The primary waves of 2020 NFL free agency in March resulted in most top players getting re-signed, franchise-tagged or signed by new teams. Then came the NFL Draft in April, when teams addressed many of their remaining depth chart concerns with rookies.
The market for veteran players has gone quiet of late with more notable releases than movement toward unsigned, unrestricted free agents. There are, however, a few big names still available in free agency and some valuable role players who can fill some lingering roster holes.
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The most prominent free agents left are two players who were drafted No. 1 overall not so long ago, quarterback Cam Newton (2011) and edge rusher Jadeven Clowney (2014). With both players, past injuries and future durability have come into play, and many teams feel the cost of the risk outweighs the potential reward. While Newton might need to keep waiting with most teams having settled their quarterback situations, Clowney, coming off an elite season with the Seahawks when healthy, should find a home soon.
Going through every position, here are the other free agents who are still available in 2020.
NFL free agents 2020: The best players still available at each position
Quarterbacks
- Cam Newton, Panthers
- Joe Flacco, Broncos
- Matt Moore, Chiefs
- Mike Glennon, Raiders
- Trevor Siemian, Jets
- Drew Stanton, Browns
- Josh McCown, Eagles
- Blake Bortles, Rams
- Geno Smith, Seahawks
- Cody Kessler, Patriots
- Brandon Allen, Broncos
Newton isn't getting interest from the Panthers or the Jaguars, and the Steelers, his best spot for a surefire backup job, don't seem realistic.
Moore should get more attention as a journeyman backup considering how well he filled in for Patrick Mahomes last season. Flacco is a less willing backup and now has durability issues. Starting with Glennon and Siemian, the rest are similar low-upside backups. There's unlikely to be another roster emergency that brings McCown back to play in the NFL.
Running backs
- Devonta Freeman, Falcons
- Carlos Hyde, Texans
- Lamar Miller, Texans
- Chris Thompson, Redskins
- LeSean McCoy, Bills/Chiefs
- Theo Riddick, Broncos
- Bilal Powell, Jets
- Isaiah Crowell, Raiders
- Ty Montgomery, Jets
- Jonathan Williams, Colts
- Corey Clement, Eagles
- Kenjon Barner, Falcons
- Buck Allen, Giants
- Spencer Ware, Chiefs
- Wendell Smallwood, Redskins
- Alfred Blue, Jaguars
- C.J. Prosise, Seahawks
- Samaje Perine, Dolphins
- Tyler Ervin, Packers
- Senorise Perry, Bills
The life of a running back can be rough and change quickly with age and mileage. Freeman was replaced by Todd Gurley, while Hyde and Miller lost their potential return because of the Texans' trade for David Johnson.
Thompson has some appeal as a third-down receiving back, but he comes with injury risk. McCoy should be joining Frank Gore in fading out of the NFL, with the Bills and Chiefs replacing them with Zack Moss and Clyde Edwards-Helaire, respectively. The rest are mostly situational swing types who need a committee opening to land a job.
Wide receivers
- Taylor Gabriel, Bears
- Chester Rogers, Colts
- Rashard Higgins, Browns
- Paul Richardson, Redskins
- Josh Gordon, Seahawks
- Chris Hogan, Panthers
- Tavon Austin, Cowboys
- Demaryius Thomas, Jets
- Ryan Grant, Packers
- Justin Hardy, Falcons
- Dwayne Harris, Raiders
- Jaron Brown, Seahawks
- Jarius Wright, Panthers
- Jordan Matthews, 49ers
- Russell Shepard, Giants
- Dontrelle Inman, Colts
- Jermaine Kearse, Lions
- Johnny Holton, Steelers
Higgins is the most surprising player still available given his route-running versatility and good hands. Gabriel can still help a team with his speed and quickness, but it would need to able to deploy his versatility.
Hogan, Thomas, Matthews and Kearse fall under the age-catching-up-to-them category. Richardson didn't show much after going from the Seahawks to the Redskins last year. Gordon might have run out of chances when he couldn't stick with the Patriots or Seahawks.
Tight ends
- Delanie Walker, Titans
- Charles Clay, Cardinals
- Geoff Swaim, Jaguars
- Jordan Reed, Redskns
- Ed Dickson, Seahawks
- Luke Stocker, Falcons
- Lance Kendricks, Chargers
Walker has had a great run as older player, but his body doesn't have much left to offer. Clay once was a valuable blocking and receiving cog, but now he is a limited backup.
Swaim has some upside, but the Jaguars didn't see it, replacing him with Tyler Eifert. Reed might join Vernon Davis in retirement soon given his history of concussions and little interest so far.
Offensive tackles
- Jason Peters, Eagles
- Cordy Glenn, Bengals
- Kelvin Beachum, Jets
- Demar Dotson, Buccaneers
- Jared Veldheer, Packers
- James Hurst, Ravens
- Cameron Erving, Chiefs
- Donald Penn, Redskins
- Greg Robinson, Browns
- LaAdrian Waddle, Bills
- Marshall Newhouse, Patriots
- Chris Clark, Texans
- Jordan Mills, Cardinals
- T.J. Clemmings, Bears
- J'Marcus Webb, Dolphins
- Josh Wells, Buccaneers
- Patrick Omameh, Saints
Peters, the venerable Eagle, has started to break down. Glenn and Beachum should have something left, but they have injury issues. Dotson and Veldheer will need a right tackle situation to change to give them another chance.
Hurst and Erving have some inside swing ability. Penn already has overextended as an older player. Robinson has off-field issues on top of his shaky play in Cleveland. Newhouse proved in New England he can't be more than a pure left-side backup. This position is bound to see little market traction.
Guards
- Mike Person, 49ers
- Ron Leary, Broncos
- Kevin Pamphile, Titans
- Josh Kline, Vikings
- Ted Larsen, Bears
- Earl Watford, Buccaneers
- John Jerry, Bengals
Person needs to find a home in another athletic zone blocking scheme away from Kyle Shanahan. Leary and Pamphile offer only backup status at this point.
There's not much to see here unless a team needs to plug a hole after an injury.
Centers
- Justin Britt, Seahawks
- Daniel Kllgore, Dolphins
- Ryan Kalil, Jets
- Hroniss Grasu, Ravens
- A.Q. Shipley, Cardinals
- James Ferentz, Patriots
- Tony Bergstrom, Redskins
Britt was cut from the Seahawks and is worthy of a flyer. Kilgore was once valuable for his versatility, but he couldn't stay on the field in Miami.
Kalil has had a strong career, but it's hard to see him finding a third home. Shipley should land somewhere for depth.
Defensive tackles
- Damon Harrison, Lions
- Mike Daniels, Lions
- Margus Hunt, Colts
- Damion Square, Chargers
- Corey Liuget, Bills
- Brandon Mebane, Chargers
- Josh Mauro, Raiders
- Domata Peko, Ravens
- Kyle Love, Panthers
- Sylvester Williams, Chargers
- Akeem Spence, Jaguars
The Lions were rebuilding their defensive line and couldn't keep Harrison. "Snacks" should get more consideration from one of his old teams, the Giants or Jets.
Daniels' returns quickly dwindled from his Packers days. Hunt can provide some inside pass-rush pop situationally. Of the former Chargers, Square can be most useful in a rotation.
Defensive ends
- Jadeveon Clowney, Seahawks
- Everson Griffen, Vikings
- Ezekiel Ansah, Lions
- Michael Bennett, Cowboys
- Cameron Wake, Titans
- Jabaal Sheard, Colts
- Vinny Curry, Eagles
- Kerry Wynn, Bengals
- Adam Gotsis, Broncos
- Billy Winn, Broncos
- Clinton McDonald, Cardinals
- John Jenkins, Dolphins
- Damontre Moore, 49ers
- Olson Pierre, Raiders
The Browns and the Titans seem to still be Clowney's best options, as the Seahawks likely won't re-sign him. The Redskins, Lions and Colts should consider adding more depth from this group with their ample cap spaces.
Griffen has something left to help situationally in rushing the passer. Ansah and Bennett had good runs but have limited appeal now. Wake might be at the end of the line at 38 after he finally dropped off in Tennessee.
Outside linebackers
- Nigel Bradham, Eagles
- Terrell Suggs, Cardinals/Chiefs
- Clay Matthews, Rams
- Mychal Kendricks, Seahawks
- Anthony Chickillo, Steelers
- Kareem Martin, Giants
- Aaron Lynch, Bears
- Malcolm Smith, Cowboys
- Julian Stanford, Bills
- Brooks Reed, Cardinals
- Sam Acho, Buccaneers
- Pernell McPhee, Bears
- Vontaze Burfict, Raiders
The three notable veteran edge rushers here — Suggs, Matthews and Lynch — need a 3-4 opening to get with a new team. Bradham has had a nice career with the Bills and Eagles but might not offer much tackling help.
Chickillo can help someone on special teams. At the bottom, it would be shocking to see Burfict in the league again in 2020.
Inside linebackers
- Mark Barron, Steelers
- Wesley Woodyard, Titans
- Alec Ogletree, Giants
- Adarius Taylor, Browns
- Darron Lee, Jets
- Bryce Hager, Rams
- Will Compton, Raiders
- Manti Te'o, Saints
- Preston Brown, Jaguars
- Corey Nelson, Broncos
- Deone Bucannon, Giants
- Stephone Anthony, Saints
- D.J. Alexander, Jaguars
- Albert McClellan, Jets
- Daren Bates, Titans
- Mike Hull, Dolphins
Barron served the Steelers well as a starter and should get a little more consideration for a 3-4 defense. Woodyard has been productive against the run, but he will turn 34 in July.
Ogletree could help some 4-3 team for outside depth. There's not much else to see here.
Cornerbacks
- Dre Kirkpatrick, Bengals
- Logan Ryan, Titans
- Prince Amukmara, Bears
- Aqib Talib, Dolphins
- Trumaine Johnson, Jets
- Tramon Williams, Packers
- Darqueze Dennard, Bengals
- Johnathan Joseph, Texans
- Eli Apple, Giants
- Brandon Carr, Ravens
- Ross Cockrell, Panthers
- Daryl Worley, Raiders
- B.W. Webb, Bengals
- Tramaine Brock, Titans
- Akeem King, Seahawks
- Morris Claiborne, Chiefs
- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Redskins
- Kayvon Webster, Redskins
- Brandon Williams, Cardinals
- Keith Reaser, Chiefs
- Cyrus Jones, Broncos
- Jamar Taylor, Falcons
- Coty Sensabaugh, Redskins
- Aaron Colvin, Redskins
Kirkpatrick has some value as a versatile backup. Ryan has made his living in the slot, and with a cheap deal, he should land somewhere for his age-29 season.
Dennard did get a deal from the Jaguars, but that it through. Johnson far underachieved with his big Jets deal, so it will be hard to give him too much. Williams and Joseph have been venerable cover men, but their long-time teams have moved on.
The rest are a bunch of depth players and fast-fading starters.
Safeties
- Reshad Jones, Dolphins
- Tashuan Gipson, Texans
- Eric Reid, Panthers
- Morgan Burnett, Browns
- Tony Jefferson, Ravens
- Tavon Wilson, Lions
- Clayton Geathers, Colts
- Antoine Bethea, Giants
- Jahleel Addae, Texans
- Sherrick McManis, Bears
- J.J. Wilcox, Falcons
- Johnathan Cyprien, Titans
- Darian Stewart, Buccaneers
- Curtis Riley, Raiders
- Tedric Thompson, Seahawks
- Josh Shaw, Cardinals
- Kurt Coleman, Bills
- Rontez Miles, Jets
- Walt Aikens, Dolphins
- Blake Countess, Jets
- Mike Adams, Texans
- Colin Jones, Panthers
- Ibraheim Campbell, Packers
- Kemal Ishmael, Falcons
Another year, another free-agency period of safeties getting little respect. No safeties were taken in the first round of the draft, either, but teams loaded up from a strong class in the second and third rounds, hurting who's left in this group.
There will be several of these guys, especially the free-safety coverage types, getting some shots closer to training camp as many teams sort out their combinations at the position. Run-stopping support types find it more difficult to land this late because they can't offer the same help in nickel or dime packages.
Don't expect more than a handful to find fits, with help from scheme or coaching familiarities.
Kickers
- Stephen Gostkowski, Patriots
- Adam Vinatieri, Colts
- Ryan Succop, Titans
- Nick Folk, Patriots
Gostkowski and Vinatieri have had long runs, but it's clear they have reached the end. Succop is bound to get some calls in camp when new rookie/veteran competitions go south for a few teams.
Punters
- Matt Bosher, Falcons
- Lachlan Edwards, Jets
- Dustin Coltquitt, Chiefs
- Matt Wile, Lions
Bosher was replaced by Brandon Allen. Edwards was replaced by drafted rookie Braden Mann. The Chiefs decided to get younger, cutting Colquitt before his age-38 season. Wile was OK and likely will get a camp shot again, as the Lions are going elsewhere for their Sam Martin (Broncos) replacement.
