Underpaid. Larceny. Excellent values. NFL teams are the true winners of the free agency period when they can sign players to value contracts and get high value performance out of them.
Normally, these Moneyball style deals work out is because teams feel like they have the ideal schemes to showcase the talent these players have. The prove-it deals are put in place to let players perform above their contract and earn a better second deal.
The following players nailed it this season.
10. Walter Thurmond, S, Philadelphia Eagles
Contract: 1 Year, $3.25 Million ($2.0 Million guaranteed)
Stats: 14 Games Played, 70 Tackles, 2.0 Sacks, 3 Interceptions, 2 Fumbles Forced, 5 Pass Deflections, 1 Safety
Walter Thurmond was misplayed as a cornerback for most of his career, so when the Eagles signed him to be their single-high safety in their scheme, it wasn’t going to be a shock if he exploded. They invested $3.25 million for a season of having a key piece of their defensive scheme.
If they want someone in the back end of their defense for the long term who can make plays like Thurmond has this season, they better pay the man what he’s worth.
9. Jacob Tamme, TE, Atlanta Falcons
Contract: 2 Years, $3.2 Million ($400,000 guaranteed)
Stats: 13 Games Played, 51 Catches, 567 Yards, 1 Touchdown, 0 Fumbles, 0 Fumbles Lost
When paying a starting tight end, a total of $1.6 million per year is peanuts. When that player produces the way Jacob Tamme has despite never doing so in his entire career, it really helps out his long-term value for the team.
Tamme may not be the starter for the Falcons after this season depending on what they do in the draft, but at the very least, he’ll be worth having as a joker tight end and H-back for the Falcons.
8. DeAngelo Williams, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Contract: 2 Years, $4.0 Million ($1.13 Million guaranteed)
Stats: 14 Games Played, 178 Carries, 799 Yards, 9 Touchdowns, 32 Catches, 301 Yards, 3 Fumbles, 1 Fumble Lost
Paying DeAngelo Williams $4.0 million for two years to be a backup looked like a steal in the offseason. Pittsburgh has been lucky to have him after Le’Veon Bell went down because he’s produced like he did in Carolina in a completely different scheme.
DeAngelo Williams with his 9th Rush TD this season, tied for most in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/afVatw2KIk
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) December 20, 2015
With 1,100 total yards on 210 touches, the former Panther has scored nine touchdowns and has been a huge asset for the Steelers in their playoff push. For the minuscule amount of money invested, he’s been a steal.
7. Jabaal Sheard, DL, New England Patriots
Contract: 2 Years, $11.0 Million ($5.5 Million guaranteed)
Stats: 11 Games Played, 30 Tackles, 7.0 Sacks, 3 Fumbles Forced, 2 Pass Deflections
When a team invests $5.5 million per year into a pass rusher, it rarely works out. With the Patriots, it easily worked out with Jabaal Sheard. He’s been a rotational player within their scheme who plays both defensive tackle and defensive end in their passing sets.
His seven sacks would have been worth the investment for both years. Adding on the three forced fumbles and two pass deflections only makes his contract more of a bargain.
6. Dwight Lowery, S, Indianapolis Colts
Contract: 1 Year, $950,000 ($80,000 guaranteed)
Stats: 14 Games Played, 68 Tackles, 1.0 Sacks, 4 Interceptions, 7 Pass Deflections, 1 Defensive Touchdown
Dwight Lowery signed a veteran minimum contract and instantly earned the starting job for the Colts. His stat line understates his value as a starting safety for the Colts, because he’s a leader for them in the locker room as well.
Lowery shouldn’t be a veteran minimum player in the coming offseason with how he’s been performing the past two seasons. But age (29) and a history of concussions will be his likely downfall in the free agent market.
5. Darren McFadden, RB, Dallas Cowboys
Contract: 2 Years, $3.0 Million ($200,000 guaranteed)
Stats: 14 Games Played, 208 Carries, 898 Yards, 3 Touchdowns, 34 Catches, 276 Yards, 1 Kick Return, 23 Yards, 2 Fumbles, 2 Fumbles Lost
Darren McFadden got a contract extremely close to the bottom of the market for NFL running backs. He’s out-performed the contract by miles rushing for a pace that will get him over 1,000 yards rushing and 300-plus yards receiving (barring injury).
For years, McFadden has been horribly injury prone. It took him heading to the Cowboys and playing behind one of the best offensive lines in football to reach his potential.
https://twitter.com/TheCauldron/status/676182494627151872
If only the Cowboys had a healthy Tony Romo. They could be so much better.
4. Malcolm Smith, LB, Oakland Raiders
Contract: 2 Years, $7.0 Million ($3.75 Million guaranteed)
Stats: 14 Games Played, 103 Tackles, 4.0 Sacks, 1 Interception, 1 Fumble Forced, 6 Pass Deflections
This is the first of two Raiders on this list. Malcolm Smith is a great fit for the scheme that Ken Norton, Jr. runs and has been the true leader of that defense. He has displayed the fast and physical play at linebacker that the Raiders needed after their poor play last year from the spot.
For just $3.5 million per year on a two-year stint, the Raiders have gotten excellent value for a middle linebacker in their scheme with this contract. They’ll have to look into a potential long-term deal later on in this contract if he continues to perform like this.
3. Michael Crabtree, WR, Oakland Raiders
Contract: 1 Year, $3.2 Million ($1.3 Million guaranteed)
Stats: 14 Games Played, 76 Catches, 849 Yards, 7 Touchdowns, 1 Fumble, 0 Fumbles Lost
Getting a potential 1,000-yard receiver for just over $3 million in a season is a great value. Michael Crabtree never lost the talent that he had, but inconsistent quarterback situations made it tough for Crabtree to be productive. Being with Derek Carr has given him a talented quarterback option needed for his improvement.
The Raiders have already realized they underpaid the talented former top 10 pick of the 2009 NFL Draft by re-signing him to a four-year contract worth $34 million. Crabtree has shown himself to be worth the contract he signed — and more — and has been rewarded as such.
2. Tyrod Taylor, QB, Buffalo Bills
Contract: 3 Years, $3.35 Million ($1.15 Million guaranteed)
Stats: 12 Games Played, 211-of-334 (63.2 percent), 2,674 Yards, 20 Touchdowns, 5 Interceptions, 80 Carries, 450 Yards, 3 Touchdowns, 1 Catch, 4 Yards, 8 Fumbles, 0 Fumbles Lost
What if I told you that an NFL team got a franchise-caliber quarterback for around $1.1 million per year? I’d sound like a loon. But it’s exactly what happened in Buffalo with Tyrod Taylor. He’s proven that he’s worth a good bit more than his current salary with an outstanding performance this year.
Sammy Watkins hauls one in from Tyrod Taylor for the #Bills #touchdown! #BUFvsWAS pic.twitter.com/EU1CAktRoL
— Def Pen Sports (@DefPenSports) December 20, 2015
His Bills are averaging 24.1 points per game when he starts and have gone 6-6 during those starts. Had he not gotten injured, the Bills might have a winning record this year. Taylor is a great building block for the Bills and a true franchise quarterback for cheap.
1. Kurt Coleman, FS, Carolina Panthers
Contract: 2 Years, $2.8 Million ($600,000 guaranteed)
Stats: 14 Games Played, 82 Tackles, 1.0 Sack, 7 Interceptions, 9 Pass Deflections, 1 Defensive Touchdown
No one is providing more of a bang for the buck this year than Kurt Coleman is for the Panthers. His impact goes beyond statistics, as he’s provided the Panthers with an ideal single-high safety for their scheme. At $1.4 million per year, he’s outplayed his contract more than any other player in the NFL.
His playmaking abilities and solid tackling on the third level of the defense gives the Panthers someone who allows Josh Norman and Bene Benwikere the ability to attack the ball underneath and make plays on their own volition. Coleman has earned a long-term deal worth a lot more money.