Free Agent Prospects

(a guide to promising players available this year, and beyond!)

UPDATED FOR 2023 Free Agency Class
 
NOTE: This breakdown is being regularly updated.
(players signed, released, and extended have been updated accordingly!)
– Last updated on 6/23/2023 at 5:00pm PT –
(by this point in Free Agency it’s slowed down significantly)
 

Free Agency.
The time of year where teams get an opportunity to upgrade your weakest positions with good players.
In the Draft you take players who did well against college players.
In Free Agency you go after players who have done well against NFL players.

This offseason, there will be approximately 700 players entering Free Agency.
But who are the best players slated to hit free agency this year, and over the next few years?
To determine that, we did an extensive breakdown of every single position in the NFL.

Below each position, the age and grade cut-offs used are shown, with the rationale for each explained.
If a player wasn’t much of a contributor in a given year, his grade was ignored to avoid small sample bias.
Highlighting his row will reveal how many snaps he played in his “low snap” years.
If a player missed a season due to injury, highlighting his row will reveal the injury.

And now… let’s look at who the BEST players are set to hit Free Agency in the next few years.

Available

 
The year they will be available as a free agent.
The year represents the first season you would have them if you brought them in.
– Example: “2023” would mean the 2023 Season would be your first season with them.

 

Age in 1st Season

 
How old they would be in their first season with you.
“Age in 1st Season” was determined so that we’d know how old they’d be in their 1st Season with us
— age was calculated based on how old they’d be in September of that season (when the season starts).
Age is of course useful to know for projecting performance decay, as well as injury susceptibility.
 

Grade

 
The player’s Overall PFF Grade, translated to actual letter grades to make them easier to understand as their numbers follow a curve. 
Previous analysis was done to resolve this, but suffice to say that an “A” Grade was strongly correlated to Pro Bowl / All-Pro level performance.
PFF’s number scale isn’t traditional, with them having stated that 60.0 is “average” on their scale (where this would be a D– in traditional grading scales).
Nonetheless, once you figure out their scale, it is incredibly consistent.
 
Some positions will have a “Grade Key” listed above their table if either additional grades are mentioned (ex: Man Coverage Grade), or if something like “% of Snaps as a Slot CB” is being reported for that position as well. 
Defensive Ends are the only position where the ‘Overall Grade’ was replaced with Pass Rush Grade – a nod to the pass game’s dominance in the modern NFL.
 

Team

 
Teams were included in case you’d like to find players from teams that run similar schemes to yours.
For example, in 2022 the Raiders hired Patrick Graham as their Defensive Coordinator.
He previously coached the New York Giants.
So Giants players could be picked up and contribute significantly faster, due to their familiarity with the system.
 
The Raiders saw in 2021 just how incredibly useful prior experience with a coach was, as their DC Gus Bradley brought in numerous players he’d had before, who came in and immediately contributed.
— For example, Denzel Perryman (LB) came in and played so well he went to his first Pro Bowl.
— Casey Hayward (CB) came in and immediately played (and graded out) like a top corner in the league.
— Even KJ Wright (LB) was able to miss all of training camp and still contribute meaningfully, due to playing for the Seahawks who (like Gus Bradley) ran a Cover 3 system.
NameAvailableAge in 1st Season2022 Grade2021 Grade2020 Grade2019 GradeTeam

Jakobi Meyers

2023SIGNED (Raiders)

26B+B+AC+

PatriotsRaiders

Robert Woods

2023SIGNED (Texans)

31B–B+BA

TitansTexans

Will Fuller202329

Remained Unsigned(no team signed him)

Low Targets(only 4 Tgts)

A+B+Free Agent
DeAndre Hopkins202331B+AA+A+Free Agent
Mike Evans202431B+B+B+A+Bucs
Tee Higgins202425AAB+N/ABengals
DeVante Parker202430B+B+B+A
Tyler Boyd202429BB+B+B+Bengals
Darnell Mooney202426BB+BN/ABears
Michael Pittman202426BAC+N/AColts
Kendrick Bourne202429C+B+B+B–Patriots
CeeDee Lamb202526A+ABN/ACowboys
Justin Jefferson202526A+A+A+N/AVikings
Amon-Ra St. Brown202523A+AN/AN/ALions
Jerry Jeudy202526ABB–N/ABroncos
Brandon Aiyuk202527AB+AN/A49ers
Mike Williams202528AAB+B+Chargers
Amari Cooper202529AB+B+ABrowns
Keenan Allen202531AAAAChargers
Chris Godwin202529B+AB+A+Bucs
Brandin Cooks202529BAAB–

TexansCowboys

Diontae Johnson202529BB+BB–Steelers
Russell Gage202529B–B+B+B–Falcons
Hunter Renfrow202529B–AB+B+Raiders
Age Restriction: would be ≤ 29 Years Old in their 1st Season with us
– historical analysis showed this as the age when performance started to drop off. This is likely due to Wide Receivers being very reliant on athleticism.

Grade Restriction: must have averaged around B+ or better over the past couple-few seasons
– WR is one of the most valuable positions on the team. As such, it is worth investing in higher-graded players.


NameAvailableAge in 1st Season2022 Grade2021 Grade2020 Grade2019 GradeTeam

Damien Harris

2023SIGNED (Bills)

26B+A+A+

Low Attempts(only 4 Att)

PatriotsBills

Miles Sanders

2023SIGNED (Panthers)

26B+BC+C

EaglesPanthers

Josh Jacobs202426A+AB+A+Raiders
Tony Pollard202427A+A+BACowboys
Derrick Henry202430A+B+A+B+Titans
AJ Dillon202426AA+

Low Attempts(only 46 Att)

N/APackers
Austin Ekeler202429B+B+AA+Chargers
Saquon Barkley202427AC

Low Attempts(only 19 Att)

B+Giants
Jonathan Taylor202425B–A+AN/AColts
Antonio Gibson202426B+C+AN/ACommanders
Nick Chubb202529A+AA+A+Browns
Aaron Jones202530A+AAAPackers
Rhamondre Stevenson202527AAN/AN/APatriots
Joe Mixon202529AAB–B+Bengals
Elijah Mitchell202527A+B+N/AN/A49ers
Age Restriction: would be ≤ 27 Years Old in their 1st Season with us
– historical analysis (including here) showed this as the age when performance started to drop off. This is likely due to Running Backs being not just very reliant on athleticism, but also their bodies simply breaking down from the sheer physicality of the position.

Grade Restriction: must have averaged around B+ or better over the past couple-few seasons
– Nowadays many teams use multiple Running Backs. If you’re going to give a RB snaps, they need to be productive with it because – unlike the offensive line – there’s only 1 RB in a given play. At the B+ range, it was found that RB’s could also be had for as little as $6-8 Million (3.0 to 4.0% of the Cap when salaries were researched).
 
 

Offensive Tackles 

 
Grade Key:
(Overall | Run Blocking Grade | Pass Blocking Grade)
NameAvailableAge in 1st SeasonLT/RT2022 Grade2021 Grade2020 Grade2019 GradeTeam

Orlando Brown

2023SIGNED (Bengals)

27LT & RTB+ | B | AB+ | B– | B+A | B+ | AB+ | C | A

ChiefsBengals

Isaiah Wynn

2023SIGNED (Dolphins)

26LTD | C+ | D
Played RT!
B+ | A | BA | A | B+B | C | B+

PatriotsDolphins

Kaleb McGary

2023SIGNED (Falcons)

28RTA+ | A+ | B–C+ | B | DC+ | B– | C–D | D | DFalcons
Michael Onwenu202426LG/RG/RT

(yes..)

(Legit ALL 3)

A | B+ | AA+ | A+ | BA | A | B+N/APatriots

Laremy Tunsil

2024EXTENDED through 2026

3032

LTA | B– | A+

Low Snaps(only 262 Snaps)

B+ | C | A+B+ | B | A+Texans
Cornelius Lucas202433RTB– | B | C+B+ | B | B+A | C | AB+ | C+ | B+Commanders
Andrew Thomas202526LTA+ | A | A+A | B– | AC+ | C+ | C+N/AGiants
Tristan Wirfs202526RTA | C+ | A+A+ | B+ | AA | B+ | AN/ABucs
Taylor Decker202531LTB+ | B– | AB+ | B– | AA | B+ | A+B+ | B | B+Lions
Dion Dawkins202531LTB+ | C+ | AA | B– | AA | B+ | B+B+ | C+ | B+Bills
Garett Bolles202533LTB+ | A | AA | B | AA+ | A+ | A+B+ | B | ABroncos
La'el Collins202532RTC– | B+ | FA | A+ | B+

Missed SeasonHip Surgery

A+ | A+ | B+Cowboys
Charles Leno202533LTB | C– | AA | C+ | A+B+ | B+ | BC | F | BCommanders
Samuel Cosmi202526RTB | B | B–B+ | A | C+N/AN/ACommanders
Age Restriction: would be ≤ 32 Years Old in their 1st Season with us
– historical analysis showed this as the age when performance started to drop off. Though there are exceptions in the league, most often at this age injuries started to appear unpredictable and sporadic across the Offensive Line, which is not only not good for reliability, but it’s also not good for chemistry (important on the OL).

Grade Restriction: must have averaged around B+ or better over the past couple-few seasons
– One key thing to remember about the Offensive Line is that it’s less about having elite players across it, and more about having consistently solid players.  
On the OL it’s been shown to be wiser to have solid performers across it, rather than having 1 or 2 elite spots, but tissue paper elsewhere. Defenses simply avoid your strengths, and punch holes (and enter) through your weak spots.

At the B+ range, it was found that Tackles could also be had for $12-15 Million (6.1 to 7.6% of the Cap when salaries were researched).
The Tackle market has gotten severely inflated to unreasonable proportions in recent years. As such, the position has become one where the wiser move is to draft them, and for the 4-5 years they’re on a rookie contact, take the significant savings to upgrade other, more valuable and unique positions (like WR, CB, Safety). There are 5 Offensive Linemen. Paying one $25 Million does you no good when your opponent will just attack your $3 Million one instead.

Guards 

 
Grade Key:
(Overall | Run Blocking Grade | Pass Blocking Grade)
NameAvailableAge in 1st SeasonLG/RG2022 Grade2021 Grade2020 Grade2019 GradeTeam

Isaac Seumalo

2023SIGNED (Steelers)

29LG/RGB+ | B | A

Low Snaps(only 168 Snaps)

C | D | AB | B– | B

EaglesSteelers

Chris Lindstrom

2024EXTENDED through 2028

27RGA+ | A+ | AA | A+ | B–A | A | BB– | B– | C+Falcons
Michael Onwenu202426LG/RG/RT

(yes..)

(Legit ALL 3)

A | B+ | AA+ | A+ | BA | A | B+N/APatriots

Shaq Mason

2024EXTENDED through 2026

3134

RGB | C | B+A+ | A+ | B+A+ | A+ | CB+ | B | B+

BucsTexans

Connor Williams202428LGA | A+ | BA | A | AB | B | B–C | C | C+Cowboys
Quinn Meinerz202526RGA | A | B–B– | C+ | B–N/AN/ABroncos
Trey Smith202526RGB | B | BB+ | B+| C+N/AN/AChiefs
Age Restriction: would be ≤ 32 Years Old in their 1st Season with us
– historical analysis showed this as the age when performance started to drop off. Though there are exceptions in the league, most often at this age injuries started to appear unpredictable and sporadic across the Offensive Line, which is not only not good for reliability, but it’s also not good for chemistry (important on the OL).

Grade Restriction: must have averaged around B+ or better over the past couple-few seasons
– One key thing to remember about the Offensive Line is that it’s less about having elite players across it, and more about having consistently solid players.  
On the OL it’s been shown to be wiser to have solid performers across it, rather than having 1 or 2 elite spots, but tissue paper elsewhere. Defenses simply avoid your strengths, and punch holes (and enter) through your weak spots.
 
At the B+ range, it was found that Guards could also be had for $6-8 Million (3.0 to 4.0% of the Cap when salaries were researched).
 
 

Centers 

 
Grade Key:
(Overall | Run Blocking Grade | Pass Blocking Grade)
NameAvailableAge in 1st Season2022 Grade2021 Grade2020 Grade2019 GradeTeam

Ethan Pocic

2023EXTENDED through 2025

28A | A | BB– | B+ | FC+ | C | CF | F | CBrowns
Chase Roullier202330C– | D | CA | A+ | BA | B+ | AB | B– | BCommanders

Connor McGovern

2024SIGNED (Jets)

3031

B | B | BB+ | A | B–C+ | B | FB+ | C+ | AJets
Connor Williams202427A | A+ | BB+ | B+ | AB | B | B–C | C | C+Dolphins
Creed Humphrey202526A+ | A+ | AA+ | A+ | AN/AN/AChiefs
David Andrews202533B+ | A | B–A | A | AB– | B | C–

Missed SeasonPulmonary Embolism

Patriots
Age Restriction: would be ≤ 32 Years Old in their 1st Season with us
– historical analysis showed this as the age when performance started to drop off. Though there are exceptions in the league, most often at this age injuries started to appear unpredictable and sporadic across the Offensive Line, which is not only not good for reliability, but it’s also not good for chemistry (important on the OL).

Grade Restriction: must have averaged around B+ or better over the past couple-few seasons
– One key thing to remember about the Offensive Line is that it’s less about having elite players across it, and more about having consistently solid players.  
On the OL it’s been shown to be wiser to have solid performers across it, rather than having 1 or 2 elite spots, but tissue paper elsewhere. Defenses simply avoid your strengths, and punch holes (and enter) through your weak spots.
 
At the B+ range, it was found that Centers could also be had for $5-8 Million (2.5 to 4.0% of the Cap when salaries were researched).
 
 
NameAvailableAge in 1st Season2022 Grade2021 Grade2020 Grade2019 GradeTeam

Dalton Schultz

2023SIGNED (Texans)

27B–AC+

Low Targets(only 2 Targets)

CowboysTexans

Hunter Henry202429C–B+BB+Patriots
Pat Freiermuth202526B+B+N/AN/ASteelers
Age Restriction: would be ≤ 32 Years Old in their 1st Season with us
– historical analysis showed this as the age when performance started to drop off. This is likely due to the position not being overly reliant on athleticism, but rather technique and being able to use your larger body effectively enough to either get open, or secure blocks. 
As Jason Witten used to say, “The secret is in the dirt” 
– meaning, it all starts with your feet and how your technique will allow you to get open and secure blocks, even if you’ve lost (or simply lack) athleticism.

Grade Restriction: must have averaged around B+ or better over the past couple-few seasons
– The Tight End position is one whose market is severely depressed. It’s also a position almost unimaginably dominated by the Top 3-5 players – it’s not a very deep talent pool in general, and particularly so when considering what the position has become (where being a receiving threat is essentially non-negotiable). 
At the B+ range, it was found that TE’s could also be had for as little as $7-9 Million (3.5 to 4.5% of the Cap when salaries were researched).
 
 

Safeties 

 
Grade Key:
(Overall | % Snaps as a Free Safety)
NameAvailableAge in 1st Season2022 Grade2021 Grade2020 Grade2019 GradeTeam

Jessie Bates

2023SIGNED (Falcons)

27A | 70.5%C– | 68.5%A+ | 71.5%C | 75.2%

BengalsFalcons

Jimmie Ward

2023SIGNED (Texans)

32B+ | 0.4%A | 54.9%B+ | 47.5%A | 70.6%

49ersTexans

Jordan Poyer

2023SIGNED (Bills)

32B+ | 56.6%A | 57.4%B+ | 47.6%B+ | 47.3%Bills

Adrian Amos

2023SIGNED (NYJ)

3031

B+ | 45.3%B+ | 54.7%A+ | 54.9%A | 42.6%

PackersJets

Marcus Epps

2023SIGNED (Raiders)

27C– | 65.1%B+ | 64.2%B+ | 61.1%B– | 90.0%

EaglesRaiders

Kamren Curl202425A | 26.0%B | 33.8%B– | 20.2%N/ACommanders
Kyle Dugger202428A | 10.9%B | 10.2%C+ | 9.6%N/APatriots
Antoine Winfield202426A | 28.4%A+ | 70.7%B– | 69.3%N/ABucs
Jayron Kearse202430B | 22.1%A | 17.5%C– | 8.9%A+ | 31.7%Cowboys
Xavier McKinney202426C– | 57.9%B+ | 71.2%B | 37.4%N/AGiants
Kevin Byard202532A+ | 53.3%B– | 44.4%A | 52.4%A+ | 45.1%Titans
Budda Baker202529B+ | 42.6%B– | 56.8%B+ | 44.1%B | 48.6%Cardinals
Quandre Diggs202532B+ | 82.8%B | 87.6%C+ | 88.6%B+ | 71.5%Seahawks
Adrian Phillips202533B+ | 28.3%A | 15.5%B– | 3.7%A+ | 21.3%Patriots
Jevon Holland202525B– | 69.8%A | 71.9%N/AN/ADolphins
Justin Simmons202531B | 53.8%B+ | 59.1%A | 56.9%A+ | 49.8%Broncos
 
Age Restriction: would be ≤ 32 Years Old in their 1st Season with us
– historical analysis showed this as the age when performance started to drop off. Safety is a position where a lack of athleticism can be masked, with the cerebral aspects of the position tending to matter more. We’ve seen some great cornerbacks over the years transition to Safety as they lost a step or two, and put their ball skills + what they’d learned about offenses over the years to use – but no longer at just the boundaries of the field.

Grade Restriction: must have averaged around B+ or better over the past couple-few seasons
– Safety is arguably the most undervalued position currently from a market standpoint. Many people don’t seem to be aware that it actually has one of the highest WARs (Wins Above Replacement) of any position in the NFL – meaning, having a good one is absolutely indispensable. And if we look back at the Patriots defenses, in their
2 decades of dominance they consistently had good Safeties over the years, even as other positions fluctuated throughout. 
 
A very good Safety not only acts as a great eraser, but it gives you a lot of flexibility and leeway in your play call as you not only can trust that the route distribution and offensive concept will be diagnosed properly, but that exchanges with the Corners and Linebackers will be clean, appropriate, and resistant to manipulation.
 
At the B+ range, it was found that Safeties could also be had for as little as $6-9 Million (3.0 to 4.5% of the Cap when salaries were researched).
– Safety is definitely a position worth spending your savings from elsewhere, to bring in the cream of the crop.
 
 
WHY REPORT THE % OF SNAPS AS A FREE SAFETY?
Schemes.
In the NFL, there are 2-High Systems, and 1-High Systems.
Recently, PFF found that in recent years, only 15% of the time that a team showed one shell before the play, did they actually switch to another after the snap.
Thus, by figuring out what % of Snaps a Safety played at FS, we can safely gauge how often they were asked to fulfill different roles.

Teams that run a lot of Cover 3 and Cover 1 (1-High Systems) would have a Safety with a lot of snaps at Free Safety, since in these systems roles are clearly defined.
 
Conversely, teams that run a lot of Cover 2 and Cover 4 (etc.) would have Safeties who never really spent a lot of snaps filling one role very much, as in these 2-High Systems roles are not as clearly defined, and their Safeties are asked to go from playing the deep field on one play, to dropping down to defend the run the next play, to actually playing the slot on yet the next play.
 
Thus, if your Defensive Coordinator runs a 1-High System and:
– you’re looking for a FS, you’d want to look for Safeties with a high % of Snaps as a Free Safety
– else, if you’re looking for a SS, then you’d want to look for Safeties with only a low-to-moderate – say, 10-40% of snaps as a Free Safety

 

 

If your Defensive Coordinator runs a 2-High System, then it’s simpler:
– Look for Safeties with a lot of experience playing different roles. Thus, you’d prefer Safeties with only moderate snaps (say, up to 40%) at Free Safety, since that’d mean they didn’t exclusively play that role but instead, played many different roles… which is exactly what you need from a Safety in a 2-High System.
 
 

Cornerbacks 

 
Grade Key:
(Overall | Man Coverage Grade | Zone Coverage Grade | % Snaps as a Slot CB)
NameAvailableAge in 1st Season2022 Grade2021 Grade2020 Grade2019 GradeTeam

Jamel Dean

2023EXTENDED through 2026

26A | C+ | A | 3.7%B+ | B– | A | 4.2%A | C | A+ | 3.0%B+ | D | A | 7.8%Bucs

James Bradberry

2023SIGNED (Eagles)

30B+ | B | A | 0.9%C+ | F | A | 5.9%A | B– | A | 5.9%C | D | B– | 1.9%Eagles

Cameron Sutton

2023SIGNED (Lions)

28B | D | B | 19.9%C | F | B | 15.1%B | B– | | A | 49.1%B+ | A | C+ | 50.4%

SteelersLions

Tavierre Thomas

2023SIGNED (Texans)

27B | B+ | B 95.4%A | A | B | 91.1%

Low Snaps(only 204 Snaps)

Low Snaps(only 2 Snaps)

Texans

Rock Ya-Sin

2023SIGNED (Ravens)

27B– | C+ | B– | 6.6%B | A | B– | 3.4%F | F | C– | 1.5%B– | F | B– | 4.1%

RaidersRavens

Cameron Dantzler

2023SIGNED (BUF)

2526

C+ | C+ | C+ | 0.0%B+ | C+ | B | 4.7%B | B– | C+ | 1.0%N/A

No Team in '22Bills

Rashad Fenton

2023SIGNED (Cardinals)

26C– | F | B– | 0.8%A | C+ | A | 14.7%B | A | B | 40.2%

Low Snaps(only 166 Snaps)

FalconsCardinals

Emmanuel Moseley

2023SIGNED (Lions)

27B | B– | B+ | 1.0%B | F | B+ | 0.8%C | B | F | 10.6%B | F | B+ | 8.1%

49ersLions

Isaiah Rodgers202426A | C | A+ | 2.5%B | D | B– | 2.9%

Low Snaps(only 51 Snaps)

N/AColts
Kendall Fuller202429A | D | A | 1.7%A | B– | B+ | 21.1%B– | C– | B | 5.5%C | F | C | 62.9%Commanders
L'Jarius Sneed202427B+ | B– | B+ | 49.4%C+ | C+ | C– | 59.2%B+ | D | A | 41.7%N/AChiefs
Adoree Jackson202428B+ | A | C– | 9.6%B+ | C+ | A | 6.0%

Low Snaps(only 155 Snaps)

B+ | C+ | A | 10.1%Giants
Chidobe Awuzie202429B | B+ | B–A | B– | A+ | 5.7%D | F | C+ | 3.5%B+ | C+ | B | 3.8%Bengals
Nick McCloud202426B– | C– | C+ | 24.6%

Low Snaps(only 14 Snaps)

N/AN/AGiants
Kenny Moore202430C– | F | C– | 65.2%B– | D | B+ | 66.9%B+ | D | A | 67.3%B+ | F | A | 53.1%Colts
Charvarius Ward202526A | D | A | 0.6%B– | D | B– | 1.5%C+ | B | C+ | 2.6%B | F | B– | 2.7%Chiefs
Tyson Campbell202525A | D | A | 6.1%C+ | F | B | 8.4%N/AN/AJaguars
Mike Hilton202531B+ | C– | A | 84.9%B+ | F | B+ | 84.2%B | D | A | 68.1%B– | C | A | 76.0%Bengals
DJ Reed202529B+ | B+ | A | 0.6%A | C– | A | 2.4%B+ | F | A | 17.7%

Low Snaps(only 125 Snaps)

Seahawks
Avonte Maddox202529B | B | B | 78.8%B+ | D | B+ | 84.0%F | F| F | 5.9%C | C | C– | 77.0%Eagles
Rasul Douglas202528B | F | B+ | 21.6%B+ | D | B+ | 0.6%C | F | B– | 3.8%D | F | C | 1.5%Packers
Taron Johnson202529B | F | A 75.9%B | C | B+ | 82.1%C | F | C | 85.7%C | B– | D | 80.6%Bills
Carlton Davis202528B– | B– | B– | 4.6%B– | F | A | 6.1%B– | B– | B– | 4.6%B | C– | A | 7.6%Bucs
Age Restriction: would be ≤ 29 Years Old in their 1st Season with us
– historical analysis showed this as the age when performance started to drop off. Similar to Wide Receivers, this is likely due to the position being very reliant on athleticism.

Grade Restriction: must have averaged around B– or better over the past couple-few seasons
– In recent years a couple of things have become clearer: CB play has a tendency to be volatile from year to year (necessitating the drop from B+ to B–, otherwise some known quantities like Marlon Humphrey and Kenny Moore would’ve been missed), but also, similar to the Offensive Line, it’s better to have consistently solid players in your secondary rather than 1 Elite piece. 
 
Just like with the Offensive Line, opposing teams don’t tend to go after your strongest piece – instead, they simply find ways to isolate and attack your weakest links. There are countless ways to scheme offensive players into favorable situations against your weaker defenders, even if as a defense your intent is to stick your strongest CB against their best WR. What this has revealed is that the best approach is not to build a fence with one single 20 ft high section and then a bunch of 2 ft pieces, but rather to build a fence that’s consistently 10 ft high across the whole thing.
 
At the B– range, it was found that CB’s could also be had for as little as $6-8 Million (3.0 to 4.0% of the Cap when salaries were researched).

– Slot CBs in particular are currently still very affordable (even as you get into the A range for them), which is great in the modern NFL considering that offenses increasingly are figuring out how to isolate their best WRs against your worst DB – which was typically your Slot CB in the past. We’ve even seen great CB’s like Jalen Ramsey have to learn the slot in recent years, due to this “weakest link” philosophy NFL offenses are getting better and better at exploiting. Rather than have to go against him, they’d just scheme their best WR into situations where he was matched up against a Slot CB.

 

WHY REPORT THE % OF SNAPS AS A SLOT CB?
Simple. In case your team is looking for a Slot Cornerback, of course.
Otherwise, without being familiar with every single team, it can be easy to overlook players with Slot CB experience.
It can also help explain some changes in performance – for example, Desmond King has always been a Slot CB. 
In 2021 however he was asked to play outside – something he’d never done in the NFL – and it went terribly for him, as we can see with his 2021 grade.
Thus, without deeper context like this, all we’d have seen is a really bad grade for him and thought something was amiss.
 
 
NameAvailableAge in 1st Season2022 Grade2021 Grade2020 Grade2019 GradeTeam

Javon Hargrave

2023SIGNED (49ers)

30A | F | A+B– | F | A+C | F | AA | A | A

Eagles49ers

Dalvin Tomlinson

2023SIGNED (Browns)

29A | C+ | AB+ | B– | B+B+ | B | B+A | A | C+

VikingsBrowns

Andrew Billings

2023SIGNED (Bears)

28B+ | B+ | B–

Low Snaps(only 72 Snaps)

Skipped Season(Covid Opt-Out)

B | B– | B–

RaidersBears

Chris Wormley202329B+ | A | C+B– | B | C

Low Snaps(only 148 Snaps)

B– | B+ | DSteelers

David Onyemata

2023SIGNED (Falcons)

30C+ | D | B–A | A | B+A+ | B+ | AC– | C | C+

SaintsFalcons

Poona Ford

2023SIGNED (Bills)

27C– | D | CB+ | B | BA | B+ | C+B+ | A | D

SeahawksBills

Shy Tuttle

2023SIGNED (Panthers)

26C | B– | C–B+ | B+ | DB+ | A | DB+ | B | B

SaintsPanthers

Dexter Lawrence202426A+ | A | A+B | C– | B+A | B+ | B+B+ | B+ | C+Giants
Chris Jones202430A+ | A | A+A | B– | A+A+ | B– | A+A+ | B+ | A+Chiefs
Quinnen Williams202426A+ | A | AC+ | C | BA | A | AB– | B+ | C–Jets
DJ Reader202430A+ | B+ | AA | A | BB | B | CA+ | A | B+Bengals
Christian Wilkins202428A+ | A | B+A | A | BB | B+ | CC+ B– | CDolphins

Jeffery Simmons

2024EXTENDED through 2027

2731

A | B+ | AB | C+ | B+A | A | B–B | B+ | C+Titans
Leonard Williams202430A | B+ | B+B+ | B– | B–A | A | BB | B+ | B–Giants
Zach Sieler202428B+ | A | C–A | A | AB | B– | B–

Low Snaps(only 118 Snaps)

Dolphins
Grover Stewart202430B | B | C–B+ | B | B–B– | B | CB– | B | C–Colts

Ed Oliver

2024EXTENDED through 2027

2630

B | B | C+B | C | B+F | F | B+B– | C+ | C+Bills
Derrick Brown202527A | A | AC+ | C | BC | D | B+N/APanthers
DeForest Buckner202531A | B | AB | C– | AA+ | B | A+A | B+ | B+Colts
Harrison Phillips202529B+ | B+ | CA | A | CC | D | C+

Low Snaps(only 77 Snaps)

Bills
Christian Barmore202526B | F | AC+ | F | B+N/AN/APatriots
Kenny Clark202529B– | D | B+B+ | D | AB+ | B | BA | B– | A+Packers
BJ Hill202529B– | C+ | CB | B | B–B+ | B+ | BB+ | A | C–Bengals
Age Restriction: would be ≤ 32 Years Old in their 1st Season with us
– historical analysis showed this as the age when performance started to drop off. Similar to Tight Ends, the position isn’t overly reliant on athleticism, but rather being able to use your larger body in smarter ways through good technique.

Grade Restriction: must have averaged around B– or better over the past couple-few seasons
– At DT, it’s more about having no glaring weakness in your front than it is having elite pieces throughout. 
This also helps your team avoid the big market inflation that Lines (OL and DL) have experienced in recent years.
It’s much easier to scheme a defensive lineman out of existence in a game than it is a DB. 
The secondary flows. The line however typically has very tight, restricted gap assignments.
In the secondary, your flat defender is expected to fall off if he suspects he’s being vertically stretched (ex: Smash concept).
On the defensive line however, you’re expected to strictly maintain your gap integrity.

This rigidity is essentially how linemen are schemed out of existence. 
And we’ve seen this actually play out over and over in recent years.
Analytics companies like PFF have been ahead on this, in discovering that it appears to be better to have a strong secondary, than a strong defensive line.
If we take a step back and think about the football of this, it makes sense, too.
On a quick pass, your defensive lineman has zero chance of influencing the play.
On a quick pass, your DB can still influence the play. They can even intercept the ball by diagnosing and jumping the route.
 
At the B– range, it was found that DT’s could also be had for as little as $7-8 Million (3.5 to 4.0% of the Cap when salaries were researched).
 
 

Defensive Ends 

 
NOTE:
“Grade” for Defensive Ends is their Pass Rush Grade.
See below the table for the rationale (but, basically, it’s a nod to the passing game being king in the modern NFL).
NameAvailableAge in 1st Season2022 Grade2021 Grade2020 Grade2019 GradeTeam

Charles Omenihu

2023SIGNED (Chiefs)

26B+AC+C+

TexansChiefs

Marcus Davenport

2023SIGNED (Vikings)

26B+ABB+

SaintsVikings

Arden Key

2023SIGNED (Titans)

27B+AC+C+

49ersTitans

Dawuane Smoot202328B+B+B–DJaguars
Nick Bosa202426A+A+BA49ers
Trey Hendrickson202429A+AAC+Bengals
Rashan Gary202426AA+C+C–Packers
Montez Sweat202428AB–ACCommanders
Josh Allen202427ABB+BJaguars
Danielle Hunter202429AA

Missed SeasonNeck Injury

AVikings
Carl Lawson202429B+

Missed SeasonTore Achilles

AC+Jets
Brian Burns202426BB+A+BPanthers
Age Restriction: would be ≤ 30 Years Old in their 1st Season with us
– historical analysis showed this as the age when performance started to drop off. This is likely due to Defensive Ends being relatively reliant on athleticism if they want to affect the passing game. While technique can help extend a player’s career (at basically any position), on the edge there seems to still be some baseline level of athleticism that simply can’t be negotiated away.

Grade Restriction: must have averaged a Pass Rush Grade around B+ or better over the past couple-few seasons
– The modern NFL is all about the passing game. Score quickly (pass) and make it hard for them to keep up (pass defense).
Focusing on Pass Rush also proves to be cap efficient, since you can get a good pass rush specialist for a lot less if they have deficiencies in the run game. In the modern game though, this tends to be an acceptable exchange, given just how much more you want to stop the pass than the run anyway.
 
At the B+ range, it was found that DE’s could also be had for as little as $10-11 Million (5.0 to 5.6% of the Cap when salaries were researched).
– NOTE that the grade filter here was Pass Rush Grade, not Overall Grade as with other positions. This is a nod to the passing game being the dominant factor in the NFL nowadays, with the running game increasingly becoming an afterthought. 
 
If you’re looking for a DE with a B+ Overall Grade, the cost tends to balloon quickly (quickly hitting $15-18+ Million).
But that would require favoring run defense too, despite this not being very influential in the modern game. 
The Raiders in 2021 were able to make the playoffs after going all in on pass rush – with Maxx Crosby and bringing in Yannick Ngakoue (whose run defense is abysmal) for $13 Million/year. They gave up on insisting on keeping at least 1 run defender in like Clelin Ferrell. 
The Raiders defensive line only proceeded to absolutely destroy offensive lines the whole season. Offenses couldn’t figure out who to block.
 
 

Linebackers 

 
Grade Key:
(Overall | Run Defense Grade | Coverage Grade)
NameAvailableAge in 1st Season2022 Grade2021 Grade2020 Grade2019 GradeTeam

TJ Edwards

2023SIGNED (Bears)

27A | A | AB+ | A | BB– | C+ | C+

Low Snaps(only 112 Snaps)

EaglesBears

David Long

2023SIGNED (Dolphins)

26B+ | A+ | C+B– | C | B–D | C+ | F

Low Snaps(only 68 Snaps)

TitansDolphins

Azeez Al-Shaair

2023SIGNED (Titans)

26B– | A | DC+ | B– | C+C | B | F

Low Snaps(only 174 Snaps)

49ersTitans

Drue Tranquill

2023SIGNED (Chiefs)

28B– | F | AC+ | F | B+

Low Snaps(only 5 Snaps)

B– | B | C+

ChargersChiefs

Sione Takitaki

2023SIGNED (Browns)

28B– | B– | C+

Low Snaps(only 285 Snaps)

B | A+ | D

Low Snaps(only 105 Snaps)

Browns

Kyzir White

2023SIGNED (Cardinals)

27B– | C+ | C+B– | C+ | B–D | F | CB– | C+ | B–

ChargersCardinals

Ja'Whaun Bentley202428A | A | B+B– | B | C–D | F | C+B– | C+ | B–Patriots

Shaq Thompson

2024EXTENDED through 2024

30B+ | A+ | C–B+ | C+ | B+F | C– | FB– | B– | CPanthers
Josey Jewell202429B | A | C+

Low Snaps(only 82 Snaps)

B– | B– | B–

Low Snaps(only 214 Snaps)

Broncos
Dre Greenlaw202528A | A | A

Low Snaps(only 113 Snaps)

C | C– | B–C+ | C | B–Chiefs

Matt Milano

2025EXTENDED through 2026

30B+ | C– | AB | B | CC– | F | DB– | F | ABills
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah202525B– | C | B+A | A | B–N/AN/ABrowns
Pete Werner202526C+ | C | BA | A+ | CN/AN/ASaints
Age Restriction: would be ≤ 32 Years Old in their 1st Season with us
– historical analysis showed this as the age when performance started to drop off. This is likely due to Linebackers not being overly reliant on athleticism, as intelligence can keep them in good position in the pass game, and quickly get them to the right spot in the run game. Strength itself doesn’t appear to fall off with age (at least NFL ages, where 30’s is old) – what tends to fall off is agility and reaction times.

Grade Restriction: must have averaged around B– or better over the past couple-few seasons 
At the B– range, it was found that LB’s could also be had for as little as $5-7 Million (2.5 to 3.5% of the Cap when salaries were researched).