There are still quality players available on the market that can make an impact right away. Some of these players may even hold off over the summer to see if any key injuries happen. With that being said let’s take a look at the top 2023 NFL free agents that are still available.

Kareem Hunt

The 27-year-old running back has yet to catch on with a team and may be waiting for the right fit. Hunt hasn’t been able to replicate his rookie form where he finished 2nd for Offensive Rookie of the Year. He is still young enough in running back years to make an impact. He will always excel as a change of pace back and on the right team could shine.

Ezekiel Elliott

It’s hard to believe Elliott hasn’t landed on a team yet. He still has some gas left in the tank and despite some chatter around the league, I don’t believe he is washed. Elliott may no longer be capable of being the lead back but he could succeed on a team needing a short-yardage running back. We recently covered some possible landing spots for Elliott as he gets closer to signing.

Jarvis Landry

At one point and time, Landry was one of the top receivers in the league. He has since taken a step back partly due to injuries. With that being said Landry can still be a dangerous weapon in the right system. There have been recent rumors of Landry being linked to Green Bay. The Packers need to address the WR position and Landry may be the answer.

Yannick Ngakoue

Ngakoue is another surprise on this list. He has 19.5 sacks over the last two seasons with two different teams. It’s likely Ngakoue is expecting a pretty big payday. That along with the fact that he can’t seem to catch on with a team for long is a bit of a concern. Keep an eye on the Chiefs here as he may be willing to take less to sign on with them.

Teddy Bridgewater

Teddy Bridgewater is not the flashiest name on this list but he can still play a key role. Bridgewater is an excellent backup QB option, which is still one of the most important positions. I would expect Bridgewater already has a couple of offers and is weighing his options.

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Atlanta Falcons: How Will The Young Offensive Core Do?

The Atlanta Falcons have a sneaky young offensive core that could be one of the NFL’s best sooner rather than later. Kyle Pitts, the super TE, had a rough sophomore season where he barely got passes and got hurt. Drake London had a solid rookie season where he got 72 catches for 866 yards and four TDs. The Falcons started their draft with RB Bijan Robinson, the best RB prospect in a while. All of these while having Desmond Ridder as your QB. Now, the Falcons have put their faith in Desmond this season, but he’s not the QB you would have as your starter. Hopefully, the OC can help lessen the load by giving simple plays to Ridder and let the three do the work. In case it doesn’t work out, there are big names in the upcoming draft who can be the final piece in the core.

Carolina Panthers: Will Bryce Young Get The Start Right Away?

Bryce Young and the Panthers have started camp and there have been some action shots of him taking reps. Currently, Andy Dalton is the starter in name. He is a solid QB but he’s not worth sitting the future for the entire season. The Panthers reloaded this offseason with the additions of Adam Thielen and Hayden Hurst. They did a good job putting in a roster that can lessen the workload of the QB. Now, the million-dollar question is if it’s Bryce Young time by Week 1. Personally, I don’t mind Dalton being the starter of Week 1, but if times are telling, you have to give the keys to Bryce as soon as possible to see if he’s worth the hype.

New Orleans Saints: Can Derek Carr Lead The Saints To The Best Record In The Division?

The odds according to Vegas have slotted the Saints to be the division winner for the NFC South. The Saints were filled with injuries and uncertainties last season as multiple QBs had looks during the season. Currently, Derek Carr is more stable than anyone they had last season. Personally, he’s also the best QB they had since Drew Brees. He’ll have a core of weapons with Kamara, Olave and MT if healthy. With almost every team having a young and inexperienced QB, Carr just needs to be solid enough for the Saints to have home-field advantage in the playoffs.

Tampa Bay Buccanneers: Can Baker Mayfield Keep The Critics Quiet?

The Tom Brady era in Tampa Bay has finished as he officially retired again. His impact in Tampa Bay will be missed but it’s time to look forward. Baker Mayfield has signed with Tampa Bay after stints in Carolina and the Rams last season. It’s been a rocky past few years for the former top pick of the draft. Going to Tampa Bay is a fresh start for him as he looks to regain his footing in the NFL world as a starting-caliber quarterback. There’s still a lot of talent on offense and defense and the division is still very open. Baker can change the narrative about himself and potentially save his career by being a solid starter in Tampa Bay. However, a bad season means Tampa Bay getting a high pick to draft their QB of the future and potentially Baker losing his starter status permanently.

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Chicago Bears: How Big Is The Jump Of Justin Fields This Season?

The Chicago Bears killed the offseason. Fresh off a regular season where Justin Fields looked electric, the future seemed bright for the Bears. They traded the top overall pick for multiple picks and D.J. Moore. They signed big names on defense such as Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards. Their offense was reloaded with the signings of D’Onta Foreman and Robert Tonyan. All these transactions positively impacted the offense and defense. Giving Fields all these weapons will make the Bears look much improved and will be a stepping stone for the future.

Detroit Lions: Are The Lions The Best Team In The Division?

After all the jokes and miserable seasons, the Detroit Lions may be the best team in the NFC North. The Bears and the Packers still have their young QBs so a rough road is expected. The Vikings are dealing away key players left and right. That leaves the Lions. They ended the season winning eight of their last ten games. Jared Goff is probably the most competent QB in the division and HC Dan Campbell is making them believe. They improved their team by signing David Montgomery and C.J. Gardner-Johnson and drafted a strong group that can make an impact. Now might be the time Lions fans. The 2023 season could be a special one.

Green Bay Packers: Will Jordan Love Be The Future Of The Packers?

The Aaron Rodgers era is over and the Packers move on to their next QB. It was amazing luck that they went from a Hall of Fame QB to another Hall of Fame QB. Now, all eyes are on Jordan Love. He signed a one-year extension worth up to $22.5 M. The Packers did add some help by drafting three offensive weapons with their first four picks of the draft. He’ll still have Aaron Jones and Christian Watson to aid him. If Aaron and the Packers felt he was ready, they wouldn’t have traded away Rodgers. Love hopes to show the promise scouts saw him when he was drafted.

Minnesota Vikings: Is A Rebuild On The Way?

The Minnesota Vikings were disappointed with the way they finished their season. A sad loss in the Wild Card round to the Giants may have shown that Minnesota’s regular season may have been just a fluke. Now, there are a lot of questions, especially with the recent moves of the front office. They released Adam Thielen, Eric Kendricks and traded Za’Darius Smith. All three are high-level players for the Vikings last year. There are rumors that Dalvin Cook will be waived if no one will trade for him. Amidst all the chaos, it feels like a shakeup is on the way and more names will be on the move in the future.

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Dallas Cowboys: Can The Cowboys Overtake The Eagles?

Dallas was a little quiet in the offseason, after how their season ended. They’re coming in as not the favorite from the NFC East and are looking up at the Eagles. They added pieces in Brandin Cooks and Stephon Gilmore. However, they cut Ezekiel Elliot and let Dalton Schultz walk away in free agency. The Cowboys have a lot of talent, however on paper, the Eagles look much better than the Cowboys. One stat that the Cowboys can hold on to is that it’s been forever since an NFC East team repeated as the division winner.

New York Giants: How Will Daniel Jones Perform With The New Extension?

Daniel Jones got the bag with a $160M extension, $92M guaranteed. People were outraged with the size of this contract but HC Brian Daboll has helped in the leap of Jones. This was most seen in the Wild Card Round against the Vikings where Jones threw for 300+ yards, two passing TDs, and ran for 70+ yards. He comes into the offseason with new weapons such as Darren Waller, Jalin Hyatt, and a full year of Isaiah Hodgins. With Brian Daboll in the helm, another leap is possible for Jones as they hope to make this consistent.

Philadelphia Eagles: Can They Go Back To The Superbowl?

The Philadelphia Eagles were one holding call away from the Superbowl. It hurts to watch it but on to the new season. The Eagles secured Jalen Hurts with a long-term extension that made him the highest-paid player at that point. They beefed up the run game with D’Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny. They drafted a lot of Georgia players to shore up their defense. Jalen Carter was stolen with the ninth pick of the draft and Nolan Smith was available at 30. They’re adding youth to this experienced team for the future. They will have a tougher road in the regular season as they will face Mahomes, Allen, the 49ers, and many tougher opponents from last season. This team has the talent but it will be a tougher road in my opinion.

Washington Commanders: Will The Change In Ownership Bring New Life To The Team?

The toxic ownership of the Washington Commanders is finally over. Dan Snyder, who has been in the front of a lot of controversy, sold the team to ownership led by Josh Harris. New ownership usually comes with new changes from the front office to the field. In the first year, it will be interesting to see what the front office will look like. Changes are easier there compared to the product on the field. I hope it brings new life to the Commanders fans as they deserve better after all the scandals. For a rebuild, that will have to be discussed another time.

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Houston Texans: How much will C.J. Stroud show in his rookie season?

The C.J. Stroud drama is over and I’m very happy for him. The Texans QB of the future will have a tough road as the Texans have a subpar roster. The good thing is that they are trying to build a young core that will grow together. With this roster, Stroud will have his bad games. His reps will be valuable as I predict there will be some rookie Trevor Lawrence moments. I hope as the season progresses, the Texans will let him do more so he can show potential growth for his sophomore season.

Indianapolis Colts: Will Anthony Richardson be the starter in Week 1?

The Colts took their QB of the future in the raw prospect out of Florida. Anthony Richardson appears to have the highest ceiling among all the QBs but he’s probably the least NFL-ready. This gives the Colts a conundrum. With a roster that was unlucky last season, it has potential to be better than expected. They have Gardner Minshew who is ready to lead the Colts to some wins early on. The question is when they’ll give the keys to AR. He will grow with the reps, but the wins won’t be guaranteed. He’s not Andrew Luck who led the Colts in his rookie season. Training camp will give us a glimpse on the landscape of the Colts.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Is Trevor Lawrence primed to rule the AFC South for years to come?

The Jacksonville Jaguars had a run to remember as they ended a strong second half of the season with a come-from-behind Wild Card win over the Chargers. A lot of this is also on the immense growth of Trevor Lawrence. He looked like the generational QB out of Clemson and was making smart plays. Now, the roster is a year older, and with the addition of Calvin Ridley, the Jaguars look much more impressive compared to their division rivals. There is a scenario where the other three will all start rookie QBs and Trevor is the most experienced. Another strong season with a convincing division win lead will make the Jaguars THE team in the AFC South.

Tennessee Titans: When will Ryan Tannehill give the reigns to the future?

The Titans feel very close to a rebuild. Derrick Henry is getting older and this team doesn’t feel like the team it was before. Ryan Tannehill did lead Tennessee to the playoffs multiple times but it appears he has reached his ceiling. Drafting Malik Willis and Will Levis in conscutive drafts isn’t a good sign either for his Titans career. Once they let either become the starter, it looks like a new era in Tennessee will be happening.

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Denver Broncos: How will Sean Payton work with Russell Wilson?

It was a disaster of a season for Russell Wilson and the Broncos after all the moves they made. One small positive was when Wilson started doing better in the last few games of the season. The Broncos made a home run hire with Sean Payton as the HC. He did wonders with Drew Brees who was aging at the time. Maybe if he can let Russ cook by targeting more short and intermediate passes, he can bring out the inner Drew Brees in him. This team is very talented but they are in a stacked division. If the two can work together, they can get a Wild Card spot to erase the memories of last season.

Kansas City Chiefs: How long will the core be intact?

The trio of Andy Reid, Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes will be one for the history books. While Mahomes is still young, Andy Reid is 65 years old and Travis Kelce is turning 34 in October. Kelce has made some comments that Andy Reid will be the last coach he’ll play for. So retirement has been on the mind of the great TE. Even if Patrick Mahomes continues, there is no guarantee he will have the same success without the two. For now, we should enjoy this trio while we can.

Las Vegas Raiders: Is Jimmy Garoppolo an upgrade over Derek Carr?

Derek Carr had a long and difficult career for the Raiders. He was strong throughout all the negative moments that the Oakland/Las Vegas team experienced. But it was time to make a move and Carr is a Saint while Jimmy G is the face of the Raiders. The favorite of HC Josh McDaniels, Jimmy G will be challenged. He has had an amazing record with the patriots and 49ers but has not won the big one yet. For now, Carr was a good QB with what he had. Jimmy G in the 49ers has always been blessed with weapons. With a team less stacked and less expectations, can Garoppolo have his best season and show he’s more than just a system QB.

Los Angeles Chargers: How much pressure is Justin Herbert facing?

Justin Herbert had a tough season and the future is a little uncertain. We saw a lot more checkdowns and we saw less of what Herbert’s arm can do. They ended the season blowing a 27-point lead in the Wild Card against the Jaguars. After spending a few years in the league, Herbert needs a good bounce back season to show he is one of the elite young QBs in the game. With Ekeler and Keenan Allen‘s days possibly coming to an end, the Chargers will have some challenges in the future. If Herbert has a strong season and a playoff win, all the noise will quiet down for now.

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Buffalo Bills: Is This The Year They Go All The Way?

The Buffalo Bills have been one of the most consistent teams in the past few years and are always a contender with Josh Allen leading the way at QB. They were able to avoid any fires by being able to resign Shaq Lawson and Jordan Poyer to keep their defense intact. The running game has been added with the signings of Latavius Murray and Damien Harris. They added an extra weapon in Dalton Kincaid in the draft. This is what I call a successful offseason. The problem that always arises in the season is the missing running game which makes Josh Allen double the work but also increases the chance of injuries. Now, Josh Allen is built like a bull and is often the biggest guy on the field. All the hits will add up and Buffalo is one bad play away from disaster. If the running game looks decent, they have a good chance of moving past Cincinnati and Kansas City and hopefully playing for the Lombardi trophy.

Miami Dolphins: Is Tua Tagovailoa The Answer At Quarterback?

The Miami Dolphins have a lot of shiny weapons. They have upgraded with big names such as Tyreek Hill, Bradley Chubb, and now, Jalen Ramsey. Add in the leadership of HC Mike McDaniel and the Dolphins look like a perennial contender. The biggest question is at quarterback, however. Tua’s health and durability have been a concern ever since he was drafted coming out of college. Last season, the concerns got even worse as Tua suffered multiple concussions and people were scared for his safety. With all the weapons and a limited window, the Dolphins have to be guessing Tua’s future at QB as he is also maybe in the lower end of QB talent in the AFC. A disappointing season where they don’t make the playoffs could be a disaster for Tua’s future in Miami.

New England Patriots: What’s With All The Mac Jones Drama?

Mac Jones’ career has been a rollercoaster and we’ve only been in year two. He helped lead the Patriots in his first season to the playoffs and many looked at him as a young Tom Brady. The season after, they hired Matt Patricia to be the offensive play call guy. This move had some people guessing as Patricia is a defense guy and it showed. Mac Jones looked worse in year two and the Patriots didn’t make the playoffs. This offseason has been a little more mysterious as the Patriots brought in Will Levis and signs have shown that Mac wasn’t happy with what was happening. New England is known to be a very quiet and deliberate franchise. Now, they are in unfamiliar waters as they don’t seem to be the top dog they once were.

New York Jets: What Is A Successful Season For Aaron Rodgers?

The New York Jets made the biggest move in the offseason when they traded for QB Aaron Rodgers in a blockbuster deal. It looks like Zach Wilson‘s time is done as the starter for the Jets and a more mature face will be in charge of the Jets. One of the main differences between the AFC and the NFC is the star power at QB and the depth of the teams. In terms of QBs, he has to face the likes of Josh Allen, Tua Tagovailoa, and Mac Jones twice per year. He’ll also face the AFC West which involves Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson, Justin Herbert, and Jimmy Garoppolo. There will not be a lot of easy wins to come by so they have to be on their A-game each week. Other than the star power at QB, the AFC is a much deeper conference in terms of talent. The Jets were 7-10 and last place in the division last season. They would be battling for a playoff spot if they were in the NFC South. Now, I don’t project them to win the AFC East as Buffalo is still the top team in the division. It’s also his first year with the Jets so some hiccups are expected. If the Jets get a wild card spot and look good in the playoffs, I think the season can be called a success.

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It’s definitely a huge pick up, and with the Jets having 7 wins last year, I would imagine they only go up from here. They have the flashy running back, the young receivers, the young fast defense and a bright young coach. This all seems great except one thing, they play in the AFC East. The Buffalo Bills will be the favorites especially with Josh Allen at the helm.

Their expectations are to not only win the East, but also win the Super bowl. The Dolphins have a track team, and as long as Tua Tagovailoa is healthy, they’ll be in the mix to win the division. Finally, the Patriots who might be the weakest team, but when you have Bill Belichick in charge you know they’ll bring their 100% effort every game. For the Jets, their expectations are to win the Super Bowl with Rodgers at QB. Could it happen? Yes it could happen but it won’t, at least not this year. Let’s not forget about the Kansas City Chiefs, and the other high quality AFC teams. The Rodgers window is closing, so let’s hope the team cliques and they come out firing.

Prediction for 2023/24 season – (10-7)

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Both the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Detroit Lions are historically bad franchises, both having franchise records below .500. Both franchises have also never played in the Super Bowl, something only four teams have never done. The Jaguars are 8-8 in the playoffs, while the Lions are 7-13. But, there is reason to believe that those historically bad seasons are behind both teams.

Both teams went 9-8 this season after abysmal 2021 seasons. Both teams started 2-6 and gained momentum in the second half of the season to finish strong. The Lions were eliminated from playoff contention minutes before their Week 18 game. The Jaguars clinched the division after an intense nail-biting Saturday night game against their hated rivals, the Tennessee Titans. The Jaguars went on to win their Wild Card playoff game in thrilling fashion against the Chargers, before finally losing to the eventual Super Bowl Champions Kansas City Chiefs. Both teams head into the NFL offseason poised to solidify championship-caliber teams.

The Lions and the Jaguars have electrifying offenses that are going to be problems for opposing defenses for years to come. Both teams are ranked in the top 10 in total offense for the 2022 season, with the Lions ranked 5th and the Jaguars ranked 10th. Both teams are also ranked in the top 10 in passing offense, with the Lions ranked 6th and the Jaguars ranked 10th. The Lions’ offense is spearheaded by veteran quarterback Jared Goff, young rising star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, and the consistently getting better veteran running back Jamaal Williams. Both Jared Goff and Amon-Ra were Pro Bowlers this year, along with T.J. Hockenson joining them from the Lions’ offense. The Lions were able to have multiple games where they scored 40 points or more, including one against the Jaguars. If the Lions continue having a high powered offense they can be tough to catch.

The Jaguars are spearheaded by their trio of young stars: quarterback Trevor Lawrence, running back Travis Etienne, and receiver Christian Kirk. Everyone in this trio had career years. Trevor threw for over 4,000 yards and showed to the league why he was picked first overall. Travis Etienne ran for over 1,000 yards, cementing himself as one of the league’s top rushers. Christian Kirk rejuvenated his career with over 1,000 receiving yards, silencing his critics. Trevor Lawrence got his first Pro Bowl nod and it’s safe to say that this won’t be his last.

The analysis of both defenses emphasizes why they say that “defenses win championships”. The Lions gave up the most yards on defense, with the Jaguars giving up the 9th most. Both teams were ranked in the bottom five for passing defense. The Jaguars were ranked 12th in rushing defense, but the Lions were ranked 29th. Even though both teams drafted young stars with the first two picks in 2022 draft, Travon Walker for the Jaguars and Aidan Hutchinson for the Lions, it wasn’t enough to consistently stop NFL offenses. Both teams have stellar offenses, but they both need some work on defense in order to have a team that can compete with the top teams in the NFL.

The Lions and the Jaguars are both young teams that have potential, especially on the offensive side of the ball. However, you have to be able to stop opposing teams from scoring to win games and that is something that both teams need to work on. And once both teams create a stellar team on both sides of the ball, it will be sooner, rather than later, that one of these teams will be competing for the Lombardi Trophy.

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By: Nathan Nguyen

When Richie James signed with the New York Giants as a free agent, no one expected him to be more than anything but a solid backup receiver. If anything, he would serve as a kick returner because of his experience with previous teams serving that role.

Fast forward to today, and James looks like more than just a guy. In fact, he may be the only one keeping this receiving corps afloat. With Sterling Shepard out for the year, Daniel Jones may need to rely on James more than ever this season.

James was drafted in the seventh round by the San Francisco 49ers in 2018. Appearing in 13 games, he caught nine passes for 130 yards. He also caught his first career touchdown against the Rams in week 17. The wide receiver also returned a kickoff for a touchdown in his rookie season.

He set career highs in receiving yards and receptions in 2020. But, he would miss the entire 2021 season after being placed on the injured reserve list. This was due to a knee injury.

The 49ers decided to not bring him back for 2022 and let him walk into free agency. On March 25th, 2022, the New York Giants decided to take a chance on the former Middle Tennessee State receiver.

Through three games, James has shown that the 49ers may have made a mistake not bringing him back. He’s been clearly the best receiver on the Giants, leading the team in receptions and a close second in receiving yards.

Put this into perspective: Deebo Samuel leads San Francisco in receiving with 12 catches and 131 yards. James has 14 catches for 146 yards. He would have been the best receiver on the 49ers. Jimmy Garoppolo could have used him after leading his team to just ten points last Sunday night.

Thankfully, James has been as close to a star as possible for Big Blue. With the Giants having the most expensive receiving core in the NFL, they have underwhelmed in the worst way possible.

Shepard is out for the year, Kenny Golladay can’t catch, David Sills has lost his magic, and Darius Slayton has been in a reduced role. Oh, and both Kadarius Toney and Wan’Dale Robinson are hurt. Daniel Jones cannot perform to the best of his abilities if his weapons can’t stay on the field or perform well enough to be reliable.

This is where James steps in. Take the Dallas game, for example.

This man is getting open for his quarterback, something the other guys have struggled to do.

This man is getting open for his quarterback, something the other guys have struggled to do. James has at least four catches through three games, and he may be targeted even more in the coming weeks. He’s not a superstar, but he is sure looking like one.

Joe Schoen: you got a bargain with this guy. Let’s hope Richie James continues to show out against Chicago.

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