NFL Free-Agent Signings That We're Still Waiting to Happen in 2023
The 2023 NFL draft has come and gone. Teams have filled out their rosters with undrafted free agents and are close to finalizing the squads that they'll carry into training camp. However, several quality veterans are still sitting on the free-agent market waiting for a new home.
Some of these free agents make so much sense for specific teams that we're surprised they haven't been signed yet. But, just like the best unsigned veterans, we're still waiting.
Whether it's because of proven production, team needs, scheme fit or relevant recent buzz, these potential pairings almost feel inevitable. We'll dive into the players and the team fits below.
Players are listed in alphabetical order.
RB Ezekiel Elliott to the Dallas Cowboys
1 of 8
Shortly after the Dallas Cowboys released him in a cap-saving move, running back Ezekiel Elliott had narrowed his wish list down to the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
However, a return to Dallas has always felt like the best move for the two-time rushing champ. Elliott may have lost his burst, but he's still a good power back—he ran for 12 touchdowns in 2022—and a complement to the more explosive Tony Pollard.
Some Cowboys players, including quarterback Dak Prescott, would be thrilled to see Elliott return.
"I know myself, and I can tell you there's a lot of people not only on the team but the organization that would love that," Prescott said during an appearance on The Adam Schefter Podcast (h/t Adam Schultz of Cowboys Country).
It would make a lot of sense if Elliott was open to signing a team-friendly deal. Pollard is coming off of leg surgery, and the Cowboys didn't draft a running back until they took 5'5", 179-pound change-of-pace candidate Deuce Vaughn in the sixth round.
The Cowboys have $16.7 million in cap space remaining. No one should be shocked if Dallas eventually announces that Elliott is coming back.
LB Leonard Floyd to the Philadelphia Eagles
2 of 8
Although pass-rusher Leonard Floyd is approaching 31 years old, he still has plenty in the proverbial tank. Despite playing on the lackluster Los Angeles Rams in 2022, he managed to record nine sacks and 31 quarterback pressures.
The Rams released Floyd in a cap-saving move earlier this offseason. The Philadelphia Eagles would be a great landing spot for him.
The Eagles don't necessarily need another pass-rusher after logging 70 sacks last season and drafting Georgia sack artist Nolan Smith in the first round, but this feels exactly like the sort of addition general manager Howie Roseman would make.
While Los Angeles loaded up for a Super Bowl run by acquiring pricey veterans like Von Miller and Matthew Stafford, Roseman has looked for valuable bargains where he can find them. He added cornerback James Bradberry on a modest one-year, $7.3 million deal last offseason and acquired safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (and a seventh-round pick) via trade for fifth- and sixth-round selections.
Floyd is still owed $19 million in dead money from the Rams and may be amenable to a team-friendly deal with a contender. Philadelphia has $14.3 million in cap space and could make it happen.
Too many pass-rushers? That isn't a thing.
LB Deion Jones to the Dallas Cowboys
3 of 8
Much like a reunion between Ezekiel Elliott and the Dallas Cowboys would make sense, so would a reunion between Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and linebacker Deion Jones. The pair spent five seasons together with the Atlanta Falcons before Quinn was fired.
After Jones started the 2022 season on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, the Falcons traded him to the Cleveland Browns in mid-October. He proved in Cleveland that he's still a solid role player, playing 59 percent of the snaps in 11 games and finishing with 44 tackles, 2.5 sacks and an interception.
During his last full season with the Falcons in 2021, Jones racked up 137 tackles and two sacks.
Jones' familiarity with Quinn is part of the equation. His ability to be a sideline-to-sideline run defender is another. The Cowboys drafted defensive tackle Mazi Smith and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown to help address their 22nd-ranked run defense, but they shouldn't be finished adding pieces.
After all, the Cowboys are likely to face run-heavy teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants at some point in the postseason.
.jpg?w=256 "Bills Football")
.jpg?w=256 "Texans Steelers Football")
.jpg?w=256 "NFL Combine Football")
LB Justin Houston to the Baltimore Ravens
4 of 8
Pass-rusher Justin Houston is 34 years old and won't be a fit for every team. However, he's still a capable rotational edge-defender who can help a contender.
There's one place we know that Houston fits: the Baltimore Ravens.
Despite playing only 44 percent of the defensive snaps in Baltimore last season, Houston tallied 9.5 sacks and 25 quarterback pressures. The Ravens should be interested in a reunion with Houston because he and Calais Campbell accounted for 15 of Baltimore's 48 sacks last season, and Campbell has already signed elsewhere.
Back in January, Houston said he'd be happy to return.
"We'll see if the chips work out, and I'll be here," Houston said, per Clifton Brown of the Ravens' official website. "That's out of my control. We'll see what they do. I'd like to be back here."
The Ravens have $13.9 million in cap space remaining. It would be a mild surprise if they don't bring Houston back for another playoff run.
DE Yannick Ngakoue to the Cleveland Browns
5 of 8
When it came to sack production, Myles Garrett basically carried the Cleveland Browns last season. Garrett had 16 of their 34 sacks, while no other player had more than three.
Jadeveon Clowney, who remains a free agent, provided only two sacks for the Browns last season. Even after signing defensive end Ogbonnia Okoronkwo in free agency and drafting defensive lineman Isaiah McGuire in the fourth round, the Browns still could use more help on the edge.
Enter Yannick Ngakoue, who had 9.5 sacks and 27 quarterback pressures with the Indianapolis Colts last season before his campaign was cut short by throat surgery. Ngakoue isn't a regular force against the run, but he'd be a terrific rotational complement opposite Garrett.
According to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, the Browns and Ngakoue have touched base before.
"The Browns and Ngakoue had mutual interest in 2020 when he was with the Jaguars, but he was in the midst of an agent switch and talks fizzled," Cabot wrote.
The Browns have nearly $8 million in cap space and should make a serious push to squeeze Ngakoue into their financial plans.
CB Marcus Peters to the New York Giants
6 of 8
Cornerback Marcus Peters suffered a torn ACL in 2021 and wasn't the same reliable playmaker upon his return in 2022. He allowed an opposing passer rating of 113.7 in coverage with the Baltimore Ravens last year.
However, Peters is now another year removed from the injury, and the Ravens haven't slammed the door shut on a return.
"You don't close the door on good players and good people, you just see how it goes," Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said, per NFL.com's Bobby Kownack.
The New York Giants should swoop in and snag Peters before he re-signs with the Ravens. He played under Giants defensive coordinator Don Martindale in Baltimore and could provide a big boost in the secondary.
The Giants did draft cornerback Deonte Banks in the first round, but the Maryland product won't completely turn around a secondary that had only six interceptions in 2022. Peters is familiar with Martindale's scheme, and he has an impressive 32 picks on his career resume.
There's a lot of risk involved because of Peters' age (30) and recent performance, but at this point in the offseason—and a likely reduced cost—it would make sense.
The caveat here is that New York has only $2.6 million in cap space and would have to get Peters to take a team-friendly deal and finagle some room to make a partnership happen.
G Dalton Risner to the Cincinnati Bengals
7 of 8
Dalton Risner's presence on the free-agent market at this point of the offseason is a surprise. The 27-year-old guard is the second-ranked player on ESPN's list of top remaining free agents.
"Risner fits best in a gap run scheme as a close-quarters mauler with a strong and rugged play style," ESPN's Matt Bowen wrote. "He ranked 10th in the league in run block win rate (74.4 percent) among guards."
The Cincinnati Bengals used gap runs 40 percent of the time in 2022, which was the eighth-highest rate in the league, according to Sports Info Solutions. Cincinnati could also use an upgrade at left guard.
The Bengals may like 2022 fourth-round pick Cordell Volson, but he was responsible for five penalties and allowed five sacks, according to Pro Football Focus. Risner was responsible for only one penalty and allowed three sacks, per PFF, and he could help improve Cincinnati's interior run blocking.
For a team that averaged only 3.8 yards per carry in 2022, that's a big selling point. The Bengals improved their line by signing Orlando Brown Jr. in free agency, but they're a championship contender and can afford to do more.
With $17.5 million in cap space remaining, they should continue to seek ways to bolster quarterback Joe Burrow's protection and improve their run game.
LB Kyle Van Noy to the Las Vegas Raiders
8 of 8
The Las Vegas Raiders have done a solid job of reloading a defense that ranked 23rd in yards per carry allowed (4.5), 28th in yards per pass attempt allowed (6.7), 28th in yards allowed and 26th in points allowed last season.
The Raiders have added veterans like cornerbacks David Long Jr. and Duke Shelley and linebacker Robert Spillane. They also drafted defensive linemen Tyree Wilson and Byron Young, safety Christopher Smith and cornerback Jakorian Bennett.
Las Vegas still could use more defensive help, though. It's a bit surprising that head coach Josh McDaniels hasn't called on linebacker Kyle Van Noy to provide it yet.
McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler—who both came from the New England Patriots—haven't been shy about adding former Patriots like Jimmy Garoppolo, Brian Hoyer, Brandon Bolden and Jakobi Meters. But Van Noy's value goes beyond him being a former New England staple. He's a do-it-all defender who racked up 112 tackles (including 72 solo stops), 10 sacks, 32 quarterback pressures, 13 passes defended, three fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and an interception over the past two seasons with the Patriots and Los Angeles Chargers.
The Raiders have $16.1 million in cap space remaining. We're waiting on them to use some of that money to bring Van Noy into the fold.
Cap and contract information via Spotrac. Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference unless otherwise noted.
.jpg?w=480 "Bills Football")
.jpg?w=480 "Texans Steelers Football")
.jpg?w=480 "NFL Combine Football")
.jpg?w=600 "Mike Vrabel Makes Statement")
.jpg?w=600 "Tyson Compared to JJettas 👀")