The NFL offseason is in the midst of its OTA sessions, but free agency continues on for teams that need veterans to help the roster.
Our Christian D’Andrea broke down some of the best free agents left around the NFL this summer, and we thought it’d be fun to do a little summertime matchmaking and pair some of the free agents with franchises of interest.
While none of these fits may actually happen, it’d certainly be intriguing to see some of these actually roll over into reality.
Some of these guys are veterans who deserve a chance at a Super Bowl run, while others could rebuild their value after not landing big deals in the spring.
OLB Leonard Floyd: Chicago Bears
One of the best NFL free agents could be the perfect fit to go back to the team that drafted him.
The Chicago Bears are trying to capitalize on quarterback Justin Fields’ rookie contract to make waves in the NFC, and the team has put in a lot of work to improve its roster this offseason.
However, the pass rush still looks like a major need, and Floyd could bring veteran leadership and sacks to a Chicago defense that need it.
While some may say Floyd’s success with the Los Angeles Rams was due to Aaron Donald, the Bears would probably be happy to give him a 1-year deal to see if he can replicate that success back on familiar grounds.
It feels like a perfect reunion for Floyd and Chicago, and the Bears could afford to pay Floyd like a top pass rusher with $32.5 million available in cap space.
DE Jadeveon Clowney: Baltimore Ravens
Clowney can still provide any NFL defensive line valuable snaps as he approaches his tenth season in the NFL, but he’s not going to rack up sacks.
The Ravens feel like the ideal landing spot for Clowney, who could work in as a rotational run stopper and provide some pressures on passing downs when needed.
This is one of those teams that always seems to maximize veteran pass rushers, and Clowney could be the next in line to reap the benefit of playing for the Ravens later in his career.
Baltimore doesn’t necessarily need Clowney to be a star, but they could use him to strengthen the overall quality of its defensive front.
Plus, Clowney could get two games a year against the Cleveland Browns, his most recent team. That’d be a fun subplot for that always tense AFC North matchup.
DE Yannick Ngakoue: Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers are going to want to get as much out of the 2023 season as possible before quarterback Justin Herbert’s massive contract extension comes due.
The team has a good pass rush with guys like Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Morgan Fox and 2023 draft pick Tuli Tuipulotu in tow. However, imagine dropping Ngakoue into the mix?
Ngakoue is good at one thing on the defensive line: getting after the quarterback. In a division with Patrick Mahomes, Jimmy Garoppolo and Russell Wilson, the Chargers really could make a dent by fielding the AFC West’s best pass rush.
They’d have that with Ngakoue in the mix on a 1-year deal. He could figure in as a situational pass rusher who smothers opposing signal callers with other rushers on the field garnering attention. It’d be a savvy summer move for Los Angeles to get Ngakoue in the building.
WR Jarvis Landry: Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons desperately need a reliable slot player, and Landry could provide the rising NFC team the veteran talent it needs at the position.
Landry would give the quarterback Desmond Ridder the intermediate passing option in the middle of the field if the team’s top targets (Kyle Pitts, Drake London) get blanketed by intensive coverage.
The Falcons have one of the weaker wide receiver rooms in the NFL outside of London, and Landry would immediately slot in as a starter on the depth chart.
Having just played in the NFC South last season with the New Orleans Saints, Landry could stay in the division and become the latest Saints player to jump over to Atlanta.
DL Shelby Harris: Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions figure to be a Super Bowl contender this fall if all breaks right for the team, but the defensive interior could still use a little work.
Defensive tackles Alim McNeill and Isaiah Buggs make for a solid-enough starting tandem, but veteran defensive tackle Shelby Harris could factor in as an impact run stuffer and push the pocket on passing downs when needed.
The NFC North has no shortage of impressing runners, and Harris could make Detroit’s life easier in run support.
The team has plenty of cap space to get this deal done, and Harris is the perfect veteran presence to help one of the softer spots on the Lions’ roster.
OLB Justin Houston: Kansas City Chiefs
Speaking of reunions, how cool would it be to see outside linebacker Justin Houston head back to Kansas City to chase a Super Bowl with the Chiefs?
It’s hard to argue that a reliable veteran rusher like Houston wouldn’t help Kansas City’s defensive line, one that lost Frank Clark and Carlos Dunlap this offseason.
Houston would fit right into the Chiefs’ rotation, and he’d have an excellent shot of finally winning a Super Bowl as Kansas City should be the favorite for another Lombardi going into the season.
Seeing Houston have a full-circle moment with the team that drafted him would be pretty cool.
G Dalton Risner: Indianapolis Colts
Risner is the best interior offensive lineman still available, and he could slot in immediately as the Indianapolis Colts’ right guard to help rookie Anthony Richardson stay upright.
While Risner played left guard in Denver with the Broncos, he’s young enough to have the flexibility to swap over to the right side.
The Colts owe it to Richardson to make sure he’s got the best protection available, and Risner could take a 1-year deal with Indianapolis to rebuild his value and strike it big in free agency in 2024.
Indianapolis might not be a Super Bowl contender this fall, but it does have a promising young quarterback who needs the best protection possible to aid his development. Signing Risner this summer would help this pursuit.
RB Leonard Fournette: San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers have a pretty phenomenal one-two punch at running back with Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell. Why not add Fournette to the bunch?
He’d provide some power to the San Francisco run game while also giving the team some valuable veteran insurance if McCaffrey gets hurt.
The latter’s injury history could enough to make the 49ers want to add a player like Fournette to the mix. Especially in short-yardage situations, Fournette really could come in handy for Kyle Shanahan’s team.
It’d just be fun watching Fournette factor into the 49ers rushing attack. He won a Super Bowl and could add another ring in San Francisco if all goes right.
CB Marcus Peters: New York Jets
The New York Jets are pushing for a Super Bowl after acquiring quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but the defense could use an extra veteran in the cornerback room.
While you figure that Sauce Gardner is the de-facto starter at the position, adding a veteran like Marcus Peters could really help New York’s secondary be one of the best in the AFC.
Peters is coming off a respectable season in Baltimore, and he could give the Jets the kind of veteran depth they need to really feel good about a playoff run. He could even push D.J. Reed for a starting spot.
At the worst, the Jets would feel much more established at cornerback with Peters in the fold.
WR Julio Jones: Philadelphia Eagles
At this point in his career, future Hall of Fame receiver Julio Jones will either probably chase a Super Bowl ring or retire.
If the Philadelphia Eagles gave him a call, he could reunite with former Titans teammate A.J. Brown and give Philadelphia a spectacular depth addition to its receiving group.
Jones’ health has been a point of concern in recent seasons, but Philadelphia is deep enough at the position to give the former Atlanta Falcons star the limited snaps he’d need to really make an impact and stay as healthy as possible.
While the Eagles have a very good receiver room as it is, adding Jones is the kind of luxury move a team like this makes to further elevate its Super Bowl potential.
