PFF Ranks Hillis and Jackson Among Top 50 Free Agents

by Chris Pokorny on Feb 14, 2012 10:29 PM EST

Pro Football Focus had a team of their writers/analysts get together to compose a list of the top 50 free agents who should be hitting the market. It is worth noting that a few players, such as Drew Brees and Matt Forte, were left off the list since they are very likely to receive the franchise tag.

At the top of the list was Texans' outside pass rusher Mario Williams, who Bernie19Kosar just talked about Tuesday afternoon. How far down the list do you have to go to find a member of the Cleveland Browns? Not too far, as you'll find linebacker D'Qwell Jackson at No. 35 overall. Trailing a little bit behind him at No. 44 overall is running back Peyton Hillis. PFF's commentary on both players is listed after the jump.

35. D’Qwell Jackson, LB - There are some big concerns about Jackson, who missed nearly two years through injury. But as much as that, he’s a player who needs a defense built around him to take advantage of his tremendous ability to read and react to plays. Not a linebacker who does well when a lineman gets his hands on him.

44. Peyton Hillis, RB - There are some big question marks about Hillis, who really only has one good year under his belt. That year, where he ranked second in our running back rankings, is an indication of the kind of every-down back he is, but you’re always worried about him being something of a one-season wonder.

The good thing about not having too many players really high on the list? It means that if you so choose to, you can bring your key free agents back and go after some new players, rather than having to worry about keeping your own guys.

Shame on PFF for not putting the always-reliable Phil Dawson on the list, though. How many teams would love to have a kicker of his caliber?

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Comments

I think Hillis showed up pretty well in the games he played this last year. I think it was 30% stardom going to his head after all those years buried on the depth chart, and 30% media spin and 30% his agent and 10% the FO not doing a good job of handling it (mostly because they didn’t want to). Hopefully they’re all past that.

by HenryDawg on Feb 14, 2012 10:42 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Good points.

Change isn't good or bad it just "is". Don Draper of Madmen

by realmccoy on Feb 15, 2012 12:44 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Agreed. Hillis was kind of an idiot for how he handled it in the press with that “I talked to my agent and decided I shouldn’t be playing sick” comment. If he would have just substituted “doctor” or “myself” for “agent” I would have given him a pass.

My hope is that this last year has a sobering effect on his contract expectations and gives the Browns more leverage to re-sign him at a reasonable rate (3-4 mil/yr).

What do you think the market for him will be around the league? I wouldn’t think it would be that hot, but i’m pretty underwhelmed at the group out there now (excluding those like Forte and Foster who are extremely likely to be tagged) making me think we could be forced to let him walk.

Still, I certainly don’t see his release as a mandate to draft Richardson w/ #4 as some have suggested. I would be just fine with a Lamar Miller, D. Wilson, D. Martin, or C. Polk in the mid rounds.

There’s another guy i’ve been watching lately, Robert Turbin of the illustrious Utah St. Aggies.
He’s got a style similar to Hillis, a little shorter, but the guy is a truck with a bit more burst than Hillis and just as much pop. Straight line speed isn’t great, nor is he super-quick, but he’s a good receiver and blocker. Would love to get him with one of our 4ths.

by Vududawg on Feb 15, 2012 10:42 AM EST up reply actions

Turbin looks good. I would rather start Chris Ogbannya for a year than waste #4 on T-Rich, though I do think he’ll be really good. I can’t see anyone over-paying for Hillis, maybe the Bengals? I think he will look super gay in tiger stripes (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

by HenryDawg on Feb 15, 2012 8:10 PM EST up reply actions

We can easily grab a good RB in the 4th. I’m not even worried about it.

by Brownie's Year on Feb 15, 2012 9:07 PM EST up reply actions

I don’t agree.

by Jon @ DBN on Feb 16, 2012 1:28 AM EST up reply actions

Just last year Helu and Hunter went in the 4th.

This year we could grab someone like Polk.

by Brownie's Year on Feb 16, 2012 2:37 AM EST up reply actions

The mere fact that they left out Phil proves that this list is irrelevant and invalid.

However, I’m curious enough to see who else they put on there…

Honor. Courage. Commitment.

by Brownsbacker488 on Feb 14, 2012 10:42 PM EST reply actions

Matt Flynn at 12 and Alex Smith at 28? Yeah, this is definitely BS. I was actually going to try to take it seriously, but that is just ridiculous.

Honor. Courage. Commitment.

by Brownsbacker488 on Feb 14, 2012 10:46 PM EST up reply actions

Ludicrous – that said I would still throw $3 mill to get him. Of course it isn’t my money.

Change isn't good or bad it just "is". Don Draper of Madmen

by realmccoy on Feb 15, 2012 12:43 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

~~ludicrous~~ linsane

by nickmar19 on Feb 15, 2012 1:28 AM EST up reply actions

Its a kicker. Is there anyone on that list you wouldn’t trade Dawson for?

by Bernie19Kosar on Feb 15, 2012 10:51 AM EST up reply actions

Its

That’s cold.

by Jon @ DBN on Feb 15, 2012 11:06 AM EST up reply actions 4 recs

Will give DQ his due – I was in shock how well he played and how durable he was. They should lighten up on the injury stuff – he definitely proved he could stay healthy for a full year.

Change isn't good or bad it just "is". Don Draper of Madmen

by realmccoy on Feb 15, 2012 12:36 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Anyone that doesn’t understand what Peyton brings to the tqble should be forced to tackle him. He is a beast, not a one year wonder. He doea come with risks – with that running style he will prolly be banged up a bit – but that happens when you rather run someone over that find the sidelines.

Change isn't good or bad it just "is". Don Draper of Madmen

by realmccoy on Feb 15, 2012 12:40 AM EST via mobile reply actions

Before last yr I would have wholeheartedly agreed. Now one has to question his commitment to the team and injury questions – something I never used to think about with him. I want to hold on to him too, but not for more than he’s worth. I would feel fine drafting his replacement in the mid rounds.

by Vududawg on Feb 15, 2012 10:45 AM EST up reply actions

I do not give him a pass like Pokorny, but I have enough confidence in him that he will learn from the mistake and return to the teammate he was in 2010. It was a mistake, but it carried like a $5 million cash money penalty for his actions. That would make me reconsider my actions everyday and night for about a year. I hope we can get Peyton, and then draft a change of pace speed back mid rounds. Much easier to find a Sproles in the mid rounds than an every down back.

Change isn't good or bad it just "is". Don Draper of Madmen

by realmccoy on Feb 15, 2012 2:11 PM EST up reply actions

LaMichael James.

by Vududawg on Feb 16, 2012 3:17 AM EST up reply actions

LaMichael James*

Fixed.

I should have made my screen name DerekAndersonIsMyBrother

by Doc's Kid on Feb 16, 2012 5:07 PM EST up reply actions

Resigning Hillis, drafting Turbin, Jackson coming back, what do you do with Obi-Won & Hardesty (do we look to replace either or both)? It would be nice to have a full stable of horses in the RB spot.

A bargain is something you don't need at a price you can't resist....
If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong!
My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch!
Once you start agreeing with TDSH, you know that you're wrong.

by J. W. on Feb 29, 2012 6:39 PM EST up reply actions

Surprised Dawson, the greatest offense player for the Browns, isn’t on this list.

by pt_999 on Feb 17, 2012 12:26 AM EST reply actions

Most kickers are never given there do Credit, but on DBN we have enough to pass the love around. Phil is liked and appreciated here, and I would love to give him a Browns SB ring to retire upon.

by J. W. on Feb 29, 2012 6:41 PM EST up reply actions