Sheldon Richardson

Richardson signed a three-year, $36 million with the Browns this offseason to join an already deep and talented defensive line. The 28-year-old spent last season with the Vikings, but tailed off as the year progressed, finishing with only one sack in his last five games. His strength lies primarily in stopping the run, however, which helped him record at least one tackle in every game of the 2018 campaign. He ultimately fell just shy of his fourth career 50-tackle season.

In an effort to up his free-agent value, Richardson passed on a multi-year contract with the Seahawks this offseason to sign a one-year deal with the Vikings. His hopes are likely to rack up the stats on a star-studded front that allows him not to be keyed on by opposing offensive lines. If everything goes according to plan, the former first-round pick could be set up for a bounce-back season in 2018, despite being three years removed from his dominant 2014 campaign that saw him finish with a 12th place IDP finish amongst all defensive linemen.

One of the NFL's most talented defensive linemen, Richardson's stock is in a flux due to character issues and the potential for limited playing time on a Jets team with two other elite defensive tackles (Muhammad Wilkerson, Leonard Williams). The ideal scenario for Richardson would probably be a trade to a team where he could have a three-down role, but even if he stays in a crowded rotation on a Jets team that doesn't want him, Richardson's talent is too great for him to not show up in the box score. He reliably hits 60 tackles with 750 snaps or more.

Richardson is a vital piece of the Jets' run defense, though some off-the-field issues could limit his upside this season, as he recently pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and various traffic violations, which could land him another suspension (he missed the first four games of last season too). Nevertheless, if he's able to get all 16 games in, he is certainly a solid option, though his position doesn't lend itself to a ton of tackles.

Still just 24, Richardson has already logged two elite IDP seasons. While his tackles declined slightly from his rookie year (78 to 67), he developed significantly as a pass rusher, increasing his sacks from 3.5 to eight. Richardson could play more under new coach Todd Bowles after averaging 51.4 snaps per game the last two years. (Calais Campbell averaged 56.2 per game in that span under Bowles' watch in Arizona.) And with fellow DE Muhammad Wilkerson on the opposite side, the 6-3, 294-pound Richardson will again have help collapsing the pocket.

Richardson has long been identified as one of football's most athletically-gifted defenders, even going back to his days as a high school recruit. The high expectations only grew taller once the Jets selected the Missouri product 13th overall in last year's draft, particularly since it meant he would receive coaching from Jets coach Rex Ryan, arguably the brightest defensive mind in the NFL. One year later, it looks like Richardson might have been the best player in his draft. He posted 3.5 sacks and 78 tackles as a rookie, playing a lead role in a Jets defense that allowed the fewest yards per carry in the league. That tackle number might go down, but Richardson should only improve as a pass rusher as he continues to develop his hand usage and play recognition. Fellow Jets end Muhammad Wilkerson is an elite pocket-collapsing threat on the opposite side, so the duo should continue to push tackle and sack opportunities toward each other. Richardson's IDP value gets a unique boost from the potential to play on offense. The Jets gave him four carries a year ago, two of which he turned into touchdowns.

Richardson is a rare athlete at tackle who should be an absolute menace on stunts. He'll play end for the Jets' 3-4 scheme, however, and his arrival could signal a move to nose tackle for Muhammad Wilkerson, who has the stoutest build of the Jets' big three on the line, that being Richardson, Wilkerson and Quinton Coples. Richardson had issues in run defense at Missouri and will need to learn how to transfer his explosiveness into anchoring at the point of attack rather than just pursuing wildly like he did at Missouri, but Rex Ryan is the exact coach you would want to mentor him.