I know it’s tough to process while in the moment, with new agreements seemingly flying around every other minute, but not every player is signed on the first day of NFL free agency.
In fact, if we took an honest look at the proceedings, many worthwhile stars, solid contributors, and depth guys are still sitting on the board after a whirlwind first day. Even if teams like the Chicago Bears were among the bigger initial winners, and even if squads like the San Francisco 49ers continue to get richer defensively, there’s still a lot of time left before the free-agent dust settles.
Let’s take a quick look at the 20 best players remaining in 2023 NFL free agency (by my estimation) as we head into Day 2. Remember: most of these guys aren’t likened to last much longer on the open market.
1
LT Orlando Brown Jr.
Brown is not only the best player left, he was probably the best player available overall. Whoever adds Brown to their offensive line is mixing in a legitimate franchise cog capable of doing it all.
2
S C.J. Gardner-Johnson
A ballhawk who is not afraid to tussle it up, the main reason Gardner-Johnson is likely not returning to Philadelphia is salary cap space. That darned salary cap space! Otherwise, we’re talking about one of the sport’s best and most versatile defensive backs.
3
LB Bobby Wagner
Bobby Wagner is 32, but he’s somehow still playing like he hasn’t even turned 26. On a now-rebuilding Rams team, Wagner garnered a Second-Team All-Pro selection. He’d be an instant plug-and-play defender on a prospective contender.
4
LB Lavonte David
A player who gets to escape the mess Tom Brady leaves behind, David also has a lot left in the linebacking tank. The veteran just finished a 10-plus-year run as one of the NFL’s more underrated defenders. At 33, he’ll assuredly be chasing another championship ring.
5
RT Kaleb McGary
The Falcons might be OK with moving on from McGary because he was never integral to success. But solid tackles don’t grow on trees. If anything, they’re a seldom-seen commodity. McGary could really help a squad looking for a relatively consistent book-end.
6
S Jordan Poyer
An All-Pro level safety looking to the next phase of his career, they simply don’t just make DBs like Poyer. They’re born and molded into incredible, center fielding leaders. Poyer is precisely what any defense ordering more field-tilting competence should be seeking.
7
OG Isaac Seumalo
An adept interior lineman who can feature at every position inside, it’s a wonder Seumalo is still available. Offensive line coaches salivate over Swiss Army Knives like him.
8
CB James Bradberry
Don’t let Bradberry’s game-ending penalty in Super Bowl 57 fool you: he remains one of pro football’s top boundary defenders. At age 29, I’d be willing to bet he comes at a (relative) bargain, too.
9
DT Fletcher Cox
One day, Cox might be fitted for a gold jacket in Canton. His resume is that illustrious. For now, in the near-twilight of his career at 32, he remains a bulldozer capable of ruining a center or guard’s afternoon.
10
WR Jakobi Meyers
A workhorse in the modern and traditional sense, Meyers is the grease that gets an offense’s gears rolling into motion. He’ll catch 800-plus yards, around 70 passes, and create running room on the outside edges as a blocker.
11
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
At this point in his career, it’s abundantly clear Juju Smith-Schuster is a classic possession receiver. Not that that’s a bad thing. Safety valves play vital roles, too.
12
TE Dalton Schultz
Schultz will never be the focal point of an offense. But you could do much worse than a TE2 who knows how to work the seam and has mostly sure hands.
13
EDGE Yannick Ngakoue
A pass-rush machine, Ngakoue is one of the league’s most overlooked players. His last two seasons with the Raiders have seen Ngakoue amass 19.5 sacks and 37 QB hits. Ngakoue makes getting after offensive signal-callers a pure art form.
14
EDGE Frank Clark
Fun fact: Clark is third all-time in playoff sacks (13.5). I’m aware that’s a product of playing in so many postseason games with Kansas City, but it’s still a shocking development. Clark isn’t known as a big-time player per se, but he definitely makes lots of them.
15
S Juan Thornhill
Juan Thornhill can’t be the centerpiece of a contending defense, but he can be a crucial cog. Eight career interceptions and a responsible approach to the position will keep Thornhill in the league for a while.
16
CB Rock Ya-Sin
A physical player with a quality competitive streak, Ya-Sin is a natural CB2 on most any roster. His full-steam-ahead approach to the position makes Ya-Sin a defensive addition you’d never regret.
17
RB David Montgomery
There is a question of whether injuries have started to slow down Montgomery’s wheel. Even if that were true, he’s one of the NFL’s top short-yardage backs (26 touchdowns in four seasons) and gives an offense a needed element of power.
18
WR Allen Lazard
A big-bodied target at 6-foot-5, Lazard gives his QB a huge target with sticky hands. You won’t break the bank for his contract, and you’ll have another offensive toy to experiment with.
19
WR Michael Thomas
If not for his missing 43 games due to injury in the last three years, Thomas would be a lot higher on this list. However, I still keep him here because I think there’s a former Pro Bowler/All-Pro still lurking underneath.
20
TE Hayden Hurst
A classic jack-of-all-trades, Hurst won’t wow you as a receiver, and he won’t wow you as a blocker. But he’ll be a plus player with both responsibilities, making it impossible to take him off the field in “gotta have it” situations.
