The Latest Updates on the NFL's Top Available Free Agents

Heading into July, there’s been a lull when it comes to the NFL offseason. Mandatory minicamps concluded about two weeks ago, and teams will begin heading to training camp soon.

And there are still some experienced pros looking for work.

While there have been a number of veterans in the news as of late, players like wide receiver Marques Colston, guard Jahri Evans, linebacker Donald Butler, safety Donte Whitner and tackle Jake Long (healthy again, per Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com) are among those who haven’t drawn a lot of attention since being released by their respective clubs. 

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com recently reported former Houston Texans running back Arian Foster expects to be healthy by training camp, so his situation bears watching as well. He met with the Miami Dolphins this year, but that was back in March.

This is less about making predictions and more about progress reports in regard to eight other performers who could still wind up on a team’s roster in July.

RB Joique Bell

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The team that gained the fewest rushing yards in the league in 2015 released running back Joique Bell earlier this year. The Detroit Lions ran for a league-low 83.4 yards per game last season and will rely on second-year pro Ameer Abdullah, pass-catching specialist Theo Riddick and free-agent addition Stevan Ridley to carry the load this fall.

A former undrafted free agent, Bell finally settled with the Lions in 2012. In four seasons with the club, he ran for 2,235 yards and 22 scores in 60 regular-season outings. Injuries limited him to only 13 contests this past season, but Bell finished second on the team with 311 yards on the ground and totaled four of the team’s seven rushing scores.

Bell is currently without a home in the NFL, but he has drawn some interest. “Last time I checked, I had three offers on the table,” Bell said in early June, per Lev Facher of the Detroit Free Press. “I know two are still there. One might not be there anymore. We’ll see what happens.”

A team looking for proven depth in the backfield may be wise to give Bell a ring. Reportedly a few already have, and there should be an answer to where Bell will wind up in the next few weeks.

WR Anquan Boldin

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The 12th-leading pass-catcher in NFL history is still looking for a fourth team to play for.

After stints with the Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers, 35-year-old Anquan Boldin is a free agent for the first time in his career. He and his 1,009 career receptions have made the rounds.

ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reported in mid-June that Boldin was in the Motor City to visit the Lions.

“We don’t talk about things that happen in terms of who we bring in and those kinds of things,” Lions head coach Jim Caldwell told Kyle Meinke of MLive.com during mandatory minicamp. “I know you guys get that information, but you got it and that’s kind of as far as we’re going to discuss.”

This is a team that lost wideout Calvin Johnson to retirement this offseason but added free agents Marvin Jones, Jeremy Kerley, Andre Caldwell and Andre Roberts.

With young wideouts like 22-year-old Stefon Diggs and rookie Laquon Treadwell and a passing game that produced just 14 scores in 2015, the Minnesota Vikings are also a potential landing place for Boldin. His experience would be a huge positive for quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who enters just his third season in the league.

CB Brandon Boykin

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Try to follow the curious case of Brandon Boykin.

In less than a calendar year, the 25-year-old cornerback has been a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers.

The Panthers released the then-unrestricted free agent in mid-May after signing him to a one-year, $840,000 contract in late March, per Spotrac.

According to Curtis Crabtree of Pro Football Talk, Boykin visited with the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys after being released by the Panthers. Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported recently the talented defender may have “hip problems” that are career-threatening. However, Clarence Hill of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram was told by Boykin that a June workout with the Cowboys went “fine” and that he has no injury issues.

Whatever the truth, the fact is that Boykin and his eight career interceptions (six with the Eagles in 2013) remain unsigned. And there are enough cornerback-starved teams in the league looking for help. Stay tuned.

RB Reggie Bush

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The second overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft is hoping to begin a second decade in the league.

Versatile running back Reggie Bush has suited up for the New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers in 10 seasons. He’s racked up 9,798 combined yards and 58 total touchdowns in his career.

However, his stint with the Niners lasted only five games before he went down with a knee injury in November in a 27-6 loss at St. Louis. He wasn’t re-signed by the rebuilding franchise, but there’s still some interest in the 31-year-old running back.

“I’ve received calls from two teams and just taking my time in this process,” the all-purpose performer told SiriusXM NFL Radio less than a week ago. “I want to do it the right way.”

Does the veteran running back have anything left to give a team? That’s an interesting question considering Bush has been limited to a combined 16 games over the past two seasons with the Lions and 49ers.

CB Leon Hall

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Will Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Leon Hall be back in the Queen City in 2016?

The key word is "back." The former University of Michigan product, who turns 32 years old in December, had offseason surgery and, while recovering, has made his share of free-agent visits. Pro Football Focus tells us the team’s first-round pick in 2007 is coming off a solid season, but Hall’s play tailed off late in the year and in the playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, perhaps due to injury.

Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports 910 reported on June 20 that the productive defender and his 26 career interceptions could be on the verge of a decision in Phoenix. Hall visited the Arizona Cardinals back in March. Meanwhile, Jordan Raanan of NJ.com felt Hall would sign with the Cardinals or return to the Bengals.

A move to the desert would make sense for Hall and the defending NFC West champions, who lost cornerback Jerraud Powers to the Baltimore Ravens this offseason.

OT Eugene Monroe

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It’s hard to believe that talented offensive tackle Eugene Monroe hasn't already been scooped up by a team.

The eighth overall pick in the 2009 NFL draft was a 62-game starter for the Jacksonville Jaguars in four-plus years with the team. He was dealt to the Baltimore Ravens during the 2013 season and played in 11 games for the then-defending Super Bowl champions.

However, injuries limited him to a combined 17 contests in the past two seasons. In April, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome selected Notre Dame tackle Ronnie Stanley with the sixth overall pick, making Monroe expendable. After attempts to trade the 29-year-old performer, the Ravens cut him loose earlier this month.

In a recent interview with Bruce Murray and Brady Quinn of SiriusXM NFL Radio, Monroe said he is taking his time for a number of reasons.

"

After the Ravens released me, some interest sprung up. We—myself and my agent—we’ve been in discussions with a few teams, but this is very new. I’ve been released, and it’s been just a short amount of time since that happened. So I’m weighing my options right now. I don’t feel like I have to jump on one of the first opportunities that come up.

And I’m just trying to be patient, wait on the right opportunity and also just decide what’s going to be the best move for my family. I have a wife and three children, so there’s a lot more at stake than simply just jumping on a deal.

"

In a league where protecting the quarterback is vital, a healthy Monroe could be a difference-maker for a team. He is arguably the most talented player currently on the market, and he has the potential of inking a long-term deal.

CB Charles Tillman

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Charles Tillman has always had the gift of grab. Now the unrestricted free agent is hoping to latch on with an NFL team.

But not just any club. When he’s finally healthy, the 35-year-old cornerback wants to rejoin the defending NFC champions, the Carolina Panthers.

“That’s the only team I really want to play for,” Tillman told Christopher Dabe of the Times-Picayune. “It’s Carolina. It’s a great group of men. ... A great group of coaches. The front-office guys are great. To me it was no surprise they were, or we were, 17-2.”

In 12 games with the Super Bowl-bound squad in 2015, Tillman amassed 55 tackles and three of Carolina’s NFL-high 39 takeaways. But a knee injury cost him four games during the regular season. He tore his ACL in Week 17 and missed the team’s three-game postseason run.

In 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears and Panthers—12 of those in the Windy City—Tillman made it his business to be around the football. He’s racked up 38 interceptions, returning eight of those thefts for scores, and recovered nine fumbles. The two-time Pro Bowler has also been credited with an impressive 44 forced fumbles during his career.

It remains to be seen if the Panthers will bring him back. However, a team that used three draft picks in April on cornerback help may be wise to bring back the experienced Tillman as a mentor.

WR Roddy White

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Beggars can’t be choosers, can they?

In the case of free-agent wide receiver Roddy White, there’s no time (or need) to beg, and he’ll be just fine with whatever choice he winds up making.

The Atlanta Falcons’ all-time leader in catches (808), receiving yards (10,863) and total touchdowns (63) was released by the franchise this offseason after 11 seasons. But he is in no hurry to sign with just any team.

“When my agent and I went down the list and I saw the teams that really needed wide receivers, I was like, ‘Wow, I really don’t want to go there,’” White told Jeff Schultz of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in early June. “I knew I couldn’t win with any of those teams. At this point of my career, I don’t want to be dragging my feet in Week 13 just to have an opportunity to be 4-10 next week.”

White made it clear to Schultz he would join a Super Bowl contender or hang it up…eventually.

“I’ll let it go into the season, maybe Week 4 or 5,” added the 34-year-old wideout and four-time Pro Bowler. “If it doesn’t happen, I’ll be putting my cleats on a power line, just like Marshawn Lynch.”

Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics came 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. Depth charts via Ourlads.