NFL free agency: T.J. McDonald suspended eight games

T.J. McDonald is still available on the free agent market, and he probably will be for a bit longer now.

McDonald started all 53 games he played for the Los Angeles Rams at strong safety over the last four seasons. with four interceptions, 18 pass breakups, five sacks and 215 total tackles over that time. But interest in him on the free agent market has been limited, with a recent visit to the Miami Dolphins and all indications the Rams have no interest in re-signing him.

Now, we have a likely reason McDonald is still available.

On Wednesday, ESPN’s Field Yates reported McDonald has been suspended by the NFL for the first eight games of the 2017 season. Yates added McDonald learned about his suspension during his visit with the Dolphins, which was his first known visit since free agency started three weeks ago.

McDonald was arrested for a DUI in May of 2016, which included drug charges. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport confirmed that incident is what brought discipline from the league.

McDonald is one of the top available free agents on any list out there right now, but the guaranteed money he’ll get in a new contract will now be hurt further. Any teams with any hint of interest surely assumed some level of discipline was coming, and went other directions of to fill a void a safety. If anything, the clarity there is on his suspension could now bring offers to McDonald’s agent.

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McDonald would not count against a team’s 53-man roster until Week 9, so taking a flier on him may be an acceptable risk for quite a few teams at this point. With no negotiation leverage from his end, the price should be right to add McDonald.