Fansided

2015 NFL Free Agency: Five best players still free agents

By Andrew Garda

Nov 23, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) catches the ball against Washington Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland (26) during the second quarter at Levi
Nov 23, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) catches the ball against Washington Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland (26) during the second quarter at Levi /
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December 21, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz (right) instructs middle linebacker Brandon Spikes (51) during the third quarter against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Bills 26-24. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
December 21, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz (right) instructs middle linebacker Brandon Spikes (51) during the third quarter against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Bills 26-24. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Brandon Spikes

Free agent linebacker Brandon Spikes and his 2014 NFL team the Buffalo Bills are sort of circling each other as the Bills wait for him to finish testing the market and Spikes tries to get the best deal possible.

Spikes is coming off a nice season—Pro Football Focus (subscription required) had him ranked as the No. 14 inside linebacker out of 60 for 2014— but you have to imagine there is some disconnect between what he sees himself as (and paid as) and what teams see him as.

He has had some interest from the Minnesota Vikings, who let Jasper Brinkley head to the Dallas Cowboys this offseason. Right now the Vikings have Audie Cole and Casey Matthews in the middle linebacker spot. I’m a huge Cole fan, but a more proven linebacker to at least rotate in would be great and Casey Matthews being that guy makes me nervous, as I have never seen much from him overall.

Spikes may see himself as a starter though, not the two-down linebacker who stuffs the run.

He can play in pass coverage and is decent in creating pressure, but his value is stopping the run. The Vikings were No. 25 against the run last season but they weren’t alone in that struggle. The San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants and Tennessee Titans were among some of the other teams who struggled more than the Vikings.

Meanwhile the Bills were the No. 11 team against the run.

Of course, Spikes wasn’t the whole reason for that—the Bills linebackers were good against the run as a whole unit—but he was a factor and could be again for either Buffalo or another team.

At the end of the day though, as he hasn’t seen any offers yet, you start to think there is a good chance he ends up back in Buffalo for new Bills head coach Rex Ryan, which could be a great move for his career as if there is one thing Ryan can do (and Jets fans feel like it’s only one thing), it’s coach defense.

Next: Greg Jennings

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