Top 2024 NFL Free Agents

Michael Ginnitti
Michael Ginnitti, Managing Editor & NFL/MLB ExpertMarch 05, 2024
© USA TODAY Sports

With the tag window now shut closed, we have a clearer picture of players who could very well be hitting the open market when the league year officially begins on March 13th. Barring a few last minute extensions, Spotrac has identified a few notable players at each position group, including projected contracts for each.

RELATED: NFL Free Agent Tracker

QUARTERBACK

Kirk Cousins

Projected Contract: 3 years, $100M ($70M guaranteed)
Will the Vikings pony up an offer with enough guaranteed to keep Cousins in the fold, or will Denver, Atlanta, etc…get a shot to upgrade their QB1 position.

Baker Mayfield

Projected Contract: 4 years, $120M ($85M guaranteed)
Will the Bucs pony up an offer with enough guaranteed to keep Baker in the fold, or will Denver, Atlanta, etc…get a shot to upgrade their QB1 position.

Ryan Tannehill

Projected Contract: 1 year, $5M ($5M guaranteed)
Will joining a franchise with a better complement of weapons and offensive line help resurrect Tannehill’s career? It seems feasible that someone will give him a chance to compete for a QB1 role this summer.

Also: Gardner Minshew, Jacoby Brissett, Tyrod Taylor, Joshua Dobbs, Sam Darnold, Carson Wentz, Joe Flacco

View all UFA Quarterbacks

RUNNING BACK

Saquon Barkley

Projected Contract: 3 years, $30M ($12M guaranteed)
Barkley and the Giants appear headed for a divorce, meaning he’ll join a loaded RB market in free agency. Supply & Demand is not on his side here.

Josh Jacobs

Projected Contract: 3 years, $30M ($12M guaranteed)
Jacobs couldn’t recreate 2022, but he showed signs down the stretch that he can still be a versatile playmaker. A return to Las Vegas still seems likely here.

Derrick Henry

Projected Contract: 1 year, $7.5M
He’s north of 30, but still carried a depleted Tennessee offense in 2023. A return to the Titans isn’t out of the question, but contenders (Baltimore, Miami, Houston) could be a better fit next season.

Also: Tony Pollard, Austin Ekeler, D'Andre Swift, Gus Edwards, Devin Singletary, Ezekiel Elliott, Zack Moss, Antonio Gibson, Alexander Mattison, JK Dobbins

View all UFA Running Backs

WIDE RECEIVER

Calvin Ridley

Projected Contract: 3 years, $66M ($42M guaranteed)
A trade condition keeps Jacksonville from extending Ridley before free agency, but that doesn’t mean they’ll let him get too far immediately thereafter. Other teams may need to come swinging with massive numbers to pry him away from the Jags.

Marquise Brown

Projected Contract: 4 years, $60M ($32M guaranteed)
Browns’ production fell to a career low in 2023, making his first trek into free agency a bit of an unknown. The ceiling still seems high enough for a team or two to take a 2-year guarantee swing.

Gabriel Davis

Projected Contract: 4 years, $54M ($28M guaranteed)
Davis never really found his footing in Buffalo’s offense. Will he be this year’s version of Christian Kirk in free agency?

Also: Darnell Mooney, Tyler Boyd, Curtis Samuel, Odell Beckham, Jr., Noah Brown, Josh Reynolds, Kendrick Bourne, K.J. Osborn, DJ Chark

View all UFA Wide Receivers

TIGHT END

Hunter Henry

Projected Contract: 2 years, $15M ($8M guaranteed)
Henry was able to stand out in a diminished Patriots offense the past few seasons. At 29, there should still be a few productive seasons left in the tank.

Noah Fant

Projected Contract: 2 years, $12.5M ($6.5M guaranteed)
It feels like Fant’s ceiling as an offensive weapon has yet to be reached. Now he gets an opportunity to pick his offense.

Jonnu Smith

Projected Contract: 2 years, $12M ($6M guaranteed)
Was Smith overpaid in New England/Atlanta? Yes. But that shouldn’t diminish his ability to produce on a consistent basis.

Also: Gerald Everett, Colby Parkinson, Logan Thomas, Will Dissly, Mike Gesicki, Hayden Hurst

View all UFA Tight Ends

OFFENSIVE TACKLE

Tyron Smith

Projected Contract: 1 year, $7.5M
The longtime Cowboy appears poised to test the market for the first time. He’s 33, and has battled injury of late, but players like this simply don’t become available often.

Jonah Williams

Projected Contract: 4 years, $44M ($25M guaranteed)
Williams was pushed from the left side to the right side upon the signing of Orlando Brown Jr. away from Kansas City. He fared well in the new role and offers a pedigree (and potential ceiling) that doesn’t usually hit the open market.

Trenton Brown

Projected Contract: 3 years, $22M ($14M guaranteed)
Like Smith & Williams above, Brown has experience at both Left & Right tackle. Versatility always pays in this league.

Also: Charles Leno, Jermaine Eluemunor, Donovan Smith, Josh Jones, George Fant, Cameron Fleming

View all UFA Tackles

GUARD

Kevin Dotson

Projected Contract: 4 year, $66M ($40M guaranteed)
The Steelers loss quickly became the Rams gain, as Dotson poured out his best season to date by a long shot in 2023. The 4th round pick will hit the open market as arguably the best available guard

Robert Hunt

Projected Contract: 4 year, $48M ($30M guaranteed)
The converted tackle made his mark at Right Guard in Miami’s versatile offense, putting the former #39 overall pick in line for his first big pay day this March.

Mike Onwenu

Projected Contract: 4 years, $54M ($38M guaranteed)
If the Patriots plan is to drop a rookie QB into their offense, keeping players like this should be a top priority. This could be one of those “wow” free agent contracts if he’s allowed to get there.

Also: Ezra Cleveland, Kevin Zeitler, Damien Lewis, Dalton Risner, Jonah Jackson, John Simpson

View all UFA Guards

CENTER

Lloyd Cushenberry

Projected Contract: 4 years, $33M ($24M guaranteed)
Posted a breakout season in his walk year: Always a great recipe for free agency success. He’s a phenomenal pass blocker, making him a candidate to be aligned with a rookie QB1 in 2024.

Andre James

Projected Contract: 3 years, $27M ($20M guaranteed)
James anchored an Raiders O-Line that came together nicely over the past few seasons. If he’s allowed to walk, the final contract may surprise some.

Connor Williams

Projected Contract: 1 year, $7.5M
He probably signs the largest center free agent contract this spring if not for a torn ACL last season.

Also: Aaron Brewer, Brian Allen, Tyler Biadasz, Nick Gates, Evan Brown

View all UFA Centers

INTERIOR DEFENDER

Chris Jones

Projected Contract: 3 years, $85M ($60M guaranteed)
Jones was looking for $30M per year this time last offseason. An unsuccessful holdout & a great 2023 campaign and a $33M+ franchise tag value keeps that hope alive this time around. One of the best interior DLs of this generation should have no trouble securing his asking price on the open market, but we’ll predict a slightly less figure to return to KC (again). 

Christian Wilkins

Projected Contract: 4 years, $82M ($60M guaranteed)
When factoring in age, Wilkins is probably the most attractive defensive player on many big boards this March. His numbers don’t jump off of the page (tempering his market valuation), but a deal in the $24-$26M per year range shouldn’t surprise anyone.

D.J. Reader

Projected Contract: 3 years, $45M ($32M guaranteed)
Injuries (including one late in 2023) have been the only thing holding back Reader from cashing a top of the market contract. If he can return to full strength, he’ll hold plenty of value on his next team.

Also: Sheldon Rankins, DaQuan Jones, Grover Stewart, Teair Tart, Fletcher Cox, Javon Kinlaw

View all UFA Interior Defenders

EDGE DEFENDER

Danielle Hunter

Projected Contract: 3 years, $60M ($42M guaranteed)
Hunter’s deal won’t officially void until well after the franchise tag window, so barring an extension, an edge defender with 27 sacks, 150 tackles, and 5 forced fumbles over the past two seasons is about to hit the open market. 

Leonard Williams

Projected Contract: 3 years, $60M ($42M guaranteed)
Williams hasn’t been able to recreate an elite 2020 campaign that scored him a $63M extension in March of 2021, but he’s still considered one of the best interior defensive linemen in the game. Seattle gave out a 2nd & 5th round pick this past deadline to secure him, so a healthy multi-year offer should be on the table sooner rather than later. 

Jonathan Greenard

Projected Contract: 4 years, $54M ($38M guaranteed)
A huge part of the Texans’ defensive turnaround (52 tackles, 12.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble), Greenard is set up nicely for a major payday this March. The former 3rd round pick should secure a multi-year guarantee on the open market.

Also: Bryce Huff, Chase Young, Jadeveon Clowney, Za'Darius Smith, Josh Uche, Leonard Floyd, Denico Autry

View all UFA Edge Defenders

LINEBACKER

Patrick Queen

Projected Contract: 4 years, $75M ($53M guaranteed)
Roquan Smith’s arrival was supposed to deflate Queen’s role and value both in Baltimore and potentially on the open market. Insert a career season for Queen in 2023, and a projected price tag ($18.5M per year) that almost certainly forces the Ravens to move on this offseason.

Frankie Luvu

Projected Contract: 4 years, $44M ($30M guaranteed)
If his coverage numbers were even slightly above average, we’d be talking about a deal near the top of the off-ball market here. That’s the kind of pass rush/run stuffing player Luvu has become in Carolina. 

Jordyn Brooks

Projected Contract: 4 years, $42M ($28M guaranteed)
2023 was about proving he could fully return from the Torn ACL. Will teams need to see more to guarantee him multiple years on a contract?

Also: Bobby Wagner, Lavonte David, Eric Kendricks, Devin White, Josey Jewell, Jordan Hicks, Willie Gay Jr.

View all UFA Linebackers

CORNERBACK

Kendall Fuller

Projected Contract: 4 years, $54M ($38M guaranteed)
Tags to Jaylon Johnson & La’Darius Sneed vault Fuller into the #1 free agent CB on the open market. Generally speaking, that honor has come with quite a price tag in the past.

Steven Nelson

Projected Contract: 2 years, $16M ($9M guaranteed)
Nelson was one of the reasons the Texans took a major stride in 2023. They want him back for a few more seasons, but he’ll need a raise to stick around.

Kenny Moore

Projected Contract: 3 years, $24M ($10M guaranteed)
The former UDFA has been seeking an upgraded contract in Indy for the better part of two seasons now, and certainly did his part to help the case in 2023 (93 tackles, 3 interceptions, 1.5 sacks). Unfortunately, the slot cornerback market has leveled off mightily since he last penned his $8.3M per year contract.

Also: Darious Williams,  Chidobe Awuzie, Stephon Gilmore, Adoree' Jackson, Keisean Nixon, Myles Bryant

View all UFA Cornerbacks

SAFETY

Kamren Curl

Projected Contract: 4 year, $57M ($30M guaranteed)
Curl has risen from the #216 overall pick back in 2020 to the best available safety not named Winfield in 2024. He’s a tackling machine, and has proven to be available & reliable for a Washington defense that hasn’t always been in the best of situations (to put it nicely).

Xavier McKinney

Projected Contract: 5 years, $52M ($30M guaranteed)
McKinney was a fringe tag candidate, setting himself up for a nice payday on the open market - likely with a new team.

Kevin Byard

Projected Contract: 2 years, $14M ($10M guaranteed)
A cap casualty out of Philly, Byard remains one of the best run-stuffing defensive backs in the game. Now north of 30, and with safeties having a tough go in free agency of late, look for this number to be a little lower than expected.

Also: Geno Stone, Julian Blackmon, Jordan Whitehead, Jordan Fuller, Darnell Savage, Micah Hyde

View all UFA Safeties


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