We’re already two weeks into the 2023 NFL season, and we’ve got a pretty good lay of the land for what some teams need to work on to stay afloat this season.
While some teams can only fix these issues with improved play, other teams might be able to go look out and see what free agents are still available.
While none of the players on the list will be monumental additions at this stage in the season, they could all play valuable roles to help areas where these five NFL teams could stand to improve.
Let’s break down five NFL free agents and five NFL teams who could really use them right now.
RB Leonard Fournette: Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are in a difficult spot at 0-2, and the team has already gone out to sign a guard in Dalton Risner to help bolster the offensive line.
However, the run game up in Minneapolis isn’t going according to plan this season as Alexander Mattison isn’t quite acclimating to lead rushing status as hoped. Mattison can still take a bulk of the carries, but the team needs better depth in its running back group to help its offense be more varied.
Enter Fournette, who is curiously still a free agent at this point in the season. If the Vikings are serious about getting into the winning column, a call to Fournette would add an experienced talent to the offense.
The former Buccaneers running back had 668 yards on the ground and three touchdowns to go with 522 yards and three touchdowns in the air.
Fournette can still be a valuable piece to an offense at this point in his career, and the Vikings should zero in on him to flank Mattison on the depth chart.
DT Akiem Hicks: Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons have been a surprise this season with a 2-0 record, but the team’s run defense has been a liability through two weeks. The team is 22nd in rushing defense right now, and a veteran signing could absolutely help the team tighten up against opposing running backs.
Hicks played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year, and he could be a nice option for the Falcons to come in and play as a situational defensive lineman that specializes in rushing downs. That’s where he’s predominantly thrived throughout his career, and he could absolutely help another NFC South contender.
Plus, he’s got ties with the Falcons front office as general manager Terry Fontenot and assistant general manager Ryan Pace. This could be a nice fit for both parties this early in the season.
OLB Melvin Ingram: Detroit Lions
The Lions have been bitten by the injury bug, as outside linebacker James Houston will reportedly miss 6-8 weeks with a fractured ankle.
Detroit entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations, and they’ll need to consider free agent pass rushers to help fill the void Houston leaves behind for a good chunk of the season.
Ingram is the perfect kind of rotational pass rusher who can add some juice off the edge on situational downs, and he’d absolutely help a Lions team that needs some stability on defense achieve that more than they could right now.
OT La'el Collins: Houston Texans
The Texans have had absolutely rotten luck with injuries on the offensive line this season, and they could desperately use someone like Collins to come in and help a promising rookie quarterback in C.J. Stroud.
Just look at how bad it’s gotten for Houston’s line this season.
Texans' starting offensive line heading into Week 2:
LT Laremy Tunsil – OUT
LG Kenyon Green – IR
C Juice Scruggs – IR
RG Shaq Mason – IN
RT Tytus Howard – IRCJ Stroud (right shoulder) is active.
— Underdog NFL (@Underdog__NFL) September 17, 2023
Collins is a solid veteran who can still step in and give you the kind of respectable play to help keep a young quarterback like Stroud as safe as possible as he navigates his first season in the NFL.
The Texans should be willing to throw a little money Collins’ way to get him in the building to help out while so many guys are injured in the offensive line room.
WR Julio Jones: Kansas City Chiefs
We’re not sure if Jones is just nearing retirement or if he’s waiting for the right opportunity, but one of the all-time great wide receivers could fit in well with a contending team, provided they use him in a rotational manner.
Enter the Chiefs, who really could use a savvy veteran like Jones on the roster at wide receiver. It’d give Jones a meaningful attempt to push for a Super Bowl, and it’d give quarterback Patrick Mahomes a pair of hands he knows he could trust as long as Jones is able to stay healthy.
This would be very cool for a lot of reasons, but it would also be practical as Kansas City has had far too inconsistent of play at wideout this year so far.
