Early 2021 NFL free agency rankings: George Kittle headlines top 70 players

34. Todd Gurley, RB, Atlanta Falcons

I’m a greater believer in Gurley’s ability to rebound from a forgettable 2019 season and possible knee issues that most analysts. After earning back-to-back First-Team All-Pro selections, Gurley did not live up to his standards in 2019. He didn’t live up to his contract either, so the Los Angeles Rams cut the former tenth overall pick.

Gurley signed a one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Falcons, hoping to prove that he can still play at a high level. It’s hard to tell where his career is going. A year and a half ago, Gurley was still one of the top three running backs in the NFL. Now he’s making less money than Austin Ekeler.

Atlanta is the perfect place for Gurley to resurrect his career. There’s an established passing attack anchored by Julio Jones and Matt Ryan, and there isn’t a clear running back on the roster who could steal carries from Gurley.

33. Brandon Scherff, G (Franchise Tag), Washington Football Team

Washington drafted Scherff with the fifth overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. While he only missed two games during his first three seasons, the Iowa product missed 13 games over the past two years. Despite only making 11 appearances in 2019, Scherff still earned his third Pro Bowl selection.

Unsure about the future of its franchise and Scherff’s long-term viability, Washington used the franchise tag on its star guard. On the tag, Scherff makes $15.03 million next year. For context, Brandon Brooks’ contract is the most lucrative among all guards. He makes about $14.087 million annually.

While Scherff is a quality guard, he doesn’t rank among the league’s elite interior linemen. He’s probably worth $11-13 million annually but not a record-breaking deal.