2023 NFL Free Agency: Overlooked Veterans That Every Team Must Prioritize

When it comes to NFL free agency, it isn't always the biggest names who make the biggest impact.

For instance, Haason Reddick wasn't considered among the elite targets in the class, but he ignited a Philadelphia Eagles pass rush that racked up 70 sacks this year.

This year, names like Saquon Barkley, Orlando Brown and Josh Jacobs are going to dominate the headlines if they actually hit the market. But the best teams will hit on veterans with a little less hype for better value.

The following veterans should be high on the priority list for teams looking to improve with their cap dollars.

S Vonn Bell

AP Photo/Jeff Dean

Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell (24) plays during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

A lot of the focus on Cincinnati Bengals defensive free agents will go toward Jessie Bates III, but there's a strong case to be made that Vonn Bell would be the better addition if he hits the market.

Bates was a second-team All-Pro defender in 2020, but Bell has been a steady presence in the Bengals defensive backfield for the last three seasons and is coming off his most productive season yet at 28 years old.

He racked up four interceptions with eight passes defended and two forced fumbles in 2022.

Bell has always been a good run defender and a relatively sure tackler, and he missed just 7.2 percent of his tackles this season. However, his increased pass coverage production should have teams moving him up their free-agent target list. Bell gave up no touchdowns in coverage this year, which is always a big plus from the safety position.

Even if Bell's pass coverage slides back to the mean in 2023—he gave up 14 touchdowns in coverage in his last four NFL seasons entering 2022—he is a strong run defender with 12 career playoff starts between the New Orleans Saints and Cincinnati Bengals.

Anyone looking to add an enforcer and leader in the secondary should be taking a good look at Bell.

TE Mike Gesicki

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MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 08: Mike Gesicki #88 of the Miami Dolphins in action against the New York Jets during the second half of the game at Hard Rock Stadium on January 08, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)

If teams look too closely at Mike Gesicki's 2022 season, they are going to miss out on a weapon who could help elevate their offense.

Gesicki was never going to fit into Mike McDaniel's offense in Miami. McDaniel's background and moves with the Dolphins showed two things: He values speed in his receiving weapons and tight ends who can block.

They paid the price to pair Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle together, and Durham Smythe played more snaps than any other Dolphins tight end.

Gesicki is essentially a jumbo slot receiver, and that's just not a skill set that has a role in the Dolphins offense.

Several NFL teams could use it, though. Gesicki is reminiscent of Evan Engram last season.

Engram—who could be on the market again—was coming off a disappointing campaign for the New York Giants, but Doug Pederson and the Jacksonville Jaguars helped him post his most productive season six years into his career at 28 years old.

In turn, Engram helped Trevor Lawrence take the next step, hauling in 73 passes for 766 yards and four touchdowns.

Gesicki put up a similar stat line in 2021 (73 receptions, 780 yards and two touchdowns). It's just going to take a team that plays to his strength to get back to that level.

DT Javon Hargrave

AP Photo/Rich Schultz

Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Javon Hargrave (97) is introduced before an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)

There are going to be teams who shy away from Javon Hargrave based on age. It's a lot easier to sell a fanbase on investing in a 25-year-old defensive tackle like Daron Payne in free agency.

But Hargrave could easily be a better player than Payne over the next two seasons.

Payne exploded with 11.5 sacks in a contract year. After combining for 14.5 quarterback takedowns in his first four seasons, he put everything together and was dominant as an interior pass-rusher.

But looking at pass rush win rate (how often a player can defeat their block within 2.5 seconds), Payne was not a top-10 interior defender. That's much more predictive of future pass-rush productivity than sacks, and Hargrave finished third.

He finished third in 2021, too.

Yes, Hargrave is four years older than Payne. But most NFL contracts are structured to have an out after the first two or three years, and it's not out of the question for Hargrave to continue playing at this level for that amount of time.

A team is likely to get him for much cheaper than Payne but could easily reap a higher reward.

Edge Arden Key

AP Photo/Gary McCullough

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Arden Key (49) in action during an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Saturday, Jan. 7, 2023, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Titans 20-16. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)

Arden Key was a draft bust for the Raiders, but the last two seasons have shown that he's a pretty good pass rusher-for-hire.

The 2018 third-round pick was given a starting role early in his Raiders career but only responded with three sacks in three seasons. Over the last two years, he's proved to be a much better player than his time in Oakland and Las Vegas showed.

Key has earned one-year contracts in each of the last two seasons and responded with a 6.5-sack season in San Francisco in 2021 and 4.5 sacks in Jacksonville last year.

The production is especially impressive considering how efficient he has been. He only played 35 percent of the defensive snaps with the 49ers and 41 percent of them in Jacksonville.

The Jaguars likely won't have a ton of cap space and already have plenty of resources invested in a defensive front that includes Travon Walker, Josh Allen, Folorunso Fatukasi and Roy Robertson-Harris. Bringing back Key might not be in the cards.

Names like Marcus Davenport and Yannick Ngakoue are likely to draw more attention, but Key's next team is going to be happy it took the leap. He's a proven asset who can elevate a pass-rush rotation.

CB Marcus Peters

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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - NOVEMBER 07: Marcus Peters #24 of the Baltimore Ravens in action against the New Orleans Saints during a game at the Caesars Superdome on November 07, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

There are two ways to look at Marcus Peters.

On one hand, his 2022 season could be an indication of what he's going to look like going forward. He allowed seven touchdowns, over 700 yards and a passer rating of 113.7.

Heading into his age-30 season and one year removed from a torn ACL that cost him his entire 2021 season, Peters' age and injury history could make him a non-starter for some teams.

Alternatively, he could be an All-Pro talent available on a major discount.

The potential payoff outweighs the aforementioned concerns. Peters' 2022 statistics look a whole lot like his 2018 campaign with the Rams, when he surrendered 732 yards and six touchdowns.

He followed that up with an All-Pro season in 2019. Cornerback play is inherently volatile, and ACL injuries can take a while to return to 100 percent.

Don't count out Peters from having a bounce-back year in 2023. The team that bets on him to turn things around could get an elite cover corner at a discount price.

OG Isaac Seumalo

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 21: Isaac Seumalo #56 of the Philadelphia Eagles in action against the New York Giants during the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 21, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

Isaac Seumalo isn't going to be atop many free-agent rankings, but he could be a crucial signing. The majority of teams in the league would be upgrading at guard by adding the 29-year-old to their roster.

Seumalo could get lost in the shuffle on the Eagles elite offensive line. Between Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata, they have one of the highly touted units in the league.

But Seumalo more than pulled his weight as PFF's 10th-rated guard this season. Not only was he a big reason for all of the Eagles' success on the ground, but he only gave up one sack and drew just six penalties.

Fortunately for other teams, the Eagles are going to have a hard time bringing Seumalo back. They have an extensive list of free agents from the roster that won the NFC championship including Hargrave, Kelce, James Bradberry, Miles Sanders and C.J. Gardner-Johnson.

The Eagles have proven their ability to draft and develop talent on the interior, and they also have other options on the roster. Jack Driscoll has the ability to kick inside from tackle, while Cam Jurgens could play guard if Kelce doesn't retire.

That's likely going to create the opportunity for someone's offensive line to get a whole lot better by bringing in Seumalo.

LB Alex Singleton

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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - DECEMBER 04: Alex Singleton #49 of the Denver Broncos lines up against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 04, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)

Linebackers who can play like safeties in coverage might be the most desired archetype at the position, but there's still room for good, downhill players who help stop the run.

That's why Alex Singleton should still generate plenty of interest despite not being the best coverage 'backer in the league.

The 29-year-old took a one-year deal with Denver after the Eagles chose not to re-sign him last year. He rewarded their faith in him with 163 combined tackles and just seven missed tackles on a defense that ranked sixth in ESPN's defensive efficiency.

Singleton also isn't a complete liability in coverage. He only allowed 5.5 yards per target and his lowest passer rating (97.6) in the last three seasons.

Singleton's lack of splash plays and the fact that he's approaching 30 are likely to keep his cost low. But if teams are looking for a two-down inside linebacker who can be a sure tackler and help run the defense, Singleton is going to be a steal.