This morning, ESPN released its top free agents for each NFL team. Five players from SEC schools were named as their respective team’s biggest free agent set to hit the market with another receiving a mention.
MARK BARRON
The former Alabama safety led the Rams with 116 tackles in 2015. That total tied for 16th in the entire NFL. Barron had an amazing 16 tackles against the Browns in Week 7. He also tied for the team lead with 3 forced fumbles. The former first-round pick of the Buccaneers in 2012 is entering his fifth season in the NFL.
Former Florida cornerback Janoris Jenkins was also mentioned as having a case. He started in all 15 games he played last season, racking up 64 tackles, 3 interceptions, 15 pass defenses and a forced fumble.
GREG HARDY
The former Ole Miss defensive lineman and NFL Pro Bowler only managed 6 sacks last season with the Cowboys, but that was still good for second on a Dallas unit that was tied for 25th last season in sacks (31). His off-the-field issues have gotten more attention than his on-field success lately. The Cowboys controversially signed him to a 1-year deal in March 2015 coming off his involvement in a domestic violence case. However, Hardy was a headache as he reportedly had an issue being on time for team meetings, and there was also an incident in which he slapped a clipboard out of special teams coach Rich Bisaccia’s hands during a sideline tirade. The team doesn’t plan on retaining him.
BENJAMIN WATSON
The former Georgia tight end was one of quarterback Drew Brees’ top targets last season. Brees targeted Watson 110 times, 7th-most among TEs in the NFL. He was second on the team with 74 receptions (also 7th in the NFL among TEs) to go with 825 receiving yards and 6 TDs, all of which are career-highs for the 35-year-old, who was named a team captain.
CASEY HAYWARD
The former Vanderbilt cornerback has been solid with the Packers, showing versatility and seeing the field plenty. He played 88.1 percent of snaps last season, the most of any cornerback on the squad, and he started 11 games after only starting in two combined over the previous two seasons in Green Bay. Plus, his 65 tackles were 5th-most on the team. His performance in 2015 was certainly a step in the right direction as far as recapturing the form he displayed in his rookie campaign, when he had 6 interceptions and defended 21 passes.
AL WOODS
The former LSU defensive lineman anchored the middle of the Titans defense last season at nose tackle. He’s proven valuable in defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau’s scheme with his size (6-foot-4, 307 pounds) and versatility as he can play every position on the defensive front.
Born and raised in Gainesville, Talal joined SDS in 2015 after spending 2 years in Bristol as an ESPN researcher. Previously, Talal worked at The Gainesville Sun.
