NFL free agency 2023: DeAndre Hopkins, Ezekiel Elliott headline top players available at every position

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By Webdesk


Free agency returns to the forefront of the NFL with the 2023 NFL Draft over and minicamps underway for all 32 teams. Many of the best free agents are off the board, but DeAndre Hopkins’ release from the Arizona Cardinals makes the offseason a little more intriguing.

There are plenty of good players available, even in the third wave of free agency. These are the best left in each position.

Quarterback

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It’s a slim shot at the quarterback position with Lamar Jackson officially back with the Ravens, making Wentz the best available in a market that has dried up significantly.

Wentz completed 62.3% of his passes for 1,755 yards last year with 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions (80.2 passer rating), benching in favor of Taylor Heinicke and Sam Howell. He probably has a job waiting for him, if he’s willing to accept a backup role.

Run back

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This shows how the running back market has thinned out over the past few days as all the top rushers are off the board. Ezekiel Elliott is the remaining top player in a dry market.

Elliott was arguably the worst starting running back in the league last season, finishing last in the NFL in yards per carry (3.8), tackles avoided (32), and percentage of runs that took more than 10 yards (7.4% ). His rushing yards per game has declined each season due to the number of touches he has accumulated over the course of his career, averaging 58.4 rushing yards per game and 3.8 yards per carry in 2022.

Wide receiver

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Hopkins is suddenly the best player on the board in this free agent class, thanks to his stunning release from the Cardinals. Hopkins has a list of quarterbacks he would like to play with in 2023, but how realistic it will be for him join one of those teams?

Hopkins has the eighth most receiving yards during a player’s first 10 seasons in NFL history (11,298) and the fourth most receiving yards after a player’s first 10 seasons (853). Hopkins averaged 7.1 catches per game (fourth in NFL) and 79.7 yards per game (10th in NFL), despite only playing nine games last season. He has been a first-team All-Pro three times and been selected to the Pro Bowl five times in his 10 NFL seasons.

Whoever gets Hopkins gets a No. 1 wide receiver – an impressive price this late in the offseason.

Tight end

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There aren’t many tight ends left on the market, but Cameron Brate has valuable starting experience in the league (33 starts in 126 career games). He only had 20 catches for 174 yards last season at age 31, but offers value in two tight end sets and good tight end depth.

Offensive tackle

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Taylor Lewan has had quite a few injuries over the years but is still a good player when he is on the field. Four sacks and 22 pressures in his last full season (2021). Lewan can keep the fortress down on a left tackle — in a league that doesn’t have many good ones.

Of course there is also the possibility that Lewan will retire, but he has not made that decision yet.

Attacking guard

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Dalton Risner spent the first four years of his pro career in Denver after the Broncos selected him in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft from Kansas State. The 27-year-old is coming off a 2022 season where he conceded three sacks and conceded just one penalty on 967 offensive snaps played, according to Pro Football Focus.

Centre

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Rodney Hudson played only four games last season, but allowed just two pressures and a 1.1% pressure percentage in his 284 snaps. He is worth the contract for a team in need of a centre, and offers excellent value for an attacking line.

Defensive end

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Frank Clark remains one of the fastest players in football, ranking third in NFL history with 13.5 sacks in the playoffs. Clark only had five sacks last season, but had 45 pressings and 13 quarterback hits. Clark has bagged double digits twice and made it to the Pro Bowl in three of the past four seasons (and is only 29).

Defensive tackle

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Ioannidis fell out of favor in Carolina, but had 35 pressure points and a pressure percentage of 10.5% last season. The number of sacks was low (one), but Ioannidis was able to get into the backfield and get around the quarterback.

Ioannidis, just 29 years old, brings depth to the defensive line as an edge rusher and defensive tackle.

Edge rusher/Outside linebacker

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Floyd is the best outside linebacker out there, although he’s more of an edge rusher. Floyd had 54 pressings and nine sacks for the Los Angeles Rams last season, and he’s only 30.

Floyd also had an 11.6% pressing percentage with 22 quarterback hits.

Inside linebacker

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Deion Jones is coming off his first season with the Cleveland Browns, appearing in 11 games and starting five. He recorded 44 tackles, including 25 solo tackles and 2.5 sacks. He added an interception to his stats sheet last year, bringing his career total to 12. Last season was far from Jones’ best, but saw plenty of success in the first few years of his NFL career, including a Pro Bowl selection.

Corner back

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Peters’ three-year run in Baltimore appears to be over after the Ravens signed former Raiders CB Rock Ya-Sin to a free contract. The former All-Pro is coming off a 2022 season where he played in 13 games and had just one interception – the lowest total of his stellar career.

Safety

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The security market has not been strong in free agency, so there are plenty of good starters available. Adrian Amos is the top left safety, despite allowing 12 pass touchdowns in the past two seasons.

Amos had a career worst completion percentage of 70.2% when attacked last year and a score of 103.8 passers allowed. Still only 29, Amos had a career-high 102 tackles last season.

Kicker

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Even at 40 years old, Robbie Gould is still one of the best kickers in the game. Gould hit 27 of 34 field goal attempts (84.4%) and 50 of 51 extra punt attempts (98.0%) last season. He has never missed a kick in the postseason, as Gould is 29 of 29 in field goals and 39 of 39 in extra points.





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