Free agency is the league’s in-season tool to pair talent with a team in need. The term free agent technically applies to anyone eligible who is not actively signed on an NFL contract, meaning that you’re a free agent, I’m a free agent, your mom’s a free agent, and LeBron James is a free agent.
For one reason or another, players with a history in the league sometimes find themselves short of any team’s 53 man roster entering into a season which leaves them in free agency to be picked up later in the year.
For teams with needs on rosters this season, these are the ten best free agents still available in the NFL.
10. QB Carson Wentz
Wentz has fallen far from his MVP candidate peak. The former second overall pick went through stints with the Colts and Commanders after his time with the Eagles ran its course. In that time, Wentz has been given opportunity to show that he’s still one of the league’s best at QB and at both stops he fell short of expectation. In 2022, Wentz threw for 1,755 yards and 11 touchdowns to nine interceptions. While these are certainly not MVP caliber numbers, Wentz showed that he could still find a role as a serviceable backup in the league.
9. WR Tre’Quan Smith
Smith is the most recent addition to the NFL’s free agency list after getting cut by the New Orleans Saints. Smith spent five seasons in New Orleans before being waived from the team’s IR. During his time as a Saint, the former third round pick was best known for catching some of future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees’ most important passes, such as the touchdown grab to secure the all-time passing yard title and all-time touchdowns title. While Smith wasn’t the WR2 New Orleans wanted, he was an excellent run blocker that did the dirty work when needed. Expect Smith’s former head coach Sean Payton to sign him to the Broncos roster sooner rather than later.
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8. LB Anthony Barr
Former UCLA Bruins and Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr is in his 10th year in the league. At 32 years old, Barr is past his prime, but can still come in as a valuable rotation piece for a team lacking LB depth. At his peak, Barr had the ability to drop into coverage and get after the quarterback. Now, he’s still got some juice left in the tank, albeit after lingering injuries kept him sidelined for a good portion of his career in the 2020’s.
7. OT Taylor Lewan
Podcast host and former Tennessee Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan contemplated retirement following his release from the Titans’ 53 man roster as a victim of the salary cap. Though he has yet to make an announcement one way or the other about his career, Lewan seems comfortable hosting the Bussin’ with the Boys podcast with former linebacker Will Compton. At his peak, Lewan was one of the best tackles in the league well on his way to a series of top dollar contracts before a series of injuries kept him on the sideline. Time will tell if Lewan wants to make a return to the field, but ultimately that’s a decision for him to make. There are teams that could certainly use his talents.
6. DE Carlos Dunlap
Former Cincinnati Bengal and Kansas City Chief Carlos Dunlap is a former star defensive player on the wrong side of 30. At 34 years old, Dunlap has amassed a career that would stand on its own if he called it quits today. If the edge rusher still has gas in the tank, however, plenty of teams could use him in their rotation. Dunlap has 578 career tackles, exactly 100 sacks and two interceptions — both of which he returned for the score.
5. CB Casey Hayward
Casey Hayward was once one of the best cornerbacks in the league. For the Chargers, Hayward led a secondary that consisted of a plethora of talent. Like Dunlap, though, Hayward is on the wrong side of 30. At 34 years old, the corner doesn’t quite have the quick first step that he used to. Cornerbacks in similar age and talent have shown that there’s a role for the older veteran. Former Denver Bronco and Super Bowl champion Chris Harris Jr. served as a reliable slot corner for New Orleans last year at age 33. Hayward could do the same for a team out there.
4. WR Jarvis Landry
Louisiana State University standout receiver Jarvis Landry has been a career journeyman, amassing $67 million through the course of his career. Despite suffering a season ending injury as a member of the New Orleans Saints last season, Landry has created over 7,000 yards on over 700 catches throughout the course of his career. He’s also caught 38 touchdowns to pair. If Landry can recover from his injury as half the receiver he was before it, he’ll have a place in this league. Pushing 30, though, Landry will need to move quickly if he wants to return to the field.
3. RB Leonard Fournette
Even though Playoff Lenny looks like he’s been in the league for a decade, the former LSU product is only 28 years old. The problem with Fournette is that he’s not capable of being a team’s RB1 workhorse. His talents are much more useful as a 3rd down back, and in a league that undervalues the running back position, Fournette is going to have a tough time finding a landing spot. On top of that, 28 to a running back is 34 to any other position. It seems teams would rather take a flier on younger talent than bringing in the aging former first round pick, however.
2. CB Bradley Roby
Last season, Roby was one of the most effective slot cornerbacks in the league statistically. How he has not been signed to a secondary needy team, I do not know. Roby’s an asset that any team in the league should want to grab as long as he’s available. It may be a matter of asking price, but the fact that Bradley Roby still sits unsigned through the first part of the season is insane.
1. OT La’el Collins
Speaking of insane free agents still available, former Cincinnati Bengals left tackle La’el Collins was a head scratcher when the team let him walk. Many teams in the league could use the dominant protection this big body offensive lineman creates, but through the early stages of the seasons, he’s still available. It makes you wonder if there’s more to the story than you know. We’ll see what team signs Collins, but wherever it is, NFL fans will surely be there asking ‘why wasn’t he signed sooner?”
