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Mark Craig ranks the most overrated and underrated 2019 NFL free agents

By Mark Craig

March 11, 2019 at 4:04AM
New York Giants defensive back Landon Collins (21) reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun) ORG XMIT: NYOTK
New York Giants defensive back Landon Collins (21) reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun) ORG XMIT: NYOTK (The Minnesota Star Tribune)

2019 NFL FREE AGENCY

DON'T OVERPAY! Most overrated

Parentheses: age on 2019 opening day

Landon Collins

S, Giants (25)

Even young Pro Bowl safeties shouldn't be overpaid if they can't cover. His own team agrees.

Trent Brown

LT, Patriots (26)

The sum of the whole in New England is always greater than its parts. Even the young, gigantic parts.

Le'Veon Bell

RB, Steelers (27)

Sorry, but he's a running back. A very good one. But even the Steelers' offense found him replaceable. Why overpay?

Nick Foles

QB, Eagles (30)

Unless all of the 2017 Eagles are coming with him, Foles' career should be weighed before someone pays him a savior's salary.

Earl Thomas

S, Seahawks (30)

Don't pay him for what he did in his 20s. Especially coming off a leg injury and 19 missed games the past three years.

POTENTIAL/RELATIVE BARGAINS? Most underrated

Jamison Crowder

WR, Redskins (26)

An exciting slot receiver who averaged 64 receptions (from Kirk Cousins) from 2015 to '17. If the price is right, just saying.

Darius Philon

DT, Chargers (25)

Fundamentally sound and poised for a breakout year, he has 8 ½ sacks the past two years as mostly a part-time player.

Justin Coleman

CB, Seahawks (26)

A young, standout nickel corner with 10 starts the past two years. He's ready for the next step.

Adrian Amos

S, Bears (26)

Younger with a much better upside than many of the big-name safeties flooding the market.

Cameron Fleming

OL, Cowboys (27)

In 2017, he had nine impressive starts at RT for Patriots, including Super Bowl LII. He was a swing tackle for the Cowboys last year.

MARK CRAIG


New England Patriots tackle Trent Brown sits on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) ORG XMIT: NYOTK
New England Patriots tackle Trent Brown sits on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) ORG XMIT: NYOTK (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell (26), right, smiles while talking to running back Fitzgerald Toussaint (33) as he participates in an NFL football practice, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018, in Pittsburgh. The Steelers host the Jacksonville Jaguars in a divisional playoff on Sunday. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) ORG XMIT: PAKS
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell (26), right, smiles while talking to running back Fitzgerald Toussaint (33) as he participates in an NFL football practice, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018, in Pittsburgh. The Steelers host the Jacksonville Jaguars in a divisional playoff on Sunday. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) ORG XMIT: PAKS (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
ARCHIVO - En esta foto de archivo del 13 de enero de 2019, el quarterback de los Eagles de Filadelfia, Nick Foles, calienta antes de un juego divisional contra los Saints de Nueva Orleáns, en Nueva Orleáns. (AP Foto/Butch Dill, Archivo) ORG XMIT: SPANNYDD203
ARCHIVO - En esta foto de archivo del 13 de enero de 2019, el quarterback de los Eagles de Filadelfia, Nick Foles, calienta antes de un juego divisional contra los Saints de Nueva Orleáns, en Nueva Orleáns. (AP Foto/Butch Dill, Archivo) ORG XMIT: SPANNYDD203 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
FILE - In this Sept. 30, 2018, file photo, Seattle Seahawks defensive back Earl Thomas (29) is greeted by Arizona Cardinals players as he leaves the field after breaking his leg during the second half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz. The Seahawks won 20-17. The Seahawks face the Los Angeles Rams and running back Todd Gurley this week. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File) ORG XMIT: NY201
FILE - In this Sept. 30, 2018, file photo, Seattle Seahawks defensive back Earl Thomas (29) is greeted by Arizona Cardinals players as he leaves the field after breaking his leg during the second half of an NFL football game in Glendale, Ariz. The Seahawks won 20-17. The Seahawks face the Los Angeles Rams and running back Todd Gurley this week. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File) ORG XMIT: NY201 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Washington Redskins wide receiver Jamison Crowder (80) during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Washington Redskins wide receiver Jamison Crowder (80) during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Darius Philon (93) celebrates stopping the Oakland Raiders on fourth-and-one yard during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo) ORG XMIT: OTKAG
Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Darius Philon (93) celebrates stopping the Oakland Raiders on fourth-and-one yard during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Carson, Calif. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo) ORG XMIT: OTKAG (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Justin Coleman (28) celebrates an interception against the Detroit Lions during an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) ORG XMIT: MIPS10
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Justin Coleman (28) celebrates an interception against the Detroit Lions during an NFL football game in Detroit, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) ORG XMIT: MIPS10 (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Chicago Bears defensive back Adrian Amos (38) in the first half during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Chicago Bears defensive back Adrian Amos (38) in the first half during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
New England Patriots offensive guard Shaq Mason (69) and offensive tackle Cameron Fleming (71) watch the game from the sidelines, during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Monday, Dec. 11, 2017, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) ORG XMIT: OTK
New England Patriots offensive guard Shaq Mason (69) and offensive tackle Cameron Fleming (71) watch the game from the sidelines, during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Monday, Dec. 11, 2017, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) ORG XMIT: OTK (The Minnesota Star Tribune)
about the writer

about the writer

Mark Craig

Sports reporter

Mark Craig has covered the NFL nearly every year since Brett Favre was a rookie back in 1991. A sports writer since 1987, he is covering his 30th NFL season out of 37 years with the Canton (Ohio) Repository (1987-99) and the Star Tribune (1999-present).

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