NFL.com's top 101 free agents
The NFL's new league year officially begins at 4pm on Wednesday, but starting this afternoon, teams are allowed to begin negotiating deals with players whose contracts expired after the 2021 season.
Before free agency takes off, make sure to catch up on everything you need to know in the 2022 NFL Free Agency Guide.
Around The NFL writer Gregg Rosenthal released his list of the top 101 players in the 2022 free agent class. Rosenthal's rankings have already been updated, as eight players received the franchise tag ahead of the tag deadline.
These players to receive the franchise tag include: Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin, Jacksonville Jaguars OT Cam Robinson, Green Bay Packers WR DaVante Adams, Dallas Cowboys TE Dalton Schultz, Kansas City Chiefs OT Orlando Brown, Cincinnati Bengals S Jessie Bates III, Cleveland Browns TE David Njoku and Miami Dolphins TE Mike Gesicki. Additionally, the Tennessee Titans agreed to a new, multi-year contract with OLB Harold Landry, while the Los Angeles Chargers did the same with WR Mike Williams.
All 10 of the players listed above have since been removed from the rankings. Here are the players that remain as Rosenthal's top 10 free agents this offseason. The complete list can be found in the gallery below.
(Note: The rankings below are as of Friday, March 11)
1. OT Terron Armstead
"Armstead's injury history makes him a complicated evaluation. He's missed at least six games in five of his nine seasons, but when he plays, he's one of the five best left tackles in football. It is extremely rare for a tackle this good with an impeccable reputation as a leader to become available, for any reason, especially with good years still in front of him."
2. CB J.C. Jackson
"Jackson has improved in each of his four NFL seasons so far. He was already worth plenty after getting off to one of the greatest ballhawking starts to a career ever (25 picks), and now he's also one of the best pure man-coverage corners in the league on a down-to-down basis. It is curious, however, the Patriots didn't use the franchise tag on him."
3. EDGE Von Miller
"Miller's numbers in the 2021 playoffs (four sacks, 22 pressures) were almost identical to what he posted in the 2015 playoffs (five sacks, 23 pressures), which ended with him being named MVP of Super Bowl 50. His run defense was also superb. No player made himself more money in the postseason."
4. CB Carlton Davis
"Bucs coaches always talked about Davis like a true No. 1 cornerback. He looks like one on film, like the type of prospect that would get taken with a top-15 pick in the draft. Perhaps he hasn't played quite to a Pro Bowl level yet, but there aren't many cornerbacks who have sustained his high level of play while also demonstrating prototypical skills over the last three years."
5. EDGE Chandler Jones
"Even if he's not at his absolute peak as a pass rusher, Jones can juice up any defensive line on a short-term deal."
NFL.com updated its rankings of the top 101 players set to become free agents on March 16.
6. S Tyrann Mathieu
"This is my second year making this list without my great friend Chris Wesseling, and I heard his voice so clearly after I initially ranked Mathieu lower. It's hard to put a price on the intelligence, competitiveness and coverage ability Honey Badger brings, but those traits explain how he's set to get the third big, long-term deal of his career, despite being an undersized safety drafted in the third round. Wess was early to see Mathieu's ferocious, versatile style for the transformative force that it was. Like so many people who crossed paths with Wess over the years, Mathieu returned the love."
7. S Marcus Williams
"Note that this is not a ranking of how much money each player will make. I appear to value top safeties more than NFL general managers do, and there are few safeties better and steadier than Williams."
8. WR Allen Robinson
"Was Robinson's decline in 2021 mostly due to his situation? This ranking assumes that to be the case, because he was a borderline top-10 receiver until a discouraging season where it appeared he was playing out the string in Chicago."
9. EDGE Emmanuel Ogbah
"If Ogbah had been drafted No. 1 overall, like Jadeveon Clowney, or played for the Cowboys, like Randy Gregory, this ranking wouldn't be surprising. Ogbah has been producing like a star for years, without the recognition."
10. G Brandon Scherff
"Like a larger version of Kirk Cousins, Scherff is finally going to hit free agency after being slapped with back-to-back franchise tags by Washington. Also like Cousins, I expect him to leave on a massive deal. Injuries are part of the equation (24 missed games in the last five years), but that shouldn't stop teams from competing for the services of a five-time Pro Bowler."
View the players set to become free agents when the new league year begins March 16.
Flashback: Notable Giants free agent signings
With free agency set to begin this week, let's take a look back at some of the most notable free agent signings in Giants history.
C Bart Oates: Signed by the Giants on August 29, 1985
Oates signed with the Giants after playing three seasons with the Philadelphia/Baltimore Stars of the USFL where he won two USFL championships. He would go on play 140 games with 136 starts over nine seasons with the Giants. Oates was a three-time Pro Bowl center with the Giants and was a member of both the Super Bowl XXI and XXV Championships teams.
QB Kerry Collins: Signed by the Giants on February 19, 1999
Collins joined the Giants after four seasons in the NFL. He played 71 games with 68 starts for the Giants, throwing for 16,875 yards and 81 touchdowns, and led the Giants to an appearance in Super Bowl XXXV. His passing yardage ranks fourth all-time in franchise history, while his 81 touchdowns is the sixth-most among Giants quarterbacks.
C Shaun O'Hara: Signed by the Giants on March 7, 2004
O'Hara came to the Giants in 2004 after four seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Over his seven seasons with Big Blue, O'Hara started all 97 games he played in, including starting all but one game from 2005-2009. The center was part of the franchise's Super Bowl XLII-winning team, and made the Pro Bowl each season from 2008 to 2010. O'Hara was also named Second-Team All-Pro in 2008.
LB Antonio Pierce: Signed by the Giants on March 3, 2005
After four seasons with Washington, Pierce signed with the Giants early in the 2005 offseason. He wound up playing five years with the Giants, starting 69 games, and made the Pro Bowl in 2006. He helped lead the Giants to a win over the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. Pierce ranks 10th in franchise history in both solo tackles (377) and tackles for loss (34).
OT Kareem McKenzie: Signed by the Giants on March 4, 2005
After starting his career by playing four years with the New York Jets, McKenzie signed with the Giants in 2005 and played the remaining seven years of his career with Big Blue. He started 105 games with the Giants, including four seasons without a missed game, and was a part of the Giants' offensive line that helped win Super Bowls XLII and XLVI.
WR Plaxico Burress: Signed by the Giants on March 17, 2005
Burress played for the Giants for four seasons, coming to Big Blue after five years with the Pittsburgh Steelers. In those four campaigns, the wide receiver registered 244 receptions for 3,681 yards and 33 touchdowns in 57 games (55 starts). His 33 receiving touchdowns rank ninth in Giants history. Burress caught the game-winning touchdown against the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.
S Antrel Rolle: Signed by the Giants on March 5, 2010
Rolle had established himself as a top safety during his five seasons with the Cardinals prior to signing with the Giants in 2010. He would go on to play five seasons with the Giants, totaling 14 interceptions, five forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and 18 tackles for loss. His 382 solo tackles ranks ninth in franchise history. In addition to making two Pro Bowls during his time with the Giants, Rolle was also named Second-Team All-Pro twice (2010, 2013) and was a member of the Super Bowl XLVI Championship squad.
View photos of some of the most notable free agent signings in Giants history.
Great Investments: Best free agent signings in Giants history
Check out the video below to take a look back at the greatest free agent signings in Giants history.