NFL Rumors: Ranking the Top 25 NFL Free Agents for 2023

NFL Rumors: Ranking the Top 25 NFL Free Agents for 2023

Looking ahead to NFL free agency, here are the top 25 free agents for the class of 2023. They are headlined by the GOAT, another former MVP winner, the player who led all running backs in touchdowns, and plenty of elite-level defensive players.

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Ranking the Top 25 NFL Free Agents for 2023

1. Lamar Jackson, QB

When a 26-year-old former MVP quarterback with the type of dual-threat ability Jackson has becomes available, you can be sure there will be heavy demand. Even with the injury woes the last two seasons, Jackson will be looking for one of the largest contracts in NFL history.

2. Josh Jacobs, RB

The Raiders decided not to pick up Jacobs' fifth-year option before the season started, so he proceeded to go out and lead the league in rushing yards with over 1,600. Now he can test the free-agent waters and deploy his rushing abilities to the highest bidder. The Raiders screwed this one up and now are at risk of losing one of the more durable running backs in football.

3. Saquon Barkley, RB

Running back Saquon Barkley sure did pick the right year to finally have a fully healthy season. He played 16 games this year and only sat out the 17th because the Giants had nothing to play for. He managed to have the most rushing yards of his career (1,312) and scored 10 rushing touchdowns along with 57 receptions. At just 26 years old next season, he should command a hefty four-year deal.

4. Geno Smith, QB

Not only did 32-year-old Geno Smith come in and totally outplay Russell Wilson, whom the Seahawks traded in the offseason, but he also played every single down of quarterback for Seattle this year, proving to be ultra-durable. It seems funny now, but the Drew Lock or Geno Smith debate before the 2022 season started was a real thing. Geno now enters free agency after throwing for over 4,200 and 30 touchdowns. The Seahawks are likely to open up the bank for him this off-season.

5. Jessie Bates III, S

According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Bates (just 25 years old) just played his fifth consecutive year with more than 1,000 snaps, making him one of the more reliable safeties in the game. He also improved his completion percentage allowed on targets to 51%, a career-best. He was franchise-tagged last year but should hit the open market in 2023.

6. Tom Brady, QB

This might be the only time there was a 45-year-old free agent in NFL history who actually had the desire to play the following season. There will be plenty of suitors who would take a chance on a one- to two-year window of Brady bringing them a title if he does not re-sign with Tampa Bay.

7. Daniel Jones, QB

Jones also joins the list of players who did not have their fifth-year option picked up yet and then put up outstanding numbers in 2022. Jones had career bests in passing yards, interceptions, rushing yards, and completion percentage. The most likely scenario considering their playoff run is that the Giants find a way to sign Jones to a long-term deal.

8. Dalton Schultz, TE

Schultz missed several games due to injury and also dealt with a largely ineffective Dak Prescott all season, but still managed to give us 577 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He has very sure hands, is a good run blocker, and likely comes at a discount this offseason after a down season and playing on the franchise tag last year.

9. Lavonte David, LB

According to PFF's coverage grade for linebackers, Lavonte David has the best overall score at the position over the last four seasons. He has been a godsend for a Tampa Bay defense that has been one of the best in the league. The only thing keeping him from being near the very top of this list is the fact that he will be 33 years old next season.

10. Jakobi Meyers, WR

Despite missing three games this year, Jakobi Meyers was able to post over 800 receiving yards and score six touchdowns despite up-and-down quarterback play from Mac Jones. Meyers has come a long way from scoring zero touchdowns in his first two years in the league and he might be looking for a big payday in a situation where he can join an elite offense and an elite quarterback.

11. Javon Hargrave, DL

Hargrave, a defensive lineman, obliterated his personal best with 11 total sacks this season (his previous high was 7.5). He was an absolute monster on the line for the Philadelphia Eagles this year, especially against the run. His 1.6% missed tackle rate this season was the best of his career and he played a full season for just the second time in his career.

12. Juju Smith-Schuster, WR

Even in a year where Patrick Mahomes clearly prioritized getting the ball to Travis Kelce and Jerick McKinnon, Smith-Shuster was able to carve out 900 yards and three touchdowns for himself. He was a monster in yards after the catch and was able to separate himself from a crowded wide receiver room. He may choose to depart for a clearer WR1 role somewhere else, but Juju will still be just 26 years old next season despite six years in the league.

13. Tony Pollard, RB

This really smells like a franchise tag might be coming next season for Tony Pollard. After making less than $1 million in every one of his NFL seasons despite outplaying Ezekiel Elliott in 2021-2022, Pollard deserves a big payday. The problem with Dallas, however, is that they are committed long-term to Elliott for a lot of money. They likely don't want two albatross running back contracts, so a one-year tag might be in his future.

14. Evan Engram, TE

Despite being an uber-athletic tight end prospect coming out of college, Engram had disappointed every year since a dynamic rookie season in 2017. After 722 yards and six touchdowns that first year, Engram never had more than 654 yards or three touchdowns in any of his next four seasons. But Trevor Lawrence may have unlocked something in Engram this year. In Weeks 13-18, Engram averaged six catches and 68 yards per game and scored three touchdowns. he emerged at just the right time to get a big deal this offseason.

15. George Fant, RT

When building on an offensive line, you want consistency, reliability, and rapport with your quarterback to know their tendencies. Free agent Fant might not have that third quality with a new quarterback, but he has been one of the most reliable offensive linemen over the last three seasons. He has played more than 90% of his team's snaps since the beginning of the 2020 season and protected the strong side of his quarterbacks very well.

16. Jamaal Williams, RB

After breaking Barry Sanders' record for most rushing touchdowns in a season by a Lions' running back, what's next for Jamaal Williams? Likely a big payday from the Lions and a chance to run it back with Detroit next year. Williams destroyed all of his previous career highs in rushing attempts, yards, touchdowns, and yards per game. The Hard Knocks darling will be 28/29 next year, but he is such an integral part of what the Lions are trying to build, I'm sure they find a way to bring him back next year.

17. Orlando Brown, Jr., LT

Orlando Brown was trusted by the Kansas City Chiefs to protect Patrick Mahomes' blind side this year, and just that fact may be enough for some teams. Brown was franchise-tagged last season, but at 27 years old, he is likely to get at least a few long-term offers for his services, including one from Kansas City. Brown is one of the most physically imposing tackles in the league and has played between 98% and 100% of his team's offensive snaps each of the last four seasons.

18. Mike Gesicki, TE

Gesicki dropped from 112 targets and 73 receptions in 2021 to just 52 targets and 32 receptions in 2022, but it probably won't impact his free-agent prospects one bit. Why? Many people understood the Gesicki just did not fit the offensive scheme Mike McDaniel tried to deploy in 2022. Gesicki only starting one game this season kept him healthy and ready to cash in on some other team looking for an elite pass-catching tight-end option. Gesicki will be just 28 next year, so he still has plenty of good years ahead.

19. James Bradberry, CB

Bradberry has been an elite, number-one cornerback in seasons past, but as he enters his age 30 season, he is still effective, but likely not the game-changing presence he once was. Still, Bradberry had his best completion percentage while targeted since 2018 (45.3%) and teams only threw his way 86 times in 17 games this year. In the four years prior, he averaged 104 targets thrown his direction.

20. David Long, LB

At just barely 26 years old, Long is one of the youngest free agents in this year's class and has turned into one of the best three-down linebackers in the entire league. He missed a few games in December due to injury but was playing 90% of the Titans' snaps before he went down and had a career-best 10.4% missed tackle rate.

21. Mike McGlinchey, OT

The former ninth-overall pick has the playing time, the pedigree, and the success in Kyle Shanahan's system to go anywhere he chooses. The 49ers' run game has always been one of the best, even before the revolving door was settled with Christian McCaffrey's arrival. This sounds like another player who will be looking to return to his current team.

22. Jamel Dean, CB

Dean is a very capable cornerback who complimented his teammate Carlton Davis well and will now be looking for his own deal to solidify the next stage of his career through free agency. If Tom Brady leaves the offense, look for the Bucs to prioritize keeping their defense together, which ranked top-ten this year in fewest passing yards allowed per game.

23. Cameron Sutton, CB

Sutton had one of the largest jumps in production of any cornerback in the league. From 2018-2021, he had between a 56% and 69% completion rate when targeted and that plummeted to 49% in 2022. He also dropped from a 16.4% missed tackle rate in 2021 to just 10% in 2022. At just 28 years old, he will have plenty of interest on the market if Pittsburgh somehow lets him go.

24. Leighton Vander Esch, LB

Vander Esch enters free agency again after signing a one-year deal with the Cowboys and betting on himself to have a solid year before going through the gauntlet again. His 79% snaps played are his highest since 2019 and he has become a piece of the pass and rush defense that the Cowboys have come to rely on all year long. He will have more value this time around on the free agency market.

25. Marcus Peters, CB

The five-time Pro Bowl player is up for free agency again after a year where he proved he successfully recovered from an ACL injury that forced him to miss all of 2021. He won't be the drape-over-you cover guy of several years ago, but the last half of this season proved he still has plenty of good football left in him.

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