Now that free agency is in full swing, the chaos has slowed down and we can finally take stock. Not every deal is a 5-year monster contract that resets the market, and not every player on the market has 32 teams hot on their tail. The best signings are often the ones that catch you by surprise.
Let’s have a look at some of the best under-the-radar free agent signings so far:
EDGE, Charles Omenihu: Signed with the Chiefs (2 years, $20M, $8.6M guaranteed)
Fans of the San Francisco 49ers will know how impressive Charles Omenihu has been over the last year and a half. The former fifth-round pick flashed his potential with the Houston Texans in his first two seasons with the team, but never really nailed down a role despite a strong start to the 2021 campaign. The 49ers traded a 2023 sixth-round pick to take a chance on him and never looked back.
Since 2021, Omenihu has had the 12th-best pass rush win rate among edge defenders and the 24th-best pressure percentage. The 49ers’ defensive line coach, Kris Korucek, has an excellent reputation for reclamation projects and Omenihu has been the last in a long line of productive edge rushers to find their feet in San Francisco.
Omenihu has found his feet as a rotational pass rusher on a dominant 49ers defensive line, but he might now be looking at a starting role for this sort of money. If the past year has told us anything, it’s that Omenihu is ready to blossom.
He had a career-high 4.5 sacks and 45 pressures in the regular season – tied for the 20th-most among all edge defenders. He’s a versatile pass rusher with a big frame but still needs to improve against the run before his stock really booms. But with Frank Clark out of the picture, this is a really good move for the Chiefs at a fair price.
LB, David Long: Signed with the Miami Dolphins (2 years, $11M)
The Dolphins have had a strong offseason that began by bringing in defensive guru Vic Fangio as the team’s new defensive coordinator. But they’ve followed it up with trading for All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey and bringing back key offensive pieces like Jeff Wilson and Raheem Mostert. Their most intriguing move, though, might be the signing of David Long Jr.
Long is an undersized linebacker at 5-foot-11, 224lbs, but he’s made a reputation as one of the better run-stuffing backers in the NFL. He’s about as downhill of a playmaker as they come, using his burst and speed to knife into the backfield and create negative plays for the offense. He’s a work in progress in coverage, but the list of linebackers that can do everything well is a small number.
However, Long does fit the mould of the new-age NFL linebacker. He’s agile, he can blitz, and if he can improve in coverage, he’s going to be a big hit for the Dolphins.
WR, Deonte Harty: Signed with the Buffalo Bills (2 years, $9.5M, $5.25M guaranteed)
Signing a 5-foot-6 kick return specialist would certainly fall into the bracket of an under-the-radar signing. Especially when that player has played in just 40 games in the last four seasons and has just 64 career catches. But there’s reason to be excited by the Bills acquisition of Harty.
Harty was an All-Pro return specialist in his rookie season with the Saints and has legitimate game-breaking speed. If used correctly, his skillset can be a real addition to the Buffalo Bills offense. And here’s the thing, there’s every reason to expect he’ll be used correctly. The Bills cut Isaiah McKenzie shortly after signing Harris. Both players have similar measurables and playstyles, but Harty is a younger and more explosive version. The plan could be to get the ball in his hands and let him work in space or to use him as a deep threat that can stretch the field.
Space is where he’ll operate best, though. Harty’s size means he’s not someone who can win contested catches even on his best day, but with Josh Allen’s arm and his ability to separate off the line, it could be a good match. He’s already shown that even with a limited workload, he can be efficient. His 2.69 yards per route run was 5th in the NFL in 2021.
EDGE, Arden Key: Signed with the Titans (3 years, $21M, $13M guaranteed)
Anybody who has read any of this writer’s work will know that I’m a big fan of Arden Key. He was one of our under-the-radar free agents who could get paid this offseason and just like that, it came to fruition with Key getting a three-year contract with $14 million in guaranteed money. This is a great deal for the Titans, considering they let DeMarcus Walker sign with the Bears for pretty much the same deal. Call it a like-for-like swap for the Titans, except Key is a younger and more consistent pass rusher.
The Titans are likely shifting toward a rebuild over the next year or two, but the defense looks like it’s ready to come to play on paper. A defensive front featuring Jeffery Simmons, Denico Autry, Harold Landry, Teair Tart, and now Arden Key is one of the better units in the NFL.
What Key gives the Titans the most is pass-rushing versatility. He has the size to line up over guards and the fluidity to bend on the edge, playing over the tackle or as a wide 9. His 44 regular-season pressures for the Jaguars were tied with John Cominsky and Yannick Ngakoue and more than the likes of Josh Sweat and Samson Ebukam. Like Omenihu, Key is a rotational rusher looking to make a big impact as a potential starter.
-Thomas Valentine
Twitter: @tvalentinesport
Photo: All-Pro Reels. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.