– aka the Leftovers

    By Steven Van Tassell (@SteveVT33)

    Almost all of the recent news has been about the free agents who have signed with NFL teams so far this off-season. Outside of QBs, there haven’t been a lot of big contracts handed out to free agents and some players have had to settle for one-year contracts. Not every NFL free agent has signed yet and these “leftovers” are the focus of this article.

    I’m trying to focus on the most desirable “leftovers” remaining, so not every free agent player will be listed here. First, I’ll have the list of the top currently available NFL free agents. After that, I’ll scope out which teams could use one of these remaining veteran free agents. If a team has a need at a position, but is more likely to fill that need via the upcoming NFL Draft, such as Carolina, Houston and Indianapolis are likely to do at the QB position, then they will be left out. You may have a different opinion and if so, feel free to tag me on Twitter and tell me what I got right or, more importantly, got wrong.

    This is likely one of the few opportunities to look at the available NFL free agents as many of them will likely sign in the next few days. They may even sign after this article is finished, but before it gets published, or maybe by the time some of you read this, certain players will no longer be unsigned. Kickers are not included, just QBs, RBs, WRs and TEs, with one exception because a top rated kicker from last season was recently re-signed. Since we don’t have his contract details yet, he’s still listed as a Free Agent on the Dynasty Owner platform. The most recent contract updates were processed on Monday night (March 27th), so anyone listed in this article was still a free agent at that point.

    While it may seem unimportant, every season there is at least one free agent who signs late and ends up being a productive NFL and Dynasty Owner player. Free agency opened last year on March 16th, but Geno Smith ($25,000,000) didn’t sign with Seattle until almost a full month later (April 14th). All he did was finish as QB6 and average nearly 23.7 Dynasty Owner fantasy points per game. Super Bowl Champion Jerick McKinnon ($1,272,500) was available until mid-June last year and he finished as the RB21 for the 2022 Dynasty Owner season. Finally, Kenyan Drake ($1,035,000) was cut by the Raiders during training camp and wasn’t signed by Baltimore until August 31st, but he finished as RB46 for the season with two games of more than 20.0 Dynasty Owner fantasy points in the middle of the season (Week 6 and Week 9).

    All stats cited are based on the Standard Dynasty Owner scoring system as outlined in the updated Dynasty Owner Constitution. Standard Dynasty Owner scoring gives you .1 points for every yard rushing or receiving, .1 point for every 2 yards passing, 1 point per reception, 6 points for a rushing, receiving or passing touchdown and 2 points for a successful 2-point conversion (rushing, receiving, or passing). Interceptions or fumbles lost cost you 3 points, while a fumble that is recovered by the player’s team is a loss of only 1 point. Bonus points are available for 100-199 yards rushing (2 points), 200 yards rushing or receiving (6 points), 300-399 yards passing (1 point) and 400 yards passing (4 points). There is also a 3 point bonus for clutch scoring, which is a score that results in a lead change in the final two minutes of the 4th quarter or overtime. Kickoff and punt return touchdowns are worth 6 points for the player and kickoff and punt returns are worth 1 point for every 40 yards.

    Contract information for all players can be found on the Dynasty Owner platform. Just go to the player’s profile page and click Contract to see if there is any new contract news.

    For the purposes of this article, salaries and roster percentages were current as of the morning of March 28th.

    Players Who Have Signed but No Contract Information Yet

    Right now, we have a small list of players who have reportedly signed a contract for the 2023 season, but no information has been posted about the contract yet (other than the player’s new team and contract length in some cases). Prior to the weekend, there were 17 of these players, but many of them had their contract information posted on Spotrac over the weekend and updated Monday night on the Dynasty Owner platform.

    Here are the remaining players who have signed, but have not been updated on the Dynasty Owner platform due to lack of contract information (ranked by roster percentage).

    PlayerPositionTeamRoster %Current Salary2022 Rank2022 DOFP
    Eddy PineiroKCAR88.94%$895,000K8119.0
    D’Ernest JohnsonRBJAC76.60%$1,216,500RB1356.1
    Tony JonesRBDEN17.87%$825,000RB12110.4
    Nate SudfeldQBDET2.55%$1,035,000QB200-0.4
    Tommy SweeneyTENYG1.70%$750,000TE1121.7
    Keelan ColeWRLV0.85%$1,278,500WR13629.6
    Blake BellTEKC0.85%$1,272,500TE938.7
    Brandon PowellWRMIN0.43%$1,035,000WR10362.5

    This list is not very exciting to be honest. Eddy Pineiro is easily the most desirable player here as Carolina traded Zane Gonzalez ($2,250,000) to the San Francisco 49ers after re-signing Pineiro. Pineiro was the 8th ranked kicker in Dynasty Owner last season and only missed four kicks all season (2 FGs and 2 PATs). His contract is likely to be much higher than $895,000, but unless it’s $4 million to $5 million for multiple seasons, he should be worth keeping around on your Dynasty Owner roster.

    Don’t let the 2022 ranking and Dynasty Owner fantasy points distract you from the fact that D’Ernest Johnson had 110.6 Dynasty Owner fantasy points and three games with over 20.0 Dynasty Owner fantasy points in 2021 for the Browns. He could be a reliable backup to Travis Etienne ($3,224,526) for the Jaguars.

    The rest are likely depth for their new team and likely will end up getting a minimum salary contract based on their years of service. According to this handy chart on Spotrac, those minimum salaries are as follows:

    • $750,000 for players with less than 1 year of service
    • $870,000 for players with 1 year of service
    • $940,000 for players with 2 years of service
    • $1.01 million for players with 3 years of service
    • $1.08 million for players with 4 to 6 years of service
    • $1.165 million for players with 7 or more years of service

    Free Agent Quarterbacks

    If you thought the players who have signed list was devoid of quality free agents, then I suggest you avoid looking at the list of NFL free agent quarterbacks below. While probably all of them will end up on a NFL roster in 2023, most will have no value to Dynasty Owners unless they sign for cheap and your roster has space, salary cap room and you want the backup QB for a starter already on your roster.

    PlayerAge2022 TeamRoster %2022 Salary2022 Rank2022 DOFP
    Matt Ryan37IND5.53%$30,000,000QB27194.5
    Carson Wentz30WAS2.98%$32,000,000QB30143.0
    Joe Flacco38NYJ9.36%$3,500,000QB4065.5
    Teddy Bridgewater30MIA11.91%$6,500,000QB4549.7
    Bryce Perkins26LAR7.66%$750,000QB5717.0
    John Wolford27LAR10.64%$895,000QB6214.7

    There’s no team that needs a starting QB who isn’t likely to draft one in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. As mentioned earlier, the teams that definitely appear positioned to grab a QB in the first round right now are Carolina with the top pick, followed by Houston with the second pick and the Colts with the fourth pick. None have more than a veteran backup on their current roster and the meager options left in free agency combined with their high draft position scream drafting a franchise QB. The only questions are who will they draft and will that QB turn out to be a franchise QB like Joe Burrow ($9,047,534), or a bust after a couple of seasons like Zach Wilson ($8,787,670)?

    Arizona has the third pick but with Kyler Murray ($46,100,000) signed through the 2028 season, they seem unlikely to draft a QB. However, they do need one for at least the start of the season unless they believe that Colt McCoy ($3,750,000) or David Blough ($1,232,500) are the answer for the start of the 2023 season. Those are the only two QBs besides Murray currently on the Cardinals’ roster. Wentz or Bridgewater could be options for the Cardinals, or another team in need of a backup QB. Those other teams who appear to be currently in need of a backup QB include:

    • Baltimore: If Lamar Jackson ($32,416,000) does get traded, it would seem that a likely trade partner would be one of the teams with a high first round draft pick who need a QB, so the Ravens can take Lamar’s replacement with the first round pick they receive. If not, then it could be Tyler Huntley ($2,627,000) under center in Baltimore. If Jackson isn’t traded and pulls a Le’Veon Bell by not signing his franchise tag offer, the Ravens would definitely need a backup for Huntley.
    • Green Bay: Once the Packers finally trade Aaron Rodgers ($50,271,667) to the Jets since he “intends” to play for them, it would seem logical that they would sign a veteran to back up Jordan Love ($3,095,863). Any of the veterans on the list above would seem to fit the bill.
    • Kansas City: With the retirement of veteran backup QB Chad Henne, the Chiefs are likely a prime candidate to pick up one of these veteran backups.
    • Las Vegas: The Raiders really only have Jimmy Garoppolo ($24,250,000) as a viable NFL QB currently on their roster and with his injury history, it would seem like a good idea to get at least one more QB via the draft or free agency.
    • Los Angeles Chargers: Chase Daniel ($2,000,000) hasn’t retired yet. However, since he had a second job with the NFL Network last season, it would appear to be a matter of time. The Chargers did re-sign Easton Stick ($1,800,000) already for the 2023 season, but if Daniel were to retire, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Chargers signed a veteran backup for Justin Herbert ($6,644,688).
    • Los Angeles Rams: Both John Wolford and Bryce Perkins played for the Rams in 2022, but are listed as restricted free agents on the Rams website. With their experience in the Rams’ offense, it’s likely that either one or maybe both of them could return to back up Matthew Stafford ($40,000,000).
    • New York Jets: If somehow the trade for Aaron Rodgers falls through or Rodgers retires because the Jets didn’t trade for Randall Cobb ($9,000,000) or bring back Jordy Nelson, then the Jets will desperately need a QB. They let Mike White ($4,000,000) go to Miami in free agency and seem committed to moving on from Zach Wilson. Stranger things have happened, but I think it’ll work out eventually for Rodgers and the Jets, so Rodgers can continue to emulate his predecessor in Green Bay, Brett Favre.

    Free Agent Running Backs

    We finally have our first “big name” free agents to discuss as Leonard Fournette ($7,000,000), Jerick McKinnon, Ezekiel Elliott ($15,000,000) and Kareem Hunt ($6,000,000) are still looking for work. McKinnon and Hunt had their contracts expire, while Elliott was let go by Dallas and Fournette was cut loose by Tampa Bay. Barring an injury, none of them is going to be a workhorse RB (not even Uncle Lenny), but all four should have a solid role on the right team. The rest of the list looks like minimum salary veteran depth pieces right now.

    PlayerAge2022 TeamRoster %2022 Salary2022 Rank2022 DOFP
    Leonard Fournette28TB94.89%$7,000,000RB12227.1
    Jerick McKinnon30KC95.74%$1,272,500RB21189.7
    Ezekiel Elliott27DAL95.32%$15,000,000RB22187.8
    Latavius Murray33DEN62.55%$1,120,000RB35140.4
    Kareem Hunt27CLE97.02%$6,000,000RB39126.8
    Kenyan Drake29BAL51.49%$1,035,000RB46105.1
    Dontrell Hilliard28TEN49.79%$1,187,500RB5777.9
    Justin Jackson26DET25.11%$1,035,000RB6366.5
    J.D. McKissic29WAS43.83%$3,500,000RB7055.8

    What NFL team doesn’t want more depth at RB? Only about 30 RBs played either 16 or 17 regular season games last season so every team needs it. We are also only one season removed from Baltimore losing its top three RBs to injury before Week 1 of the regular season. Injuries happen at RB so teams will want more depth and these players can provide that.

    In terms of teams that might need a RB to shoulder some of the load in the running game or play a major role on third down, the list is smaller and includes:

    • Arizona: The Dynasty Owner in me who has James Conner ($7,000,000) rostered wants the Cardinals to not add anybody in either the NFL Draft or free agency and maybe they won’t. However, it seems likely that they will add someone because a 4-13 rebuilding team with a new coach and a franchise QB out for half the season seems exactly like the type of team that will look at additional options at every position this year.
    • Cincinnati: With the departure of Samaje Perine ($3,750,000) to Denver, the Bengals are pretty much left with Joe Mixon ($12,000,000) and a bunch of guys who didn’t play much in 2022, such as Chris Evans ($913,222) and Trayveon Williams ($1,232,500). Could the Bengals draft Bijan Robinson with the 28th pick, draft another rookie RB then or later? If not, they seemingly need another RB and should add one of the veteran free agent RBs still out there.
    • Cleveland: See the above write-up on Cincinnati and replace Joe Mixon with Nick Chubb ($12,200,000). The Browns have drafted a RB late in the NFL Draft in each of the past two seasons, Demetic Felton ($910,285) in 2021 and Jerome Ford ($995,537) in 2022. Neither played much last year and will the Browns trust one of them to back up Chubb in 2023? They might need to because they don’t have a pick until the third round of the NFL Draft.
    • Indianapolis: Both Zack Moss ($1,153,079) and Deon Jackson ($825,000) return to back up Jonathan Taylor ($1,957,287). Taylor will be a free agent in 2024 and it’s possible that they draft another RB, but it doesn’t seem like a position of need for the Colts. A veteran backfield presence in addition to Taylor could be particularly helpful with a rookie QB.
    • Los Angeles Rams: Cam Akers ($1,543,258) was the only notable RB on the team after they dumped Darrell Henderson ($1,053,001). They did draft Kyren Williams ($992,601) last year in the fifth round, but he was injured for the start of the season and only had 44 touches and 215 yards of total offense. Signing a veteran on a minimum salary contract to help out Akers and Williams seems likely.
    • Philadelphia: The Eagles remind me of someone who is really into collecting things – trading cards, coins, rookie draft picks in dynasty leagues, etc. That’s why they could add another RB to the team to compete with returning RBs Kenneth Gainwell ($953,882) and Boston Scott ($2,000,000) plus free agent signee Rashaad Penny ($1,350,000). I can’t imagine Penny being the only replacement for Miles Sanders ($6,350,000).
    • Seattle: After spending a high draft pick last season on Kenneth Walker ($2,110,395) and seeing him blossom into a solid starter, it would seem the best move for the Seahawks would be to find a veteran backup to replace Rashaad Penny and Travis Homer ($2,000,000) who both departed the Pacific Northwest this off-season.
    • Tennessee: The Titans should bring back Dontrell Hilliard since he’s been productive in each of the past two seasons as Derrick Henry’s ($12,500,000) backup. They also have Hassan Haskins ($1,088,055), but he didn’t play much last year. There are trade rumors surrounding Henry that would throw a huge wrench into the Titans’ backfield plan, but I don’t believe them.

    Free Agent Wide Receivers

    This list is 10 players long and I feel like I left out a few since Spotrac had 37 WRs listed as free agents. However, I think the ones below are the top ones who could help out a NFL team and provide depth for your Dynasty Owner roster at the right price. It’s surprising that only a few of them played last season on a veteran minimum salary contract. More of them should get one of those contracts if they want to play during the 2023 season.

    PlayerAge2022 TeamRoster %2022 Salary2022 Rank2022 DOFP
    Richie James27NYG51.06%$1,065,000WR48133.9
    DeAndre Carter29LAC51.06%$1,135,000WR53125.0
    Marvin Jones33DET34.47%$6,250,000WR59116.9
    Olamide Zaccheaus25ATL35.74%$2,433,000WR64109.0
    Demarcus Robinson28BAL39.57%$1,035,000WR71101.8
    Julio Jones34TB21.28%$6,000,000WR9870.4
    Jarvis Landry30NO35.74%$3,000,000WR10559.6
    Robbie Anderson29ARI4.26%$14,750,000WR11451.2
    Kenny Golladay29NYG4.68%$18,000,000WR14920.1
    Odell Beckham Jr.30None98.3%$1,250,000N/AN/A

    Obviously the last name on the list is the most intriguing. Odell Beckham Jr. is almost universally rostered in Dynasty Owner despite not playing a down in the NFL in 2022. His $1.25 million salary was easy to hold when it looked like he was going to play at the end of last season and there’s little upside to dropping him now when he could sign with a NFL team soon. When that happens, he’ll be worth having on your roster or trading to another Dynasty Owner who wants him.

    Probably every NFL team needs another WR. Maybe not Cincinnati with Ja’Marr Chase ($7,704,910), Tee Higgins ($2,171,696), and Tyler Boyd ($10,750,000) who finished as WR8, WR14 and WR31 respectively in Dynasty Owner last season. The other 31 NFL teams could be listed here with these teams being the ones most in need of a veteran WR.

    • Baltimore: Yes, I realize that the Ravens just signed Nelson Agholor ($3,250,000). He’s their highest paid WR and makes over $2 million more than any other Ravens WR not named Rashod Bateman ($3,149,853). However, not only do they need another veteran WR, but they should take one with the 22nd pick in the NFL Draft too. Otherwise, the double and triple-teaming of Mark Andrews ($14,000,000) on obvious passing downs will continue.
    • Detroit: The Lions are only listed so I can point out that Marvin Jones returning to Detroit to be the WR3 and mentor Amon-Ra St. Brown ($1,066,313) and Jameson Williams ($4,365,448) makes a lot of sense.   
    • Kansas City: Which veteran WR wants to compete for a Super Bowl and signs with the Chiefs? They obviously need someone to help out Travis Kelce ($14,312,500), the undisputed WR1 in Kansas City one who happens to be a TE. It worked out perfectly for JuJu Smith-Schuster ($8,500,000) who got a one-year deal with them last year, won a Super Bowl ring, then got paid by New England.
    • Los Angeles Chargers: With both Keenan Allen ($20,025,000) and Mike Williams ($20,000,000) missing multiple games last season and their third best WR (Deandre Carter) from last year still a Free Agent, the Chargers are an obvious team to take one of the top WRs in the NFL Draft. They could also use someone else to help out Justin Herbert if Allen and/or Williams gets hurt again.
    • New Orleans: Dynasty Owners with Michael Thomas ($10,000,000) are rejoicing that his contract was finally completely restructured by the Saints and isn’t $19.25 million anymore. While Saints’ fans are also happy, they should also see the need for another veteran WR to help out Chris Olave ($4,817,969) in case Thomas isn’t healthy (again). They tried out Jarvis Landry for that role last year, but he only played in nine games.
    • Tennessee: Treylon Burks ($3,592,398) becomes the Titans WR1 this season and replaces the recently departed Robert Woods ($7,625,000) who led the team in receptions and receiving yards last year. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine ($1,260,000) is entering his fourth season and is the WR with the most NFL experience on the current roster. It’s between them and Baltimore as the team most in need of a veteran WR.

    Free Agent Tight Ends

    Until he signed with Houston, Dalton Schultz ($9,000,000) was the biggest free agent TE available and one of the biggest free agent players overall. Without Schultz and with the recent retirement of Foster Moreau ($752,098) due to a cancer diagnosis, the list of Free Agent TEs is sparse to say the least.

    PlayerAge2022 TeamRoster %2022 Salary2022 Rank2022 DOFP
    Irv Smith24MIN80.43%$1,449,609TE4354.2
    Cameron Brate31TB19.15%$6,800,000TE5637.4
    Mitchell Wilcox26CIN4.26%$825,000TE5736.9
    Geoff Swaim29TEN0.43%$3,500,000TE7123.8
    Anthony Firkser28ATL3.83%$1,187,500TE8019.0

    Irv Smith has reportedly signed with Cincinnati as first reported late Monday night by Peter Schrager. However, I’m leaving him here for now since the rest of this list is pretty lousy.

    It stands to reason that NFL teams might try to find another third round pick who blossoms into a top TE like Mark Andrews or George Kittle ($15,000,000) did in recent years instead of picking up one of these veterans. However, some teams will still need or want a veteran presence at the position, including these two teams.

    • Dallas: The Cowboys lost Dalton Schultz to the Texans and now have a TE depth chart led by two players who were rookies last season, fourth round draft pick Jake Ferguson ($1,091,221) and undrafted free agent Peyton Hendershot ($858,333). As both of them are entering their second NFL season, a veteran TE seems like a must have for Dallas.
    • Green Bay: Their leading TE in 2022 was Robert Tonyan ($2,650,000) who signed with the Bears as a free agent. Marcedes Lewis ($2,960,000) is 38 years old and Josiah Deguara ($1,136,941) only had 13 receptions despite playing in all 17 games. They could use both a rookie TE and a veteran safety value for new starting QB Jordan Love.

    A few other teams, such as Las Vegas and Miami have already signed a veteran TE to a minimum salary contract this season, but could add another player. Cincinnati would have been listed, but I removed them with the reported Irv Smith signing. Even if the Bengals do officially sign Smith, drafting a TE with the 28th pick seems likely as the only TE on the current Bengals roster who caught a pass in 2022 is Devin Asiasi ($1,145,705) who has 4 receptions for 44 receiving yards in his NFL career.

    Indianapolis had three TEs on their roster last year with both Jelani Woods ($1,343,118) and Mo Alie-Cox ($5,850,000) having a 2 TD game and Kylen Granson ($1,046,592) finishing the Dynasty Owner season as TE39 despite no TDs. However, none of them set themselves apart from the others so maybe there’s more room for another TE to help out either Gardner Minshew ($3,500,000) or whoever they draft with the fourth pick.

    Conclusion

    While it may seem that every NFL free agent signed when free agency opened back on March 15th, that’s definitely not the case. There are plenty of veterans who might sign before the NFL Draft, while some of them will still be available afterwards. Injuries will inevitably happen during Organized Team Activities (OTAs) and training camp which will let those remaining players without a NFL team find a place to play.

    For Dynasty Owners, most of these NFL free agents are also free agents in a majority of Dynasty Owner leagues. If you are interested in one of these NFL free agents, picking him up before he signs a new contract is a good strategy. You’ll likely have less competition in the Free Agent Auction. If he gets a veteran minimum salary contract, your Dynasty Owner team might have additional salary cap room once the contract is updated. If you don’t like the contract, you can always try to trade him for something, or just drop him for free once the contract gets updated.

    Thanks for reading and being a Dynasty Owner. Even though we are around two weeks into the 2023 Dynasty Owner league year, we are still on our off-season content schedule right now. In addition to this article, Matt Morrison – The Jerk has an article that will be available this week, while Nate Christian and Jay Pounds are on tap with articles next week.

    Jay and I will have a new Dynasty Owner podcast this week and hopefully there is a Livestream on Friday at lunchtime. We didn’t have a Livestream last Friday, but you can check out previous ones on the Dynasty Owner YouTube channel. Finally, don’t forget to follow Dynasty Owner on Twitter. Thanks for reading and have a great day!

    Steven Van Tassell is the Head of Content for Dynasty Owner

    Follow us on Twitter: @SteveVT33 and @Dynasty_Owner