Best Bargain Option at Each Position in 2018 NFL Free Agency

Star players who command huge contracts dominate headlines during NFL free agency, but the most successful teams are often the ones that eschew bidding wars and marquee acquisitions in order to stretch their dollars as far as possible.

Along with smart selections in the NFL draft, the best way for a club to build a deep and balanced roster is to get the most bang for the buck on the open market. The players these organizations target may not have as much name recognition as a Kirk Cousins or Le'Veon Bell, but they'll often contribute at a high level for a fraction of the cost.

Unearthing and exploiting bargain-bin value in free agency is essential to building a winning roster in the salary-cap era. This year, there are a number of young players ready to burst out and veterans who still have plenty left in the tank who should be available for a budget price.

With that in mind, take a look at the top value option at every position as teams prepare for the start of the 2018 free-agency period.

The Minnesota Vikings have a highly unusual quarterback situation on their hands. The club had a trio of players on the roster—Teddy Bridgewater, Sam Bradford and Case Keenum—who all have proved themselves to be capable starters, and now all three are set to be free agents when the offseason officially begins. The franchise has some tough decisions to make in the coming weeks, but right now it appears all three incumbent signal-callers may be on their way out of the Twin Cities, especially if the reports that the Vikings are serious about their interest in free-agent prize Kirk Cousins come to fruition.

Teddy Bridgewater is the most intriguing of the potential Minnesota cast-offs. The former first-round draft pick spent two seasons as the Vikings starter in 2014 and 2015, racking up 6,150 yards and 28 touchdowns while completing 64.9 percent of his attempts in 29 games during that span. The Louisville product suffered a devastating knee injury during training camp in 2016 that nearly resulted in the amputation of his leg, and a lengthy rehabilitation period cost him his starting job. He's since made what looks like a full recovery, but there's not much to judge him on as he's only earned a few snaps in mop-up duty since returning to the active roster in November.

Despite being untested since his return, Bridgewater is garnering quite a bit of interest from QB-needy teams. It's uncommon to find a potential starting-caliber signal-caller on the open market and readily available for a cheap price, but that's exactly what some organizations are hoping they'll be able to get by inking the 25-year-old to a new deal.

There are some red flags here due to the knee injury, but teams could do far worse than gambling on a young talent who showed a lot of potential during his tenure under center in Minnesota. Bridgewater is reportedly only seeking a short deal and a chance to prove himself in the league again, and it's almost certain he'll get that opportunity on the open market this offseason.

There's great value to be found here, especially if the team that signs him structures the contract in a way that insulates the franchise from another serious injury. With this sort of arrangement in place—with massive upside and little downside—Bridgewater should wind up as the best quarterback bargain in free agency.

The Vikings offense will see free-agency turnover at more than the quarterback position. Running back is another spot where the franchise is likely to part ways with incumbent talent as Jerick McKinnon is set to hit the open market. McKinnon has been with the organization since it drafted him in the third round in 2014, playing in 58 games and starting 14 in four seasons. He compiled 474 rushing attempts for 1,918 yards and seven touchdowns, as well as 142 receptions for 984 yards and five scores.

While mostly serving as a backup during his time in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, McKinnon has had numerous opportunities to showcase his skills. During his rookie campaign, the Georgia Southern product saw plenty of snaps due to Adrian Peterson's suspension, while his role expanded last season due to rookie Dalvin Cook's ACL injury.

It's clear McKinnon seeks a more permanent feature role, telling reporters: "I want to be the guy. I don't put in all the work in the offseason to come back and be in this role. I appreciate the role. It worked out well, but I want bigger and better things for myself."

With Cook set to return as the starter in 2018, it's likely McKinnon is ready to move on based on his comments. If he has played his last game in a Vikings uniform, he went out on a high note. The 25-year-old was one of the lone bright spots during Minnesota's blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game, going off for 126 total yards on 21 touches. Whichever team inks him will get a player ready to shoulder a starter's load and capable of contributing on all three downs.

McKinnon is a quality player who still has plenty of tread left on his tires, and it's almost surely not going to break the bank to sign him. Running backs who aren't superstars don't command a big price tag, and that won't change this year.

After years of trying to establish himself as a quarterback with the Oakland Raiders, Pryor found success in the NFL as a wideout during a breakout 2016 campaign with the Cleveland Browns. The former Ohio State star emerged as a legitimate receiving threat, racking up 77 catches for 1,007 yards and four touchdowns—just in time to hit free agency.

Pryor's strong season didn't garner big offers, though, and he settled for a one-year deal that ultimately paid out $6 million from the Washington Redskins. It resulted in a forgettable campaign, one in which the 28-year-old appeared in only nine games and caught 20 passes that generated 240 yards and a single score before he landed on injured reserve with an ankle injury.

Pryor now finds himself on the open market again, this time without an impressive stat line to utilize for leverage. He never fit in with the 'Skins, but he could bounce back with another club in 2018. If healthy, there is undeniable upside. Pryor will surely have a bevy of suitors, and it's possible he'll even land back with the Browns once the free-agency dust has settled.

Wherever he winds up, the 2011 supplemental draft pick will inject immense athleticism, great size and a strong work ethic to the receiving corps at a bargain-bin price.

The Philadelphia Eagles have had the enviable problem of having too many skilled players at the tight end position over the last few years. Because of this logjam, undrafted free agent Trey Burton never had a chance to break out and showcase his considerable talent on a regular basis during his four seasons with the organization.

After starting his career on special teams, Burton saw more playing time once head coach Doug Pederson took over in Philly in 2016. Over the last two years, the Florida product has played in 30 games and caught 60 passes for 575 yards to go with six touchdowns. He served as a red-zone specialist for the franchise's championship-winning campaign in 2017, hauling in five scores on just 23 receptions and 31 targets.

Burton, a former college quarterback, made his most memorable play during Super Bowl 52. He entered Eagles folklore by successfully completing a touchdown pass to quarterback Nick Foles on the famous "Philly Philly" trick play that helped vanquish the New England Patriots.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, it's highly unlikely they'll be able to retain Burton for their upcoming title defense. The club is currently quite a bit over the salary cap and needs to shed contracts. The 26-year-old shouldn't have to wait long to find a new home, as there is reportedly plenty of interest in his services. Although he'll probably command around $6 million per year, Burton will go down as the top free-agent value at his position when he becomes a name-brand star with his new team.

The New England Patriots drafted Cameron Fleming in the fourth round in 2014 and developed him into a great swing tackle during four seasons in the league. The Stanford product contributed to two Super Bowl victories in that span, including playoff snaps during his rookie year. He spent a good amount of time as the No. 4 tackle on the roster to start the 2017 campaign but wound up playing 32.4 percent of snaps for the offense due to various injuries ahead of him. He replaced Marcus Cannon—who went on IR with an ankle injury—as the starting right tackle from Week 13 onward, giving up six sacks, six pressures and one hit on the year.

Fleming is the type of player every contending team needs. He can capably man both tackle positions and provides insurance in case a starter goes down. The Dallas Cowboys are a perfect example of a club that could have drastically altered its fortunes with a player like this on the roster, as they were lost when starting left tackle Tyron Smith missed time last year.

During his tenure in New England, Fleming consistently showed he was ready to step in and produce at a moment's notice. Factor in his versatility along the offensive line, special teams contributions and experience producing for a perennial contender, and Fleming represents a great value for almost any team willing to bolster its depth by spending somewhere in the range of $5 million to $6 million per year to acquire him.

It seems like Julius Peppers has been in the league forever, and that's not far from the truth. The 38-year-old just wrapped up his 16th NFL season, a rare accomplishment for a defensive lineman. He's still as impactful as ever, recording 33 tackles, 11 sacks, two forced fumbles and two recoveries. Peppers played in all 16 games, something he has done for a decade straight—a remarkable achievement for someone his age. Should Peppers return next year and once again play a full season, his 17th, he'll become just the 10th defensive end in history to do so after hitting age 38 according to Pro Football Reference.

Peppers has countless accolades—nine Pro Bowl appearances, three first-team and three second-team All-Pro selections and Defensive Rookie of the Year, to name a few—but has yet to win a championship, something that will likely dictate where he signs or if he even plays in 2018.

Retirement is always an option for someone who has had as long and successful a career as Peppers has, but if he opts to lace them up for another season, there should be no shortage of suitors for the defensive end. The North Carolina product adds a veteran presence to the locker room and still has what it takes to succeed on the field at a high level.

There aren't many elite pass-rushers on the open market this offseason, making this one of the toughest positions to find a serviceable option at outside of the draft. Considering Peppers earned just $4.25 million in 2017—about three times less than what a top-tier defensive end costs—and would likely accept another below-market deal, there is no better value at the position available in free agency this year.

The NFL's leading tackler in 2017 is looking for a new home. Brown has been one of the most underrated inside linebackers in football during his four years with the Buffalo Bills. The Louisville product has played in every game since being selected in the third round of the 2014 draft, compiling 512 tackles, two forced fumbles, four recoveries, three interceptions and a touchdown.

Brown played a major role on a Buffalo defense that paced the franchise to its first postseason appearance in 18 years. He has exceptional instincts and is a natural leader on and off the field. He's been trusted to call plays for the defense and will contribute a lot to the team that is fortunate enough to land him during this offseason, likely at a very reasonable cost.

Inside linebackers, much like running backs, are deemed replaceable and rarely ink big-money deals. Only seven 4-3 middle linebackers are currently making more than $5 million on an annual basis, and it's not certain that Brown—who made less than $2 million in 2017—will join that club this offseason. If the market never appears for his services, Brown will once again be an underpaid star who contributes at a far better rate than his salary would indicate.

The Chicago Bears were in need of cornerback help at this time last year and elected to roll the dice on the Amukamara. The former New York Giants first-rounder provided decent returns on the one-year, $7 million contract he signed, as Pro Football Focus found that he conceded only one touchdown against 51 targets in 2017 to go with seven pass defenses and 48 tackles.

Speaking of tackles, Amukamara rarely misses them, as PFF found that he whiffed on just five attempts over the last two seasons. He had an ugly, injury-filled start to the campaign, but he steadily improved and wound up becoming a serviceable player down the stretch.

Amukamara is a starting-caliber corner when healthy—grading out as PFF's No. 41 CB of 121 players that qualified at the position last year—but he has two considerable drawbacks:

1. He doesn't force turnovers. He recorded zero interceptions across 28 games the past two seasons. He has just seven picks in his seven-year career and had more than one INT in a season only once.

2. Amukamara is prone to injury. Dealing with a myriad of ailments, he's played in 16 games in a season just once and missed two games each of the last two years.

Regardless of these red flags, the Nebraska product can still be a net positive. Teams can never have enough quality corners on the roster—especially those at least six feet tall. The 28-year-old may not make big plays, but he's more than capable of providing above-average coverage. As long as the cornerback market stays reasonable, Amukamara's contract should end up in the risk-versus-reward sweet spot.

The Seattle Seahawks' vaunted Legion of Boom secondary was decimated by injuries last season, but the franchise was fortunate to have a veteran backup to capably fill in for superstar safeties Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas.

Bradley McDougald was an under-the-radar signing in the 2017 offseason after four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers—including two as a starter in 2015 and 2016—but he wound up being one of Seattle's best acquisitions. The 27-year-old came in as a backup and finished the campaign having started nine games and participated in 60 percent of defensive snaps.

McDougald's top quality is his versatility, which he showcased by logging time at both safety positions, linebacker and some slot corner in 2017. He's a phenomenal run-stopper, which isn't surprising considering he tallied 178 tackles during his final two seasons with the Bucs, and he's also respectable in coverage. This do-it-all defensive back would be a welcome addition to any secondary, whether as a starter or top backup.

The Kansas product is definitely in line for a raise after earning $800,000 this past season. But he isn't likely to cash a huge check either. His jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none skill set actually hurts his value, but he's the type of Swiss army knife talent that winning teams need.