NFL Free Agents 2016: Biggest Question Marks Surrounding Top Unsigned Players

The fires of NFL free agency have died down after a fierce first week, but the embers still glow.

There are plenty of free agents left on the market; they just aren't on the superstar or get-overpaid levels.

Many of them do deserve a new contract, though. So what gives? Let's look at some of the top free agents left and why they might still be on the market.

Reggie Nelson, Safety

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He made the Pro Bowl for the first time last season in his best NFL campaign. He intercepted eight passes to lead the league. So why is Reggie Nelson getting left behind in free agency?

Perhaps the fact he is 32 has something to do with it. That is a little odd, though, considering 31-year-old Eric Weddle just signed a $26 million deal with the Ravens.

It might seem like a double standard, but Nelson's age seems to be the biggest issue, according to Pro Football Talk's Michael David Smith:

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Although Nelson played very well last season, NFL teams simply don’t like to spend a lot of money on players in their 30s at any position other than quarterback. It appears that the Bengals want to get younger at the position, and it also appears that Minnesota — where Nelson knows the defense run by coach Mike Zimmer — is uninterested.

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Whoever lands Nelson might just get a Pro Bowl player with a chip on his shoulder.

Russell Okung, Offensive Tackle

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What happens when you fire your agent and go at it alone in free agency? Russell Okung is quickly finding out.

The big offensive lineman should have been an early free-agent signee given he is a starting-caliber left tackle in his prime. He reportedly has several offers in hand, per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, but none of them have been good enough to sign (it seems). Perhaps teams are worried about the 28-year-old's bum shoulder.

Speaking of the devil, the biggest question mark here involves health: Okung has been unable to play a full season once in his career. He's missed 13 games over the past three seasons alone. This is likely the biggest reason why he hasn't signed a huge deal by now, perhaps along with some inconsistent play in recent years.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Quarterback

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What is Ryan Fitzpatrick thinking?

Sure, he nearly led the New York Jets to the playoffs last season. Yes, there are a couple of job openings that theoretically increase his value. But Fitzpatrick is dramatically overplaying his hand if he is really playing hardball with the Jets.

He is reportedly asking for $18 million annually, per CBS Sports' Will Brinson, which is an absurdly high number all things considered.

The journeyman quarterback had the best year of his career on a roster with some serious weaponry last season. It amounted to Fitzpatrick ranking 27th in yards per attempt and 24th in passer rating while putting up a stinker of a season-ending performance that sank his team's playoff push.

The 33-year-old Harvard product has never been franchise-quarterback material, which is why the Jets seem to be balking at his demands.

Anquan Boldin, Wide Receiver

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If Reggie Nelson is too old to get an early contract, what does that make Anquan Boldin?

Boldin has been a physical receiver his entire career by outmuscling opponents to great effect with the Cardinals, Ravens and 49ers. The past few years have seen his athleticism betray him, though, and leave him on the free-agent market alongside many much younger lottery tickets.

Despite a broken offense that preferred Blaine Gabbert at quarterback, Boldin still put up 789 yards and four touchdowns last season. That represents a significant dip in production, though, and it perhaps signals that age has caught up to him.

The 35-year-old may not have much left in the tank, but he would be a savvy addition for a needy team, such as one that could be a contender in 2016. He would certainly need to be a complementary piece—perhaps in a mentor role.

Arian Foster, Running Back

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How much does Arian Foster realistically have left in the tank?

The former Houston Texans star will be 30 when the season begins—a bad threshold to cross for most running backs in the NFL. Add to that his inability to stay healthy for years now, and it's easy to see why Houston parted ways with him.

Foster's latest malady is a rather serious one for a man at his position, as he is trying to make his way back from a shredded Achilles tendon. That alone could have him waiting as a free agent for months as teams gauge whether to invest.

Walter Thurmond, Defensive Back

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Walter Thurmond was a mediocre-at-best cornerback when he came into the league. He moved to safety last season and enjoyed a career year. He tripled his career interceptions, doubled up his career sack total and set a career high in tackles all in one season.

Thurmond is only 28, to boot. But he isn't getting much love on the open market. Why is that?

Well, the fact he had missed 44 games in the previous five seasons might have something to do with it. Thurmond made it through 16 games for the first time in his career last season.

He is also reportedly contemplating retirement, per the Philadelphia Daily News' Les Bowen.

Nick Fairley, Defensive Tackle

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Nick Fairley's free-agent case is one of the more puzzling ones.

Once part of a deadly duo with Ndamukong Suh in Detroit, teams inexplicably ignored Fairley in free agency a year ago before he signed a modest one-year deal with the then-St. Louis Rams. He's back on the market after another solid season, yet Fairley is getting few fair looks on the market yet again.

He isn't exactly on Suh's level, but Fairley is a starting-caliber defensive tackle worthy of a multiyear deal. Perhaps his off-field issues from yesteryear are still playing a part in the NFL's reticence to sign him.

Well, at least it seems like reticence after last year. This time around, rumors say three or four teams are duking it out for the 28-year-old's services, per NJ.com's Mark Eckel.

Robert Griffin III, Quarterback

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You knew Robert Griffin III was going to be here, on this very list, before it was written. 

Free agency wasn't going to be a quick process for Washington's former savior. The 26-year-old carries too much baggage with him wherever he goes, and most other dominoes need to realistically fall before he signs on somewhere.

Griffin's confidence is surely the biggest question on the minds of potential suitors. Ever since his team let him go out and shred his knee, Griffin just wasn't the same player.

Injury and confidence issues aside, Griffin seemed to burn bridges in Washington until there was no way to cross the Potomac.