The NFL free agent talent pool has been picked through a great deal after two weeks but who are the best players still available for 2021?
We’re now roughly two weeks into 2021 NFL free agency and it does feel safe to say that many of the headliners in the class have been signed. Kenny Golladay landed with the Giants on a monster deal, the 49ers made Trent Williams the highest-paid tackle in NFL history, and the Cowboys finally inked Dak Prescott to a long-term contract.
Despite the talent that has been signed, though, there are still numerous quality free agents still looking for a home in the 2021 season. This is the time of the offseason when smart teams make key signings with great value that end up making a substantial impact on the upcoming season.
With that in mind, let’s dive into the 20 best players still on the market in 2021 NFL free agency.
20 Best NFL free agents still available to sign in 2021
20. Tre Boston, S – Boston has never really been able to stick around anywhere for more than a year over the past few seasons but, outside of a down year in 2020, he’s consistently been a high-end player on the back end. Any team in need of a quality veteran coverage safety could land him on the cheap.
19. Austin Reiter, C – After what happened to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, you might be down on someone like Reiter. Don’t be. The 29-year-old center has been an above-average player at the position and thrives as a pass-blocking pivot to anchor a line.
18. Geno Atkins, DT – Following his release by the Bengals, Atkins hits the market past his prime and coming off an injury. That said, this was one of the most dominant interior linemen in the league not long ago. He’s worth a short-term contract for a team that needs a disruptor in the trenches.
17. James Conner, RB – Health was an issue for Conner over the past couple of years in Pittsburgh and he was a bit inconsistent behind a good offensive line. We’ll see if he can show more in a new situation that relies more on the run but his value has dropped in recent years.
16. Quinton Dunbar, CB – Seattle didn’t get the player they were hoping for in Quinton Dunbar but the 28-year-old cornerback has flashed high-caliber player previously. That’s not a certainty for any team that may sign him but he’s well worth a look given the potential he still possesses.
15. Steven Nelson, CB – Nelson was a cap casualty in Pittsburgh but remains a solid player who is still just 28 years old at this point. His price could be a bit high but any team in need of some help in the slot should be interested in bringing the veteran into the fold.
14. Kawann Short, DT – Health has cost Short the majority of the past two seasons, which makes him an interesting case study at this point in free agency. He’s been awesome at his peak but he has to prove he can stay on the field and still be that type of player.
13. Malik Hooker, S – Coming off a torn Achilles will hurt Hooker’s free agency value but his talent when healthy is undeniable. He’ll only be 25 years old at the start of the 2021 season and, if he can get a clean bill of health, the long-term upside with him is elite.
12. Casey Hayward, CB – When healthy over his career, Hayward has been among the best cornerbacks in the league — at least up until last season. Now 32 years old, you have to wonder if he still has the goods but he’s worth a short-term look for a team that needs defensive back help.
11. Aldon Smith, EDGE – After returning to the league following a four-year hiatus, Smith proved he still has plenty of game left, even if he’s not a superstar-caliber player anymore. He can play well against the run and pass, though you have to wonder why Dallas chose not to bring him back.
10. Alejandro Villanueva, OT – Villanueva has never been the best offensive tackle in the league but he’s never been anything short of solid. Now 32 years old, a long-term deal likely isn’t in the cards but the former Steeler could help a team that needs an immediate solution on the line.
9. Justin Houston, EDGE – The veteran edge rusher didn’t have the impact in Indianapolis that the Colts hoped and it’s clear he’s basically a rotational player at this point. Still, he might have some juice left in the tank, which would make him a cheap and valuable cog for a pass-rush and defensive front.
8. Eric Fisher, OT – A former No. 1 overall pick, Fisher was a surprising cut along with Mitchell Schwartz in Kansas City. Coming off an Achilles injury definitely shows why he’s still available but he was playing arguably the best football of his career prior to going down in 2020.
7. Brian Poole, CB – Because he’s been middling away on the Jets porous defense, how good Poole has played in the slot has often gone overlooked. That could help depress his value, though, which means any team signing him could ultimately end up with a steal.
6. Antonio Brown, WR – Off-field issues aside, Brown kept his nose clean as he joined Tom Brady in Tampa Bay and proved that he still has plenty of game left. There’s no riskier proposition in free agency at this point but, if he can stay focused, he can still help an offense.
5. K.J. Wright, LB – Over the years, Wright has established himself as an all-around player who can shore up the middle of the defense. His time with the Seahawks was underrated and any team that lands him in free agency will undoubtedly reap the rewards of having a quality general in the middle of the field.
4. Melvin Ingram, EDGE – Ingram has cleared 30 years old and definitely isn’t the electric player he was early in his career. The former Charger is still a quality edge defender who can make an impact against both the run and pass.
3. Mitchell Schwartz, OT – The back injury Schwartz suffered last year will give some teams rightful pause but, on the whole, he’s worth the risk. At his best, he’s been the best right tackle in the NFL. Any team needing to shore up their offensive line would make a lot of sense.
2. Richard Sherman, CB – Though he’s getting a little gray in regards to his age, Sherman remains an asset to a secondary given his elite IQ for playing the position. He could help almost any team in the league that needs a cornerback, even if he’s not the star player he once was.
1. Jadeveon Clowney, EDGE – Clowney ultimately gets a bad rap because he’s not an over-explosive pass-rusher. However, he clearly does his job and is quietly one of the best run-defending edge defenders in the league. He could be an asset for a contender that has room to land him.