After the 2022 NFL Draft, expect some of the last significant NFL free agents to sign with teams. Which players could each AFC team use?
The 2022 NFL Draft is over, and now teams will dive more into their offseason programming, beginning a tough evaluation of their overall roster.
As the offseason progresses further, we can still expect teams to sign free agents. Injuries happen, which is a big reason why a team may sign a free agent in the middle of June or July. For the AFC, it’s a clear and total arms race.
The AFC is a massively talented conference this year, with as many as 13 different teams having a shot to make the playoffs.
The arms race has prompted teams to continue to build their roster to the best of their abilities. Teams like the Broncos, Chargers, Raiders, Bengals, and Dolphins have all added a metric ton of talent to their roster.
As we see AFC teams progress into the summer months, there will be injuries and other reasons to sign remaining free agents.
Obviously, the biggest name NFL free agents have mostly all found homes for 2022 and beyond.
However, there is still a plethora of quality talent left on the market. Many of these players are a bit older, but can still perform at a high enough level.
Expect some of these remaining players to sign here in the near future. They are simply too talented to not be on a team for 2022.
So, let’s identify one free agent that each AFC team should sign post-draft.
Top remaining NFL free agents for each AFC North team to consider
Pittsburgh Steelers – Duane Brown, LT
Duane Brown has been an above-average left tackle his entire career. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, he would make a solid fit for a year or two.
The Steelers’ offensive line has undergone some rough changes the past several seasons, but they did add quality players to it this free agency in Mason Cole and James Daniels.
One of the final pieces they could add to the unit is Duane Brown, giving whoever their starting quarterback is a solid blindside protector.
Pittsburgh is in an interesting situation in the AFC. They are somewhat going through a transition because of Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement but still have a decent roster. They’ll win some games this season, but it’s hard to see them making the playoffs, especially playing in the bloodbath AFC North.
Baltimore Ravens – Jarvis Landry, WR
After trading Hollywood Brown to the Cardinals, the Ravens all of a sudden have a rather sizeable hole in their receiving room. No one on the market might be better to fill that hole than Jarvis Landry, who has been incredibly consistent and durable his entire career.
He’s still on the right side of 30, so there’s reason to believe he still has a few good years left.
He’s as tough as nails and would fit the Ravens’ culture very well. Giving Lamar Jackson a reliable pass catcher like Landry would also help him rebound from a bad statistical season in 2021.
Landry to the Ravens is a match made in heaven.
Cincinnati Bengals – Larry Ogunjobi, DT
Larry Ogunjobi nearly signed with the Bears in NFL free agency before failing a physical. He’s a very talented run stuffer who played a key role in the Bengals’ Super Bowl run.
Still a free agent, Ogunjobi may have to reset himself a bit in 2022 before trying to cash in with a contract in 2023.
A reunion with the Bengals makes a ton of sense here. Why not try to keep the gang together? Their defense could take a step forward this season, which would be massive in their prospects of making it back to the big game.
Cleveland Browns – Jadeveon Clowney, DE
A return to Cleveland for Jadeveon Clowney makes the most sense for both parties.
The Browns could still use a boost along their front seven, and Clowney enjoyed a nine-sack season playing opposite Myles Garrett.
This doesn’t have to be complicated. The Browns need another pass rusher, and Clowney played well for them in 2021. This is too easy to mess up.