NFL Free Agency: Top, Most Interesting, & Best Available

Michael Ginnitti
Michael Ginnitti, Managing Editor & NFL/MLB ExpertMarch 21, 2023
© USA TODAY Sports

Now a week deep, we'll take a positional look at the largest signing, most interesting contract, and best available players across the 2023 NFL offseason. Related: 2023 NFL Free Agency Tracker

Quarterback

Top Contract

Derek Carr (Saints)
4 years, $150,000,000 ($70M practically guaranteed)
Carr locked in $60M fully guaranteed at signing with his new franchise, with another $10M set to become fully guaranteed next March. If it all goes wrong, the Saints can cut bait after 2024 for a $27.1 dead cap hit ($10M cash), saving $18.5M. For now though, 3 years, and $100M seems practical.

Of Interest

Baker Mayfield (Buccaneers)
1 year, $4M ($4M guaranteed)
The Buccaneers should offer Mayfield every opportunity to start all 17 weeks in 2023, making his $4M base value a potential bargain. There’s $4.5M of incentives built into this deal, but it’s a really smart reset scenario for both sides here.

Best Available

Carson Wentz (30)
He’s faltered out of his last two starting roles, so a backup contract is almost a certainty this time around. Baker Mayfield’s 1 year, $4M contract is a likely target.

Running Back

Top Contract

Miles Sanders (Panthers)
4 years, $25,000,000 ($13M guaranteed)
Sanders has the largest average salary, practical guarantee, and guarantee at sign figure among all free agent running backs, finding a solid payday in Carolina for the next two seasons. The Panthers will be able to free up over $5M to move on after 2024, making this a 2 year, $13.4M deal for practical purposes.

Of Interest

Alexander Mattison (Vikings)
2 years, $7,000,000 ($6.35M guaranteed)
The Vikings made a bit of a statement here in bringing back their RB2 on a healthy $6.35M guarantee. It stands to reason that Dalvin Cook’s time in Minnesota is limited - potentially even immediately speaking.

Best Available

Ezekiel Elliott (27)
A lot has been made about Zeke not living up to the massive contract Dallas handed him 4 years ago, but the production he was able to put together when healthy shouldn’t be overlooked. He’s already shown he can complement another RB, and he’ll be asked to do that again somewhere else in 2023.

Wide Receiver

Top Contract

Allen Lazard (Jets)
4 years, $44,000,000 ($22M guaranteed)
Lazard slots in as a proven #2 behind stud Garrett Wilson (though the Jets may not be done adding firepower), on a 2 year, $22M deal for practical purposes. A void year keeps his 2023 cap figure down to $3.2M.

Of Interest

Parris Campbell (Giants)
1 year, $4,700,000 ($2.9M guaranteed)
The Colts #59 selection back in 2019 finally found some footing in 2022 (57 catches, 581 yards, 3 TDs), and now gets a chance to build on that with a Giants offense that also found some footing last season.

Best Available

Odell Beckham, Jr. (30)
Yes he’s coming off of two ACL tears, and the idea of him playing a full 17-week season again seems unimaginable, but if the price is right (1 year, $4M-$8M + incentives) a roster that’s simply looking for a low ceiling depth add could find a lot of value here.

Tight End

Top Contract

Hayden Hurst (Panthers)
3 years, $21,750,000 ($13M guaranteed)
Hurst cashes in on a nice year with the Bengals, locking down what should be $15.25M total over the next two seasons. He’ll be a key option for what figures to be a new young QB in Carolina.

Of Interest

Robert Tonyan Jr. (Bears)
1 year, $2,650,000
Tonyan is two years removed from 50+ catches, 500+ yards, and 11 TDs alongside Aaron Rodgers’ MVP season. He was working back from injury last year, but was still a viable option in Green Bay. He joins a Bears squad where he can work in complement to Cole Kmet, with a young QB looking to make his name. The ROI on a sub $3M deal could be excellent here.

Best Available

Austin Hooper (28)
Hooper should be considered in the same conversation as Hayden Hurst, after an undetected strong 2022 campaign in Tennessee (41 grabs, 450 yards, 2 TDs). There should be a multi-year contract still sitting out there for him.

Offensive Line

Top Contract

Jawaan Taylor (OT, Chiefs)
4 years, $80,000,000 ($40M guaranteed)
KC wasted no time replacing Orlando Brown Jr., bringing over the Jaguars right tackle to switch over to left for the foreseeable future. Taylor gets $40M fully guaranteed up front, plus another $20M locked in next March. About as good as it gets on the open market these days.

Of Interest

Isaac Seumalo (G, Steelers)
3 years, $24,000,000
Seumalo had a breakout year after missing much of 2020-2021 due to injury. If he can maintain this level of play, he’ll be a massive upgrade at the left guard position for Kenny Pickett’s offense.

Best Available

Dalton Risner (G, 27)
Risner might never be an above average guard in this league, but his consistency and availability should be plenty to garner him a multi-year contract in the coming days. Is there $20M guaranteed out there?

Defensive Line

Top Contract

Javon Hargrave (49ers)
4 years, $84,000,000 ($40M guaranteed)
The Niners’ defensive line is starting to look like something out of the 70s on paper. It’s clearly a priority for this front office, as $40M fully guaranteed for a 30-year-old states out loud. All of the guarantees in this deal leave in the next two seasons, but it’s not crazy to assume that he gets 3 years, $61.5M out of this contract.

Of Interest

David Onyemata (Falcons)
3 years, $35,000,000 ($24.5M guaranteed)
The Falcons’ began their mass turnover on the defensive side of the of the ball with a strong contract to woo Onyemata away from division rival New Orleans. He’ll now park himself next to Grady Jarrett on the defensive line, and assuming he’s available (6 game suspension for PED in 2022), should immediately upgrade their ability to slow down an opponent.

Best Available

Poona Ford (DE, 27)
He’s been a bit of a one-trick-pony (run stuffer) since joining the league, but his pass rush numbers have ticked up slightly annually. There are plenty of teams looking to drop a player like this in the middle of their defense, and a 2 year, $12M deal should get it done.

Edge Defender

Top Contract

Arden Key (Titans)
3 years, $21,000,000 ($11.58M guaranteed)
Key turned a $4M prove it contract in Jacksonville into $11.5M fully guaranteed, with 2 years, $14M on the table for practical purposes. He’ll join a pretty solid Tennessee defense this season, and should fit in well with a strong cast of characters.

Of Interest

Marcus Davenport (Vikings)
1 year, $13,000,000 ($10M guaranteed)
Another Saints defender on the move, Minnesota adds an experienced pass rusher as leverage for what could be growing contention with players such as Za’Darius Smith & Danielle Hunter. The Vikings used void years to drop his 2023 cap figure down to $5.9M.

Best Available

Frank Clark (29)
Clark doesn’t have the numbers to top many “best of” lists, but he passes the eye test every single year. It stands to reason that the Chiefs would want him back in the fold at the right price, but there should be multiple offers on the table for his services at around the 1 year, $8M mark.

Linebacker

Top Contract

Tremaine Edmunds (Bears)
4 years, $72,000,000 ($50M guaranteed)
Edmunds peaked at the perfect time on his way out of Buffalo, and the Bears were ready to pounce with a massive deal. He’ll secure $22M in 2023, $42M thru 2024, and $57M thru 2025 - almost all of it fully guaranteed.

Of Interest

T.J. Edwards (Bears)
3 years, $19,500,000 ($7.9M guaranteed)
Chicago didn’t stop with one big off-ball linebacker signing. Edwards leaves the Eagles on what seems like a team-friendly 3 year, $19.5M deal, less than $8M fully guaranteed. He’ll complement Edwards in the middle of the Bears’ defense. Why didn’t the Eagles match a 1 for $8M contract here?

Best Available

Bobby Wagner (32)
Age is certainly a factor, but it didn’t appear to slow his game last season in LA. Wagner’s release wasn’t production-related - it was window-of-contention related. Every contender has reached out by now, and a 1 year, $7.5M deal + incentives should get it done.

Cornerback

Top Contract

Jamel Dean (Buccaneers)
4 years, $52,000,000 ($24.5M guaranteed)
Dean surprised most with a return to Tampa, and a deal less than $15M per year. He’s all but assured $25M+ over the next two seasons, so it’s a slightly backloaded structure. It stands to reason that Dean had stronger offers from elsewhere and simply wanted to return to the Bucs here.

Of Interest

Cameron Sutton (Lions)
3 years, $33,000,000 ($22.5M guaranteed)
Sutton leaves the Steelers for Detroit, bringing versatility and outstanding coverage numbers to a team desperate to slow down opponents this season. He earned $12.2M in 6 seasons with Pittsburgh. He’ll find $12M more in 2023 alone.

Best Available

Rock Ya-Sin (26)
Not yet 27, Ya-Sin isn’t going to provide numbers that jump off of the page, but he’ll complement an established secondary just fine going forward. The Ravens appear to have real interest here, though his $9M valuation could be too rich for their liking.

Safety

Top Contract

Jessie Bates III (Falcons)
4 years, $64,020,000 ($36M guaranteed)
One of the first big fish to be caught this March, Bates represents a massive upgrade to a Falcons’ secondary that has been absolutely torched in past seasons. He’ll cash in $23M this season thanks to an $18M signing bonus, with 2 years, $36M fully guaranteed at his disposal.

Of Interest

Jordan Poyer (Bills)
2 years, $12,500,000 ($6.24M guaranteed)
Poyer had moving boxes packed to leave Buffalo before Christmas, but clearly didn’t find the dollar figures he was hoping to on the open market - even from the tax-free state teams. His return to Buffalo on what could be a 1 year, $7M contract at minimum is all one big surprise.

Best Available

Taylor Rapp (25)
Rapp was asked to do a lot in LA, but his work as a pure tackler is what stands out most as he hits the open market. With many of the big names off the board, Rapp’s bottom line here might be pretty acceptable for interested parties. 2 years, $10M?


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