After months and months of waiting, training camp is officially here once again, which means we’re going to see a lot of new signings in the coming days. The top NFL free agents that miss out on the first two waves of free agency often wait until now to sign with new teams, as this means they won’t have to deal with minicamp. There are still several good players on the market that can help teams win games in 2023 and beyond.
Best Landing Spots For the Remaining NFL Free Agents
Yannick Ngakoue
Yannick Ngakoue is coming off a 9.5-sack season and hasn’t recorded fewer than eight sacks in any individual season of his career. If you’re surprised that a guy like that apparently can’t find a job, then you’re not alone. Ngakoue might not be the best run defender in the world, but anybody that can get after the quarterback in today’s pass-happy NFL deserves a spot on a roster. There are a lot of teams that could use some help with their pass rush, and Ngakoue is easily the best of the current NFL free agents at taking down the quarterback.
Ideal Team Fits: New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Commanders
Yannick Ngakoue is headed to Indy.
That @Colts defense is looking even scarier. pic.twitter.com/BUr7BvU6Nb
— NFL (@NFL) March 19, 2022
Dalvin Cook
For the time being, Dalvin Cook is the best running back in an NFL free agent market loaded with big names. The former second-round pick is coming off yet another Pro Bowl season and should have one or two years of strong play left in his tank. While the Miami Dolphins are most desperate for a starting running back, the New England Patriots and New York Jets are clearly looking for upgrades to their current stable of backs.
Ideal Team Fits: New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets
Dalton Risner
Quarterback is the most important position in the NFL, so it’s a little surprising that one of the better free agents at protecting the quarterback is still available. Dalton Risner is no Zack Martin, but he is a solid starter entering his age-28 season. He won’t set the world on fire, but he’d be an upgrade for several teams in the league.
Ideal Team Fits: Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks
Marcus Peters
The signing of Rock Ya-Sin likely puts an end to the Marcus Peters era in Baltimore, but he can still help a good portion of NFL teams. The 30-year-old cornerback is getting up there in age but played well last year in his return from an ACL injury. Peters’ high-risk, high-reward style of play would work well on a secondary that needs playmakers, and there are a lot of teams that fit that description.
Ideal Team Fits: Indianapolis Colts, Las Vegas Raiders, Houston Texans
Teddy Bridgewater
Teddy Bridgewater is not a starting-caliber quarterback. However, he is talented enough to be one of the best backups in the league, and he’s easily the best NFL passer of the remaining free agents. While he won’t singlehandedly captain a team to a Super Bowl, he will be able to take over for a handful of weeks if the starter goes down. In a 17-game season where every matchup has serious playoff implications, having Bridgewater as a glorified insurance policy will be valuable for quite a few teams.
Ideal Team Fits: Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, Jacksonville Jaguars
Main Photo: Robert Scheer – USA Today Sports
