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Building A 2021 NFL Expansion Team, Part III: Free Agency


After Part I and Part II, the roster building for the Toronto Wolves continues with 2021 NFL free agency. But first, we have a trade to announce: The Wolves have traded quarterback Jared Goff to the Lions for their third-round pick (72nd overall). Of course, there are many moving parts (and I personally value Jared Goff higher than a third-round selection), but I think this is realistic and fair considering Detroit wanted Goff in real life and there were other teams interested. I could have probably gotten at least a second in exchange for Goff, but this will work to keep things most realistic (Goff still ends up on the Lions, who we know wanted him). The trade saves us $13,150,000 in cap space.

 

Carl Lawson | EDGE | Age: 27 | 3 years, $51 million

After the expansion draft, we clearly need some juice off the edge on defense. Carl Lawson—a guy I liked as a prospect coming out of Auburn in 2017—will provide that as someone that knows how to generate pressure. Lawson will be just 27 at the start of the season, and we’ll bump up our offer by $2 million per season from what the Jets offered him. Because it’s a shorter-term deal and we’ll have a quarterback on a rookie contract, we can pay a premium on players to bring them in.

 

Nelson Agholor | WR | Age: 28 | 3 years, $45 million

Considering his production with the Raiders and his talent level overall, Nelson Agholor would have been a steal for last year’s expansion team. If you’ve followed along on Wolf Sports (or just watched Agholor play), you’d know the talent level is very high despite the false narratives surrounding Agholor. We outbid the Patriots early in the process and get a potential No. 1 receiver at $15 million/year.

 

Haason Reddick | EDGE | Age: 26 | 1 year, $8.5 million

Haason Reddick signed with the Panthers in reality, but we’re giving the former first-round pick of the Cardinals an extra $2.5 million on a one-year deal to pass on rejoining his former college coach Matt Rhule and instead join Toronto. Suddenly, with Lawson and Reddick, we have guys that can pressure the quarterback—and Reddick has added versatility in his skillset.

 

Xavier Rhodes | CB | Age: 31 | 1 year, $8 million

I want the Wolves to be aggressive on defense, and Xavier Rhodes will help with that as an experienced corner that can play stellar press-man coverage on the outside. The former All-Pro showed last season that he can still play at a high level despite hitting 30 years old.

 

Sammy Watkins | WR | Age: 28 | 1 year, $7 million

The Wolves give Sammy Watkins a bigger deal than he got from the Ravens, as we like the dynamic weapon with championship experience. Watkins also likes the idea of playing with a certain someone that went to the same school as him (more on that in the 2021 NFL Draft section).

 

Keanu Neal | LB | Age: 26 | 1 year, $7 million

Keanu Neal has always played like a linebacker from the safety spot, and we’ll move him to linebacker in Jeff Fisher’s defense. The Florida product should excel in our nickel defense, which will essentially be our base.

 

Bashaud Breeland | CB | Age: 29 | 1 year, $4 million

Let’s add another rangy cornerback that can get up and press opposing receivers. Both Breeland and Rhodes are also not afraid to come up and support in the run game, and I really like how our cornerback unit is shaping up. We have two likely veteran starters in Rhodes and Breeland, and there won’t be pressure on Mike Hughes to win a role on the outside, but if he’s playing too well to keep off the field, that’d be great. (Remember, we can also always move LaMarcus Joyner all over the field.)

 

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix | S | Age: 28 | 1 year, $3 million

Last season was a curious year for Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, but I still believe he can be a quality starter at safety on defense. Clinton-Dix has ballhawk qualities (24 combined interceptions, forced fumbles, and fumble recoveries in six seasons), and he’s never missed a game due to injury.

 

Xavier Woods | S | Age: 25 | 1 year, $2 million

As I wrote in my 2021 free agency rankings, Xavier Woods is a balanced safety. We’ll promise to feature him on the backend of the Wolves defense as he looks for a bigger payday next offseason.

 

Tevin Coleman | RB | Age: 28 | 1 year, 3 million

The Jets got Tevin Coleman in real life, and he has familiarity with their coaching staff. But we offer him a bigger contract, with a role where he’s ideally expected to get 12-15 touches per game while working in tandem with Latavius Murray.

 

Jordan Howard | RB | Age: 26 | 1 year, $1.5 million

Especially because Toronto will want to run the ball, we want exceptional depth at running back. I don’t understand it, but Jordan Howard hasn’t received a ton of interest from teams over the past couple of seasons. For us, he can help wear down defenses late in games and is a natural complement and backup to Murray and Coleman. I was going to add Dan Arnold at tight end, but money is getting tight, and Howard rounds out a talented offensive core behind what should be an above average offensive line.

 

Cordrea Tankersley | CB | Age: 27 | 1 year, $1 million

There are a few more free-agent cornerbacks I’d like to take a flier on (Rasul Douglas and Sidney Jones), but we weren’t able to convince them to come on board. Cordrea Tankersley takes the opportunity, joining fellow Clemson alumni Sammy Watkins and Bashaud Breeland.

 

Current Roster

 

Tomorrow, the inaugural roster for the Toronto Wolves will be complete after the 2021 NFL Draft. This is where things stand with the roster after Part III of the expansion series. [Keep in mind that Jared Goff’s trade saved $13,150,000 in cap space, but he still has a dead cap hit of $22,200,000.]

 

Salary cap: $182,500,000

Total payroll: $172,662,064

Cap space: $9,837,936

 

QB: Jake Fromm

RB: Latavius Murray // Tevin Coleman // Jordan Howard

WR: Nelson Agholor // James Proche // J.J. Arcega-Whiteside

WR: Sammy Watkins // Miles Boykin // Isaiah Coulter

WR: Scotty Miller // Joe Reed

TE: Jack Doyle // Colby Parkinson

OT: Marcus Cannon // Justin Skule

OG: Ereck Flowers // Aaron Brewer

C: Connor McGovern

OG: John Simpson

OT: Morgan Moses // Isaiah Prince

 

DE: Carl Lawson // Alton Robinson

DL: James Lynch // Carlos Davis

DL: Khalil Davis

DE: Haason Reddick

LB: Jordan Hicks // Quincy Williams

LB: Keanu Neal // David Mayo

CB: Xavier Rhodes // Mike Hughes

S: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix // Jaquan Johnson

S: Xavier Woods

CB: Bashaud Breeland // Cordrea Tankersley

NB: LaMarcus Joyner

 

K:

P:

LS: Jake Cardona

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