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USA Today Sports Media Group

Sport

Christian D'Andrea

The top 101 NFL free agents of 2023, starting with Lamar Jackson, ranked by tiers

Lamar Jackson Eagles Tom Brady Cowboys Buccaneers Kaleb McGary Orlando Brown Jr Raiders Ravens USA TODAY Sports

The 2022 NFL season is over. The 2023 NFL offseason can begin.

The finish to Super Bowl 57 afforded scant breathing room for teams looking to claw their way into contention. February and March allow teams to align their chess pieces as free agency and the draft approach. Some clubs will use that opportunity to overhaul their rosters. Others will more or less hold tight through minor tweaks and hope for success.

There’s no shortage of difference-making veteran talent set to hit the open market this spring. More than 700 players are scheduled to become free agents this offseason, though that number will fluctuate as some contracted players are released and others sign extensions that keep them tied to their current teams.

While we don’t know anyone’s exact plans so far, a quick look at this year’s salary cap space suggests who the big players will be. The Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants and Houston Texans can all be expected to be active players when the free agent negotiating period officially kicks off at noon ET March 13. Until then, we can look at this year’s pool of potential help and start devising fantasy rosters.

With that in mind, here are 2023’s top 101 free agents, broken down into tiers. All ages listed are how old a player will be in the upcoming season. All prior year salary information comes from the wonderfully useful Over The Cap.

Tier I: The coveted difference-makers

1. QB Lamar Jackson

2022 Team: Ravens
Age: 26
Previous Average Annual Value (AAV): $2,367,913
Who is he? 26 year old former MVP capable of winning games with or without wide receivers.

2. LT Orlando Brown Jr.

2022 Team: Chiefs
Age: 27
Previous AAV: $16,662,000
Who is he? Eclipsing blindside blocker with a Super Bowl ring.

3. IDL Da’Ron Payne

2022 Team: Commanders
Age: 26
Previous AAV: $3,604,590
Who is he? Destructive interior linemen who can swallow up runners or sack the quarterback.

4. IDL Javon Hargrave

2022 Team: Eagles
Age: 30
Previous AAV: $13,000,000
Who is he? Consistently great interior presence who creates a mess up front and sometimes cleans it up himself.

5. RT Kaleb McGary

2022 Team: Falcons
Age: 28
Previous AAV: $2,566,436
Who is he? 2022’s second-best available blocker and more likely to change his address than Brown. McGary’s vast improvement could be an outlier or a sign of things to come. He’s probably overvalued here, but this isn’t a great year for the OT market.

6. CB Jamel Dean

2022 Team: Buccaneers
Age: 27
Previous AAV: $889,713
Who is he? Has never allowed a passer rating above 86.0 in coverage across four seasons as a pro.

7. S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Jr.

2022 Team: Eagles
Age: 26
Previous AAV: $826,775
Who is he? Versatile tornado who can fill multiple positions and make any secondary better.

8. LB Lavonte David

2022 Team: Buccaneers
Age: 33
Previous AAV: $12,500,000
Who is he? Older linebacker who remains a wrecking ball who sees the field with a clarity few possess.

Tier II: Extremely good players who'll have an immediate impact

9. S Jessie Bates III

2022 Team: Bengals
Age: 26
Previous AAV: $12,911,000
Who is he? Rangy safety who has struggled with consistency but shows up for big moments.

10. RB Saquon Barkley

2022 Team: Giants
Age: 26
Previous AAV: $7,798,688
Who is he? Revived running back who demands the focus of opposing DCs and props up underwhelming passing games.

11. CB James Bradberry

2022 Team: Eagles
Age: 30
Previous AAV: $7,250,000
Who is he? Big All-Pro cornerback coming off his best season for the league’s top passing defense.

12. QB Geno Smith

2022 Team: Seahawks
Age: 33
Previous AAV: $3,500,000
Who is he? A viable starting quarterback who ensured 2022 wouldn’t be a rebuilding year in Seattle.

13. CB Jonathan Jones

2022 Team: Patriots
Age: 30
Previous AAV: $7,000,000
Who is he? Yet another cornerback Bill Belichick plucked from obscurity en route to shutdown stardom.

14. LG Isaac Seumalo

2022 Team: Eagles
Age: 30
Previous AAV: $5,850,000
Who is he? Can play multiple positions on the interior of the offensive line with aplomb.

15. RB Josh Jacobs

2022 Team: Raiders
Age: 25
Previous AAV: $2,983,350
Who is he? 2022’s leading rusher and a viable target out of the backfield — who still has plenty of gas in the tank.

16. S Jordan Poyer

2022 Team: Bills
Age: 32
Previous AAV: $9,750,000
Who is he? 32 years old and playing the best football of his career. A force in coverage.

Tier III: Tom Brady

17. QB Tom Brady

2022 Team: Buccaneers
Age: 46
Previous AAV: $25,000,000
Who is he? Tom Brady. Sure he’s retired, but who are we to count out Touchdown Tom?

Tier IV: Not quite stars, but players who'll make their teams better (and some aging veterans who can still contribute)

18. QB Derek Carr

2022 Team: Raiders
Age: 32
Previous AAV: $40,500,000
Who is he? Either under- or over-rated, depending on when you watch him. He deserves the chance to thrive away from the Raiders.

19. QB Daniel Jones

2022 Team: Giants
Age: 26
Previous AAV: $6,416,014
Who is he? A playoff-winning starting quarterback. Man, that feels weird to type.

20. C Jason Kelce

2022 Team: Eagles
Age: 35
Previous AAV: $9,000,000
Who is he? Put together possibly his best year at age 34. His choices appear to be “return to Philly” or “retire.”

21. CB Byron Murphy

2022 Team: Cardinals
Age: 25
Previous AAV: $1,997,375
Who is he? Capable young cornerback who fell off in 2022 due to multiple factors, but is ripe for a revival at age 25.

22. IDL Zach Allen

2022 Team: Cardinals
Age: 26
Previous AAV: $1,073,441
Who is he? Beefy pass rusher whose 20 quarterback hits in 13 games still managed to be a top 25 mark.

23. LB David Long Jr.

2022 Team: Titans
Age: 27
Previous AAV: $672,593
Who is he? Three-down linebacker who is useful in coverage and frees up his teammates for bigger things.

24. IDL Dre’Mont Jones

2022 Team: Broncos
Age: 26
Previous AAV: $1,039,700
Who is he? Pressure-generating interior lineman whose ability to crumple pockets benefits his EDGE teammates.

25. LG Ben Powers

2022 Team: Ravens
Age: 27
Previous AAV: $804,383
Who is he? Rock solid interior blocker who broke out in 2022 despite the general chaos of the Ravens franchise around him.

26. RB Tony Pollard

2022 Team: Cowboys
Age: 26
Previous AAV: $797,582
Who is he? Explosive runner who’s served as the lightning to Ezekiel Elliott’s thunder — though he seemed to wear down with extra use in 2022.

27. IDL Fletcher Cox

2022 Team: Eagles
Age: 33
Previous AAV: $14,000,000
Who is he? Veteran defensive tackle who’ll inspire Hall of Fame debate (he’ll get in) and still brings value to the lineup.

28. TE Dalton Schultz

2022 Team: Cowboys
Age: 27
Previous AAV: $10,931,000
Who is he? Tight end who can play in the slot or split wide, though a muted 2022 dinged his value.

29. IDL Dalvin Tomlinson

2022 Team: Vikings
Age: 29
Previous AAV: $10,500,000
Who is he? Massive soul-eater who swallows up blockers at the line of scrimmage and smashes through gaps to sew chaos.

30. RB Miles Sanders

2022 Team: Eagles
Age: 26
Previous AAV: $1,340,058
Who is he? Peaking running back who thrived behind Philly’s bruising offensive line but has had a waning impact in the passing game.

George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

31. LB T.J. Edwards

2022 Team: Eagles
Age: 27
Previous AAV: $2,150,000
Who is he? Rising off-ball linebacker who has improved significantly the past two seasons to become an upper-tier starter.

32. LT Terence Steele

2022 Team: Cowboys
Age: 26
Previous AAV: $765,000
Who is he? Still-developing right tackle who was vital for the Cowboys and, as a restricted free agent, unlikely to go anywhere.

33. RT Mike McGlinchey

2022 Team: 49ers
Age: 28
Previous AAV: $4,585,469
Who is he? Once got launched into orbit by Micah Parsons but, other than that, a solid right tackle capable of keeping his QB upright for long stretches.

34. CB Patrick Peterson

2022 Team: Vikings
Age: 33
Previous AAV: $4,000,000
Who is he? Still balling out at age 33.

35. LB Tremaine Edmunds

2022 Team: Bills
Age: 25
Previous AAV: $3,164,886
Who is he? Former Pro Bowler who quietly had a bounce-back 2022 despite missing four games due to injury (one missed tackle in 103 attempts).

36. RT Jawaan Taylor

2022 Team: Jaguars
Age: 26
Previous AAV: $1,960,856
Who is he? Young tackle whose traits are more desirable than his on-field production, but he plays a position of need.

37. S Vonn Bell 2022

Team: Bengals
Age: 29
Previous AAV: $6,000,000
Who is he? Hard-hitting strong safety who shows up, does the work, and had his best season in coverage last fall.

38. CB Cameron Sutton

2022 Team: Steelers
Age: 28
Previous AAV: $4,500,000
Who is he? Rose up from depth option to become the Steelers’ top cornerback over six seasons in Pittsburgh.

39. EDGE Marcus Davenport

2022 Team: Saints
Age: 27
Previous AAV: $3,435,475
Who is he? Had nine sacks in 11 games in 2021 and 0.5 in 15 games in 2022. He’s big and fast and honestly, who knows?

40. EDGE Brandon Graham

2022 Team: Eagles
Age: 35
Previous AAV: $13,333,333
Who is he? Had 11 sacks while only playing 43 percent of the Eagles’ defensive snaps. He’ll make an impact as a situational pass rusher somewhere.

Tier V: Reliable contributors who mostly won't inspire breathless rants on sports radio upon signing

41. IDL Poona Ford

2022 Team: Seahawks
Age: 28
Previous AAV: $6,172,500
Who is he? Can play nose tackle or man the gaps and remain the kind of player offensive linemen have to specifically plan against.

42. EDGE Arden Key

2022 Team: Jaguars
Age: 27
Previous AAV: $4,000,000
Who is he? Valuable situational pass rusher who consistently generates pressure.

43. WR Odell Beckham

2022 Team: none
Age: 30
Previous AAV: n/a
Who is he? Former All-Pro wideout last seen boosting the Rams to a Super Bowl (and dealing with a torn ACL the past year).

44. WR Jakobi Meyers

2022 Team: Patriots
Age: 27
Previous AAV: $3,986,000
Who is he? Consistent possession receiver who provides a stable presence and can likely thrive under an established WR1.

45. WR JuJu Smith-Schuster

2022 Team: Chiefs
Age: 27
Previous AAV: $3,760,000
Who is he? Not a WR1 but a capable WR2 who feasts when opponents have to zero in on his quarterback’s first choice.

46. EDGE Yannick Ngakoue

2022 Team: Colts
Age: 28
Previous AAV: $13,000,000
Who is he? Slightly one dimensional defensive end, but that one dimension — rushing the passer — is a pretty good one.

47. CB Isaiah Oliver

2022 Team: Falcons
Age: 27
Previous AAV: $2,385,000
Who is he? Viable young-ish cornerback with coverage chops and questions about durability (16 games the last two seasons).

48. S Juan Thornhill

2022 Team: Chiefs
Age: 28
Previous AAV: $1,153,817
Who is he? Underrated piece of the Chiefs’ defense who struggles with consistency but can make big plays.

49. TE Evan Engram

2022 Team: Jaguars
Age: 29
Previous AAV: $9,000,000
Who is he? A big slot wideout masquerading as a tight end. Revived his value in Jacksonville thanks in large part to fewer drops.

50. QB Jimmy Garoppolo

2022 Team: 49ers
Age: 32
Previous AAV: $7,000,000
Who is he? A quarterback who wins games and is coming off the most efficient season of his career — even if he controlled an autopilot offense.

51. TE Mike Gesicki

2022 Team: Dolphins
Age: 28
Previous AAV: $10,931,000
Who is he? Another slot wideout who happens to play tight end. The Dolphins didn’t have much for him in 2022, but someone else will in 2023.

52. C Garrett Bradbury

2022 Team: Vikings
Age: 28
Previous AAV: $3,220,718
Who is he? Grew by leaps and bounds to finally live up to his first round pedigree. He’s worth a gamble to see if it lasts.

53. LB Leighton Vander Esch

2022 Team: Cowboys
Age: 27
Previous AAV: $2,000,000
Who is he? An effective tackling machine who put 2019/2020 injury woes behind him to emerge as a key piece of the Cowboys’ defense, providing the foundation for Micah Parsons to blast off.

54. CB Rock Ya-Sin

2022 Team: Raiders
Age: 27
Previous AAV: $1,979,114
Who is he? Viable 6-foot corner whose passer rating allowed in coverage has gone down every year he’s been a pro.

55. RB David Montgomery

2022 Team: Bears
Age: 26
Previous AAV: $1,003,845
Who is he? Consistent 1,000-yard season threat despite some truly regrettable Bears’ offensive lines. His 2.0 yards after contact in 2022 was a top 15 mark.

56. EDGE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo

2022 Team: Texans
Age: 28
Previous AAV: $3,250,000
Who is he? Rising pass rusher who took advantage of the Texans’ depleted roster to build his resume last season.

57. RG Nate Davis

2022 Team: Titans
Age: 27
Previous AAV: $925,045
Who is he? Great run blocker whose ability to pass protect grew in 2022 and could continue to improve going forward.

58. C Ethan Pocic

2022 Team: Browns
Age: 28
Previous AAV: $1,187,500
Who is he? Strong interior presence capable of handling himself against some of the league’s top tackles.

59. LB Germaine Pratt

2022 Team: Bengals
Age: 27
Previous AAV: $1,020,885
Who is he? College safety who has developed steadily and may still have room to grow (and is pretty good now).

60. WR Allen Lazard

2022 Team: Packers
Age: 28
Previous AAV: $3,986,000
Who is he? Big bodied receiver who runs crisp routes, blocks well, and is not a WR1.

Tier VI: Not especially exciting, but guys who can play key roles for good teams

61. EDGE Jadeveon Clowney

2022 Team: Browns
Age: 30
Previous AAV: $10,000,000
Who is he? He failed to capitalize on a strong 2021 but remains a monster who can ruin tackles’ day along the edge when the mood strikes.

62. WR D.J. Chark

2022 Team: Lions
Age: 27
Previous AAV: $10,000,000
Who is he? Tall, rangy deep threat who can stretch the field and occupy safeties, making big plays or creating room for his teammates to work underneath.

63. C Connor McGovern

2022 Team: Jets
Age: 30
Previous AAV: $9,000,000
Who is he? One of two Connor McGoverns available this offseason. This one’s the center — and the better option to anchor an offensive line.

64. TE Hayden Hurst

2022 Team: Bengals
Age: 30
Previous AAV: $3,500,000
Who is he? A reliable all-around tight end who can bring value as a blocker or freed up for short routes near the line of scrimmage.

65. S Terrell Edmunds

2022 Team: Steelers
Age: 26
Previous AAV: $2,537,500
Who is he? A former first-round pick whose coverage fell off in a contract year but who remains a viable starter in the right setting.

66. RB Rashaad Penny

2022 Team: Seahawks
Age: 27
Previous AAV: $5,750,000
Who is he? A dynamo when healthy, but also a player who hasn’t played more than 10 games in any of the last four seasons.

67. LB Drue Tranquill

2022 Team: Chargers
Age: 28
Previous AAV: $794,702
Who is he? Not great against the run, but occasionally effective vs. the pass and extremely useful as a blitzer (five sacks in 36 blitzes last season).

68. LG Dalton Risner

2022 Team: Broncos
Age: 28
Previous AAV: $1,785,571
Who is he? Plays mean, which occasionally leaves him over-extended and occasionally creates glorious, beautiful pancake blocks.

69. S Jimmie Ward

2022 Team: 49ers
Age: 32
Previous AAV: $9,500,000
Who is he? Can play in the slot or over the top. A rangy veteran who still brings value late in his career.

70. RT Andrew Wylie

2022 Team: Chiefs
Age: 29
Previous AAV: $2,537,500
Who is he? Capable blocker who can be a consistent starter for a championship team.

71. EDGE Samson Ebukam

2022 Team: 49ers

Age: 28

Previous AAV: $6,000,000

Who is he? Consistent edge defender who won’t light up the stat sheet but gets to the quarterback and is useful against the run.

72. WR Michael Thomas

2022 Team: Saints
Age: 30
Previous AAV: $19,250,000
Who is he? Honestly who knows at this point, but if the Saints void his deal he’ll have one more chance to prove he can stay healthy and slay defenses once more.

73. IDL David Onyemata

2022 Team: Saints
Age: 31
Previous AAV: $9,000,000
Who is he? Strong all-around defensive tackle who may be slated for more of a part-time role to unlock the next phase of his career.

74. IDL Greg Gaines

2022 Team: Rams
Age: 27
Previous AAV: $786,653
Who is he? Big ol’ interior defender who clogs running lanes and can clean up quarterbacks when given the opportunity.

75. S Julian Love

2022 Team: Giants
Age: 25
Previous AAV: $822,715
Who is he? Moved into a full-time role in 2022 and had his best season as a pro. Was that the Brian Daboll effect, or is that growth sustainable?

76. S Donovan Wilson

2022 Team: Cowboys
Age: 28
Previous AAV: $661,960
Who is he? Big hitter who has been solid in coverage.

77. LB Kyzir White

2022 Team: Eagles
Age: 27
Previous AAV: $3,000,000
Who is he? Useful off-ball linebacker who can negate short passes and who has improved his position and tackling against the run.

78. EDGE Kyle Van Noy

2022 Team: Chargers
Age: 32
Previous AAV: $2,250,000
Who is he? Veteran who brings leadership and intangibles alongside something like five sacks and 15 pressures to the linebacker position each year.

79. EDGE Charles Omenihu

2022 Team: 49ers
Age: 26
Previous AAV: $704,101
Who is he? Tall, long armed situational pass rusher with good leverage to get to the quarterback on passing downs.

Tier VII: Potential bargains and/or disappointments

80. CB Dane Jackson

2022 Team: Bills
Age: 27
Previous AAV: $855,000
Who is he? Overlooked piece of the Bills’ defense who has been quietly solid in coverage (and, as a restricted free agent, is likely to remain in Buffalo).

81. LB Bobby Okereke

2022 Team: Colts
Age: 27
Previous AAV: $905,529
Who is he? Dynamic linebacker who finds his way into the middle of seemingly every play.

82. S Devin McCourty

2022 Team: Patriots
Age: 36
Previous AAV: $9,000,000
Who is he? Veteran All-Pro still cooking in his mid-30s. It’s likely either the Patriots or retirement in 2023.

83. LB Kaden Elliss

2022 Team: Saints
Age: 28
Previous AAV: $649,151
Who is he? Extremely useful as an occasional blitzer, though last year’s seven sacks were a mirage (only 11 quarterback hits). Coverage improved in 2022 as well.

84. WR Darius Slayton

2022 Team: Giants
Age: 26
Previous AAV: $965,000
Who is he? Went from a preseason cut candidate to the Giants’ WR1 in the span of weeks. His 10.2 yards per target were fourth-best in the NFL, even if that’s almost certainly unsustainable.

85. S Taylor Rapp

2022 Team: Rams
Age: 26
Previous AAV: $1,168,424
Who is he? Solid against the run but occasionally out of position vs. the pass. Rapp likely has more value in LA than anywhere else.

86. CB Anthony Brown

2022 Team: Cowboys
Age: 30
Previous AAV: $5,166,667
Who is he? Unheralded veteran starting cornerback who holds his own in coverage.

87. LB Alex Singleton

2022 Team: Broncos
Age: 30
Previous AAV: $1,115,000
Who is he? Run-stopping linebacker who struggles in coverage but isn’t afraid to fill gaps and get his hands dirty.

88. RB Damien Harris

2022 Team: Patriots
Age: 26
Previous AAV: $907,784
Who is he? Bruising, instinctive runner who finds lanes and the end zone — he had 15 rushing touchdowns in 2021.

89. EDGE Melvin Ingram

2022 Team: Dolphins
Age: 34
Previous AAV: $4,000,000
Who is he? 34 years old and still finding ways to mess with quarterbacks, albeit as a rotational piece.

90. CB Emmanuel Moseley

2022 Team: 49ers
Age: 27
Previous AAV: $4,692,000
Who is he? A gamble due to health issues — he’s missed 22 games the past three seasons. When he’s on, he’s a pesky defender who finds ways to get to the ball.

91. WR Mecole Hardman

2022 Team: Chiefs
Age: 25
Previous AAV: $1,248,763
Who is he? A Swiss Army Knife for any offense, even if the Chiefs couldn’t find a way to make him a consistent threat.

92. S Tashaun Gipson

2022 Team: 49ers
Age: 33
Previous AAV: $1,120,000
Who is he? One of the last signings the past two offseasons but a guy who steps into the starting lineup and makes everyone better.

93. S Rodney McLeod

2022 Team: Colts
Age: 33
Previous AAV: $1,770,000
Who is he? Another veteran safety who isn’t a sexy signing, but one that shows up, does the work and helps his team.

94. P Tommy Townsend

2022 Team: Chiefs
Age: 27
Previous AAV: $764,167
Who is he? All-Pro punter with immaculate flow.

95. LB Cole Holcomb

2022 Team: Commanders
Age: 27
Previous AAV: $688,721
Who is he? Productive inside linebacker whose struggles in coverage limit his effectiveness.

96. S Ryan Neal

2022 Team: Seahawks
Age: 28
Previous AAV: $1,035,000
Who is he? Put in work in coverage to set himself up for a bigger role in 2023. 3.7 yards per target allowed last fall.

97. RB Devin Singletary

2022 Team: Bills
Age: 26
Previous AAV: $974,500
Who is he? Capable RB2 whose yards after contact dropped in 2022, even as he remained a viable tailback.

98. S Nasir Adderley

2022 Team: Chargers
Age: 26
Previous AAV: $1,183,028
Who is he? Still-young free safety who can be a center field deterrent against explosive passing attacks.

99. CB Marcus Peters

2022 Team: Ravens
Age: 30
Previous AAV: $14,000,000
Who is he? Boom-or-bust cornerback who may have to change up his game now that he’s in his 30s.

100. CB Michael Jackson Sr.

2022 Team: Seahawks
Age: 26
Previous AAV: $825,000
Who is he? Young journeyman who took advantage of his opportunity in Seattle and emerged as a viable cornerback.

101. LT Yosuah Nijman

2022 Team: Packers
Age: 27
Previous AAV: $965,000
Who is he? Growing young tackle who has exceeded expectations in Green Bay and will likely stick around in hopes he’ll continue to develop.