The NFL’s new league year begins tomorrow, and the unofficial start of free agency (via the legal tampering period) begins today at noon ET. Many moves were made already, including several high-profile franchise tags and the Seahawks’ release of Bobby Wanger, and it’s time for the 2022 NFL free agency rankings. I was planning on doing overall free agency rankings like usual, but this year is nearly impossible in my opinion. And with all the insane depth this year—even after guys like Chris Godwin and Mike Williams were franchise tagged—rankings could change drastically from team to team, especially with the older veteran depth that might be a better fit for top contending teams. So, instead I will be going with positional rankings. Again, this is an exceptionally deep year even if it is not top-heavy, so the order can certainly vary quite a bit for my 2022 NFL free agency rankings.
A few notes before the rankings:
- As you can see from the number of players listed, defensive back in particular is incredibly deep, and the order could move a ton depending on team fit. Kyle Fuller and Desmond King are former All-Pros (2018 for both) outside the top ten at the position, indicating its depth. Using running back as an example, someone like J.D. McKissic might be much higher for a team looking for someone with his skillset out of the backfield.
- Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson is my top overall free agent given his age (26) and production (interception totals of nine and eight over the past two seasons). I expect he’ll get the biggest contract of any player this year.
- The three top off-ball linebackers all have a strong case for No. 1 at their position and would all be priorities depending on team situation. Similarly, the edge rushers became even stronger after the Packers released Za’Darius Smith. All of the top four have a case for No. 1 there, depending on the team (and Jadeveon Clowney is an excellent option, too).
- If I were a team in need of a quarterback (like the Colts and Steelers), I would go hard after Marcus Mariota or Mitchell Trubisky. Both former No. 2 overall picks were able to rebuild themselves in good situations as backup quarterbacks, and I think they can play at a high level. If there were overall free-agent rankings, they would both easily be in the top ten for me.
Quarterback
1. Marcus Mariota, LV
2. Mitchell Trubisky, BUF
3. Jameis Winston, NO
4. Joe Flacco, NYJ
5. Cam Newton, CAR
6. Tyrod Taylor, HOU
7. Teddy Bridgewater, DEN
8. Ryan Fitzpatrick, WAS
9. Jacoby Brissett, MIA
10. Andy Dalton, CHI
Running Back
1. Rashaad Penny, SEA
2. Melvin Gordon, DEN
3. James Conner, ARI
4. Cordarrelle Patterson, ATL
5. Leonard Fournette, TB
6. Sony Michel, LAR
7. Marlon Mack, IND
8. Ronald Jones, TB
9. Chase Edmonds, ARI
10. Tevin Coleman, NYJ
11. Darrel Williams KC
12. Jordan Howard, PHI
13. Latavius Murray, BAL
14. James White, NE
15. J.D. McKissic, WAS
16. Raheem Mostert, SF
17. Boston Scott, PHI
18. D’Onta Foreman, TEN
19. Giovani Bernard, TB
20. Justin Jackson, LAC
21. Devonta Freeman, BAL
Wide Receiver
1. Allen Robinson, CHI
2. JuJu Smith-Schuster, PIT
3. Odell Beckham Jr., LAR
4. D.J. Chark, JAX
5. Christian Kirk, ARI
6. Sammy Watkins, BAL
7. James Washington, PIT
8. Russell Gage, ATL
9. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, GB
10. A.J. Green, ARI
11. T.Y. Hilton, IND
12. Will Fuller, MIA
13. Emmanuel Sanders, BUF
14. Trent Sherfield, SF
15. Cedrick Wilson, DAL
16. Zay Jones, LV
17. Braxton Berrios, NYJ
18. Rashard Higgins, CLE
19. Jakeem Grant, CHI
20. Jamison Crowder, NYJ
21. Breshad Perriman, TB
22. Keelan Cole, NYJ
Tight End
1. Rob Gronkowski, TB
2. O.J. Howard, TB
3. Gerald Everett, SEA
4. Evan Engram, NYG
5. Mo Alie-Cox, IND
6. Robert Tonyan, GB
7. Jared Cook, LAC
8. Hayden Hurst, ATL
9. C.J. Uzomah, CIN
10. Tyler Conklin, MIN
11. Jimmy Graham, CHI
12. Kyle Rudolph, NYG
Offensive Tackle
1. Terron Armstead, NO
2. Trent Brown, NE
3. Billy Turner, GB
4. Duane Brown, SEA
5. Chukwuma Okorafor, PIT
6. Daryl Williams, BUF
7. Morgan Moses, NYJ
8. Eric Fisher, IND
9. Jason Peters, CHI
10. Germain Ifedi, CHI
11. Dennis Kelly, GB
12. Mike Remmers, KC
Interior Offensive Line
1. James Daniels, CHI
2. Brandon Scherff, WAS
3. Laken Tomlinson, SF
4. Quinton Spain, CIN
5. Connor Williams, DAL
6. Andrew Norwell, JAX
7. Trai Turner, PIT
8. Rodger Saffold, TEN
9. Austin Corbett, LAR
10. Alex Cappa, TB
11. Ben Jones, TEN
12. Brian Allen, LAR
13. Bradley Bozeman, BAL
14. Will Hernandez, NYG
15. Mark Glowinski, IND
Defensive Line
1. Akiem Hicks, CHI
2. Calais Campbell, BAL
3. B.J. Hill, CIN
4. Linval Joseph, LAC
5. D.J. Jones, SF
6. Nndamukong Suh, TB
7. Larry Ogunjobi, CIN
8. Bilal Nichols, CHI
9. Harrison Phillips, BUF
10. Tim Settle, WAS
11. Maliek Collins, HOU
12. Sebastian Joseph-Day, LAR
13. Folorunso Fatukasi, NYJ
14. Maurice Hurst, SF
15. Derrick Nnadi, KC
Edge Players
1. Haason Reddick, CAR
2. Von Miller, DEN
3. Chandler Jones, ARI
4. Za’Darius Smith, GB
5. Jadeveon Clowney, CLE
6. Randy Gregory, DAL
7. Lorenzo Carter, NYG
8. Jason Pierre-Paul, TB
9. Jerry Hughes, BUF
10. Dante Fowler, ATL
11. Justin Houston, BAL
12. Arden Key, SF
13. Charles Harris, DET
14. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, LAR
15. Derek Barnett, PHI
16. Uchenna Nwosu, LAC
17. Melvin Ingram, KC
Off-ball Linebackers
1. Foyesade Oluokun, ATL
2. Bobby Wagner, SEA
3. De’Vondre Campbell, GB
4. Jordan Hicks, ARI
5. Dont’a Hightower, NE
6. Anthony Barr, MIN
7. Leighton Vander Esch, DAL
8. Alexander Johnson, DEN
9. Josey Jewell, DEN
10. Keanu Neal, DAL
11. Kyzir White, LAC
12. Jayon Brown, TEN
13. Ja’Whaun Bentley, NE
Cornerback
1. J.C. Jackson, NE
2. Carlton Davis, TB
3. Stephon Gilmore, CAR
4. Rasul Douglas, GB
5. Patrick Peterson, MIN
6. Charvarius Ward, KC
7. Levi Wallace, BUF
8. Donte Jackson, CAR
9. D.J. Reed, SEA
10. Xavier Rhodes, IND
11. Kyle Fuller, DEN
12. Darious Williams, LAR
13. Casey Hayward, LV
14. Mike Hughes, KC
15. Anthony Averett, BAL
16. Eli Apple, CIN
17. Desmond King, HOU
18. Joe Haden, PIT
19. Kevin King, GB
20. Bryce Callahan, DEN
21. K’Waun Williams, SF
22. Sidney Jones, SEA
23. Jason Verrett, SF
24. Brandon Facyson, LV
25. Steven Nelson, PHI
26. Akhello Witherspoon, PIT
27. Jason McCourty, MIA
28. Robert Alford, ARI
Safety
1. Marcus Williams, NO
2. Tyrann Mathieu, KC
3. Jayron Kearse, DAL
4. Jordan Whitehead, TB
5. Quandre Diggs, SEA
6. Marcus Maye, NYJ
7. DeShon Elliott, BAL
8. Xavier Woods, MIN
9. Tracy Walker, DET
10. Malik Hooker, DAL
11. P.J. Williams, NO
12. Anthony Harris, PHI
13. Justin Reid, HOU
14. Jaquiski Tartt, SF
15. Jabrill Peppers, NYJ
16. Terrell Edmunds, PIT
17. Kareem Jackson, HOU
18. Ronnie Harrison, CLE
19. Duron Harmon, ATL
No one is talking about how deep FA is this year
Nice to get some variety here
Where is ARob going?
Exciting first day!