We’re less than 90 days away from the start of football (NFL, that is). It’s never too early to look at the biggest names with expiring contracts to monitor through the season.
Quite often, a window into predicting the best performers in one NFL betting season is seeing which players are free-agents-to-be after the season. It’s the proverbial contract year when players are looking ahead to that next and, in many cases, final payday.
So as our own predictor of which players might shine in 2022, here’s a look at the best 2023 free agents.
NFL Quarterbacks
Very few prime quarterbacks are allowed to become free agents.
In 2023, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Tom Brady will be a free agent, but he’ll be 45 and Fox Sports money is waiting for him.
Brady’s tied for third (with the Green Bay Packers’ Aaron Rodgers) among wagering to win the MVP award, currently at +1000, or 10-1. That’s according to NFL odds.
Jimmy Garoppolo will be a free agent and, assuming he isn’t traded by the San Francisco 49ers this season, they are guaranteed to let him walk in 2023.
Baker Mayfield of the Cleveland Browns is also set to be a free agent in 2023. A year ago, the market would have been robust for Mayfield. Now, it’s hard to know.
NFL Running Backs
The number of top running backs potentially hitting the market in 2023 bodes well for teams looking to improve that position.
Saquon Barkley will have completed his rookie contract with the New York Giants. If he’s healthy this season, next season should pay him quite well.
Kareem Hunt of the Browns likely wants out of Cleveland, to stop sharing a backfield with Nick Chubb. Hunt is a former NFL rushing champion who’ll still only be 27 years old next season.
Las Vegas’ Josh Jacobs has twice rushed for 1,000 yards, and will have completed his rookie contract. The Raiders, however, did decline his option. They’re likely to part ways with him.
NFL Wide Receiver
With no one predicting just how much the market for a quality wide receiver would explode this offseason, and with Deebo Samuel set to be an unrestricted free agent in 2023, it’s quite possible the market gets reset again. He will be available (assuming the Niners don’t agree on an extension) in the 2023 offseason. He will be expensive. He’s also listed at +900 (co-third choice) to be voted NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year, as per NFL odds.
Currently not under contract for the 2023 season, either, is Seattle wide receiver DK Metcalf. In three seasons, 3,170 yards and 29 touchdowns, so he instantly makes for a dangerous offense.
Terry McLaurin is also available in 2023. There’s a great desire from football fans to see a wide receiver of his skillset find his way to an offense where he is featured.
Defensive Line
There’s a lot of turnover from year to year on the defensive line. In 2023, there will be a ton of great players as unrestricted free agents.
Older veterans like J.J. Watt, Fletcher Cox, and Akiem Hicks can still give a new team a great season. There are younger players like Yannick Ngakoue and A’Shawn Robinson who would be good pieces in 2023.
Linebacker
Lavonte David is going to retire as one of the best linebackers in Tampa Bay Buccaneer history, at some point. However, the free agent in 2023 might be open to taking his yearly 100 tackles to a new team.
Blake Martinez is back from an ACL tear in 2022, and with 140-plus tackles in his last four full seasons of play, he will get plenty of attention if he decides to leave the New York Giants.
Bradley Chubb has been disappointing with the Denver Broncos, mainly due to injuries. He will only be 26 next season. There’s still plenty of time for him to play like the fifth overall pick he was in 2018.
Secondary
There will be several big names hitting the market in 2023, beginning with Baltimore Ravens’ cornerback Marcus Peters. The two-time All-Pro will only be 30, and with 31 career interceptions, there will be no one on the market that can change a game as often.
Other corners available in 2023 include Eli Apple of the Cincinnati Bengals, Kyle Fuller of the Baltimore Ravens, the New Orleans Saints’ Bradley Roby, James Bradberry of the Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots’ Jonathan Jones.
Free-agent safeties in 2023 include the Buffalo Bills’ Jordan Poyer, who was First-Team All-Pro last season. Jimmie Ward of the San Francisco 49ers, Adrian Amos of the Green Bay Packers and Cincinnati’s Vonn Bell are also free agents.
The big-named free agent safeties in 2023 are Derwin James of the Los Angeles Chargers and Minkah Fitzpatrick of the Steelers, assuming no extensions with their current teams are signed.
