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Finding a Fit: Ray Edwards
Ray Edwards, the Vikings' up-and-coming defensive end, earns the spotlight in the third installment of our Finding a Fit series that will continue as long as the lockout drags on. In this series, we're going to look at free agents and try to match them to their perfect fits. We'll consider opportunity, skill specificity, personality, and even money as we do this.
We've already addressed QB Matt Hasselbeck and CB Nnamdi Asomugha in this series. With each entry, we give a quick synoposis of who the player is at this point, and then seek to find a fit.
If you'd like to suggest a player for finding a fit, leave a comment or let us know on Twitter.
Ray Edwards on the attack, via midwestsportsfans.com
Playing across from Jared Allen, Edwards has developed into a reliable pass rusher with at least 8 sacks in each of the past two seasons. Now he's ready to cash in and become a team's focal pressure point, out of Allen's shadow. The stats indicate that Edwards is ready to take that step after five NFL seasons, but he didn't get the chance to hit the market last year because the uncapped year meant that unrestricted free agency wasn't possible until players had accrued six seasons, instead of the previous four. Edwards would get stuck in limbo again if the NFL carried over 2010 rules to 2011, but a new labor deal (whenever it happens) should allow Edwards to hit the open market. In the absence of a Julius Peppers-level superstar, Edwards should be the top 4-3 defensive end on the market. That's necessary, because his first pro boxing match, while a win, showed that hitting the ring isn't a long-term career option.
Potential Fits
Minnesota – Edwards was unhappy when the system locked him into the Vikings last year, because it cost him millions of dollars in guarantees. The Vikings will keep Edwards for one more year if the system makes it easy again; otherwise, given the investments in Allen and LB Chad Greenway, the Vikings will probably let Edwards price himself out of town. Edwards seems to have the itch to prove himself as a No. 1 pass rusher. That's not always wise, but once a player gets that inclination, it's hard to be happy returning to the same place.
Atlanta – The Falcons have gotten as much as possible out of injury-prone John Abraham the last few years, but they could use another pass-rush threat. Edwards fits from a scheme perspective, and he would be the kind of player a contender can justify overpaying in an attempt to get over the hump. The question is whether the budget – and whatever the new salary-cap rules are – will allow the Falcons to make a big run at Edwards.
Tampa Bay – Had free agency happened before the draft, the Buccaneers could have been major players for Edwards. But after drafting DEs Adrian Clayborn and DaQuan Bowers, it's unlikely the Bucs would invest in Edwards too. That's too bad for Edwards, because it would have been a perfect fit scheme-wise on an up-and-coming squad.
Denver – The Broncos haven't been linked all that often to Edwards, but as John Fox moves the team to a 4-3 defense, it needs a premium defensive end. (Rookie Von Miller is a pass rusher, but he is so small that he'll probably need to do so from a linebacker position.) So Edwards could be an impactful veteran addition. The question is whether Denver will pay a premium price for a player like Edwards, or whether the Broncos will instead try to add multiple players at cheaper prices. We expect the latter, which would rule Edwards out of the Mile High equation.
Buffalo – Like the Broncos, the Bills are moving to a 4-3, which makes Edwards a good fit. But Buffalo isn't traditionally a prime free-agent destination, and they aren't usually the highest bidder either. And Edwards is unlikely to sign up for this big of a rebuilding project. So this marriage looks unlikely, even if it is a fit from a scheme perspective.
Carolina – The Panthers need a 4-3 defensive end, especially if potential free agent Charles Johnson departs. Edwards would be a viable replacement for Johnson, but if the Panthers are going to spring for a high-dollar player, they're far more likely to keep their own guy instead of bringing Edwards to town.
The Best Fits
1. Atlanta – The need is there, and playing for a contender would certainly appeal to Edwards. This would be a win-now move for the Falcons, who showed with the Julio Jones trade in the draft that they're willing to take this kind of big swing.
2. Denver – The system switch could entice the Broncos to overpay Edwards. That's not the approach we would take, but Denver often opens up the purse strings in surprising ways.
3. Minnesota – Only a fit if the system allows them to underpay Edwards for the second year in a row.
Filed under Finding a Fit, Football Relativity, NFL Free Agency
Tagged as adrian clayborn, atlanta falcons, buffalo bills, carolina panthers, chad greenway, charles johnson, da'quan bowers, denver broncos, Football Relativity, jared allen, john abraham, john fox, julius peppers, matt hasselbeck, minnesota vikings, NFL Free Agency, NFL free agents, nnamdi asomugha, ray edwards, tampa bay buccaneers, von miller
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