NFL free agent frenzy 2022 – Syndication Server

2022 NFL free agency preview: Tight ends

A snapshot preview of the most impactful moves to expect in the upcoming session of NFL free agency.

As of Monday, March 14, at noon ET, NFL clubs can legally negotiate with impending free agents ahead of the official opening to free agency on March 16 at 4 p.m. ET. Over the next six weeks, we’ll get a better idea of where some of these players may be headed, but that won’t stop us from trying to make a few guesses along the way.

We currently have a list of upcoming unrestricted free agents, which is where the focus will lie as opposed to addressing players with restricted movement. RFAs can change teams, but it’s rather rare in today’s NFL. Exclusive-rights free agents will not be addressed as they have no bargaining power or leverage.

We’ll examine the four major skill positions in separate articles as part of this series. Some players will be included who aren’t technically free agents but figure to be on the move via trade or eventual release.

Also see: QB | RB | WR

Tight ends

Top targets

It’s a rather thin class for the top end of the position this year. Despite seeing familiar names on the list, none of these guys are destined to “wow” anyone in 2022.

Rob Gronkowski: With the retirement of Tom Brady, Gronk is a long shot to return to the field. Should he defy his past proclamation of TB12 being the only QB he wants to play with, perhaps everyone’s favorite goofball could chance a ring with a contender, such as the Cincinnati Bengals. Gronkowski recently expressed praise for QB Joe Burrow.

Mike Gesicki: Gesicki is a vital component of the Miami Dolphins’ desire to see QB Tua Tagovailoa ascend to new levels, but a retirement of Gronk likely would position Gesicki atop the market. Miami could opt to franchise tag him if they don’t work out a long-term deal, but having the most available cap space available puts the Dolphins in a position of luxury. Even if Gesicki doesn’t return, there are a few options in free agency, but one of the best young TEs in the game would fit nicely into the system being installed by new head coach Mike McDaniel.

Zach Ertz: Depending on the asking price, Ertz has a chance to return to the Arizona Cardinals. The team isn’t in great shape cap-wise, although losing most of the starting pass-catching outlets to free agency means this team will need to do something of note to assist wideout DeAndre Hopkins. Presuming Ertz is free to walk, the guy he replaced, Maxx Williams, also is a free agent and may have interest in coming back. He’d be a cheaper option, too. Ertz’s veteran presence, skill set, and flexibility will offer him options in free agency. He’s likely to sign a one-year deal with a contender, and given the current tumult in the desert, it’s not hard to see him reuniting with former Philly coaches in either Indianapolis or Jacksonville.

Dalton Schultz: A breakthrough 2021 season by Schultz followed a promising one and will situate him near the top of available players among his positional mates. Being in the prime of his career, coupled with Dallas facing a challenging cap situation, means there’s a strong chance he walks. Teams with money and need who may be in the mix include Miami (if Gesicki doesn’t return), the Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks.

Evan Engram: At 27, has finished a full slate of games just once (2020) in his five-year career. He burst onto the scene in 2017 as a rookie and has disappointed ever since. This is one of those “could benefit from a change of scenery” situations, and while he is unlikely to ever reach the hype following his inaugural campaign, there’s potential for a nice rebound effort in the right situation. He’s limited as a blocker and is constantly battling injuries, but Engram could be most useful playing for Jacksonville, the Chargers, and the Seahawks where there won’t be so much pressure on him. Some utility could be found with Indy, Tampa and a few other stops, too. Don’t discredit a signing with Carolina to reunite him with Ben McAdoo.

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Role players

Occasionally serviceable but far from a staple of the offense, these players will have utility in the right setting.

Tyler Conklin: Somewhat due to necessity, Conklin emerged as an erratic but capable option who is more than just a blocker. The Vikings could push to re-sign him if Kirk Cousins sticks around, although a new coaching staff and GM lessen the chances of that coming to fruition. Don’t be surprised if Conklin has to settle for a backup or 1b job somewhere.

Gerald Everett: We saw Everett step up in Seattle to set career highs in receptions (48), yards (478) and TDs (4) in 15 games. The Seahawks could be inclined to re-sign him if the money makes sense, and Everett will garner a bit of attention on the open market once the primary tight ends find homes.

Robert Tonyan: A one-year wonder? Perhaps. Tonyan broke out in a touchdown-dependent way in 2020, only to start off sluggishly in ’21 before suffering a torn ACL that prematurely ended his season. The Green Bay Packers hold the leverage here, but they also have negative cap space — as in the second-least money to spend. It’s tough to imagine Tonyan having a huge market outside of Wisconsin.

C.J. Uzomah: All of the skill talent around him led to a modest breakout season in 2021. He has a sneaky combination of blocking ability and deceiving receiving chops that aren’t usually seen from guys of his size, but the Bengals could stand to upgrade at the position. Rumblings link Gronk to Cincy for next year, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Bengals shell out some cash on a veteran like Ertz as a short-term answer. Uzomah may return to the Bengals, but he also doesn’t have much leverage.

Eric Ebron: There’s not a lot to like here when compared to the other options on the market. Ebron is often injured, has inconsistent hands, doesn’t block particularly well, and is poised to be on his fourth team in six years. Entering his age-29 season, coming off his worst year as a pro, he’ll be lucky to have multiple teams willing to make an offer.

O.J. Howard: Once billed as a potentially elite tight end, on-field limitations and injuries have held back Howard. He could find a fresh start in a number of cities, but no one should be banking on the Alabama product being guaranteed an opportunity to start.

David Njoku: Inconsistent to even poor hands is never a good attribute as a pass-catcher. Njoku has been accused of having attitude problems at times, too, but he isn’t a trouble-maker. In 2022’s free-agent market, the former first-round may find a few teams interested in lining him up in the slot and playing a hybrid role. His inline limitations suggest Njoku will be hard-pressed to find a full-time gig as a traditional Y.

Hayden Hurst: Despite 2022 being only his fifth year — a time when most players are first eligible for unrestricted free agency — Hurst enters a somewhat flooded market ahead of his age-29 season. In 2020, it appeared as if he had turned a corner (56-571-6), only for the Atlanta Falcons to draft a generational talent to replace him. Hurst will have suitors, but he’s likely to settle for a backup job.

Jared Cook: The journeyman may finally hang ’em up after 13 seasons. He’ll be 35 before the 2022 season begins, and Cook likely will be asked to play a minor role in the offense should he find a suitor.

Jimmy Graham: At nearly 300 years old, Graham’s 2022 plans likely include a rocking chair on a porch. Kidding aside, the once-prolific pass-catcher could sign with a contender for his blocking and red-zone skills in a part-time role.

Warm body with a pulse

Could latch on for a bit role as a depth or to serve a niche purpose but doesn’t figure to have notable utility.

Maxx Williams
Mo Alie-Cox
Anthony Firkser
Ricky Seals-Jones
Jordan Akins
Will Dissly

Under contract, but …

Kyle Rudolph, New York Giants: There’s about a 0.0 percent chance he is retained by the Giants without extending and restructuring, which is impractical given his age and the rest of the issues the Giants have to sort out. That said, he’s a great blocker for a team with serious offensive line problems and a capable receiver. The G-Men would save $5 million of a scheduled $7.4 million cap hit by cutting him before or after June 1.

Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts: Indy basically can walk away free of concern if Doyle is cut, regardless of the timing. He is due to count $6.2 million against the 2022 cap in the final year of his deal, and the veteran could be shown the door to save all but $750k of that figure. At 32 years old, unless he takes a serious paycut to stick around, expect Doyle to be playing elsewhere in the upcoming year.

Cameron Brate, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gronk is a free agent and appears to be leaning toward retirement again or at least leaving Tampa now that Brady has retired. As mentioned above, Howard also is a free agent. Brate is due to cost $7.285 million against the 2022 cap, and only nine other TEs carry a larger charge. He’s well-liked in the organization and is a low-tier starter in a pinch, so this one could go either way. Expect the team to restructure him if nothing else.

2022 NFL free agency preview: Wide receivers

A snapshot preview of the most impactful moves to expect in the upcoming session of NFL free agency.

Also see: QB | RB | TE

Wide receivers

WR1 candidates

Bona fide top targets in a passing game rarely get a chance to test the open market. If any of these guys get their chance, expect them to become No. 1 weapons in their new digs.

Davante Adams: Adams is practically guaranteed to receive the franchise tag — if the convince Aaron Rodgers to return to Titletown. In Rodgers’ case, he holds tremendous leverage, whereas Adams isn’t so fortunate. There’s always the off-chance the duo are shipped to a new city in a package deal, but such a blockbuster is improbable. Cap space is a serious issue for the Packers, though. If they can parlay a Rodgers-Adams tandem for several high draft picks and a young receiver (Courtland Sutton or Jerry Jeudy?) while unloading the contract concerns, Green Bay would be silly to not at least explore its options. Should Rodgers ink an extension, look for Adams to be inclined to sign a long-term deal, too.

Chris Godwin: Coming off an ACL tear could limit his market ever so slightly, but the injury just isn’t as catastrophic for receivers as it is with running backs, and Godwin’s style of play also works in his favor. That said, it happened late in the year, and there’s always a degree of trepidation paying top dollar to a free agent coming off a serious injury. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers would have to pay him slightly more than $19 million for a second straight franchise tag, and Godwin may be interested in a monster payday, probably even more so now that Tom Brady is gone. The Bucs have the money as long as they’re creative with some other situations, and Godwin could opt for a somewhat team-friendly pact of only two years, which would permit him an age-28 offseason to seek an elite contract. He will have suitors on the market, provided Tampa doesn’t tag him again. Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Jacksonville, Indianapolis, the New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, and Los Angeles Chargers all figure to have interest as well as enough cap space.

Allen Robinson: This one will be among the more interesting offseason situations. Robinson, like Godwin, was given the franchise tag last year. He will earn north of $19 million in 2022 should the Chicago Bears opt to tag him once again. The real issue here: Robinson is coming off such a pathetic campaign in 2021 that the Bears may be inclined to let him walk and save the money. Chicago has roughly $30 million in space, so it can do practically whatever it wants financially. Given how deep this class is for free agency, it may be the new regime is inclined to play the field and replace him from outside of the organization. At this stage, it seems Robinson will walk into free agency and find several franchises plenty happy to gamble on him rebounding from the 2021 disaster. A return to Jacksonville is of intrigue, and the team has oodles of cap space. The Chargers, Colts, Raiders, and Lions all should show serious interest.

Odell Beckham Jr.: In the first half of the 2021 season, it looked like Beckham was poised for a complete failure of a season. A release from the Cleveland Browns saw him wind up with the Los Angeles Rams, which went swimmingly for his market value in March. The Rams may be interested in tagging him if they cannot work out a long-term deal, but being $8.1 million over the cap means cost-cutting moves will have to be handled accordingly. It’s not a far-fetched move financially, so this one could go either way. For now, if OBJ steps into free agency able to test the waters, you can be sure he will have a team throw money at him the Rams simply cannot afford to match.

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WR2 targets

Strong contenders to be starting receivers on the outside or from the slot. In some situations, these guys could be de facto WR1 options for talent-starved teams.

JuJu Smith-Schuster: At his best from the slot, Smith-Schuster tested the market last year and ultimately returned to the Steel City. This time around, following the retirement of Ben Roethlisberger thrusting major positional uncertainty to the forefront of Pittsburgh’s offseason dealings, Smith-Schuster is likely to walk. Look for the Kansas City Chiefs to be a strong contender a year after he turned them down, and JSS could find his way onto the roster of the Dallas Cowboys — an interesting wild card of sorts. It’s difficult seeing him taking a deal to play for anyone but a legit contender after he declined big-money deals with KC and Baltimore a year ago.

Mike Williams: The first third of his season was awesome, followed by the usual ups and downs we’ve seen from Williams over the course of his NFL career. The Bolts will be inclined to make an offer and could even tag him. Williams’ 2021 salary paid him more than $15 million, and tagging him would amount to $19.1M for a team with the second-most cap space at the moment. Expect a deal somewhere around $17 million per season on a multiyear agreement, regardless of where he lands. LA should be open to paying something in that neighborhood, which gives him a raise and is not quite the one-year cap burden of another franchise tag.

Christian Kirk: Arizona is set to see Kirk and A.J. Green walk into free agency on the heels of the NFL’s most expensive wideout missing a large portion of the season. Now, a much larger issue is unfolding as their prized quarterback appears to be distancing himself from the franchise. Kirk has been linked to the Bears already, and while he’s not going to command top money, there’s an opportunity for him to compete for WR2 targets from the slot. His versatility and modest contract requirements will have Kirk on plenty of radars.

Michael Gallup: Gallup blew out his knee midway into the season and was already facing a challenging market for his services. There will be doubts about whether he’s a true WR2, given his erratic play. To further complicate things, he has missed 10 games in the last three years due to injuries, including the most serious one costing him eight contests in ’21. We’ve seen enough flashes from Gallup to date to confidently say he will have a market. Ample WR-needy teams exist among those with money to spend to suggest Gallup will indeed get a moderate deal on the open market. He could be a solid fit for the Colts, Raiders, Lions, Bears, among several others. Basically, MIA, LAC, JAC, NYJ, PIT, WAS, CLE, PHI, HOU, and TB are all in play among teams with more than the league average amount of cap space.

DJ Chark Jr.: Chark’s return to the Jags could go either way at this point given the new coaching staff is still assembling. The Jaguars have a promising quarterback future, regardless of how ugly things were in 2021 for Trevor Lawrence, and there’s clearly a need for a deep threat in this offense. Chark is coming off a leg fracture and, more importantly, has missed 21 games in four years due to injury, though, making it really difficult to gauge what his market will be as a result. Following a strong 2019 sophomore campaign, his career has stalled. If healthy, in the right environment, he could be a legit WR2 for most systems. Tagging him would be too expensive, even for the team with the third-most cap space. A long-term deal or a one-year “prove it” contract would be the likeliest ways he returns to Duval. Expect him to get a chance to test the market.

Cedrick Wilson: With Gallup also an impending free agent, Wilson could be brought back to the roster as a reward for stepping up down the stretch (45-602-6). It also means his quality play caught the eye of many NFL execs, and this situation has overspend written all over it. Wilson will garner WR2 money from one of any number of teams with more than $18 million to spend, which covers more than half of the league. That said, given the depth of more proven options on the market, there’s also a scenario here where he doesn’t get a fair contract right away and has to accept a one-year deal to better establish himself. It’s not hard to see a team with limited WR depth and deep pockets offering Wilson a deal he cannot refuse and one Dallas can’t match.

Tertiary considerations

Should draw an earnest chance to compete for the third receiver spot on their respective rosters.

Byron Pringle: Pringle saw considerable playing time in 2021, and it is easy to get lost behind the likes of Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. The Bears should be atop the short list given their new GM came from the Chiefs and an obvious lack of receiving options. Pringle has the profile of a productive WR2-in-the-making, but it will take a little convincing before he is more than another warm body among a flooded talent pool.

Russell Gage: He had a prime opportunity in ’21 to really showcase what he can do after a mini-breakout season in 2020 as Julio Jones went to the Titans in the offseason, and Calvin Ridley missed most of the year. Still, Gage just barely improved upon his per-game averages from 2020. Working in his favor, the LSU product is capable of playing inside and out. That alone gives him a market.

Josh Reynolds: Reynolds really could be closer to the “roster fodder” category after failing to latch on with the Rams and Tennessee before a middling campaign in Motown. Any number of teams could be in play here, and none of them will make Reynolds a high priority in free agency.

Braxton Berrios: Berrios has flashed several times and is quite efficient. While he may return to the Jets, there will be a handful of teams who kick tires as the need of a capable slot receiver is an ever-present reality in the NFL.

Demarcus Robinson: Another former Chief who could find his way to Chicago. Robinson’s snap percentage has decreased each of the past two years, making it unlikely he returns to the Chiefs once again if a valid opportunity for increased time (and money) exists elsewhere.

James Washington: The veteran is almost assuredly moving elsewhere in free agency, and he’ll make for a low-cost veteran to augment several teams with a need but little cash to spend, including the Saints, Packers, Falcons, Chiefs, and Cardinals.

Zay Jones: Assuming Derek Carr sticks with the Raiders, he may lobby hard to get Jones on the 2022 roster. The two showed considerable chemistry down the stretch in 2021, and everyone raves about Jones’ work ethic — something endearing him to Carr. If a contract renewal isn’t in the cards, Jones could have a small contingent of teams seeking his services.

T.Y. Hilton: Even though he is 32 years old — which is typically the cusp of WRs starting to slow down — Hilton might as well be 55. He has been battered and bruised year after year, and the vertical separation hasn’t been elite over the last few seasons, even with a spike in 2021. It’s not going to be a great market for him, and any potential suitor, including Indy, should be looking at him as a WR3 with situational utility.

Zach Pascal: Having ties to Philadelphia’s head coach and a mutual need for positional help, Pascal could end up turning his hard work as a former undrafted free agent into a starting opportunity. Indy may opt to renew his deal, and the Colts have more money to spend. Cleveland is an intriguing spot given his blue-collar nature fitting in extremely well with Cleveland’s identity and need.

Emmanuel Sanders: Age is working against him in his mid-30s, but if the price is right, plenty of teams will show interest in a veteran who can give them 20-30 quality snaps a week.

A.J. Green: Green stayed on the field and managed to play fairly well overall, given the disarray that was the second half of the Cardinals’ season. He’ll be 34 years old ahead of Week 1, and he will get a few calls if the price is commensurate of his current status and not borderline Hall of Fame pedigree.

Sammy Watkins: Coming off his worst statistical year to date and having missed multiple games in all but two of eight pro seasons, Watkins will have a slim market. He’ll somehow be only 29 before Week 1. Even still, look for a one-year deal with yet another chance to show he’s good for only a game or two worth of starter-level production.

Laquon Treadwell: Remember him? Treadwell did his best job in a poor situation last year, producing a career-high 434 yards in 13 contests. The 2021 coaching regime is gone, so returning is not etched in stone, and Treadwell will hope his efforts caught the eye of another front office.

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One-trick ponies

Jamison Crowder: There always will be a market for modestly priced veteran slot receivers. Crowder will test the it after the explosive rookie debut by Elijah Moore renders him obsolete, and the former Washington wideout could make his way to any number of teams. Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Chicago, and Indianapolis could be higher on the list than most if free agency isn’t kind to their respective plans.

Tre’Quan Smith: A new coaching staff blossomed from the old coaching staff, so there’s at least familiarity when it comes to the possibility of him returning to New Orleans. For now, the expectation is he walks to a team looking for a deep weapon. The Saints are broke, and Smith has failed to ascend to the next level. A fresh start is best for both parties.

Will Fuller: Is his trick missing games? It sure feels that way. Fuller has tremendous talent but is limited to vertical routes and rarely stays on the field. He’s missed time for a suspension, too; yet, he will still have interested parties.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling: Speed kills, and MVS has plenty of it. He also has average hands and a limited route tree. But his blocking skills help keep him on the field. Green Bay is interested in his return.

DeSean Jackson: D-Jax had a prime opportunity in Las Vegas and dropped too many passes. He still has speed even at 35 years old, but this one-dimensional weapon will not have much of a market and really could be facing a retirement decision.

Danny Amendola: Retirement has to be a consideration at this point, too, but Amendola, when healthy, has done everything asked of him even into his mid-30s.

Adam Humphries: Purely a slot guy and special teams guy who wasn’t able to make a dent in Washington and injured his way out of Tennessee … Maybe he returns to the Buccaneers on the cheap if Jameis Winston comes back?

Roster depth/special teamers

Presuming they even latch on with a new team, these guys are a long shot to be relevant in 2022.

Rashard Higgins
Keelan Cole
Matthew Slater
Chris Conley
Cam Sims
Jakeem Grant
Albert Wilson
Marquise Goodwin
Mohamed Sanu
Damiere Byrd
Mack Hollins
Dede Westbrook
Noah Brown
Isaiah McKenzie
Kalif Raymond
Marcus Johnson
Tavon Austin
Mike Thomas
Khadarel Hodge
Ray-Ray McCloud
Chester Rogers
Tajae Sharpe
Alex Erickson
Chris Moore
Deandre Carter
Jake Kumerow
Brandon Zylstra
Trent Sherfield
Chad Beebe
Dante Pettis
Equanimeous St. Brown
Malik Turner
Richie James
Auden Tate

Under contract, but …

Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints: Can Thomas and the team mend fences after a lost 2021 season now that Sean Payton is gone? GM Mickey Loomis remains, so this one might come down to money. If Thomas is cut or traded post-June 1, the team saves $15.8 million against this year’s cap. He’ll soak up $24.7 mill if he were to remain rostered without restructuring. The Saints are more than $70 million in the red, and consecutive years lost to injury don’t help his chances of sticking around. New Orleans still may trade him if a different team is willing to absorb his sizeable contract.

Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns: Landry’s deal counts $16.379 million against the 2022 cap, and it’s unlikely he returns to the team without an extension. This is the final year of his deal, and cutting or trading him would save $14.879 million against the cap.

Robert Woods, Los Angeles Rams: Coming off a torn ACL, Woods, 30, is under contract for four more years and isn’t owed guaranteed money beyond this season. The Rams want him back, and he’s a candidate for restructuring. If he refuses, though, LA stands to gain $13.5 million in cap space and could use that money to re-sign OBJ.

Julio Jones, Tennessee Titans: Cutting or trading Jones post-June 1 would save $9.513 million against this year’s cap while eating $4.8M in dead money. At 33, coming off consecutive injury-ravaged seasons, Jones is awfully expensive, and Tennessee sits with the seventh-least cap space (-$6.6 million). Something has to give….

Calvin Ridley, Atlanta Falcons: This one appears headed for a divorce, and Ridley will be traded, not released, in that event. In such a scenario, where can we expect him to land? It’s safe to assume he won’t be dealt in the division, and trading Ridley to the AFC would be ideal. The Dolphins have the most money to burn and need someone to pair with 2021 rookie breakout Jaylen Waddle. The Chargers, Jaguars, Jets, Colts and Raiders have the money and need. In the NFC, Washington, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia could make a splash and have enough cap space to take on not only his $11.6 million 2022 charge but also sign him to a long-term deal. After all, why make a trade if you’re not confident you can lock him up? Only contenders do that, and none of those teams are even surefire playoff teams.

Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers: Green Bay is over $40 million in the hole right now, and while some of that can be alleviated via shedding contracts and reworking others, Cobb figures to be on the chopping block. He has no shield if Rodgers is traded, and even though Green Bay’s front office is willing to go to great lengths for No. 12 sticking around, paying Cobb just isn’t realistic. He could restructure and extend, but there’s no upside going that route with Amari Rodgers waiting for his chance to shine.

Sterling Shepard, New York Giants: Only 19 receivers currently carry a higher cap charge than Shepard’s $12.495 million. He’s definitely not among the top 20 wideouts, and the Giants can save $8.5 million while eating just shy of four million bucks in 2022. Shepard is a candidate to restructure, but last year’s first-round selection of Kadarius Toney suggests he may be on the way out.

2022 NFL free agency preview: Running backs

A snapshot preview of the most impactful moves to expect in the upcoming session of NFL free agency.

Also see: QB | WR | TE

Running backs

Workhorse potential

In an NFL landscape with nearly all split backfields, only a few of the free agents are capable of being the “1a” of a touch share.

Leonard Fournette: At 27 years old entering free agency, Fournette faces the last legit shot at getting a significant, multiyear payday. He certainly could continue his career on a series of one-year deals, so this one might not come down to the highest bidder if he finds an opportunity play for a contender. Returning to Tampa Bay seems unlikely with the retirement of a Tom Brady, though it shouldn’t be ruled out. Possible landing spots could include Baltimore, Kansas City, Arizona, or he could chase cash from a subpar franchise, possibly Miami, Atlanta, Denver, Seattle or Houston. A weird twist may send him to Buffalo to pair with Devin Singletary, but the Bills would need to get creative to free up some cash.

Melvin Gordon: Gordon will be 29 years old before the regular season begins, effectively putting a kibosh on any real shot at landing a hearty contract. He could return to the Broncos to pair with Javonte Williams once again, but one has to imagine Gordon would be the 1b of this backfield. He could wind up as the 1a elsewhere as teams like Arizona, Seattle, Houston, Atlanta, and Miami, among others, will be in search of bolstering their primary back.

Rashaad Penny: Penny is a real wild card among the impending free agents at his position. Chris Carson could be a cap casualty in Seattle, and Penny expressed his desire to return to the only NFL home he has known. A 2021 late-season swell of production could lead to a large enough contract in a different city that Seattle opts not to match, despite having more than $36 million in available funds (8th most). The former first-round pick’s problem never has been talent. Staying on the field is an overwhelming concern when it comes to the San Diego State product. Penny probably doesn’t get a workhorse gig somewhere, but he makes for an intriguing 1a option in the right setting. Look for teams like Buffalo, Arizona, Denver, both Los Angeles teams, and a few others to at least kick the tires (hopefully they don’t break an axle in the process).

Sony Michel: The question comes down to whether Michel did enough with the Los Angeles Rams during his short stint to endear himself to the team for re-signing purposes. Money and opportunity could drive him to signing elsewhere. If so, he’s in an interesting spot to grab the leading share of the primary chores for a new team. Michel has the pedigree to be the primary ball carrier, although the former Patriot isn’t exactly known for his receiving skills, which makes him rather limited in what he can offer to a franchise. He’ll undoubtedly be part of a committee, and his landing spots are wide open as a result. The Las Vegas Raiders have to be considered given a potential reunion with Josh McDaniels, but Michel isn’t going to overtake Josh Jacobs as the lead, so there’s not a great deal of sense in signing him as more than a spell. Arizona, Atlanta, Miami, Denver, LAC, Seattle, Tampa, and New Orleans are reasonably in play.

James Conner: Conner wants to return to the Arizona Cardinals, which appears to be a dicey proposition given Arizona being pressed for cap space and facing basically its entire offense set to hit free agency. The scoring phenom surely earned himself a pay raise, and he could have a several teams interested in seeing if they can pry him away from the desert. Unless they can reach a bargain agreement money-wise, however, Arizona re-signing Conner remains iffy.

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Change-of-pacers

Not a sure thing to get a crack at being a starter, each of these backs has the potential if giving a chance, but they’re no worse than “1b” options for prospective teams.

Cordarrelle Patterson: Coming off a breakout season at age 30 isn’t likely to translate to much financial success on the market for Patterson, but he doesn’t seem to care. Everything he has done thus far has blatantly shown his desire is to remain a Falcon. His versatility will open the door for other teams to sniff around, but re-signing in Atlanta is the best situation for him. Regardless of where he lands, expect a statistical reduction from 2021, and he’s poised for another committee situation in any city.

Chase Edmonds: Both of Arizona’s top backs from 2021 are set to become free agents, and Edmonds may have to take a discount deal if he wants to return to the Cards. The franchise has only $5.395 million in available cap space the this time, and a huge chunk of its offense is scheduled to join Edmonds as free agents. If DeAndre Hopkins restructures, along with a few other moves, the Cardinals will be in much better shape to re-sign him. Edmonds is versatile and may find himself as the spell back in a different zip code once March rolls around. He’d be a nice complementary piece for several teams, including Las Vegas, both New York clubs, Tennessee, Denver, Seattle, and Washington.

Marlon Mack: The impending former Indianapolis Colt will be more than a year removed from a torn Achilles tendon and is young enough (26) to get a two- or three-year deal that offers a starting opportunity. Mack is a two-down back with breakaway speed, but he has more durability issues than just the aforementioned injury. He’d be a most interesting fit in Atlanta, Denver, Seattle, Arizona, Tampa and New Orleans.

Ronald Jones II: It’s difficult seeing Jones returning to the Buccaneers in 2022, and it’s nearly as tough projection where he’d end up. There’s almost no utility for him on passing downs, and he has been erratically productive on the turf. A change-up role or use as a weak 1a component is how this one probably plays out. The former USC Trojan won’t be in high demand, and Jones is probably going to be forced to sign a one-year “prove it” deal in a somewhat congested backfield. He could be a cheap option for the cash-strapped Saints to pair with Alvin Kamara, and that’s about the best-case scenario for him. It’s easy to see Jones signing as a top backup behind an injury liability, such as Saquon Barkley or Josh Jacobs.

Darrel Williams: Returning to the Kansas City Chiefs might be the best option for both parties. Williams is an ideal change-of-pacer for Andy Reid’s system, and there’s obviously a great deal of respect from the coach toward the veteran. That said, money talks, and KC doesn’t have a lot of it to dole out.

RFA exception

The intro says we won’t address restricted free agents, but there’s one player who could see modest interest.

D’Ernest Johnson, Cleveland Browns: The limited action we’ve seen from Johnson has put him in a good light, and if there is anyone who could receive an RFA contract offer, he’s a logical choice. It all comes down to the way Cleveland opts to tender him. It’s improbable he receivers a first- or even second-round tender offer, which would guarantee draft-pick compensation for the Browns should he defect, but it also allocates an untenable amount of money to the position. The Browns have Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt under contract, making Johnson expendable. Expect him to stick around on a $2.433 million tender that gives Cleveland the first right to refusal for this injury policy.

Complementary pieces/roster depth

While almost every backfield is split among two or more guys these days, that’s not to say some of the complements cannot draw enough work to be relevant.

J.D. McKissic: Pass-catching backs are capable of fitting into many different systems, but some teams just don’t throw much to the position. McKissic could return to Washington to reprise his role, or he has a reasonable chance to parlay his success to a different franchise. Las Vegas has an opening, and several teams could be in the mix (TB, KC, ARI, HOU, DEN, MIA, LAR, ATL, SEA).

James White: Retirement could be in play, but re-signing with the only NFL team he has known seems more likely with Branden Bolden also a free agent for New England. No more Tom Brady in Tampa rules out the obvious connection there, leaving a move to Las Vegas being the only other clear connection for White.

Jerick McKinnon: A strong showing in the postseason puts McKinnon on the radar for any number of teams, but we’ve seen more than enough to know what he is and isn’t as an NFL running back. For now, his options are wide open, and the versatile back certainly could return to the Chiefs with Darrel Williams also available for free agency.

Jeff Wilson Jr: Wilson could end up just about anywhere looking for a cheap backup with a chance to start in a pinch. San Fran’s coaching staff is a fan of his services, and Wilson might be an easy re-sign from that perspective, but a desire to see more action could lead him to a new town.

Giovani Bernard: The 30-year-old makes for a decent third-down back in plenty of cities, but at his age, will Bernard settle for any old team if a contender doesn’t come knocking? He’s still a capable receiving outlet with experience in pass protection. Finding an opportunity shouldn’t be challenging.

David Johnson: Plainly, Johnson looks totally washed up and will struggle to find a team willing to sign him. He has strong receiving skills, though, which seems like an easy inroad for a third-down-only role.

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Phillip Lindsay: The onset of Lindsay’s career was a nice story, but we’ve seen little in the way of NFL-caliber production from him since. He’s a veteran with a hint of name value, which could land him an RB2 job somewhere to spell a proven starter.

Justin Jackson: The soon-to-be fifth-year pro doesn’t do any one thing with excellence. He has some burst and can get into the second and third levels of the defense, but we’re also talking about a guy with no more than 80 touches in any one season. Jackson has upside for more in the right system.

Devonta Freeman: The once-prized back respectfully resurrected his career in 2021, although it isn’t likely to garner him a shot at being more than a backup. Freeman is right in that last tier of 1b considerations.

Jalen Richard: The veteran is a pass-catching outlet only, and while the Raiders will throw to the position under McDaniels, Richard is not going to have a big market.

Raheem Mostert: Older than most running backs who find success (age-30 season), coming off consecutive injury-shortened campaigns, Mostert still has the speed to make a difference on limited touches or contribute on special teams — but that’s all he offers at this point.

Latavius Murray: Fresh off of his 32nd birthday, the veteran battering ram offers a proven weapon in the red zone — and that’s about it. His age, price tag, and limited skill set serious narrow his options.

Brandon Bolden: New England has a strong tendency to re-sign players it finds highly trustworthy, and Bolden is very much in that camp. He’s also on the wrong side of 30 for a running back, meaning his special teams skills should be what moves the needle if he chooses to keep playing.

Roster fodder

Presuming they even latch on with a new team, these guys will have a hard time making a final roster as a running back.

Le’Veon Bell
Matt Breida
Payton Barber
Damien Williams
Tevin Coleman
Alex Collins
Malcolm Brown
Taiwan Jones
Dwayne Washington
Ty Montgomery
Corey Clement
Wayne Gallman
Royce Freeman
Buddy Howell
Kalen Ballage
Trenton Cannon

Under contract, but …

Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks: Carson is an injury-prone but talented weapon who could be expendable in a move that will save Seattle roughly $5 mill against the cap. Only 10 RBs take up more cap space on their respective teams. The Seahawks have just shy of $37 million to spend, so they can retain him if desired.

Mike Davis, Atlanta Falcons: Atlanta needs to get younger and faster. He is due $3.25 million this year and will cost only $750k in dead money if shown the door. There’s virtually no chance Davis escapes the cutting block.

Carlos Hyde, Jacksonville Jaguars: Hyde’s season ended on IR, and his coach was fired … Doug Pederson takes over, and the Jaguars have a pair of young backs who will assuredly be ahead of Hyde on the depth chart. The 32-year-old pro should be cut before long and may have seen the field for the last time.

Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints: Ingram signed a one-year, $1.8M extension in late October, so cutting him may not be automatic. We’ll know for sure by March 20 when he is due a roster bonus. The departure of Sean Payton doesn’t help, and New Orleans absorbs no dead money for releasing Ingram — saving 2.21 million bucks for a team that is egregiously over the limit (-$76M in cap space).

2022 NFL free agency preview: Quarterbacks

A snapshot preview of the most impactful moves to expect in the upcoming session of NFL free agency.

Quarterbacks

It’s a thin class of proven veterans, compounded by a weak rookie class of incoming quarterbacks.

Jameis Winston: This one could be far-fetched, but is there an appetite for bringing Winston (knee) back to Tampa Bay on a one-year deal? It’s looking like offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich may have to wait once again to become a head coach, and the retirement of Tom Brady leaves Kyle Trask as the presumed heir apparent. One has to imagine the Buccaneers wouldn’t be opposed to entertaining an open competition between the second-year QB and the former top pick. Winston showed last year he is capable of protecting the ball and playing within a system. Now that Sean Payton is out as New Orleans’ head man, the appetite for Jameis returning may not be as strong. Coming off a torn ACL really shouldn’t complicate his options in free agency, so the headliner of this year’s unspectacular class will have suitors.

Marcus Mariota: He hasn’t disappointed nearly every time we’ve seen Mariota step onto the field as a reserve. The coaching and personnel situation in Tennessee didn’t help his cause, but injuries are a notable concern with the slightly built quarterback. Las Vegas may make an offer for his return as a backup, but there should be a small market for his services as a starter. Teams that come to mind include Pittsburgh, Denver, Carolina, Indianapolis and Washington. More likely, he’ll get a shot to be a QB2 with San Francisco, Miami, Cleveland and Chicago. Expect him to stay in a warm-weather city or play in a dome, which suggests Chicago, Cleveland, Denver and Pittsburgh are out of the running, and Washington is on the fringe. At only 28, in a game that is increasingly reliant on zone-read play-calling tendencies, Mariota’s days as a QB1 may not have expired just yet.

Mitchell Trubisky: Does he earnestly get another shot to compete for a job? Hard to say, but it’s not outlandish to believe he deserves a chance to show what he can do away from Matt Nagy dragging him down. In the most optimistic sense, Trubisky could be a sneaky free-agent addition to a team with the right coaching staff around him. Don’t be surprised to see him follow Brian Daboll to the New York Giants for an open competition with Daniel Jones. If he loses out to Jones, the G-Men have a backup who knows the system and has real-world experience.

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Cam Newton: Newton’s best days are long behind him, and while he may get a chance to compete for a starting job, we’ve see enough over the past several years to know he isn’t the answer. That established, in the right situation, perhaps he could surprise. This is the stage of his career in which all of the nuances of being a quarterback first and running back second have caught up to Newton. The primary reason why he was dangerous as a passer in his prime is due to his legs creating fear and taking a defender away from rushing or covering much of the time. His comparative lack of wheels means Cam no longer threatens defenses outside of their own 5-yard line.

Teddy Bridgewater: Have we finally seen enough to universally accept Bridgewater isn’t a starting-caliber quarterback? He had an impressive cast of talent in Denver and was among the least prolific passers in the game and missed the postseason. It’s time for the veteran to be relegated exclusively to warming a bench. To his credit, Bridgewater’s judicious ways and on-field experience make him among the best reserve options to install behind a young starter.

Andy Dalton: Dalton is another one of those quarterbacks who has experience and best profiles as one of the league’s top backups rather than a Week 1 starter. That’s not to say he won’t get a shot at being the latter, because veteran stopgaps are a value commodity in the NFL, but it far from guaranteed he’ll finish the year as a QB1.

Jacoby Brissett: Brissett makes for a capable option off the pine, and that’s the extent of his offerings. Don’t undersell the value of a tested NFL vet who can fit into many systems, though, and Brissett certainly belongs on a roster to battle for a QB2 gig.

Tyrod Taylor: Every year, a team pretends Taylor will magically develop into a starting-caliber quarterback. Injuries and high draft picks have displaced him several times. In a sane world, there’s no chance he’s a starter in 2022.

Trevor Siemian: Despite multiple starting chances, Siemian has clearly established himself as a backup option — and a suspect one at that.

Ryan Fitzpatrick: At 39 years old, coming off a serious hip injury, Fitzpatrick’s options are play backup or retire.

Joe Flacco: At the twilight of his career, the journeyman backup could extend his pine-riding role one more year, but he’s largely irrelevant.

Brian Hoyer: A veteran backup, Hoyer’s likeliest landing spot is re-signing with the New England Patriots or following Josh McDaniels to Las Vegas to back up Derek Carr.

Under contract, but …

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers: The three most likely scenarios, in order, have Rodgers staying in Green Bay, heading elsewhere, or retiring. The latter is off the table now that Brady hung ’em up, because there’s zero chance Rodgers will want to be second fiddle to that Hall of Fame headliner. Green Bay will offer to extend him in all likelihood, which helps their cap situation (second-least money), and allows him to keep playing with impending free agent Davante Adams, who’ll likely get tagged. Should he go to a different franchise, Rodgers will steer the move to the best of his ability. Denver and Las Vegas make plenty of sense, and Indianapolis shouldn’t be counted out, either, despite trading for Carson Wentz just a year ago. Smart money keeps him in the green and gold uni.

Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans: No one should expect movement until his legal situation offers some clarity. Watson is a a franchise quarterback and can fit just about any system, but the PR fiasco associated with adding him, even if he’s innocent, will require a specific coaching staff and market to make it work … not to mention deep coffers and expendable draft capital.

Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders: While some of the appeal with McDaniels taking the head job in Vegas may have been Carr, don’t think for a second the team won’t entertain acquiring Rodgers. In such a scenario, the Packers may ask for Carr in return as a bridge to Jordan Love as the veteran’s contract will expire after 2022. However, there’s a strong chance Vegas will extend him, although one has to believe the Raiders will be only as loyal as their options.

Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers: Despite making some noise in the playoffs, the veteran faltered when it mattered most and is a sure bet to be playing elsewhere in 2022. Last year’s top pick, Trey Lance, didn’t look totally outmatched in limited 2021 play. Given the balance of salary cap commitments vs. the draft capital invested, it would take a miracle for Lance to not be the guy entering 2022’s opening day.

Carson Wentz, Indianapolis Colts: The remaining three years on his deal provide some flexibility for Indy, depending on the timing of his release or trade. At worst, the Colts would eat $15 million in dead money, but they can get away with saving $13 million if he’s traded this March prior to the second day of the new league year. Wentz’s deal has no guaranteed money beyond 2022, which makes him an appealing stopgap for a team in a transitory phase. For example, should Green Bay trade Rodgers to Indy, the Colts could include Wentz as a one-year option for the Pack if Love isn’t ready. A team, like the Carolina Panthers, could be in the mix to acquire him in what is a feeble rookie quarterback class to bide their time into 2023’s more promising crop of both rookies and UFAs.

Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings: Now that the Vikes have a general manager in place and are inching closer to hiring a head coach, the elephant in the room will shift toward what to do with Cousins. He has just 2022 left on his contract, but the penalty for a release is the entirety of the $45 million cap hit in dead money, regardless of when it happens. That’s extremely prohibitive. If he were to be dealt, regardless of a pre/post-June 1 designation, we’re looking at the new team assuming $35 million without an extension and leaving Minnesota with $10 mill in dead cash. Very manageable. It all comes down to finding a team willing to gamble on Cousins being their missing piece. This is the one obvious scenario in which an NFL team may pull an NBA-style contract dump for sub-market value in return.

Jared Goff, Detroit Lions: It’s extremely unlikely we see any movement involving Goff. No one will trade for that contract, and if Detroit cuts him, the best-case scenario sees them absorbing $20 million in dead money this year. It’s doable, but the Lions would be better off building around him in an effort to see if he can get right in 2022 with a legitimate supporting cast.

Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans: The structure of his deal makes zero sense for a release or trade. Either move would cost between $28 and $57 million in dead money for 2022 if given a pre-June 1 designation. A post-6/1 trade would leave the Titans with a tolerable loss of cap space of just $9.6 million, but no team is going to assume that contract without a guaranteed restructuring — something Tannehill will resist as he has all of the leverage in this one.

Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks: Word is it will take three first-rounders to pry RW3 away from the Pacific Northwest. Presuming that’s indeed accurate, don’t hold your breath waiting for Wilson to be on the move.