The National Football League (NFL) is about two months from returning to regular season play, and teams by and large have seemingly made all the major moves they had hoped to during the off-season.
Yet, issues can arise unexpectedly. Whether it be pre-season injuries, players cut to save cap space, or simply certain players underperforming expectations, the summer can reveal some extra needs an NFL team has.
Luckily for these potentially desperate squads, there’s still a wide pool of talent available to be brought in if need be.
Here are the best remaining NFL free agents as we head into the dog days of summer.
Wide Receiver (WR) Odell Beckham Jr.
Odell Beckham Jr. is currently in a tough and unfortunate spot. He was released by the Browns last November after dealing with injuries and inconsistencies throughout much of his tenure.
Soon after, he signed with the Los Angeles Rams, where he enjoyed a strong second half of the season.
Beckham caught 27 passes in eight regular season games, including five touchdowns. On top of that, he carried this impact over into the playoffs as well.
During the Rams’ Super Bowl run, Odell hauled in 21 receptions for 288 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including one during the Super Bowl.
However, things quickly took a turn for the worse. Beckham suffered the second torn ACL of his career during the big game, putting his 2022 season in jeopardy.
He remains unsigned, possibly because of this injury.
While some have speculated that he is simply waiting to sign with the Rams once he is completely recovered, others have guessed that the Rams may have replaced him by signing Allen Robinson.
Whatever the case may be, Beckham would be an asset to any offense once he presumably recovers.
WR Julio Jones
Julio Jones is another former all-pro receiver who remains unsigned.
Jones, a surefire future Hall of Famer, spent 2021 with the Titans after being traded there by Atlanta.
The Titans had hoped for Jones to add to their already-impressive offense, but things didn’t go as planned. Jones, for the second straight season, dealt with injuries for much of the year.
Over the past two seasons, Jones has played only 19 games and caught just four touchdown passes in that span.
Tennessee released the former receptions leader on March 16th, and he’s remained unsigned since.
At age 33, it’s unclear how much Jones has left in the tank. Althought, for a player of his stature, an opportunity to at least compete in training camp surely will arise.
Offensive Tackle (OT) Duane Brown
Former Texans and Seahawks tackle Duane Brown remains a free agent despite being a 2021 pro bowl selection.
Brown suited up in all 17 games for the Seahawks last season, despite his age. Brown will be 37 years old next month, so perhaps that’s why no team has come calling for him.
Yet, even if his career is coming to a close, Brown could absolutely provide protection for a quarterback next season.
The five-time pro-bowl athlete has missed only four contests since 2018, so there’s no reason to be concerned about Brown’s health.
Perhaps a reunion with Seattle could be in order?
While the Seahawks did draft Charles Cross 9th overall this past spring, their offensive line is arguably still in need of extra help.
Linebacker (LB) Anthony Barr
Longtime Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr remains unsigned despite being a cornerstone in Minnesota for years.
Barr, who played just two games in 2020 due to a torn pectoral muscle, was able to suit up for 11 games a season ago.
He accumulated 72 tackles and three interceptions during those appearances, but hasn’t been picked up by a team yet.
Rumors have linked him to the Dallas Cowboys, but those rumors have yet to be acted upon. Whether he goes to Dallas or elsewhere, Barr’s veteran presence could prove beneficial somewhere.
Center JC Tretter
Center JC Tretter remains unsigned despite having a positive reputation around the league.
Not only is Tretter the President of the NFL Players Association, he also played a part in the Browns’ successful 2020 season.
Tretter was the starting center on an elite Cleveland offensive line that year, and started all but one game for the Browns in 2021.
Despite his resume, Tretter was cut by the Browns in March.
Tretter’s free agency comes despite having missed just one game during his entire stay in Cleveland from 2017 to 2021.
At only 31 years old, Tretter appears to have plenty left in the tank. Where will his career take him next remains to be seen.
LB Joe Schobert
Joe Schobert has been a model of consistency since he became a full-time NFL starter.
During stints with the Browns, Jaguars and Steelers between 2017 and 2021, Schobert never once dipped below 100 tackles in a season.
While Schobert hasn’t been quite the major playmaker compared to his earlier career, he still has been a steady hand in a variety of systems.
With that in mind, it’s hard to believe another team won’t eventually give him another shot. As the pre-season approaches, we’ll see if this proves to be the case.
Additional Free Agents
Defensive end Trey Flowers was one of the key pieces for the Patriots’ defense in the late 2010s.
Flowers has been limited to seven games in each of the past two seasons, but when healthy he makes a difference.
Another defensive lineman in Sheldon Richardson is also still available.
Richardson was a rotational player, not a starter, for the first time in his nine-year career last season in Minnesota.
Despite his skills potentially declining, he still has been quite durable throughout most of his career.
If a team needs interior defense help, he could be picked up.
Linebacker Alexander Johnson went undrafted in 2015 but had since become a consistent contributor for Denver.
He tallied 93 tackles in 2019, as well as 124 in 2020.
A torn pectoral muscle limited Johnson to six games a year ago, but it’s possible another team will give him a shot to bounce back.
Finally, receiver Will Fuller V remains unsigned despite having a ton of talent.
Fuller’s injury history is well-known, as he’s missed five or more games every year since his 2016 rookie season.
Yet, Fuller showed how great he could be in 2020 when he notched eight touchdowns in only 11 games.
Of course, Fuller missed his most games yet in 2021, playing in just a pair of contests.
However, if an NFL team wanted to take a gamble on a talented player, Fuller could be the perfect choice.
 is about two months from returning to regular season play, and teams by and large have seemingly made all the major moves they had hoped to during the off-season.){kind=link}