The NFL's franchise tag deadline has passed, which means we're starting to get a better idea of which players will be available on the free-agent market when the negotiating period opens March 14. There are still plenty of discussions left to be had between teams and players they hope to re-sign before that point, and more players will enter the market through cuts over the next few days. But what follows is ESPN's annual ranking of the top 100 players who -- at least for the moment -- are eligible for unrestricted free agency, either because their contracts are expiring or the remaining years on their deals are set to automatically void.
We don't include restricted or exclusive free agents, for whom the original teams have the right of first refusal. And as always, our ranking is skewed toward players coming off their first contracts -- at the free-agent sweet spot of about 26 years old -- and considers that some positions are much more valued on the open market than others. Pass-rushers and quarterbacks are more sought after on the market than running backs and off-ball linebackers, at least for most teams, and we've tried to keep that in mind in establishing the rankings.
Let's jump in, with the best available players from 1 to 100.
Jump to the top-ranked:
QB | RB | WR | TE | OL
Edge | DT | ILB | CB | S
1. Terron Armstead, OT
2021 team: New Orleans Saints | Age entering 2022 season: 31
We don't tend to include many 31-year-olds in these free-agent rankings, especially ones who missed more than half of the previous season and are planning to undergo offseason knee surgery. But if even a serviceable left tackle is available -- and Armstead is well above that baseline when healthy -- he will be heavily pursued.
2. Marcus Williams, S
2021 team: New Orleans Saints | Age entering 2022 season: 25
Williams played last season on the franchise tag for the cap-strapped Saints, an indication of how important they thought he was to their defense. A starter for all of his five years in New Orleans, with comparable skills against the run and the pass, Williams was named a second-team All-Pro by Pro Football Focus this season.
3. Von Miller, OLB
2021 team: Denver Broncos/Los Angeles Rams | Age entering 2022 season: 33
You're not going to find many (soon-to-be) 33-year-olds on a list of top NFL free agents, and Miller's age is a big reason the Broncos decided to trade him at midseason. But he went on to have the kind of impact teams would hope to receive from a veteran situational pass-rusher, with five sacks in 414 snaps, and ranked No. 12 in ESPN's pass rush win rate metric (20.9%) over eight games.
4. Tyrann Mathieu, S
2021 team: Kansas City Chiefs | Age entering 2022 season: 30
Mathieu has been named to the Pro Bowl in all three of his seasons with the Chiefs and was named an All-Pro as recently as 2020. He has played out his $42 million deal and is young enough to get another payday, even if his best years are behind him. His 13 interceptions over those three years are tied for the fifth most in the NFL over that period.
5. Carlton Davis, CB
2021 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Age entering 2022 season: 25
A quadriceps injury limited Davis to 10 regular-season games in 2021, but he will be one of the most attractive cornerbacks on the market. He has 48 passes defended over the past three seasons, along with six interceptions.
6. Brandon Scherff, G
2021 team: Washington Commanders | Age entering 2022 season: 30
After two years on the franchise tag, earning $33 million over that period, Scherff figures to get some kind of longer-term resolution this spring. He was an All-Pro in 2020 and earned his fifth Pro Bowl invitation this season, but he has always had trouble staying on the field. Scherff missed six games in 2021 and hasn't played a full season since 2016.
7. Allen Robinson II, WR
2021 team: Chicago Bears | Age entering 2022 season: 29
During his four seasons with the Bears, Robinson's quarterbacks combined for a 45.2 Total QBR, the seventh-worst mark in the NFL over that period. That he made 293 receptions over that period, No. 19 among all pass-catchers, is quite an accomplishment. Many of them were pure skill. According to Pro Football Focus, Robinson led the NFL with 71 contested catches while with the Bears. The team kept him under the franchise tag in 2021.
8. Randy Gregory, DE
2021 team: Dallas Cowboys | Age entering 2022 season: 29
Five suspensions and a total of 54 missed games delayed Gregory's first chance at free agency by four years. Even after probably his best season and amid indications he has moved past his multiple suspensions for violating the league's substance abuse policy, it's difficult to assess how much interest he will generate on the open market. At his best, Gregory is the kind of high-end pass-rusher teams spend years looking for.
9. Chandler Jones, OLB
2021 team: Arizona Cardinals | Age entering 2022 season: 32
Teams evaluating Jones will have to decide what to make of his past two seasons. His 2020 season was cut short after five games because of a biceps injury, and after roaring back with five sacks in the Cardinals' Week 1 victory over the Titans this season, he managed only 5.5 more the rest of the way. There is plenty of precedent for elite pass-rushers being in demand well into their 30s, but he'll have to find the right fit.
10. Jadeveon Clowney, DE
2021 team: Cleveland Browns | Age entering 2022 season: 29
An annual addition to this list, Clowney has changed teams three times in the past three seasons. His nine-sack performance for the Browns in 2021 was his best since 2018 and ensured that he will be in demand this spring, as well. Going year to year in the NFL isn't for everyone, but Clowney has earned nearly $36 million in his path from Houston to Seattle to Tennessee to Cleveland -- with more to come.
11. Trent Brown, OT
2021 team: New England Patriots | Age entering 2022 season: 29
Brown hit a huge payday during his 2019 entry into free agency, signing a four-year, $66 million deal with the Raiders, but he made it only two years before being traded back to the Patriots. He managed to play nine games this season, and prospective suitors will have to assess why he has changed teams three times in seven years, but a veteran tackle of most any background is going to be sought after on the open market.
12. J.C. Jackson, CB
2021 team: New England Patriots | Age entering 2022 season: 26
Jackson made himself some money in 2021 while playing under his restricted free-agent tender, following up a nine-interception season with eight more picks. No NFL player has more interceptions than Jackson since he entered the league as an undrafted rookie in 2018 (25). Interceptions aren't always the most reliable metric for cornerback play, but at the very least, Jackson has demonstrated a consistent ability to be around the ball and make plays when he gets the chance.
13. Haason Reddick, OLB
2021 team: Carolina Panthers | Age entering 2022 season: 27
Reddick signed a one-year prove-it deal with the Panthers after his 12.5-sack season with the Cardinals in 2020 -- and more or less proved it. He finished the season with 11 sacks in 16 games, showing exceptional efficiency as a pass-rusher. His 23.5 sacks in the past two seasons ranks No. 5 in the NFL over that period, and he did it in 728 pass-rushing snaps -- fewer than anyone ahead of him on the list.
14. Stephon Gilmore, CB
2021 team: New England Patriots/Carolina Panthers | Age entering 2022 season: 31
When the Patriots decided against signing him to a significant contract extension, Gilmore got himself traded to the Panthers. He was largely buried in the Panthers' second-half swoon, but in the right environment, he would provide a veteran anchor who can still play press-man coverage for a defensive backfield.
15. DJ Chark Jr., WR
2021 team: Jacksonville Jaguars | Age entering 2022 season: 25
A fractured ankle ended Chark's 2021 season after four games, but the injury occurred early enough that he is expected to be at full strength by training camp at the latest. He earned Pro Bowl honors in 2019 with career highs in receiving yardage (1,008) and touchdowns (eight). We should grade any Jaguars free agent -- especially in the passing game -- on a statistical curve. It should also be pointed out that Chark has never played a 16- or 17-game season in four years with the Jaguars.
16. Quandre Diggs, S
2021 team: Seattle Seahawks | Age entering 2022 season: 29
Diggs was the Seahawks' best defensive player in 2021 before suffering a broken fibula and dislocated ankle in the fourth quarter of their final game. He is expected to make a full recovery, although any team that signs him would have to take into account an extended recovery. When healthy, he is one of the NFL's best playmaking safeties. He intercepted 13 passes in 38 games with the Seahawks after being acquired in a 2019 trade with the Lions.
17. Uchenna Nwosu, OLB
2021 team: Los Angeles Chargers | Age entering 2022 season: 25
Nwosu was a part-time player behind Melvin Ingram III for the first three seasons of his career before making 15 starts in 2021. He had a career-high five sacks and showed the kind of edge speed that teams covet. He won't turn 26 until December and is a high-upside prospect.
18. James Daniels, G
2021 team: Chicago Bears | Age entering 2022 season: 24
Daniels produced in a strong return from a torn pectoral muscle that limited his 2020 season to five games. Overall, he has started 48 games in four seasons. You might not have heard much about him, but Daniels is the kind of young, big body that teams rarely see on the open market.
19. Darious Williams, CB
2021 team: Los Angeles Rams | Age entering 2022 season: 29
Williams has been a starter on a really good defense for the past three seasons but has missed some time for injuries, most recently an ankle ailment that cost him three games during the 2021 regular season. He saw plenty of action opposite Jalen Ramsey and held up well enough for teams to consider him as a possible replacement starter.
20. Charvarius Ward, CB
2021 team: Kansas City Chiefs | Age entering 2022 season: 26
In his third season as a starter, Ward was a significant part of the Chiefs' defensive turnaround during the regular season. He is big enough to play press-man coverage and was an excellent tackler during the regular season, missing only 5% of his attempts, according to Pro Football Focus. That was the lowest rate for a cornerback since 2019.
21. Bradley Bozeman, C
2021 team: Baltimore Ravens | Age entering 2022 season: 27
The eventual successor to Ryan Jensen in Baltimore, Bozeman has started for three consecutive seasons. He ranked No. 2 among centers in ESPN's pass block win rate metric in 2021 (97.2%) and No. 7 in run block win rate (71.5%). He would make a big impact on his new team's offensive line.
22. Connor Williams, G
2021 team: Dallas Cowboys | Age entering 2022 season: 25
Williams led the league with 13 offensive holding penalties and ranked second with 15 total flags in 2021. That's the bad news. The good news is that he's a still-young interior lineman who has been a starter for four seasons. Williams has developed into a top-25 guard in the NFL, based on ESPN's run and pass block win rate metrics, and he has plenty of room left to grow.
23. Andrew Norwell, G
2021 team: Jacksonville Jaguars | Age entering 2022 season: 30
The Jaguars restructured Norwell's contract last year to cut a year away from their initial commitment of a monster five-year, $66.5 million deal in 2018. But he played well enough in 2021 to be more than a serviceable option. He ranked No. 7 among guards in ESPN's run block win rate metric (73.2%) and No. 15 in pass block win rate (93.8%).
24. Rasul Douglas, CB
2021 team: Green Bay Packers | Age entering 2022 season: 28
Douglas made his way from the Cardinals' practice squad to the Packers' starting lineup in a matter of weeks, and he proved to be quite a ball hawk with five interceptions and 13 passes defended. His two defensive touchdowns tied for second most in the NFL. Every team had a chance to sign him this season, and there are probably some prior judgments out there, but Douglas showed what he can do in the right system and should have several more years of productive play ahead of him.
25. Emmanuel Ogbah, DE
2021 team: Miami Dolphins | Age entering 2022 season: 28
Ogbah put up nine sacks in each of the past two seasons after signing a two-year, $15 million deal with the Dolphins, and he is still young enough to merit another financial commitment. Over that period, he ranked No. 19 among edge rushers in ESPN's pass rush win rate metric (16.3%).
26. Landon Collins, S
2021 team: Washington Commanders | Age entering 2022 season: 28
Collins' tenure in Washington was a huge disappointment for a variety of reasons, including a torn Achilles tendon that cost him nine games in 2020. While he has always taken pride in playing safety, you wonder if his future is with a team that can create a hybrid position that uses him more as a tackler and pass-rusher than in coverage.
27. Jameis Winston, QB
2021 team: New Orleans Saints | Age entering 2022 season: 28
NFL teams have done such a good job locking down their quarterbacks that Winston -- who is recovering from a torn ACL that limited him to seven games in 2021 -- is the best of the available group. In a relatively short stint as the Saints' starter, Winston showed he could avoid the turnovers that plagued him in Tampa Bay. He threw three interceptions and lost one fumble in 359 snaps.
28. Laken Tomlinson, G
2021 team: San Francisco 49ers | Age entering 2022 season: 30
Tomlinson turned himself into a fixture of the 49ers' offensive line after being traded by the Lions just before the 2017 season. He has played through the resulting three-year contract extension he signed and is still young enough to see a second significant payday. He has missed only one start since joining the 49ers and is the type of reliable player who qualifies as a free-agent gem.
29. Christian Kirk, WR
2021 team: Arizona Cardinals | Age entering 2022 season: 25
Kirk's numbers jumped to career highs in his fourth season with the Cardinals, coinciding with the retirement of Larry Fitzgerald and injuries to teammate DeAndre Hopkins. He led the team with 77 receptions for 982 yards while playing a full season for the first time in his career. Kirk was also among the league's most efficient receivers, catching 75.5% of throws he was targeted on, the sixth-best rate in the NFL.
30. Teddy Bridgewater, QB
2021 team: Denver Broncos | Age entering 2022 season: 29
Bridgewater has started 29 games in the past two seasons -- for the Panthers and Broncos -- proving himself to be a gritty competitor but a borderline choice as an unquestioned starter. He threw 18 interceptions and took 62 sacks over that period, and his Total QBR (52.7) ranked No. 18. But other than Jameis Winston, he's probably the best option available for a team seeking a backup-level quarterback who could start for a spell if needed.
31. JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR
2021 team: Pittsburgh Steelers | Age entering 2022 season: 25
If Smith-Schuster was disappointed with the interest he received on the market last offseason, what will he think now after a shoulder injury limited him to five games? He is now three seasons removed from his lone 1,000-yard season and has averaged 8.6 yards per reception over the past two years. On the other hand, he is still young for a player who has been in the league for five seasons, and his low production should be considered in the context of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's declining downfield arm strength.
32. De'Vondre Campbell, ILB
2021 team: Green Bay Packers | Age entering 2022 season: 29
It remains to be seen how the market will view an aging journeyman linebacker who produced one of the NFL's most surprising performances of 2021. A starter for five seasons in Atlanta and Arizona, Campbell signed a one-year deal with the Packers and was named to the All-Pro team after making 146 tackles and holding together an injury-ravaged defense. Linebackers who aren't necessarily pass-rushers don't tend to generate big-money offers, but Campbell proved how important he can be to a defense.
33. Duane Brown, OT
2021 team: Seattle Seahawks | Age entering 2022 season: 37
It's certainly unusual to include on this list a player who will be 37 when the season begins, but Brown remains a very good player at a position where the NFL experiences an annual shortage. He has missed only four starts in four seasons since the Seahawks acquired him in 2018, all of which came in 2019, and he would be a strong option for a team seeking a short-term fill-in at left tackle.
34. Bobby Wagner, ILB
2021 team: Seattle Seahawks | Age entering 2022 season: 32
There will certainly be teams that don't want any part of an inside/middle linebacker in his early 30s, but Wagner has shown no signs of losing his trademark durability. He has missed only three games in the past seven seasons. The 2021 season snapped Wagner's streak of All-Pro years at five, and he might never get there again, but a team looking for an instinctive veteran with premium leadership skills would do well to pursue him.
35. Leighton Vander Esch, ILB
2021 team: Dallas Cowboys | Age entering 2022 season: 26
Vander Esch slogged through two injury-filled seasons following his promising rookie season in 2018, missing seven games in 2019 and six in 2020. It left the Cowboys little choice but to decline his fifth-year option for 2022. Vander Esch managed to stay on the field for all 17 games in this season, but he was overshadowed by rookie linebacker Micah Parsons and others. No one is going to break the bank for a linebacker who isn't really a pass-rusher, but Vander Esch would prove a solid contributor for a team looking to retool its defense.
36. Odell Beckham Jr., WR
2021 team: Cleveland Browns/Los Angeles Rams | Age entering 2022 season: 29
Beckham's torn ACL in the Super Bowl will complicate his expected trip into free agency. There are lots of reasons to think he'll want to return to the Rams, and Los Angeles could probably get him back at a fairly reasonable price. But you're not going to see too many teams rush to pursue a player who not only has a history of multiple ACL tears but has also forced his way out of two NFL teams before the age of 30.
37. Rob Gronkowski, TE
2021 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Age entering 2022 season: 33
Yes, he will soon turn 33. And you're right, it has always seemed a near certainty that he would play next season only if it were alongside quarterback Tom Brady. But that doesn't mean Gronkowski isn't among the NFL's top players with expiring contracts. Even though he played in four fewer games, Gronk's pass-catching production increased in 2021 compared to 2020. He has caught 13 touchdowns passes among 166 targets over the past two seasons.
38. Brian Allen, C
2021 team: Los Angeles Rams | Age entering 2022 season: 26
Allen has started 25 games over the past two seasons and has established himself as a solid NFL center with room to grow. Among centers, he ranked No. 14 in ESPN's run block win rate metric (67.3%) and No. 24 in pass block win rate (91.2%) in 2021.
39. Austin Corbett, G
2021 team: Los Angeles Rams | Age entering 2022 season: 27
Corbett developed into a serviceable starting guard after the Rams acquired him from the Browns in 2019. He isn't going to change the direction of your entire offense, having ranked No. 32 among guards in ESPN's run block win rate metric (69.5%) and No. 51 in pass block win rate (88.9%), but he can fill a starting role for a needy team.
40. Terrell Edmunds, S
2021 team: Pittsburgh Steelers | Age entering 2022 season: 25
Edmunds is not the most well known of the Steelers' starting safeties, and he's not the most talented, either. (Minkah Fitzpatrick holds both of those titles.) The Steelers, in fact, declined Edmunds' fifth-year option last spring. But he had his best season in 2021, starting all 17 games and setting a career high with eight tackles for loss.
41. Cordarrelle Patterson, WR/RB
2021 team: Atlanta Falcons | Age entering 2022 season: 31
The Falcons finished the job that several other teams began, turning Patterson into a true hybrid offensive threat in 2021. He rushed for 618 yards, added 548 via receptions and scored a total of 11 offensive touchdowns. Patterson has said publicly he hopes to return to Atlanta, but it will be interesting to see if he ends up joining his sixth team in the past seven years.
42. D.J. Jones, DT
2021 team: San Francisco 49ers | Age entering 2022 season: 27
A three-year starter for the 49ers, Jones led all interior defensive linemen last season in ESPN's run stop win rate metric (47.7%). That means he was really good at eating up space and stopping the run. He isn't as dominant as a pass-rusher, but there will be plenty of teams lining up for his services.
43. Alex Cappa, G
2021 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Age entering 2022 season: 27
Cappa has been a solid three-year starter for the Buccaneers after making the adjustment from Division II Humboldt State. At 6-foot-6, he's a little bigger than most guards at this level, but he was a left tackle in college and certainly good enough to merit interest from any team looking for a replacement starter in the interior.
44. Folorunso Fatukasi, DT
2021 team: New York Jets | Age entering 2022 season: 27
Not many people outside of the Jets' community know about Fatukasi, but he was one of the NFL's top interior run defenders in 2021. He ranked No. 3 in ESPN's interior run stop win rate metric (42.9%) in his first season as a full-time starter. He is part of a crowded Jets defensive line that needs to be sorted out.
45. Morgan Moses, OT
2021 team: New York Jets | Age entering 2022 season: 31
Moses has not missed a game since his rookie season in 2014, and a mild knee injury he suffered at the end of 2021 did not require surgery. The relative dearth of starting-caliber offensive linemen in this market could put Moses in line for a decent payday. He ranked No. 16 among tackles in ESPN's pass block win rate (90.6%).
46. Akiem Hicks, DT
2021 team: Chicago Bears | Age entering 2022 season: 32
When healthy, Hicks was the Bears' most disruptive defensive player in 2021. His quickness, even after he turned 30, makes him quite difficult for interior linemen to block. But Hicks has had trouble staying on the field. He missed eight games last season and 11 in 2019 because of injuries and a trip to the COVID-19 list. At this point, he should be considered a part-time player who can be effective in short bursts.
47. Derek Barnett, DE
2021 team: Philadelphia Eagles | Age entering 2022 season: 26
Barnett put up the lowest sack total of his career while playing under the fifth-year option in 2021, recording two sacks in 16 games. Sacks are not always the best way to judge defensive ends, but they're fairly reliable in terms of the intensity of free-agent interest. Barnett also has a reputation for committing costly penalties, but it's worth nothing that his total of 24 over the past five years is tied for No. 46 in the NFL over that span.
48. Maliek Collins, DT
2021 team: Houston Texans | Age entering 2022 season: 27
Collins has switched teams in each of the past two offseasons, moving from the Cowboys to the Raiders to the Texans. But he already has six seasons in the books as a starting defensive tackle, having made 81 starts over that period. And he ranked No. 6 among defensive tackles last season in ESPN's pass rush win rate metric (13.4%).
49. Charles Harris, OLB
2021 team: Detroit Lions | Age entering 2022 season: 27
After signing a one-year deal with the Lions last season, Harris stepped in for injured teammates to produce a career year with 7.5 sacks. That number alone will draw a few extra eyes this offseason.
50. Larry Ogunjobi, DT
2021 team: Cincinnati Bengals | Age entering 2022 season: 28
Ogunjobi had a productive year after moving from the Browns to the Bengals, recording a career-high seven sacks. Assuming his postseason foot injury heals on schedule, he'll have a decent market for teams looking for interior disruption.
51. Mitchell Trubisky, QB
2021 team: Buffalo Bills | Age entering 2022 season: 28
Trubisky has gotten some buzz in the past few weeks as a passer who could get some surprise consideration for a starting job in 2022. Under the presumed logic, his performance in the Bears' offense from 2017 to '20 is more accurately attributed to scheme, and a year watching the Bills' Josh Allen could propel Trubisky to a new approach. We shall see.
52. Justin Reid, S
2021 team: Houston Texans | Age entering 2022 season: 25
Reid has gotten swallowed up in the mess the Texans made over the past two seasons, but it's not hard to remember that he was an excellent playmaking safety in his first two seasons with five interceptions. He is still young and could use a fresh start.
53. Marcus Mariota, QB
2021 team: Las Vegas Raiders | Age entering 2022 season: 28
The Raiders appeared to have plans to use Mariota in a hybrid role in 2021 before he injured his quadriceps muscle while making a 31-yard run early in the season. There aren't likely to be many teams interested in him to so much as compete for a starting role, but even backup quarterbacks with specific skill sets have disproportionate value for NFL teams.
54. Jamison Crowder, WR
2021 team: New York Jets | Age entering 2022 season: 29
Crowder has been productive in every season of his NFL career, even though he has had some trouble staying on the field. He has missed at least four games in three of his past four seasons. But when healthy, he is a veteran who knows how to get open and makes plays after the catch.
55. Calais Campbell, DE
2021 team: Baltimore Ravens | Age entering 2022 season: 36
Entering his age-36 season, Campbell has all the intangibles to prop up what is still a productive on-field game. He started 14 games for the Ravens last season, he is one of the NFL's most respected locker room leaders, and his 6-foot-8 frame can come in handy for creative special teams coaches.
56. Marcus Maye, S
2021 team: New York Jets | Age entering 2022 season: 29
News: Maye to sign with Saints
Maye suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the Jets' sixth game of the season while playing on the franchise tag. His fit in the Jets' new defense under coach Robert Saleh wasn't clear, and it might make sense for all sides to get a fresh start.
57. James Conner, RB
2021 team: Arizona Cardinals | Age entering 2022 season: 27
How do you use a still-young running back with a history of injury problems? Follow the Cardinals' 2021 model for Conner, who signed a one-year free-agent deal with them prior to the season. Conner got the ball when it counted, scoring 15 touchdowns on the ground and another three via receptions. It'll be tough for Conner to find a big-money deal, but he'll for sure be a value signing.
58. D.J. Reed, CB
2021 team: Seattle Seahawks | Age entering 2022 season: 25
In two years as a full-time player, Reed has four interceptions and 17 defensed passes. His 5-foot-9 frame is not the size many teams prefer at cornerback, but he is young and can be worked into multiple different types of schemes.
59. Eric Fisher, OT
2021 team: Indianapolis Colts | Age entering 2022 season: 31
Fisher settled for a one-year deal with the Colts last season as he recovered from a ruptured Achilles tendon, and he went on to play 15 mostly mediocre games for them. It's telling that the Colts are apparently ready to move on, despite the relative dearth of starting-caliber left tackles in the league. But there is little doubt that Fisher will find a job.
60. Dont'a Hightower, ILB
2021 team: New England Patriots | Age entering 2022 season: 32
Hightower started 15 games in 2021 after opting out of the 2020 season because of COVID-19, and he showed he could still have an impact. Pro Football Focus credited him with 18 quarterback pressures, the fourth most in the NFL for off-ball linebackers. But the recent history of Patriots free agents signing elsewhere, especially linebackers, is not great.
61. Bilal Nichols, DT
2021 team: Chicago Bears | Age entering 2022 season: 25
Nichols didn't make the kind of flashy plays that would draw intention to a defensive tackle outside of his home market, but he probably is a fit for multiple schemes and spots across the defensive line. When a player who has been a starter for three seasons prepares to enter the market at his age, he merits a spot on this list.
62. Donte Jackson, CB
2021 team: Carolina Panthers | Age entering 2022 season: 26
A second-round pick in 2018, Jackson has been a starter throughout his career in Carolina and has recorded 12 interceptions over that period. But it's worth noting how active the Panthers were last season in acquiring players at his position, using the No. 8 overall pick to draft Jaycee Horn and then trading for Stephon Gilmore and CJ Henderson. We'll see if that means they plan to move on from Jackson.
63. Evan Engram, TE
2021 team: New York Giants | Age entering 2022 season: 28
Engram never developed into the dominant offensive player the Giants envisioned after making him the No. 23 overall pick in 2018. But it's almost unfair to judge a pass-catcher on his play in the Giants' punchless passing offense over that period. Engram could do well in a new environment.
64. Gerald Everett, TE
2021 team: Seattle Seahawks | Age entering 2022 season: 28
After signing a one-year deal with the Seahawks, Everett exceeded his career highs in starts (12), receptions (48), receiving yards (478) and touchdowns (four). Those are relatively modest numbers, but Everett was a productive member of an otherwise slogging offense and can capitalize on the kind of mismatches teams try to create for tight ends.
65. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR
2021 team: Green Bay Packers | Age entering 2022 season: 27
Teams will have to separate the Aaron Rodgers factor from Valdes-Scantling's profile. Did he catch 123 passes over the past four seasons, including 13 for touchdowns, because he was playing with a future Hall of Fame quarterback? Or could he have done more in another system where the quarterback trusted him more consistently? Trust from Rodgers is an admittedly high bar, but Valdes-Scantling has all the tools to be a more dominant play-to-play receiver.
66. Casey Hayward Jr., CB
2021 team: Las Vegas Raiders | Age entering 2022 season: 32
Hayward had a pretty decent season after signing a one-year deal with the Raiders. He started all 17 games and has now missed only two games in his past seven seasons with the Raiders, Chargers and Packers. He'll turn 33 shortly after the start of the season, but his coverage skills remain elevated enough to merit looks by any team looking for a short-term fill-in.
67. Justin Houston, OLB
2021 team: Baltimore Ravens | Age entering 2022 season: 33
Houston's 4.5 sacks in 2021 were his fewest for any season in which he has played more than five games, and his age has reached a point where at least some teams will shy away. But he proved he can still be an effective pass-rusher. Houston finished the year ranked No. 14 among edge rushers in ESPN's pass rush win rate metric (19.2%).
68. Jerry Hughes, DE
2021 team: Buffalo Bills | Age entering 2022 season: 34
Hughes is another entry in a long list of aging pass-rushers who might still have a little bit left in their careers. He managed just two sacks in 2021, his lowest total since he was a part-time player for the Colts in 2011, but he ranked No. 11 among edge rushers in ESPN's pass rush win rate metric (21.2%).
69. Melvin Ingram III, OLB
2021 team: Pittsburgh Steelers/Kansas City Chiefs | Age entering 2022 season: 33
Ingram showed a little bit of life after forcing his way out of Pittsburgh after six games, but he finished the season with two sacks and tied for No. 43 among edge rushers in ESPN's pass rush win rate metric (10.1%). He'll get some looks.
70. Steven Nelson, CB
2021 team: Philadelphia Eagles | Age entering 2022 season: 29
After a one-year stint with the Eagles, it's possible Nelson will be looking for his fourth team in five seasons. The good news is that he has managed to stay healthy and hold down a starting job ever since his four-interception performance for the Chiefs in 2018.
71. Leonard Fournette, RB
2021 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Age entering 2022 season: 27
It's amazing how much the context of acquisition can affect the perception of a player. Fournette was largely considered a bust for the Jaguars, who drafted him No. 4 overall in 2017, as he produced two 1,000-yard seasons over three years. Then he signed a pair of one-year deals with the Buccaneers, rushed for a total of 1,179 yards and was a key part of a Super Bowl-winning team. He'll receive interest as a versatile, veteran runner who is still relatively young but won't get big money.
72. Jordan Hicks, ILB
2021 team: Arizona Cardinals | Age entering 2022 season: 30
Hicks spent three seasons with the Cardinals after leaving the Eagles in 2019 and notably started all 49 of the team's games over that period. While Bobby Wagner will get most of the headlines among inside linebackers who are available, Hicks would be a solid short-term plan for many teams.
73. Ben Jones, C
2021 team: Tennessee Titans | Age entering 2022 season: 33
The Titans struck gold after signing Jones as a free agent before the 2016 season. In six seasons with them, he has missed only one start. At this point in an offensive lineman's career, the first question is not even whether he can provide high-end play. It's whether his body can take the play-to-play pounding, and in this case, there is every reason to think that Jones still can.
74. Anthony Barr, ILB
2021 team: Minnesota Vikings | Age entering 2022 season: 30
Barr signed with the Jets during his last foray into free agency in 2019 before reversing his decision and returning to the Vikings. The first draft pick of former coach Mike Zimmer's tenure, Barr seems more likely to move on this season. He is a versatile player, but he has had a hard time staying on the field (20 missed games in the past two seasons) and has never been used in a pass-rushing role that would elevate his free-agent value.
75. Kyzir White, ILB
2021 team: Los Angeles Chargers | Age entering 2022 season: 26
Linebackers who don't rack up sack numbers usually don't cash in big in free agency, but there are still plenty of other ways White can contribute off and around the ball. He did intercept two passes and force two fumbles in 2021, his third year as a full-time player for the Chargers, and still has room to grow.
76. Jordan Whitehead, S
2021 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Age entering 2022 season: 25
Whitehead has been a starter for all four seasons with the Buccaneers, proving able to push through injuries and be a physical presence despite his relatively small 5-foot-11 frame. As the Buccaneers mull his future, they'll need to decide if they want to pay second contracts to two safeties within a year, as fellow safety Antoine Winfield Jr. could be in line for a new deal after the 2022 season.
77. Sebastian Joseph-Day, DT
2021 team: Los Angeles Rams | Age entering 2022 season: 27
Joseph-Day is a strong run-stopper who picked a bad season to suffer a significant injury. A torn pectoral muscle forced him to miss the final 10 games of the regular season, after he had appeared in all 32 of the Rams' regular-season games over the previous two seasons. Assuming he returns to full health, he'll be a value signing for someone.
78. Bryce Callahan, CB
2021 team: Denver Broncos | Age entering 2022 season: 30
What to make of a 30-year-old cornerback who has never made it through a season healthy? Callahan's performance when he has been on the field -- he has played between nine and 13 games in each of his six seasons -- has been good enough to merit looks from teams seeking a short-term answer or veteran depth.
79. B.J. Hill, DT
2021 team: Cincinnati Bengals | Age entering 2022 season: 27
Hill got lost in the shuffle after earning a starting job with the Giants in 2018, and his 2021 trade to the Bengals gave him a chance to reassert his skills. Although he started only two games, he was a big part of the Bengals' push to the Super Bowl and should be considered a starting-caliber interior lineman on the open market.
80. Robert Tonyan, TE
2021 team: Green Bay Packers | Age entering 2022 season: 28
Tonyan developed into a trusted receiver for Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers over the past two years before tearing his ACL injury at midseason in 2021. The injury means you won't hear too much about him in the early part of free agency, but assuming his recovery remains on track, he would be a value signing for a team looking to add a mismatch in the passing game.
81. DeShon Elliott, S
2021 team: Baltimore Ravens | Age entering 2022 season: 25
Elliott hasn't played much -- 16 of his 28 game appearances came in the 2020 season -- and he missed 11 games last season because of a biceps injury. But he has been impressive enough when on the field to merit a look.
82. Jayron Kearse, S
2021 team: Dallas Cowboys | Age entering 2022 season: 28
Kearse wanted more than a special teams role when he left Minnesota to sign with the Lions in 2020 and the Cowboys in 2021. He has gotten it. He started seven games for the Lions and 15 for the Cowboys, acquitting himself as a physical safety who can at least compete in pass coverage. His size allows him to cover tight ends, a key requirement for modern safeties.
83. Riley Reiff, OT
2021 team: Cincinnati Bengals | Age entering 2022 season: 33
Reiff is never anyone's first choice as a starting offensive lineman, but he has made a career out of being good enough to get by at multiple positions for three different teams. As a free agent in this cycle, he has a résumé that shows he made the shift from left tackle to right tackle. An ankle injury kept him out of the Bengals' Super Bowl run last season, but he has managed to make at least 12 starts in every season after his rookie debut in 2012.
84. Xavier Woods, S
2021 team: Minnesota Vikings | Age entering 2022 season: 27
Woods seemed to acquit himself well after signing with the Vikings last season, recording 108 tackles, three interceptions and 10 defensed passes -- all career highs -- under former coach Mike Zimmer. The Vikings' coaching changes and a glut of safeties on the market make Woods' immediate future uncertain.
85. O.J. Howard, TE
2021 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Age entering 2022 season: 27
Howard seemed poised to take off when the Buccaneers signed quarterback Tom Brady, who loves throwing to tight ends. But he tore an Achilles tendon after four games in 2020 and then managed only 14 receptions while playing in all 17 games last season. Maybe he is ready for a fresh start, but the bottom line is that he has never caught more than 34 passes in a season after the Buccaneers made him a first-round draft pick in 2017.
86. Patrick Peterson, CB
2021 team: Minnesota Vikings | Age entering 2022 season: 32
It's no insult to say that Peterson's tenure in Minnesota showed he is probably no longer a favorable candidate to cover an opponent's No. 1 receiver. But there's a long way between that fact and being unable to contribute to a winning team. Peterson's veteran savvy will allow him to get by for at least another season, either as a No. 2 cornerback or perhaps at safety.
87. Joe Haden, CB
2021 team: Pittsburgh Steelers | Age entering 2022 season: 33
It's tough to put too much stock in a cornerback of this age who went without an interception last season for the first time in six years. But Haden could be a short-term fix for a team that has a chance to push deep into the playoffs in 2022.
88. Foyesade Oluokun, ILB
2021 team: Atlanta Falcons | Age entering 2022 season: 27
If there's one thing you can say about Oluokun, it's that he knows how to find the ball. He led the NFL with 192 tackles last season and has a total of 309 tackles in two seasons as a starter. Linebackers who aren't used as pass-rushers don't usually fare great on the open market, but someone is going to get a player who makes the most of his time on the field.
89. Mo Alie-Cox, TE
2021 team: Indianapolis Colts | Age entering 2022 season: 28
The tight end class is massive this spring, and there are many others who have had better production than Alie-Cox over the years. But as a former college basketball player who made the transition to tight end, he is a unique player who might be a late-bloomer. Regardless, his size and skill make him a player who can dominate in the red zone.
90. Rodger Saffold III, G
2021 team: Tennessee Titans | Age entering 2022 season: 34
Sometimes fans can get excited by a name they recognize on the free-agent market. Saffold was once one of the NFL's top pass-blocking guards, based on ESPN's pass block win rate metric. In the past two seasons, however, he has ranked in the bottom five. Perhaps a change of scheme and/or scenery can help him extend his career.
91. Andy Dalton, QB
2021 team: Chicago Bears | Age entering 2022 season: 34
Say what you want, but Dalton very much fits the profile of a high-end backup who can prevent a team from collapsing if the starter is injured or underperforming. There aren't as many such players as you might think. The Bears were 3-3 in his starts last season, and the Cowboys were 4-5 in 2020. Throwing 17 interceptions in 365 attempts over that stretch is far from ideal, but one way or the other, you know what you're getting with him.
92. Josey Jewell, ILB
2021 team: Denver Broncos | Age entering 2022 season: 27
Jewell probably would be a lot higher in these rankings if he had not suffered a season-ending pectoral injury in the Broncos' second game of the season. Before that, however, he had proven himself as a sure tackler and above-average pass defender during his one full season as a starter in 2020.
93. Joe Noteboom, OT
2021 team: Los Angeles Rams | Age entering 2022 season: 27
Noteboom has been a spot starter over the years, and the Rams' depth could be tested if left tackle Andrew Whitworth retires. There was a notable drop-off when Noteboom replaced Whitworth at the end of the 2021 regular season, but teams can't always be choosy about the big bodies that hit the market.
94. C.J. Uzomah, TE
2021 team: Cincinnati Bengals | Age entering 2022 season: 29
Uzomah returned from a 2020 Achilles injury to record career highs in receptions (49), receiving yards (493) and touchdowns (five) in 16 games last season. He'll enter a crowded tight end market but is a significant mismatch when healthy.
95. Ndamukong Suh, DT
2021 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Age entering 2022 season: 35
It has been said before but bears repeating: Suh has a remarkable physical skill set. He has never missed an NFL game due to injury, and the only games he has missed for any reason came in 2011 because of a suspension. Even as he approaches the second half of his 30s, Suh is very much a viable starting defensive tackle.
96. Russell Gage, WR
2021 team: Atlanta Falcons | Age entering 2022 season: 26
Gage has been a pretty steady possession receiver over the past three seasons, totaling 187 receptions over that period. That's roughly the same number as more notable free agents Christian Kirk and Jamison Crowder have made in that time, and Gage will be a sneaky good value signing for someone.
97. Arden Key, DE
2021 team: San Francisco 49ers | Age entering 2022 season: 26
In one season with the 49ers, Key produced more sacks (6.5) than he did in three previous campaigns for the Raiders (3.0). Sacks are not the only way to measure pass-rushers in free agency, and everyone had a chance to sign Key last spring when the Raiders released him, but an edge rusher with 6.5 sacks at his age is a player who teams will take a second look at.
98. Kyle Van Noy, ILB
2021 team: New England Patriots | Age entering 2022 season: 31
Van Noy has now been released in two consecutive seasons, by the Dolphins in 2020 and now the Patriots. He actually played decent last season, but the Patriots deemed his salary-cap figure too high for 2022. There is a recent history of Patriots linebackers failing to find success elsewhere, and Van Noy is now looking to make the fourth change of teams in his career. But he can still be a reliable veteran presence.
99. Dante Fowler Jr., DE
2021 team: Atlanta Falcons | Age entering 2022 season: 28
The much-traveled No. 3 overall pick of the 2015 draft, Fowler lasted two years in Atlanta. His best NFL season came in his rookie year, when he recorded 11.5 sacks in 16 games for the Rams. In 67 games for the Jaguars and Falcons, he managed a total of 21.5 sacks. Still, an edge rusher under 30 merits attention on the market.
100. Tyler Conklin, TE
2021 team: Minnesota Vikings | Age entering 2022 season: 27
Conklin proved he can be a productive pass-catcher after stepping in for the injured Irv Smith Jr. last season, catching 61 passes for 593 yards and three touchdowns in an offense that also boasted receivers Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen. Given the number of tight ends who were franchised-tagged in this class, Conklin could have a chance to cash in.