Now that Tom Brady has retired (again) and the Kansas City Chiefs have won the Super Bowl (again), it’s time for the rest of the league to play catch up. Much of that groundwork will be laid on April 27, the first day of the 2023 NFL Draft, but there will be plenty of opportunities before and after given the jaw dropping level of talent on the free agent market.
Here’s a look at the 10 top free agents in the NFL this year.
#1 – Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens
All eyes are on former NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and his contract situation with the Baltimore Ravens. As one of the few NFL superstars representing themselves rather than by a professional agent, there’s no telling what Jackson might do. Especially considering the lunacy of Deshaun Watson’s $230M contract in which the Cleveland Browns perilously reset the league’s market for Quarterbacks and guaranteed contracts.
Lamar Jackson is the most electrifying player in the league… when he is healthy. But Jackson has spent the last 2 seasons on the sidelines when it mattered most, and in the process squandered Baltimore’s chances at a playoff run.
Current team: Baltimore Ravens
Prediction: Baltimore Ravens
#2 – Orlando Brown Jr, OL, Kansas City Chiefs
The talent of Patrick Mahomes should not be understated, but a dominant offensive line deserves some credit, buying Mahomes time to make big plays downfield. That O-Line was anchored by 4-time Pro Bowl LT Orlando Brown Jr.
After winning the Super Bowl on a franchise tag, Brown is poised to either get tagged for become the highest paid LT in the league. The Chiefs could tag and trade him, but it seems more likely that the Chiefs will let the good times roll, keeping Brown onboard in hopes of repeating as Super Bowl champs. They can figure out the rest later.
#3 – Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants
It seems the Giants will likely have to use the franchise tag on either Saquon Barkley or the team’s Quarterback, Daniel Jones, but team executives would prefer to sign both to long-term contracts. Can they afford both? Probably not.
After seeing the Carolina Panthers unthinkable mid-season trade, sending star RB, Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers for a slew of draft picks, it seems like anything is possible. As much as Giants’ fans would like to keep feeding him the ball, New York’s appetite for a power running back might better be fulfilled in the draft, letting Saquon run into the playoffs with a team that needs a final push.
#4 – Daron Payne, DT, Washington Commanders
He’s only 26-years old and coming off the best performance of his career, logging 11.5 sacks for a Commanders defense that many felt overperformed, in part thanks Payne’s play. They’d love to keep him around, but Daron Payne earned himself a big payday- there will be plenty of teams competing for his services in 2023.
#5 – Derek Carr, QB, Las Vegas Raiders
Although he last played for the Las Vegas Raiders, Derek Carr technically has no team. He was benched by the Raiders in the last 2 weeks of the season, had a no-trade contract that prevented the team from sending him elsewhere, and was finally released on February 14th, 2023 (Happy Valentine’s Day!).
Carr is now swiping for new teams, hoping to find “the one” to get him a ring in February 2024. Most experts think he’ll end up in New Orleans, a place that Carr considered waiving his no-trade clause to wind up.
List of 2023 Free Agents (By Team)
We’ve picked our Top 5, but what Free Agent do YOU think will have the biggest impact of 2023/24?
Arizona Cardinals
- QB Trace McSorley
- RB Corey Clement
- RB Darrel Williams
- WR Pharoh Cooper
- WR A.J. Green (Retired)
- TE Maxx Williams
- OT Kelvin Beachum
- OG Cody Ford
- OG Max Garcia
- OG Will Hernandez
- OG Justin Pugh
- C Sean Harlow
- C Billy Price
- DL Zach Allen
- DL Michael Dogbe
- DL Trysten Hill
- LB Kamu Grugier-Hill
- LB Ben Niemann
- LB Tanner Vallejo
- LB Nick Vigil
- CB Byron Murphy
- CB Antonio Hamilton
- LS Aaron Brewer
- P Andy Lee
- K Matt Prater
Atlanta Falcons
- QB Marcus Mariota
- FB Keith Smith
- WR Damiere Byrd
- WR KhaDarel Hodge
- WR Olamide Zaccheaus
- TE Anthony Firkser
- TE MyCole Pruitt
- OT Germain Ifedi
- OT Kaleb McGary
- OG Colby Gossett
- OG Elijah Wilkinson
- Edge Lorenzo Carter
- DL Jaleel Johnson
- LB Rashaan Evans
- CB Rashad Fenton
- CB Cornell Armstrong
- CB Isaiah Oliver
- S Erik Harris
- P Bradley Pinion
Baltimore Ravens
- QB Lamar Jackson
- RB Kenyan Drake
- RB Justice Hill
- WR Demarcus Robinson
- WR Sammy Watkins
- TE Josh Oliver
- OT Ja’Wuan James
- OG Ben Powers
- Edge Justin Houston
- Edge Steven Means
- Edge Jason Pierre-Paul
- CB Kyle Fuller
- CB Trayvon Mullen
- CB Marcus Peters
Buffalo Bills
- QB Case Keenum
- RB Devin Singletary
- WR Cole Beasley
- WR Jamison Crowder
- WR Jake Kumerow
- OT Bobby Hart
- OG David Quessenberry
- OG Rodger Saffold
- OG Greg Van Roten
- Edge Shaq Lawson
- DL Jordan Phillips
- LB Tremaine Edmunds
- LB A.J. Klein
- S Jaquan Johnson
- S Dean Marlowe
- S Jordan Poyer
- P Sam Martin
- Miami Dolphins
Carolina Panthers
- QB Sam Darnold
- RB D’Onta Foreman
- WR Rashard Higgins
- WR Andre Roberts
- OT Cameron Erving
- OG Mike Jordan
- C Bradley Bozeman
- DL Matt Ioannidis
- DL Henry Anderson
- LB Cory Littleton
- CB T.J. Carrie
- S Juston Burris
- S Sean Chandler
- K Eddy Pineiro
Chicago Bears
- QB Nathan Peterman
- RB David Montgomery
- FB Khari Blasingame
- WR N’Keal Harry
- WR Dante Pettis
- WR Byron Pringle
- TE Ryan Griffin
- OT Riley Reiff
- OG Michael Schofield
- Edge Al-Quadin Muhammad
- DL Armon Watts
- DL Angelo Blackson
- DL Mike Pennel
- LB Matthew Adams
- LB Nicholas Morrow
- LB Joe Thomas
- S DeAndre Houston-Carson
- LS Patrick Scales
Cincinatti Bengals
- QB Brandon Allen
- RB Samaje Perine
- WR Trent Taylor
- TE Hayden Hurst
- TE Drew Sample
- LB Germaine Pratt
- CB Eli Apple
- CB Tre Flowers
- S Jessie Bates
- S Vonn Bell
- LS Cal Adomitis
Cleveland Browns
- QB Jacoby Brissett
- RB Kareem Hunt
- RB D’Ernest Johnson
- TE Pharaoh Brown
- OT Chris Hubbard
- OG Hjalte Froholdt
- C Ethan Pocic
- Edge Jadeveon Clowney
- Edge Chase Winovich
- DL Taven Bryan
- LB Jermaine Carter Jr.
- LB Deion Jones
- LB Jordan Kunaszyk
- LB Reggie Ragland
- LB Sione Takitaki
- LB Anthony Walker Jr.
- CB Greedy Williams
- S Ronnie Harrison
- S John Johnson*
Dallas Cowboys
- QB Cooper Rush
- RB Tony Pollard
- WR Noah Brown
- WR T.Y. Hilton
- TE Dalton Schultz
- OT Jason Peters
- OG Connor McGovern
- Edge Dante Fowler Jr.
- DL Johnathan Hankins
- DL Carlos Watkins
- LB Anthony Barr
- LB Leighton Vander Esch
- CB Anthony Brown
- S Donovan Wilson
- LS Jake McQuaide
- LS Matt Overton
- K Brett Maher
Denver Broncos
- RB Mike Boone
- RB Marlon Mack
- RB Latavius Murray
- TE Andrew Beck
- TE Eric Saubert
- TE Eric Tomlinson
- OT Calvin Anderson
- OT Cameron Fleming
- OT Billy Turner
- OG Dalton Risner
- DL Dre’Mont Jones
- DL DeShawn Williams
- LB Alex Singleton
- S Kareem Jackson
Detroit Lions
- QB Nate Sudfeld
- RB Justin Jackson
- RB Jamaal Williams
- WR D.J. Chark
- OT Dan Skipper
- C Evan Brown
- DL Michael Brockers
- DL Isaiah Buggs
- DL John Cominsky
- LB Alex Anzalone
- LB Chris Board
- CB Mike Hughes
- CB Amani Oruwariye
- S DeShon Elliott
- S Will Harris
- K Michael Badgley
Green Bay Packers
- WR Randall Cobb
- WR Allen Lazard
- TE Marcedes Lewis
- TE Robert Tonyan
- Edge Justin Hollins
- DL Dean Lowry
- DL Jarran Reed
- CB Keisean Nixon
- S Adrian Amos
- S Rudy Ford
- K Mason Crosby
- KR/PR Keisean Nixon
Houston Texans
- QB Kyle Allen
- QB Jeff Driskel
- RB Rex Burkhead
- RB Royce Freeman
- WR Phillip Dorsett
- WR Chris Moore
- TE Jordan Akins
- TE O.J. Howard
- OG Justin McCray
- C Scott Quessenberry
- Edge Rasheem Green
- Edge Obo Okoronkwo
- CB Tavierre Thomas
- CB Tremon Smith
- S Jonathan Owens
- S M.J. Stewart
- LS Jon Weeks
Indianapolis Colts
- WR Parris Campbell
- WR Ashton Dulin
- OT Dennis Kelly
- OT Matt Pryor
- Edge Ben Banogu
- Edge Tyquan Lewis
- Edge Yannick Ngakoue
- DL Byron Cowart
- LB Bobby Okereke
- LB E.J. Speed
- CB Brandon Facyson
- S Rodney McLeod
- P Matt Haack
- K Chase McLaughlin
Jacksonville Jaguars
- RB Darrell Henderson
- WR Marvin Jones
- TE Dan Arnold
- TE Evan Engram
- TE Chris Manhertz
- OT Blake Hance
- OT Jawaan Taylor
- Edge Arden Key
- Edge Dawuane Smoot
- DL Adam Gotsis
- DL Corey Peters
- CB Tre Herndon
- S Andrew Wingard
Kansas City Chiefs
- QB Chad Henne
- RB Ronald Jones II
- RB Jerick McKinnon
- FB Michael Burton
- WR Mecole Hardman
- WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
- WR Justin Watson
- TE Blake Bell
- OT Orlando Brown
- OT Andrew Wylie
- OG Nick Allegretti
- Edge Carlos Dunlap
- DL Khalen Saunders
- DL Derrick Nnadi
- DL Brandon Williams
- S Deon Bush
- S Juan Thornhill
Las Vegas Raiders
- QB Derek Carr
- QB Jarrett Stidham
- RB Ameer Abdullah
- RB Josh Jacobs
- FB Jakob Johnson
- WR Keelan Cole
- WR Mack Hollins
- TE Foster Moreau
- OT Jermaine Eluemunor
- OG Alex Bars
- Edge Clelin Ferrell
- DL Andrew Billings
- DL Kyle Peko
- DL Isaac Rochell
- DL Jerry Tillery
- LB Jayon Brown
- LB Denzel Perryman
- CB Anthony Averett
- CB Sidney Jones
- CB Rock Ya-Sin
- S Duron Harmon
Los Angeles Chargers
- QB Chase Daniel
- QB Easton Stick
- WR DeAndre Carter
- TE Richard Rodgers
- OT Trey Pipkins
- C Will Clapp
- Edge Kyle Van Noy
- DL Christian Covington
- DL Tyeler Davison
- DL Morgan Fox
- LB Troy Reeder
- LB Drue Tranquill
- CB Bryce Callahan
- S Nasir Adderley
- P J.K. Scott
Los Angeles Rams
- QB Baker Mayfield
- WR Brandon Powell
- OT Ty Nsekhe
- OG Oday Aboushi
- OG Coleman Shelton
- C Matt Skura
- DL Greg Gaines
- DL A’Shawn Robinson
- LB Bobby Wagner*
- CB Troy Hill
- CB David Long
- S Taylor Rapp
- S Nick Scott
- LS Matt Orzech
- P Riley Dixon
- K Matt Gay
Miami Dolphins
- QB Teddy Bridgewater
- RB Myles Gaskin
- RB Raheem Mostert
- RB Jeff Wilson
- WR River Cracraft
- WR Trent Sherfield
- TE Mike Gesicki
- OT Greg Little
- OT Brandon Shell
- Edge Trey Flowers
- Edge Melvin Ingram
- Edge Andrew Van Ginkel
- DL John Jenkins
- LB Duke Riley
- LB Elandon Roberts
- CB Justin Bethel
- CB Nik Needham
- S Eric Rowe
- P Thomas Morstead
Minnesota Vikings
- QB Nick Mullens
- RB Alexander Mattison
- TE Irv Smith Jr.
- OG Austin Schlottmann
- C Garrett Bradbury
- DL Jonathan Bullard
- CB Patrick Peterson
- CB Duke Shelley
- CB Chandon Sullivan
- LS Andrew DePaola
- K Greg Joseph
New England Patriots
- RB Damien Harris
- WR Jakobi Meyers
- WR Nelson Agholor
- OT Marcus Cannon
- OT Isaiah Wynn
- OG James Ferentz
- DL Carl Davis
- DL Daniel Ekuale
- LB Raekwon McMillan
- LB Mack Wilson
- CB Jonathan Jones
- S Devin McCourty
- S Jabrill Peppers
- LS Joe Cardona
- P Michael Palardy
New Orleans Saints
- QB Andy Dalton
- RB Mark Ingram
- RB David Johnson
- WR Jarvis Landry
- TE Nick Vannett
- Edge Marcus Davenport
- Edge Kentavius Street
- DL David Onyemata
- DL Shy Tuttle
- LB Kaden Elliss
- CB Chris Harris Jr.
- S P.J. Williams
- S Justin Evans
- S Daniel Sorensen
New York Giants
- QB Daniel Jones
- RB Saquon Barkley
- RB Matt Breida
- WR Kenny Golladay*
- WR Richie James
- WR Marcus Johnson
- WR Sterling Shepard
- WR Darius Slayton
- OG Jon Feliciano
- C Nick Gates
- Edge Jihad Ward
- Edge Oshane Ximines
- DL Nick Williams
- LB Jarrad Davis
- LB Jaylon Smith
- CB Fabian Moreau
- S Landon Collins
- S Tony Jefferson
- S Julian Love
- LS Casey Kreiter
- P Jamie Gillan
New York Jets
- QB Joe Flacco
- QB Mike White
- RB Ty Johnson
- OT George Fant
- OT Cedric Ogbuehi
- OT Mike Remmers
- OG Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
- OG Dan Feeney
- OG Nate Herbig
- C Connor McGovern
- Edge Vinny Curry
- DL Sheldon Rankins
- DL Nathan Shepherd
- DL Solomon Thomas
- LB Kwon Alexander
- LB Quincy Williams
- S Lamarcus Joyner
- K Greg Zuerlein
Philadelphia Eagles
- QB Gardner Minshew
- RB Miles Sanders
- RB Boston Scott
- WR Zach Pascal
- OT Andre Dillard
- OG Isaac Seumalo
- C Jason Kelce
- Edge Brandon Graham
- Edge Robert Quinn
- DL Fletcher Cox
- DL Javon Hargrave
- DL Linval Joseph
- DL Ndamukong Suh
- LB T.J. Edwards
- LB Kyzir White
- CB James Bradberry
- S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
- S Marcus Epps
- P Brett Kern
Pittsburgh Steelers
- QB Mason Rudolph
- RB Benjamin Snell Jr.
- FB Derek Watt
- WR Miles Boykin
- TE Zach Gentry
- OT Trenton Scott
- Edge Malik Reed
- DL Tyson Alualu
- DL Larry Ogunjobi
- DL Chris Wormley
- LB Devin Bush
- LB Robert Spillane
- CB Cameron Sutton
- S Terrell Edmunds
- S Karl Joseph
- S Damontae Kazee
San Francisco 49ers
- QB Jimmy Garoppolo
- QB Josh Johnson
- TE Ross Dwelley
- TE Tyler Kroft
- OT Mike McGlinchey
- OG Daniel Brunskill
- C Jake Brendel
- Edge Samson Ebukam
- Edge Kerry Hyder
- Edge Jordan Willis
- Edge Charles Omenihu
- DL Maurice Hurst
- DL T.Y. McGill
- DL Hassan Ridgeway
- LB Azeez Al-Shaair
- CB Emmanuel Moseley
- CB Jason Verrett
- S Tashaun Gipson
- S Jimmie Ward
- K Robbie Gould
Seattle Seahawks
- QB Drew Lock
- QB Geno Smith
- RB Travis Homer
- RB Rashaad Penny
- WR Marquise Goodwin
- WR Laquon Treadwell
- OG Kyle Fuller
- C Austin Blythe (Retired)
- Edge L.J. Collier
- Edge Bruce Irvin
- DL Poona Ford
- LB Cody Barton
- CB Artie Burns
- CB Teez Tabor
- CB Justin Coleman
- S Johnathan Abram
- S Josh Jones
- LS Carson Tinker
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- QB Tom Brady (Retired)
- QB Blaine Gabbert
- RB Giovani Bernard
- RB Leonard Fournette*
- WR Julio Jones
- WR Scott Miller
- WR Breshad Perriman
- TE Kyle Rudolph
- OT Josh Wells
- Edge Carl Nassib
- Edge Anthony Nelson
- DL William Gholston
- DL Akiem Hicks
- DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches
- LB Lavonte David
- CB Jamel Dean
- CB Sean Murphy-Bunting
- S Mike Edwards
- S Keanu Neal
- S Logan Ryan
Tennessee Titans
- QB Joshua Dobbs
- RB Dontrell Hilliard
- WR Chris Conley
- WR Cody Hollister
- WR Robert Woods
- TE Austin Hooper
- TE Geoff Swaim
- OT Taylor Lewan
- OG Dennis Daley
- OG Nate Davis
- C Corey Levin
- Edge DeMarcus Walker
- DL Mario Edwards Jr.
- DL Kevin Strong
- LB Dylan Cole
- LB Zach Cunningham
- LB David Long
- CB Lonnie Johnson Jr.
- CB Greg Mabin
- CB Terrance Mitchell
- S Andrew Adams
- S Joshua Kalu
- LS Morgan Cox
- K Randy Bullock
Washington Commanders
- QB Taylor Heinicke
- QB Carson Wentz
- WR Cam Sims
- OG Wes Schweitzer
- OG Trai Turner
- C Tyler Larsen
- C Nick Martin
- Edge Efe Obada
- LB Jon Bostic
- LB Cole Holcomb
- CB Danny Johnson
- S Bobby McCain