5 unsigned free agents who could still make major contributions

Don't sleep on those veterans.

The NFL offseason has officially slowed to a crawl, as the free-agent market is now littered with older players who are widely dismissed as over the hill.

While that may be true for the vast majority of the aging group, a few always manage to prove the doubters wrong after eventually finding new homes.

Here are five unsigned veterans who could still be important additions for teams in 2017.

Anquan Boldin

On the surface, it's easy to see why Boldin hasn't landed a new deal. The veteran wideout turns 37 in October and has long been past the age where you can reasonably expect any sort of high-end production. The yardage total for his lone season in Detroit, a career-low 584, supports that notion. But consider the role here. As evidenced by the eight touchdowns he scored with the Lions, his highest total since 2008, Boldin can still be effective over the middle of the field and in the red zone. A reliable big-slot type with his experience could be the final piece for a young offense.

Dwight Freeney

As is the case with Boldin, the concern about Freeney is age: How many 37-year-olds can offer any sort of explosiveness off the edge? Not many, but this is a rare exception. Freeney has now bounced around to three teams in as many years, with each evidently overlooking his production and content to move on thereafter. At what point will we stop being surprised by his ability to hang around and get after the quarterback? While he won't come in and head up a pass-rush rotation, having the savvy veteran contribute situationally on the edge could be a great depth addition for any defense.

Darrelle Revis

It sure would be easy to conclude that Revis is washed up, and if the last two years are any indication, that may be the safest bet. However, that's not to say there isn't a path for him to extend his career. A fresh start on an incentive-laden deal would likely help Revis avoid the weight issues that seemed to plague him in 2016. Whether it's as a starter on the boundary, at nickel corner, or even safety, returning to his ideal range could be enough to spark a resurgence on its own. He's also got an obvious source of motivation: making sure that second stint with the Jets doesn't cap off his Hall of Fame career.

Jared Odrick

It was inevitable that the Jaguars would cut Odrick at the outset of free agency. The 29-year-old's coming off a season in which he played just six games, and with so many resources tied up in the defensive line, Jacksonville took advantage of an opportunity to get out of the lucrative contract it handed him in 2015. That move is in no way indicative of his ability, though. Odrick is still a versatile lineman who can excel against both the run and pass in a number of different positions up front. Some team is going to get a steal with a cheap, veteran player who can start right away.

Nick Mangold

Mangold's 11-year run with the Jets ended following a disappointing season in which he missed six games due to injury. The 33-year-old is presumably nearing retirement territory, and he's no longer a perennial Pro Bowl talent - but he doesn't have to be. In a league that's so short on passable offensive-line play, an intelligent leader in the middle still has immense value. Mangold should find work before the season starts, upgrading an offensive line at a pivotal position.