Five free agents your NFL team could sign including Odell Beckham Jr

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Odell Beckham Jr. has played for the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Rams in his career (Image: Jeff Lewis/AP/REX/Shutterstock)
Odell Beckham Jr. has played for the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Rams in his career (Image: Jeff Lewis/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

The NFL free agency period has provided a number of intriguing narratives for the upcoming 2023 season.

Amid discussions of trades and the upcoming NFL Draft, teams have been frantically moving for stars in free agency. Each team has spent money to add quality to their roster, with the likes of Derek Carr, Javon Hargrave, and Jimmy Garoppolo moving to new franchises and grabbing headlines.

While many teams may made their biggest splashes of the offseason, there are a number of star players left in the free agent pool. Who is still available - and which teams could move for them?

Odell Beckham Jr. (WR)

Odell Beckham Jr. remains one of the biggest names on the free agent market nearly 14 months after playing his last NFL game, tearing his ACL as the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI. Beckham has returned to full fitness and enjoyed a fine workout with plenty of teams present as they look to add a new weapon.

Amid reports he wanted $20million annually, Beckham took to social media to insist the number was lower than that - but he didn’t want to play for a figure as low as $4m. While he needs to re-establish himself after a year, the former New York Giants star will almost certainly receive the right offer in the next few weeks and has been linked with a move to the New York Jets as well as the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills.

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As the Jets continue to negotiate with the Green Bay Packers over four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers, Robert Saleh’s side have also been linked with a move for Odell Beckham Jr. as the 30-year-old decides his next destination after missing the entire 2022 campaign The Jets have added former Green Bay wideout Allen Lazard and ex Kansas City Chiefs star Mecole Hardman in free agency to join Garrett Wilson and Corey Davis in their receiver room, but Beckham’s arrival would certainly make waves.

Five free agents your NFL team could sign including Odell Beckham JrOdell Beckham Jr. won the Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams - but hasn't played in over a year (Getty Images)

Lamar Jackson (QB)

Lamar Jackson is technically a free agent after the Baltimore Ravens gave him permission to speak with other NFL teams when they placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on the dynamic quarterback. The Ravens would ultimately be able to match or surpass a rival’s contract offer to Jackson - or decide to let him walk in exchange for two first round picks.

The 2019 MVP has been locked in negotiations with the Ravens for over two years. One of the sticking points is over Jackson’s health; he suffered a PCL sprain to miss the final six weeks of the 2022 season as the Ravens finished with a 10-7 record, reaching the playoffs only to fall at the first hurdle at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals.

While the 26-year-old still wants a signifiant amount fully guaranteed, Jackson is seemingly now more open to one or more non-guaranteed years on the back end of any prospective deal - and a player of his calibre would single-handedly change the direction of any franchise that decides to take the plunge.

Five free agents your NFL team could sign including Odell Beckham JrLamar Jackson requested a trade from the Baltimore Ravens earlier this month (Butch Dill/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

Ezekiel Elliott (RB)

Elliott endured a down season in 2022 and became the second-fiddle behind Tony Pollard in the Dallas Cowboys’ rushing attack so he is coming off career lows in rushing attempts, rushing yards and rushing average, although he did manage to score 12 touchdowns this past season. The Cowboys decided to release him, and Elliott has reportedly decided to play for either the Jets, Bengals or Philadelphia Eagles with a decision set to be made as early as this week.

The 27-year-old is one of the best running backs in the Cowboys’ storied history. He has racked up 8,262 rushing yards in his career, which places him third on the all-time list in rushing for the franchise behind a pair of Hall of Famers in Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett.

Five free agents your NFL team could sign including Odell Beckham JrEzekiel Elliott was released by the Dallas Cowboys after seven years with the iconic franchise (Ron Jenkins/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

Calais Campbell (DE)

Calais Campbell remains a dominant presence in the NFL, even at 36 years of age. He tallied 5.5 sacks for the Baltimore Ravens in 2022 - his 15th professional season after stints with the Arizona Cardinals and Jacksonville Jaguars.

The six-time Pro Bowler was released by the Ravens after three seasons in Baltimore, and Campbell reportedly wants to play one more season before calling time on his career. Campbell - who has played in at least 12 games in each season of his career - is scheduled to meet with the Buffalo Bulls and Jets this week, while he has also visited the Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons.

Jadeveon Clowney (DE)

Clowney, the first overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, hasn’t lived up to the billing when the Houston Texans moved for him nine years ago. In fact, he has not registered 10 sacks in any of his nine NFL seasons.

The Texans parted ways with Clowney in 2019 after getting three successive Pro Bowl seasons from the defensive end. Since then, he has suited up for the Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, and Cleveland Browns. While he is something of a one-year mercenary these days, Clowney provides an inexpensive option at a position that an affect the game with high-level play when healthy.

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Andrew Gamble

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