The unofficial first day of NFL free agency is in the books, and the top-end talent is largely gone. Including the eight players designated with the franchise tag, 19 of PFN’s Top 30 Free Agents were spoken for as of late Monday.
Top remaining NFL free agents after first day of legal tampering
Even with the busy start, there’s still plenty of high-end talent available entering Day 2. Here are the 10 best players still left unclaimed.
Tyrann Mathieu, S, Kansas City Chiefs
The safety market went largely overlooked on Monday. Quandre Diggs was the only one to get paid, re-upping with the Seahawks for $40 million over three years. That should be the floor for Tyrann Mathieu, a three-time Pro Bowler still in his prime.
Chandler Jones, EDGE, Arizona Cardinals
Emmanuel Ogbah (Dolphins) and Haason Reddick (Eagles) are off the board, but Chandler Jones has always been the best player at his position in this year’s class. At 32, Jones might not get the long-term deal his contemporaries have, but a contender with a bit of cap space should absolutely lock him down.
Marcus Williams, S, New Orleans Saints
What we wrote about Mathieu applies to Marcus Williams too. The Chiefs should be in play if Mathieu departs. The Lions are sending out signals they want him, too. Will he get $15 million a year? He should in this market.
Von Miller, EDGE, Los Angeles Rams
Is a return to Denver in the works? The number of teams that both can afford and need Von Miller and are good enough that he would want to play for are very few. The Broncos and Rams are on that list.
Terron Armstead, LT, New Orleans Saints
The Bengals might have shown their hands on their O-line plans Monday by lining up contracts with Ted Karras and Alex Cappa. The only other team that needs offensive line help as badly as Cincinnati? The Dolphins.
Jadeveon Clowney, EDGE, Cleveland Browns
Where will Jadeveon Clowney land next? He’s already played for the Texans, Seahawks, Titans, and Browns since 2018, and he might be on the move again. With 9 sacks and 19 quarterback hits in 2021, he proved there’s still plenty in the tank.
Randy Gregory, EDGE, Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys committed to one edge defender Monday night, giving DeMarcus Lawrence $30 million guaranteed in a new three-year contract. Between that and re-upping Michael Gallup, there might not be enough money left to keep Randy Gregory.
Bobby Wagner, LB, Seattle Seahawks
The future Hall of Famer probably has a shortlist of teams he’d consider at this stage in his career. With nearly $85 million in career earnings, money shouldn’t be the No. 1 factor for Bobby Wagner. Fit and opportunity to win should be.
Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Los Angeles Rams
It might be a minute until Odell Beckham Jr. finds a home, considering his long and potentially uncertain rehab from reconstructive knee surgery. We know two teams that won’t be interested: The Giants and Browns.
Darious Williams, CB, Los Angeles Rams
The word early Monday was that Darious Williams was a prime candidate to join the Jaguars, but he wasn’t among the players they paid on Day 1. He’s the best corner left on a market that hasn’t exactly produced top dollar at his position.
Casey Hayward Jr., CB, Las Vegas Raiders
If the Raiders lose Casey Hayward Jr., they might as well turn all of their attention to 2023, considering the arms race this year. And to be frank, they may already have.
Allen Robinson, WR, Chicago Bears
Allen Robinson has to convince teams that he’s the player of 2020 and not the player of 2021. The franchise tag cost him tens of millions in guaranteed money. But some club could still see him as a No. 1 and take a shot.