10 potential landmines NFL teams should avoid in free agency

Thirty-two teams are getting ready to open their wallets, yet some free agents are destined to disappoint upon migrating to new stomping grounds.

In particular, buyers should beware of these 10 players:

Byron Jones, CB

Somebody will probably make Jones the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history, and that will be quite a fee for a player with two career interceptions. Jones was excellent in 2018, but his play tailed off somewhat in 2019. He's good, but he's probably not as good as his next contract will suggest.

Arik Armstead, DE

Perhaps no player in the NFL benefited more from the talent around him than Armstead did with the 49ers in 2019. The former first-round pick had 10 sacks, more than he totaled in his first four seasons combined. His next team won't have Nick Bosa, Dee Ford, and DeForest Buckner there to take the pressure off him, but it will have lofty expectations for the 26-year-old.

Randall Cobb, WR

Cobb enjoyed a bounce-back season with the Cowboys after a slew of injury-riddled years with the Packers, posting 828 receiving yards - his most since 2015. But he'll be 30 in August, and his lengthy history of lower-body ailments doesn't bode well for his chances of aging gracefully. Cobb is worth another one-year contract, but he'll likely pursue a multi-year deal with financial guarantees beyond 2020.

Ndamukong Suh, DT

Suh can still contribute, but at this point, teams are paying for his name more than his production. The five-time Pro Bowler took home $9.25 million from the Buccaneers in 2019 and was a valiant run-defender, but plenty of other interior linemen can fill that role for a much smaller salary. At 33 years of age, Suh's best days are in the rear-view mirror.

Jack Conklin, RTTim Warner / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The laws of supply and demand point toward a gigantic payday for Conklin, who still gets exploited by speed-rushers off the edge. The Titans helped the Michigan State product by using running backs and tight ends to chip block, but any team that signs Conklin will expect him to hold up in pure 1-on-1 situations in a league filled with increasingly athletic pass-rushers.

Michael Pierce, DT

Pierce showed up to training camp between 30 and 40 pounds overweight last year, and he was playing for a new contract with the Ravens. He's a disruptive force inside when motivated, but it's fair to wonder how driven he'll be after signing for millions of dollars.

Melvin Gordon, RB

In five seasons, Gordon has averaged more than 3.9 yards per carry once. He also has just one 1,000-yard rushing campaign to his name. He does everything well, and he's an asset in the passing game, but he doesn't do anything particularly great. All of this is to say, Gordon probably isn't worth the $13 million per year he held out for last year, or whatever sum he'll obtain in free agency.

Joe Schobert, LB

Schobert had a stellar season in coverage in 2018, but he otherwise graded out as an average linebacker against the run and pass over his four years with the Browns. He racks up tackles, but he also misses a bunch. The former Pro Bowler is rumored to be seeking about $10 million annually, which is a lot for an imperfect player at a non-premium position.

Breshad Perriman, WR

Perriman turned in a career season on a one-year deal with the Buccaneers in 2019, posting 645 yards and six touchdowns. He also made a handful of highlight-reel grabs. But he was in a receiver-friendly offense and got hot late in the year when the Bucs were out of the playoff hunt and had Mike Evans and Chris Godwin on the shelf with injuries.

Jamie Collins, LB

The last time Collins left Bill Belichick and the Patriots, it didn't go so well. The 30-year-old re-established his value with a strong 2019 campaign, though his best performances came early in the season against struggling offenses. His regression later in the year should concern teams thinking of rewarding him with another bloated contract.

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