The NFL's Seven Best Remaining Free Agents, and What's Wrong with Them

Aside from a few high-profile examples, we haven't done a comprehensive look at good players out there still looking for teams this offseason. I've already covered Greg Hardy (who since then has managed to start a tone-deaf push for employment thanks to Adam Schefter. Kudos!) and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Here are seven other players I think could help a team next season.

WR Anquan Boldin
The problem: He's old. Boldin will turn 36 next season. This will be a common theme.
The stats: 41 DYAR, -8.0% DVOA, 789 yards, and 111 targets in 2015

The circumstances: Boldin is by far the best bet of the receivers remaining on the market. He was never overly reliant on his speed, and has the route technician qualities that usually prolong careers. His statistics were down last season, but he was also playing with Blaine Gabbert and Colin Kaepernick attempting to be a West Coast quarterback .

Boldin has visited Washington and has also been connected with the Bills and the 49ers. I'd love to see him as a slot receiver on a contender.

S Will Hill

The problem: Substance abuse. He's been suspended multiple times over his early career, and he's been suspended for the first 10 weeks of next season already.

The stats: 16 games, 64 tackles, and one interception in 2015

The circumstances: Once the Ravens realized Hill would be suspended, they bailed on him for Eric Weddle. It makes sense. There's definitely baggage here—but there's also definite talent. Hill will be just 26 next year, and if a team stashes him, he could make a difference down the stretch. Bob Sanders coming back from injury sure gave the 2006 Colts the boost they needed to win the Super Bowl. Hill could be that sort of player.

Hill has yet to be connected to any teams since his release.

RB Arian Foster

The problem: Foster turns 30 in August. He's also coming off a torn Achilles, which is an injury that has ruined many NFL careers.

The stats: -51 DYAR, -29.7% DVOA, 63 carries, and 163 yards in 2015

The circumstances: Foster is off a bad injury, yes. He also was never a track speed running back, and especially wasn't doing much with that at this point in his career. He's a back who relies on great vision and an ability to make subtle moves in the open field. Basically, Foster was a back with Old Back skills before he was old. I can see him creating in a "Willis McGahee in Baltimore" type of role.

Foster took a visit to Miami, but he has been reluctant to sign so far.

DL/OLB Dwight Freeney

The problem: Freeney is 36, and at this point is basically purely a pass rusher. That makes him more of a sub-package player than a starter.

The stats: 11 games, eight sacks, and three forced fumbles in 2015

The circumstances: If there's one area in the NFL where being one-dimensional is OK right now, it's pass rusher. Freeney has been schooling NFL players with his spin move since some rookies were in diapers. He was a key reason that Arizona was able to cobble together enough pass rush to be dangerous last year. He was already old then, and he'll be old this year, too.

Baltimore coach John Harbaugh has expressed some interest in Freeney, but otherwise he's had a quiet market.

T Will Beatty

The problem: He's 31, and he missed all of last season with a torn triceps suffered in OTAs. He also recently had surgery to fix a torn rotator cuff.

The stats: N/A

The circumstances: Beatty was never great so much as passable on the left side, but in a league starved for tackle play, he represents an upgrade on the right side for many teams—if he can stay healthy, that is.

Beatty declined workouts in Oakland and Denver because he doesn't feel he's healthy yet. His market will probably not develop until training camp.

RB LeGarrette Blount

The problem: He's 30 next December, and with no real pass-catching ability and a history of off-field issues. There's not a lot of versatility here.

The stats: 64 DYAR, 0.2% DVOA, 165 carries, and 703 yards in 2015

The circumstances: The Cowboys just signed up Alfred Morris, and while Morris is cleaner off the field, he isn't all that different from Blount. The two have similar running styles and limitations. I think we could see Blount emerge as a committee back somewhere.

Blount hasn't been linked to any teams in free agency, though he is healthy after going down with a hip issue toward the end of last year.

CB Leon Hall

The problem: Hall was a shutdown corner before his Achilles injury in 2013. Over the past two years, he's been good but not great. He'll also turn 32 in December.

The stats: 14 games, two interceptions in 2015

The circumstances: Hall isn't going to play outside and be a star, but he should be able to provide solid slot nickel back play at this stage of his career.

Teams have shown interest in him, but they have also leaked out that his contract demands are a bit much. Hall has visited Arizona, Dallas, and Miami.