The NFL's Best Remaining Free Agents at Every Position

Less than three weeks into NFL free agency, and there is still some talent available on the open market.

A look here includes the best player at each position, with some of these spots being a little deeper than others.

The 13 selections are primarily based on last season’s performance, as well as how much a veteran may or may not have left in the so-called tank.

But in some instances, an abundance of experience will prove to be a positive factor. For a team looking for a one-year fix at a certain position, it could find the ideal solution.

Quarterback: Ryan Fitzpatrick (UFA: New York Jets)

Jim O'Connor-USA TODAY Sports

Is there any other choice at the moment?

In his 11th season with his sixth NFL team, journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick made quite the pit stop with the New York Jets in 2015. He set a single-season franchise record with a career-high 31 touchdown passes, throwing for 3,905 yards and leading the team to a 10-6 record.

Despite the numbers, Pro Football Focus ranked him No. 59 out of 78 quarterbacks. That’s due in part to a 59.6 completion percentage and 17 turnovers, including 15 interceptions.

Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole has the latest on the Jets’ contract standoff with the former Ivy League standout. The two sides remain far apart on a new deal. As for the best free-agent quarterback still on the market, the distance between Fitzpatrick and the rest of the field is arguably greater.

Running Back: Ronnie Hillman (UFA: Denver Broncos)

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Former Houston Texans running back Arian Foster may be far more accomplished. In seven seasons, he was the franchise’s all-time leading rusher and was named to four Pro Bowls.

But the younger and fresher legs these days belong to 24-year-old Ronnie Hillman. Earlier this month, the Denver Broncos matched an offer sheet by the Miami Dolphins for restricted free-agent C.J. Anderson. However, it was Hillman who led the eventual Super Bowl 50 champions with 863 yards rushing (tied for 14th in the NFL) and seven touchdowns.

The 2012 third-round pick from San Diego State played in all 16 games this past season. He nearly doubled his production on the ground (434 yards) from the previous year when he was limited to eight contests.

Tillman took a back seat to Anderson during the 2015 postseason in terms of the Broncos’ primary ball-carrier. He remains an excellent option for any club looking to bolster its depth in the backfield.

Wide Receiver: Anquan Boldin (UFA: San Francisco 49ers)

Tony Avelar/Associated Press

In three seasons with the organization, wide receiver Anquan Boldin has totaled 237 catches for 3,030 yards and 16 touchdowns for the San Francisco 49ers. He’s led the team in receptions in each of those years.

But the 13-year pro and three-time Pro Bowler remains unsigned, at least for now.

“Right now, we’ve had no discussions with Anquan up to this point,” said San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com earlier this week at the NFL owners meetings. “We left it in the offseason that we’d get back together at some point and talk about his future and what he’s looking for. Have not had that conversation as of yet.”

With 50-plus receptions in each of his 13 seasons (69 catches in 2015), Boldin remains an effective option and a receiver who can be a great aid to any quarterback. It won’t be a surprise when he winds up back with the Niners, unless another team wisely signs him first.

Tight End: Jared Cook (Released by Los Angeles Rams)

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

In seven seasons, Jared Cook’s three years with the Rams (142 catches) were more productive than his four campaigns (134 catches) with the Tennessee Titans.

However, the team that signed the free-agent tight end to a five-year, $35.1 million contract in 2013 opted to part ways with the 28-year-old performer, who was a third-round pick by the Titans in 2009.

While he’s the top player at his position left on the open market, there’s been no rush to sign the pass-catcher to date. Cook comes off a season in which he totaled only 39 receptions in 16 contests and failed to reach the end zone for the first time since his rookie campaign.

Tackle: Nate Chandler (Released by Carolina Panthers)

MIKE MCCARN/Associated Press

Time for a team to take a little leap of faith if it is looking for depth on the offensive front.

All of the top tackles who were available when the free-agent period began are off the market. The choice here is Nate Chandler, who hasn’t played since 2014 when he was an 11-game starter at right tackle for the Carolina Panthers before his season ended with a knee injury.

In 2015, the former undrafted free agent was inactive for the team’s Week 1 contest with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was placed on injured reserve four days later, ending his season. Cut loose by the club earlier this month, an optimistic Chandler was grateful for his time with the Panthers.

You could make a case that former New York Giants tackle Will Beatty should get the nod over Chandler. Both did not play football this past season. The fact that the latter has also seen action as a starting guard in this league helps his cause. Chandler will turn 27 on June 1, making him four years younger than the 31-year-old Beatty.

Guard: Geoff Schwartz (Released by New York Giants)

Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Versatile offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz has seen action with four teams since being drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the seventh round in 2008.

He has started a total of 39 regular-season contests during his career at both left and right guard, as well as right tackle. Schwartz spent the past two seasons with the New York Giants, but injuries limited him to a combined 13 games. The 29-year-old veteran (who turns 30 on July 11) was released by the franchise this offseason.

When available in 2015, the 6’6”, 340-pound blocker was certainly effective. Pro Football Focus ranked him as a top-25 player at his position before he suffered a season-ending injury in a Week 12 loss to the Washington Redskins. While Schwartz posted negative marks for his pass blocking (minus-3.5), he earned high grades when it came to the running game (plus-9.6).

Center: Stefen Wisniewski (UFA: Jacksonville Jaguars)

Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Center Stefen Wisniewski remains a free agent, and that’s a little surprising.

This past season, the 27-year-old performer (who celebrated a birthday on March 22) started all 16 games for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Pro Football Focus rated him as the league’s 14th-best player at his position. However, his disappointing grade in terms of run blocking (minus-4.7) may be scaring some clubs off. That includes a Jacksonville team that allowed 51 sacks in 2015.

Five NFL seasons with the Oakland Raiders and Jaguars have added up to 77 games and starts for the 2011 second-round pick by the Silver and Black from Penn State. Speaking of the Keystone State, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that Wisniewski recently met with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Defensive End: Greg Hardy (UFA: Dallas Cowboys)

Brian Blanco/Associated Press

Despite missing the first four games this past season due to a league suspension, defensive end Greg Hardy finished second on his team with six sacks.

But the Dallas Cowboys have not opted to retain the former Pro Bowler, at least for now. When asked whether the team could bring back the talented defender, owner Jerry Jones recently told David Moore of the Dallas Morning News that “we still want to leave that open.”

In 12 games with the Cowboys in 2015, the former Carolina Panthers defender also totaled 35 tackles, one interception and a forced fumble. In 75 regular-season contests with two franchises, Hardy has racked up 40 sacks.

Recently, Mark Gunnels of Football Insiders asked if the young performer’s NFL career was over despite the fact that he is only 27 years old.

Given Hardy’s off-the-field issues and the current mindset of the league, it’s an excellent question.

Defensive Tackle: Terrance Knighton (UFA: Washington Redskins)

Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive tackle Terrance Knighton has played seven seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins. He’s been a 16-game starter four times and has missed only four contests in his career.

You could call his 2015 performance with the NFC East champions erratic at best, although Knighton may not agree. But the 6’3”, 354-pound nose tackle still earned positive grades for his overall play (plus-5.4) and his run-stopping prowess (plus-4.7), courtesy of Pro Football Focus.

Some would also argue that 28-year-old Nick Fairley belongs in this spot instead of Knighton. But according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (via Kevin Patra), the former Lions and Rams defensive tackle is close to a deal with the New Orleans Saints.

Outside Linebacker: Dwight Freeney (UFA: Arizona Cardinals)

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Talk about making the most of your playing time?

Last October 13, the Arizona Cardinals signed Dwight Freeney to a one-year contract. He played 11 regular-season games and 264 defensive snaps. It added up to nine tackles, a team-high eight sacks and three forced fumbles.

The seven-time Pro Bowler (all of those accolades earned with the Indianapolis Colts), and his 119.5 career sacks, is certainly not a full-time solution. But the 36-year-old Freeney could serve a similar role for another team as he did for the 2015 NFC West champions.

Another option for a club looking for help at the position might have been former Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw. But late Friday (March 25), the Atlanta Falcons (as reported by Chris Wesseling of NFL.com) announced that the team had signed the four-year pro.

Inside Linebacker: Zach Brown (UFA: Tennessee Titans)

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

Once a promising player with a bright future, inside linebacker Zach Brown now finds himself on the open market after four seasons.

Two years into his career with the Tennessee Titans, the 2012 second-round pick totaled 90-plus tackles each season. He also combined for 9.5 sacks, four interceptions (two returned for scores), three fumbles recoveries and 10 passes defensed.

After a 2014 campaign that saw him lost for the year in Week 1 with a pectoral injury, Brown made a steady comeback. This past season, he returned to play all 16 games, made five starts and again proved to be a Zach-of-all-trades. The 26-year-old defender finished fourth on the team with 77 tackles, half a sack, three passes defensed and a pair of interceptions.

That kind of production, combined with the fact Brown is now more than a year removed from injury, makes him a solid addition to a team looking for an inside presence on defense.

Cornerback: Brandon Boykin (UFA: Pittsburgh Steelers)

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Last offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles surprisingly dealt talented cornerback Brandon Boykin to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

For the first half of 2015, it was somewhat shocking that he saw little action with the Black and Gold. He played just 23 defensive snaps for the club in its first 11 regular-season outings.

Boykin was a much bigger factor in the final five weeks as well as the playoff split with the Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos. When it was all said and done, he graded out as the team’s top cornerback this past season, according to Pro Football Focus. He remains unsigned, and earlier this month, he spoke with Mitch Goldich of SI.com about what the future could hold for a player who turns just 26 years old in July.

Safety: FS Reggie Nelson (UFA: Cincinnati Bengals)

Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports

When your team forces 28 turnovers and you come up with 10 of those takeaways, it adds up to a pretty good year.

Yet Cincinnati Bengals free safety Reggie Nelson remains on the open market. This despite the fact that he finished second on his team in tackles (77) and passes defensed (14), and tied for the NFL lead with eight interceptions.

Earlier this offseason, the organization did re-sign secondary mater and strong safety George Iloka. The team hasn’t closed the door on bringing back Nelson, a first-time Pro Bowler in 2015.

“In any situation both parties have to agree to agree,” said Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis to Coley Harvey of ESPN.com on Tuesday. “And we just haven’t agreed to agree with Reggie yet.”

With more than $21 million in available cap room, the Bengals apparently aren’t in a hurry to get a deal done. What’s more surprising is that another club hasn’t made a stronger push for the nine-year veteran.

Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics come from Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com. All player ratings courtesy of Pro Football Focus. All 2016 free-agent and salary-cap information, contract terms and 2016 transactions are courtesy of Spotrac.