The 2023 NFL offseason has already seen most of its high profile free agents sign contracts that will either keep them in front of their home fans or elevate a new roster this fall. That doesn’t mean there aren’t still difference makers weighing their options when it comes to signing.
Big name veterans and underrated starters alike have lingering on the open market as franchises set their depth charts and focus on this year’s draft. That includes familiar names like Odell Beckham Jr. and Jadeveon Clowney, young veterans with upside like Rock Ya-Sin and DJ Chark and one surefire Hall of Famer.
Where could they wind up? I pulled the 10 biggest remaining names from my offseason top 101 free agent rankings (yes, I know I skewed too heavily toward run-blocking linemen and off-ball linebackers, I get it) and scoured the NFL landscape to find a home where they’d make sense. Here’s what I came up with, from Bobby Wagner to Terrell Edmunds.
1
LB Bobby Wagner: Buffalo Bills
Top 101 rank: 8
2022 Team: Rams
The Miami Dolphins are unquestionably all-in and could use Wagner, but the Bills are closer to a Super Bowl, need to replace Tremaine Edmunds and have more wiggle room with the 2023 salary cap. They could make an overture to Wagner, not only selling their AFC title hopes but a rabid fanbase and the chance to play alongside All-Pro Matt Milano in the middle of the field.
Wagner was too expensive for the Rams, but that’s not a reflection of his contributions. His age 32 season marked the ninth team he’s been named an All-Pro. While his quest to join a contender was derailed by Los Angeles’ sudden collapse, the Bills could provide stability and a chance to hoist another Lombardi Trophy.
2
DT Poona Ford: Las Vegas Raiders
Top 101 rank: 42
2022 Team: Seahawks
Jerry Tillery currently holds a spot on the Raiders’ projected starting lineup. Most Chargers fans, based on their experience with the former second round pick, would consider that a favor to the rest of the AFC West.
Ford has experience playing end in a 3-4 and tackle in a 4-3, giving him flexibility for Patrick Graham’s defense. Las Vegas hasn’t been shy about spending on free agents this spring, adding players like Jakobi Meyers, Jimmy Garoppolo and Marcus Epps. Ford would be another moderate name capable of upgrading the league’s 31st-ranked defense. It may be a redundant signing after inking Tillery this offseason, but that doesn’t mean it would be a bad one.
3
WR Odell Beckham Jr.: Kansas City Chiefs
Top 101 rank: 44
2022 Team: none
It seems like Beckham isn’t getting the big money offers he’d hoped as he works his way back from a torn ACL. If that results in a one-year prove-it deal, he’d be well served going to:
a) a contender
b) with a distinct need at WR1
c) led by the reigning MVP at quarterback.
Pairing OBJ with Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce would give him a bright spotlight and tremendous supporting cast. It would also set him up for a potential windfall in 2024 in what could likely be his last big money NFL contract. That outweighs the benefits of a reunion with a wideout-needy New York Giants. Unless, of course, they find a way to pay up for his services.
4
EDGE Yannick Ngakoue: Chicago Bears
Top 101 rank: 47
2022 Team: Colts
Chicago has been active in free agency and still has more than $41 million in cap space to spend. Ngakoue is a proper veteran 4-3 defensive end who’d step into a rotation currently headlined by Trevis Gipson, Dominique Robinson and Terrell Lewis — three players who combined for 5.5 sacks in 2022 (Lewis was playing for the Rams at the time).
Ngakoue is slightly one dimensional as a defender, but he’s got that one dimension locked down. He’s had at least eight sacks every season since joining the league in 2016. He can get to the quarterback and force bad decisions, which is something a team that ranked 31st in pressure rate last season could use.
5
CB Rock Ya-Sin: Baltimore Ravens
Top 101 rank: 56
2022 Team: Raiders
Baltimore isn’t quite the fit for Ya-Sin it would have been under Wink Martindale’s man-coverage heavy schemes, but the Ravens need cornerback depth behind Marlon Humphrey. Ya-Sin is capable of running with wideouts and holding his own on blitzing downs, having allowed a passer rating in coverage under 90.0 each of the past two seasons. His presence would allow Martindale’s replacement, Mike Macdonald, to dial up more of the offense-discombobulating pressure that became commonplace in Maryland.
Ya-Sin isn’t especially reliable — he hasn’t played more than 13 games in any of his last three seasons — but he’s a valuable defensive back who can split time with young corners like Brandon Stephens and Damarion Williams. His presence wouldn’t prevent the Ravens from looking long and hard at a cornerback at this year’s draft, but it would make things better for 2023.
6
LT Donovan Smith: Cincinnati Bengals
Top 101 rank: 59
2022 Team: Buccaneers
Smith struggled in 2022 (as did the rest of the Tampa offensive line) and was a cap casualty this spring. But he’s been a solid cornerstone through much of his career and would move to right tackle in Cincinnati, in part, to accommodate Jonah Williams’ recent trade request.
This would give the Bengals two veteran options to bookend Orlando Brown between Smith and La’el Collins, who was similarly frustrating last fall. It’s not a perfect fit, but it addresses a need, provides depth and, given Smith’s sliding stock, could be an inexpensive luxury for a team with roughly $15 million still to spend this offseason.
7
EDGE Jadeveon Clowney: New Orleans Saints
Top 101 rank: 64
2022 Team: Browns
Clowney’s spot on the top 101 is part name recognition, part acknowledgment he’s only one season removed from a nine-sack, 19 quarterback hit campaign. He was clearly unhappy in his final season with the Browns, which could limit his wish list in 2023 to more, uh, robust franchises.
The Saints, with a win-now quarterback addition in Derek Carr and a soft serve schedule against the NFC South, qualify. General manager Mickey Loomis has once again used his shell game restructuring to open up cap space and New Orleans has a need up front; the team’s 17.5 percent pressure rate ranked fourth worst in the NFL. Cam Jordan turns 34 this year and will theoretically slow down at some point. Clowney would bring some experienced insurance should that take place.
8
WR DJ Chark: Indianapolis Colts
Top 101 rank: 65
2022 Team: Lions
Indianapolis will have a new starting quarterback in 2023 and needs to beef up its receiving corps behind Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce. Landing Chark would provide a field-stretching presence capable of hauling in deep balls or occupying over-the-top safety help so his teammates can burrow into the space left behind.
We know Chark can be a balm for a young, inexperienced quarterback. His breakthrough 1,000-yard 2019 season came with Gardner Minshew behind center. But he’s been sidelined with injury each season since, lowering his value and leaving him with something to prove. A pit stop in Indy and another Minshew-esque impact would go a long way.
9
G/C Connor McGovern: New York Giants
Top 101 rank: 66
2022 Team: Jets
One offensive lineman named Connor McGovern has already been signed, but it’s not the one who cracked the top 70 in our rankings. The former Jet has played both guard and center in his six-year NFL career and would provide a useful league-average starter up front.
The Giants could use him to replace Jon Feliciano in the middle of the line, allowing Brian Daboll to pick between Ben Bredeson, Mark Glowinski, Joshua Ezeudu and Marcus McKethan at guard. Keeping the ground game sound is paramount to Daboll’s path to success given his current offense. McGovern would be a boon there.
10
S Terrell Edmunds: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Top 101 rank: 68
2022 Team: Steelers
Edmunds is a powerful safety capable of sliding into a linebacker role for an enterprising defensive coordinator. His coverage fell way off in 2022, leaving an already overlooked player to languish in free agency. This could make him a bargain pick up for a needy team pressed up against the salary cap.
That describes the Buccaneers pretty well, as their only safeties currently under contract are Antoine Winfield Jr., Don Gardner and Nolan Turner — and the last two are only signed to futures/reserve deals. Edmunds can play closer to the line of scrimmage with a versatile centerfielder like Winfield out there, much like he did in his best seasons alongside Minkah Fitzpatrick. He’d be a modest risk for a team with an extreme need and a winnable division.
