NFL free agency is underway with so many of the best players available seeking out new contracts and landing spots. There are going to be countless surprises this offseason and while some free agents might re-sign with their original teams, some of the best players in NFL free agency will be taking their talents elsewhere.
While no one could class this free-agent class a historic one, it offers a lot of depth at positions like running back, cornerback, defensive tackle and linebacker. There are also some marquee names on the offensive side, along with complementary pieces who are flying under the radar but will thrive with new teams in 2023.
Related: NFL free agency tracker
While everyone loves bold NFL free agency predictions, sometimes there are signing you want to see happen. From a team taking a big swing with a record-breaking contract to specific player and scheme fits that could pay off in the fall, there’s a long this of hypothetical moves that we want to become reality.
Let’s dive into the five moves we want to see happen in 2023 NFL free agency.
Indianapolis Colts go all-in for Lamar Jackson
The Indianapolis Colts didn’t trade up for the first pick, so it’s extremely unlikely they land Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud. Realistically, general manager Chris Ballard might now have to trade up to No. 3 overall just to get the third-best quarterback prospect (Anthony Richardson) in the NFL Draft. Instead, we’d like to see Indianapolis go in another direction.
Related: NFL salary cap tracker
A path to clearing the necessary cap space to sign Jackson is clear. Cutting Matt Ryan ($17.205 million savings), Kenny Moore ($8.166 million cap savings), Ryan Kelly ($10.125 million post-June 1 release) and Nick Foles ($2.1 million savings) put Indianapolis at $49.5 million in cap space, per OTC.com. That figure would also come before restructuring deals, creating even more room.
After that, the Colts can take advantage of the fact that every other NFL team is hesitant to pursue Lamar Jackson. If owner Jim Irsay is truly desperate to get a franchise quarterback who the can base can be excited about, this is the time to break precedent. Offer Jackson a three-year contract worth $150 million and make it all fully guaranteed. In the event of the Baltimore Ravens matching the offer, Indianapolis keeps its picks and cap space.
If the Ravens decline to match, the Colts now have one of the NF’s best quarterbacks who just turned 26 and will pair perfectly with Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce in Shane Steichen’s offense.
Related: 2023 NFL Draft order
Chicago Bears make a big splash with Orlando Brown Jr.
Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles received plenty of criticism for doing nothing to help quarterback Justin Fields in 2022. A year later, Chicago just added Pro Bowl wide receiver D.J. Moore and it is still loaded with cap space it can use to build around Fields.
Related: Chicago Bears mock draft 2023
While fifth-round pick Braxton Jones played surprisingly well at left tackle for a rookie, he entered the 2022 NFL Draft viewed as a versatile offensive lineman. Entering his age-24 season, Jones could flip to the other side and instantly fill a void from last season at right tackle.
Replacing Jones on the blind side can be Orlando Brown Jr. He is the best offensive tackle available in NFL free agency this year and it’s hard to fathom a better fit. While he isn’t one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL, he fit so well in Kansas City because he knew how to hold his own in pass protection with a quarterback who moved around. That’s exactly what the Bears should want from their left tackle.
- Orlando Brown Jr PFF: 77.2 PFF pass-blocking grade, four sacks allowed in 769 snaps
Chicago can easily outbid anyone in NFL free agency. The Bears can afford to offer Brown Jr. a five-year contract worth $105 million, pushing it past $65 million in guarantees and front-loading the contract to pay him early. Entering his age-27 season, he is perfect for the Bears.
Dallas Cowboys sign Patrick Peterson
The Dallas Cowboys aren’t going to be big spenders in NFL free agency, they simply can’t afford it. Positions like wide receiver, defensive tackle and tight end might simply have to be addressed in the 2023 NFL Draft. However, there is one potential fit that could make both sides happy.
Patrick Peterson revealed in 2021 that he wanted to play for the Cowboys and there was mutual interest in 2021. While a deal never came to fruition, this could be the perfect opportunity now. Peterson has earned more than $100 million in his NFL career, so landing the biggest contract might not be his priority.
In Dallas, he can operate as the No. 2 corner in one of the NFL’s best defenses. Pair Peterson – 66.8 QB rating allowed when targeted in 2022 – with Trevon Diggs and the Cowboys will have two outstanding corners on the outside to complement their pass rush.
Related: Most overrated players in NFL free agency
New York Giants land big-play threat in D.J. Chark Jr.
The New York Giants devoted a significant portion of their cap space to keeping Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones. Fortunately, there are still a few ways to keep building this offense in an NFL free agency class that lacks star power but makes up for it with depth and role players.
D.J. Chark Jr. would be a very nice fit in New York. Whiles Jones ranked 35th among NFL quarterbacks in the percentage of throws 20-plus yards downfield (4.9%), per Pro Football Focus, he posted the sixth-highest passer rating (111.9) and a respectable 38.5% completion rate when throwing deep. It’s no fluke, Jones boasts the arm talent to take vertical shots.
Chark Jr. will be a go-to receiver in that regard. Standing at 6-foot-3, he posted the fourth-highest average target distance (15.4 yards), ranked 10th in yards per target (9.7) and is in the 97th percentile for speed (4.34 40 time), per Player Profiler. Add Chark to the Giants’ offense and watch Brian Daboll scheme up a lot more explosive plays in 2023.
Bobby Wagner returns to Seattle Seahawks
Look at where the Seattle Seahawks defense struggled last season. Across 17 regular-season games, it allowed the second-most receiving yards (1,115) and the seventh-most touchdowns (eight) to tight ends. Seattle also surrendered the third-most rushing yards per game (150.2), the fifth-most rushing touchdowns (21) and the seventh-highest yards per rush allowed (4.9).
Bobby Wagner can fix a lot of that. Already a future member of the Seahawks Ring of Honor, the All-Pro linebacker was just released by the Los Angeles Rams. Not only is he a fantastic leader in the locker room and can serve as a coach on the field, but he also helps fill in the gaps where Seattle struggled defensively last season.
Pro Football Focus rated Wagner as the best linebacker against the run (91.1 PFF grade) this past season. He missed just 2.4 percent of his attempted tackles and recorded a whopping 31 stops on 437 run-defense snaps. Even as a 32-year-old, Wagner also played extremely well in coverage against tight ends. Seattle knows exactly what he can do for them and a reunion must happen.