The 2023 NFL championship will be decided at Super Bowl 57. The path that leads each team to Glendale begins nearly 11 months before the big game.
The 2022 free agent period officially begins on March 17, signaling the start of a signing frenzy that slides veteran playmakers across the league’s chessboard. Players such as Davante Adams, Von Miller, and Tyrann Mathieu are all slated to hit the open market this spring, though their current teams will have the inside track at retaining their services. There are more than 900 NFL veterans who enter the upcoming season without a contract; they’ll be joined by a handful of players who earn hard luck releases as all 32 teams attempt to free up as much salary cap space as possible.
Last year, the New England Patriots made an uncharacteristic splash into the marketplace and spent big on a handful of players who buoyed their run back to the postseason (Kendrick Bourne, Mathew Judon, Hunter Henry) and a handful that failed to live up to their contract value (Jonnu Smith, Nelson Agholor). Bill Belichick will likely shift back to his bargain-hunting ways thanks to only $8.3 million in projected cap space for 2022.
Instead, the big spenders are likely to be the Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers, and Cincinnati Bengals. All have inexpensive quarterbacks playing on rookie contracts and more than $50 million to throw at big name free agents. Each will be looking to use this spring’s marketplace to build potential contenders.
Who’ll be the biggest names courting suitors this spring? Here’s For The Win’s top 100, starting with No. 1 in Green Bay.
