2016 NFL free agency: Who will Greg Hardy sign with?
Where will Greg Hardy sign in 2016 NFL free agency?
Greg Hardy presents a unique dilemma for NFL teams as he enters unrestricted free agency. At 27, he’s still very much in the prime of his career, and has an exemplary body of work that puts him squarely in the upper echelon of defensive ends. Most players with his overall stat line over six seasons would command mammoth deals, but this is Greg Hardy we’re talking about here. He’s not your average pro football player.
This is the same guy who assaulted his ex-girlfriend and threw her onto a couch covered in guns and the same guy who got into a shouting match with Dez Bryant on the sideline of a game this past season. By the end of 2015, it wasn’t just domestic violence activists calling for Hardy’s release from the team, it was also several of his own Cowboys teammates as well. Fellow defensive end Jeremy Mincey told reporters in January that Hardy’s frequent tardiness and lack of locker room chemistry finally became “too much” to deal with, and that his extreme behavior rubbed many Dallas players the wrong way. In the end, no matter how talented he is on the field, Hardy’s personality and character may have finally helped punch his ticket out of Big D once and for all.
Vitals
Age: 27
Notable stat: owns the Panthers single-season and single-game sack records (15.0 and 4.0, respectively)
Career sacks: 40
Pro Bowls: 1
Contract comparison
Just as it’s difficult to judge Hardy as a football player without considering his personal baggage, it’s also difficult to affix a monetary value to a player with tremendous abilities but who’s also a major liability to himself and the team he plays for. Hardy signed a one-year deal with Dallas worth $11.3 million this time last year, and it’s possible the Cowboys could use the franchise tag on him should they decide to roll the dice on a second season. Owner Jerry Jones has been a staunch supporter of Hardy publicly, so it can’t be ruled out as a possibility.
If Hardy receives a larger, longer contract, it might be something similar to what Cameron Wake signed with the Dolphins. Wake agreed to a five year, $33.2 million deal when he turned 30. Hardy is three years younger than Wake was at the time of that deal, so it would be tempting for his agent to try for a larger sum. Realistically, though, given his troubles off the field and in the public spotlight, he should take what he can get in terms of value and security.
Estimate: 2 years/$30 million/$12 million guaranteed
Will he stay?
If Jerry Jones gets his way, then perhaps. Head coach Jason Garrett was fairly mum on Hardy throughout the 2015 season, deciding instead to let his boss champion Hardy’s supposed rehabilitation. Smart move.
Truth be told, while it wasn’t his best season, Hardy still put up great numbers considering he missed the first four games of the season while serving his lightened suspension. The Cowboys defense hasn’t been very good over the last several years, so as much as they may hate to admit it, they could really use a pass rusher as fierce as Hardy is on the grass.
If he leaves…
Ship him off to Oakland. Hardy’s mean streak would probably be celebrated by the Black Hole, as Raider fans are renowned throughout professional sports for their … shall we say, rowdiness? Character concerns aside, can you imagine the look on the faces of opposing offensive linemen who see Khalil Mack on one side and Greg Hardy on the other? Oakland would instantly become every NFL quarterback’s least favorite venue to visit (if it isn’t already).
The Buffalo Bills are another legitimate landing spot. Mario Williams is almost certainly on his way out, and if he could be had for cheap, Hardy would a suitable replacement. Head coach Rex Ryan has already shown a willingness to look the other way when it comes to recruiting players with unsavory pasts (*cough, Richie Incognito, cough*), so Hardy would have at least one supporter on the team.