With Super Bowl XLIX in the rearview mirror, every single NFL team is 100 percent focused on the offseason, and the upcoming 2015 campaign. Free agency is often the quickest way to rebuild a roster, or plug holes for a championship push.
Today, we will look at the five most important free agents of this year's class.
Justin Houston, OLB Kansas City Chiefs
The NFL may be a passing league, but in the absence of any elite passers on the 2015 free agent market, being able to harass those passers could be the most important skill. While J.J. Watt of the Texans is hands-down the top defensive player in the NFL, it's hard to argue against Justin Houston as the premier pass rusher in the league.
The Chiefs edge rusher tallied a ridiculous 22 sacks in 2014, and that came on the heels of an 11-sack 2013. Last season was his third straight with 10 or more sacks. He will be one of the most highly coveted free agents in all the land.
Ndamukong Suh, DT Detroit Lions
While Houston racked up all the sacks, Suh soaked up all the attention. That's not a knock either. Most focused on his bad-boy rep, and his stomp of Aaron Rodgers' ankle, but he did register 8.5 sacks last year for one of the best defenses in the NFL. He had 54 tackles as well, but his greatest impact isn't quite measurable statistically.
Suh is so strong and athletic that he requires the attention of multiple lineman on each play. He is equally adept at rushing the passer and stopping the run. He can even move outside and be more than effective from the defensive end position. Like Houston, Suh will earn himself a humongous contract this offeason.
Bryan Bulaga, T Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers won the MVP this season with numbers that would be good for a Madden 15 player, and a big part of that was Bryan Bulaga protecting his blind side. The Packers were in the Top 10 this year in protecting their quarterback, and the line was noticeably worse whenever Bulaga was out.
Yes the free agent market is heavy on tackles this offseason, but at 25 years old Bulaga is not only special, he's youthful.
Dez Bryant/Demaryius Thomas, WR Dallas Cowboys & Denver Broncos
These are the top two free agent wide receivers on the market, although both are expected to receive the franchise tags from the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos respectively if they can't reach long-term deals.
Dez Bryant had the best year of his career in 2014, reeling in a whopping 16 touchdown grabs and piling up 1,320 yards on 88 catches.
Thomas wasn't far behind. He had 11 touchdowns, caught 111 passes, and compiled 1,619 yards.
These two are linked because they're both athletic marvels with blazing speed that would immediately improve any roster in the NFL. It's nearly impossible to distinguish one as greater than the other. Simply put, as far as pure playmakers go these guys are 1 and 1A this offseason.
Julius Thomas, TE Denver Broncos
Thomas is the reason that Demaryius Thomas may not be franchise tagged. Julius Thomas is on the caliber of Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham in terms of pass-catching tight ends, and has been one of the most consistent players in the NFL at a position where most players' stats fluctuate wildly.
Thomas battled injuries this season, so his reception numbers were down, but despite reeling in 22 fewer passes than he did in 2013, Thomas matched his touchdown total (12) from a year ago.
If the Broncos do not franchise Thomas, they can expect fierce outside competition for his services. As tight ends become more and more important in the passing game, having a top-flight commodity is paramount.
Honorable Mentions: DeMarco Murray (RB, DAL), Randall Cobb (WR, GB), Mark Sanchez (QB, PHI), Jordan Cameron (TE, CLE), Byron Maxwell (CB, SEA)
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