In terms of actual free agent signings, the NFL often lacks sizzle. This year that is particularly true as most of the biggest names left after the franchise tag period that saw the likes of Lamar Jackson, Saquon Barkley and Tony Pollard get tagged and Geno Smith and Daniel Jones work out long-term deals to return to their respective teams are offensive lineman, defensive tackles, and corners that aren't household names. That being said, there are some potential impact players to be had and the high likelihood of some record-breaking deals getting handed out for these guys that play unsexy, but pivotal positions. Here are my picks for the 10 best players available in 2023 NFL Free Agency.
10.Zach Allen, defensive tackle (2022 team: Arizona Cardinals):
A new GM and head coach pairing coming to the Cardinals leaves Allen's status with the team up in the air. Despite some valid concerns over his durability after already missing 23 games in his career, letting Allen walk would be a tough pill to swallow for a front 7 that is already severely lacking in impact players. The 2019 3rd round pick found a pass-rushing groove last season (5.5 sacks, 35 QB pressures, 20 QB hits in only 13 games) to match the run defense skills that made him a Day 2 pick. If he can take another step forward over the next couple years, he could very well turn into a Pro Bowl/All-Pro player.
Possible Destinations: Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings
9.T.J. Edwards, inside linebacker (2022 team: Philadelphia Eagles):
It's insane how much Edwards continues to fly under-the-radar. He's been one of the surest tacklers at inside linebacker over the past 2 seasons and despite a relative lack of INT's (only 2 in 4 pro seasons), has been consistently excellent in coverage since he began to earn regular playing time in 2020. Considering his youth (he turns 27 in August) and lack of accolades, he's a prime candidate to be a great value signing for the Eagles or another LB-needy team that doesn't want to go for an older vet like Bobby Wagner or Lavonte David.
Possible Destinations: Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, Washington Commanders
8.Bobby Wagner, inside linebacker (2022 team: Los Angeles Rams):
Don't let his recent release from the Rams fool you into thinking the Future Hall of Famer has lost a step in his early 30's. Wagner was once again sensational in 2022-logging 140 total tackles and a career-high 6 sacks on a severely depleted defense-and ended up earning his 9th career All-Pro bid for his efforts. Any contending team looking for a short-term fix at inside linebacker would be lucky to have him.
Possible Destinations: Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants
7.Jessie Bates III, safety (2022 team: Cincinnati Bengals):
Bates' aggression in coverage gets him in trouble from time to time and his 2022 campaign was probably the weakest of his career to date. However, his elite athleticism/range and nose for the ball will make him an appealing high risk/high reward option for any team hoping for an upgrade at strong safety.
Possible Destinations: Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills
6.James Bradberry, cornerback (2022 team: Philadelphia Eagles)
About to enter his age 30 season, this will be Bradberry's last shot at securing a big payday. While he's put together some not-so-great seasons (2017 with the Panthers, 2021 with the Giants) over the course of his 7-year career thus far, he's a high-level competitor with plus ball skills that is a natural fit on any team that runs a zone-heavy scheme.
Possible Destinations: Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Washington Commanders, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions
5.Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, safety/cornerback (2022 team: Philadelphia Eagles)
Yes, Gardner-Johnson is an irritant who will get some boneheaded personal foul penalties and might even get ejected for fighting every once in a while. He's also a versatile weapon that has the athleticism and fluidity to float between both safety spots and slot corner and happens to be coming off a season in which he hauled in a league-leading 6 INT's. The latter should be enough for some team to overlook the former and make him one of the highest paid free agents of this class.
Possible Destinations: Philadelphia Eagles, Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Atlanta Falcons, Minnesota Vikings, Indianapolis Colts, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars
4.Mike McGlinchey, tackle (2022 team: San Francisco 49ers):
Whether it's fair or not, McGlinchey hasn't quite lived up to the expectations that were placed upon him when he was selected 9th overall in 2018 and that'll likely do some damage to his contract value as he hits the open market for the 1st time. Still, he's been a really reliable right tackle with a knack for opening up big holes in the running game from the jump with the 49ers and that should be more than enough for most interested teams to overlook whatever disappointment may exist out there about his inability to make the switch to the other side of the line.
Possible Destinations: San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Chargers, Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers
3.Jamel Dean, cornerback (2022 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Dean might not have the resume of Bradberry or the positional versatility of Gardner-Johnson, but he does perhaps have the highest upside of any defensive back in this free agency group. The Auburn product has regularly outshined his running mate Carlton Davis-who earned a 3-year/$44 mil deal from the Bucs last offseason-in coverage, has a willingness to get physical and provide support against the run that is increasingly rare for an outside corner and at 26 going on 27, he's still a year or two away from hitting his prime.
Possible Destinations: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Las Vegas Raiders, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, Tennessee Titans
2.Javon Hargrave, defensive tackle (2022 team: Philadelphia Eagles):
Since the likes of Chris Jones, Aaron Donald and Cameron Heyward will never be available, Hargrave is about as prolific of an interior pass-rusher as you'll see hit the open market in the NFL. He's racked up 35.5 sacks over the past 5 seasons (including a career-high 11 last year) and at age 30, he should be able to keep wreaking havoc up the middle for at least another few years.
Possible Destinations: Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Chargers, Chicago Bears, Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Atlanta Falcons
1.Orlando Brown Jr., tackle (2022 team: Kansas City Chiefs):
Outside of some growing pains at the start of 2021, Brown Jr. has made a graceful shift from right to left tackle and done a great job of protecting Patrick Mahomes' blind side. It's hard to believe that Kansas City won't ink him to a long-term deal with the offensive line woes that sunk their 2020 Super Bowl bid still so fresh in their mind, but Brown's phone is certainly going to be really active as soon as the tampering period gets underway.
Possible Destinations: Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Other Notable Players Available (Note: Jason Kelce and Devin McCourty were excluded as they're either going to re-sign with the teams they've played for their entire careers or retire):
A'Shawn Robinson, defensive tackle (2022 team: Los Angeles Rams)
Adrian Amos, safety (2022 team: Green Bay Packers)
Alex Anzalone, inside linebacker (2022 team: Detroit Lions)
Alex Singleton, inside linebacker (2022 team: Denver Broncos)
Alexander Mattison, running back (2022 team: Minnesota Vikings)
Allen Lazard, wide receiver (2022 team: Green Bay Packers)
Andrew Van Ginkel, edge rusher (2022 team: Miami Dolphins)
Andrew Wylie, tackle (2022 team: Kansas City Chiefs)
Andy Dalton, quarterback (2022 team: New Orleans Saints)
Andy Lee, punter (2022 team: Arizona Cardinals)
Anthony Brown, cornerback (2022 team: Dallas Cowboys)
Arden Key, edge rusher (2022 team: San Francisco 49ers)
Azeez Al-Shaair, inside linebacker (2022 team: San Francisco 49ers)
Baker Mayfield, quarterback (2022 teams: Carolina Panthers/Los Angeles Rams)
Ben Powers, guard (2022 team: Baltimore Ravens)
Bobby Okereke, inside linebacker (2022 team: Indianapolis Colts)
Bradley Bozeman, center (2022 team: Carolina Panthers)
Bradley Pinion, punter (2022 team: Atlanta Falcons)
Bradley Roby, cornerback (2022 team: New Orleans Saints)
Brandon Graham, edge rusher (2022 team: Philadelphia Eagles)
Bryce Callahan, cornerback (2022 team: Los Angeles Chargers)
Bud Dupree, edge rusher (2022 team: Tennessee Titans)
Byron Jones, cornerback (2022 team: Miami Dolphins)
Byron Murphy, cornerback (2022 team: Arizona Cardinals)
Byron Pringle, wide receiver (2022 team: Chicago Bears)
Cameron Sutton, cornerback (2022 team: Pittsburgh Steelers)
Carson Wentz, quarterback (2022 team: Washington Commanders)
Case Keenum, quarterback (2022 team: Buffalo Bills)
Chris Wormley, defensive tackle (2022 team: Pittsburgh Steelers)
Cole Holcomb, inside linebacker (2022 team: Washington Commanders)
Connor McGovern, center (2022 team: New York Jets)
D.J. Chark, wide receiver (2022 team: Detroit Lions)
D'Onta Foreman, running back (2022
team: Carolina Panthers)
Dalton Risner, guard (2022 team: Denver Broncos)
Dalton Schultz, tight end (2022 team: Dallas Cowboys)
Dalvin Tomlinson, defensive tackle (2022 team: Minnesota Vikings)
Damien Harris, running back (2022 team: New England Patriots)
Darius Slayton, wide receiver (2022 team: New York Giants)
David Long, inside linebacker (2022 team: Tennessee Titans)
David Montgomery, running back (2022 team: Chicago Bears)
David Onyemata, defensive tackle (2022 team: New Orleans Saints)
Denzel Perryman, inside linebacker (2022 team: Las Vegas Raiders)
Devin Singletary, running back (2022 team: Buffalo Bills)
Donovan Smith, tackle (2022 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Donovan Wilson, safety (2022 team: Dallas Cowboys)
Dre'Mont Jones, defensive tackle (2022 team: Denver Broncos)
Drew Lock, quarterback (2022 team: Seattle Seahawks)
Drue Tranquill, inside linebacker (2022 team: Los Angeles Chargers)
Eli Apple, cornerback (2022 team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Emmanuel Mosley, cornerback (2022 team: San Francisco 49ers)
Eric Rowe, safety/cornerback (2022
team: Miami Dolphins)
Ethan Pocic, center (2022 team: Cleveland Browns)
Fletcher Cox, defensive tackle (2022 team: Philadelphia Eagles)
Frank Clark, edge rusher (2022 team: Kansas City Chiefs)
Gardner Minshew, quarterback (2022 team: Philadelphia Eagles)
Garrett Bradbury, center (2022 team: Minnesota Vikings)
Germaine Pratt, inside linebacker (2022 team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Greg Gaines, defensive tackle (2022 team: Los Angeles Rams)
Greg Joseph, kicker (2022 team: Minnesota Vikings)
Greg Zuerlein, kicker (2022 team: New York Jets)
Hayden Hurst, tight end (2022 team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Irv Smith Jr., tight end (2022 team: Minnesota Vikings)
Isaac Seumalo, guard (2022 team: Philadelphia Eagles)
Isaiah Oliver, cornerback (2022 team: Atlanta Falcons)
Isaiah Wynn, tackle/guard (2022 team: New England Patriots)
Jacoby Brissett, quarterback (2022 team: Cleveland Browns)
Jadeveon Clowney, edge rusher (2022 team: Cleveland Browns)
Jake Brendel, center (2022 team: San Francisco 49ers)
Jakobi Meyers, wide receiver (2022 team: New England Patriots)
Jamaal Williams, running back (2022 team: Detroit Lions)
Jamie Gillian, punter (2022 team: New York Giants)
Jarrett Stidham, quarterback (2022 team: Las Vegas Raiders)
Jarvis Landry, wide receiver (2022 team: New Orleans Saints)
Jawaan Taylor, tackle (2022 team: Jacksonville Jaguars)
Jerick McKinnon, running back (2022 team: Kansas City Chiefs)
Jimmie Ward, safety (2022 team: San Francisco 49ers)
Jimmy Garoppolo, quarterback (2022 team: San Francisco 49ers)
JK Scott, punter (2022 team: Los Angeles Chargers)
John Johnson III, safety (2022 team: Cleveland Browns)
Jonathan Jones, cornerback (2022 team: New England Patriots)
Jordan Poyer, safety (2022 team: Buffalo Bills)
Juan Thornhill, safety (2022 team: Kansas City Chiefs)
JuJu Smith-Schuster, wide receiver (2022 team: Kansas City Chiefs)
Julian Love, safety/cornerback (2022 team: New York Giants)
Justin Houston, edge rusher (2022 team: Baltimore Ravens)
Kaden Elliss, inside linebacker (2022 team: New Orleans Saints)
Kaleb McGary, tackle (2022 team: Atlanta Falcons)
Karrem Hunt, running back (2022 team: Cleveland Browns)
Kelvin Beachum, tackle (2022 team: Arizona Cardinals)
Kyle Van Noy, inside/outside linebacker (2022 team: Los Angeles Chargers)
Kyzir White, inside linebacker (2022 team: Philadelphia Eagles)
LaMarcus Joyner, safety (2022 team: New York Jets)
Larry Ogunjobi, defensive tackle (2022 team: Pittsburgh Steelers)
Lavonte David, inside linebacker (2022 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Leighton Vander Esch, inside linebacker (2022 team: Dallas Cowboys)
Mack Hollins, wide receiver (2022 team: Las Vegas Raiders)
Marcus Davenport, edge rusher (2022 team: New Orleans Saints)
Marcus Mariota, quarterback (2022 team: Atlanta Falcons)
Marcus Peters, cornerback (2022 team: Baltimore Ravens)
Marvin Jones Jr., wide receiver (2022 team: Jacksonville Jaguars)
Mason Crosby, kicker (2022 team: Green Bay Packers)
Matt Gay, kicker (2022 team: Los Angeles Rams)
Matt Haack, punter (2022 team: Indianapolis Colts)
Matt Prater, kicker (2022 team: Arizona Cardinals)
Mecole Hardman, wide receiver (2022 team: Kansas City Chiefs)
Melvin Ingram, edge rusher (2022 team: Miami Dolphins)
Mike Gesicki, tight end (2022 team: Miami Dolphins)
Mike Hughes, cornerback (2022 team: Detroit Lions)
Mike White, quarterback (2022 team: New York Jets)
Miles Sanders, running back (2022 team: Philadelphia Eagles)
Nate Davis, guard (2022 team: Tennessee Titans)
Nelson Agholor, wide receiver (2022 team: New England Patriots)
Nick Mullens, quarterback (2022 team: Minnesota Vikings)
Nik Needham, cornerback (2022 team: Miami Dolphins)
Obo Okoronkwo, edge rusher (2022 team: Houston Texans)
Odell Beckham Jr., wide receiver (2022 team: N/A)
Parris Campbell, wide receiver (2022 team: Indianapolis Colts)
Patrick Peterson, cornerback (2022 team: Minnesota Vikings)
Poona Ford, defensive tackle (2022 team: Seattle Seahawks)
Raheem Mostert, running back (2022 team: Miami Dolphins)
Rashaad Penny, running back (2022 team: Seattle Seahawks)
Richie James, wide receiver (2022 team: New York Giants)
Riley Dixon, punter (2022 team: Los Angeles Rams)
Riley Patterson, kicker (2022 team: Jacksonville Jaguars)
Robbie Gould, kicker (2022 team: San Francisco 49ers)
Robert Tonyan, tight end (2022 team:
Green Bay Packers)
Robert Woods, wide receiver (2022 team: Tennessee Titans)
Rock-Ya Sin, cornerback (2022 team: Las Vegas Raiders)
Rodney McLeod, safety (2022 team: Indianapolis Colts)
Sam Darnold, quarterback (2022 team: Carolina Panthers)
Sam Martin, punter (2022 team: Buffalo Bills)
Samjae Perine, running back (2022 team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Samson Ebukam, edge rusher (2022 team: San Francisco 49ers)
Sean Murphy-Bunting, cornerback (2022 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Shaq Griffin, cornerback (2022 team: Jacksonville Jaguars)
Sheldon Rankins, defensive tackle (2022 team: New York Jets)
Tashaun Gipson, safety (2022 team: San Francisco 49ers)
Taylor Heinicke, quarterback (2022 team: Washington Commanders)
Taylor Lewan, tackle (2022 team: Tennessee Titans)
Taylor Rapp, safety (2022 team: Los Angeles Rams)
Teddy Bridgewater, quarterback (2022 team: Miami Dolphins)
Terrell Edmunds, safety (2022 team: Pittsburgh Steelers)
Thomas Morstead, punter (2022 team: Miami Dolphins)
Tommy Townsend, punter (2022 team: Kansas City Chiefs)
Tremaine Edmunds, inside linebacker (2022 team: Buffalo Bills)
Trey Pipkins, tackle (2022 team: Los Angeles Chargers)
Troy Hill, cornerback (2022 team: Los Angeles Rams)
Tyler Huntley, quarterback (2022 team: Baltimore Ravens)
Vonn Bell, safety (2022 team: Cincinnati Bengals)
Will Hernandez, guard (2022 team: Arizona Cardinals)
Yannick Ngakoue, edge rusher (2022 team: Indianapolis Colts)
No comments:
Post a Comment