Veteran DE/OLB Dwight Freeney tells Mike Freeman of B/R that he’s “95 percent” certain he’ll be playing for a team in 2016.
“I’m going to play again next year,” Freeney said. “It’s 95 percent. But I can’t see that 5 percent happening.”
According to Freeney, the “writing was on the wall” when the Cardinals traded for Chandler Jones back in March.
Freeney explained that teams are still focused on their young players and draft picks.
“Teams are in love with young guys,” Freeney said. “I get it, but teams overlook that young guys don’t always live up to that promise. How many times have you heard, ‘This guy is the next Lawrence Taylor‘ or something like that?
“Teams also are in love with numbers and data when sometimes numbers can’t take into account the heart of a player. Teams back their draft picks because they don’t want their drafts to be wrong.
“Teams miss that I’m not the average guy. There are the anomalies, and I’m the anomaly. I can still play.”
Freeman still thinks Freeney could end up back with the Cardinals, but if not he sees the Saints, Patriots and Texans as three teams who could make sense for him.
Freeney, 36, is a former first-round pick of the Colts back in 2002. After spending 11 years in Indianapolis, Freeney signed on with the Chargers as a free agent and spent two seasons in San Diego.
Last year, the Cardinals signed him to a one-year contract and were rewarded with a productive year from the veteran pass rusher.
In 2015, Freeney recorded nine tackles, eight sacks and three forced fumbles over the course of 11 games. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 51 edge rusher out of qualifying 110 players.
We have him featured in our Best Available Free Agents list.
Looking for the latest NFL Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow NFL Trade Rumors on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NFL News and Rumors for all 32 teams!
