Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
2023 NFL offseason free-agent tracker.
Below are the best free agents in their position. There are fewer big name wide receivers up for grabs than last year, but each position contains notable players that will be on fantasy rosters this season.
Should Dallas be interested in signing any of these veterans on offense? Here’s where they’d fit if brought in for 2023. | From @KDDrummondNFL
An interesting article from over the weekend brought the current crop of free agents into focus . . . and it’s a really good picture. The 2023 free agency class wasn’t an elite one, but there are still a number of high-profile players who remain looking for a new home. The Philly Voice’s Evan Macy asked whether a team comprised of current free agents could compete for a playoff spot.
The Dallas Cowboys have a strong roster, and right now there are no indications the club would seriously consider adding any of these names. But what happens if things change, either through injury on a player failing to make the necessary jump into a bigger role?
During the offseason it’s easy to have a pollyannistic view of every current player’s potential. When camp hits, though, teams have to be able to admit mistakes were made. And if that’s the case, veteran free agents get the call. So where would each member of this treasure trove of talent fit in Dallas’ depth chart? Here’s a look at how big of an impact they could make.
All the PFF grades for the #Bills’ free agent signings (via @jdiloro):
The Buffalo Bills were selective in free agency this year, as the club had limited salary cap space to bring in free agents.
While the organization did not make a big splash in the free agent market, Buffalo did find a few valuable pieces to pad the depth on the roster.
The Bills free agent signings earned a wide variety of grades from Pro Football Focus. PFF’s grades indicate that the Bills definitely scrounged for some value and second-tier players on the free agent market.
Here are the Bills free agents ranked by their 2022 Pro Football Focus grades, ranked from lowest to highest.
Listing one free agent from the Falcons, Saints, Buccaneers and Panthers who could be a fit for the Chargers.
The Chargers won’t be as aggressive as they have been in recent years when it comes to signing free agents.
While they’re cash-strapped, general manager Tom Telesco will likely make some moves to have some spendings available to them so they can sign some low-cost players.
That said, I will list one pending free agent from each team in the NFL that could be a realistic target for L.A.
Next up is the NFC South.
Here are some pending free agents for Bears fans to keep an eye on during Super Bowl LVII.
The Eagles and Chiefs are facing off in Super Bowl LVII, which will usher in the 2023 offseason. Next up: Free agency in just over a month, where Bears general manager Ryan Poles will be looking to build this roster into one that contend for a Super Bowl down the line.
Chicago is slated to have roughly $99 million in salary cap space in 2023, per Spotrac, which is the most in the NFL (by a wide margin). It’ll give GM Ryan Poles plenty of money to work with as he looks to bring in some new faces (on top of bringing back some familiar ones).
Here are some pending free agents for Bears fans to keep an eye on during Super Bowl LVII.
New Orleans Saints free agent review: defensive tackle David Onyemata, stay or go?
We’re up for another busy offseason for the New Orleans Saints, who need to make some tough decisions on pending 2023 free agents like defensive end Marcus Davenport, linebacker Kaden Elliss, and slot receiver Jarvis Landry as well as quarterback Andy Dalton and tight end Juwan Johnson. Another veteran player who will hit the open market in March is defensive tackle David Onyemata, their best player at his position the last few years.
Will the Saints have room in the budget for No. 93? Onyemata hasn’t returned to the heights he reached previously in his career, but he’s still a steady presence in the interior rotation and easily New Orleans’ most consistent pass rusher along the inside. Finding a follow-up to his three-year, $27 million contract may be difficult. Let’s review his 2022 season and guess at what’s in store for 2023:
No other Seahawks players made ESPN’s list of the top 50 free agents this year.
The Seattle Seahawks have never been big spenders in free agency. Last year’s signing of outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu to a two-year, $20 million deal is the most expensive contract head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider have agreed to for an outside player.
This year Seattle has one of the top free agents in the class in their own backyard, though. According to ESPN, quarterback Geno Smith is the fifth-best free agent in this cycle:
“Smith led the NFL in completion percentage (69.8%) this season, and his QBR (60.9) ranked sixth among all quarterbacks. That’s a big jump from the 58.8% completion rate and 43.6 QBR he posted over 46 games prior to this season. There’s no denying that Smith played extremely efficient football this season, seeing it fast from the pocket. And those traits travel well in any passing scheme. Smith finished the season with 4,282 passing yards, 30 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. If he doesn’t return to Seattle, he could be targeted to start elsewhere.”
Carroll and Schneider say they want to bring Geno back, but if last offseason’s comments about Russell Wilson are any indication fans can’t exactly take what they say in public at face value.
While it makes sense to re-sign Smith, Seattle has several reasons not to – not least of all the money it will take to do so. Based on his market value Smith should expect to make somewhere between $35-$40 million per year on his next contract. He’s also 32 years old and has only had one impressive season in his career as a starter.
The Seahawks also hold the No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, which puts them in position to land a QB prospect who would be considerably cheaper for the next 4-5 years.
No other Seahawks players made ESPN’s list of the top 50 free agents this year.
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New Orleans Saints free agent review: WR Jarvis Landry, stay or go?
The New Orleans Saints receiving corps needs some reinforcements. While fans saw plenty to like out of youngers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed in 2022, the players under contract for 2023 include backups like Tre’Quan Smith, Kirk Merritt, and Kawaan Baker — plus injured starter Michael Thomas, whose status is less than certain.
It’s kind of set up for a good situation for Jarvis Landry to return to. He already knows the Saints’ playbook, he remains popular with fans and teammates, and if Olave and Shaheed are your starters it makes sense to hold onto a veteran presence at the position who can still teach them a thing or two.
On the other hand, Landry is coming off the worst year of his career and he may want to try his hand somewhere else around the league. Let’s review his 2022 campaign with the Saints and decide whether he should re-sign:
New Orleans Saints free agent review: QB Andy Dalton, stay or go?
The New Orleans Saints quarterback situation devolved into quite a controversy in 2022, with Andy Dalton taking over Jameis Winston after the starter went down with injuries early in the season. And head coach Dennis Allen chose to ride out the season with Dalton under center even as his play spiraled and Winston was removed from the injury report in the back half of the season.
But now Dalton is on track to reach free agency in 2023. Should he stay in New Orleans or go try his hand elsewhere? Let’s review his 2022 season:
We’re reviewing the 2022 season and looking into the future of Saints free agent defensive end Marcus Davenport. Should he stay or go?
The New Orleans Saints’ 2023 offseason is already here, and they have a long list of pending free agents to sift through. Some decisions will be tougher than others, and a couple of players bring a lot for team decision-makers to mull over in the weeks and months leading up to the free agency signing period.
We’ll be taking some time to single out those major soon-to-be free agents whose future with the team is uncertain once their contracts expire in March. First up: defensive end Marcus Davenport.
