Top 10 remaining NFL free agents as new league year approaches – Yahoo Sports
NFL free agency begins Wednesday at 4 p.m. Eastern time. And if you’ve been off the NFL grid for two days, that official start will be more exciting than it really is.
The NFL’s so-called legal tampering period started Monday and there was a frenzy to lock up the top free agents. By the time Wednesday rolled around, 17 of the 25 free agents from Yahoo Sports’ top 25 on Monday had agreed to deals.
That doesn’t mean free agency is over. Teams will still be searching for veteran help and there are some viable options. Here are the top 10 free agents who have not agreed to a deal and are still available:
1. Washington Commanders CB Kendall Fuller
Fuller finished seventh among cornerbacks in Pro Football Focus’ grades this past season. At 29 years old there’s concern he’ll slip, but he should get one more big contract this offseason.
2. Arizona Cardinals WR Marquise Brown
Brown has just one 1,000-yard season in his five-year NFL career and injuries have been an issue. He has the talent. He was once a first-round draft pick. Some team will gamble on him staying healthy and productive as he goes into his age-27 season.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars WR Calvin Ridley
(UPDATED: Signing four-year deal with Titans)
At one point Ridley looked like an elite receiver. That was before a strange 2021 with the Atlanta Falcons in which he played just five games, a yearlong gambling suspension in 2022 and an up-and-down 2023 with the Jaguars. He’s still good and just 29, but the shine is mostly off. Still, it was enough intrigue and upside to get a $92 million from Tennessee.
4. Los Angeles Chargers WR Mike Williams
Williams was cut for salary-cap reasons, and the Chargers had to be disappointed Williams played just 16 games the past two seasons. But when the oft-Williams does play he’s a top performer. He was the seventh pick of the 2017 draft, has two 1,000-yard seasons and is still just 29 years old. Williams is coming off an ACL injury, which will scare off some teams. But in a very thin receiver market, Williams’ talent stands out.
Top 5 NFL free agents by position
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive line
Defensive line
Linebackers
Defensive backs
5. Dallas Cowboys OT Tyron Smith
When Smith is on the field, he’s an excellent performer. The problem is he hasn’t played a full season since 2015 and he’s 33 years old. He played in 13 games last season and his team would probably take that. Availability is a major concern.
6. Denver Broncos S Justin Simmons
Consider Simmons one of the casualties of the Russell Wilson trade. The Broncos, saddled with huge dead cap hits for releasing Wilson, are cutting Simmons to save $14.5 million on the salary cap. Simmons made a Pro Bowl and was second-team All-Pro last season. He led the NFL in interceptions for the 2022 season. He’s 30 years old but still capable of being a very good safety.
7. New England Patriots OT Trent Brown
The massive Brown has been a good left tackle for many years, and he still has plenty left in the tank. He could move on to a team that has offensive line issues.
8. Miami Dolphins LB Jerome Baker
Baker should get interest. He’s a solid off-ball linebacker who is 27 years old. He can play all three downs. He’s not an impact player but a good defender.
9. Miami Dolphins CB Xavien Howard
In 2022, Howard signed a deal that was the richest for any cornerback in NFL history. He’s 30 now, didn’t have a great 2023 season and was just cut by the Dolphins. But he was a Pro Bowl performer in 2022, and good cornerbacks are hard to find.
10. Washington Commanders S Kamren Curl
Curl was a seventh-round draft pick but quickly got into the Commanders’ starting lineup as a rookie. In his four seasons with the team he showed good all-around ability. At age 25, he should get a nice long-term deal.
Live237 updates
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Commanders signing veteran LB Bobby Wagner to 1-year deal
Sources: #Seahawks perennial Pro Bowler and All-Pro LB Bobby Wagner is signing with the #Commanders on a 1-year deal worth a max value of $8.5M, a deal that includes $6M in guarantees.
Dan Quinn was with Wagner a decade ago in Seattle, now they’re back. A splash for Washington. pic.twitter.com/QPcsF0y9mt
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2024
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The Jaguars losing Calvin Ridley is such a clean example of asset mismanagement and simply wasting time
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Calvin Ridley seems happy with his decision
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It wasn’t too long ago that Calvin Ridley was considered among the best receivers in the NFL.
He was a first-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons and in his third season he had 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns. Things have gone a bit sideways since then. But now, Ridley is getting another shot to get back on that star track.
The Tennessee Titans struck a four-year, $92 million deal to bring in Ridley on Wednesday afternoon, according to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. That deal includes $50 million in guaranteed money.
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BREAKING: Calvin Ridley signing with Titans
WOW
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Free agency Four Verts!
– Kirk Cousins is the floor-raiser the Falcons need
– The Dolphins’ margin for error is now razor-thin
– The Rams will knock you the hell off the ball
– The Brian Burns trade says everything about the Panthers’ roster
Read the free agency edition of Four Verts
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Titans signing former Steelers QB Mason Rudolph
The #Titans have agreed to terms with former #Steelers QB Mason Rudolph on a one-year deal worth up to $3.62 million, source says.
After six seasons with the #Steelers that ended on a high note with solid play down the stretch, Rudolph gets a fresh start in Tennessee. pic.twitter.com/MLn40FPHL7
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 13, 2024
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Raiders officially release QBs Jimmy Garoppolo and Brian Hoyer
#Raiders roster moves:
– Released QB Jimmy Garoppolo, QB Brian Hoyer, WR Hunter Renfrow and DT Jerry Tillery.
— Raiders PR (@RAIDERS_PR) March 13, 2024
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Dolphins officially release CB Xavien Howard
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BEARS QB NEWS
It’s a 1-year contract for Brett Rypien
Bears have agreed to terms with former Rams and Broncos QB Brett Rypien on a one-year contract.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2024
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Soon-to-be Texans RB Joe Mixon bids farewell to Cincinnati
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Saquon Barkley’s Eagles deal (and tons of others) are now official
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Jaguars officially owe a third-round pick to the Falcons because of Calvin Ridley
With no extension in place for Calvin Ridley by 4 PM EST, the Jaguars officially owe pick 79 in the 2024 NFL Draft to the Falcons, retaining their own 2nd round pick (48th).
Ridley can, of course, still sign a new deal to stay in Jacksonville.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 13, 2024
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Happy new NFL league year!
Players are officially allowed to sign contracts with new teams.
Keep it right here for all the latest news and updates 🙌
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Romo to the Vikings
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Jets bringing back P Thomas Morstead
The Jets are re-signing punter Thomas Morstead to a 2-year contract sources confirm. @MySportsUpdate on it first
— Antwan V. Staley (@antwanstaley) March 13, 2024
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40 minutes to go before free agency begins
Still some big deals that could be out there 👀
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Ex-Bills DB agrees to terms with Panthers, per report
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Nate Tice weighs in on first couple days of free agency
Yahoo Sports NFL writer Nate Tice liked what the Patriots did. He thinks Gabe Davis can work in Jacksonville. And he has questions about more than a couple of the running back signings.
Now that the initial dust has settled on Tamperpalooza, let’s take a look at a few of the moves that stuck out to him.
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Report: Chargers DE Khalil Mack restructuring contract to remain with team
Eight-time Pro-Bowl DE and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack will remain a Los Angeles Charger this season and free up salary-cap space for the team by agreeing to restructure his deal, per sources. Mike Williams leaves, Mack stays. https://t.co/fiEAJVjN8n pic.twitter.com/PbnBt4pLzs
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2024
