10 sign-now free agents still available

[April 21, 2022]  Only a few shopping days remain for teams scrambling to fill needs ahead of
the 2022 NFL Draft.

But the cupboard isn't bare, especially for those with the budget to sweeten
the pot for some of the best available veterans on the market.

Here are the top 10 free agents still standing six weeks into the 2022 league
year:

10. WR Julio Jones

Age: 33

Credentials: Two-time All-Pro, 2010s All-Decade Team

Best Fit: New England Patriots

We're not here to suggest the old Julio Jones might return. He's a 220-pounder
who could flash as a second or third option and deliver a game-changing play
on occasion. Teams that aren't confident there is a solution in the 2022 draft
could come knocking.

The light barely flickered in Tennessee with 31 catches in his only season
with the Titans.

Bill Belichick has turned aging receivers into valuable pieces before, and the
Patriots are a team with WR concerns.

9. DT Larry Ogunjobi

Age: 27

Credentials: 21.5 career sacks

Best Fit: Jacksonville Jaguars

A priority for the Chicago Bears in the 2022 free agent class, their deal with
Ogunjobi didn't stick because of a failed physical. He started 16 games last
season and has been a starter for the Browns and Bengals with the skill set to
play all three downs.

If the price is right, there are a dozen teams Ogunjobi can help. He turns 28
in June.

8. RB Melvin Gordon

Age: 29

Credentials: Two-time Pro Bowler

Best Fit: Buffalo Bills

If there's one thing the Bills can improve on the offensive side by adding
another veteran, running back depth is a consideration. With no bell-cow back,
Gordon could be part of the existing rotation and relative Old Reliable in a
backfield still reliant on quarterback Josh Allen to move the sticks.

7. Edge Jadeveon Clowney

Age: 29

Credentials: Former No. 1 overall pick, three-time Pro Bowler

Best Fit: Dallas Cowboys

Nine sacks last season showed Clowney can get to the QB when blockers are
focused elsewhere -- Myles Garrett -- and Dallas can create pressure on the
other side. The Cowboys subtracted Randy Gregory and might be able to score
Clowney on a shorter deal and relative discount. But there's also a point at
which Clowney might not be an upgrade over a cheaper, healthier
developmental-type prospect.
 

6. OT Duane Brown

Age: 37

Credentials: One-time All-Pro, Five-time Pro Bowler

Best Fit: Denver Broncos

Following Russell Wilson isn't the worst plan for Brown, who fits the scheme
and could play on the right side, where the Broncos don't have a proven
veteran. Or he could be called into rescue duty on the left side, where Garett
Bolles was an All-Pro in 2021 but has to show it in a new scheme after a rocky
four seasons prior.

5. TE Rob Gronkowski

Age: 33

Credentials: Four-time All-Pro, 92 career TDs

Best Fit: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Gronk is no guarantee for even half the regular season. But he's reliable,
proven as Tom Brady's go-to in big games and undeniably carries the clutch
gene TB12 wants on his side.

The questions are whether the Bucs want to invest elsewhere or wait until
September to assess Gronkowski's desire to play.

4. WR Jarvis Landry

Age: 29

Credentials: Five-time Pro Bowler, two 100-catch seasons

Best Fit: Indianapolis Colts

Dumped by the Browns, Landry was essentially replaced (again) when Cleveland
traded for Amari Cooper. The previous regime brought in Odell Beckham to be
the Batman to Landry's Robin.

Gander at the depth chart of the Colts and even the most grandiose projections
for Michael Pittman Jr. as the lead receiver for Matt Ryan don't cover the
lack of talent at the position. Landry could be a security blanket for Ryan,
who also could use a true No. 1 tight end.

If not the Colts, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers wouldn't mind having another
reliable set of hands with Davante Adams gone to Vegas.
 

3. DT Akiem Hicks

Age: 32

Credentials: Size-strength combo to play multiple roles

Best Fit: Los Angeles Chargers

Hicks hogs blockers and is best in a rotation. His size and strength allow him
to be used in a 3-4 or 4-3 front and a team with consistent edge rushers could
get a steal considering Hicks devours single blocking against interior
offensive linemen.

Reality might have set in with just seven games played last season and
durability can't be ignored, but for an almost-there defense like the
Chargers, Rams or Bengals, Hicks' energy and impact is potentially profound.

2. WR Odell Beckham Jr.

Age: 29

Credentials: Two-time All-Pro

Best Fit: Green Bay Packers

A swing-and-miss last season by the Packers in a bid to sign Beckham Jr.
shouldn't shift the team's interest, especially given the predicament of the
depth chart. Beckham Jr. tore his ACL in the Super Bowl and his previous
return was slower than expected, so factoring in a late-season return is part
of the bigger picture.

There's also the benefit of getting multiple seasons on a three-year deal that
could be backloaded for health and performance.

1. S Tyrann Mathieu

Age: 29

Credentials: Three-time All-Pro

Best Fit: New York Giants

Mathieu remains a heart-and-soul chess piece and Wink Martindale could employ
him in a dozen ways if the Giants can hit on other needs in the draft.

His price was an issue in a split with the Chiefs. If Mathieu agrees to a
shorter deal with less guaranteed money, he could be a steal.

--By Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media

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