Who are the best NFL free agents available in 2022?
The NFL free agency period starts March 14. The deadline for franchise tags has passed, so let’s take a look at some of the top players in the 2022 market.
Eight top players received the franchise tag this week, leaving us with a better idea of which NFL players will be available in the upcoming free agency, starting on Monday.
Ideally, if a team is picking someone up in the free agency, they want the player to be pretty young and to be leaving their first contract, but of course, that’s difficult to find as most teams will want to keep players like that if they’re of any value. Over the weekend, we will see more players coming into the market based on cuts, but for now, here are the top 10 best available free agents on the 2022 market.
1. Tyrann Mathieu - Safety; 2021 Team: Kansas City Chiefs; Age: 30
In Mathieu’s three seasons with the Chiefs, he racked up 13 interceptions and three sacks, and has been named to the Pro Bowl all three seasons and an All-Pro in 2020. Last season he had 76 tackles, one sack, and three interceptions. He’s one of the most versatile defensive players out there and would fit in well to any secondary. He will not be short on prospects.
2. Carlton Davis - Corner Back; 2021 Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Age: 25
Though he was limited due to an injury last season, he is still one of the best corners on the market. Last season in the 12 games he played, he had 46 tackles, two for a loss, and one interception.
3. Terron Armstead - Offensive Tackle; 2021 Team: New Orleans Saints; Age: 31
Though he is a bit older and was limited last season with an injury, Armstead will be sought after due to the sole fact that he is a left tackle. When he’s healthy, he’s a solid player, having been named to the Pro Bowl three times.
4. Marcus Williams - Safety; 2021 Team: New Orleans Saints; Age: 25
Williams has the advantage of being young and started all five of his seasons with the Saints, missing only five games total. He had 15 interceptions and three forced fumbles and has proven he can make big plays.
5. Von Miller - Offensive Linebacker; 2021 Team: Denver Bronos/LA Rams; Age: 33
One of the older players on the market, Von Miller is still near the top of the list. His age was a big part of why he was traded from the Broncos, but look where he ended up? Winning the Super Bowl with the Rams and with five sacks along the way. It’s still possible he could re-sign with the Rams, but he may also end up back in Denver.
6. Harold Landry III - Offensive Linebacker; 2021 Team: Tennessee Titans; Age: 26
He’s young and he’s collected 31 sacks in his four years with the Titans. In his contract year, he had a career-high 12 sacks. Another plus for Landry…he’s only missed one game in his whole career.
7. Allen Robinson II - Wide Receiver; 2021 Team: Chicago Bears; Age: 29
Robinson was with the Bears for four years and dealt with a lot of bad quarterbacks, but still managed to get 293 receptions. He actually led the NFL with 71 contested catches with Chicago. With a better quarterback to help him out, he would be able to do a lot more.
8. Brandon Scherff - Guard; 2021 Team: Washington Commanders; Age: 30
Scherff’s problem is staying healthy. He has not played a full season since 2016. He does have five Pro Bowls to his name, though, and plays consistently. If he could stay healthy, he’d be a good option for a team looking to improve their o-line.
9. Chandler Jones - Offensive Linebacker; 2021 Team: Arizona Cardinals; Age: 32
A few disadvantages for Jones are that he’s also dealt with injuries, and had a bit of an inconsistent season in 2020. He’s a four-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl winner too, though, and finished his season with the Cardinals with 10.5 sacks and six forced fumbles in 15 regular season games. Not too bad.
10. Randy Gregory - Defensive End; 2021 Team: Dallas Cowboys; Age: 29
Suspensions and injuries have tainted the career of this talented defensive player. He was out a total of 54 games. He had his best season last year with 19 tackles, 17 QB hits, six sacks, three forced fumbles, and one interception in 12 games. He’s no doubt a good pass-rusher, but teams will have to trust he’s going to stay out of trouble.