What are the best team fits for the remaining NFL free agents?
NFL preseason is nearly here and there are some notable free agents on the market. Here’s a look at who’s still available and where they would fit best.
Training camps have already begun across the NFL and preseason starts tonight! Football is finally back in action and we could not be more excited! There are still several players out there on the free market that have yet to find their homes though, and some of them are quite valuable players. Let’s take a look at some of the most notable NFL free agents available, and which teams would make the most sense for each one.
Odell Beckham Jr., WR - Green Bay Packers
Odell Beckham Jr. became a free agent after he won the Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams, but tore his ACL during the game. Thus, he would make the best option for a team who need a clutch receiver later on in the season and into next year rather than an immediate need. The Green Bay Packers have a high-tier quarterback in Aaron Rodgers and a need for receiver after trading Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders. Since OBJ is already 29 years old, he’s likely to be looking for a team that can win championships, and the Packers could offer that. Without Adams, they have Allen Lazard, Sammy Watkins, and Randall Cobb, who can make big plays and would make OBJ a good addition rather than a necessary, desperate choice. The two could help each other make it to another Super Bowl, which would be Green Bay’s first in over a decade.
Will Fuller, WR - Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys are dealing with a wide receiver crisis. They lost Amari Cooper to the Browns and while they still have CeeDee Lamb at no. 1, their no. 2 was going to likely be James Washington, who is now out with a fractured foot. Michael Gallup still recovering from an ACL injury and is likely out the first 1-4 games of the season. They have rookie Jalen Tolbert, Noah Brown, Simi Fehoko, and T.J. Vasher. They need a good veteran receiver, whether Jerry Jones admits it out loud or not. Will Fuller played only two games last season and has dealt with injuries throughout his career. Now though, he’s fully healthy and looking for a home. His best season came in 2020 when he caught 53 passes for 879 yards and eight touchdowns. His ability to be a deep threat would fit perfectly with quarterback Dak Prescott.
Ndamukong Suh, DE - Las Vegas Raiders
Five-time Pro Bowler Ndamukong Suh had a rough few seasons, but did well with the Bucs last season, getting 13 quarterback hits and six sacks. He was once one of the top pass rushers in the league, and with the Las Vegas Raiders, he could continue returning to that form. They have Maxx Crosby and Chandler Jones, but with Such, they would have an elite defense. Back in June, Suh showed interest in the Raiders as well, tweeting that it “could be fun”.
JC Tretter, C - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tom Brady un-retired, but came back to a Bucaneers team without his center, potentially for the whole season. Tampa Bay has said they are looking to replace Ryan Jensen with a player already on the roster, but the other options aren’t great. Robert Hainsey and Nick Leverett have combined for fewer than 100 snaps in the regular season, whereas Tretter has played for eight seasons in the NFL with the likes of Aaron Rodgers. He would fill that gap for the Bucs way better than their current options if they’re looking to make it to a championship.
Trey Flowers, DE - New England Patriots
Trey Flowers was once the Patriots’ fourth-round pick in 2015 and he played for them until 2018. Back then, he was one of the best in the league. He later moved on to the Detroit Lions on a huge deal, where he continued to dominate on defense until injuries sidelined him for much of the 2020 and 2021 season. He was released for the Lions to clear cap space, but has yet to be re-homed. It would not be unlike Bill Belichick to bring back a player, even one they don’t have an immediate need for. When he was with the Patriots before, he won two Super Bowls in his first four years in the NFL and had impressive stats, which he could easily repeat. He’s 29 years old and still has steam in the tank and if he stays healthy, could provide New England with a better chance to stop the run game.
Kevin King, CB - Pittsburgh Steelers
Former Packer Kevin King could be just what the Steelers need since they no longer have their two starting cornerbacks Ahkello Witherspoon and Levi Wallace. King is not exactly the most consistent player, having his best season in 2019 and missing seven games in 2021, but perhaps at just 27 years old, he’s still got time to reach his full potential. The Steelers could currently use depth at cornerback and perhaps would be willing to take the low risk with King.
Sheldon Richardson, DT - San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers have been victim to the injury bug early on, especially on the defensive side. Arik Armstead, Hassan Ridgeway, and Maurice Hurst all suffered injuries in the second week of training camp. Though Richardson has gotten around in the NFL, from the New York Jets to Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns, and Minnesota Vikings, but he’s been a consistent defensive tackle throughout the ride. He would fit in well with defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans’ defensive schemes which sees the lineman attack gaps, something Richardson should love.