Free agency is just around the corner and there are a bunch of big names set to hit the open market. Here is one free agent that each team should target this offseason.
Arizona Cardinals – CB Steven Nelson
The Cardinals have had issues at cornerback and that showed up in their playoff exit to the Rams. They spent much of the season with 33 year old Robert Alford as the starter, and that is obviously not a long-term option. Nelson has been a solid starter wherever he has been and could be an affordable option for a Cardinals team who don’t have a tonne of cap room.
Atlanta Falcons – EDGE Harold Landry
The Falcons continue to struggle in generating pressure with their front four. They ranked 32nd in PFF pass rushing grade and 28th in pass rush win rate this season. Grady Jarrett led the team with just 36 pressures, which ranked 72nd across the NFL. Landry has had at least 50 pressures in each of his last three seasons and would be a perfect fit in their 3-4 front.
Baltimore Ravens – S Tyrann Mathieu
The Ravens need some additional reinforcements in their secondary, particularly with DeShon Elliott set to depart this offseason. They had interest in Mathieu when he was available in 2019 and could use him still. The Chiefs are unlikely to be able to bring all of their stars back for 2022 and Mathieu would be the kind of versatile weapon that the Ravens covet.
Buffalo Bills – CB Bryce Callahan
The Bills don’t have any major holes on their roster, but they also don’t have a tonne of cap room to play with. With Levi Wallace set to hit free agency, a smart move would be to get in a low cost replacement to fill in at slot corner for the foreseeable future. Callahan has been one of the most underrated defensive backs in football through recent seasons, allowing a passer rating of just 73.8 in his career.
Carolina Panthers – OT Morgan Moses
The Panthers have a decent amount of cap space, but they will likely focus that on re-signing Stephon Gilmore. With what they have left over it would be a smart move to fix their problems at tackle. Left tackle was a revolving door all season, with none of the players who started looking particularly impressive. Moses would be a quick and cheap fix, with a projected cap hit of just $7.5m.
Chicago Bears – C Ryan Jensen
The Bears have their quarterback of the future in Justin Fields. The smart thing to do now is to pair him with a veteran center. Sam Mustipher struggled in 2021, allowing the third most pressures at the position and logging the second worst PFF grade of any starter. Alternatives don’t come much better than Jensen, who has been a dependable starter since entering the league in 2015.
Cincinnati Bengals – G Brandon Scherff
The Super Bowl showed that the Bengals desperately need to shore up their interior offensive line if Joe Burrow is to stay healthy. Their starting guards allowed a ridiculous 59 pressures this season, including eight sacks. Scherff is one of the best guards in the NFL and has logged a PFF grade of 70+ in each his seven seasons in the NFL. With over $49m in cap space, the Bengals have the budget to get the deal done too.
Cleveland Browns – WR Chris Godwin
With Odell Beckham gone and Jarvis Landry looking like a possible cap casualty for 2022, the Browns need to reload at receiver. Godwin would obviously be a significant improvement to this roster. His 3,276 receiving yards since 2019 rank ninth in the NFL and he has 21 touchdowns to his name over that period. With almost $30m in cap space the Browns have the funds to attract a player of Godwin’s quality.
Dallas Cowboys – EDGE Melvin Ingram
Randy Gregory is set to become a free agent and the Cowboys will need someone to replace him along the defensive line. They are in a tricky cap situation heading into the offseason, so a short-term and cheaper option may be the best route to take. Ingram is a dependable veteran with a strong track record of production. He’s been an asset for the Chiefs in his 10th season in the league and can be a contributor for Dallas next year.
Denver Broncos – EDGE Chandler Jones
The Broncos already have one quality edge rusher in Bradley Chubb, who should return to full health in 2022. The departure of Von Miller leaves a gap at the other spot though, and they could do far worse than picking up Jones. He has double digit sacks in six of the last seven years and with over $40m in cap space the Broncos should have no issues affording his contract.
Detroit Lions – LB De’Vondre Campbell
Linebacker was a noticeable weakness on the Lions defense this season. They also have just one player returning for 2022, and that is last year’s fourth round pick, Derrick Barnes. Detroit will know full well what Campbell is capable of after facing him twice this season. He earned All-Pro honours with the Packers, but is unlikely to stay due to their cap situation. Detroit can take advantage and some more steel to their defense.
Green Bay Packers – LB Alexander Johnson
The Packers are in a difficult financial situation and are currently expected to be $30m over the cap. They won’t have much room to work free agency, so a cheaper veteran option is the smart move. Johnson has been a good player for the Broncos, missing just 17 tackles on his 271 carrier attempts. He could come in and replace Campbell straight away.
Houston Texans – LB Leighton Vander Esch
The Texans have a number of big needs on defense, but none are more obvious than linebacker. Benardrick McKinney and Zach Cunningham both moved on in 2021, leaving a major hole in need of filling. Vander Esch didn’t have the best 2021, but he has shown flashes of his potential throughout his four years with the Cowboys. He might be available on a cheaper prove-it deal that suits the Texans too.
Indianapolis Colts – TE Mike Gesicki
Mo Alie Cox will be hitting free agency this summer and Jack Doyle is 31 and has just one year left on his contract. The Colts like to run two tight end sets and will be in need of a receiving threat at the position. Gesicki fits that bill, with over 700 yards in each of the last two seasons. He will give Carson Wentz more options in the passing game, and that can only be a good thing.
Jacksonville Jaguars – WR Allen Robinson
The Jaguars need to build around Trevor Lawrence. That starts with his receivers, where he spent most of his rookie year throwing to Laquon Treadwell and Jamal Agnew. The Jaguars have over $56m in cap space this season and should have no problem getting Robinson to come back to Duval. He might have had an underwhelming 2021 season, but he put up over 3,000 yards in the previous three years in Chicago, despite poor quarterback play.
Kansas City Chiefs – WR Juju Smith-Schuster
The Chiefs are actually in a decent salary cap situation ahead of 2022, but they will want to keep most of that money aside for a Tyreek Hill extension. Smith-Schuster would be a nice complementary option to the Chiefs passing attack without breaking the bank. They showed interest in him last summer and are reportedly still in the market for another receiver. With Pittsburgh set to start over at quarterback, the time could be right for both parties.
Las Vegas Raiders – WR Davante Adams
Adams looks like a franchise tag candidate, but if he hits the open market this is a perfect fit for a number of reasons. The Raiders are in dire need of a true WR1 and Adams is arguably the best player at his position in the NFL right now. They also have the ability to pay him as such. Adams has previously spoken of his desire to reunite with his former college quarterback in Derek Carr, so this could be a smart move for all involved.
Los Angeles Chargers – DT Akiem Hicks
The Chargers have struggled against the run all season and fixing that is their offseason priority. Brandon Staley’s defense relies on playing light boxes, and to do that you need a legitimate two-gapping run defender on the interior. Hicks is one of the best in the business at doing just that. With a projected cap hit of just $8.5m, he wouldn’t cost the world either, giving the team room to address other areas with their $56m in cap room.
Los Angeles Rams – LB Kyzir White
After winning the Super Bowl, the Rams’ big job is keeping the gang together for another year. If they are to target free agency, then it will be a budget option. Rookie linebacker Ernest Jones was excellent, but with Troy Reeder hitting free agency they need someone to play alongside him. White brings solid coverage ability and a manageable projected cap hit of just $4.75m.
Minnesota Vikings – EDGE Emmanuel Ogbah
The Vikings need to find some ways to make cap room this offseason and they might consider their options with Danielle Hunter. Hunter has played less than 400 snaps over the last two years but is due an $18m roster bonus in March. If Minnesota want a cheaper alternative, they could do far worse than Ogbah. He is one of just five edge rushers in the NFL to have 60+ pressures in each of the last two seasons.
Miami Dolphins – OT Terron Armstead
The Dolphins issues along the offensive line are obvious to anyone who watches football. No tackle pairing in the NFL allowed more pressures this season than Liam Eichenberg and Jesse Davis. Whilst the Dolphins will likely hope for Eichenberg to develop in his second year, they need a veteran presence to give Tua time to work in the pocket. Armstead is an elite pass protector, allowing just 70 pressures in the last five seasons combined.
New England Patriots – WR Odell Beckham Jr.
The Patriots have their franchise quarterback in Mac Jones, but he was throwing to a very limited receiving corps this season. The team clearly need a WR1 and Beckham could fit that bill. New England were very interested in trading for him before he landed with the Rams and if they can afford to wait for his return from an ACL injury he could come fairly cheap.
New Orleans Saints – WR Will Fuller
The Saints are going to have difficulty attracting any big names in free agency given their cap situation. That said, with Michael Thomas unlikely to return, they are in dire need of a receiver. Fuller might not be a top tier option, but he has a proven record of production and should be cheap thanks to an injury-hit 2021 season.
New York Giants – G Connor Williams
The Giants offensive line has been a disaster for some time and shows little sign of improving. To make matters worse, the team is in a tricky cap situation ahead of the offseason and will need to consider cheaper options. They could do far worse than Williams, who has four solid years of starting experience in Dallas. His $6.6m projected cap hit is also fairly manageable too.
New York Jets – CB J.C. Jackson
When two of your starting corners are fifth and sixth round rookies, you know you need more depth at the position. The Jets struggled in the secondary all year and getting a top tier player like Jackson would present a major improvement. He is arguably the best ball-hawk in football, with 34 forced incompletions over the last two seasons. He won’t come cheap, with a projected cap hit of $18m, but the Jets have ample room to accommodate that.
Philadelphia Eagles – WR Mike Williams
Devonta Smith had a great rookie season, but the Eagles don’t have much else to speak of at receiver. Jalen Reagor has not lived up to his first round selection and the Eagles need to add another quality starter if they are to push for the playoffs again in 2022. Williams is coming off a career year that saw him haul in 76 catches for 1,146 yards and nine touchdowns. His skillset would present a nice complement to Smith too.
Pittsburgh Steelers – CB Carlton Davis
The Steelers’ reputation has long been built on their defense, but they struggled badly at cornerback this season. Akhello Witherspoon was their only player to allow a sub-100 passer rating and he is set to hit free agency. They will also lose Joe Haden too, who has been a dependable starter for the last five years. Davis is talented and young and fits what the Steelers want to do on defense.
San Francisco 49ers – CB Darious Williams
If the 49ers want to make it back to the playoffs they need to address cornerback. Getting a player like Williams from a divisional rival would be a really savvy move. Though he is undersized for a traditional boundary corner, the 49ers have shown they can have success with similar players in recent years. He won’t fit every scheme and they could get him at a decent price as a result.
Seattle Seahawks – S Jessie Bates
Quandre Diggs hits free agency this summer and the Seahawks may want to inject some more youth at the position. Their defense relies on having a top tier free safety and Bates would give them just that. He has given up a passer rating of just 80.0 throughout his career so far, chipping in with 37 forced incompletions. He’s still only 24, and with almost $35m in cap space the Seahawks should have no issues in affording him.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – G James Daniels
The Bucs have a long offseason ahead of them, with their biggest decision coming at quarterback. Regardless of who ends up under center, they need to be protected in the pocket. With Ali Marpet recently announcing his retirement they Bucs are in need of additional reinforcement at guard. Daniels has been a solid starter in Chicago and provides the versatility to play all three interior line spots.
Tennessee Titans – TE Dalton Schultz
Everyone knows how much the Titans like to run the ball, and their offense is built around two tight end sets. They are remarkably thin on quality at the position though, with Anthony Firkser and Geoff Swaim heading into 2022 as potential starters. Schultz has been a good player during his time with the Cowboys and would replace the receiving threat the Titans lost with Jonnu Smith’s departure last summer.
Washington Commanders – S Marcus Williams
The Commanders need some help at safety, and there aren’t many better options on the market than Williams. A starter for the Saints since his rookie season, Williams has earned a reputation as a ball-hawking safety, with 30 forced incompletions on just 81 career targets. He won’t come cheap, but with over $30m in cap space Washington should have no issues in affording him.
