Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
If the Panthers venture into free agency for a pass rusher, here are 11 notable players they could scoop off the market:
If this summer’s pass-rushing competition doesn’t result in a clear partner for Pro Bowler Brian Burns, the Carolina Panthers may be venturing into free agency to pick a winner. And if they do, here are 11 notable edge defenders they could choose from:
There are some big-name options still available in free agency.
It’s usually slim pickings on the free agent market around this time of the year, but surprisingly, there are still several big-name players out there that remain unsigned.
Most of the notable talent is at the running back position with at least two or three potential NFL starters on the list. The Patriots could certainly use help at that position with Ty Montgomery going down with an injury.
They have mostly leaned on Kevin Harris and Pierre Strong Jr. as their top options behind Rhamondre Stevenson. Harris looks the most improved of the two, and they could make the decision to stick with him in the end.
However, they have visited with a few players on this list, including Ezekiel Elliott, Darrell Henderson and Leonard Fournette.
They’ve also reportedly considered a future visit with Dalvin Cook.
But there are more than just running backs on this list of NFL talent. Let’s take a look at some of the more notable unsigned free agents.
We’re taking a hypothetical look at how the top remaining NFL free agents would fit with the Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles are always doing their due diligence on potential roster additions, and we’re wondering if any of the top remaining NFL free agents would fit in Philadelphia.
The Birds are stacked at almost every position.
With so many talented players available on the open market and only so many roster spots, we wonder if any of the top remaining NFL free agents would fit on the Eagles’ depth chart.
We’re taking a hypothetical look at how the top remaining NFL free agents on defense would fit with the Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles are always doing their due diligence on potential roster additions, and with the running joke being that local media is interested in signing everyone, we’re wondering how the top remaining NFL free agents would fit in Philadelphia.
Evan Macy of The Philly Voice recently wondered whether a team of current free agents could compete for a playoff spot.
The Birds are stacked at almost every position.
We previously look at where the top remaining offensive free agents could fit on Philadelphia’s depth chart.
With so many talented players available on the open market and only so many roster spots open, we’re looking at where the top remaining defensive free agents would fit on the Eagles’ depth chart as it currently stands.
Any team seeking a Super Bowl should be calling these fine gentlemen.
Once the initial waves of the NFL free agency period die down, there are usually a few stragglers who find new homes within a matter of weeks. But this year, I wouldn’t characterize any of the remaining edge pass rush names as “scraps.”
I’d go as far as to say that I’m actually shocked some of these productive edge dynamos haven’t been signed yet, given their remaining power and established pedigree. Having an edge pass rush is one of those pro football things you never possess quite enough of. You’re probably still shorthanded even when you think you have enough to give offensive tackles sleepless nights.
But, after Super Bowl 56 champion Leonard Floyd finally signed with the Super Bowl-contending Buffalo Bills on Monday, the edge market should start to slowly fall into place within a matter of weeks. A stat-stuffer like Floyd setting the table with a one-year deal gives everyone else a precedent to work with.
Here’s a look at five quality edge pass rushers who could still have a valuable place on a championship contender.
The 2023 NFL draft has passed and the Rams could still sign these veterans to fill the remaining holes on their roster.
The 2023 NFL draft is now behind us, with the Los Angeles Rams making 14 total selections in the seven rounds. After the draft was completed, the Rams have also proceeded to sign 26 undrafted rookies to deals.
Besides adding first-year players via the draft, the Rams will likely use free agency to shape the rest of their roster this offseason. With the draft passing by, teams in the NFL can now sign veterans without it affecting their compensatory pick status.
So with the Rams having an opportunity to choose from the remaining free agents, here are 11 veterans they should consider signing this offseason to fill the rest of the holes on the roster.
With the draft over, these experienced players can still help some teams.
The 2023 NFL Draft is over, and soon it’ll be time to hunker down for the summer for the entire league.
But, with the acquisition period officially a thing of the past, once every team takes stock of what they have rostered, they’ll be looking to fill in the gaps wherever they can. And trust me, as much as there’s a lot of awesome undrafted free-agent talent out there, sometimes you can’t rely on youth as much as you want. Experience wins out, especially for those guys who already know what it’s like to battle against legitimate NFL competition.
Here are 11 unsigned (and useful!) NFL veterans who can still help teams now that the 2023 NFL Draft is in the books.
Could the Minnesota Vikings take Pitt DT Calijah Kancey and have him change positions? @TheKevinFielder believes it could be great for him.
During the 2023 NFL Draft process, few prospects have been as polarizing as Pittsburgh’s Calijah Kancey.
That includes most of the quarterbacks (Anthony Richardson might have him beat) and many skill players in this draft. It also includes plenty of fringe first-round picks, like Kancey.
Many of the mixed opinions for Kancey originate from his NFL Scouting Combine performance. The 6-foot-1 interior defensive lineman posted a 9.60 relative athletic score, showcasing the explosiveness and athleticism that teams crave.
Calijah Kancey is a DT prospect in the 2023 draft class. He scored a 9.60 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 64 out of 1585 DT from 1987 to 2023. https://t.co/dcq1CsV4Ty #RAS pic.twitter.com/SzElgWcVYB
— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) April 7, 2023
However, his size leaves a lot to be desired. He might have a similar profile to Aaron Donald, but there’s a good chance that Donald is nothing more than an extreme outlier. If that’s the case, Kancey’s future isn’t being painted by Bob Ross as a defensive tackle.
What if Kancey was just misunderstood, though? What if the solution to Kancey’s lack of size isn’t asking him to be the next Aaron Donald but instead asking him to switch positions in the NFL?
It’s a big change after spending so much time with the Chargers.
After being selected in the first round of the 2012 draft by the San Diego Chargers, Melvin Ingram spent the first nine seasons of his career with the team, even following them to Los Angeles.
However, in the last two seasons, he’s been with three franchises – the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins.
Ingram took to social media this week to laugh at the fact that he hasn’t been kept around at his last three spots.
I really played for 3 teams in 2 years! Damn nobody wanna keep the kid 😂🤷🏾♂️
— KINGMEL (@MelvinIngram) April 6, 2023
The 33-year-old is still a free agent, so there’s always a chance that he returns to Miami for the 2023 season. He played 45% of the team’s defensive snaps in 17 games last year, recording 22 tackles, six sacks and one forced fumble.
With all of the talent that the Dolphins have on the edge, Ingram might have to wait for an injury to open a spot if he does want to return and wear aqua and orange for another year.
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Arden Key is set to join the Titans, but there are a handful of veteran edge rushers who could fill his shoes in Jacksonville.
The legal tampering period wasn’t fun for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
While the team dished out huge contracts left and right during the 2022 offseason, this year it watched from the sideline as other teams made big moves Monday and Tuesday. The Jaguars reportedly hoped to retain a few players due to hit the open market, but were unable to keep offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor or pass rusher Arden Key from cashing in elsewhere.
Taylor will leave to join the Kansas City Chiefs on a four-year, $80 million deal and Key is leaving to join the Jaguars’ division rival, the Tennessee Titans, on a three-year, $21 million deal.
It’d be way too expensive for the Jaguars to sign another starting right tackle to fill in for Taylor, but finding a new rotational pass rusher at a decent price is doable.
Here are five options who could give the Jacksonville pass rush a boost:
