NFL Free Agency Tracker 2023: Top players, signings, start time, cap space

NFL Free Agency Tracker 2023: Top players, start time, cap space originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

The 2023 NFL offseason is in full swing

With the legal tampering period now open and the new league year set to begin this week, player movement is happening across the NFL.

But while many free agents have already agreed to deals with new teams, plenty are still searching for a new home.

Here’s a full look at the best NFL free agents, a tracker of every signing so far and more:

When does NFL free agency start?

Free agency in the NFL will begin immediately when the new league year begins on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at 1 p.m. PT.

Teams will be able to speak with free agents two days before free agency begins during the legal tampering period. Beginning on Monday, March 13, 2023, at 9 a.m. PT, clubs can contact and negotiate with players who were set to become unrestricted free agents. Players and teams can agree to deals, but they couldn’t be officially signed until the new league year.

What is the NFL salary cap in 2023?

The league salary cap for 2023 is set at $224.8 million, a near-$20 million increase from last season. By March 15 – the start of the new league year – all teams must be under the salary cap.

Which NFL teams have the most cap space in 2023?

The NFL salary cap is tricky. Between unguaranteed money, bonuses, incentives and void years, there are plenty of loopholes that teams can use to clear cap space if necessary. From the start of the new league year until the first week of the regular season, only the 51 most expensive contracts count against a team’s salary cap — know as the top-51 rule. The rule is designed to accommodate the 90-man offseason roster, before cuts in preseason.

As of March 10, 2023, at 7 a.m. PT, here’s a look at the five teams with the most top-51 salary cap space (per Spotrac):

Chicago Bears: $95,015,862
Atlanta Falcons: $63,778,944
Houston Texans: $41,259,823
Las Vegas Raiders: $39,714,140
Cincinnati Bengals: $35,547,532

Which NFL teams have the least cap space in 2023?

Here are the five teams with the least amount of top-51 cap space as of March 10, 2023, at 7 a.m. PT:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $-47,957,999
New Orleans Saints: $-24,557,217
Dallas Cowboys: $-18,774,557
Jacksonville Jaguars: $-17,920,512
Buffalo Bills: $-17,741,398

Who are the best NFL free agents for 2023?

There are a number of difference-making free agents, but this class lacks some star power. Here’s a full positional look at the best players set to hit free agency and players who have already signed:

Quarterbacks

Derek Carr, Saints (from Raiders): 4 years, $150 million ($100 million guaranteed)
Jimmy Garoppolo, Raiders (from 49ers): 3 years, $67.5 million ($34 million guaranteed)
Jarrett Stidham, Broncos (from Raiders): 2 years, $10 million ($5 million guaranteed)
Mike White, Dolphins (from Jets): 2 years, $16 million
Case Keenum, Texans (from Bills): 2 years, $6.25 million ($4 million guaranteed)
Lamar Jackson, Ravens
Jacoby Brissett, Browns
Jameis Winston, Saints
Andy Dalton, Saints
Teddy Bridgewater, Dolphins
Tyler Huntley, Ravens
Baker Mayfield, Rams
Gardner Minshew, Eagles
Marcus Mariota, Falcons
Taylor Heinicke, Commanders
Sam Darnold, Panthers
P.J. Walker, Panthers
Joe Flacco, Jets
Cooper Rush, Cowboys
Drew Lock, Seahawks
Mason Rudolph, Steelers
Nick Mullens, Vikings

Running backs

Kareem Hunt, Browns
Jamaal Williams, Lions
Damien Harris, Patriots
Devin Singletary, Bills
David Montgomery, Bears
Rashaad Penny, Seahawks
D’Onta Foreman, Panthers
Alexander Mattison, Vikings
Raheem Mostert, Dolphins
Jeff Wilson, Dolphins
Miles Sanders, Eagles
Boston Scott, Eagles
Jerick McKinnon, Chiefs
Ronald Jones, Chiefs
Samaje Perine, Bengals
Justice Hill, Ravens
Kenyan Drake, Ravens
James Robinson, Jets

Wide receivers

Robert Woods, Texans (from Titans): 2 years, $15.25 million ($10 million guaranteed)
Sterling Shepard, Giants (re-signed): 1 year, $1.165 million
Odell Beckham Jr.
Jakobi Meyers, Patriots
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Chiefs
Adam Thielen, Vikings
Julio Jones, Buccaneers
Chosen Anderson, Cardinals
Nelson Agholor, Patriots
DJ Chark, Lions
Randall Cobb, Packers
Olamide Zaccheaus, Falcons
Darius Slayton, Giants
Richie James, Giants
Marvin Jones Jr., Jaguars
Mecole Hardman, Chiefs
Mack Hollins, Raiders
Sammy Watkins, Ravens
Braxton Berrios, Jets
Jarvis Landry, Browns
Jamison Crowder, Bills
Noah Brown, Cowboys
Marquise Goodwin, Seahawks
Parris Campbell, Colts
Byron Pringle, Bears
N’Keal Harry, Bears

Tight ends

Mike Gesicki, Dolphins
Dalton Schultz, Cowboys
Irv Smith Jr., Vikings
Hayden Hurst, Bengals
Robert Tonyan, Packers
Mercedes Lewis, Packers
Austin Hooper, Titans
Geoff Swaim, Titans
Jordan Akins, Texans
Foster Moreau, Raiders
Brock Wright, Lions

Offensive tackles

Mike McGlinchey, Broncos (from 49ers): 5 years, $87.5 million ($50 million guaranteed)
Jawaan Taylor, Chiefs (from Jaguars): 4 years, $80 million ($60 million guaranteed)
Andrew Wylie, Commanders (from Chiefs): 3 years, $24 million
Orlando Brown Jr., Chiefs
Kaleb McGary, Falcons
Isaiah Wynn, Patriots
Taylor Lewan, Titans
Donovan Smith, Buccaneers
George Fant, Jets
Ja’Wuan James, Ravens
Kelvin Beachum, Cardinals
Andre Dillard, Eagles
Jermaine Eluemunor, Raiders
Cameron Erving, Panthers

Offensive guards

Ben Powers, Broncos (from Ravens): 4 years, $52 million ($28.5 million guaranteed)
Nate Davis, Bears (from Titans): 3 years, $30 million ($19.25 million guaranteed)
Connor McGovern, Bills (from Cowboys): 3 years, $23 million
Dalton Risner, Broncos
Isaac Seumalo, Eagles
Wes Schweitzer, Commanders
Trai Turner, Commanders
Evan Brown, Lions
Justin Pugh, Cardinals
Rodger Saffold, Bills
Matt Pryor, Colts

Centers

EDGE rushers

Brandon Graham, Eagles (re-signed): 1 year, $6 million
Marcus Davenport, Saints
Frank Clark, Chiefs
Calais Campbell, Ravens
Robert Quinn, Eagles
Bud Dupree, Titans
Yannick Ngokoue, Colts
Jadeveon Clowney, Browns
Samson Ebukam, 49ers
Dawuane Smoot, Jaguars
Arden Key, Jaguars
Rasheem Green, Texans
Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Texans
Justin Houston, Ravens
Carlos Dunlap, Chiefs
Dante Fowler, Cowboys

Defensive linemen

Javon Hargrave, 49ers (from Eagles): 4 years, $84 million ($40 million guaranteed)
David Onyemata, Falcons (from Saints): 3 years, $35 million ($24.5 million guaranteed)
Shy Tuttle, Panthers (from Saints): 3 years, $19.5 million ($13 million guaranteed)
Fletcher Cox, Eagles
Dalvin Tomlinson, Vikings
Sheldon Rankins, Jets
Poona Ford, Seahawks
Greg Gaines, Rams
A’Shawn Robinson, Rams
Khalen Saunders, Chiefs
Taven Bryan, Browns
Chris Wormley, Steelers

Linebackers

Tremaine Edmunds, Bears (from Bills): 4 years, $72 million ($50 million guaranteed)
TJ Edwards, Bears (from Eagles): 3 years, $19.5 million ($12 million guaranteed)
Germaine Pratt, Bengals (re-signed): 3 years, $21 million
Lavonte David, Buccaneers
Eric Kendricks, Vikings
Kyzir White, Eagles
Bobby Okereke, Colts
Devin Bush, Steelers
Kyle Van Noy, Chargers
Drue Tranquill, Chargers
Leighton Vander Esch, Cowboys
Rashaan Evans, Falcons
Anthony Walker, Browns
Deion Jones, Browns
Kaden Elliss, Saints
David Long, Titans
Zach Cunningham, Titans
Nicholas Morrow, Bears

Cornerbacks

Cameron Sutton, Lions (from Steelers): 3 years, $33 million ($22.5 million guaranteed)
Jonathan Jones, Patriots (re-signed): 2 years, $19 million ($13 million guaranteed)
James Bradberry, Eagles
Jamel Dean, Buccaneers
Marcus Peters, Ravens
Shaquill Griffin, Jaguars
Anthony Brown, Cowboys
Emmanuel Moseley, 49ers
Rock Ya-Sin, Raiders
Troy Hill, Rams
Patrick Peterson, Vikings
Tre Flowers, Bengals
Eli Apple, Bengals
Justin Coleman, Seahawks
Jason Verrett, 49ers