Ever wonder what impacts an NFL free agent’s decision to sign with a new team? With the negotiating window now open and the new league year set to start March 13, Sports Illustrated’s Robert Klemko asked 15 agents the following question:
“If you polled your clients about the most and least desirable teams to play for, which teams do you think would end up in the Top 5 and which would be in the Bottom 5?”
All of the agents asked for anonymity on the subject but did cite such factors as winning culture/tradition, opportunity for playing time, income tax laws, market, area of the country, and weather.
Seattle landed as the second-most desirable location for NFL free agents.
Based on the above concerns, the top five teams rank as follows:
1. Dallas, 11 votes
2. Seattle, 8
3. Miami, 8
4. L.A. Rams, 7
5. Atlanta, 5
The bottom five should come as no surprise:
1. Buffalo, 12 votes
2. Oakland, 11
3. Cincinnati, 8
4. Detroit, 7
5. Cleveland, 6
As of this post, Seattle has yet to be linked to any incoming free agents, but has seen three players depart to sign elsewhere: running back Mike Davis, cornerback Justin Coleman and defensive tackle Shamar Stephen.
