2015 NFL Free Agency: Five best players still free agents

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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Dec 14, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons guard Justin Blalock (63) is introduced before their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Georgia Dome. The Steelers won 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons guard Justin Blalock (63) is introduced before their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Georgia Dome. The Steelers won 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Justin Blalock

Like Stefen Wisniewski, Justin Blalock is suffering a bit due to the fact that guards on the offensive line aren’t always a highly sought after free agency target.

The offensive line just isn’t sexy folks, even though it should be. Guards even less so than tackles and centers.

Blalock was the No. 25 rated guard in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required) and that was on an Atlanta Falcons line which had all sorts of issues. That the Falcons are letting Harland Gunn take over—a guy who has played in a grand total of 13 games with one start—tells you how replaceable some teams think guards are.

Gunn was pretty brutal in that one start as well.

Back to Blalock though, he’s a guard who could and should be able to fit into any scheme and there are more than a few teams in need of depth (at the very least) who should be on the phone to him. It may be that since the first two waves of free agency are over, he might have to wait until we see injuries in OTAs and Training Camps.

Blalock has seen interest from the Detroit Lions and Tennessee Titans but has yet to see an offer, or at least one he wants to sign.

It’s clear his age (31) is likely a factor more than anything else. We know he can play, he’s coming off a season where he played very well despite a lot of injuries and chaos around him and he has been solid his whole career.

So it seems teams may be concerned that at 31, he is about to break down.

Like any of the other players on this list, if someone takes a chance on Blalock, they could be getting a very good player at bargain basement prices.

Next: Which NFL bottom feeders are primed for a turn around?