Free agency offers the chance for every NFL team to kick-start its roster improvements. Every franchise wants to excel in the draft and build its roster over the long term for minimal outlay, but free agency can fast-track that process and give teams proven NFL commodities -- if they are willing to pay for them.
The Dallas Cowboys arguably have the league's best offensive line because they threw draft resources at it for several seasons -- and hit on those draft picks -- but the Oakland Raiders came close to matching that with a free-agent spending spree, bringing in several key players to transform their line and offense overall.
With that in mind, here is one free agent -- unrestricted or restricted, from the list of every player who could make it to the market -- each NFL team should sign this offseason.
Note: Each player's position rank is based on PFF's grades, and we're not including re-signings -- only players switching teams.
AFC East | AFC North| AFC South | AFC West
NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West
AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills
DeSean Jackson, WR | Position rank: 36th
Beyond Sammy Watkins, the Bills have gotten inconsistent production from their wide receivers, and Washington's Jackson provides another presence on the outside capable of getting behind the defense. Jackson led the league with 579 yards on deep passes while ranking second with 16 deep receptions. Perhaps Jackson is even more important for the Bills if Tyrod Taylor returns as their starting quarterback, as he throws one of the better deep balls in the league. Regardless of signal-caller, Jackson has enough juice to stretch the field and create big plays after the catch.
Miami Dolphins
Kevin Zeitler, G | Position rank: 7th
Don't be fooled by the emergence of running back Jay Ajayi, who led the league with 3.5 yards after contact per carry; the interior of the Dolphins' offensive line has had its struggles in the running game for a while. Enter Zeitler, who tied for ninth in the league with an 83.1 run-block grade last season. He's capable of creating movement at the line of scrimmage or locking onto defenders when on the move. Zeitler is also one of the better pass protectors on the interior, finishing fifth among guards, at 89.4. He allowed only one sack, three QB hits and 15 hurries on his 660 pass-blocking attempts for Cincinnati in 2016.
New England Patriots
Karl Klug, DL | Position rank: 22nd
The Super Bowl LI champions love to tap into the veteran market to fill holes along the defensive line, and Klug brings the versatility they covet up front. Klug is capable of playing on the interior or the edge while producing in multiple fronts, and he's an efficient pass-rusher, finishing at 78.3 in that department last season with the Titans. Klug hasn't played more than 400 snaps since his rookie season in 2011, but he's a valuable addition as a rotational piece with the ability to rush the passer from multiple positions.
New York Jets
Mario Addison, DE | Position rank: 16th
The Jets have lacked playmakers on the edge for years, and Addison has emerged as one of the league's best edge rushers the past two seasons with the Panthers. Last year was his best effort, as he finished with 9.5 sacks, five QB hits and 36 hurries on only 309 rushes; his 81.6 pass-rush grade ranked 16th in the NFL. The Jets, meanwhile, have been piecing together their edge rushers with bigger bodies such as Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson, and they need a true presence off the edge, which Addison can provide.
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens
Jabaal Sheard, DL | Position rank: 36th
The Ravens aren't fortunate enough to have much salary-cap room, so even if some of the top pass-rushers hit the open market, it's unlikely Baltimore will be in position to make a big splash for them. What does make sense, though, is adding a veteran pass-rusher to bolster a defense that saw just one player, Terrell Suggs, register at least eight sacks and 45 total hurries in 2016. Sheard will be 28 years old when the 2017 season begins, and he registered six sacks, six hits and 31 hurries on 380 pass-rushing snaps (including the playoffs) for the Patriots in 2016. He is just a year removed from registering 65 total pressures on 397 pass-rushing snaps, so he can definitely help the Ravens in an area of need.
Cincinnati Bengals
Jason Pierre-Paul, DE | Position rank: 13th
The Bengals are not without pass-rushing threats on defense, with end Carlos Dunlap and tackle Geno Atkins ranking among the top-15 players at their respective positions in terms of their pass-rushing productivity ratings. Still, the opportunity to add another top edge defender to make the Bengals' defensive front even tougher to stop should be enticing for Cincinnati. Pierre-Paul is coming off one of his most productive seasons with the Giants as a pass-rusher, registering 54 total pressures before his season came to an end in Week 13. A fully healthy trio of Dunlap, Atkins and Pierre-Paul could vault the Bengals back to the playoffs in 2017.
Cleveland Browns
Chandler Jones, LB | Position rank: 7th
With more cap room than any other team in the NFL, the time for the Browns to make a splash in free agency is now. What better way to make that splash than to go after the top pass-rusher on the market? The fifth-year veteran has registered at least 15 quarterback knockdowns (sacks and hits) every season since he entered the league, and that number jumps to 22 when looking at the past two seasons alone. He registered 66 total pressures on 565 snaps, which works out to a pressure once every 8.6 pass-rushing attempts. Jones is almost certain to stay in Arizona -- either on the franchise tag or a long-term deal -- but Cleveland should jump at the chance to sign him if he makes it to the market.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Pierre Garcon, WR | Position rank: 8th
The Steelers have one of the top wide receivers in the NFL, but consistency from a No. 2 receiver is something they have lacked in recent years. Martavis Bryant has the straight-line speed to terrify opposing defenses, but he is coming off a season-long suspension, so how much faith should the Steelers have that he can contribute for a full season in 2017? Another option at the No. 2 spot was Sammie Coates, but while he led the league by averaging 20.7 yards per catch, he also led the league in drop rate, dropping 25.0 percent of the passes thrown his way. Garcon would add the needed consistency. He dropped just one of the 80 catchable passes thrown his way in 2016 for Washington, and he would be the perfect No. 2 opposite Antonio Brown.
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans
Ronald Leary, G | Position rank: 24th
Houston's biggest problem this season was the disastrous decision to hand a huge contract to quarterback Brock Osweiler, but the offensive line didn't help him much. Leary showed this season that he's still a quality starting-caliber guard, and he will likely be surplus to requirements needed in Dallas with La'el Collins coming back from injury. Leary didn't allow a single sack in 2016 and would be able to slot between Duane Brown at left tackle and Greg Mancz at center and give the Texans a formidable left side of the offensive line.
Indianapolis Colts
T.J. Lang, G | Position rank: 8th
When it can field its strongest five starters, the offensive line in Indianapolis is a lot better than it showed at times in 2016, but it still has an issue at guard. Jack Mewhort is a good player at one spot, but the other could use an upgrade, and Lang has been one of the league's most consistent guards for several years now for the Packers. In 13 games this past season, he didn't allow a single sack or hit on Aaron Rodgers, despite Rodgers' holding the ball longer on average than all QBs besides Tyrod Taylor.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Eric Berry, S | Position rank: 8th
Berry demonstrated this season that he is not just a box safety but a player who can excel away from the line of scrimmage as a deeper lying weapon, something that is becoming increasingly difficult to find in today's NFL. He played just 18.1 percent of his snaps in the box as a strong safety for the Chiefs in 2016, but he has the versatility to match up with backs and tight ends in the slot or in man coverage. Finding a strong run-defending safety isn't hard, but Berry could provide the deep safety for the Jaguars. Berry could be the top free agent on the market if the Chiefs decide not to franchise him for the second straight season.
Tennessee Titans
Morris Claiborne, CB | Position rank: 12th
Jason McCourty was the top corner in Tennessee in 2016, and he was average at best for much of the year, allowing three touchdowns and 703 yards in coverage. Behind him, depth was a problem, and the team's top four cornerbacks surrendered 14 touchdowns to just seven interceptions, giving up 2,458 receiving yards between them. Claiborne finally showed off his first-round talent this season for the Cowboys and was beaten for only one touchdown across 406 snaps before injury derailed his season. He would represent a gamble, but one that could pay off big.
AFC WEST
Denver Broncos
Matt Barkley, QB | Position rank: 23rd
Complacency is not an option for the Broncos at quarterback this offseason. Sure, Trevor Siemian or Paxton Lynch could take the next step toward being a competent quarterback, but betting an entire season with a Super Bowl roster on that chance doesn't seem advisable. Barkley had a string of four games late in the season with the Bears that was far better than any such stretch from Siemian in 2016, and Barkley had the likes of Cameron Meredith as his No. 1 receiver.
Kansas City Chiefs
Zach Brown, LB | Position rank: 17th
Derrick Johnson is 34 years old and coming off yet another torn Achilles. Even if he doesn't retire, relying on him to be the player he once was could backfire. Brown can match many of the things Johnson can do from an athleticism standpoint and is coming off a career year in Buffalo. Brown registered 21 stops in coverage, the ninth most of any off-ball linebacker.
Los Angeles Chargers
Tony Jefferson, S | Position rank: 5th
New defensive coordinator Gus Bradley will almost assuredly bring with him the Cover 3 defense he ran so frequently in Jacksonville and Seattle. That defense has a specific role for a box safety with the ability to play the run, and there's none better on the market this offseason than Jefferson. The safety had a run-stop percentage of 10.5 when he lined up in the box last season in Arizona, a figure that led all safeties and would have put him fifth among starting linebackers. Jefferson was made for Bradley's defense.
Oakland Raiders
Dont'a Hightower, LB | Position rank: 12th
Even after a spending spree last offseason, the Raiders have a ton of cap space and can use it to address easily their biggest position of need: linebacker. The cream of the crop this year in free agency is easily Hightower, as he has been a top-10-graded linebacker for PFF each of the past three seasons for New England. The most impressive facet of Hightower's game comes as a blitzer. He has racked up 18 sacks the past three years, while the Raiders' off-ball linebackers didn't have a single one in 2016. Hightower will likely return to the Patriots, but he'll have many suitors if he makes it to the open market.
NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys
Nick Perry, LB | Position rank: 19th
There's a clear need along the defensive line for the Cowboys, and the position needs to be addressed in the draft or in free agency. Perry has continued to improve as a pass-rusher for the Packers, and he's coming off his best year as a pro, with 12 sacks, six QB hits and 33 hurries on 460 rushes, including the playoffs. Dallas had the second-lowest pressure rate in the NFL last season, and Perry is an immediate upgrade off the edge in the passing game. Perry is not a one-dimensional player, as he ranked 10th among edge defenders with an 84.1 grade, so he can provide an every-down option for the Cowboys.
New York Giants
Eddie Lacy, RB | Position rank: N/A
There was too much pressure put on the Giants' passing attack in 2016, and they need a better threat in the running game. Rookie running back Paul Perkins has a bright future, but adding Lacy to the mix would give New York two strong options. He managed to break 19 tackles on only 71 carries in 2016 on his way to averaging 5.1 yards per carry (including 3.4 yards after contact per rush) for the Packers. Although it isn't always pretty, Lacy has done a fine job of maximizing the offensive line's blocking in his four years in the league. Between Lacy and the shifty Perkins, the Giants would have a much-improved running game.
Philadelphia Eagles
Adam Thielen, WR | Position rank: 18th
Thielen, who finished with 69 catches for 967 yards and five touchdowns while dropping only three passes, had a breakout season in 2016 with Minnesota. He was a reliable target for Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford, and that same short and intermediate reliability is a must for the Eagles' offense and QB Carson Wentz. Thielen, who's a restricted free agent, doesn't solve all Philadelphia's issues at the skill positions, but he can play the much-needed role of possession receiver as Wentz continues to develop as the Eagles' franchise quarterback.
Washington Redskins
Calais Campbell, DT | Position rank: 2nd
Washington has gotten inconsistent play from the interior of its defensive line over the years, and Campbell represents one of the most impactful players who could make it to the open market. He ranks among the best interior defensive linemen every year, and he finished 2016 with a 90.4 overall grade that ranked second. Campbell is a playmaker against the run -- that part of his game has improved greatly as his career has progressed -- and he complemented it with nine sacks, 15 QB hits and 32 hurries on his 518 rushes for the Cardinals in 2016. Adding Campbell to Washington's defensive front would be a game-changer for the entire defense.
NFC NORTH
Chicago Bears
Logan Ryan, CB | Position rank: 16th
Chicago at heart loves physical cornerbacks who will play the run and make an impact, and Ryan is a fantastic representation of that. He had the league's third-best run-stop percentage among all cornerbacks, at 2.6 percent of run snaps, and the 24 defensive stops he notched over the regular season for the Patriots were fourth best at the position. Ryan won't ever be an All-Pro corner, but he can be a solid starting option for a team that needs an overhaul at cornerback.
Detroit Lions
Kawann Short, DT | Position rank: 3rd
The Lions haven't been able to replace what they lost in Ndamukong Suh two years ago, but Short would represent a nearly like-for-like replacement. Short took a little while to warm up in 2016, but by the end of the Panthers' season, he was a whirlwind of destruction in opponents' backfields. He ended the year with 49 total pressures, 38 defensive stops and impressive PFF grades against both the run and the pass. Short, however, is likely to be given the franchise tag by Carolina.
Green Bay Packers
Trumaine Johnson, CB | Position rank: 26th
Green Bay's problems in the secondary were the ultimate death of the team's title hopes this season. The Packers have an extremely young secondary that they won't be keen to give up on entirely, so one key addition at cornerback would answer a lot of issues. The Rams' Johnson has the size (6-foot-2, 204 pounds) that NFL teams covet now, and though his numbers were down in 2016 from a season before, he put up a better season than would be believed from looking at the one interception to his name. He had six pass breakups and was beaten for only 10.1 yards per reception.
Minnesota Vikings
Andrew Whitworth, OT | Position rank: 2nd
There is no more desperate position need in the league than the Vikings' need at tackle, and though their line needs more than one shot fired at it, the Vikings need an immediate solution as well as a long-term plan. Whitworth remains one of the league's most underrated and consistently excellent players, and he finished the Bengals' season with a PFF grade of 92.5 when it comes to pass protection -- the best mark in the league once David Bakhtiari eroded his grade during Green Bay's playoff run. Whitworth allowed 14 total pressures in 2016, while Minnesota's offensive tackles combined to allow 120.
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons
Nick Fairley, DT | Position rank: 34th
Lost in the prowess of Tom Brady during the Patriots' stunning comeback win in Super Bowl LI was just how much the tiring Atlanta defense struggled to generate pressure as the game went on. The Falcons got pressure on Brady on 60.0 percent of passing plays in the first quarter, but that dropped as each quarter went on, all the way to getting no pressure at all on him in overtime. The ideal fix to prevent that happening in the future is more depth on the defensive line, and that's where Fairley comes in. Fairley's ideal role is a player who plays 500 or so snaps per season, and he registered 47 total QB pressures for the Saints last season.
Carolina Panthers
A.J. Bouye, CB | Position rank: 3rd
The Panthers were bold in their decision to revoke the franchise tag from cornerback Josh Norman last offseason, and with the emergence of second-round draft pick James Bradberry, they'll feel confident that they have a No. 1 cornerback on their roster. That said, with the opportunity to go out and grab Bouye, who is coming off a career year with the Texans, Carolina should be ready to pounce. Bouye was outstanding in 2016, allowing just 54.5 percent of the passes thrown into his coverage to be caught and coming away with an interception and 11 pass breakups in the regular season.
New Orleans Saints
Brandon Williams, DT | Position rank: 39th
The Saints have talent on their defensive line, with Cameron Jordan racking up 79 total pressures in 2016. What they lack, though, is a defensive tackle who can be stout against the run in the middle, and this free-agent class offers the perfect fit in Williams. He is not a do-it-all playmaker on the defensive line, and with 55 total pressures the past three years, he's really only going to chip in with some pressure as a pass-rusher. What Williams is, though, is one of the most dominant forces in the NFL against the run. In each of the past three seasons with the Ravens, he has ranked among the top seven defensive tackles in the NFL in run-stop percentage.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Terrelle Pryor Sr., WR | Position rank: 31st
The Tampa Bay offense has Mike Evans, who is coming off the best season of his three-year career. Evans recorded a career high in yards with 1,321 and tied his career high in touchdowns with 12. That doesn't mean this offense can't improve, though, and Pryor would add another big-play threat for QB Jameis Winston to target. Although Pryor wasn't always consistent, it's important to remember that this was the first year he played significant snaps at wide receiver, and for most of the Browns' season, he looked like a natural, averaging 13.1 yards per catch and dropping just six of the 83 catchable passes thrown his way.
NFC WEST
Arizona Cardinals
Martellus Bennett, TE | Position rank: 10th
For a team that uses a tight end as such a crucial part of its offense, the Cardinals might want to fix the revolving door of inadequacy that they've managed in recent years. For Arizona, it's a blocking-first position, and New England's Bennett has been one of the top blocking tight ends over the course of his career. The journeyman also adds some playmaking ability after the catch, as he led the league in broken tackles in 2013 and 2014.
Los Angeles Rams
Alshon Jeffery, WR | Position rank: 33rd
The Rams haven't had a legitimate No. 1 receiver since Torry Holt retired. With QB Jared Goff's development so crucial, that needs to change. With injuries and sporadic quarterback play, much of 2016 was a wash for Chicago's Jeffery, but he proved in 2015 what kind of potential he has. That season, his 2.87 yards per route were fourth best of any receiver in the league. Kenny Britt led the Rams last season at 2.00 in that category.
San Francisco 49ers
Melvin Ingram, LB | Position rank: 6th
Arguably the top pass-rusher in this free-agent class, San Diego's Ingram won't come cheaply. The good news for the 49ers is that they have the second-most cap space of any NFL team. Ingram's 72 total pressures were the sixth most of any edge player in the NFL last season and almost twice that of 49ers starter Ahmad Brooks (38). Ingram also had a top-15 grade against the run at the position and would upgrade an all-time bad unit.
Seattle Seahawks
Rick Wagner, OT | Position rank: 18th
If the Seahawks rely on the draft and further development from their young players on the roster, their offensive line could run the risk of being one of the worst in the NFL yet again. Garry Gilliam, Bradley Sowell and George Fant were 46th, 54th and 61st out of 61 qualifying tackles in pass-blocking efficiency last season. Baltimore's Wagner was 21st, and he would provide a major upgrade at the tackle position.