Tag: Kaleb McGary

The 20 best remaining players after Day 1 of NFL free agency

Most of the big fish are gone, but a lot of stars and quality starters are just waiting to be snatched up.

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.

12 right tackles Broncos should target during NFL free agency

The Broncos need a new right tackle. Here are 12 candidates the team should consider during NFL free agency.

The Denver Broncos are expected to make big changes to their offensive line this offseason, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see the team make a few splashes during NFL free agency to shore up the protection for quarterback Russell Wilson.

It’s possible that left tackle Garett Bolles and guard Quinn Meinerz might be the team’s only returning starters on the line in 2023. Guard Dalton Risner is scheduled to become a free agent on March 15, center Graham Glasgow was released on Friday, and the team still doesn’t have an answer at right tackle.

The Broncos have been going through short-term solutions at the right tackle position for years. Denver would probably love to lock down the right tackle position with a multi-year contract for a top free agent who could start across from Bolles.

Here’s a quick look at 12 free-agent right tackles the Broncos should consider signing this spring, listed by age.

14 best player-team fits in 2023 NFL free agency

Orlando Brown screams Patriots and Javon Hargrave is perfect for the Bears, but what are some other top free agency fits this year?

In pro football, there isn’t something else quite like the lightning-quick speed of NFL free agency.

Money sometimes flies around with reckless abandon to average players while teams scramble to piece together the early makings of their roster for the upcoming season. Even just condensing this open market disorder into a long sentence has me disoriented.

With the 2023 NFL free agency period several away, we thought it fair to look at some of the best player-team fits this year. The franchise tag hoopla has settled down, so now we know exactly who should be able. (Check out our Christian D’Andrea’s forecast for all 32 teams while you’re at it.)

An elite blindside protector in New England? Sure. A workhorse receiver calling the South home? Why not. It’s free agency! Cats and dogs living together! Mass hysteria! Everyone who wants to spend has plenty of cap space and the capacity to make a splash.

Let’s break down 13 of the best fits for the 2023 NFL free agency period. All cap data is courtesy of Over The Cap. (All projected contracts are courtesy of me.)

Franchise tag deadline yields two top free-agent OT options for Titans

While the Titans were never expected to use the franchise tag, Tuesday’s deadline confirmed the best left and right tackle on the market will be available.

The Tennessee Titans did not utilize the franchise tag ahead of the deadline on Tuesday, March 7, which is nothing new for the franchise. However, the passing of the deadline was still significant for Tennessee.

Two players who were thought to be candidates for the franchise tag, Kansas City Chiefs left tackle Orlando Brown and Atlanta Falcons right tackle Kaleb McGary, did not receive it, meaning both will hit free agency.

While the Falcons not using it on McGary was not a surprise, the Chiefs not slapping the tag on Brown was, as franchise left tackles like himself don’t usually hit the open market.

Nevertheless, the best option at either tackle spot is now officially set to be part of free-agent pool. Of course, offensive tackle — and left tackle in particular — is a major need for Tennessee this offseason.

With Nicholas Petit-Frere at right tackle, the Titans would be more likely to go after Brown only, but with a new general manager who didn’t draft NPF, who struggled in Year 1, we can’t totally rule out McGary.

As far as what each could command, Spotrac estimates Brown getting a deal worth $112.1 million over five years ($22.4 million per), while McGary is projected to receive a four-year, $70.9 million deal ($17.7 million per).

While steep, this is what it costs to sign the top options on the offensive tackle market in this day and age.

Tennessee’s interest or lack thereof in one or both of these players will first be determined by what this team plans on doing.

If the Titans blow it up and rebuild with an eye on the future, there is less of a chance Tennessee brings in either of these guys. However, if a retool is in order, I’d expect Tennessee to make a run for at least one of them.

Adding a left tackle like Brown in free agency would no doubt be a game-changer for multiple reasons.

First, it would speed up the rebuild of the offensive line, and second it would open things up for the Titans with their No. 11 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, which many expect Tennessee will use on a franchise left tackle.

For a look at the entire crop of free-agent offensive tackles, check out our article right here.

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Falcons pass on franchise-tagging Kaleb McGary

The #Falcons chose not to use the franchise tag on Kaleb McGary and now the former first-round pick is set to hit free agency.

The Atlanta Falcons may need to find a new starting right tackle this offseason after choosing not to use the franchise tag on Kaleb McGary, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Tuesday afternoon.

McGary, 28, is now free to sign with any team when the new league year begins on March 15.

Placing the franchise tag on McGary would have cost Atlanta $18.24 million this year, which is a big cap hit but also one that the team could have afforded. Nonetheless, there are some quality options in both free agency and the upcoming NFL draft for the Falcons to consider.

McGary got off to a slow start after Atlanta selected him in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft, but he has turned things around over the last two seasons under head coach Arthur Smith.

The Falcons declined McGary’s fifth-year option and he responded with the best season of his career. As a result, McGary is in line for a major payday this offseason.

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Titans named a potential landing spot for OT Kaleb McGary

PFF tabbed the Titans as a landing spot for pending free-agent OT Kaleb McGary.

The Tennessee Titans are just a few weeks away from a massive free-agency period.

This team has several needs all across the board, especially on offense, where they could have potential holes at left tackle, both guard spots, center, and at receiver.

As you can see, the offensive line in particular desperately needs to be revamped this offseason, and even more so if the team ends up losing Nate Davis on the open market and/or possibly Ben Jones to retirement.

Regardless if those two are back or not, it’s a safe bet that Tennessee tries to make some type of notable move upfront over the coming weeks.

Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus recently discussed his top landing spots for some of the top offensive tackles in free agency, and he has the Titans landing a relatively big name.

Spielberger has the Titans ultimately luring Falcons offensive tackle, Kaleb McGary, to Tennessee. He states that the team needs offensive tackle help in a “bad” way and he believes the former first-round pick can be the one to “save the day.”

Here is what he had to say:

McGary’s career arc is similar to Jack Conklin, as he was a first-round pick whose fifth-year option was declined by the team that drafted him before posting the best season of his career in his contract year. McGary recorded a 91.6 run-blocking grade (second) and an 86.6 overall PFF grade (fourth-best).

The Titans struggled across the offensive line in 2022, and their blue-chip left tackle of the last decade, Taylor Lewan, was one of the first cuts of the offseason. Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith can put in a good word to his former club, where he served in various roles from 2011-20, and likely focus his offseason efforts on a major extension for Atlanta’s other 2019 first-round pick, Lindstrom.

In total, the 28-year-old lineman, who has spent his career playing right tackle, allowed a total of 19 pressures, six sacks and three quarterback hits, while also committing six penalties in 2022.

Per Spotrac, McGary’s market value is estimated to be a four-year deal worth $70.9 million, which works out to $17.7 million annually.

The Titans have 2022 third-round pick Nicholas Petit-Frere set to man right tackle once again in 2023, but after NPF struggled, and now that the Titans have a new general manager, he isn’t as safe as he otherwise would be.

Barring a highly unlikely move to left tackle, signing McGary would mean the Titans are giving up on NPF, which would be surprising after one season. Still, as is the case with everything else this offseason, we can’t rule it out.

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ESPN dubs OT Kaleb McGary a perfect match for Broncos in free agency

ESPN believes OT Kaleb McGary would be a perfect match for the Broncos during NFL free agency.

ESPN’s Matt Bowen recently released his list of the “best team fits” for the NFL’s top 50 free agents, and he has a notable offensive lineman landing with the Denver Broncos (subscription required for link).

Bowen believes Atlanta Falcons right tackle Kaleb McGary would be a perfect fit for the Broncos under new head coach Sean Payton. McGary (6-7, 306 pounds) is a former first-round pick who has started 63 games since 2019.

McGary, 27, would be a big signing for Denver, a team that is expected to shore up its offensive line this spring.

Meanwhile, Bowen lists the Chicago Bears as the best fit for Broncos free agent defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones and the Los Angeles Rams as the best landing spot for Denver guard Dalton Risner. Jones and Risner are arguably the Broncos’ most notable free agents this spring.

Here’s the full list of Denver players scheduled to become free agents. The NFL’s free agency negotiating window will open on March 13.

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How much would it cost the Falcons to franchise tag Kaleb McGary?

How much would it cost the #Falcons to use their franchise tag on RT Kaleb McGary this offseason?

Last offseason, the Atlanta Falcons decided not to pick up right tackle Kaleb McGary‘s fifth-year option. The former first-round pick turned in arguably the best season of his career in 2022, and now the team must either pay up or let him sign elsewhere.

McGary will become a free agent on March 16, unless the two sides come to an agreement. However, the Falcons still have the franchise tag at their disposal if they want to keep McGary in Atlanta through 2023.

The franchise tag is essentially a one-year deal that pays a player no less than the average of the five highest salaries at the player’s position over the last five years, or 120 percent of the player’s cap number from the prior year.

Tuesday is the first day teams can apply the tag, and the Falcons would have to pay McGary $18.24 million in order to retain him for another season.

So, with $56.5 million in cap space, tagging McGary would bring this total down to just $36.25 million. That’s about 32 percent of the current available cap space being given to a player who wasn’t in the team’s long-term plans one year ago.

However, allowing him to walk would make finding a new starting right tackle one of the highest priorities this offseason. Since the Falcons don’t have an option behind McGary on the roster, they’d need to find a cheaper option in the draft or free agency.

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Kaleb McGary selected as Falcons’ secret superstar by PFF

#Falcons RT Kaleb McGary was chosen as the team’s secret superstar by Pro Football Focus

The Atlanta Falcons chose not to pick up Kaleb McGary‘s fifth-year option last offseason, forcing the right tackle to play out the final year of his contract in 2022. McGary responded by having the best season of his professional career as the Falcons featured a top-three rushing offense.

Pro Football Focus has been heaping praise on McGary as of late. The former first-round pick was selected as the team’s “secret superstar” by PFF’s Marcus Mosher:

“The Falcons had one of the league’s best offensive lines in 2022 and a big reason why was due to McGary’s emergence. He allowed just three QB hits all season and graded out as one of the league’s best run blockers (91.6). With McGary and Chris Lindstrom on the right side of the offensive line, it’s no wonder why the Falcons had so much success running the ball this season.”

Chris Lindstrom, who was also selected in the first round of the 2019 draft, has gotten the most credit for Atlanta’s dominant rushing attack. Unlike McGary, though, Lindstrom had his fifth-year option picked up by Atlanta last offseason.

McGary, 27, will now enter the 2023 offseason as an unrestricted free agent. The Falcons will have enough cap space to re-sign McGary, but he could be a hot commodity among teams looking for a right tackle.

PFF’s Brad Spielberger listed McGary as the NFL’s 29th-rated free agent available in 2023:

“McGary’s 91.6 run-blocking grade ranked second among tackles, trailing only the great Trent Williams, with 19.7% of his run-blocking snaps earning a positive grade, which also placed second best. The concern here will be if he’s a beneficiary of the NFL’s run-heaviest offense and if his 66.9 pass-blocking grade — a career best — can continue to improve in years to come. “

Even though it won’t be cheap to keep McGary in Atlanta, he’s clearly a good fit in Arthur Smith’s system and it’s hard to find quality tackles in this league.

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10 pending free agents the Falcons should re-sign in 2023

10 pending free agents the #Falcons should look to retain this offseason

Due to salary cap constraints, the Atlanta Falcons were forced to hand out a number of one-year deals last offseason, but that won’t be the case in 2023 when the team is projected to have the second-most available cap space in the NFL.

The Falcons have 23 players set to hit free agency when the new league year begins in March. We’ve compiled a list of 10 pending free agents Atlanta should look to retain this offseason.