We’re in the slowest part of the NFL calendar, one where players are all relaxing and vacationing ahead of training camp later this month.
However, teams still can add players ahead of late July’s pivotal offseason preparation process. Some definitely will ahead of training camp’s start.
While there are some free agents that may have cycled out of the NFL by now, but there are some free agents that we are genuinely surprised are still available for teams to sign.
This isn’t an exhaustive list of all of the NFL players who are deserving of a roster spot, but these are the players we’re the most taken aback for being around in free agency at this point in the offseason.
S Justin Simmons
Simmons isn’t just a veteran to compete for a starting spot on the roster. He’s a bona fide star at the safety position and a 2023 Pro Bowler, still playing at a relatively high level. While the former Denver Broncos safety might still be waiting for the right deal, we’d be flabbergasted if he wasn’t signed by a new team by the start of the NFL season. He’s just too good to not play.
CB Stephon Gilmore
Gilmore might not be the player he was in his absolute prime, but any team with a need at cornerback should absolutely consider giving him a call. He’s still a quality starter in the NFL, and he could instantly help a contending team with a weakness in the secondary. Surely it won’t be long until he signs, right? An NFL without Gilmore playing would feel strange.
G Halapoulivaati Vaitai
Particularly considering the widespread offensive line issues the NFL has faced as of late, how is Vaitai still a free agent? He’s a plug-and-play left guard for any team, as he helped provide stability up front for the Detroit Lions during their stellar 2023 season. While he might not be an elite talent, he’s a veteran who knows how to get the job done. He’s the best guard out there right now, and that should be enough to land him another job.
OLB Emmanuel Ogbah
For a contending team needing extra oomph in the pass rush, Ogbah would be an excellent rotational talent to add in the summer. He won a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2019 season and just spent four seasons with an upstart Miami Dolphins team. Ogbah had 5.5 sacks last season for Miami, and he’d be a nice fit for a team that needs more help on the defensive front. For a July free agent pass-rusher, Ogbah is a steal.
T D.J. Humphries
If your team needs a left tackle, Humphries is still a quality starter who played 15 games for the Arizona Cardinals last season. While he struggled with injuries early in his career and in 2022, he stayed largely healthy last season with Arizona and should be able to slot into a team needing stability at left tackle. It’s kind of surprising he’s still available in July.
