Free agency is less than a week away in the NFL as teams get ready to execute their offseason plans. The NFL world will wait to see where Lamar Jackson ends up in the franchise’s non-exclusive bidding, while other teams that don’t need quarterbacks engage in bidding wars. for the best free agents available.
As free agency is about to begin, here’s a look at the top 10 free agents available based on Ranking Pete Prisco’s Top 100 Free Agents. The legal tampering period begins on Monday.
1. Lamar Jackson
Jackson has the non-exclusive franchise tag, which means the Ravens can match any offer that comes from another team. Baltimore will have five days to tie and if the Ravens refuse, they will receive two first-round picks in return.
The Ravens are 45-16 in Jackson’s 61 starts since entering the league in 2018. They average 28.0 points per game when Jackson is on the field, compared to 20.0 when Jackson misses games . Jackson is one of six players in NFL history to have 100+ touchdowns and 4,000+ career rushing yards, and the fastest to score in 31 games. The Ravens are averaging 184.8 rushing yards per game with Jackson as a starter in his career — the most by any starting quarterback since the 1970 merger.
Basically, Jackson is the best free agent on the board. There should be a frenzy to sign him for teams in need of a quarterback. Former MVPs at 26 don’t strike every day in free agency.
The top unrestricted free agent on the roster, Hargrave should have a huge market once free agency begins.
Hargrave was one of four Eagles defensemen to finish with 10+ sacks this season (the most for any team in NFL history). He finished the season with a career-high 11 sacks, 57 presses, 40 hurries, 16 quarterback hits and a 13.2% pressing rate.
Hargrave was fourth in defensive tackles in sacks, eighth in quarterback hits, tied for eighth in tackles for loss (10) and 11th in tackles (60). Since signing with the Eagles in 2020, Hargrave is fourth in defensive tackles in sacks (23), tied for seventh in quarterback hits (42) and tackles for loss (24).
One of the most enduring players in his position, Hargrave has missed just three games in seven seasons. Just 30 years old, Hargrave is set for another big payday this free agent season.
Don’t let the stats fool you when judging Davenport’s 2022 season. Davenport had just one half sack and eight quarterback hits last year but finished with 34 pressures. He’s closing in on the quarterback, despite the lack of sacks at his disposal.
Teams will find excellent value for money in Davenport. Will they pay top dollar?
The Chiefs allowing Brown to test the free agent market has other teams salivating for one of the league’s best tackles on their offensive line.
Brown has been one of the best tackles in the game the past four seasons, the only offensive tackle to reach the Pro Bowl in each of the past four years. The Chiefs left tackle allowed four sacks and 39 pressures in the regular season while allowing 10 pressures in three playoff games. Brown hasn’t allowed a sack since Week 15 against the Texans and only two sacks since Week 9 against the Titans.
Good left tackles are hard to come by in this league. Brown is one of those players.
The Jaguars would be wise to keep Taylor on their offensive line, given that he had his best season in 2022. Taylor had the third-lowest pressure rating allowed (2.5%) among tackles last season (Tristan Wirfs, Lane Johnson were higher), allowing 16 pressures on the season. The pressure rate has fallen from 8.0% in 2020 to 2.8% in 2022, showing how much Taylor has improved over the years.
At just 25 years old, Taylor will be a prime target for many teams in free agency.
While Kelce will technically be a free agent based on his contract structure, he will decide whether to return to the Eagles or retire.
Kelce is coming off one of his best seasons at 35, allowing zero sacks and eight sea pressures – his lowest since at least 2016. He has started 134 consecutive games and allowed a 1.3 pressure rating % in another All-Pro season.
The future Hall of Famer will make his decision in the coming weeks.
Dean should have plenty of contenders in free agency as one of the best cornerbacks out there. Although he allowed a career-high number of touchdown passes (five), Dean is a very good starting cornerback in the league. Opposing quarterbacks only have a 66.2 passer rating targeting Dean this year.
Dean will have the opportunity to prove himself as a No. 1 cornerback after teaming up with Carlton Davis on the Buccaneers in recent years.
Bradberry had a monster year defending for the Eagles, solidifying himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the league. Opposing quarterbacks targeting Bradberry completed just 32.5 percent of their passes and had a 44.5 passer rating this season, as Bradberry allowed just two passing touchdowns while having three interceptions.
Arguably the best corner of coverage on the market, teams will pay a premium to get Bradberry on their defense.
Edmunds is expected to be the first linebacker on the market, as the 24-year-old linebacker has five straight seasons with 100 tackles. Always having a knack for finding football, Edmunds was the first player in NFL history to have two seasons of 100+ tackles before the age of 21.
A point guard linebacker, Edmunds already has two Pro Bowls under his belt. The Bills would like to keep him, but the market may decide otherwise.
McGlinchey doesn’t get the praise that Trent Williams gets on the 49ers offensive line, but he’s a pretty good right tackle. He’s allowed just 26 pressures and six sacks in 2022 — and it’ll be tough for San Francisco to keep. The 5.3% battering percentage was a career high for McGlinchey, but he’s still a good run blocker.
There’s a lot of value in signing McGlinchey in the right system. Teams could use good right tackles in this league.