2013 NFL Free Agents: Breaking Down Best Veteran Bargains on the Open Market

The initial wave of NFL free agency is over, with the current focus being predominantly on the 2013 draft. However, there are still several veterans lurking on the open market that could provide a valuable spark at a reasonable price.

Some aging players may be better suited to providing mentorship to younger players, but the following established, recently proven studs should be hot commodities due to their ability to still contribute significantly on the field.

Let's take a look at this promising set of solid pros who should find themselves a new NFL destination soon enough.

OG Brandon Moore

Interest in the ex-New York Jets guard has not wavered this offseason, as Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports:

Moore is a stout run blocker and knows how to get to the second level. He was a consistent driving force for the Jets' rushing attack, which has been the clear emphasis of their offense in recent seasons.

The fact that Moore is set to turn 33 this June gives teams the flexibility to offer him a short-term contract at a relative bargain, given the caliber of player he is.

A mostly underappreciated career finally resulted in a Pro Bowl berth for Moore back in 2011, and his durability is not a concern at all. Over the past eight seasons, Moore did not miss a single start in the Big Apple.

Whoever eventually decides to pull the trigger on Moore will get a crafty, athletic guard who will be an immediate asset in the running game and also help thwart explosive defensive tackles up the middle that threaten to collapse the pocket.

WR Brandon Lloyd

Despite possessing some of the best hands in the entire league, Lloyd looks as though he will continue being a journeyman.

Should he not eventually re-sign with his 2012 team, the New England Patriots, a new suitor would mark Lloyd's seventh team in 11 years as a pro.

Lloyd reportedly projected "erratic behavior," which makes a return to Foxboro unlikely after his release. Considering the Pats signed Danny Amendola in free agency, the role for Lloyd in the team's high-powered offense seems to be diminishing as well.

Plus, the Pats could still take another younger receiver on the outside in the draft. None of these are good signs if Lloyd was planning on returning.

New England may have too many weapons, but that's a luxurious problem that most teams don't have.

The market should be kind to Lloyd, because there aren't many other experienced alternatives. After all, he tallied 74 receptions this past season for 911 yards, and four TDs. The first two numbers are the best of his career, with the exception of his 2010 All-Pro campaign in Denver.

Though he doesn't possess top-end speed, that doesn't prevent Lloyd from being a viable downfield threat, as ESPN Stats & Info points out:

Last season proved Lloyd has plenty left in the tank, and he could easily be a difference-maker for a team with a thin receiver corps.

DE Israel Idonije

After emerging as a starter in 2010, Idonije has taken advantage of his opportunities with the Chicago Bears to set up an opportunity for a decent free-agent deal.

It's likely that Idonije's best time to cash in will be after the draft, and  he has expressed a desire to return to the city he grew up in, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

However, he could serve as a valuable pass-rushing specialist elsewhere—or eventually even a starter—for a solid team.

Bears GM Phil Emery recently expressed his intention to re-sign the talented defensive lineman, per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune:

Idonije has notched 20.5 sacks over the past three seasons, and at 6'4" and 271 pounds, can shift anywhere along the defensive front. After playing in a 4-3 for the Bears, the athleticism Idonije sports for his size may be better suited for a five-technique defensive end.

Given the depth of defensive ends for the incoming rookies, though, it will be difficult for Idonije to land a surefire starting job. That should lead to a relatively cheap contract, but no matter which team he plays for, the underrated 32-year-old will have a major impact.