NFL Free Agency 2024: Previewing This Year's Class

The 2023 NFL regular season has ended. While 14 teams are still competing for a shot at Super Bowl LVIII, the others have already moved on to the 2024 offseason.

Fans who enjoy the pre-draft process will have plenty to absorb in the coming months, with all-star games like the Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine on the not-too-distant horizon. However, free agency, which begins officially on March 13, will mark the start of player movement.

And we're likely to see a lot of player movement this year. With the salary cap expected to exceed $240 million, according to NFL Media's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport, and a strong free-agent class available, there's going to be a whirlwind of activity.

Here, you'll find an initial position-by-position breakdown of the biggest names scheduled to hit the market in 2024. Players are listed by last name in alphabetical order.

Notable Players

Jacoby Brissett, Washington Commanders

Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings

Joshua Dobbs, Minnesota Vikings

Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns

Tyler Huntley, Baltimore Ravens

Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Gardner Minshew, Indianapolis Colts

Ryan Tannehill, Jacksonville Jaguars

Tyrod Taylor, New York Giants

Jameis Winston, New Orleans Saints

Over the past couple of seasons, we've seen just how important having a reliable backup quarterback is.

The Indianapolis Colts nearly made the playoffs with backup signal-caller Gardner Minshew. The Cleveland Browns did make the postseason with street free agent Joe Flacco under center. Both should be among the top backup/bridge options in 2024, assuming the soon-to-be soon-to-be 39-year-old Flacco keeps playing.

Jacoby Brissett, Tyrod Taylor and Jameis Winston are among impending free agents in the "quality backup" category. Tyler Huntley made the Pro Bowl as the Baltimore Ravens' backup in 2022.

Kirk Cousins tops the list of potential 2024 starters, and he's almost certain to lead the market in free-agent quarterback contracts. He is coming back from a torn Achilles but should be ready for the start of next season.

Ryan Tannehill has loads of experience, but he may be a short-term option at best at this point.

Then, there's Baker Mayfield. An afterthought of the 2023 offseason, the 2018 first overall pick revitalized his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this season. He threw for 4,044 yards and 28 touchdowns, posted a 94.6 passer rating, battled through injuries to start all 17 games and led Tampa to a division title—and a better record than it had under Tom Brady the previous year.

At 28 years old, Mayfield can still be viewed as a long-term option, though it would be a mild shock if the Buccaneers don't keep him.

Notable Players

Saquon Barkley, New York Giants

Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens

Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs

Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers

D'Onta Foreman, Chicago Bears

Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans

Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders

Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys

Devin Singletary, Houston Texans

D'Andre Swift, Philadelphia Eagles

We've seen teams shy away from big free-agent running back contracts, and Miles Sanders' 2023 deal serves as an example of why.

The Carolina Panthers inked the Pro Bowler to a four-year, $25.4 million deal. He struggled without the Philadelphia Eagles' powerful offensive line, fell out of the starting role and finished with only 432 rushing yards and a 3.3 yards-per-carry average.

Still, teams looking for a starting-caliber back will have options.

Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and Tony Pollard were all 2022 Pro Bowlers who played under the franchise tag this past season. Gus Edwards, Devin Singletary and D'Andre Swift were all surprisingly effective starters, while Austin Ekeler remains one of the league's best dual-threats when healthy.

There's a good amount of depth at the running back position in this year's class, and players such as D'Onta Foreman and Clyde Edwards-Helaire should have little trouble finding work.

The running back market may be a tad more robust than it was last offseason because of the makeup of the 2024 draft class. Few high-end prospects are expected to be available, and only four running backs were ranked inside the top 100 prospects on the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's latest big board.

We should see plenty of movement at the position, even if running back contracts continue to underwhelm.

Notable Players

Odell Beckham Jr., Baltimore Ravens

Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals

Marquise Brown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Gabe Davis, Buffalo Bills

Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears

Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts

Calvin Ridley, Jacksonville Jaguars

Curtis Samuel, Washington Commanders

This year's free-agent receiver class is simply fantastic.

Mike Evans continues to perform on a Hall-of-Fame pace and remains a No. 1-caliber receiver. Tee Higgins has shown glimpses of being a true No. 1 in limited opportunities in the role for the Cincinnati Bengals.

The 24-year-old experienced an injury-hampered campaign this season but might be the most coveted receiver in the offseason—if the Bengals don't find a way to retain him.

"I expect Tee to be back. I think that's the sentiment in the locker room. We all want Tee back," Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow told reporters.

Michael Pittman Jr. emerged as a No. 1 -caliber receiver with Indianapolis this season, and Calvin Ridley showed glimpses of that ability in his first campaign with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Several strong complementary options, like Odell Beckham Jr. and Marquise Brown, are also expected to be available. We may see many second- and third-tier receivers remain unsigned well into the offseason too because of the upcoming draft class.

The B/R Scouting Department ranked a whopping 15 wideouts among its top 100 prospects, which showcases the amount of talent and depth expected to be available in April. Six receivers were ranked inside the top 32 prospects, meaning we may well see first-round talent slip into Day 2.

This could deliver a lot of bargain receiver deals in the later waves of free agency. In other words, it's a great offseason for teams to be in the receiver market.

Notable Players

Harrison Bryant, Cleveland Browns

Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Chargers

Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks

Mike Gesicki, New England Patriots

Hunter Henry, New England Patriots

Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans

Irv Smith Jr., Cincinnati Bengals

Adam Trautman, Denver Broncos

Robert Tonyan, Chicago Bears

Brock Wright, Detroit Lions

Tight end is shaping up to be one of the weaker position groups in 2024 free agency.

Hunter Henry might be the top option after his late-season surge with the New England Patriots. He finished the year with a knee injury, but in two starts with Bailey Zappe under center, he tallied 10 receptions, 106 yards and three touchdowns.

If Henry doesn't lead the market, Dalton Schultz probably will. In his first season with the Houston Texans, he proved that his previous production wasn't a product of the Dallas Cowboys offense. He was a tremendous safety blanket for rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, finishing with 59 catches, 635 yards and five touchdowns.

Gerald Everett and Noah Fant were serviceable starters for the Los Angeles Chargers and Seattle Seahawks, respectively, but neither carries true high-end potential.

Outside of a few players, the 2024 class is largely comprised of backups, complementary options and blocking tight ends.

Unfortunately, the 2024 draft class isn't as loaded at the position as last year's. Georgia's Brock Bowers, Ohio State's Cade Stover and Texas' Ja'Tavion Sanders are the only tight ends ranked inside the top 100 by the B/R Scouting Department. This means that teams eyeing Schultz or Henry may have to pay a premium on the open market.

Notable Players

Mekhi Becton, New York Jets

Trent Brown, New England Patriots

Kevin Dotson, Los Angeles Rams

Robert Hunt, Miami Dolphins

Andre James, Las Vegas Raiders

Mike Onwenu, New England Patriots

Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys

Connor Williams, Miami Dolphins

Kevin Zeitler, Baltimore Ravens

Jonah Williams, Cincinnati Bengals

This year's offensive-line class is far less impressive than last year.

Dallas' Tyron Smith is the top option at left tackle, which is telling. He has an extensive recent injury history and turned 33 years old in December.

That said, the USC product can still play at a Pro Bowl level when healthy. He simply doesn't project as a long-term option for a rebuilding team, which limits his market.

The list of proven starting-caliber left tackles pretty much begins and ends with Smith. Mekhi Becton of the New York Jets is an intriguing former first-round pick, but his career has been injury-impacted, and he's never panned out as a blindside blocker. Trent Brown is a quality swing tackle, though not exactly a high-end option.

The right tackle is a bit deeper, with players such as Mike Onwenu, Jermaine Eluemunor and Jonah Williams serving as starting-caliber options. Williams may lead the group because of his age (26) and status as a former first-round pick, but it's worth noting that he was still inconsistent after his 2023 move to the right side.

Williams was responsible for five penalties and eight sacks allowed, according to Pro Football Focus.

Andre James has developed into a reliable center for the Las Vegas Raiders, and guards like Connor Williams, Robert Hunt, Kevin Zeitler, Dalton Risner and Ezra Cleveland should all garner heavy interest in the early waves of free agency.

The only 2023 Pro Bowler slated to be available is Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce. If the 36-year-old returns for another season, it seems unlikely he'll play for a different team.

Notable Players

Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia Eagles

Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs

DaQuan Jones, Buffalo Bills

Justin Madubuike, Baltimore Ravens

Sheldon Rankins, Houston Texans

D.J. Reader, Cincinnati Bengals

Grover Stewart, Indianapolis Colts

Teair Tart, Houston Texans

Christian Wilkins, Miami Dolphins

Leonard Williams, Seattle Seahawks

Things are much more impressive on the defensive side of the line. Some of the best impending free agents at any position play along the defensive front.

Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones is the biggest name among the group. He's coming off his fifth straight Pro Bowl campaign, can play on the interior or the edge and won't turn 30 until July.

However, Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins might represent a better long-term investment. He can also play tackle or end, can get after the quarterback (9 sacks, 30 pressures in 2023) and is one of the best young (28) run defenders in the league.

Justin Madubuike is coming off a breakout 12-sack campaign and might be an even hotter commodity than Jones and Wilkins, and there's a terrific amount of talent behind the top tier.

Leonard Williams is another headliner, but it will be a surprise if he reaches the market. The Seattle Seahawks traded a 2024 second-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick to acquire him from the New York Jets, and he was almost certainly not viewed as a short-term addition.

This may be one of the more expensive position groups in 2024 free agency, given the rising cost of the position. Defensive tackles Quinnen Williams and Daron Payne both signed new deals worth more than $22 million annually last offseason.

Notable Players

Josh Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars

Brian Burns, Carolina Panthers

Jadeveon Clowney, Baltimore Ravens

Leonard Floyd, Buffalo Bills

Jonathan Greenard, Houston Texans

Bryce Huff, New York Jets

Danielle Hunter, Minnesota Vikings

Za'Darius Smith, Cleveland Browns

Josh Uche, New England Patriots

Chase Young, San Francisco 49ers

While the value of elite interior defenders has risen, edge-rushers are also still in heavy demand. The good news for teams without an elite sack artist on the roster is that there are several enticing options slated to be available.

Danielle Hunter and Josh Allen are both coming off of Pro Bowl campaigns and are likely to top the market. Allen should draw a bit more attention from rebuilding teams, as he's three years younger than Hunter, but both will be in heavy demand.

Brian Burns is a bit of a wild card, as his production hasn't always matched his ability. He had eight sacks and 21 pressures in 2023—which is good, not elite, production—but he had 12.5 sacks the previous season and dew a ton of interest at that year's trade deadline.

"The Rams offered two first-round draft picks and a second-round pick to the Panthers for standout pass-rusher Brian Burns, only for Carolina to decline the offer, sources told ESPN," ESPN's Adam Schefter wrote in November of 2022.

It will be interesting to see just how highly teams value Burns now.

It will also be interesting to see how teams value Jadeveon Clowney. The soon-to-be 31-year-old had a terrific year with the Ravens (9.5 sacks, 23 pressures), but sustained production has never been his strong suit.

The Jets' Bryce Huff is coming off his first 10-sack campaign and his hitting exactly the right time for a substantial payday. Houston's Jonathan Greenard (12.5 sacks) is in a very similar position.

Teams may not have to overpay to bolster their pass-rushers, though. There's depth at this position too, with strong complementary pass-rushers like Za'Darius Smith, Leonard Floyd, Josh Uche and Denico Autry scheduled to be available.

Notable Players

Azeez Al-Shaair, Tennessee Titans

Jordyn Brooks, Seattle Seahawks

Blake Cashman, Houston Texans

Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Josey Jewell, Denver Broncos

Frankie Luvu, Carolina Pantheers

Patrick Queen, Baltimore Ravens

Andrew Van Ginkel, Miami Dolphins

Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks

Devin White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

While off-ball and utility linebackers aren't quite as coveted as their pass-rushing brethren, the best ones still carry a heft price point.

Last offseason, for example, the Ravens extended trade acquisition Roquan Smith on a five-year, $100 million contract. We might not see a linebacker command quite that much in free agency, but high-level starters like Baltimore's Patrick Queen will be heavily compensated.

Queen had a career campaign in his contract year, finishing with 133 tackles, 84 solo stops, six passes defended and 3.5 sacks. Like Smith before him, Queen may well receive an extension before free agency begins.

"We want Patrick Queen on this team; we want to keep him on this team," Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta told The Ravens Lounge podcast last May (h/t Ryan Mink of the team's official website).

Though on the older side, Lavonte David—who will turn 34 this month—remains a fantastic do-it-all linebacker. Buccaneers teammate Devin White is a similar player, though he'll only turn 26 in February.

Bobby Wagner may be 33, but he just wrapped another Pro Bowl campaign, his first after a one-year absence from Seattle.

Azeez Al-Shaair, Jordyn Brooks and Andrew Van Ginkel are among this year's quality second-tier linebackers, and this is another deep position overall—even if it doesn't feature the number of elite options that some other defensive positions do.

Notable Players

Chidobe Awuzie, Cincinnati Bengals

Kendall Fuller, Washington Commanders

Stephon Gilmore, Dallas Cowboys

C.J. Henderson, Carolina Panthers

Adoree' Jackson, New York Giants

Jaylon Johnson, Chicago Bears

Kenny Moore II, Indianapolis Colts

Steven Nelson, Houston Texans

L'Jarius Sneed, Kansas City Chiefs

Rock Ya-Sin, Baltimore Ravens

This could be a market-shifting year for the cornerback position, for a couple of reasons.

For one, there are some young top-tier corners scheduled to be available. Chicago Bears corner Jaylon Johnson, for example, is coming off a Pro Bowl campaign and a career year.

The 24-year-old finished with 10 passes defended and four interceptions while allowing an opposing passer rating of only 50.9 in coverage. He's going to cash in this offseason, though he may not be available to other teams. He's confident he'll land an extension in Chicago.

"I think we get a deal done," Johnson told 670 The Score's Parkins & Spiegel Show. "I expect to get a deal done."

Chiefs cornerback L'Jarius Sneed is also likely to get a top-of-the-market deal. He'll turn 27 this month and allowed an opposing passer rating of just 56.2 in coverage this season.

Stephon Gilmore will be 34 in September, but he's a proven starter and a five-time Pro Bowler.

The other thing to consider here is that the 2024 draft isn't expected to feature a ton of top-tier cornerback talent. Ohio State's Denzel Burke and Alabama's Kool-Aid McKinstry are the only corners ranked inside the top 32 prospects by the Bleacher Report Scouting Department.

Teams in need of reliable cornerback aid may have to pay in free agency. This means starting-caliber talents like Kendall Fuller, Adoree' Jackson, Kenny Moore II and Rock Ya-Sin will be handsomely paid, even if they don't play a role in resetting the contract bar.

Notable Players:

Julian Blackmon, Indianapolis Colts

Kyle Dugger, New England Patriots

Jordan Fuller, Los Angeles Rams

C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Detroit Lions

Micah Hyde, Buffalo Bills

Kamren Kurl, Washington Commanders

Xavier McKinney, New York Giants

Geno Stone, Baltimore Ravens

Jordan Whitehead, New York Jets

Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This year's crop of safeties isn't quite as impressive as the cornerback group, but there are some tremendous talents here.

Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. will likely top the list. He was one of the most surprising Pro Bowl snubs of 2023, and his teammates know it.

"I've seen a lot of guys get snubbed, but that was probably the biggest one during my time in the league," Mike Evans said, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.

Winfield, who is only 25, finished the regular season with 122 tackles, 76 solo stops, 17 passes defended, six forced fumbles, three interceptions and four fumble recoveries. He's one of the league's top do-it-all defenders, and it won't be a shock to see him set a new benchmark for safety contracts this March.

While Winfield, arguably, is the top free-agent prize, several other starting-caliber safeties will be available. New England's Kyle Dugger is a rising star, Micah Hyde is a proven vet, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson is as versatile as they come—though he missed the bulk of the regular season with a torn pectoral.

Teams in need of safety help will have options, and from front to back, this is one of the most impressive free-agent defensive classes we've seen in recent years.

*Contract and market information via Spotrac. Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference unless otherwise noted.