2022 NFL Free Agent Top 100 Rankings | 56-70
Which playmakers set to free agency are left?
56) RB Melvin Gordon
Melvin Gordon is an excellent fit as either a top option or secondary option in a running back rotation. He won’t and should not be seen as a bell cow after nearly 1,800 career touches, but he’s had two of his more efficient seasons in Denver. He’s an effective checkdown option, and despite all his career touches, he’s kept most of his wiggle.
Spotrac Market Value: One year, $5.2 million
57) C Ben Jones
Update 3/14/2022: The Titans retained Jones on a two-year, $14 million deal.
The thing that pops out most when watching Ben Jones is his ability to use a defender’s own momentum against them. He’s not the biggest, strongest, or most athletic blocker, but he has quick reflexes and is able to get out of his stance quickly. Jones almost always gets to his landmarks at the second level when running gap runs, and he allowed just 1 sack and 26 pressures all season. He might not be a nasty finisher, but his positional leverage lets him seal rush lanes at a very high rate.
58) QB Teddy Bridgewater
Teddy Bridgewater is the perfect low-level starter in the NFL. He isn’t going to win you any games, but he isn’t going to necessarily lose you any, either. He’s an accurate pocket passer who makes quick decisions, although he’s usually a bit prudent. Bridgewater is either unable or unwilling to continually take shots as a passer, limiting the explosive potential of an offense. But he can survive in the right situation.
59) TE Zach Ertz
Update 03/13/2022: The Cardinals and Zach Ertz have agreed to a three-year, $31.65 million extension.
Before he was traded to the Arizona Cardinals, you couldn’t convince me that Zach Ertz had much tread left on those tires. But when he moved across the country for his final 11 games, he showed back up in a big way. He had nearly 600 yards in those 11 games.
Ertz runs like he’s two days post-leg day, but he can still get it done against zone defenses, and he has enough ability to separate through attacking leverage. He can still bring value as a blocker against defensive backs and linebackers but struggles to hold ground against edge rushers.
Spotrac Market Value: Two years, $15.2 million
60) OT Trent Brown
Trent Brown is a terrifying human being when he’s let loose on the hoof. The 380-pound behemoth is perfect for any run-heavy gap scheme. However, he’s also no slouch as a pass protector. His wide frame and surprisingly springy agility in his pass sets allow him to beat guys to the spot. Yet, as a big guy, he misses a lot of games.
Spotrac Market Value: Four years, $42.1 million
61) RB Chase Edmonds
Update 3/14/2022: The Miami Dolphins agreed to terms with Edmonds on a $12.6 million deal, with $6.1 million of that guaranteed.
Chase Edmonds is a talented back, but he lacks one thing that keeps him from entering the upper-echelon of runners: power. It shows up as a runner when he’s contacted at the line of scrimmage, even by just one defender. But it definitely shows up as a pass protector. For that reason, Edmonds will never be seen as a feature or short-yardage back, which is why James Conner was so productive from a touchdown perspective.
But Edmonds has great short-area explosion and an ability to “get skinny” through small creases to pick up extra yards. He’s also quite shifty in the open field and has no issues producing as a pass catcher.
Spotrac Market Value: Three years, $15.8 million
62) WR Emmanuel Sanders
Emmanuel Sanders doesn’t have the juice he once possessed, but he can still eat a healthy portion when faced with zone and off coverage. Playing off of Sanders is a mistake because of how savvy he is as a route runner. He’ll attack vertically on the stem and play with a cornerback’s blind spot. His value comes as a third option at this point, but he can still produce in the intermediate areas against softer looks.
63) LB Foyesade Oluokun
Update 3/14/2022: Oluokun agreed to terms with the Jacksonville Jaguars on a three-year deal worth $45 million, with $28 million guaranteed to the former Falcons linebacker.
Foyesade Oluokun is part of the new mold of slightly undersized linebackers that move incredibly well laterally but also bring more pop than the average strong safety, allowing them to survive in the box. Oluokun is everywhere on the field. He flies from sideline to sideline, and his explosion allows him to meet runner at the line often. He’s also disciplined and won’t miss a ton of tackles because he is patient at the point of attack.
The Falcons took Oluokun off the field at the goal line because of his issues stacking and shedding blocks, but when he’s in space, he can flourish. The Falcons ran a ton of zone in 2021, so his man coverage abilities and ability to run more complicated match coverages are a partial unknown. But the Yale product could survive in any primarily even-front scheme in the league.
64) G Alex Cappa
Update 3/14/2022: Cappa and the Cincinnati Bengals agreed on a four-year, $40 million deal. He goes from one contender to another.
Alex Cappa has his struggles, but he’s a functional starting right guard in the NFL. He’s a strong player, but interior defenders can convert speed to power because of his lack of length. Cappa could survive in a zone scheme, but he’s probably better suited to be in a gap scheme. He’s a mean blocker who, despite having an intense mean streak, remains in good position in the open field when pulling or leaking on a screen.
Spotrac Market Value: Five years, $53.9 million
65) TE C.J. Uzomah
Update 3/14/2022: Uzomah will reportedly head to New York to catch passes from Jets young quarterback Zach Wilson. His deal is three years and is worth $24 million.
C.J. Uzomah has been a long-developing project for the Cincinnati Bengals since they drafted him in 2015. He had a decent first season of production, but things turned south with a dip in performance in Year 2 and then a torn Achilles in Year 3. But he had a fantastic season with the Bengals in 2021 coming off that injury.
Uzomah is a great athlete with prototypical size for an inline tight end. He’s also explosive, can stress the seam, and can make plays after the catch. He’s an inconsistent blocker at times, but there are few truly great blockers at the position. The fact that he carved a role out in an offense with so much skill position talent should bode well for his wallet.
Spotrac Market Value: Three years, $24.7 million
66) RB Cordarrelle Patterson
It took until he was 30 years old, but an NFL team finally figured out a way to use Cordarrelle Patterson that got him the ball and allowed him to make plays. The 230-pound receiver-turned-running back had his first 1,000-scrimmage-yard season of his career. That came after he’d been a four-time All-Pro as a kick returner. He’s already arguably the best kick returner ever.
If you look up the definition of a one-cut back, it might have a picture of Patterson beside it. He isn’t going to string together multiple moves or make second-level defenders guess wrong too often. However, he’s a good option for under-center runs to the perimeter, like so many Shanahan disciples use. He can put his foot in the dirt and explode through a crease with outrageous speed.
Spotrac Market Value: Two years, $18.3 million
67) RB James Conner
Update 3/14/2022: The Arizona Cardinals re-signed Conner on a three-year deal worth $21 million.
James Conner had ridiculous touchdown production in 2021. He possesses an upright running style, but despite his nature, he displays outstanding contact balance as well. He also caught 37 of his 39 targets, and he trended much more towards being a three-down back later in the season.
He’s a strong runner with good first-level recognition, but he won’t outthink second-level defenders. He’s also just 27 years old and has a lot of tread left on his tires.
Spotrac Market Value: Two years, $12 million
68) RB Raheem Mostert
Raheem Mostert has never remained healthy, but with the influx of Shanahan disciples spreading their wings to other coaching staffs, he might have more potential landing spots than in the past. Although he weighs in at less than 200 pounds, he is outstanding at making defenders miss on contact. He also averaged over 5 yards per carry in both 2019 and 2020 in San Francisco. Mostert would be a huge boost to a running back room as a second back in a heavy rotation.
69) S Jordan Whitehead
While at the University of Pittsburgh, Jordan Whitehead was used in the back end often, and I believed he’d play more of a free safety role in the NFL. I was wrong. He becomes a much more fun player the closer he gets to the line of scrimmage. He could survive playing as a half-field safety, but it’s his run defense that will get him a decent second contract.
The good news is he’s improved on the back end as a coverage player. His usage hurts him a bit because he doesn’t get the reps to sort out different route concepts. There’s some lag in his trigger when things play out in front of him from depth, but he has the athleticism to play in the slot and is physical enough to survive in the box.
Spotrac Market Value: Four years, $23.7 million
70) QB Marcus Mariota
Marcus Mariota has only thrown 30 passes over the past two seasons. However, he’s added value to the Las Vegas Raiders offense, particularly in the red zone. Over two seasons and 22 carries with the Raiders, he’s scored 2 touchdowns and averaged 8 yards per carry.
Mariota is a perfect option to either sit behind an entrenched starter who gets hurt often or play in an offense that runs frequently. The former No. 2 overall pick has flashed briefly with Las Vegas but was never afforded the opportunity to prove himself behind Derek Carr.