The top 101 NFL free agents for 2024 are led by Kirk Cousins and Chris Jones.
The NFL teams share with us their perspective on positional value by deciding who is eligible for free agency. It’s very difficult to find good offensive tackles and cornerbacks in the rankings below. Because wide receivers are becoming more and more valuable, Tee Higgins, who would have gone third overall, was taken off the board by the franchise tag before this list was released. Proven starting quarterbacks such as Kirk Cousins typically only become unrestricted free agents if their contract contained a clause prohibiting the tag.
However, there are an abundance of starting running backs, linebackers, and safeties who are not on the ball. The position of edge rusher is surprisingly deep, and it’s important to remember that the best free agent deals in recent years have come from
This list is a work in progress. A portion of the released players will be added, and players who have been tagged or re-signed will eventually be removed. However, this year is unique in that the top two players in my initial ranking might actually succeed in breaking through to the market.
All things considered, it’s a strong class with enough celebrity power to propel TV segments and strong depth among the top 140 players. (I am unable to locate a list of superior players that were left off of the original 101.) Although free agency is rarely a one-stop shop for team improvement, if you know where to look, it can be your best bet for adding depth and addressing problematic positions on the roster.
NOTE: The age listed for each player corresponds to his actual age.
Jones’ franchise tag would cost the Chiefs about $32 million, so it might be a long-term deal or nothing at all for Kansas City. He might actually switch teams; arguably the best defensive player of his generation in the playoffs.
The fact that the four-time Pro Bowler was playing his best football just before he tore his Achilles is very Kirk Cousins. There is never anything easy about him. It’s difficult to determine his price tag because of the serious injury he’s dealing with at this age, but there will be plenty of suitors.
Allen rose from being a very good pass rusher for the majority of his early career to great in 2023. The Jaguars will not allow their best player from the previous campaign to leave.
Wilkins is coming off a career-high 61 pressures and has the ability to play at a high level against the run. It’s likely that the Dolphins will find a way to retain him.
There’s a good reason why the Panthers supposedly declined the Rams’ multiple first-round selection offers for Burns in the 2022 campaign. It’s difficult to find top-15 edge rushers in their prime.
Although Steve Spagnuolo’s scheme is helpful, Sneed has been the most dominant Chiefs cornerback since Patrick Mahomes took over. Many teams are hoping he becomes available because of how well his physical style would translate.
After making progress in each of his first three seasons, Madubuike had a well-timed 2023 breakout, more than doubling his pressure total from the previous year (to 64 from 24). Most likely, a franchise tag will arrive.
In the absence of Winfield’s pivotal plays, the Bucs would not have advanced to the postseason. Earnest may be the greatest at a position that is too frequently disregarded in free agency, having authored one of the most dominant safety seasons in recent memory.
Hunter’s successful holdout from last summer resulted in a one-year contract worth up to $20 million, contingent on the team’s inability to tag him. He went on to accumulate 16.5 sacks, demonstrating once more his ability to outsmart any plan.
Evans is available at all times. Even though he still has more road ahead of him in his career, his ability to uncover at every level last season demonstrated that he’s still a great No. 1 option.
Although his ball skills occasionally keep him from having a greater impact, Johnson has developed into one of the more reliable cover corners in a league that doesn’t have many of them.
