The slower part of the NFL offseason is here, as teams go through periods of practice and periods of rest before July’s training camps get fully underway.
However, lots of NFL teams use the summer months to tinker with their rosters and add veteran competition and patch up depth spots on the roster chart.
We’ve gone through all 32 NFL teams and found one free agent for each of them that may help them better achieve their goals this offseason of putting together the best roster possible.
While none of these guys may sign with these specific teams, these fits make sense to us.
Arizona Cardinals: DE Carl Lawson
Taking a flier on Lawson, who has been a productive pass-rusher in the past, might not be a bad idea for a Cardinals team that could use more rotational punch in the defensive front.
Atlanta Falcons: OLB Markus Golden
The Falcons need a veteran pass-rusher to rotate in on defense, and Golden might be the perfect solution. He’s still able to get after the quarterback and produce sacks, a skill Atlanta needs.
Baltimore Ravens: WR Mecole Hardman
Having some depth at wide receiver would do the Ravens wonders going into the season, and Hardman is a championship-winning receiver who could add speed and veteran expertise.
Buffalo Bills: CB Xavien Howard
The Bills have talent in all phases of the roster, but adding a veteran cornerback like Howard with extensive starting experience and knowledge of the AFC East could be a smart move. Buffalo could all the help it can get in the secondary to make a playoff run, and Howard could provide that.
Carolina Panthers: DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches
The Panthers need depth on the defensive line, and Nunez-Roches is one of the best candidates out there right now that could rotate in and out of the lineup and provide sound play.
Chicago Bears: DE Jerry Hughes
Hughes is one of the best veteran edge rushers in free agency right now, and the Bears could use some good rotational pass-rush on the roster right now. He’d help Chicago at the point of signing.
Cincinnati Bengals: RB Cam Akers
Getting in running back depth that knows the system would be a nice boost for the Bengals, and Akers can provide that and an additional passing option for quarterback Joe Burrow.
Cleveland Browns: DE Shaq Lawson
Lawson is still a solid veteran edge rusher to pad the depth on your roster, and Cleveland being able to bring in Lawson off the bench to rotate in with Za’Darius Smith would be a nice play.
Dallas Cowboys: WR Michael Thomas
Thomas is a boom-or-bust talent because of his injury history at this point, but Dallas could use the depth to help Dak Prescott in the passing game. Plus, if he’s healthy, Thomas can still make a discernable impact in the intermediate passing game.
Denver Broncos: S Justin Simmons
Denver isn’t better at safety than it was with Simmons on the roster, so the Broncos should bring back its talented starter for another season to help it get back into contending shape.
Detroit Lions: WR Hunter Renfrow
The Lions could use some veteran depth at receiver, and it’d be fun to see Renfrow make a comeback with Jared Goff as his quarterback. He could be a solid weapon for the offense.
Green Bay Packers: QB Ryan Tannehill
We still think the Packers should bring in Tannehill as quality veteran insurance at quarterback just in case injury ever strikes with Jordan Love. This is a Super Bowl contender that needs it.
Houston Texans: DE Yannick Ngakoue
More of a designated pass-rusher than a starter at this point in his career, Ngakoue coming off the bench for the Texans could be a really great boost for the summer, especially when you consider starting defensive end Danielle Hunter’s injury history. Houston should consider a move like this.
Indianapolis Colts: S Marcus Maye
Bringing in a veteran safety to compete with Nick Cross for the free safety spot might not be a bad idea for the Colts, and Maye could fit the bill and come in as great veteran depth at worst.
Jacksonville Jaguars: DE Calais Campbell
The Jaguars have everything in place for Campbell in a return to the franchise, including his 2023 defensive coordinator in Ryan Nielsen. Campbell finishing out his career in Jacksonville would be fantastic, especially if the Jaguars can establish themselves as AFC contenders.
Kansas City Chiefs: WR Russell Gage
While Gage didn’t play last year with injury, he could be an excellent rotational piece for the Chiefs’ offense, especially if starter Rashee Rice misses significant time with a suspension this fall.
Las Vegas Raiders: ILB Shaq Leonard
The Raiders could use additional veteran leadership on defense and a potential tone-setter in the middle of the field, and Leonard regaining his footing in Las Vegas sounds incredibly promising.
Los Angeles Chargers: DT Lawrence Guy
The Chargers could use some veteran depth on the defensive line, and Guy could bring his Patriots experience out to Los Angeles and fill in with rotational snaps for a team trying to get back in contending shape. Guy still has gas left in the tank, too.
Los Angeles Rams: CB Ahkello Witherspoon
Witherspoon gave the Rams solid starting snaps last fall and bringing him back in as a valuable depth option (especially if Tre’Davious White gets injured) would be a sound move for the Rams.
Miami Dolphins: DE Emmanuel Ogbah
The Dolphins should seriously consider bringing Ogbah back in a rotational role this fall as it tries to seriously contend for the AFC. He’s a valuable veteran for depth who knows the organization well.
Minnesota Vikings: DE Mike Purcell
Purcell is still a very solid 3-4 defensive end at this stage of his career, and coming off the bench for the Vikings feels like a nice fit. We’re sure defensive coordinator Brian Flores could use him.
New England Patriots: T Donovan Smith
The Patriots could really use another option at left tackle, especially if the team plays rookie quarterback Drake Maye this fall. Smith represents an intriguing option in free agency.
New Orleans Saints: G Halapoulivaati Vaitai
As the Saints prepare their offensive line for the fall, having Vaitai as sound veteran competition for the left guard spot could be a stroke of genius once the season starts. He’s still a good starter.
New York Giants: ILB Zach Cunningham
The Giants could use more competition at inside linebacker, and Cunningham played for Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen with the Tennessee Titans. It’s a logical fit for both sides.
New York Jets: TE Robert Tonyan
Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers could reunite with a reliable weapon from his Green Bay Packers days in Tonyan, who could add depth at tight end while providing familiarity for Rodgers.
Philadelphia Eagles: DT Hassan Ridgeway
The Eagles have a good defensive line, but more veteran depth at defensive tackle in particular might give Philadelphia more peace of mind. Ridgeway could fit the bill there.
Pittsburgh Steelers: CB Patrick Peterson
The Steelers don’t have a lot of needs right now, so why not bring back a future Hall of Fame cornerback in Peterson just to have him around? He’s still a solid player at this stage of his career.
San Francisco 49ers: CB Stephon Gilmore
The 49ers don’t really have a lot of needs right now, so bringing in a veteran corner like Gilmore for depth is the kind of move smart championship contenders make to bolster the roster.
Seattle Seahawks: OLB Tyus Bowser
New Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald could bring in Bowser as a rotational piece for the outside linebacker group after coaching him in Baltimore. He could provide some punch off the edge.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Eli Apple
The Buccaneers could use a bit of cornerback depth, and Apple could fill in as a starter if need be.
Tennessee Titans: S Eddie Jackson
Jackson could provide competition at free safety for Tennessee while also giving the team a really quality veteran backup with starting experience at worst.
Washington Commanders: CB Adoree' Jackson
Jackson could give the Commanders a quality veteran to compete for an outside cornerback spot that has experience playing in the NFC East. Those guys are hard to find in the summer.
