Free agency in the NFL comes in with a flood but often turns to a trickle relatively quickly. With the 2022 NFL draft in the rearview mirror and the 2022 season schedule revealed Thursday night, the NFL calendar turns mostly toward minicamps and OTAs before the start of training camp.
With the compensatory pick formula completed for this offseason, veteran free agents are more likely to be signed now. For many veterans that are still available, waiting until after the minicamps and OTAs finish makes sense as they have learned how to care for their bodies through their own training.
Bill Barnwell of ESPN put out a prediction piece for 10 remaining free agents (subscriber, $). While he limited the piece to players signing with new teams, not those he thinks will return to their old teams, he does mention Jadeveon Clowney returning to the Cleveland Browns.
The more interesting Browns related prediction was the addition of Ndamukong Suh:
Suh might not be the two-way force we saw during his time with the Lions, and the Bucs were careful to reduce his snap rate down from 77% in 2019 to 63% this past season, but he’s still a reliable interior disruptor. The man just doesn’t get hurt; Suh hasn’t missed a single game due to injury as a pro across 12 campaigns.
As noted, Suh isn’t a full-time player anymore but Cleveland could use him as a rotational piece. Adding Suh and bringing back Clowney would immediately add a strong presence to the defensive line.
Barnwell also predicted that former Browns receiver Jarvis Landry would land with the Baltimore Ravens.