Most people are still concerned with the NFL playoffs. But for fans of the 24 teams not competing for a Super Bowl championship, the offseason has become the main priority.
Free agency is the next opportunity for down-and-out teams to inspire some hope amongst their fan bases and for contenders to look for that one missing piece. It's also an opportunity for teams to lose impact players.
Here are three players that will likely be playing for new teams next season.
Ndamukong Suh, DT, Detroit Lions
Barring an unforeseen extension, Suh is a lock to hit the open market once his contract voids shortly after the Super Bowl. Sure, the Lions could slap him with the franchise tag, but that would cost the team an astronomical $27 million in salary cap space for 2015. You don't have to be a capologist to realize how unlikely that is. Still, Suh will be searching for beaucoup bucks from someone.
"Don't be surprised to see Suh - if he reaches the open market - land a contract that is in the neighborhood of (or even richer than) the deal DE J.J. Watt signed with Houston just before the 2014 season began," ESPN's Field Yates wrote. "As far as suitors for Suh, don't discount any team with cap space and a defensive line need."
Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco 49ers
By now, most teams have been burned by signing a guy who put up monster numbers in a contract year only for his production to come back down to earth once his bank account had been fully stocked. Crabtree's situation is the exact opposite of that. In the final year of his deal, the 2009 first-rounder disappointed mightily. He set career lows in yards per game (43.6) and yards per catch (10.3). Overall, Crabtree finished with 68 receptions for 698 yards and four touchdowns despite playing in 16 games for just the third time in his career.
"Part of [Crabtree's struggles] may be attributable to an offense that was able to spread the ball around to other players, but with a receiver depth chart that includes a blend of veterans (Anquan Boldin and Stevie Johnson) and developmental younger players (Bruce Ellington and Quinton Patton), Crabtree may wind up elsewhere," Yates wrote.
Brian Hoyer, QB, Cleveland Browns
This one isn't exactly a shocker. After starting off 6-3, the Browns lost four of Hoyer's last five starts. The veteran quarterback threw just one touchdown compared to nine interceptions in that span. Cleveland then decided to go with rookie first-rounder Johnny Manziel and although the team didn't exactly get the results they were looking for, it's hard to see them re-signing Hoyer at this point.
"Browns GM Ray Farmer recently discussed the possibility of Hoyer's return to Cleveland, but it seems unlikely given the team's investment in Johnny Manziel and the need to develop the former Heisman Trophy winner," Yates wrote.
