Here Are the Best Remaining 2022 NFL Free Agents

Here are the best remaining NFL free agents originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have bolstered their defensive line.

The Bucs have struck a one-year deal worth up to $10 million with defensive lineman Akiem Hicks, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Hicks, 32, spent the last six years in Chicago, where he made one Pro Bowl and had three seasons with at least seven sacks. Now, he joins a Bucs defensive front that already boasts Vita Vea and 33rd overall pick Logan Hall.

Even with Hicks heading to Tampa Bay, several big-name free agents are still unsigned. From Odell Beckham Jr. to Anthony Barr and more, here’s a look at some of the best players who remain on the open market.

Anthony Barr, LB, Minnesota Vikings

Barr, the No. 9 overall pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2014, has been limited by injuries over the past two seasons. His 2020 season ended after two games due to a torn pec, while knee and hamstring issues kept him off the field for six games in 2021. Prior to these last two seasons, Barr had appeared in at least 13 games from 2015-19. The 30-year-old made four consecutive Pro Bowls from 2015-18.

Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Los Angeles Rams

After a dramatic midseason exit from the Cleveland Browns, Beckham Jr. played a key role in the Rams’ Super Bowl LVI run. In eight regular-season games with Los Angeles, the three-time Pro Bowler hauled in 27 catches for 305 yards and five touchdowns. Then, in the postseason, Beckham Jr. caught 21 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns across four games, which included a score in the Super Bowl. 

Unfortunately, Beckham Jr., 29, went down with a torn ACL during the Rams’ Super Bowl triumph over the Cincinnati Bengals, which will certainly have some effect on his market. With Allen Robinson now in the fold, a return to L.A. for OBJ seems less likely, though the Rams reportedly still hope to retain him.

Antonio Brown, WR

If we’re just talking about talent, Brown is certainly one of the best available players. The 33-year-old wideout tallied 42 receptions for 545 yards and four touchdowns in just seven games last season.

But he was limited to seven games due to being suspended for misrepresenting his COVID-19 vaccination status and being released for quitting on the Bucs mid-game at MetLife Stadium, in addition to an ankle injury. Brown claimed his infamous outburst against the New York Jets was due to the Bucs wanting him to play through the ankle injury, while head coach Bruce Arians said it was over a lack of targets.

Brown recently said he won't play in 2022, but will he really not listen if a team comes calling?

Duane Brown, OT, Seattle Seahawks

After Terron Armstead joined the Miami Dolphins, Brown became the top remaining offensive tackle. In his age-36 season, Brown started all 17 games for the Seahawks en route to his fifth Pro Bowl appearance. The 2021 campaign was actually the third time in the past four seasons that Brown has played a full season and the eighth time overall in his 15-year career. Brown, a 2008 first-round pick of the Texans, has spent the past four-plus seasons in Seattle.

Trey Flowers, DE

The Detroit Lions released Flowers at the beginning of free agency in a cost-cutting move, saving over $10 million. The two-time Super Bowl champion struggled with injuries over the past two seasons, playing a combined 14 games. That ended a four-year stretch where he was both durable and productive. From 2016-19, Flowers totaled at least 6.5 sacks and 14 games played each season. Flowers is still on the right side of 30, as he'll turn 29 in August.

Will Fuller, WR, Miami Dolphins

Fuller's first season with the Dolphins didn't go as planned. He appeared in just two games due to a suspension, personal issue and broken finger after joining Miami on a one-year, $10 million. The speedy wideout hasn't played in more than 11 games since his 2016 rookie season. But Fuller just recently turned 28 and had a strong 2020 campaign, where he tallied 53 receptions for 879 yards and eight touchdowns in 11 games with the Houston Texans.

Rob Gronkowski, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Even at age 32, Gronkowski continued to produce like one of the game’s top tight ends. Gronk posted the seventh-most receiving yards (802) among tight ends while appearing in 12 games last season. That 12-game output put him on pace for a 1,100-yard-plus season. Gronkowski has never played an NFL season without Tom Brady as his quarterback and that appears likely to remain the case in 2022.

Julio Jones, WR

The Julio Jones experiment lasted just one season in Tennessee, with the seven-time Pro Bowler being cut by the Titans in March. Jones, 33, recorded 31 receptions for 434 yards and one touchdown in 2021 as he struggled to stay healthy for a second straight season. After being limited to nine games in his final season with Atlanta, Jones appeared in 10 games with the Titans.