Even after a very active opening couple days of the tampering period, there’s still a ton of top end NFL free agents remaining on the board.
Running backs and wide receivers were not to be found as the market opened. Will any find themselves signed as the week continues? Meanwhile, we saw several defensive tackles go off the board with big money contracts. Will EDGE rushers follow suit?
Below, we look at the top-10 remaining NFL free agents while providing you with a top landing spot for each one.
Related: Winners and losers from Day 1 of NFL free agency
10. Ezekiel Elliott, running back
Released by the Dallas Cowboys after seven seasons, the 27-year-old Elliott is a shell of his former self. He put up a career-worst performance in 2022, averaging a mere 3.8 yards per rush. Despite this, Zeke was still able to score 12 touchdowns on the ground. He could be a solid short-yardage option.
As of right now, there are reportedly three teams vying for his services with the Philadelphia Eagles jumping out as a potential fit. Philly lost Pro Bowl running back Miles Sanders in free agency and is looking to add more depth.
- Ideal Ezekiel Elliott landing spot: Philadelphia Eagles
9. Ben Jones, center
Jones, 33 has started all 140 games in which he’s appeared since the start of the 2014 season. He just earned Pro Bowl honors for the Tennessee Titans this past season before being a surprise cap casualty.
We love what Jones would bring to the table for multiple contending teams. However, the New York Giants seem to be a great fit. An inexperienced Ben Bradeson is slated to start at center in 2023. Adding someone who has a wealth of starts under his belt would help recently extended quarterback Daniel Jones big time.
- Ideal Ben Jones landing spot: New York Giants
8. Odell Beckham Jr., wide receiver
Beckham Jr. held a workout for multiple teams last week after missing the entire 2022 season with a torn ACL. He looked to be 100% recovered and back to old form. That will lead to a ton of interest as teams figure out a market for the three-time Pro Bowler.
At this point, it makes perfect sense for the Buffalo Bills to again kick the tires on OBJ. They were close to signing him during the 2022 season, but it became clear that the talented receiver wouldn’t be ready to play. Teaming Beckham Jr. up with Stefon Diggs would be elite.
- Ideal Odell Beckham Jr. landing spot: Buffalo Bills
7. Dalton Risner, offensive line
The 27-year-old Risner might not be elite by any stretch of the imagination. But his flexibility should be attractive as one of the top remaining NFL free agents on the market.
In four seasons with the Denver Broncos, Risner started all 62 games in which he appeared. He played both guard positions and can suit up at right tackle if need be. With Isaiah Wynn currently a free agent and after signing veteran Riley Reiff, the New England Patriots make sense as a destination.
- Ideal Dalton Risner landing spot: New England Patriots
6. Leonard Floyd, EDGE
Houston spent the first day of NFL free agency attempting to find scheme fits on defense for new head coach DeMeco Ryans. This included adding two former San Francisco 49ers defenders in that of defensive tackle Hassan Ridgeway and safety Jimmie Ward to the mix.
Perhaps, Houston looks to continue adding proven players on that side of the ball with Leonard Floyd. Ryans got a first-hand view of what this veteran pass rusher brought to the mix when the two were competing in the NFC West. In his three seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, Floyd recorded 59 QB hits, 28 tackles for loss and 29 sacks. He could fit Houston’s 4-3 as a smallish defensive end.
- Ideal Leonard Floyd landing spot: Houston Texans
5. Donovan Smith, offensive tackle
A salary cap casualty of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier in March, Smith has proven himself to be among the most-consistent left tackles in the NFL. He started all 124 games in which he appeared with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite some regression this past season, Smith is still only 29 years old and yielded just one sack back in 2021. He’s among the top NFL free agents remaining on the board.
That’s where the Pittsburgh Steelers come into play. Current left tackle Dan Moore gave up a whopping seven sacks to Steelers quarterbacks a season ago. He’s best suited for either right tackle or inside. Having already added Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson to the mix, doubling down in NFL free agency would make sense.
- Ideal Donovan Smith landing spot: Pittsburgh Steelers
Related: Top 2023 NFL free agents
4. Marcus Peters, cornerback
The torn ACL Peters suffered ahead of the 2021 season and his regression this past year has the three-time Pro Bowler as one of the least talked about NFL free agents on the market. But for a good six-year span earlier in his career, he was among the best ball hawks in the game.
- Marcus Peters stats (2015-20): 86 passes defended, 31 interceptions, 6 TD
Some team is going to take a chance on the 30-year-old Peters in free agency based on his track record alone. It makes perfect sense for the Minnesota Vikings to come calling. They lost Patrick Peterson to the Pittsburgh Steelers earlier in NFL free agency and have a real hole here.
- Ideal Marcus Peters landing spot: Minnesota Vikings
Related: Top takeaways from Day 1 of NFL free agency
3. Frank Clark, EDGE
Kansas City’s decision to release Frank Clark earlier in the offseason wasn’t too surprising. It saved the defending Super Bowl champs north of $20 million against the cap. With that said, some team will value a player who earned three consecutive Pro Bowl before a down 2022 season. Clark, 29, registered 46 QB hits, 24 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks from 2019-21.
The Dallas Cowboys could work out well here. They have been in the market for another edge guy. In an NFL free agency period saturated with them, Dallas might be able to land Clark on a one-year contract. As an aside, the team has never been afraid to take on someone with a troubled past such as Clark.
- Ideal Frank Clark landing spot: Dallas Cowboys
Related: 2023 NFL free agent tracker
2. Yannick Ngakoue, EDGE
One of the most underrated NFL free agents of the cycle, Ngakoue has racked up a whopping 39 quarterback hits and 19.5 sacks over the past two seasons. Dating back to his days with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2016-19), the former Maryland star has proven he can get to the quarterback on a consistent basis.
Having already added another top front seven player to the mix in that of defensive tackle Javon Hargrave to the mix, the San Francisco 49ers could double down. Imagine Hargrave and Ngakoue teaming up with Nick Bosa and Arik Armstead for new 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks. That’d be all sorts of insane.
- Ideal Yannick Ngakoue landing spot: San Francisco 49ers
Related: 2023 NFL salary cap tracker
1. Bobby Wagner, linebacker
The Dallas Cowboys and Seattle Seahawks have been bandied about the most as Wagner’s most logical landing spot after a surprise release from the Los Angeles Rams. But they are not going to be alone. Despite his advanced age of 32 (for a linebacker), Wagner is still playing at a high level. He put up 140 tackles and six sacks while giving up a mere 87.1 QB rating when targeted last season.
While a return to Seattle would be awesome, we’re going with Dallas as the best fit. It has a need at linebacker with Leighton Vander Esch currently one of the top remaining NFL free agents. Wagner worked with current Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn in the Pacific Northwest. It just makes too much sense.
- Ideal Bobby Wagner landing spot: Dallas Cowboys
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