While this year’s best available free agents signed with their new teams months ago, a few big names have yet to put pen to paper. Likewise, some other under-the-radar gems should have been signed months ago.
Last year’s free agency crop saw a handful of players make a major impact for their new teams despite signing late in the offseason. Calais Cambell started every game with the Dolphins after signing with them on June 18, 2024. Emmanuel Ogbah also started 16 games in Miami after being signed a month later. Samaje Perine played a valuable role as a pass-catcher for the Chiefs after signing with the team on August 30. Stephon Gilmore and Justin Simmons signed in mid-August and became valuable starters for the Vikings and Falcons, respectively.
Some teams have glaring needs at positions where there are still some quality players on the market. While expectations should be tempered with the remaining free agents, a few guys could still be assets for the team that takes a chance on them.
Kyzir White – Tennessee Titans
Kyzir White is a prime example of a player who shouldn’t still be available. In fact, I’m shocked the Cardinals, who currently have the fourth-most cap space at just over $36 million, even let him hit the open market in the first place. He wore the green dot for the defense and was arguably their second-best player (behind Budda Baker). The 29-year-old finished second on the team with 137 tackles and added 2.5 sacks and 9 TFLs for good measure.
The Titans signed Cody Barton to a three-year, $21 million deal this offseason. That’s starter money, and he will surely lock down one of the team’s starting inside linebacker jobs. However, they run a 3-4 defense, and it seems like they’re counting on former undrafted free agent Otis Reese IV to start next to him. He’s played a grand total of 179 snaps on defense over the past two years. That’s not a favorable situation.
White may not be a big name, but he has been consistent since breaking out with the Chargers in 2021. Tennessee has over $30 million in available cap space for this upcoming season, and their front office would be smart to throw some of it his way.
Keenan Allen – Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have one of the most depleted receiving corps in the entire league, and they desperately need to add another proven pass-catcher before the season starts. If they fail to do so, they run the risk of having Aaron Rodgers having the least talented group of playmakers around him since… every year in Green Bay after Jordy Nelson up and left town.
All jokes aside, expecting Rodgers to thrive while throwing to Calvin Austin, Roman Wilson, and the ghost of Robert Woods isn’t a recipe for success. He could probably turn water into wine with that group ten years ago, but he looked like a shell of himself in New York last year. Keenan Allen might be in a similar place in his career to Rodgers and Woods, but he proved to be a much more intimidating ghost for the Bears last year. In fact, you could argue that he was Caleb Williams’ top safety blanket amongst a stacked group of playmakers.
Allen would still have something to offer a needy receiver room, and the Steelers definitely fit that description. Pittsburgh should write him a blank check with their remaining $18 million cap space.
Asante Samuel Jr. – Carolina Panthers
Asante Samuel Jr. is a talented player. It feels safe to say he would’ve found a new team months without the injury concerns, as teams could be worried about nerve damage in his neck after lingering stinger issues took a toll last season. He’s still been rock-solid in coverage throughout his career and has also shown flashes of playmaking ability throughout his first three seasons.
Any team that signs him would know that they are not getting a complete player. Samuel has never been, and never will be, a complete player. Much like his father, he’s never been known for his tackling abilities, and that has also probably played a role in a lack of interest this offseason. However, there are still a handful of teams with a glaring need at cornerback, and he would be a great addition to those squads.
The Panthers make a lot of sense as a potential suitor for Samuel, as they failed to add a quality starter opposite Jaycee Horn last offseason. Michael Jackson was a complete liability last season, ranking 79th out of 93 CBs in coverage DVOA. That’s… not great. It would also be pretty cool to see the son of one of the best receivers of his era play alongside the son of one of the best corners of his era.
Amari Cooper – New York Jets
Would you believe me if I told you that Amari Cooper turned 31 last week? He is a year younger than Davante Adams and 10 months younger than Mike Evans. Speaking of Adams, are you aware of how rough the Jets’ receiving corps looks in the post-Aaron Rodgers era? Spoiler alert- very ugly. Garrett Wilson is extremely talented, but no one behind him inspires any confidence. Two well-past-their-prime players in Josh Reynolds and Allen Lazard, and two completely unproven players in Malachi Corley and Arian Smith. Woof.
Cooper might not have the same juice that he used to, but he is only two years removed from a 1250-yard season with Cleveland. That was while catching passes from five different starting QBs. Justin Fields might not be a world-beater, but he should at least provide stability for the Jets. However, it would be tough to expect him to take a leap as a passer while throwing to their current group of pass-catchers.
The Jets have roughly $30 million available for this upcoming season and have a relatively complete roster. However, their one glaring weakness would be their receiving room. Cooper wouldn’t be a cure-all at this point in his career, but he at least would give them another proven receiver to make life easier on Fields and Co.
Julian Blackmon – Cincinnati Bengals
Julian Blackmon is another player who probably should’ve been signed in March or April. I can’t really make sense of the fact that he wasn’t. He will step in and immediately provide starting-quality play (at a discount) for whichever team takes a chance on him.
Safety might not be a glaring need for Cincinnati, but they could use someone of Blackmon’s caliber in the secondary. Geno Stone is a quality playmaker (as long as you don’t rely on him to make one-on-one tackles) at free safety, but they still have a major question mark at the strong safety spot. Vonn Bell, who got benched 11 games into last season, left in free agency, and Jordan Battle didn’t exactly take the baton and run with it over the home stretch.
Blackmon has mostly played free safety throughout his career. However, his best season actually came when he was playing more near the line of the scrimmage in 2023. That is where he would be a valuable addition to Cincinnati’s defense. They still have roughly $32 million to burn for the upcoming season, so money wouldn’t be an issue. Well, it wouldn’t be any more of an issue than it has already been. Eh, who am I kidding… Money is always going to be an issue for a Mike Brown-led franchise. Hell will freeze over before Blackmon signs with the Bengals on anything more than a veteran minimum deal.
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