Former NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks knows the ins and outs of this league, providing keen insight in his notebook. In today’s installment, he spotlights players who have positioned themselves to break the bank on the open market …
As the 2023 NFL regular season winds down, we are about to completely shift our focus to the postseason tournament. But in the meantime, it is important for personnel folks to update their scouting reports on players who could enter free agency in the offseason.
The “contract year” is always an alluring topic, but not all contract years are created equal. For instance, when established superstars like Chiefs DT Chris Jones and Buccaneers WR Mike Evans — two Super Bowl champions with four Pro Bowl nods apiece — entered this season in a walk year, everyone knew they’d eventually get PAID, one way or another. But not everyone came into this campaign with elite earning power. And those are the individuals I’d like to focus on today: The guys who’ve significantly raised their stock with spectacular play in the final year of their current deal.
With a few more weeks to put the finishing touches on the résumé, here are 10 players who have truly capitalized on a contract season, presented in alphabetical order
Josh AllenAllen earned a Pro Bowl nod after notching 10.5 sacks as a rookie in 2019, but over the next three seasons, he totaled 17 sacks, and few evaluators would have included him in the discussion of elite defensive playmakers heading into the 2023 campaign. That should change, thanks to Allen’s spectacular play this season. He has developed into a destructive force off the edge with a combination of speed, quickness and power that makes him nearly impossible to contain in one-on-one situations. Consequently, he’s at 13.5 sacks and counting. The Jaguars likely could have extended Allen, who is playing on his fifth-year option, prior to the season. Now, though, his price tag has surely skyrocketed.
It is not a coincidence the Rams have re-emerged as playoff contenders behind a blue-collar offense that controls the game at the point of attack. Dotson, who was traded from Pittsburgh to Los Angeles this past August, has keyed the unit’s effort with his scrappy effort and mauler/brawler style.
The fourth-year pro moves defenders off the ball with his nasty demeanor, which has changed the entire personality of the Rams’ front line. With his success in L.A. putting the roller-coaster tenure in Pittsburgh in the rearview, Dotson could hit the jackpot as a dominant road grader who’ll attract teams looking for a true trench warrior in free agency.
Jonathan GreenardPlaying on the final year of his rookie contract, this former third-round pick has helped spark the Texans’ surprising resurgence as a playoff contender, posting career highs in sacks (12.5), tackles for loss (15) and quarterback hits (22) this season in a new scheme that has accentuated his talents on the edge. With Greenard’s improvements as a pass rusher resulting in elite production and performance, he should be in line for a hefty payda
Lost amid the shiny toys on the perimeter of Miami’s explosive offense is a group of ballerinas at the point of attack. Hunt is arguably the most nimble of the dancing bears, keying the Dolphins’ emergence as an offensive juggernaut. The 6-foot-6, 330-pounder is a rare find as a polished pass protector with rock-solid run-blocking skills that suit multiple schemes. As a productive player with 54 starts over three-plus seasons, Hunt will be a top target for teams looking to insert an athletic interior blocker in a movement-based scheme at the point of attack.
After dealing with some crippling injuries in recent years, Hunter has spent the 2023 campaign reminding evaluators of his disruptive potential as an edge defender in an aggressive scheme. Hunter ranks second in the league with 15.5 sacks (behind only T.J. Watt with 16), but leads the NFL with 21 tackles for loss while also tallying four forced fumbles. The impressive performance marks his second straight season with at least 10 sacks and gives the veteran 86.5 sacks in 116 career games. Given how pass rushers are coveted on the open market, Hunter’s dominance as a sack artist will force the Vikings or another team to break the bank to secure his services for 2024 and beyond.
