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With the NFL offseason upon us, it’s time to start thinking about the best NFL free agents in 2022.
Most teams, at least those with salary cap space, will be all over the best available NFL free agents in hopes of building a team that can compete for a Super Bowl. Obviously, different teams will have different NFL free agency targets in mind depending on their needs.
But it’s a safe bet that all 32 teams are well aware of who the best NFL free agents in 2022 will be and who will cost the most money to sign.
Best NFL free agents in 2022
Naturally, fans should also be aware of the top free agents before making their NFL offseason predictions in 2022.
Of course, there will be some disagreement on how to rank the upcoming NFL free agents. However, this is our ranking of the best NFL free agents who are hitting the open market in 2022.
15. Stephon Gilmore
Nearly a decade into his career, the Pro Bowl selections keep coming for Stephon Gilmore. Obviously, his value is down after all of the time he’s missed over the last couple of seasons.
But he showed enough during his time in Carolina this season to prove that he can still be a quality cornerback in the NFL.
14. Odell Beckham Jr.
Signing with the Rams has done wonders for Odell Beckham’s free agency prospects. At 29, he’s far from over the hill and can still be an impact player.
Frankly, Beckham would be wise to re-sign with the Rams if that’s an option. The two seem to be a good match for each other.
However, he did enough during the second half of the season to garner interest from all over the league in hopes that his renaissance continues in 2022 and beyond.
13. Allen Robinson
The 28-year-old Allen Robinson is about to hit free agency for the second time in his career. While he’s not coming off his best season, he will surely be thrilled for an opportunity to get out of Chicago and perhaps find a team with a more established quarterback.
Keep in mind that he went over 1,000 yards in both 2019 and 2020. In the right system and with the right quarterback, Robinson is more than capable of getting back to that level and making an impact.
12. Tyrann Mathieu
The Honey Badger has made a nice home for himself in Kansas City, although there’s a chance he could leave in free agency.
He’s a little older than the other safeties on the market this year. His size could also become more of an issue as he gets older, potentially hurting his hopes of a long-term deal. But we haven’t seen that decline yet, making Tyrann Mathieu a free agent to watch.
11. Jessie Bates
Jessie Bates has picked the perfect time to hit the free-agent market. His stock and profile were raised considerably during the playoffs, making him among the best defensive backs available.
At age 25, he can expect a lot of teams to be interested in giving him a long-term deal.
10. Jadeveon Clowney
Rushing the passer is very much the name of the game in the NFL. After collecting nine sacks in 14 games for the Browns this season, Jadeveon Clowney has done a nice job of rebuilding his value ahead of free agency.
He may never fully live up to being the top overall pick in the draft. But if he can go to a team where he’s the complementary pass rusher, Clowney is still capable of doing some damage.
9. Marcus Williams
The Saints got Marcus Williams with the franchise tag last year, but that won’t be the case this year.
Despite his free agency being delayed by a year, he’s still hitting the open market at 25. For a safety at that age who’s maintained a consistent level of play, Williams is going to get paid this year. It’s not like the market is flooded with top-flight safeties, so he’s bound to pique the interest of several teams.
8. Orlando Brown Jr.
With three straight Pro Bowl selections under his belt, Orlando Brown is about to cash in while hitting free agency at age 25.
Technically, he’ll be 26 by the start of next season, but whatever team signs him will still be getting some of his best years. He’s likely to sign a long-term deal and solidify the left tackle position for many years to come.
7. Von Miller
There’s always going to be a huge demand for pass rushers in free agency, even aging ones. Von Miller will be 33 by the start of next season, which hurts his standing a little. But he also bounced back from an injury that kept him out for the entire 2020 season and had 9.5 sacks in 15 regular-season games this past season.
Miller also made a little bit of an impact in the playoffs, so there is plenty left in the tank for a team that wants to give him a short-term but lucrative contract.
6. Chandler Jones
Age is starting to become an issue for Chandler Jones, who will be 32 by the start of next season. He was also limited to just five games in 2020 because of an injury.
But there’s no doubting his production, as he’s just a few years removed from collecting 19 sacks in 2019. Teams should also consider Jones as a high-character player and a leader in their locker room. That doesn’t mean he’s worth a five-year deal, but over the next three seasons, Jones is more than capable of being an impact player for whatever team signs him this year.
5. Mike Williams
Mike Williams has had a nice run with the Chargers and hits free agency fresh off his second 1,000-yard season in the last three years.
While he’s probably not at the top of the class, Williams surely highlights the second tier of wide receivers available this offseason. Of course, the Chargers could place the franchise tag on him. But if that doesn’t happen, teams will be swarming him.
4. J.C. Jackson
This is not a good year for teams that are looking for a cornerback, which means it should be a lucrative year for J.C. Jackson. There are rumblings that he could be worth up to $100 million on the open market.
Jackson has taken off over the last two years, putting the 26-year-old in a great position heading into free agency. He may not be the best player available, but he could be the most valuable because of his age and position.
3. Terron Armstead
Offensive linemen of Terron Armstead’s quality aren’t easy to find. They also don’t hit the free-agent market that often.
Granted, it’s not always easy for teams to make a lineman their big offseason splash, but Armstead is that type of player. Short of hitting it big in the draft, there’s no better way for a team to upgrade its offensive line than by signing Armstead.
2. Chris Godwin
The knee injury that ended his season prematurely will surely hurt his value a little bit. But if you trust that Chris Godwin is going to come back healthy, he’ll be worth the investment.
The guy will be 26 at the start of the 2022 season, which means some of his best years could still be ahead of him. There’s almost no chance that the Buccaneers will give him the franchise tag for a second straight year, which means Godwin will be on the open market and will be a hot commodity.
1. Davante Adams
Frankly, the only question with Davante Adams is whether he can be equally productive if for some reason Aaron Rodgers isn’t the person throwing him the ball next season.
Rodgers does tend to make life a little easier for wide receivers. But other than that, there’s no question that Adams is the best free agent available this offseason.
He’s made the last five Pro Bowls and been a First-Team All-Pro selection in back-to-back years. Adams has gone over 1,300 receiving yards in three of the last four years and rarely fumbles. At this moment, he’s truly one of the elite wide receivers in the NFL.
