NFL · 1 year ago

Ranking the Top 30 Players in NFL Free Agency 2024

TJ Inman

Host · Writer

30. Derrick Henry - Tennessee Titans
The struggle for running backs is well-established. Derrick Henry is a star in the NFL, but what's the demand for a 30-year-old running back with many tough miles? He again led the NFL with 280 carries last season and finished eighth in the NFL in yards per rush after contact. Henry is durable and still productive, but the Titans think a slowdown is coming by letting him go. Teams will likely try to get King Henry on a one-year deal, while he will want a multi-year contract with guaranteed money.
1. Chris Jones - Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs have won another Super Bowl, but they are also undoubtedly attempting to figure out what to do with defensive tackle Chris Jones. Franchise tagging the dominant interior pass rusher would cost more than $33 million, a cost-prohibitive move for a team that needs to provide more offensive weapons for Patrick Mahomes to work with. As a result, one of the best defensive players in football could be on the open market.
2. Josh Allen - Jacksonville Jaguars
Pass rushers like Josh Allen do not often hit the market in the middle of their prime. Allen was excellent in 2023, with 90 quarterback pressures and 19 sacks. Pro Football Focus gives Allen a 91.4 pass-rush grade, one of the highest numbers in the NFL. The Jaguars will almost certainly hit Allen with a franchise tag to keep him in Jacksonville for another season.
3. Brian Burns - Carolina Panthers
Brian Burns is one of the few consistent standouts for the Carolina Panthers. He is not the edge defender that Josh Allen is, but Burns is an excellent player who continues to churn out quality seasons. Pro Football Focus gave him a grade of 80.8 in true-pass-rush situations and a pass-rush win rate of 11.6%. After years of losing with the Panthers, Burns will likely be looking to sign with a winning team.
4. Justin Madubuike - Baltimore Ravens
Perhaps no player has improved his market value this past season more than Baltimore defensive lineman Justin Madubuike. Last season saw him more than double his previous career high in sacks, and he registered at least a half sack in 13 of the Ravens' 17 regular season games. Do teams believe Madubuike's 2023 season was a fluke, or will they be willing to bet that he has turned a corner and is now a legitimate dominant lineman?
5. Kirk Cousins - Minnesota Vikings
What to do with Kirk Cousins? He is at the tail end of his career and is coming off of a torn Achilles injury that cost him the bulk of his 2023 season. However, Cousins was off to a great start last season and has the arm strength and accuracy to lead a successful offense. For a team with a strong roster looking for a starting-caliber quarterback, Cousins is the best option available.
6. Tee Higgins - Cincinnati Bengals
Tee Higgins will be 25 when the 2024 NFL season kicks off, and he’s coming off of an injury-riddled 2023 campaign. When healthy, Higgins is a terrific complement to Ja’Marr Chase, using his size to make big plays down the field and operating as a true red zone alpha. The Bengals have plenty of cap space to franchise tag Higgins, and they’d likely love to have him on a short-term deal, but a long-term contract seems unlikely, given Chase’s upcoming free agency. Higgins is the top wide receiver on the market.
7. Jaylon Johnson - Chicago Bears
The top defensive back on the free agency market is Jaylon Johnson of the Chicago Bears. He is only 24 years old and already one of the best corners in the league. He earned his first Pro Bowl designation and was a Second-Team All-Pro. Johnson told reporters his “heart’s definitely in Chicago; mind’s definitely on the money." If they cannot work out a long-term extension, the Bears could franchise tag him for more than $18 million.
8. Christian Wilkins - Miami Dolphins
Having dominant interior defensive linemen hit the market is a rarity, but there are potentially three of them this offseason. Christian Wilkins had a career year in 2023 with a career-high nine sacks and his usual stout run defense. Wilkins is 28 years old but looks as good as ever and has been healthy, so there are no concerns about things falling apart within the next few seasons. The Miami Dolphins would love to keep the former Clemson Tiger, but they are projected to be over the cap by nearly $50 million and will need to clear a lot of space to approach a long-term deal.
9. Antoine Winfield Jr. - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Antoine Winfield Jr. is unlikely to play anywhere besides Tampa Bay in 2024, but technically, he is an upcoming free agent. Tampa Bay has a ton of cap space, so they can sign the versatile cover safety to a long-term deal or franchise tag him. Winfield Jr. is only 25 years old, but he is already a leader and a guy the Bucs can play all over the back end. Tampa Bay does have other issues to figure out (at quarterback and Mike Evans), but Winfield Jr. is a top priority for the Bucs' defense.
10. Danielle Hunter - Minnesota Vikings
Reliable and consistent pass rushers are hard to find and rarely become available. When they do, teams pay a premium to obtain their services. Danielle Hunter is nearing 30 years old but was dominant again in 2023, reeling in 16.5 sacks and providing the same durability and positional flexibility the Vikings have expected from him. The former LSU Tiger has been linked with the Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars, while Minnesota is not likely to be a serious contender to retain Hunter.
11. L'Jarius Sneed - Kansas City Chiefs
L'Jarius Sneed paired with Trent McDuffie to make Kansas City’s secondaries one of the strongest in the NFL, and they were a big reason why the Chiefs won a second straight Super Bowl. Sneed allowed only 42 catches all season, with ten breakups and no touchdowns allowed while he was in primary coverage. Those are elite numbers, and the 27-year-old set himself up for a massive payday as a number one cornerback. With Kansas City also needing to lock up defensive tackle Chris Jones, Sneed could be tempted by a significant offer from a team like Indianapolis.

Kansas City Super Bowl Odds: +650
12. Mike Evans - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mike Evans is now 30, and his top-end ability could drop off very soon. Still, he is highly productive and one of the best red zone threats in the NFL. Evans tied a career-high with 13 touchdowns last season. He also had 1,225 yards and was a true number-one target for Mayfield’s resurgence as the Bucs made the playoffs as winners of the NFC South. Tampa Bay wants the big-bodied playmaker back on a new deal, but teams like Carolina or Chicago could offer him more money to help young quarterbacks in desperate need of a top wideout.

Tampa Bay Super Bowl Odds: +6600
13. Baker Mayfield - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Speaking of the Buccaneers, quarterback Baker Mayfield is next on the list. The former Cleveland Brown was given another chance to lead a team, and he did not disappoint, re-establishing himself as a starter in the NFL. Mayfield is not elite but is a top-half starter and showed true growth all season in Tampa Bay. He had career-highs in passing yards and touchdowns. The Buccaneers hired Liam Coen as their new offensive coordinator, a coordinator Mayfield is familiar with from the LA Rams. The expectation is the Bucs will not let Mayfield walk and will offer Baker a contract in the two to three-year range that allows them to bring back fellow free agents like Antoine Winfield Jr. and Mike Evans.

Tampa Bay Super Bowl Odds: +6600
14. Patrick Queen - Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens had the top defense in the NFL in 2023, and one of the big reasons was the play and leadership of interior linebacker Patrick Queen. The former LSU Tiger had 133 total tackles this past season and earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl. Baltimore declined to pick up his option last offseason, allowing him to hit free agency in 2024. With Roquan Smith on defense, Queen becomes slightly expendable if Baltimore feels good about their depth at the position. Still, the Ravens typically try to spend money to keep their own productive players instead of paying in free agency on players from other teams.

Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl Odds: +900
15. Josh Jacobs - Las Vegas Raiders
How do teams value an elite running back on the open market? It appears we are about to find out. Saquon Barkley might be a free agent, but Josh Jacobs could set the market. The Raiders have said they’d like to keep Jacobs long-term, but other teams might be interested. Jacobs is reliable, not injury-prone, and highly productive. He has had two seasons of 12 rushing touchdowns and has shown he can play on all three downs as a good pass catcher out of the backfield. Expecting a top-dollar or long-term deal would be foolish, but Jacobs is a difference-maker on the right team and could significantly impact a contender.

Las Vegas Raiders Super Bowl Odds: +8000
16. Michael Pittman - Indianapolis Colts
Michael Pittman is a curious case. He’s been reliable as one of the few pass-catching options for the Indianapolis Colts, and he has been forced to play for several middling quarterbacks during his stint for the Colts. However, he has played four seasons and has only 15 touchdowns, plus he has a career average of 10.9 yards per catch. Pittman does not have an explosive burst or separation ability. It would be fair to say that his position on this list is primarily because there are not great options elsewhere at wide receiver. Teams like the Arizona Cardinals could be tempted to spring for him in hopes that better quarterback play will help him elevate his production, or the Colts could franchise tag him to see how he does with what they hope is an entire season of Anthony Richardson at quarterback.

Indianapolis Colts 2024 Super Bowl Odds: +5000
17. Tyron Smith - Dallas Cowboys
What do you do with one of the game’s best left tackles if he is also an injury risk who will be 34 years old during the 2024 NFL season? Tyron Smith is a mountain of a man and continues to play at a very high level for the Dallas Cowboys, grading out as one of the league’s best tackles per Pro Football Focus. Smith has spent his entire career with the Cowboys, often on team-friendly deals. After 13 years in the league, there have been rumblings about retirement or about him wanting to maximize his earnings with one final contract. Dallas has no left tackle ready to take over for Smith if he exits. The best guess is that he’ll stay with Dallas on a short-term deal.

Dallas Cowboys 2024 Super Bowl Odds: +1600
18. Saquon Barkley - New York Giants
The NFL is not kind to running backs in free agency, especially ones with an injury history as checkered in recent memory as Saquon Barkley’s. Now 27 years old, Barkley is coming off of a disappointing 2023 campaign that saw him average only 3.9 yards per carry. He was in a high-volume offense for the New York Giants, and defenses were able to focus on eliminating Barkley, likely minimizing his potential success. If he could stay healthy, he’d probably be a key contributor to a more well-rounded offense. Could Barkley get nearly ten million dollars annually on a short-term deal from a team like the Chicago Bears or Los Angeles Chargers?

New York Giants 2024 Super Bowl Odds: +15000
19. Leonard Williams - Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks have a new head coach after longtime leader Pete Carroll was removed. Mike McDaniel is now in charge, and given his defensive background, it seems likely he’ll try to keep Leonard Williams around. No longer the interior pass rusher he once was, Williams is still dominant against the run, and he was acquired in October for a 2024 second-round pick. He’s nearing his 30th birthday, and this is probably the last large contract he can command. Still, Seattle knew that when they made the trade, meaning they are likely invested in keeping him as a Seahawk. Williams is a top-ten defensive tackle, and Seattle will probably pay him like one to keep him in town.

Seattle Seahawks 2024 Super Bowl Odds: +7500
20. Connor Williams - Miami Dolphins
Young interior linemen near the top of their position do not often hit free agency. Center Connor Williams is a rarity in a position that is difficult to value. Add in that he is coming off of a season-ending knee injury suffered in December, making his market very tough to gauge. According to Pro Football Focus, Williams is rated as the number two center in the NFL. He'll draw attention from the Miami Dolphins to keep him snapping the ball to Tua Tagovailoa, but the Dolphins have a lot of cap needs. Can they afford to pay a center as much as a team like the Chargers will be willing to?

Miami Dolphins 2024 Super Bowl Odds: +2100
21. Jonathan Greenard - Houston Texans
Jonathan Greenard is turning 28 but is coming off of his best season in the NFL. He set personal bests with 12.5 sacks and 22 quarterback hits and appears to be entering his prime. The issue for the 2020 draft pick has been durability. Greenard has played only 48 of 67 games during his four seasons in the NFL. If teams can look past the durability concerns, he’s a pass-rushing specialist with various ways to beat opposing left tackles and plays with a high motor.
22. Calvin Ridley - Jacksonville Jaguars
Calvin Ridley will turn 30 soon and has some baggage after serving a suspension for the 2022 season. The Jacksonville Jaguars took a chance on him, and he was reasonably productive last season, gaining 1,016 yards, 24th-best among wide receivers. Ideally, Ridley is a good No. 2 wideout for a contending team. He could command a contract in the 15-17 million dollar range thanks to his ability to stretch defenses vertically and draw pass interference penalties (league-high 129 yards in pass interference penalty yards last season).
23. Marquise Brown - Arizona Cardinals
Marquise Brown was traded to the Arizona Cardinals before the 2022 season to help Kyler Murray. The two were hardly on the field together, and Arizona mostly lost in his time there. Still, the former first-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft is just 27 years old, and it feels like he has untapped potential as a deep threat. However, his negatives are important. He has missed eight games over the past two seasons and is averaging only 11.6 yards per reception in the NFL. For a supposed deep weapon, that is extremely pedestrian. A team willing to gamble on his upside will likely go after him aggressively.
24. Chase Young - San Francisco 49ers
Let’s start with the positives: Chase Young is still only 25. He stayed healthy last season and played in 16 games, but still has top-end athletic traits and explosion. If that were all someone knew, Young would likely be a top-five free agent and in line for a massive deal. In reality, Young has been a disappointment. The San Francisco 49ers acquired him from the Washington Commanders at the trade deadline, and he finished the season with 7.5 sacks combined with subpar play against the run. He played in only 12 total games in 2021 and 2022 and has yet to fulfill the promise that had him drafted second overall in 2020. A one-year deal loaded with incentives is the likely outcome for the former Ohio State Buckeye.
25. Xavier McKinney - New York Giants
Xavier McKinney is only 25 years old and is already one of the better pass coverage free safeties in the NFL. McKinney has started 46 games in four seasons for the New York Giants and had 11 pass breakups last season. He has good range and instincts and has shown the versatility to match up with tight ends and play deep safety against wide receivers in man coverage. He showed excellent ball coverage with three interceptions last year as well. The Giants are shedding players and cap space, but keeping McKinney on a long-term deal should be a priority.
26. Justin Simmons - Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos needed cap room and chose veteran safety Justin Simmons as a player to cut to begin that process. On March 7, Simmons was released after three consecutive second-team All-Pro seasons. He has 23 interceptions since the start of the 2019 season, tied for first in the NFL. He is good against the run and among the best for his position against the pass. Simmons has been durable, but his age is a concern, and it will give teams pause if he looks for a longer-term deal.
27. Robert Hunt - Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins desperately need cap space and cannot afford to sign veteran offensive lineman Robert Hunt, although they’d probably love to keep him. The 28-year-old has valuable versatility and has shown to be a quality starter at both right guard and right tackle. Hunt only played in ten games last season but only allowed one quarterback hit in 376 pass-blocking opportunities.
28. Bryce Huff - New York Jets
Bryce Huff had done very little in his first three seasons, accumulating only 7.5 sacks and rarely providing much impact. During his contract season, he exploded for ten sacks and had 21 quarterback hits. So, teams must figure out who they think Huff is. He’s only 26, but can a team trust that his 2023 numbers were real?
29. Jonah Jackson - Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions could still re-sign veteran guard Jonah Jackson, but he’s a free agent right now. At 27, Jackson has started 57 games in his four seasons. He was a Pro-Bowler in 2021 and has routinely ranked as one of the better left guards in the league. Jackson will likely command a three to four-year deal for north of $50 million, and Detroit may focus on other needs as they push for a Super Bowl.
30. Derrick Henry - Tennessee Titans
The struggle for running backs is well-established. Derrick Henry is a star in the NFL, but what's the demand for a 30-year-old running back with many tough miles? He again led the NFL with 280 carries last season and finished eighth in the NFL in yards per rush after contact. Henry is durable and still productive, but the Titans think a slowdown is coming by letting him go. Teams will likely try to get King Henry on a one-year deal, while he will want a multi-year contract with guaranteed money.
1. Chris Jones - Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs have won another Super Bowl, but they are also undoubtedly attempting to figure out what to do with defensive tackle Chris Jones. Franchise tagging the dominant interior pass rusher would cost more than $33 million, a cost-prohibitive move for a team that needs to provide more offensive weapons for Patrick Mahomes to work with. As a result, one of the best defensive players in football could be on the open market.

Ranking the Top 30 Players in NFL Free Agency 2024

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