By Ryan Dunleavy | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

In the NFL, going into July 4 with your independence isn't a good thing.

All 32 training camps start up later this month but there are Pro Bowlers and Super Bowl contributors on the open market nearly four months after the start of NFL free agency. The savvy NFL general manager can use this downtime around the league to steal a bargain player or two can push his team over the top ... if salary cap space allows.

Here are NJ Advance Media's top 20 unsigned NFL free agents, with a projected "best fit" destination for each.

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Jack Dempsey | AP

20. TE Julius Thomas

2017 team: Dolphins

2017 stats: 41 catches, 388 yards, 5 touchdowns

Age: 30

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Best fit: Jets

Thomas' career has been in a downward spiral ever since he left the side of Peyton Manning, who helped him to back-to-back seasons of 12 touchdown catches.

He has a total of 12 in three seasons since with the Jaguars and Dolphins. Thomas could join the Jets and complement whichever young player — Jordan Leggett or Chris Herndon — emerges as the other tight end.

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19. TE Antonio Gates

2017 team: Chargers

2017 stats: 30 catches, 316 yards, 3 touchdowns

Age: 37

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Best fit: Chargers

Gates has spent his entire 15-year Hall of Fame career with the Chargers. Just when it seemed the two sides were going to move on, tight end Hunter Henry suffered a season-ending ACL tear. Gates and the Chargers aren't exactly running back into each other's arms, but they probably will reunite.

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Seahawks guard J.R. Sweezy talks about his fight against Alzheimer’s https://t.co/qnObWGsAy7 pic.twitter.com/6oDrg4ouBG — Alz Association WA (@ALZ_WA) August 26, 2015

18. OG J.R. Sweezy

2017 team: Buccaneers

2017 stats: N/A

Age: 29

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Best fit: Seahawks

Originally a seventh-round pick of the Seahawks, Sweezy was back in Seattle for a visit and a physical on Monday, according to NFL Network. He spent last season with the Buccaneers. There is a dearth of quality offensive linemen available at this time of year.

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17. RB Orleans Darkwa

2017 team: Giants

2017 stats: 171 carries, 751 yards, 5 touchdowns

Age: 26

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Best fit: Colts

Darkwa is younger and was more productive in 2017 than the other running backs on this list. He is coming off surgery to remove a plate he had inserted in his leg before his breakout season.

Darkwa is returning to health just at the time the Colts are losing Robert Turbin to a suspension. The Colts drafted Nyhiem Hines and return Marlon Mack, but Darkwa could be the team's workhorse.

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Mark D. Smith | USA TODAY Sports

16. RB Adrian Peterson

2017 teams: Saints/Cardinals

2017 stats: 156 carries, 529 yards, 2 touchdowns

Age: 33

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Best fit: Cowboys

It's speculation that won't die ... because it makes too much sense to go away. The Cowboys need help at tight end and wide receiver more than running back, but Peterson could spell Ezekiel Elliott.

The Texas native and future Hall of Famer has had one good season since 2013 ... but that was a 327-carry, 1,485-yard monster with the 2015 Vikings.

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15. QB Matt Moore

2017 team: Dolphins

2017 stats: 61.4 percent completion rate, 861 yards, 4 touchdowns, 5 interceptions

Age: 33

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Best fit: Jaguars

The Jaguars are one of the most talented teams in the NFL, but they still have questions at quarterback even after re-signing Blake Bortles for three years and $54 million. If Bortles gets injured — or if his play regresses and is holding back a Super Bowl contender — the top backup option can't be Cody Kessler.

Moore has 31 career starts, including a playoff game. The dream for him is simple: Trent Dilfer or Brad Johnson on a Super Bowl winner.

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14. LB Brian Cushing

2017 team: Texans

2017 stats: 16 tackles, 1.5 sacks

Age: 31

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Best fit: Giants

Is Cushing willing to take a veteran's minimum contract and be a backup to finish his career at home in New Jersey? If so, this makes sense, because the Giants need depth behind starters Alec Ogletree and B.J. Goodson but don't have the salary cap space (only about $2 million after eventually signing Saquon Barkley) to make a splash.

The former Bergen Catholic star is an all-time great player in Texans history but he has been suspended twice under the NFL's performance-enhancing drugs policy.

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13. WR Jeremy Maclin

2017 team: Ravens

2017 stats: 40 catches, 440 yards, 3 touchdowns

Age: 30

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Best fit: Raiders

Maclin spent most of his career under coach Andy Reid with the Eagles and Chiefs. There are some similarities in the offenses run by Reid and Raiders coach Jon Gruden, so Maclin could be a quick study. It appears Maclin's home run ability is gone, but he could be a good fit in the slot for a team that needs an upgrade.

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Ann Arbor News

12. RB DeMarco Murray

2017 team: Titans

2017 stats: 184 carries, 659 yards, 6 touchdowns

Age: 30

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Best fit: Buccaneers

The Buccaneers drafted Ronald Jones in the second round, but pairing him with a veteran like Murray is smart, especially if the Jameis Winston-less Buccaneers are going to be a ground-based offense for the first three games. Murray also is a 30-plus catch security blanket for his quarterbacks.

Worried about his age? The Giants signed Jonathan Stewart, 30, to a two-year, $6.9 million deal this offseason.

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11. S Kenny Vaccaro

2017 team: Saints

2017 stats: 60 tackles, 3 interceptions

Age: 27

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Best fit: Patriots

The Patriots still have their longtime safety trio combination of Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung and Duron Harmon, but Vaccaro spent 53 percent of his time on the field with the Saints covering the slot, according to Pro Football Focus. That essentially makes him a cornerback, and the Patriots need help at cornerback.

Bill Belichick loves a good bargain, and this move would qualify.

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10. WR Eric Decker

2017 team: Titans

2017 stats: 54 catches, 563 yards, 1 touchdown

Age: 31

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Best fit: 49ers

Decker had three 1,000-yard seasons for the Broncos and Jets but bounced back in a nice way in 2017, after an injury-shortened 2016. Decker said he would love to join the Patriots, but that feels like a veteran player's wish list and not a good fit. The 49ers missed out by not adding a big-time wide receiver for (former Patriots) quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason.

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William Perlman | The Star-Ledger

9. DT Jonathan Hankins

2017 team: Colts

2017 stats: 44 tackles, 2 sacks

Age: 26

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Best fit: Browns

Hankins slow-played free agency in 2017 but wound up with a three-year, $27 million deal with the Colts, leaving the Giants, where he was a productive second-round pick. Except he was released by the Colts after one season and now appears headed for a much smaller deal after again sitting on the market for a long time.

The Browns traded Danny Shelton to the Patriots and Hankins could fill in his shoes.

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8. DE/OLB Connor Barwin

2017 team: Rams

2017 stats: 34 tackles, 5 sacks

Age: 31

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Best fit: Lions

Barwin is a good schematic fit for first-year coach Matt Patricia's defense because of his versatility. He started 13 games last season. He likely won't get back to his 2014 form of 14.5 sacks, but he can be a productive rusher with fresh legs if used in spurts similar to Elvis Dumervil's resurgence in a new role with the 49ers in 2017.

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John Munson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

7. CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

2017 team: Giants

2017 stats: 48 tackles, 0.5 sacks

Age: 32

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Best fit: Redskins

The Redskins were the first team Rodgers-Cromartie visited after he was released by the Giants. He cryptically told reporters at the Landon Collins Celebrity Softball game "Y'all might see me again." Was that a hint at returning to the Giants? At staying in the NFC East? Rodgers-Cromartie was an All-Pro in 2016 and says he multiple teams have expressed interest, but he decided to wait until spring workouts concluded.

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6. S Tre Boston

2017 team: Chargers

2017 stats: 79 tackles, 5 interceptions

Age: 26

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Best fit: Cardinals

Here is what Boston told NFL.com of his free agent visit with the Cardinals: "They rolled out the red carpet for me, but the offer was very, very disrespectful."

Both sides should revisit and see if they can meet in the middle on the offer. Boston is coming off a breakout year, and the Cardinals are about to discover how much they miss salary cap casualty Tyrann Mathieu.

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Mike Mulholland | MLive

5. DT Nick Fairley

2017 team: Saints

2017 stats: None

Age: 30

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Best fit: Jets

All has been quiet on the Fairley front since he was released by the Saints in February. Fairley missed all of last season with a heart condition, after having a career-year in 2016 following a move from the Lions to the Saints.

Fairley needs to gain medical clearance before signing anywhere, and the smartest bet might be to retire. But the Jets have salary cap space ($19.4 million before signing Sam Darnold) and a need. It's going to be strange seeing the Jets without Damon Harrison, Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson.

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4. CB Braushad Breeland

2017 team: Redskins

2017 stats: 50 tackles, 1 interception

Age: 26

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Best fit: Colts

Breeland's three-year, $24 million free-agent deal with the Panthers was voided because of a failed physical. He likely will have to accept a one-year deal to prove he is healthy and then return to the market in 2019. The Colts have a need for a starting cornerback like Breeland, who has 58 career starts in four years.

As of June 12, the Colts had 17 defensive backs on the 90-man roster whose average age was 23.6.

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John Munson | The Star-Ledger

3. LB NaVorro Bowman

2017 team: Raiders

2017 stats: 89 tackles, 1.5 sacks

Age: 30

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Best fit: Eagles

Since free agency started, the Eagles released Mykal Kendricks, lost Nigel Bradham to a one-game suspension and lost Paul Worrilow to a season-ending torn ACL. When a team wins a championship, it always can make the pitch to veterans who are still chasing their first ring to come join the repeat attempt at a discount rate.

Bownman also could choose early retirement as so many of his ex-49ers teammates have. The Eagles have about $6 million in salary cap space.

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2. S Eric Reid

2017 team: 49ers

2017 stats: 67 tackles, 2 interceptions

Age: 26

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Best fit: Seahawks

The Legion of Boom is over now that Richard Sherman is with the 49ers, Earl Thomas wants out of Seattle and Kam Chancellor likely is retiring.

Reid comes with a lawsuit against the NFL for collusion over his national anthem protests, but the Seahawks handled Michael Bennett and flirted with Colin Kaepernick because coach Pete Carroll can handle big personalities. Reid made the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2013.

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Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

1. WR Dez Bryant

2017 team: Cowboys

2017 stats: 69 catches, 838 yards, 6 touchdowns

Age: 29

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Best fit: Packers

Bryant was a salary cap casualty of the Cowboys, who since also have lost future Hall of Fame tight end Jason Witten. It might be too awkward for a reunion — especially since Bryant said he wanted to stay in the NFC East and exact revenge twice a year — but that would make sense.

The Packers have Davante Adams and Randall Cobb, but Bryant could take Jordy Nelson's place. Remember his famous catch or no-catch playoff score at Lambeau Field? New catch rule, new team.

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Marcio Jose Sanchez | AP

No Colin Kaepernick?

Collusion lawsuit and national anthem protests aside, Kaepernick isn't a top 20-caliber free agent based on his deteriorating production. He had a good 29-game run, including six playoff games with a Super Bowl, in 2012-13 but he was 3-16 as a starter in 2015-16 before missing all last season.

Kaepernick always has thrown for more touchdowns than interceptions, but his effectiveness has declined in conjunction with his scrambling ability. Essentially, defenses figured him out.

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Ryan Dunleavy can be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy.