Top 10 remaining NFL free agents as new league year approaches
The NFL's so-called legal tampering period started Monday and there was a frenzy to lock up the top free agents. By the time Wednesday, the official start of free agency, rolled around, 17 of the 25 free agents from Yahoo Sports' top 25 on Monday had agreed to deals.
That doesn't mean free agency is over. Teams will still be searching for veteran help and there are some viable options. Here are the top 10 free agents who have not agreed to a deal and are still available:
1. Washington Commanders CB Kendall Fuller
(UPDATE: Signing with Dolphins for 2 years, $16.5M)
Fuller finished seventh among cornerbacks in Pro Football Focus' grades this past season. At 29 years old there's concern he'll slip, but he should get one more big contract this offseason.
2. Arizona Cardinals WR Marquise Brown
(UPDATE: Signing with Chiefs for 1 year, $11M)
Brown has just one 1,000-yard season in his five-year NFL career and injuries have been an issue. He has the talent. He was once a first-round draft pick. The Chiefs are making a one-year gamble on him staying healthy and productive as he goes into his age-27 season.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars WR Calvin Ridley
(UPDATED: Signing with Titans for 4 years, $92M)
At one point Ridley looked like an elite receiver. That was before a strange 2021 with the Atlanta Falcons in which he played just five games, a yearlong gambling suspension in 2022 and an up-and-down 2023 with the Jaguars. He's still good and just 29, but the shine is mostly off. Still, it was enough intrigue and upside to get a $92 million from Tennessee.
4. Los Angeles Chargers WR Mike Williams
(UPDATE: Signing with Jets on 1-year, $15M deal)
Williams was cut for salary-cap reasons, and the Chargers had to be disappointed Williams played just 16 games the past two seasons. But when the oft-Williams does play he's a top performer. He was the seventh pick of the 2017 draft, has two 1,000-yard seasons and is still just 29 years old. Williams is coming off an ACL injury, which will scare off some teams. But in a very thin receiver market, Williams' talent stands out.
Top 5 NFL free agents by position
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive line
Defensive line
Linebackers
Defensive backs
5. Dallas Cowboys OT Tyron Smith
(UPDATED: Signing with Jets)
When Smith is on the field, he's an excellent performer. The problem is he hasn't played a full season since 2015 and he's 33 years old. He played in 13 games last season and the Jets would probably take that. Availability is a major concern.
6. Denver Broncos S Justin Simmons
Consider Simmons one of the casualties of the Russell Wilson trade. The Broncos, saddled with huge dead cap hits for releasing Wilson, are cutting Simmons to save $14.5 million on the salary cap. Simmons made a Pro Bowl and was second-team All-Pro last season. He led the NFL in interceptions for the 2022 season. He's 30 years old but still capable of being a very good safety.
7. New England Patriots OT Trent Brown
(UPDATE: Signing with Bengals on 1-year deal)
The massive Brown has been a good left tackle for many years, and he still has plenty left in the tank. He could move on to a team that has offensive line issues.
8. Miami Dolphins LB Jerome Baker
(UPDATE: Signing one-year deal with Seahawks)
Seattle is bringing in Baker after losing Jordyn Brooks to free agency. Baker's a solid off-ball linebacker who is 27 years old. He can play all three downs. He's not an impact player but a good defender.
9. Miami Dolphins CB Xavien Howard
In 2022, Howard signed a deal that was the richest for any cornerback in NFL history. He's 30 now, didn't have a great 2023 season and was just cut by the Dolphins. But he was a Pro Bowl performer in 2022, and good cornerbacks are hard to find.
10. Washington Commanders S Kamren Curl
(UPDATE: Signing two-year deal with Rams)
Curl was a seventh-round draft pick but quickly got into the Commanders' starting lineup as a rookie. In his four seasons with the team he showed good all-around ability. At age 25, he's getting a nice deal from LA.
