Some NFL teams are flush with salary cap space. Others will be pinching pennies come free agency. However, any team that wants to be aggressive this offseason can push money down the road.
Here is a look at a marquee free agent addition that would make sense for each NFL team.
Buffalo Bills
Free agent: DT Akiem Hicks
The Bills have put a lot of resources into their defensive line and could continue that this offseason. Hicks is a very talented player, though age and injury history should keep him from breaking the bank. Buffalo has eyes on a Super Bowl next year and Hicks may want to join the push.
New England Patriots
Free agent: LB De’Vondre Campbell
Even though he’s coming off a fantastic season, it’s unlikely Campbell commands huge dollars in free agency. The Patriots are the type of team that could really make the most of his skill-set, like the Packers just did.
Miami Dolphins
Free agent: OT Terron Armstead
Armstead could be the crown jewel of the free agent class, and the Dolphins have both the cap space and the glaring hole at tackle to make a big push. Armstead has battled injuries throughout his career but the talent is undeniable, and he would be a huge upgrade for the Dolphins.
The Jets need to bolster their wide receiving corps in order to see if second-year quarterback Zach Wilson is truly someone they should build around. Williams is an upper-tier player who would bring an extra dynamic to the New York passing game.
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It’s no secret that the Bengals need to shore up their offensive line. They have the cap space to do it, and keeping Joe Burrow more comfortable next season will be the priority. Jensen would be a great addition to the group and would come in and make an immediate impact.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Free agent: CB Stephon Gilmore
The Steelers have a huge hole at quarterback, but they may use the draft to take a stab at replacing Ben Roethlisberger. The defense is the reason why Pittsburgh was competitive last year and adding a veteran like Gilmore would add more talent to the group.
Cleveland Browns
Free agent: WR Chris Godwin
The Browns need to rebuild their wide receiver corps after the departure of Odell Beckham, Jr. and the unhappiness of Jarvis Landry. Godwin is among the best players on the market and Cleveland could be aggressive in pursuing such a dynamic playmaker.
Baltimore Ravens
Free agent: S Tyrann Mathieu
The Ravens have a great track record of adding free agents that fit in extremely well. Mathieu would make a lot of sense in the secondary as his natural ability to make plays can’t be taught.
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The Titans have a star wide receiver in A.J. Brown, but could use more weapons on offense in the passing game. Ertz isn’t a very good blocker but still has the ability to be a solid third option for a quarterback.
Indianapolis Colts
Free agent: T Duane Brown
The Colts have a solid overall roster, and patching holes with free agents will be the way to go this offseason. Brown is near the end of his career but is still a solid left tackle, which are always in short supply. Indy could add him on a short-term deal to shore up the position for 2022.
Houston Texans
Free agent: G Brandon Scherff
The Texans need help everywhere. The line is usually a good place to start, and even though Scherff is 30, Houston just needs to start stacking good players to get a turnaround going.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Free agent: WR Davante Adams
The Jaguars have a bunch of salary cap space and need to give second-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence some better options on the outside. Adams may be the best wide receiver in the NFL, and while Green Bay could very well franchise tag him, it’s not a guarantee. There would be a tremendous list of suitors if Adams hit free agency, but the Jaguars could out-spend everyone to get their man, and have dreams of a Bengals-like resurrection in Year 2 with Lawrence.
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Kansas City Chiefs
Free agent: WR Michael Gallup
The Chiefs would be able to get Gallup at a discount after he tore his ACL during the season. All that matters is his readiness for the playoffs, and Gallup would add more firepower to the skill position alongside Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce.
Las Vegas Raiders
Free agent: CB J.C. Jackson
If the Patriots don’t franchise-tag Jackson, he could be among the most sought after players on the free agent market. The Raiders need an upgrade at cornerback and there is familiarity with Jackson as coach Josh McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler both come from New England.
Los Angeles Chargers
Free agent: Edge rusher Chandler Jones
Los Angeles has a star quarterback in Justin Herbert and some very talented players on both sides of the ball, but it didn’t all come together a year ago. The defense needs improvement, and the addition of a perennial Pro Bowler on the edge to complement Joey Bosa is an intriguing thought. Jones is still a consistent pass-rushing presence, and with Herbert still on his rookie deal, the Chargers have the means to add a high-end free agent to their defensive core.
Denver Broncos
Free agent: QB Jameis Winston
It’s an ugly free agent class of quarterbacks, and the draft is even worse. Denver is going to be hitting the trade market hard, but if nothing materializes, the Broncos have to do something. Winston tore his ACL last season but he’s not a mobile quarterback, so it shouldn’t be a huge deal. He offers the most upside of the free agent quarterbacks, and the Broncos will have to roll the dice with a solid roster everywhere else.
Dallas Cowboys
Free agent: Edge rusher Von Miller
It’s going to be interesting to see what kind of market develops for Miller, who is a great player who is now almost 33 years old. He is likely to return to the Rams, but if Randy Gregory leaves in free agency, Dallas could make a push to keep their edge-rushing group stacked with the addition of Miller.
OLB Von Miller is expected to explore his options in Free Agency, however don’t rule out a return to the #Rams
The most likely scenario is Bates sticking with the Bengals, but if he becomes available, the Eagles could be interested. This is an ascending team with a lot of draft capital, and adding a proven playmaker in the secondary would help right away.
Washington Commanders
Free agent: QB Teddy Bridgewater
Bridgewater is not an elite quarterback, but he’s solid enough, and Washington needs to do something at the position. Washington has a decent roster, and while this isn’t the sexiest choice, it could be enough to get the Commanders into playoff contention.
New York Giants
Free agent: TE Mike Gesicki
The Giants need to figure out if Daniel Jones is worth keeping after this season, and continuing to compile pass-catching assets is important. Gesicki could come in and give a nice boost after Evan Engram never quite lived up to expectations.
Green Bay Packers
Free agent: TE Dalton Schultz
The Packers won’t be able to do much in free agency, but if they target a position, it could be tight end. Schultz is a steadily improving player that would be a nice target for Aaron Rodgers if he remains in Green Bay.
Minnesota Vikings
Free agent: Edge rusher Haason Reddick
The Vikings are going to a 3-4 under the new regime and must start to change their personnel. Reddick has 23.5 sacks over the past two seasons and isn’t expected to come at a prohibitive price, which could make him an ideal signing for Minnesota.
Chicago Bears
Free agent: WR Christian Kirk
Chicago needs to restock its wide receiver room with so many of its pass-catchers hitting free agency. Quarterback Justin Fields has a big arm and Kirk has the ability to win at the intermediate level and deep down the field.
Detroit Lions
Free agent: CB Carlton Davis
The Lions need help in a lot of areas, and some free agents will likely stay away because they want to play for a contender. Detroit will need to pay big money for Davis, but at age-25 he is the type of player that makes sense to add as a marquee piece on a defense that needs help.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Free agent: CB Donte Jackson
Not exactly a marquee move, but the Bucs need help at corner and don’t have much cap space. This will have to do.
New Orleans Saints
Free agent: QB Marcus Mariota
The Saints don’t have much salary cap flexibility and still need a quarterback. Mariota makes sense as a low-cost option that has a decent ceiling because of his tools.
Atlanta Falcons
Free agent: Edge rusher Emmanuel Ogbah
The Falcons need to create more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Ogbah isn’t a big name but he’s consistently productive and may not be too expensive.
Carolina Panthers
Free agent: G Laken Tomlinson
The Panthers badly need a quarterback, but they also need to beef up the line. Tomlinson is a very good run-blocker, which could be useful if Carolina needs to pound the ball next year.
Los Angeles Rams
Free agent: G Connor Williams
We are using the word ‘marquee’ loosely here, as the Rams don’t have much cap space. They need help on the line and Williams could be a decent piece.
San Francisco 49ers
Free agent: CB Patrick Peterson
The 49ers often like to sign cornerbacks beyond their prime, and could get solid value with Peterson as his career winds down. San Francisco has one of the best rosters in the NFL and adding a reliable, durable player in the secondary would bolster it further.
Clowney has never had a double-digit sack season but is a very good all-around player. The Cardinals will have a major hole at edge rusher when Chandler Jones departs, and Clowney is a worthy replacement. He is not only good at pressuring the quarterback but also at stopping the run, which the Cardinals struggled with in 2021. Clowney found great success alongside J.J. Watt in Houston and they could pair up again in Arizona.
Seattle Seahawks
Free agent: Edge rusher Randy Gregory
The Seahawks have shown a willingness to add players with off-field questions, and Gregory would fit that bill. He has become a high-end edge rusher, which would help solve one of the biggest issues on the team. Gregory could be a great value add for a team in search of playmakers.
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