RADIO
The 2023-24 NFL season has just one game remaining, and 30 of the 32 NFL franchises are looking forward to next year. The NFL Draft is arguably the most exciting part of the offseason, but free agency comes first. While most teams build championship rosters through the draft, adding key free agents can also take teams over the top and help them compete for titles.
2024's free agent class looks strong on paper, but it's worth noting not all the players on this free agent rankings list will make it to the open market. Some players will receive contract extensions from their current organizations, and others will be hit with the franchise tag, keeping them on the roster for at least one more season.
For now, all of these mentioned players have expiring contracts and are set to be on the open market when free agency begins on March 13. Let's rank and analyze the top 15 free agents for the 2024 offseason below.
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Honorable Mentions
- Saquon Barkley, RB - New York Giants
- Josh Jacobs, RB - Las Vegas Raiders
- Kendall Fuller, CB - Washington Commanders
- Leonard Williams, DT - Seattle Seahawks
- Jonathan Greenard, EDGE - Houston Texans
- D.J. Reader, DT - Cincinnati Bengals
- Calvin Ridley, WR - Jacksonville Jaguars
- Baker Mayfield, QB - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
15. Marquise Brown, WR - Arizona Cardinals
Age: 26
2023 PPF Grade: 67.1
Team Fits: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots
Marquise Brown hasn't been quite the player many had hoped for when he was selected in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, but he's been productive. He posted 1,008 yards and six touchdowns in his final season with the run-heavy Baltimore Ravens (2021) and had another impressive season in 2022 with the Arizona Cardinals. "Hollywood" played in just 12 games that season due to a broken foot, but he was on pace for another 1,000 yards.
His 2023 season was also riddled with injuries (missed the final four games), and his quarterback was Joshua Dobbs for over half of the season. Although he's well below some of the other wide receiver free agents on this list, there are a ton of offenses that could benefit from above-average wide receiver play at a reasonable price. Spotrac projects Brown will fetch a $14.8 million salary, which puts him in the range of Courtland Sutton and Hunter Renfrow.
14. Christian Wilkins, DT - Miami Dolphins
Age: 28
2023 PPF Grade: 74.9
Team Fits: New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals
Christian Wilkins registered a 13% pass rush win rate this year, ranking 13th among interior defensive linemen. The Clemson product also registered a career-high nine sacks. He's been in the NFL for five seasons and has no Pro Bowls or All-Pros to his name, but he's been a well-above-average player in the middle of the Miami stop unit.
To add to his resume, he has missed just two games through his five years as a pro, so availability is not an issue.
13. Tyron Smith, OT - Dallas Cowboys
Age: 33
2023 PPF Grade: 83.8
Team Fits: New York Jets, Tennessee Titans
Tyron Smith has been one of the best offensive linemen of this generation, earning five All-Pro selections and being named to each of the last eight Pro Bowls. He's likely going to end up in the Pro Football Hall Of Fame, and he's scheduled to be a free agent in March.
Smith has not played in more than 13 games since 2015, and he missed 14 games in 2020 and 13 games in 2022. Durability issues come with age, but when he's healthy and active, he's still one of the best in the game. If the Cowboys can't or don't retain him, the Jets targeting him to protect Aaron Rodgers' blindside makes a ton of sense.
12. Danielle Hunter, EDGE - Minnesota Vikings
Age: 29
2023 PPF Grade: 78.0
Team Fits: Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Rams
Danielle Hunter posted 16.5 sacks for the 2023 Vikings, marking the fifth time in his career that he notched at least 10.5. He was the 14th-highest-paid edge rusher last season and ranked fifth in total sacks. Surely, the 29-year-old is ready for a payday, and if the organization wants to bring back Kirk Cousins and extend Justin Jefferson this offseason, Hunter is likely to be the odd man out.
Win-now teams all around the league are desperate for additional pass-rushing reinforcements, so despite Hunter's age, he should be a popular name ahead of 2024.
11. Mike Evans, WR - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age: 30
2023 PPF Grade: 81.5
Team Fits: Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens
With Baker Mayfield under center in 2023, Mike Evans had his best statistical season since 2018. The 30-year-old posted 79 receptions for 1,255 yards and 13 touchdowns (led the NFL). It marked his 10th consecutive season of at least 1,000 receiving yards to begin his career, an NFL record.
Ultimately, Evans has probably been underrated over the last three to four seasons, but he's still one of the best receivers in the game. That said, he's 30 years old, which is obviously something NFL teams are going to take into account. It won't be surprising if he lands back in Tampa Bay on a friendly deal, but he might be ready to see what else is out there and chase the most money possible. He should fetch at least a $20 million salary, as franchises built to win now will be more than interested.
10. Antoine Winfield Jr., SAF - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age: 25
2023 PPF Grade: 91.2
Team Fits: Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles
Antoine Winfield Jr. is one of the best do-it-all safeties in the NFL, leading the position in sacks (six) and assisted tackles (45) in 2023. He also posted the seventh-most tackles for loss (six) and sixth-most solo tackles (77). Whether Winfield hits the open market or not, expect him to challenge Derwin James for the highest salary at the position ($19 million) after being named a First-Team All-Pro in a contract year.
The value of safeties is often debated and disputed, but the elite ones still get their money.
9. L'Jarius Sneed, CB - Kansas City Chiefs
Age: 27
2023 PPF Grade: 71.1
Team Fits: Los Angeles Chargers, Indianapolis Colts
L'Jarius Sneed's running mate, Trent McDuffie, earned First-Team All-Pro Honors this year. However, Sneed is excellent in his own right. The 27-year-old did not allow a touchdown during the regular season and registered a 56.1% shadow rate (third among corners), which tells us he often follows the opposing team's best wideout.
Kansas City only has so much money to spend, so Sneed could very well be in a new city next year. Either way, he is due for a well-deserved payday after being compensated with just under $5 million (pre-tax) in his four seasons with the Chiefs. He won't turn 28 until next January, so he still likely has a few prime years left in the tank.
8. Jaylon Johnson, CB - Chicago Bears
Age: 24
2023 PPF Grade: 90.8
Team Fits: Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jaylon Johnson was rumored to be on the trade block right before the 2023 deadline, but no deal was struck, keeping him on the Chicago roster. He's the premier defensive back in the 2024 free agent class, and at just 24 years old, he should have a ton of great football ahead of him.
Among PlayerProfiler-qualified cornerbacks, the 2020 second-rounder ranked No. 1 in yards per reception allowed (7.6) and yards per target allowed (3.9) in 2023. He was the 11th-least targeted cornerback in the NFL and only gave up one touchdown all season. Johnson's rookie deal paid him just over $1.6 million per year, but Spotrac projects he could fetch a salary of $15.7 million this offseason. That would put him in the range of Darius Slay and Carlton Davis.
7. Tee Higgins, WR - Cincinnati Bengals
Age: 25
2023 PPF Grade: 72.1
Team Fits: Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers
Tee Higgins posted at least 908 yards in each of his first three NFL seasons, but injuries and regression struck in 2023. Among PlayerProfiler-qualified wideouts, Higgins ranked 50th in target rate (20.1%), 46th in target share (17.9%), 42nd in yards per route run (1.73), 36th in yards per target (8.6), and 50th in contested catch rate (40%). Not only were his raw stats down due to five missed games, but he was inefficient and had a dip in per-game stats.
However, Joe Burrow struggled for much of the season, and Higgins' down year did not erase all the things he did from 2020-2022. Ja'Marr Chase is the clear alpha in the Bengals' offense, so it'll be interesting to see if Cincinnati franchise tags him, extends him long-term, or lets him test the open market.
6. Michael Pittman Jr., WR - Indianapolis Colts
Age: 26
2023 PPF Grade: 77.7
Team Fits: Kansas City Chiefs, Carolina Panthers
Michael Pittman Jr. has had seven starting quarterbacks in just four seasons in Indianapolis. He got out of the gates slowly in 2020 with Philip Rivers, catching just 40 passes for 503 yards and one touchdown. He broke out with an 88-catch, 1082-yard, six-touchdown season in 2021 with Carson Wentz. Although he regressed in 2022 (925 yards, five touchdowns), he posted respectable numbers considering Matt Ryan, Sam Ehlinger, and Nick Foles were throwing him the ball. Like many others on this list, he saved his best season for his contract year.
In 2023 with Anthony Richardson and Gardner Minshew, Pittman ranked eighth in total receptions (109) and posted a career-high 1,152 yards. He operated out of the slot on 27.8% of his snaps, a career-high. Although Tee Higgins gets more hype than he does, Pittman is more versatile and has proven to produce regardless of his role and circumstances.
5. Justin Madubuike, DT - Baltimore Ravens
Age: 26
2023 PPF Grade: 75.1
Team Fits: Los Angeles Chargers, Las Vegas Raiders
Justin Madubuike led all interior defensive linemen in sacks this season with 13.5. When you finish ahead of Aaron Donald and Chris Jones in sacks, you should expect to be rewarded. The former third-round pick is likely to be franchise-tagged, according to Ravens insider Jamison Hensley, which would give him a 2024 salary of around $19 million.
However, it will leave Baltimore with little wiggle room in the cap space department, so it's a big development to follow this offseason. If he hits the open market, there will be no shortage of suitors for the dominant interior disruptor.
4. Brian Burns, Edge - Carolina Panthers
Age: 25
2023 PPF Grade: 74.1
Team Fits: Los Angeles Rams, Arizona Cardinals
Brian Burns, a 2019 first-round pick, has 48 sacks through his first 80 NFL games. He ranked 11th among edge rushers in pass rush win rate in 2023 and was double-teamed on 16% of his snaps. He's likely viewed as a tier behind Josh Allen, but edge rushers are premium assets in the modern NFL game.
The Rams reportedly offered two first-round picks and a second-round pick for Burns' services during last year's trade deadline, so they are a team to watch this offseason if he hits the open market. Burns' projected market value, as projected by Spotrac, sits at $21.7 million annually.
3. Josh Allen, Edge - Jacksonville Jaguars
Age: 26
2023 PPF Grade: 89.5
Team Fits: Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos
Josh Allen has been a solid player throughout his five-year career, racking up at least seven sacks in three of his first four seasons. He picked a great time to break out in a big way. Heading into free agency, Allen is coming off of a 17.5-sack season, which broke the Jaguars' franchise record.
Edge rushers have never been more important, so expect Allen to get a massive bag this offseason. Spotrac projects Allen to fetch a salary of $23.9 million, which would rank seventh among edge rushers and just ahead of Maxx Crosby.
2. Kirk Cousins, QB - Minnesota Vikings
Age: 35
2023 PPF Grade: 86.1
Team Fits: Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers
Kirk Cousins played in just eight games before suffering a torn Achilles, which was a shame since he was playing the best football of his career. The longtime franchise QB was on a 17-game pace for 4,954 passing yards, 38 touchdowns, and roughly 11 interceptions. He also led Minnesota to four wins over his last five games after an 0-3 start.
Although his major injury could affect his market value, his game has never been built on mobility, and quarterbacks have a better shot at playing until at least age 40 than ever before. It will be interesting to see if the Vikings want to bring him back. If not, he should have multiple suitors. Cousins has earned nearly $231.7 million so far with his NFL contracts, and he'll look to earn another payday this offseason.
1. Chris Jones, DT - Kansas City Chiefs
Age: 29
2023 PPF Grade: 84.1
Team Fits: Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks
In 2023, Chris Jones earned his second consecutive First-Team All-Pro honor after posting 10.5 sacks in 16 games. He tied Aaron Donald for the best pass rush win rate among interior defensive linemen (20%) despite being double-teamed on 72% of his rushes, compared to 63% for Donald.
At age 29, he's still in his prime, and since he already has two Super Bowl rings and is getting ready to play in another, he is likely ready to be paid handsomely. He played this season on a one-year, $19.5 million deal. His 2023 salary ranked eighth among interior defensive linemen. Kansas City will likely try to keep him around, but if another franchise offers the big bucks with a long-term deal, he might play elsewhere in 2024.
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