1 Free Agent Still on the Market Who Can Help Each NFL Team in 2024

While most of the big-name free agents have already signed this offseason, there are still plenty of quality players who are looking for a new home. Also, there are still plenty of holes to fill on just about every NFL roster so opportunities are still out there for unsigned veterans to make an impact with a new club.

Here, we'll go division by division and play matchmaker, pairing one free agent who could fill a need for each team in the league. In certain situations, that could mean adding a starter while others would be a good depth piece or veteran presence for a younger roster.

Dallas Cowboys: OT Mekhi Becton

The Cowboys were up against the cap to begin free agency which is a big reason why long-time starting left tackle Tyron Smith didn't return and inked a deal with the Jets, and why Jerry Jones has been quiet during free agency.

Right now, Tyler Smith is projected to make the switch from left guard to left tackle but signing Becton could keep the All-Pro at his best position. Even if Dallas wants to leave Smith on the edge, the former Jet has experience playing right tackle after making a couple of starts there last season and dating back to his college days at Louisville.

New York Giants: S Justin Simmons

With Xavier McKinney now in Green Bay, New York could use a safety. While they did sign Jalen Mills already this offseason, Mills was more of the strong safety/slot corner type of defensive back last year in New England.

Simmons could take on the deep or free safety role for the Giants and he's still a quality player having been a second-team All-Pro and/or Pro Bowler in each of the last five seasons.

Philadelphia Eagles: CB Stephon Gilmore

As if the Cowboys-Eagles rivalry doesn't have enough drama already! Beyond sticking it to their division rivals, cornerback was a weak spot for the Eagles last year as Darius Slay battled injuries and James Bradberry showed signs of regression.

While signing Gilmore won't make the position group any younger, he'd give Philadelphia another veteran option to turn to in case Slay struggles to stay healthy again or Bradberry doesn't return to his 2022 form. Also, the team covets ball skills at the position and the 33-year-old logged two interceptions and 13 passes defended last season.

Washington Commanders: WR Tyler Boyd

The Commanders have been very busy during the offseason as they signed several free agents, the majority of which were done to help build up the supporting cast for a rookie quarterback.

While the front office did agree to a one-year, $1.125 million deal with slot receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, that small of a contract shouldn't prevent them from going after a better player in Boyd. The former Bengal has had over 600 receiving yards in seven out of eight career seasons and would be a reliable target for a young passer to lean on.

Chicago Bears: QB Ryan Tannehill

A center was considered here but the Bears traded for Ryan Bates last month and they tried to sign him as a restricted free agent in 2022 until Buffalo matched Chicago's offer. Clearly, Ryan Poles is a big believer in Bates and trusts that the former Bill can protect Caleb Williams, who might as well already be on the team.

So, instead of getting someone to block for Williams, Poles could add a veteran mentor for the incoming rookie. Tannehill could serve as the Bears' backup quarterback as that role is currently occupied by second-year pro Tyson Bagent.

Detroit Lions: LB Zach Cunningham

While Alex Anzalone had a good season in 2023, the Lions could use another option to line up alongside Anzalone. Derrick Barnes' play was up and down for the majority of last year and Jack Campbell had a pedestrian rookie campaign.

Adding Cunningham would give them another veteran option to compete for a starting spot during training camp, and Pro Football Focus is only projecting him to receive a one-year, $2.75 million contract. So, it's worth the shot to bring him in and at least add some depth to the position group.

Green Bay Packers: OL Andrus Peat

Green Bay could use some depth on the offensive line after losing Jon Runyan and David Bakhtiari this offseason. While they're expected to prioritize the trenches in the draft, adding Peat would give them a veteran backup who has experience playing both guard and tackle to protect Jordan Love in case a starter goes down.

Minnesota Vikings: G Laken Tomlinson

After acquiring an additional first-round pick last month, the Vikings are widely expected to trade up for a quarterback in the draft. While they have a solid offensive line already, Blake Brandel is currently penciled in as the team's starting left guard.

The 2020 sixth-round pick only has five career starts, making him a risky player to rely on when it comes to protecting the future of the franchise. Meanwhile, Tomlinson has 138 career starts at left guard and would be one of the best veteran options Minnesota can turn to at this stage in the game.

Atlanta Falcons: CB Steven Nelson

After signing Kirk Cousins and adding a couple of weapons in Darnell Mooney and Rondale Moore, the Falcons have had a strong free agency already and are in good shape to be a playoff contender next season. However, they could use some help defensively and should add another starting option at cornerback to play on the other side of A.J. Terrell.

Last year's fourth-round pick Clark Phillips is currently slated to be the team's other outside corner, but Phillips was more of a nickel prospect coming out of Utah. Adding Nelson would give Atlanta a veteran option to play on the other side of Terrell, and it helps that the 31-year-old earned a 73.1 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus in 2023.

Carolina Panthers: WR Odell Beckham Jr.

The Panthers have done a good job of adding players to the roster to give Bryce Young more support, but they should continue bringing on as many veteran pass catchers as possible. Worst case, Beckham becomes their fourth option behind Diontae Johnson, Adam Theilen and Jonathan Mingo while giving the young quarterback another veteran brain to pick.

New Orleans Saints: LT Donovan Smith

After struggling to begin last season, the Saints benched Trevor Penning and started Andrus Peat at left tackle about seven weeks into the campaign. Peat is now a free agent and the 2022 first-round pick is currently penciled in as Derek Carr's blind side protector.

While Smith struggled a year ago, he'd at least give New Orleans a veteran option to turn to if Penning doesn't show signs of improvement during training camp.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: LB Zach Cunningham

While Tampa Bay was able to re-sign Lavonte David, the team lost its other starting linebacker Devin White to Philadelphia. The hope is that K.J. Britt continues to ascend and show promise, Britt is still fairly unproven and it couldn't hurt to have a veteran backer to turn to if he isn't ready for the full-time starting role.

Cunningham could be a good insurance policy and David only signed a one-year deal at 34 years old, so bringing in the former Eagle and Titan could give the Bucs a long-term option at linebacker as well.

Arizona Cardinals: EDGE Yannick Ngakoue

While Ngakoue has never been a good run defender and wouldn't necessarily be a starter in Arizona, the team's defense could use some pass-rush help which is his specialty. The veteran edge defender had a career-low four sacks last season but is only two years removed from a 9.5-sack campaign and could be a good mentor for B.J. Ojulari.

Los Angeles Rams: S Micah Hyde

Jordan Fuller signed with the Panthers this offseason and Fuller was the Rams' primary free safety in 2023. While Russ Yeast has shown promise and is expected to step into a bigger role this fall, it couldn't hurt to bring in a veteran to at least compete for the starting job. So, signing in a two-time second-team All-Pro like Hyde would be a smart move.

San Francisco 49ers: CB Stephon Gilmore

San Francisco entered the offseason needing an upgrade at the defense's second starting cornerback spot. However, the front office was handcuffed by a lack of cap space. Now that it's several weeks into free agency and Gilmore is still available, he might be willing to take a cheaper deal to play for a Super Bowl contender like the 49ers.

Seattle Seahawks: IOL Connor Williams

This will depend on how Williams' medicals check out as that's likely the biggest reason why he hasn't found a new home. But if the team doctors sign off, the Seahawks lost all three starting interior offensive linemen this offseason, and the former Dolphin has experience playing both guard spots and center making this a good pairing.

Buffalo Bills: WR Michael Gallup

After the Stefon Diggs trade, the Bills could use some help at wide receiver. While Gallup won't replace what Diggs brought to the offense, Buffalo needs to equip Josh Allen with as many weapons as possible to help replicate the four-time Pro Bowler's production.

Signing the former Cowboy gives the team another veteran who can at least compete for a starting spot.

Miami Dolphins: G Greg Van Roten

With Robert Hunt now in Carolina, Miami could use a new starting right guard. Robert Jones is currently slated for that spot but has limited experience heading into his fourth season.

Meanwhile, Van Roten is coming off of a career year where he earned a 77.4 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus which is significant seeing as that's Tua Tagovailoa's blind side.

New England Patriots: OT Mekhi Becton

If the Patriots are being honest with themselves, the team is at least a couple of years away from competing for a playoff spot. New England is in the beginning stages of a rebuild so adding a 25-year-old left tackle who has plenty of traits to become a long-term solution wouldn't be a bad idea.

Granted, Becton's health is a concern but he's worth taking a chance on at this stage in the game, especially if he signs a cheap "prove-it" type of deal.

New York Jets: S Tashaun Gipson Sr.

The Jets have done a pretty good job of restocking their roster to help make a Super Bowl run while 40-year-old Aaron Rodgers is still in town. However, the defense could use some depth at safety seeing as they only have three on the roster.

Gipson is one of the best veteran options available and Robert Saleh should be able to get some intel on the former 49er by reaching out to his previous co-workers.

Baltimore Ravens: S Justin Simmons

With Ar'Darius Washington moving to more of a nickel corner role and Geno Stone signing with the Bengals, the Ravens only have two safeties on the roster and need depth there at the very least. Simmons can provide that and gives the team a starting option who has 30 interceptions and 64 passes defended in his career.

Cincinnati Bengals: WR D.J. Chark Jr.

To be honest, the Bengals have a pretty good roster where there isn't much room for an outsider to come in and start right away. So, adding Chark would be a move to see if he can potentially replace Tee Higgins next season. The 2019 Pro Bowler isn't the same player he used to be, but he is coming off back-to-back 500-yard campaigns.

Cleveland Browns: LB Shaquille Leonard

While Cleveland signed Jordan Hicks and Devin Bush to address its need at linebacker during free agency, it couldn't hurt to add one more veteran who can compete for snaps in training camp.

Leonard has battled injuries and said he's contemplating retirement, but a situation where he's either a rotational player or two-down defender while ring chasing could be a good fit.

Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Tyler Boyd

The Steelers got a good return from the Panthers in the Diontae Johnson trade, but Pittsburgh did create a need for itself at wide receiver. Boyd is from the area, is a Pitt alum and has eight years of experience playing in the division. Plus, he would immediately be the team's second-best receiver behind George Pickens.

Houston Texans: LB Kwon Alexander

The Texans have gone after it this offseason by signing and trading for a bunch of veteran players. There isn't much room for someone to come in and have an immediate starting spot, but the defense could use another option at linebacker. Alexander played for DeMeco Ryans in San Francisco, so they could reunite in Houston.

Indianapolis Colts: RB Ezekiel Elliott

After losing Zack Moss in free agency, Indianapolis could use a backup running back behind Jonathan Taylor. Elliott isn't the player he used to be, but he did log 642 rushing yards while playing second-fiddle to Rhamondre Stevenson in New England last year.

Jacksonville Jaguars: CB Adoree' Jackson

While the Jaguars have already made a couple of additions to their secondary this offseason by bringing in Ronald Darby and Darnell Savage, they could still use another cornerback and one who has the versatility to cover the slot. Antonio Johnson is currently slated for that role but last year's fifth-round pick is rather inexperienced after only getting 171 snaps as a rookie.

Jackson has struggled to stay healthy over the last few years, but he has inside-outside versatility and would bring experience to Jacksonville's rather young defensive backfield.

Tennessee Titans: OT Donovan Smith

The Titans have been surprisingly active in free agency this spring as they clearly think the team is ready to make a run with second-year quarterback Will Levis. However, the offense is currently relying on two young tackles to protect Levis in Nicholas Petit-Frere and Dillon Radunz, or Peter Skoronski if the plan is to move Skoronski to the edge.

While Smith is coming off of a down year, he'd at least give Tennessee a veteran insurance policy to protect the future of the franchise in case one of those young tackles struggles early on.

Denver Broncos: CB Ahkello Witherspoon

While the Broncos have an excellent No. 1 corner in Patrick Surtain II, they could use an upgrade on the other side of Surtain. Currently slated as the team's other starting corner is Damarri Mathis, who allowed a 135.9 passer rating when targeted and earned a 36.7 coverage grade last season, according to Pro Football Focus.

Meanwhile, PFF is projecting Witherspoon to receive just a one-year, $3 million contract after he posted figures of 76.7 and 61.6 in the same metrics during the 2023 campaign.

Kansas City Chiefs: IOL Nick Gates

While the defending back-to-back Champions have a strong starting interior offensive line, they lost Nick Allegretti to the Commanders and Allegretti proved to be a valuable piece of their Super Bowl run while filling in for Joe Thuney. That leaves Kansas City with just one backup guard.

Coincidentally, Gates played in Washington last fall and while he didn't last long there, the five-year pro could be a good second-string option seeing as he has experience playing four out of five spots along the line. Also, that gives the club an option to replace Trey Smith, who is entering a contract year, next offseason if Smith walks.

Las Vegas Raiders: G Dalton Risner

The Raiders needed a starting guard before releasing D.J. Fluker on Friday, so that need intensifies now that Fluker is no longer in the building and Jordan Meredith is currently penciled in as a first-stringer. Meredith only has one start in two seasons so Las Vegas would be wise to bring in another veteran.

Risner is probably the team's best option at this stage in the game as he has five years of starting experience. The only problem is he's exclusively played right guard so either he or Dylan Parham will have to switch sides of the center, but at least this gives the Silver and Black another quality player in the trenches.

Los Angeles Chargers: WR Hunter Renfrow

After moving on from Keenan Allen and Mike Williams this offseason, not only do the Chargers need a go-to wide receiver but they also could use some depth with just four wideouts on the roster. The hope is that Quentin Johnston and Joshua Palmer step up and take command on the outside, but the team could use someone in the slot.

Derius Davis is currently slated to fill that role and while the 2023 fourth-round pick was a good returner last year, he only had 15 catches for 66 yards. Adding Renfrow would help fill out the depth chart and give Justin Herbert a more experienced pass-catcher to target on third downs.