The 2021 league year has begun with a flurry, as multiple teams have made a number of impact key moves to kick off NFL free agency.
Some squads–like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Francisco 49ers–have been more focused on maintenance. Then you have teams such as the New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders, two franchises that have done quite a bit of moving and shaking.
Many of the top free agents are off the board. Others, such as top wideout Kenny Golladay, could sign in fairly short order. But who are some of the more unheralded players ready to make a big impact in 2021?
Here are four of the best under the radar players still available in NFL free agency.
K.J. Wright
Why is K.J. Wright still a free agent? The 31-year-old is an exceptional coverage linebacker and sure tackler.
Wright started in all 16 games for the Seattle Seahawks in each of the last two seasons. He had three interceptions, 11 passes defended and 132 combined tackles in 2018, primarily as a guy who dropped into the seams and could come up to stop the run.
Wright had a bit of a different role in 2020. He was more of an edge presence who could rush the passer or drop as an extra defender in coverage. The Seahawks lifer finished the season with a pair of sacks and 11 tackles for a loss while also recording 10 passes defended and an interception.
There is not much Wright cannot do. His diverse skill set earned him a 75.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus this past season. Any number of teams could use a guy who can make plays against the run or impact opposing passing games.
Sure, age is a bit of a factor. But Wright has played at a high level in each of the past two seasons and has the pedigree as a former Pro Bowler.
Avery Williamson
Avery Williamson is another ‘backer of note.
Williamson proved himself a versatile ‘backer during his days with the Jets. He had 3.0 sacks, 120 combined tackles and six passes defended for Gang Green back in 2018. A torn ACL cost Williamson the entirety of the 2019 season. But he still showed he could be effective in his return from injury
The Pittsburgh Steelers acquired Williamson from the New York Jets in November. He became more of a depth guy at the position, but still managed to put up 52 combined tackles and three tackles for a loss in eight games.
Granted, Williamson did not grade well according to PFF. He had an overall grade of just 51.7 in 2020. But he had an overall grade over 80 in 2017 and a respectable 72.8 grade in 2018.
The 29-year-old should continue to get more comfortable in returning from such a tough injury. Like Wright, Williamson is a guy who can play up in the box to stop the run and employ sideline-to-sideline coverage. It should be interesting to see how his market develops relative to other inside linebackers.
Breshad Perriman
The wide receiver market is a mess. There is no way around it.
Guys like Corey Davis and Nelson Agholor both netted multiyear deals worth over $12 million in AAV. But Golladay, the best receiver on the NFL free agency market, has yet to sign as teams weight cost and past injury concerns.
There is a general perception that the position is weak. At the very least, there is a disconnect between the money pass-catchers want and the salaries general managers appear willing to offer.
Just spoke with a GM who is in the market for a wide receiver. I asked him why so many of these good receivers are still on the market.
He explained that many of these WRs are asking for double digit money and it seems not a lot of teams are biting, including his own.— Dianna Russini (@diannaESPN) March 17, 2021
However, some receivers could be less costly while also having big upside. Breshad Perriman is one of those guys.
Perriman has quietly been an elite deep threat in the past few seasons. He is averaging 16.5 yards per reception for his career, including 16.8 yards per reception in 2020 with the New York Jets.
The 27-year-old had 30 receptions for 505 yards in 12 games with the Jets. That's fairly impressive considering Sam Darnold's struggles and the team's general ability to move the ball downfield. Perriman had previously shown his upside as a depth receiving option in Tampa Bay in 2019, where he went for 645 yards and six touchdowns on just 36 catches.
Perriman could be an interesting candidate to return to the Jets. He might also be an ideal option for the Los Angeles Rams in replacing Josh Reynolds as a downfield option now that L.A. has Matt Stafford under center.
A number of other wide receivers could also make this list. But Perriman is unlikely to be too costly and is a legitimate game-breaker.
Tre Boston
Safety is another strange position in free agency.
Justin Simmons was all but guaranteed to be the belle of the ball, but the Denver Broncos slapped the franchise tag on Simmons and will likely look to negotiate a long-term deal.
John Johnson III got a three-year deal from the Cleveland Browns, a team desperate for help at the safety spot. But there hasn't been a whole lot of movement otherwise.
Former Carolina Panthers safety Tre Boston could be an excellent get for any team that misses out on Anthony Harris in NFL free agency.
Boston had the misfortune of playing for a young Carolina Panthers defense last season. He was often asked to play more in the box to help stop the run, which is not really his strong suit.
The 28-year-old fared much better as a true free safety in 2019. Boston had three interceptions and 11 passes defended. Opposing quarterbacks had a very unspectacular 74.9 rating when targeting him in coverage. The performance earned Boston a 76.4 overall grade from Pro Football Focus.
Carolina released Boston at the official start of the league year on Wednesday. He could be a vital secondary playmaker for a number of teams with needs at the safety spot, possibly including the Las Vegas Raiders and Washington Football Team, among others.
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