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As teams around the NFL prepare for the start of free agency on March 10, squads on the lookout for help at running back or wide receiver are in luck. There are multiple free agents available at those spots with the potential to be key contributors in 2015.
At safety, there's no such luck, and that lack of depth both in free agency and among this year's incoming rookies could wind up a godsend for veteran Tyvon Branch.
That's because it gives the 28-year-old a golden opportunity to get a once-promising NFL career back on track.
It didn't take the seven-year veteran long to start lining up visits after being released earlier this week by the Oakland Raiders. According to Conor Orr of NFL.com, Branch was in Indianapolis on Wednesday to visit with the Colts:
Per Mike Garafalo of Fox Sports, Branch will follow that trip up with one to the nation's capital:
On some level, it isn't hard to see why NFL teams would be more than a little interested in Branch, especially teams with obvious holes at safety like the Colts and Redskins.
After all, there was a time when Branch was one of the more promising young strong safeties in the National Football League. From 2009-2012, Branch averaged nearly 108 total tackles a season. Three straight years from 2009 to 2011, Branch racked up over 100 stops.
| 2008 | 8 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2009 | 16 | 16 | 124 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 2010 | 16 | 16 | 104 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 2011 | 16 | 16 | 109 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 | 14 | 14 | 94 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 3 | 3 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Source: NFL.com
It was a performance that earned him a four-year, $26.6 million contract extension from the Raiders back in 2012. It also wouldn't last.
Branch's 2013 season was ended by a broken leg after just two games. Ditto for 2014 after three thanks to an injured foot. Since Branch signed that extension back in 2012, he's played in only 19 of 48 games.
That isn't much of a return on Oakland's investment, and it paved Branch's way right out of town.
Now, those injury woes are certainly a concern. However, a broken leg and broken foot aren't related, nor would they seem overly indicative of the sort of thing that's an ongoing problem (like chronic knee issues).
And if Branch can show teams he's healthy he's going to rocket to near the top of this year's free-agent rankings at the safety spot.
| 1. | Devin McCourty | NE | 27 |
| 2. | Rahim Moore | DEN | 25 |
| 3. | Tyvon Branch | OAK | 28 |
| 4. | Antrel Rolle | NYG | 32 |
| 5. | Louis Delmas | MIA | 27 |
| 6. | Marcus Gilchrist | SD | 26 |
| 7. | Stevie Brown | NYG | 27 |
| 8. | Dawan Landry | NYJ | 32 |
| 9. | Nate Allen | PHI | 27 |
| 10. | Da'Norris Searcy | BUF | 26 |
Source: Evan Silva of Rotoworld
Devin McCourty's a solid free safety in the prime of his career, but he could easily command in excess of $10 million a season. Rahim Moore is a talented young player, but he's battled injury problems of his own over his four-year NFL career.
Then we get to Branch, and the questions start piling up quickly. His health. The age of players like Antrel Rolle and Dawan Landry (both 32). The low ceilings of players like Marcus Gilchrist and Da'Norris Searcy.
Still, there's always the draft, right?
Well, for teams looking for an "in the box" run-stuffing safety like Branch, not so much.
| 1. | Landon Collins | Alabama | 1 |
| 2. | Anthony Harris | Virginia | 2-3 |
| 3. | Jaquiski Tartt | Samford | 3 |
| 4. | Ibraheim Campbell | Northwestern | 3-4 |
| 5. | Clayton Geathers | UCF | 4-5 |
Source: CBS Sports
According to Rob Rang of CBS Sports, only Alabama's Landon Collins merits first-round consideration among this year's crop of strong safeties. In fact, Collins is the only sure bet of this year's class to be chosen in either of the draft's first two days. Rang doesn't view any of this year's free-safety prospects as a Day 1 pick.
That's compared to last year, when four safeties were among the first 32 players chosen.
Add it all together, and it should create a nice market for Branch. He's cheaper than McCourty, younger than Rolle and more proven than Searcy. And in signing him teams can avoid trying to find a gem in this year's admittedly weak crop of rookie safeties.
Where Branch getting his career back on track is concerned, it's something of a perfect storm.
Of course, it will all go for naught if Branch can't convince teams he's healthy or stay that way once he finds a new home.
However, if Branch can accomplish the first of those feats, there won't be any shortage of suitors for his services. And by the time all is said and done, Branch may well look back on his release by the Raiders as the best thing that's happened to him professionally in years.
Gary Davenport is an NFL Analyst at Bleacher Report and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association and the Pro Football Writers of America. You can follow Gary on Twitter @IDPManor .
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