Tag: nfl free agents

6 underrated free agents worth targeting for the Seahawks

Here are six from the list that make sense for Seattle.

The NFL’s legal tampering window opens today at 9 a.m. west coast time, allowing teams to negotiate with agents for players that are about to hit the market. Teams and players can agree to deals but nothing is official until the new league year begins on Wedensday afternoon.

As for the Seattle Seahawks, they pulled off a remarkable heist last week, re-signing veteran quarterback Geno Smith to a super team-friendly deal with only a $10.1 million cap hit for the 2023 season. Now Seattle has about $20.2 million leftover to sign other free agents and pay their draft class. With the rookies taking about half that amount, they are firmly out of the market for acquiring any big-name veterans.

However, there are an unusual number of underrated options out there that could be had for a discount this year. This morning Doug Farrar at Touchdown Wire listed underrated free agents at every position. Here are six from the list that make sense for Seattle.

1 pending free agent Chargers could target from each NFL team

Here’s a look at one pending free agent from each NFL team that could interest the Chargers.

The Chargers won’t be as aggressive as they have been in recent years regarding signing free agents.

Even after making moves to get cap compliant before the new league year begins on Wednesday, Los Angeles’ priorities will be to re-sign some of their players and extend Justin Herbert.

After that, they should have some spendings available to sign some low-cost players.

That said, here is one pending free agent from each team in the NFL that could be a realistic target for L.A.

1 pending free agent Chargers should target: NFC East Edition

Listing one free agent from the Cowboys, Giants, Commanders and Eagles 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 East.

The NFL’s top 151 upcoming free agents, Nos. 1-75

The NFL’s new league year is just around the corner, so Doug Farrar put together his list of the top 151 free agents. Here’s 1-75, from Javon Hargrave to Linval Joseph.

Before Derek Carr moved to New Orleans, Geno Smith stayed in Seattle, Daniel Jones got a big new deal, and Lamar Jackson led a list of franchise-tagged players that also included Commanders defensive lineman Daron Payne, Cowboys running back Tony Pollard, Giants running back Saquon Barkley, Raiders running back Josh Jacobs, and Jaguars tight end Evan Engram, the upcoming 2023 class of free agents was packed with marquee names.

Now that those names are off the board, this class is less exceptional in a headline sense — but it doesn’t mean that there aren’t still all kinds of players that could positively alter the course of any team. This class is now wider than it is tall, but it’s very wide. Which is to say, there is impressive talent soon to be available when the new league year begins at 4:00 p.m. EST on Wednesday March 15. And a lot of that talent will be more available to the teams that have really done their homework.

With that in mind, we have done our homework here at Touchdown Wire. This list of the top 151 players who will be free agents when the new league year starts is based on comprehensive tape study, and scouring all kinds of metrics to make sure everything matches up as much as possible in the inexact science of player evaluation. The guys up top are (or should be) still marquee names, though most of them are not offensive skill players.

As you go down the list, you’ll see players who may have tried their best in the wrong systems, players who may have failed to live up to their potential at this time, players who are just getting the hang of things, and players who might just need the right circumstance and opportunity.

Here, without further ado, is our list of the top 151 free agents for the 2023 league year, starting with Nos. 1-75.

1 pending free agent Chargers should target: NFC West Edition

Listing one free agent from the Rams, Cardinals, 49ers and Seahawks 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 West.

Fantasy football reaction: Derek Carr joins the New Orleans Saints

A brief assessment of what to expect from Carr and the fantasy-relevant cast of New Orleans’ offense.

After being granted his release from the Las Vegas Raiders following last season’s benching late in the year, Derek Carr became a free agent and wasn’t subjected to the same rules of the process as anyone whose contract is set to expire as of the start of the new league year next week.

As a result, he was available to sign anywhere he pleased, and Carr did just that by inking a four-year deal with the New Orleans Saints on Monday, March 6. He’ll immediate step into the starting role and provide an upgrade over last season’s mixture of Jameis Winston, Andy Dalton and Taysom Hill.

CBS Sports: Chargers land wide receiver in free agency mock draft

With free agency upon us, CBS Sports conducted the veteran market like a draft.

The Chargers wide receiver room could be undergoing some remodeling this off-season.

While they are in the market for one, particularly with speed, Los Angeles may be looking to find a replacement for veteran Keenan Allen, who is dubbed a potential cut casualty or trade option, given the team’s need to free up salary cap space.

If the Bolts move Allen, there is the possibility that they go into free agency looking to fill the void, or at least CBS Sport’s Cody Benjamin believes so.

Benjamin conducted a free-agency mock draft using educated guesses (and considered well-informed reports from across the league) and made the order by projected 2023 cap space.

With the No. 28 overall selection, Benjamin has Los Angeles “taking” Colts wide receiver Parris Campbell.

With Keenan Allen a potential cap casualty coming off an injury-shortened year, the Chargers may be in the market for a WR2 opposite Mike Williams. While Campbell has had his own issues staying on the field, he broke out as a speed threat for the Colts in 2022. His multipurpose abilities alongside RB Austin Ekeler would potentially spice up the offense for Justin Herbert.

Campbell, a second-round pick of the 2019 NFL draft, dealt with a fair share of injuries for most of his pro career. But he stayed healthy this past season, and Campbell set career-highs with 63 receptions and 623 yards while adding three touchdowns.

Campbell is an explosive player with track-star speed and fantastic agility, something the Chargers would benefit from.

But given his injury history and his projected contract of three years for $23.25 million ($7.75M per year) and $13.25 million total guaranteed, it might not be the most logical route to address the position.

Instead, Los Angeles could choose to sign a receiver to a veteran minimum contract and draft one early on, whether they choose to keep Allen or not, and still be in good shape.

1 pending free agent Chargers should target: AFC South Edition

Listing one free agent from the Jaguars, Texans, Colts and Titans 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 AFC South.

Ranking 2023 NFL free agents through the lens of fantasy football

Ranking all of the key NFL free agents from a fantasy football perspective.

The NFL’s free agency opens in March, and we’re ranking their expected fantasy football importance for the 2023 season. While some players who currently are not on this list will indeed become free agents via being released rather than seeing their contract expire, our focus is on the players we currently know will hit the market.

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These players are ranked from least to most likely to make a significant difference in fantasy, and some nuanced adjustments factor in for those who aren’t as likely to leave their 2022 franchise.

PFF: Chargers ‘can’t afford to lose’ this free agent

PFF named one pending free agent that each team in the NFL “can’t afford” to lose.

Pro Football Focus’ Brad Spielberger revealed one free agent for every team they couldn’t afford to lose and wide receiver DeAndre Carter was their submission for the Chargers.

Here is what Spielberger had to say on why Los Angeles shouldn’t let Carter walk.

This is in no way intended as a slight, but ideally, Carter is WR5 or WR6 in 2023 and not WR4. Still, he clearly has the trust of quarterback Justin Herbert and fills in admirably when called upon, bringing a speed element the team doesn’t currently have on the roster otherwise, an area they must improve in 2023. Carter hauled in a career-high 46 receptions with just two drops on 64 targets and is certainly worth keeping around going forward if he doesn’t cash in elsewhere.

Carter was signed to serve just as a return specialist. But things took a turn when Keenan Allen and Mike Williams sustained their respective injuries, leading to Carter getting more playing time at the wide receiver position.

Carter set career highs in catches (46), receiving yards (538), and tied his career high with three receiving touchdowns. He was still an integral piece on special teams, finishing second in the league in yards per punt return.

Carter was an important player this season but was he enough to warrant a contract extension by a team currently in an unfavorable position with their spending money?

Los Angeles is more than $20 million over the cap. Therefore, they will have to do some wheeling and dealing, and it remains to be seen if Carter is a priority when they are in the clear to make moves.

Instead, players like Trey Pipkins, Drue Tranquill, or Morgan Fox may be more essential to the Chargers. If they let Carter walk, they could fill his void with a speed threat in the draft to contribute on offense and special teams.