Best Fits for Best Remaining NFL Free Agents as Training Camp Nears

Could these diamonds in the rough wind up being affordable difference-makers this fall?

As the calendar rounds into the last week of June, it can only mean one thing.

No, not that the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest lost some of its July 4th luster with Joey Chestnut’s absence, but, that NFL training camps are set to open around the nation with hopes and dreams renewed for all 32 clubs that they’ll be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy next February in New Orleans.

Likewise, the free agency floodgates are about to reopen as veterans scramble for homes and teams pick through the remaining available players to fill the last remaining needs on said rosters hoping to deliver on championship aspirations.

From veteran quarterbacks who are capable of stepping in in a pinch to former Pro Bowl and 1,000-yard receivers and future Hall of Fame offensive tackles, several players could prove to be valuable additions are still available.

Here’s a look at the potential landing spots for some of the top remaining free agents, with insight from NFL coaches, executives and sources on their possible scheme fits.

CB - Xavien Howard: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Xavien Howard has built up a reputation as one of the premier cornerbacks in the sport and is the type of player who can put a team over the top when it comes to competing for a playoff berth.

“Schematically, he’d be a really solid fit in Tampa,” an AFC Scouting Director told me, of Howard. “The only reason he is still available is his asking price. He wants top dollar, but injuries and declining skill at his age could make it tough to get top-of-market money.”

A four-time Pro Bowler, Howard’s 29 career interceptions rank fourth in Dolphins franchise history, and the 30-year-old is coming off a 2023 season in which he held opposing quarterbacks to a paltry 86.7 passer rating when targeting him as opposing receivers averaged just 11.7 yards per reception when lined up against him.

The Buccaneers have the pieces in place, they believe, to begin the 2024 season in the AFC South pole position, and Howard is the type of plug-and-play perimeter cornerback who can elevate the secondary.