's already time to flip the page. Such is life in the NFL.The new league year will begin March 17 and a number of teams have big decisions to make. The 49ers enter the offseason looking to bounce back to the top of the NFC in 2021. Jimmy Garoppolo likely will return as the starting quarterback, but can the 49ers keep left tackle Trent Williams? And how will they address their secondary with Richard Sherman, K'Waun Williams, Jason Verrett and Jaquiski Tartt all set to hit the market?With the shrinking cap, a number of big names could become cap casualties, with Denver Broncos edge rusher Von Miller among the prominent candidates who could be cut. Will the Super Bowl 50 MVP stay in Denver or find a new home? Speaking of the AFC West, how will the Raiders find the cap space to fix their defense, and where will coveted backup Marcus Mariota call home next season?We have a decent idea of what might happen with some of the big names. But there are always surprises. So, let's get bold and make five predictions for how the NFL will get turned on its head when free agency kicks off.

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<p>Broncos general manager George Patton said Von Miller is in the Broncos' plans, but they are still working through things with Miller's agent.</p>

<p>The star edge rusher has a contract option guaranteeing $7 million of his $18 million salary that must be picked up by March 16. </p>

<p>I do think the Broncos want to bring Miller back, but I have a feeling they'd like him to either restructure his deal or sign him to a new one that lessens the financial strain on them in 2021. Eventually, I think the Broncos and Miller can't find common ground and the edge rusher hits the open market.</p>

<p>Miller, who was named MVP of Super Bowl 50, will be looking to boost his value after missing last season with an ankle injury while playing for a contender. He finds that in the defending champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who will have some decisions to make in free agency. I think the Bucs will be able to bring back Jason Pierre-Paul, but Shaq Barrett, who played last season on the franchise tag, will head to New York after getting a massive deal from Robert Saleh and the Jets.</p>

Broncos general manager George Patton said Von Miller is in the Broncos' plans, but they are still working through things with Miller's agent.

The star edge rusher has a contract option guaranteeing $7 million of his $18 million salary that must be picked up by March 16. 

I do think the Broncos want to bring Miller back, but I have a feeling they'd like him to either restructure his deal or sign him to a new one that lessens the financial strain on them in 2021. Eventually, I think the Broncos and Miller can't find common ground and the edge rusher hits the open market.

Miller, who was named MVP of Super Bowl 50, will be looking to boost his value after missing last season with an ankle injury while playing for a contender. He finds that in the defending champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who will have some decisions to make in free agency. I think the Bucs will be able to bring back Jason Pierre-Paul, but Shaq Barrett, who played last season on the franchise tag, will head to New York after getting a massive deal from Robert Saleh and the Jets.

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<p>Trent Williams is the 49ers' top offseason priority.</p>

<p>He should be, especially after J.J. Watt signed with the Arizona Cardinals to bring another top pass rusher to the NFC West.</p>

<p>Williams, 32, proved he was still one of the best left tackles in the game. He'll want to get paid, but also wants to play for a contender. The 49ers agreed not to franchise tag Williams, which will come back to bite them.</p>

<p>While the 49ers appear to be in the driver's seat for Williams, the Indianapolis Colts swoop in and give Williams a four-year, $96 million contract with $35 million guaranteed, making Williams the highest-paid left tackle in the NFL. The Colts are expected to have around $44 million in cap space and need to replace recently-retired left tackle Anthony Castonzo to ensure Carson Wentz's blindside is secured.</p>

<p>The 49ers get dealt a tough blow and now must focus on finding a tackle at the top of the draft.</p>

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Trent Williams is the 49ers' top offseason priority.

He should be, especially after J.J. Watt signed with the Arizona Cardinals to bring another top pass rusher to the NFC West.

Williams, 32, proved he was still one of the best left tackles in the game. He'll want to get paid, but also wants to play for a contender. The 49ers agreed not to franchise tag Williams, which will come back to bite them.

While the 49ers appear to be in the driver's seat for Williams, the Indianapolis Colts swoop in and give Williams a four-year, $96 million contract with $35 million guaranteed, making Williams the highest-paid left tackle in the NFL. The Colts are expected to have around $44 million in cap space and need to replace recently-retired left tackle Anthony Castonzo to ensure Carson Wentz's blindside is secured.

The 49ers get dealt a tough blow and now must focus on finding a tackle at the top of the draft.

 

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<p><em><strong>Editor's note:</strong> This was published before the Giants put the franchise tag on Leonard Williams.</em></p>

<p>The Raiders opened up cap room this week by releasing Lamarcus Joyner and trading Trent Brown to the Patriots.</p>

<p>They then strike another deal with New England by sending Marcus Mariota to Foxboro along with a sixth-round pick. Mariota agrees to restructure his contract to add an extra season in New England. </p>

<p>The Raiders end up with around $35 million in cap space and use it all on defense, giving new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley some talent to work with.</p>

<p>The Raiders go big and add Leonard Williams, the top defensive lineman on the market who will give them an immediate boost on the interior. They then add two buy-low veterans in defensive end Melvin Ingram and cornerback Richard Sherman to incentive-laden deals.</p>

<p>After once again fading down the stretch and failing to make the playoffs, the Raiders address some of their biggest needs and now can focus on finding a top safety in the NFL draft. *cough* Trevon Moehrig *cough*.</p>

Editor's note: This was published before the Giants put the franchise tag on Leonard Williams.

The Raiders opened up cap room this week by releasing Lamarcus Joyner and trading Trent Brown to the Patriots.

They then strike another deal with New England by sending Marcus Mariota to Foxboro along with a sixth-round pick. Mariota agrees to restructure his contract to add an extra season in New England. 

The Raiders end up with around $35 million in cap space and use it all on defense, giving new defensive coordinator Gus Bradley some talent to work with.

The Raiders go big and add Leonard Williams, the top defensive lineman on the market who will give them an immediate boost on the interior. They then add two buy-low veterans in defensive end Melvin Ingram and cornerback Richard Sherman to incentive-laden deals.

After once again fading down the stretch and failing to make the playoffs, the Raiders address some of their biggest needs and now can focus on finding a top safety in the NFL draft. *cough* Trevon Moehrig *cough*.

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<p>The Patriots enter the offseason with around $66 million in cap space. They'd love it if the 49ers cut ties with Jimmy Garoppolo, but John Lynch decides to run it back and Bill Belichick acquires Marcus Mariota to be his starter.</p>

<p>While Mariota was impressive in his lone relief outing for the Raiders, he will need weapons in order to be effective, and the Patriots' current crop of skill players arguably is the worst in football.</p>

<p>New England opens the checkbook for tight end Hunter Henry and gives Mariota's former Tennessee Titans teammate Corey Davis $10 million annually to make sure Mariota isn't throwing to Jakobi Meyers and N'Keal Harry.</p>

<p>It's not going to light the world on fire, but the Patriots should be back in the playoff mix with this crew.</p>

The Patriots enter the offseason with around $66 million in cap space. They'd love it if the 49ers cut ties with Jimmy Garoppolo, but John Lynch decides to run it back and Bill Belichick acquires Marcus Mariota to be his starter.

While Mariota was impressive in his lone relief outing for the Raiders, he will need weapons in order to be effective, and the Patriots' current crop of skill players arguably is the worst in football.

New England opens the checkbook for tight end Hunter Henry and gives Mariota's former Tennessee Titans teammate Corey Davis $10 million annually to make sure Mariota isn't throwing to Jakobi Meyers and N'Keal Harry.

It's not going to light the world on fire, but the Patriots should be back in the playoff mix with this crew.

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<p>Losing Williams stings, but the 49ers quickly change course and free up a little more cap space by restructuring Jimmy Garoppolo's contract, signaling his return as starter in 2021. The 49ers also cut ties with center Weston Richburg and Dee Ford, despite his injury guarantee.</p>

<p>In doing so, the 49ers are able to re-sign cornerback Jason Verrett, and fill the hole left by nickelback K'Waun Williams -- who will head to New York to play for Saleh -- by signing veteran nickelback Mike Hilton for three years, $12 million and get edge rusher Romeo Okwara on a one-year deal worth $7 million to put on the opposite side of Nick Bosa. </p>

<p>The 49ers also sign veteran quarterback Andy Dalton to backup Jimmy Garoppolo.</p>

<p>But their big splash comes in the form of offensive guard Joe Thuney, who the 49ers sign to a four-year, $57 million deal ($14.25 million annually). After the emergence of rookie Michael Onwenu, the Patriots can feel good letting Thuney, one of the league's best guards, walk away. Thuney ranks in the 83rd percentile in pass blocking since entering the league and hasn’t missed a game in his five-year career. He can play guard, tackle and center, giving the 49ers much-needed flexibility going forward.</p>

<p>With Thuney, Laken Tomlinson and Mike McGlinchey locked in, along with Daniel Brunskill at center, the 49ers can draft either Northwestern's Rashawn Slater or Virginia Tech's Christian Darrisaw to take over long term at left tackle.</p>

Losing Williams stings, but the 49ers quickly change course and free up a little more cap space by restructuring Jimmy Garoppolo's contract, signaling his return as starter in 2021. The 49ers also cut ties with center Weston Richburg and Dee Ford, despite his injury guarantee.

In doing so, the 49ers are able to re-sign cornerback Jason Verrett, and fill the hole left by nickelback K'Waun Williams -- who will head to New York to play for Saleh -- by signing veteran nickelback Mike Hilton for three years, $12 million and get edge rusher Romeo Okwara on a one-year deal worth $7 million to put on the opposite side of Nick Bosa. 

The 49ers also sign veteran quarterback Andy Dalton to backup Jimmy Garoppolo.

But their big splash comes in the form of offensive guard Joe Thuney, who the 49ers sign to a four-year, $57 million deal ($14.25 million annually). After the emergence of rookie Michael Onwenu, the Patriots can feel good letting Thuney, one of the league's best guards, walk away. Thuney ranks in the 83rd percentile in pass blocking since entering the league and hasn’t missed a game in his five-year career. He can play guard, tackle and center, giving the 49ers much-needed flexibility going forward.

With Thuney, Laken Tomlinson and Mike McGlinchey locked in, along with Daniel Brunskill at center, the 49ers can draft either Northwestern's Rashawn Slater or Virginia Tech's Christian Darrisaw to take over long term at left tackle.

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