Best NFL free agents still available: DeAndre Hopkins, Ezekiel Elliott among top 2023 players remaining

Vinnie Iyer

Best NFL free agents still available: DeAndre Hopkins, Ezekiel Elliott among top 2023 players remaining image

The main personnel acquisition part of the 2023 NFL offseason is finished, but that doesn't mean teams will stop looking to improving their rosters ahead of training camp. Between battling with injuries and realizing thinness at certain positions, teams are bound to sign some more veteran free agents.

Surprisingly, there are plenty of notable names available among the still unsigned players, several of whom were released by their former teams. Here's an updated look at the pool, sorted by position:

NFL FREE AGENCY 2023: Grading how all 32 teams, from best to worst

Best NFL free agents still available for 2023

Quarterbacks

  • Carson Wentz, Commanders
  • Teddy Bridgewater, Dolphins
  • Matt Ryan, Colts 
  • Nick Foles, Colts
  • Joe Flacco, Jets
  • Chase Daniel, Chargers

Wentz and Bridgewater are still hoping to latch on as recently well-traveled bridge QBs. Ryan isn't officially retired despite deciding to join CBS as an analyst. His former teammate Foles was just let go.

Running backs

  • Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys
  • Kareem Hunt, Browns
  • Leonard Fournette, Buccaneers
  • Darrel Williams, Cardinals
  • Kenyan Drake, Ravens
  • Dontrell Hilliard, Titans
  • Royce Freeman, Texans
  • Giovani Bernard, Buccaneers
  • David Johnson, Saints
  • Justin Jackson, Lions
  • J.D. McKissic, Commanders
  • Rex Burkhead, Texans
  • Mark Ingram, Saints
  • Jonathan Williams, Commanders

The law of supply and demand is once again at work with another influx of talented rookie running backs and cheaper young veteran backup options available. This headed to be the quick end of the NFL line for most of them. Elliott, Hunt and Fournette have surprisingly gotten little interest.

Ezekiel Elliott
(Getty Images)

Wide receivers

  • DeAndre Hopkins, Cardinals
  • Julio Jones, Buccaneers
  • Demarcus Robinson, Ravens
  • Jarvis Landry, Saints
  • Byron Pringle, Bears
  • Breshad Perriman, Buccaneers
  • Rashard Higgins, Panthers
  • Sammy Watkins, Ravens
  • N'Keal Harry, Bears
  • Jake Kumerow, Bills

Hopkins was let go late by Arizona and there are concerns about what he has left at 30 after not giving his former team much in 2022. Fellow future Hall of Famer Jones is 34 and may be at the end of line, much like 2011 first-round draft mate A.J. Green. Landry also has slowed down at 30.

Tight ends

  • Cameron Brate, Buccaneers
  • Geoff Swaim, Titans
  • Kyle Rudolph, Buccaneers
  • Adam Shaheen, Dolphins
  • Marcedes Lewis, Packers
  • Maxx Williams, Cardinals
  • Ryan Griffin, Bears

Brate has the most appeal here because of his recent productive history but every option here is for pure receiving or blocking depth.

Cameron Brate
Getty Images

Offensive tackles

  • Taylor Lewan, Titans
  • George Fant, Jets
  • Ty Nsekhe, Rams
  • Eric Fisher, Dolphins
  • Jason Peters, Cowboys
  • Brandon Shell, Dolphins
  • Mike Remmers, Jets
  • Chris Hubbard, Browns
  • Ja'Wuan James, Ravens
  • Dennis Kelly, Colts
  • Yodny Cajuste, Patriots
  • Marcus Cannon, Patriots

Lewan and Fant have been waiting longest for calls. Most of these guys are worn-down older players who once were effective starters.

Guards/centers

  • Justin Pugh, Cardinals
  • Chase Rouiller, Commanders
  • Gabe Jackson, Seahawks
  • Ben Jones, Titans
  • Roger Saffold, Bills
  • A.J. Cann, Texans
  • Dalton Risner, Broncos
  • Trai Turner, Commanders
  • Pat Elflein, Panthers
  • Max Garcia, Cardinals
  • Tom Compton, Broncos
  • Rodney Hudson, Cardinals
  • Justin Britt, Texans
  • Jesse Davis, Steelers
  • Nick Martin, Commanders
  • Bobby Hart, Bills
  • Michael Schofield, Bears
  • Matt Skura, Rams
  • Oday Aboushi, Rams
  • Billy Price, Cardinals

As usual, there's a huge mixed bag of interior offensive line help as the supply is much greater than the demand. Pugh and Rouiller have the best shots to start somewhere in a pinch.

Edge rushers

  • Leonard Floyd, Rams
  • Frank Clark, Chiefs
  • Jadeveon Clowney, Browns
  • Yannick Ngakoue, Colts
  • Robert Quinn, Eagles
  • Dawaune Smoot, Jaguars
  • Justin Houston, Ravens
  • Melvin Ingram, Dolphins
  • Carl Nassib, Buccaneers
  • Carlos Dunlap, Chiefs
  • William Gholston, Buccaneers
  • Mario Addison, Texans
  • Trey Flowers, Dolphins

Defensive tackles

  • Chris Wormley, Steelers
  • Shelby Harris, Seahawks
  • Matt Ioannidis, Panthers
  • Akiem Hicks, Buccaneers
  • Ndamukong Suh, Eagles
  • Michael Brockers, Lions
  • Linval Joseph, Eagles
  • Maurice Hurst, 49ers
  • Corey Peters, Jaguars
  • Mike Pennel, Bears
  • Tyeler Davison, Chargers

Wormley and Harris have been getting little interest since early in free agency, Hicks and Suh are longshots to continue their careers. Ioannidis remains an average depth player.

Getty Images

Linebackers

  • Zach Cunningham, Titans
  • Myles Jack, Steelers
  • Kyle Van Noy, Chargers
  • Deion Jones, Browns
  • Kwon Alexander, Jets
  • Anthony Barr, Cowboys
  • Nick Vigil, Cardinals
  • Kevin Pierre-Louis, Texans
  • Jarrad Davis, Lions
  • Damien Wilson, Panthers
  • Nick Kwiatkoski, Falcons
  • MIcah Kiser, Raiders
  • Rashaan Evans, Falcons
  • Jon Bostic, Commanders
  • Dakota Allen, Broncos

This group is mainly a lot of run-supporting tackling types above 30 with less help for impact pass coverage.

Cornerbacks

  • Byron Jones, Dolphins
  • Anthony Brown, Cowboys
  • Marcus Peters, Ravens
  • Bradley Roby, Saints
  • Bryce Callahan, Chargers
  • Casey Hayward, Falcons
  • Ronald Darby, Broncos
  • William Jackson, Commanders
  • Troy Hill, Rams
  • Rock Ya-Sin, Raiders
  • Kyle Fuller, Ravens
  • Chandon Sullivan, Vikings
  • Eli Apple, Bengals
  • Anthony Averett, Raiders

Jones was made expendable by Jalen Ramsey joining Xavien Howard in Miami. Brown, Peters and Roby should get more late interest as viable veteran outside starters. Callahan and Hayward can help most in the slot at this stage. Corner has the most reinforcement options in free agency now than any other position.

Marcus-Peters-112119-getty-ftr

Safeties

  • Adrian Amos, Packers
  • John Johnson III, Browns
  • LaMarcus Joyner, Jets
  • Logan Ryan, Buccaneers
  • Daniel Sorensen, Saints
  • Clayton Fejedelem, Dolphins
  • Chris Banjo, Cardinals
  • Duron Harmon, Raiders
  • Andrew Adams, Titans
  • Ronnie Harrison, Browns
  • Armani Watts, Colts

Amos and Johnson have the most starting appeal hear. Other are third swing options behind a reliable free-strong combination.

Kickers 

  • Robbie Gould, 49ers
  • Ryan Succop, Buccaneers
  • Mason Crosby, Packers
  • Brett Maher, Cowboys
  • Randy Bullock, Titans
  • Zane Gonzalez, Cardinals

Gould was replaced by rookie draft pick Jake Moody in San Francisco.

Punters

  • Andy Lee, Cardinals

The 40-year-old has been in the NFL since 2004 but it looks bad for him to continue as he was replaced by fellow free agent Matt Haack in Arizona.

Vinnie Iyer

Vinnie Iyer Photo

Vinnie Iyer, has been with TSN since 1999, not long after graduating from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He has produced NFL content for more than 20 years, turning his attention to full-time writing in 2007. A native of St. Louis, Mo. but now a long-time resident of Charlotte, N.C. Vinnie’s top two professional sports teams are Cardinals and Blues, but he also carries purple pride for all things Northwestern Wildcats. He covers every aspect of the NFL for TSN including player evaluations, gambling and fantasy football, where he is a key contributor. Vinnie represents TSN as host of the “Locked On Fantasy Football” podcast on the Locked On network. Over his many years at TSN, he’s also written about MLB, NBA, NASCAR, college football, tennis, horse racing, film and television. His can’t-miss program remains “Jeopardy!”, where he was once a three-day champion and he is still avid about crossword puzzles and trivia games. When not watching sports or his favorite game show, Vinnie is probably watching a DC, Marvel or Star Wars-related TV or movie.