2022 Fantasy Free Agency Preview
Julio Aguilar/Getty Images
The NFL's free agency period begins on March 16, though teams can legally negotiate with players' agents beginning on March 14. In the table below, I've compiled the "key" free agents at the four primary fantasy positions (QB, RB, WR and TE), sorted mainly by their 2021 per game average (half-PPR), though I moved a few players around to form loose free-agent rankings. Their status indicates whether the player is unrestricted, restricted, or an exclusive rights free agent. I've also included the Average Annual Value (AAV) of their contract in 2021, which I found at the wonderful site Spotrac.com.
Here's a quick refresher on the NFL's (oftentimes-convoluted) free agency rules.
- An unrestricted free agent (UFA) can sign with whomever he wants with no compensation going to his old team.
- A restricted free agent (RFA) has three years of service in the NFL and an expired contract. He's free to negotiate with other teams, but once he signs an offer sheet, his old team has seven days to match the deal and retain the player. If his old team declines to match, his new team may have to send a draft pick as compensation, depending on what type of RFA tender the old team offered the player.
- A team can apply a franchise tag to a player in order to guarantee that the team retains the player's rights for another season in the hopes that the two sides can work out a long-term deal. The price is steep -- it's a formula based on a certain percentage of the salary cap and the salaries of the top five players at the position. (The window to tag a player this season is February 22 to March 8.)
- Under the franchise tag, a player can be labeled an exclusive or non-exclusive franchise player. Exclusive franchise players cannot negotiate with other teams. Like restricted free agents, a non-exclusive franchise player can sign an offer sheet from another team. If his old team declines to match, they'll receive two first-round picks as compensation.
- If a team doesn't apply a franchise tag, it can elect to apply a transition tag instead. The tender is cheaper because it uses the top 10 salaries at the position, but if another team negotiates a deal and his old team elects not to match, they won't get any draft picks as compensation. In previous years, teams could use both the franchise and transition tags, but under the new CBA, a team can use one or the other, but not both. The transition tag is rarely used in the NFL.
As is my approach with the Draft, I don't spend a lot of time speculating about landing spots for the top players because it's a waste of time since things will typically be solidified in a few weeks. Just tell me where everyone lands and let me start my 2022 projections!
|
PLAYER
|
POS.
|
AGE
|
TEAM
|
G
|
2021 AAV
|
STATUS
|
2021 PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jameis Winston | QB | 28.1 | NO | 7 | $ 5,500,000 | UFA | 16.8 |
| Teddy Bridgewater | QB | 29.2 | DEN | 14 | $ 4,437,000 | UFA | 14.5 |
| Cam Newton | QB | 32.8 | CAR | 8 | $ 6,000,000 | UFA | 12.3 |
| Tyrod Taylor | QB | 32.5 | HOU | 6 | $ 5,500,000 | UFA | 13.6 |
| Tyler Huntley | QB | 24.0 | BAL | 7 | $ 780,000 | ERFA | 12.6 |
| Andy Dalton | QB | 34.2 | CHI | 8 | $ 10,000,000 | UFA | 9.8 |
| Marcus Mariota | QB | 28.2 | LV | 9 | $ 3,500,000 | UFA | 1.6 |
| Geno Smith | QB | 31.3 | SEA | 4 | $ 1,212,500 | UFA | 13.6 |
| Trevor Siemian | QB | 30.1 | NO | 6 | $ 990,000 | UFA | 15.9 |
| Sean Mannion | QB | 29.8 | MIN | 1 | $ 990,000 | UFA | 13.0 |
| Joe Flacco | QB | 37.1 | NYJ | 2 | $ 3,500,000 | UFA | 11.9 |
| Mike White | QB | 26.8 | NYJ | 4 | $ 850,000 | RFA | 11.0 |
| Jacoby Brissett | QB | 29.2 | MIA | 11 | $ 5,000,000 | UFA | 6.6 |
| Ryan Fitzpatrick | QB | 39.2 | WAS | 1 | $ 10,000,000 | UFA | 0.7 |
| Mitch Trubisky | QB | 27.4 | BUF | 6 | $ 2,500,000 | UFA | - |
| Leonard Fournette | RB | 27.0 | TB | 14 | $ 3,250,000 | UFA | 15.8 |
| James Conner | RB | 26.8 | ARI | 15 | $ 1,750,000 | UFA | 15.4 |
| Cordarrelle Patterson | RB | 30.9 | ATL | 16 | $ 3,000,000 | UFA | 13.8 |
| Melvin Gordon | RB | 28.8 | DEN | 16 | $ 8,000,000 | UFA | 11.0 |
| Raheem Mostert | RB | 29.8 | SF | 1 | $ 2,900,000 | UFA | 2.0 |
| Rashaad Penny | RB | 26.0 | SEA | 10 | $ 2,691,360 | UFA | 10.4 |
| Darrel Williams | RB | 26.8 | KC | 17 | $ 1,600,000 | UFA | 10.4 |
| Chase Edmonds | RB | 25.8 | ARI | 12 | $ 728,090 | UFA | 10.2 |
| J.D. McKissic | RB | 28.5 | WAS | 11 | $ 1,635,000 | UFA | 9.7 |
| Boston Scott | RB | 26.8 | PHI | 16 | $ 920,000 | RFA | 9.2 |
| James White | RB | 30.0 | NE | 3 | $ 2,462,500 | UFA | 8.4 |
| Devonta Freeman | RB | 29.9 | BAL | 16 | $ 1,075,000 | UFA | 8.4 |
| Sony Michel | RB | 27.0 | LAR | 17 | $ 2,406,674 | UFA | 8.2 |
| Derrick Gore | RB | 27.2 | KC | 11 | $ 660,000 | ERFA | 6.1 |
| Justin Jackson | RB | 25.8 | LAC | 14 | $ 570,000 | UFA | 6.1 |
| Jeff Wilson | RB | 26.2 | SF | 9 | $ 2,050,000 | UFA | 6.0 |
| Latavius Murray | RB | 32.0 | BAL | 14 | $ 1,075,000 | UFA | 6.0 |
| D'Ernest Johnson | RB | 25.9 | CLE | 17 | $ 585,000 | RFA | 5.8 |
| Alex Collins | RB | 27.4 | SEA | 11 | $ 990,000 | UFA | 5.8 |
| Brandon Bolden | RB | 32.0 | NE | 17 | $ 1,850,000 | UFA | 5.6 |
| David Johnson | RB | 30.2 | HOU | 13 | $ 5,000,000 | UFA | 5.0 |
| Peyton Barber | RB | 27.9 | LV | 10 | $ 990,000 | UFA | 5.0 |
| Matt Breida | RB | 26.9 | BUF | 9 | $ 1,055,000 | UFA | 4.9 |
| Ronald Jones | RB | 24.5 | TB | 16 | $ 1,767,977 | UFA | 4.6 |
| Tevin Coleman | RB | 28.8 | NYJ | 11 | $ 1,100,000 | UFA | 4.5 |
| Giovani Bernard | RB | 30.2 | TB | 12 | $ 1,212,500 | UFA | 4.0 |
| Le'Veon Bell | RB | 29.9 | TB | 8 | - | UFA | 3.9 |
| Damien Williams | RB | 29.8 | CHI | 12 | $ 1,500,000 | UFA | 3.8 |
| JaMycal Hasty | RB | 25.4 | SF | 11 | $ 695,000 | ERFA | 3.5 |
| Dare Ogunbowale | RB | 27.8 | JAC | 17 | $ 675,000 | RFA | 3.3 |
| Phillip Lindsay | RB | 27.5 | MIA | 14 | $ 3,250,000 | UFA | 3.0 |
| Malcolm Brown | RB | 28.8 | MIA | 7 | $ 1,750,000 | UFA | 3.0 |
| Salvon Ahmed | RB | 23.1 | MIA | 12 | $ 695,000 | ERFA | 2.7 |
| Royce Freeman | RB | 25.9 | HOU | 15 | $ 985,005 | UFA | 2.5 |
| Wayne Gallman | RB | 27.3 | MIN | 8 | $ 990,000 | UFA | 2.2 |
| Marlon Mack | RB | 25.9 | IND | 6 | $ 2,000,000 | UFA | 2.0 |
| Ty Montgomery | RB | 29.0 | NO | 14 | $ 1,127,500 | UFA | 1.6 |
| Jalen Richard | RB | 28.3 | LV | 10 | $ 3,500,000 | UFA | 1.5 |
| Jerick McKinnon | RB | 29.8 | KC | 13 | $ 990,000 | UFA | 1.5 |
| Corey Clement | RB | 27.2 | DAL | 17 | $ 990,000 | UFA | 1.4 |
| Buddy Howell | RB | 25.8 | LAR | 10 | $ 920,000 | UFA | 1.1 |
| Jonathan Ward | RB | 24.3 | ARI | 13 | $ 695,000 | ERFA | 1.1 |
| Dwayne Washington | RB | 27.8 | NO | 14 | $ 1,127,500 | UFA | 1.0 |
| Kalen Ballage | RB | 26.1 | PIT | 17 | $ 920,000 | UFA | 0.7 |
| Davante Adams | WR | 29.1 | GB | 16 | $ 14,500,000 | UFA | 18.3 |
| Chris Godwin | WR | 25.9 | TB | 14 | $ 15,983,000 | UFA | 13.8 |
| Mike Williams | WR | 27.3 | LAC | 16 | $ 4,937,482 | UFA | 12.4 |
| Christian Kirk | WR | 25.2 | ARI | 17 | $ 1,473,717 | UFA | 10.2 |
| Jakobi Meyers | WR | 25.2 | NE | 17 | $ 588,333 | RFA | 8.6 |
| A.J. Green | WR | 33.5 | ARI | 16 | $ 6,000,000 | UFA | 8.4 |
| Michael Gallup | WR | 25.9 | DAL | 9 | $ 880,995 | UFA | 8.2 |
| Russell Gage | WR | 26.0 | ATL | 14 | $ 654,049 | UFA | 8.2 |
| Odell Beckham | WR | 29.2 | LAR | 14 | $ 1,250,000 | UFA | 8.0 |
| Emmanuel Sanders | WR | 34.9 | BUF | 14 | $ 6,000,000 | UFA | 7.9 |
| D.J. Chark | WR | 25.3 | JAC | 4 | $ 1,111,807 | UFA | 7.7 |
| Jamison Crowder | WR | 28.7 | NYJ | 12 | $ 9,500,000 | UFA | 7.5 |
| Deonte Harris | WR | 24.2 | NO | 13 | $ 588,333 | RFA | 7.5 |
| Marquez Valdes-Scantling | WR | 27.3 | GB | 11 | $ 669,388 | UFA | 7.4 |
| Allen Lazard | WR | 26.2 | GB | 15 | $ 675,000 | RFA | 7.2 |
| Dante Pettis | WR | 26.2 | NYG | 3 | $ 920,000 | UFA | 6.8 |
| Cedrick Wilson | WR | 26.2 | DAL | 16 | $ 2,183,000 | UFA | 6.6 |
| T.Y. Hilton | WR | 32.2 | IND | 10 | $ 8,000,000 | UFA | 6.4 |
| Byron Pringle | WR | 28.2 | KC | 17 | $ 2,133,000 | UFA | 6.1 |
| Josh Reynolds | WR | 27.0 | DET | 12 | $ 1,750,000 | UFA | 5.9 |
| Kalif Raymond | WR | 27.5 | DET | 16 | $ 1,127,500 | UFA | 5.9 |
| Braxton Berrios | WR | 26.3 | NYJ | 16 | $ 644,602 | UFA | 5.8 |
| Allen Robinson | WR | 28.4 | CHI | 12 | $ 17,880,000 | UFA | 5.7 |
| Tre'Quan Smith | WR | 26.1 | NO | 11 | $ 855,131 | UFA | 5.6 |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster | WR | 25.2 | PIT | 5 | $ 8,000,000 | UFA | 5.5 |
| Laquon Treadwell | WR | 26.7 | JAC | 12 | $ 990,000 | UFA | 5.1 |
| Zach Pascal | WR | 27.1 | IND | 16 | $ 3,384,000 | UFA | 5.0 |
| Jalen Guyton | WR | 24.7 | LAC | 16 | $ 540,000 | RFA | 4.9 |
| Zay Jones | WR | 26.8 | LV | 17 | $ 2,500,000 | UFA | 4.8 |
| Sammy Watkins | WR | 28.7 | BAL | 13 | $ 5,000,000 | UFA | 4.7 |
| DeSean Jackson | WR | 35.2 | LV | 16 | $ 2,000,000 | UFA | 4.4 |
| Olamide Zaccheaus | WR | 24.5 | ATL | 17 | $ 586,667 | RFA | 4.3 |
| DeAndre Carter | WR | 28.8 | WAS | 17 | $ 970,000 | UFA | 4.2 |
| Danny Amendola | WR | 36.2 | HOU | 8 | $ 1,800,000 | UFA | 4.0 |
| Keelan Cole | WR | 28.8 | NYJ | 15 | $ 5,500,000 | UFA | 3.7 |
| Adam Humphries | WR | 28.6 | WAS | 17 | $ 1,190,000 | UFA | 3.6 |
| James Washington | WR | 25.8 | PIT | 15 | $ 1,125,336 | UFA | 3.6 |
| Marquise Goodwin | WR | 31.2 | CHI | 14 | $ 1,212,500 | UFA | 3.5 |
| Malik Turner | WR | 26.0 | DAL | 14 | $ 835,000 | UFA | 3.5 |
| Chris Conley | WR | 29.2 | HOU | 16 | $ 1,500,000 | UFA | 3.4 |
| Chris Moore | WR | 28.7 | HOU | 12 | $ 990,000 | UFA | 3.4 |
| Will Fuller | WR | 27.8 | MIA | 2 | $ 10,625,011 | UFA | 3.3 |
| Demarcus Robinson | WR | 27.3 | KC | 17 | $ 1,127,500 | UFA | 3.3 |
| Mack Hollins | WR | 28.4 | MIA | 17 | $ 1,127,500 | UFA | 3.3 |
| Brandon Zylstra | WR | 28.8 | CAR | 13 | $ 920,000 | UFA | 3.3 |
| Cameron Batson | WR | 26.1 | TEN | 4 | $ 762,500 | RFA | 3.3 |
| Antoine Wesley | WR | 24.2 | ARI | 15 | $ 660,000 | ERFA | 3.3 |
| Cam Sims | WR | 26.1 | WAS | 14 | $ 2,133,000 | UFA | 3.2 |
| Mohamed Sanu | WR | 32.4 | SF | 8 | $ 1,140,000 | UFA | 3.2 |
| Chester Rogers | WR | 28.1 | TEN | 16 | $ 990,000 | UFA | 3.2 |
| Jauan Jennings | WR | 24.6 | SF | 16 | $ 660,000 | ERFA | 3.1 |
| Rashard Higgins | WR | 27.3 | CLE | 15 | $ 2,377,500 | UFA | 3.0 |
| Tavon Austin | WR | 31.9 | JAC | 13 | $ 1,075,000 | UFA | 3.0 |
| Isaiah McKenzie | WR | 26.8 | BUF | 15 | $ 1,127,500 | UFA | 2.9 |
| Marcus Johnson | WR | 27.5 | TEN | 7 | $ 1,127,500 | UFA | 2.9 |
| Damiere Byrd | WR | 29.0 | CHI | 17 | $ 1,127,500 | UFA | 2.8 |
| Albert Wilson | WR | 29.6 | MIA | 14 | $ 3,000,000 | UFA | 2.7 |
| Ray-Ray McCloud | WR | 25.3 | PIT | 16 | $ 1,000,000 | UFA | 2.7 |
| Tajae Sharpe | WR | 27.1 | ATL | 15 | $ 990,000 | UFA | 2.5 |
| Ashton Dulin | WR | 24.8 | IND | 17 | $ 540,000 | RFA | 2.4 |
| Noah Brown | WR | 26.1 | DAL | 13 | $ 1,127,500 | UFA | 2.2 |
| Jakeem Grant | WR | 29.2 | CHI | 15 | $ 2,300,000 | UFA | 2.0 |
| Greg Ward | WR | 26.6 | PHI | $ 850,000 | RFA | 2.0 | |
| KhaDarel Hodge | WR | 27.1 | DET | 16 | $ 1,000,000 | UFA | 1.9 |
| Auden Tate | WR | 25.0 | CIN | 7 | $ 570,000 | UFA | 1.6 |
| Preston Williams | WR | 24.8 | MIA | 8 | $ 588,333 | RFA | 1.4 |
| Jeff Smith | WR | 24.8 | NYJ | 12 | $ 780,000 | ERFA | 1.3 |
| Trent Sherfield | WR | 25.9 | SF | 17 | $ 920,000 | UFA | 1.1 |
| Equanimeous St. Brown | WR | 25.3 | GB | 13 | $ 850,000 | UFA | 1.1 |
| Dede Westbrook | WR | 28.2 | MIN | 15 | $ 1,127,500 | UFA | 0.8 |
| Mike Thomas | WR | 27.5 | CIN | 12 | $ 1,015,000 | UFA | 0.7 |
| Penny Hart | WR | 25.6 | SEA | 17 | $ 780,000 | ERFA | 0.6 |
| Gunner Olszewski | WR | 25.2 | NE | 16 | $ 585,833 | RFA | 0.6 |
| Alex Erickson | WR | 29.2 | CAR | 17 | $ 990,000 | UFA | 0.5 |
| Trenton Irwin | WR | 26.2 | CIN | 7 | $ 660,000 | ERFA | 0.5 |
| Christian Blake | WR | 25.7 | ATL | 16 | $ 850,000 | RFA | 0.4 |
| Marcus Kemp | WR | 26.5 | KC | 16 | $ 850,000 | RFA | 0.2 |
| Jake Kumerow | WR | 30.0 | BUF | 15 | $ 920,000 | UFA | 0.1 |
| Stanley Morgan | WR | 25.4 | CIN | 17 | $ 762,500 | RFA | 0.1 |
| Malik Taylor | WR | 26.1 | GB | 10 | $ 780,000 | ERFA | 0.0 |
| Rob Gronkowski | TE | 32.8 | TB | 12 | $ 8,000,000 | UFA | 11.5 |
| Dalton Schultz | TE | 25.6 | DAL | 17 | $ 728,090 | UFA | 9.6 |
| Zach Ertz | TE | 31.2 | ARI | 17 | $ 8,500,000 | UFA | 8.2 |
| Mike Gesicki | TE | 26.3 | MIA | 17 | $ 1,652,981 | UFA | 7.8 |
| Maxx Williams | TE | 27.8 | ARI | 5 | $ 3,500,000 | UFA | 6.7 |
| Jared Cook | TE | 34.8 | LAC | 16 | $ 4,500,000 | UFA | 6.6 |
| Tyler Conklin | TE | 26.5 | MIN | 17 | $ 685,258 | UFA | 6.6 |
| C.J. Uzomah | TE | 29.1 | CIN | 16 | $ 6,100,000 | UFA | 6.5 |
| Gerald Everett | TE | 27.6 | SEA | 15 | $ 6,000,000 | UFA | 6.5 |
| David Njoku | TE | 25.6 | CLE | 16 | $ 2,381,274 | UFA | 5.8 |
| Evan Engram | TE | 27.4 | NYG | 15 | $ 2,679,576 | UFA | 5.6 |
| James O'Shaughnessy | TE | 30.1 | JAC | 7 | $ 1,590,000 | UFA | 5.5 |
| Robert Tonyan | TE | 27.8 | GB | 8 | $ 3,384,000 | UFA | 5.2 |
| Ricky Seals-Jones | TE | 26.9 | WAS | 13 | $ 990,000 | UFA | 4.2 |
| Mo Alie-Cox | TE | 28.3 | IND | 17 | $ 3,384,000 | UFA | 4.0 |
| Hayden Hurst | TE | 28.4 | ATL | 13 | $ 2,759,007 | UFA | 3.9 |
| Tyler Kroft | TE | 29.3 | NYJ | 9 | $ 2,000,000 | UFA | 3.8 |
| Geoff Swaim | TE | 28.4 | TEN | 16 | $ 2,500,000 | UFA | 3.6 |
| Anthony Firkser | TE | 26.9 | TEN | 15 | $ 3,000,000 | UFA | 3.5 |
| Donald Parham | TE | 24.5 | LAC | 14 | $ 695,000 | ERFA | 3.5 |
| Eric Ebron | TE | 28.8 | PIT | 8 | $ 6,000,000 | UFA | 3.3 |
| Durham Smythe | TE | 26.5 | MIA | 17 | $ 773,059 | UFA | 3.1 |
| Jimmy Graham | TE | 35.2 | CHI | 15 | $ 8,000,000 | UFA | 2.9 |
| MyCole Pruitt | TE | 29.8 | TEN | 16 | $ 990,000 | UFA | 2.6 |
| Will Dissly | TE | 25.6 | SEA | 15 | $ 777,568 | UFA | 2.6 |
| Jordan Akins | TE | 29.8 | HOU | 13 | $ 831,271 | UFA | 2.3 |
| Jacob Hollister | TE | 28.2 | JAC | 7 | $ 990,000 | UFA | 2.2 |
| Stephen Anderson | TE | 29.0 | LAC | 17 | $ 920,000 | UFA | 1.9 |
| O.J. Howard | TE | 27.2 | TB | 17 | $ 2,773,655 | UFA | 1.7 |
| Ian Thomas | TE | 25.7 | CAR | 17 | $ 801,999 | UFA | 1.7 |
| Jesse James | TE | 27.7 | CHI | 14 | $ 1,650,000 | UFA | 1.2 |
| Lee Smith | TE | 34.2 | ATL | 16 | $ 3,000,000 | UFA | 1.1 |
| Blake Bell | TE | 30.5 | KC | 15 | $ 1,127,500 | UFA | 0.9 |
| Eric Saubert | TE | 27.8 | DEN | 17 | $ 990,000 | UFA | 0.9 |
| Ross Dwelley | TE | 27.0 | SF | 17 | $ 1,600,000 | UFA | 0.8 |
| Antony Auclair | TE | 28.7 | HOU | 16 | $ 990,000 | UFA | 0.8 |
| Chris Herndon | TE | 25.9 | MIN | 16 | $ 792,841 | UFA | 0.8 |
| Derek Carrier | TE | 31.5 | LV | 5 | $ 1,075,000 | UFA | 0.6 |
| Garrett Griffin | TE | 27.9 | NO | 13 | $ 850,000 | RFA | 0.5 |
| Demetrius Harris | TE | 30.5 | ARI | 14 | $ 1,075,000 | UFA | 0.2 |
| Johnny Mundt | TE | 27.2 | LAR | 6 | $ 920,000 | UFA | 0.2 |
| Dominique Dafney | TE | 24.7 | GB | 10 | $ 695,000 | ERFA | 0.1 |
| Darrell Daniels | TE | 27.2 | ARI | 15 | $ 1,127,500 | UFA | 0.0 |
Latest Articles
Most Popular
