2021 NFL unrestricted free agents at each position

The idea that NFL players will train harder and play better in a contract year has some basic common sense behind it. Yes, if I’m up for a promotion in my job, I will likely at least try to look better to my employer. But unlike the NFL, my job isn’t a constant high-level physical competition on a football field. NFL players must be at their best at all times or they are toast, no matter their contract status.

There is no data to support that there is a clear trend that players are better in a contract season, but if you rather lean toward player up for their promotions, I don’t think it’s that harmful as long as the player is in a good spot to see usage. Below we have listed out the more prominent unrestricted free agents going into the 2021 season at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end.

Quarterbacks

Dak Prescott
Jameis Winston
Philip Rivers
Jacoby Brissett
Mitchell Trubisky
Tyrod Taylor
Ryan Fitzpatrick
A.J. McCarron
Andy Dalton
Matt Barkley
Robert Griffin III

Running Backs

Alvin Kamara
Dalvin Cook
Kenyan Drake
Leonard Fournette
Aaron Jones
Joe Mixon
Jerick McKinnon
Todd Gurley
James Conner
Marlon Mack
Chris Carson
Tevin Coleman
James White
Matt Breida
Kareem Hunt
Rex Burkhead
Adrian Peterson
Brian Hill
Malcolm Brown
T.J. Yeldon
Dion Lewis
Chris Thompson
Frank Gore
Ameer Abdullah
Devontae Booker
DeAndre Washington
Dwayne Washington
Corey Clement
Tarik Cohen
Jamaal Williams

Wide Receivers

Allen Robinson
T.Y. Hilton
Cooper Kupp
Chris Godwin
Kenny Golladay
Keenan Allen
JuJu Smith-Schuster
A.J. Green
Will Fuller
Sammy Watkins
Marvin Jones
Kenny Stills
Mohamed Sanu
Breshad Perriman
Larry Fitzgerald
Corey Davis
John Ross
Curtis Samuel
Dede Westbrook
Josh Reynolds
Willie Snead
Cordarrelle Patterson
Danny Amendola
Phillip Dorsett
Seth Roberts
Keelan Cole
Kendrick Bourne
Albert Wilson
Chris Conley
Demarcus Robinson
David Moore
Zay Jones
Ted Ginn Jr.
Corey Coleman
Travis Benjamin
Geronimo Allison
Nelson Agholor
Tajae Sharpe
Isaiah McKenzie
Taywan Taylor
Laquon Treadwell
Rashard Higgins
Josh Doctson
Trent Taylor

Tight End

George Kittle
Hunter Henry
Jared CookJ
onnu Smith
Rob Gronkowski
Greg Olsen
Gerald Everett
Tyler Kroft
Jason Witten
Jeff Heuerman
Jacob Hollister
Marcedes Lewis
Blake Bell
Demetrius Harris
Adam Shaheen
Matt LaCosse
James O’Shaughnessy
Richard Rodgers
Ricky Seals-Jones
Trey Burton
Tanner Hudson
Jake Butt
Jeremy Sprinkle
Joshua Perkins
Seth Devalve