Several key NFL free agents came off the board this week due to some injuries across the league.
Edge Ziggy Ansah signed with the 49ers. Running back Devonta Freeman finally found a home with the New York Giants. Linebacker Todd Davis landed with the Vikings. Linebacker Alec Ogletree joined the Jets. The Denver Broncos are rumored to sign quarterback Blake Bortles. The Bears moved defensive lineman Daniel McCullers up from the practice squad.
In fact, there is a new trend of players with legit starting experience joining teams’ practice squad rosters. The Chargers added safety Jahleel Addae and Malik Jefferson to their practice squad after both failed to catch on elsewhere. Receiver Jaron Brown rejoined the Cardinals via the practice squad. Guard Patrick Omameh joined the Raiders practice squad.
Nonetheless, there are still many NFL free agents who can make an impact in Week 3 and beyond. Here are the 10 best available NFL free agents headed into Week 3 of the 2020 season.
Honorable Mention
It’s hard not to pack this list out with safeties. Morgan Burnett, Clayton Gaethers, Tony Jefferson, Reshad Jones and Antoine Bethea all have high-level starting experience. The pool is so deep and the top guys are some of the best players available. Jefferson is the youngest of the group, but he’s coming off injury.
Cornerback is filled with experience too. Trumaine Johnson just got released from the Panthers practice squad. That’s a fall from grace for the corner who was once the Rams franchise-tag player.
Corner Morris Claiborne also hasn’t caught onto a roster. The 30-year-old started one game with the Chiefs last year but started 30 in the two seasons combined before that.
Tramon Williams, 37, is a versatile defensive back with starting experience. All these guys face tough competition from other free agents trying to make a roster.
Speaking of age, edge Terrell Suggs is 38 and off his second Super Bowl ring. Yet, he never officially retired after his 6.5 sack season in 15 games between Arizona and Kansas City.
Linebacker Clay Matthews said he is not retiring. It’s hard to look past 91.5 career sacks including 8 sacks last year. However, Matthews is 34 and doesn’t have much to prove.
Guard Ronald Leary and Tackle Jared Veldheer both contemplated retirement. They also worked out with the Cowboys. Nothing materialized since that workout a few weeks ago.
Tackle Cordy Glenn also worked out with the Eagles but did not make it either.
Center Justin Britt also contemplated retirement after he missed half of last season with an injury. The long-time Seattle starter at center started his career at tackle and guard. He could find interest in a team that needs a mobile lineman.
Wide receiver Demaryius Thomas saw his numbers taper off the past three seasons. Still, the 33-year-old receiver caught over 400 receiving yards in 10 starts for a terrible Jets offense. Again, he could catch some interest. All of them could still catch some interest and deserve mentioning in this list of NFL free agents.
Running Back Lamar Miller
Lamar Miller is still one of the biggest names on the market. Miller had 973 rushing yards in 2018 along with 163 receiving yard. Unfortunately, he missed all last season with an injury.
He’s a dual-threat back with three-down abilities. At 29, Miller should have some tread left on his tires but it wasn’t enough to make the Patriots. He also worked out with the Bills and Colts. It is surprising none of those teams signed Miller given he is healthy. That could change as the year moves on.
Defensive Tackle Marcell Dareus
Marcell Dareus was once a premier defensive tackle. Over his past few seasons, he was relegated to a situational nose tackle. Dareus has played in both even and odd fronts. He’s a big body who should add some anchor to a team that needs some beef on their defensive line.
Linebacker Nigel Bradham
The Saints cut linebacker Nigel Bradham a few months after signing him from the Philadelphia Eagles. The 31-year-old played multiple spots in four seasons with the Eagles which included a Super Bowl run. Bradham’s playing time tapered off last year, but he could still be valuable for a team that needs run support and leadership.
Edge Jabaal Sheard
Pass rush is always needed in the league which is why Detroit is bringing edge Jabaal Sheard in for a visit. Sheard registered at least 4.5 sacks over each of the last five years. The NFL free agent played multiple schemes and positions, which should make him a fit for a team in need of an edge. It appears he might land with a former New England defensive coordinator Matt Patricia in Detroit. Sheard had his best years in New England.
Corner Prince Amukamara
Corner Prince Amukamara’s career is filled with ups and downs since he was a first-round pick in 2019. At age 31, Amukamara got released from the Raiders only a few months after they signed him. Amukamara is still a big-bodied corner who can add some Super Bowl experience and 99 starts to a secondary in need of depth at corner.
Safety Eric Reid
There’s been talk about Eric Reid being black-balled from the league since he hasn’t received an offer. Reid is barely 28 and brings experience playing both safety spots. At this point, he’s probably best in a hybrid safety and coverage linebacker spot. His career 11 interceptions and six sacks should make him desirable should a team need safety reinforcements.
Safety Damarious Randall
The Raiders released Damarious Randall despite signing him in the offseason and pegging him as a starter. Randall can play safety, corner or nickel which gives him that much more opportunity to get signed. The 2015 first round has 14 career interceptions, despite zero last year. A team should take a chance on those ball skills and athleticism.
Safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix didn’t make the Cowboys roster. The 27-year-old signed with Dallas after two interceptions and two fumble recoveries over 16 starts for the Bears last year. Clinton-Dix can play either safety spot but he was a first-round pick as a true free safety. He has age on his size but he will need to find the right scheme fit. It didn’t seem like he was the best fit in Dallas anyways.
Defensive Tackle Damon Harrison
Already, the Seattle Seahawks sniffed around Damon Harrison. Harrison wanted to leave Detroit. He is contemplating coming out of retirement. The Bears seem interested in the NFL free agent, too.
Either way, Snacks is the right combination of run-stuffer who can also push the pocket. He has played in multiple schemes. Harrison had 2 sacks and 49 tackles in 15 starts for the Lions. At age 32, he’s probably best suited for a rotational role. However, he could be disruptive with the right front around him.
Safety Earl Thomas
Earl Thomas received his walking papers from the Ravens in late August, somewhat unexpectedly after a Pro Bowl. Thomas earned six Pro Bowls before he went to the Ravens for only a season. E.T. got released due to his failure to integrate himself in the locker room. He got into an on-field fight, their was off-field controversy and injuries too.
All that should not take away from Thomas’ Hall of Fame career which includes 30 interceptions and 12 forced fumbles in ten seasons. At 31-years-old, Thomas can still contribute at a high-level and he brings Super Bowl experience. At this point, signing Thomas is more about finding a lockerroom fit along with cap space.
Other Considerations
There are some other players who could not make the list if not for other reasons. Running back Derrius Guice should be on this list. However, domestic violence accusations, injuries and anger issues make him hard to sign right now. Guice played in only five games since Washington selected him in the second round in 2018.
Linebacker Darron Lee is also suspended until Week Five despite starting two games for the Chiefs last year. The 25-year-old had his best two seasons in 2017 and 2018 with three sacks, three interceptions, two forced fumbles and 168 tackles combined.
Linebacker Mychal Kendricks is free because he suffered an ACL injury late last year. Kendricks is probably one of the best backers available depending on his health.
Larry Warford opted out the 2020 season. New Orleans already released the three-time Pro Bowler and drafted his replacement. The right guard could opt back in but who knows.
Receiver Antonio Brown should make this list, too. However, he’s suspended until at least Week 9. Brown could get more discipline too so who knows if he is worth a flyer at this point.
Either way, there are more than 10 NFL Free Agents who could get signed and make an impact in Week 3.
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