Top NFL Free Agents 2024

Josh Allen is one of the elite edge rushers in the NFL. He isn’t 27 yet, so he should play at the top of his game for the duration of his next contract.

Chris Jones is one of the top defensive players in all of football. He’s capable of dominating a game on his own. He turns 30 this offseason, but he should be able to play on an extremely high level for the next couple of years.

It’s hard to believe Brian Burns is still only 26. He’s one of the most explosive edge rushers in the NFL.

Jaylon Johnson was one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL last year, and he’s only 25, so there’s still room for growth. The only downside is that he seems to get injured often.

L’Jarius Sneed is a No. 1 lockdown cornerback. Only 27, he should be able to perform on an extremely high level throughout the duration of his next contract.

Danielle Hunter is an elite pass rusher. He turns 30 soon, but he’s still performing on a very high level.

Michael Pittman Jr. is a receptions machine. He’s only 26, so he’ll continue to improve.

Antoine Winfield is one of the top safeties in the NFL. At just 26, he could continue to improve.

Greg Zuerlein is entering his late 30s, but he still has a powerful leg. He was 35-of-38 last year, including 5-of-6 from 50-plus.

Thomas Morstead was 10th in punting average and at the top of punts placed in the 20-yard line.

Ka’imi Fairbairn was nearly flawless last year, hitting 27-of-28 tries, including 5-of-6 from 50-plus.

Justin Simmons has been one of the better safeties in the NFL over the past several seasons. He’s coming off a bit of a down year, but still should be able to perform on a high level for the next season or two.

Saquon Barkley is one of the most talented running backs in the NFL, but he has a checkered injury history.

Tee Higgins has been one of the best No. 2 receivers in the NFL. He can be a No. 1 on many teams.

Justin Madubuike is a bright, young star on Baltimore’s defensive line. He applies tons of pressure on the quarterback and handles the run fine. He’s only 26, so he’ll continue to improve.

Kirk Cousins was having a terrific year before suffering a season-ending injury. He turns 36 this summer, but he should be able to play at a high level for two or three more years.

Connor Williams is a very talented center who is still just 27, but he had trouble staying healthy last year.

Kevin Dotson was the Rams’ top offensive lineman last year, pass protecting well and blasting open huge running lanes for Kyren Williams.

Mike Evans is an electric play-making receiver who produced mega numbers with Baker Mayfield. The only downside is his age.

A former undrafted free agent, Tyrel Dodson came out of nowhere to have a terrific season in both coverage and run support.

Patrick Queen has made great leaps in play in his four years as a pro. He still misses some tackles, but is terrific in coverage.

Xavier McKinney was one of the better safeties in the NFL last year, but he has a long history of injuries.

Calvin Ridley was inconsistent last year, but he had some dominant performances. At 29, he still has a few great years remaining in the tank.

Chidobe Awuzie has been a great cover corner for the Bengals, though he’s coming off a bit of a down year.

Andrew Van Ginkel did everything for the Dolphins last year, from placing lots of pressure on the quarterback, to stopping the run, to covering very well.

Washington’s secondary was a disaster in 2023, but Kendall Fuller was the only bright spot at cornerback.

Chase McLaughlin was an excellent 29-of-31 last year, which included 7-of-8 from 50-plus.

D’Vondre Campbell was one of the top off-ball linebackers in the NFL for a few seasons, but regressed last year due to injury. Now 31, Campbell could continue to decline.

Arik Armstead is a versatile defensive lineman who places tons of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. He recently turned 30, but hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down.

David Bakhtiari is an amazing left tackle when healthy, but he has a checkered injury history.

The Packers releasing Aaron Jones doesn’t make much sense, as they were so much more potent offensively with him last year.

Chase Young is a very effective pass rusher, but not the dominant player he was early in his career.

Jonathan Greenard has made great strides as a former third-round pick. He recorded 12.5 sacks last year and held up well versus the run.

Tyler Biadasz has made great strides as a former fourth-round pick. He played on a high level last year and is only 26.

Christian Wilkins just had his best season yet, recording nine sacks.

Lloyd Cushenberry has made great advancements in his game since he was a third-round pick several years ago.

The Seahawks traded for Leonard Williams, but didn’t get much out of it. Williams is a well-rounded, talented defensive tackle, but he turns 30 this offseason.

Grover Stewart was sorely missed when he was suspended last year. He’s a monstrous run stuffer who is not inept at getting to the quarterback.

Josey Jewell is a terrific run defender who covers well.

DeShon Elliott wasn’t as good in coverage last year as he usually is, but he was a force in run support.

D.J. Reader is a monstrous run stuffer who can apply some pressure on the quarterback. He turns 30 this offseason, however.

Darnell Savage struggled heading into 2023, but had a tremendous season, finally living up to his athletic ability.

Andre James has done a great job of developing as a former undrafted free agent.

Josh Jacobs wasn’t as great last year as he was in 2022, but he’s still a terrific three-down back who is only 26.

Alohi Gilman was one of the most improved defensive players in the NFL last year. He went from being an average backup to an excellent starter in the Chargers secondary.

It’s hard to believe that Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is only 26. Gardner-Johnson is excellent in coverage and can play numerous positions in the secondary, but he has a poor injury history.

Lavonte David somehow continued to play on a very high level last year despite being in his mid-30s. He has to decline at some point, but there haven’t been any signs of it.

Tony Pollard was an electric play-maker prior to 2023. He struggled last year, but was coming off a broken leg and may not have been 100 percent.

Tyron Smith would have a much higher rating if he wasn’t such a huge injury risk.

Kevin Zeitler has been an outstanding pass-protecting guard for a long time, but he turns 34 this offseason.

Derrick Henry is not the elite runner he once was, but he is still capable of being a powerful runner for a team.

Austin Ekeler struggled mightily last year, but likely because he suffered an injury following his brilliant season-opening performance against Miami. Ekeler could bounce back in 2024, but his age is becoming a concern.

Kenny Moore has been an excellent slot cornerback for a while, but he will be 30 soon.

Wil Lutz went 30-of-34 last year, including 3-of-5 from 50-plus.

Braden Mann had one of the highest net punting averages in the NFL last year, but didn’t do a good job of pinning the opposition inside the 20.

Cameron Johnston was one of the league leaders in punting average last year, but was mediocre at pinning the opposition inside the 20.

Tommy Townsend ranked in the middle of the pack in net punting last year.

Jordan Poyer is in his mid-30s, but he’s still a very capable safety. He could regress soon, but we saw no evidence of that last year.

Tre’Davious White is an incredibly talented cornerback, but injuries have ravaged his career. In the past couple of seasons, he’s had a torn ACL and a torn Achilles. It feels like the Bills are selling low by cutting him, but White may never be the same player again.

Mike Williams is a dynamic receiving threat when healthy. Unfortunately, he’s always injured, and things have only gotten worse recently. Williams is coming off a torn ACL and will turn 30 in October, so we may never see the Williams of old ever again.

D.J. Humphries is a talented blocker, but is coming off a down year. He could rebound, but he’s also a big injury risk.

Jordan Whitehead is a well-rounded safety who is coming off a bit of a down year. At 27, however, he could easily rebound.

Frankie Luvu has emerged as a well-rounded linebacker the past two years in Carolina.

The Dolphins sorely missed Jerome Baker’s excellent coverage ability late in the season.

D.J. Wonnum is a young defender with plenty of upside as an edge rusher.

Dorance Armstrong hasn’t been an every-down player, but he’s been terrific at rushing the passer. He’s still young, so he could see a larger role soon.

Devin White was solid in coverage last year, but was a bit of a liability in run defense.

Mike Danna has been able to make great strides as a former fifth-round pick. He can place good pressure on opposing quarterbacks, though he tends to get pushed around in run support.

Jonah Jackson is a solid, but unspectacular guard. At 27, he could improve in the coming years.

Geno Stone misses some tackles, but is terrific in coverage. He’s only 25, so he should continue to improve.

Kamren Curl was drafted in the seventh round a few years ago, but has become a talented, well-rounded starting safety in the NFL.

Mike Onwenu played both guard and tackle this past season, performing best at right tackle.

Sean Murphy-Bunting was missed in Tampa Bay last year as a capable slot cornerback.

Marquise Brown has been productive when playing with viable quarterbacks. He’s not quite a No. 1 receiver, but he’s close.

Aaron Brewer improved in his second year as a starter. He’s only 25, so there’s a lot of upside.

Adoree Jackson has been a talented cornerback for many years, but he’s coming off a down season.

Jonah Williams is a talented left tackle who was out of place while playing on the right side last year.

Julian Blackmon just had his best year in coverage this past season.

Jordan Fuller has done a solid job since being drafted in the sixth round, especially when it comes to run support.

Robert Hunt was an effective guard when he played last year, but he missed most of the second half of the year with an injury.

For the second consecutive year, the Browns missed Anthony Walker’s great play late in the season due to injuries. Walker is very talented, but has trouble staying healthy.

Sione Takitaki has been solid as a well-rounded, three-down linebacker for the Browns.

Jadeveon Clowney has had some serious down years, but he exploded in 2023 with a tremendous campaign. He was lethal as a pass rusher despite struggling in that regard in the past.

Kyle Dugger is coming off a bit of a down year, but he’s usually a solid, well-rounded safety.

Trenton Brown is a superb tackle when healthy, but he’s a massive player with an extensive injury history.

Calais Campbell is not the same player he once was, but he was still a very effective player for the Falcons last year.

Jordan Hicks had a renaissance in Minnesota after struggling in Arizona, but he’s about to enter his mid-30s.

Za’Darius Smith placed tons of pressure on opposing quarterbacks this past season, but will be turning 32 as soon as the 2024 campaign begins.

Stephon Gilmore is no longer the elite, shutdown cornerback he once was, but he still played at a high level this past season.

There was some thought that Dalton Schultz was just a product of Dallas’ system, but he had a strong year in Houston.

DaQuan Jones played only half the season, but he was a force as a pass rusher and run stuffer when active.

Leonard Floyd has registered at least nine sacks in each of the past four seasons.

Graham Glasgow’s pass protection isn’t very good, but he’s a run-blocking force who can play both guard and center.

Tashaun Gipson was excellent in both coverage and run support last year, but he turns 34 this offseason.

Greg Van Roten was a career journeyman before joining the Raiders. He was stellar last year, but turns 34 this offseason.

Fletcher Cox is no longer one of the top defensive tackles in the NFL, but he’s still an effective player despite his age.

Devin Singletary was one of the surprises of 2023. He struggled in Buffalo, but really found a home in Houston as a big upgrade over Dameon Pierce.

Baker Mayfield did as well as anyone could have expected last year under Dave Canales, though he took way too many bad sacks.

Nick Folk hit 29-of-30 field goals last year, including 5-of-6 from 50-plus.

Greg Joseph was 24-of-30 last year. He was 4-of-7 from 50-plus.

Michael Burton is a stout blocker, especially when it comes to the run.

Jakob Johnnson is a terrific blocker, especially in pass protection.

Rigoberto Sanchez finished 12th in net punting last year.

Brandon McManus had a down year. He went 30-of-37, as he was just 5-of-10 from 50-plus.

Corey Bojorquez was rankedin the middle of net punting last year, but did a good job of pinning the opposition inside the 20.

Nick Allegretti did a great job of filling in for Joe Thuney during the Chiefs’ Super Bowl run.

Xavien Howard was once known as one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL, but he’s coming off two down years, including a dreadful 2023. He’s now 31, so his best days are almost certainly behind him.

Shaq Barrett isn’t nearly the dominant pass-rushing force he was for the Buccaneers a few years ago, but he can still apply pressure on the quarterback. At 31, however, he’s on the decline.

Charles Leno has been a solid left tackle for a long time. He’s entering his mid-30s, so regression is coming soon, but he should have a quality season or two remaining.

The Jaguars were woeful versus the pass last year, so it’s a bit odd that they would release their top cornerback. Williams, however, turns 31 soon, so he could regress in the near future.

Quandre Diggs had been an excellent safety for many years, but his play declined last year. There’s a chance Diggs could rebound, but he’s also 31, so this regression might be permanent.

Mitch Morse is not a great center by any means, but he’s been a quality starter for many years. He’s now 32, but centers can play well into their mid-30s.

D’Andre Swift is an electric running back, but has some obvious durability issues.

A.J. Epenesa played about half the snaps each week, but was able to produce solid pressure on the quarterback. He’s only 25 and has plenty of upside.

Myles Bryant performed well out of the slot for the Patriots last year.

Bryce Huff was not an every-down player last year, but he made a big impact as a pass rusher.

Damien Lewis had a strong start to his career, but he’s coming off a bit of a down season.

The Jaguars traded for Ezra Cleveland, thinking he’d provide an upgrade at linebacker, but he didn’t meet expectations.

Keisean Nixon is a decent slot cornerback and a dynamic kick returner.

Noah Brown had some massive performances this past season, but spent lots of time dealing with injuries.

Drue Tranquill is a well-rounded linebacker who is especially solid in coverage.

Emmanuel Moseley is a quality slot cornerback, but he barely played last year due to injuries.

Hunter Henry was quiet early in 2023, but picked up the pace with Bailey Zappe at quarterback. He can still be a solid intermediate weapon, but he’ll turn 30 soon.

Gabriel Davis is a feast-or-famine deep threat receiver. He’s only 25, so he could continue to develop his game.

Antonio Hamilton began 2023 as a backup, but emerged as Arizona’s top cornerback, though that’s not saying much.

Denico Autry has been an excellent pass rusher in recent years, but he turns 34 over the summer.

Azeez Al-Shaair became a full-time starter for the first time in his career, and he played relatively well for Tennessee.

Jermaine Eluemunor was a career backup before joining the Raiders, but he’s been a solid, well-rounded starter with the Raiders.

Nicholas Morrow was an excellent run defender last year, but had some issues in coverage.

Shelby Harris did well as both a pass rusher and a run defender last year, though age is becoming a concern.

Sheldon Rankins has a dubious injury history, but he’s a quality pass rusher when he’s 100 percent.

Steven Nelson rebounded from a down year with the Eagles to two solid seasons in Houston. His age is becoming a concern, however.

Micah Hyde isn’t quite the same, dominant safety he once was, but he’s still a quality starter.

While Denzel Perryman tends to get lost in coverage, he is excellent at defending the run.

Jacoby Brissett played well in Cleveland in 2022, yet rotted on the bench behind Sam Howell last year. Brissett thrived in brief moments when given the chance.

Zack Moss was a surprise performer last year with some dominating performances when Jonathan Taylor was hurt.

Bobby Wagner is not nearly the same player he once was, especially in coverage, but he’s still a stellar run defender.

Brandon Graham is just a part-time player at this stage of his career, but he was able to contribute well as a pass rusher and a run stuffer last year.

Tyler Boyd has been a solid third receiver for the Bengals. He has proven that he can be a No. 2 elsewhere.

Joe Flacco, amazingly, still had plenty left in the tank and performed quite well in relief of Deshaun Watson. However, he turned 39 this offseason.

Curtis Samuel had a solid 2023 season with 62 receptions for 613 yards. He’s a nifty player who can be used in a variety of ways.

D.J. Chark is an explosive receiver with downfield ability, but has issues staying healthy.

Shaq Griffin has enjoyed his ups and downs throughout his career. He struggled in Houston for the most part, but had some strong performances last year.

Yetur Gross-Matos still has some potential as a former second-round pick, but he hasn’t lived up to it yet.

Brandon Jones did a solid job last year as a well-rounded safety.

A former third-round pick, Cody Barton showed decent coverage ability as a starting linebacker last year.

Antonio Gibson is a quality receiver out of the backfield, but provides very little as a runner.

Joey Slye was 19-of-24 last year, hitting 3-of-5 tries from 50-plus.

Kendrick Bourne was New England’s No. 1 receiver until he tore his ACL. It’s unlikely that Bourne will be 100 percent until 2025.

Ezekiel Elliott played well in favor of an injured Rhamondre Stevenson. He’s an effective receiver out of the backfield.

Josh Uche showed great pass-rushing ability in 2022, but was not nearly as much of a factor this past season.

Anfernee Jennings is a strong run defender, but is abysmal in coverage.

Michael Davis had a solid 2022 campaign, but his level of play dropped off last year.

Gerald Everett gave the Chargers mediocre production last year, but at 30, there’s a good chance that his starting days are numbered.

Kenneth Murray has been a colossal bust as a former first-round pick, but perhaps he can be a late bloomer.

Tyrod Taylor has proven to be a solid backup quarterback, though age is becoming a concern.

Isaiah Simmons was a big disappointment for the Cardinals, but he performed well in Wink Martindale’s system with the Giants.

Ryan Tannehill turns 36 in the summer, but he can still be a reliable game manager for a talented team.

Chris Hubbard did a solid job as the starting right tackle in Tennessee last year after being a swing tackle for several seasons

Jeff Okudah has lots of talent as the former No. 3 pick, but he was benched late last year after a strong start.

Cordarrelle Patterson saw too many touches on offense, but he’s still an electric kickoff returner.

Bud Dupree is a quality pass rusher, but he may lose his effectiveness as he ventures into his 30s.

Yannick Ngakoue is coming off a dreadful season, but perhaps he’ll be able to rebound.

Justin Jones just had his best year as a pass rusher, but still wasn’t all that good.

D’Onta Foreman has been a journeyman backup throughout his career, but he has run well when given the opportunity.

Marcedes Lewis is 40, but he’s still an elite blocking tight end.

Darnell Mooney has shown the ability to make some game-breaking plays in the past, but those flashes have been very inconsistent.

Carl Lawson used to be a dynamic edge rusher, but his play has fallen off in recent years.

Connor McGovern has plenty of experience as a starting center, but is coming off the worst season of his career.

Marcus Davenport was a solid performer for the Saints, but didn’t do much in Minnesota last year.

Dalton Risner is a solid pass protector, but struggles to open up running lanes.

Joshua Dobbs did a solid job as a backup last year, though he had one too many turnovers in a couple of games.

David Quessenberry is a solid run blocker with plenty of experience.

K.J. Osborn has some potential as a young receiver, but he tends to make a lot of mistakes.

Bilal Nichols is a stout run defender, but doesn’t offer anything as a pass rusher.

John Jenkins is a monstrous run stuffer, but doesn’t add anything as a pass rusher.

Andrus Peat has plenty of experience and can play guard and tackle, but he’s as below average as it gets.

Jameis Winston is the ultimate dice roll at quarterback. He has great potential, but can also throw 30 interceptions.

James Hurst has seen a decline in play recently, but he’s still a passable starting guard.

A former third-round pick, Isaac Yiadom was a journeyman but played well as a starting cornerback in the second half of last year.

Gardner Minshew once again proved himself to be a stellar backup quarterback. He had some meltdown games with turnovers, but handled himself mostly well.

Tyquan Lewis is a quality rotational edge rusher.

It’s hard to believe that Noah Fant is only 26 because it seems as though he’s been around forever. He’s a talented, young tight end who wasn’t used enough by the Seahawks.

Jordyn Brooks is a former first-round pick, but hasn’t quite lived up to his potential.

Evan Brown has proven himself to be a capable center, but should probably be a great backup somewhere.

Carson Wentz spent lots of time watching film with Jon Gruden while out of the NFL. He performed well in his one start, albeit against backups in the season finale.

Demarcus Robinson came out of nowhere to become a reliable third receiver for the Rams. It’s unclear if he can keep this up outside of Sean McVay’s system, however.

Ahkello Witherspoon has had a very inconsistent career with some great seasons and some very down years.

John Johnson has seen a steady decline in effectiveness throughout his career, but he’s still a passable starting safety.

Levi Wallace has gotten worse since his early days in Buffalo, but he can still be a serviceable starting cornerback.

Kwon Alexander would be rated a bit higher if he didn’t have such an extensive injury history.

Mason Rudolph handled himself well after he replaced Mitchell Trubisky late in the year.

Zach Cunningham holds up well in run support, but tends to struggle in coverage.

It’s a shame that injuries have sapped Shaq Leonard of his athletic ability because he was once one of the top linebackers in the NFL.

Maurice Hurst was just a part-time player last year because of the deep rotation, but he did a great job of pressuring the quarterback when given the chance.

Harrison Bryant is an athletic tight end with some upside.

Jayron Kearse has played well in the past, but struggled in coverage this past season.

Jon Runyan is a passable starting offensive lineman who run blocks well, but needs to improve in pass protection.

George Fant had a decent year as a pass protector at right tackle, but the Texans could stand to upgrade him.

Taylor Rapp took a backup role with the Bills after being a solid starter for the Rams. He should be able to find a better job this offseason.

Donovan Smith has been on a sharp decline in recent years. He struggled in Kansas City this past season.

Willie Gay is sound in run support, but struggles in pass coverage.

Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who can play both tackle and guard, would be ranked higher if he didn’t have such a dubious injury history.

Josh Reynolds is an inconsistent deep threat receiver, but had some quality performances in the playoffs when he stepped up for some injured players.

Javon Kinlaw is coming off his best season with 3.5 sacks, but he still hasn’t performed up to his first-round expectations.

Jon Feliciano played well as a backup last year. He’s capable of playing guard and center.

Odell Beckham Jr. showed flashes of his play-making ability at times last year, but looked like he was cooked overall.

Gus Edwards is a tough, but unspectacular runner who has gotten lots of action recently because of J.K. Dobbins’ poor durability.

Tyler Huntley has filled in well for Lamar Jackson over the years.

Ronald Darby is a good player when healthy, but has severe problems staying on the field.

J.K. Dobbins is a talented runner, but he’s been injured so often over the years that it’s impossible to rely on him.

John Simpson was Baltimore’s starting guard in 2023, but he was as pedestrian as it gets as a starter.

Cody Whitehair is coming off the worst season of his career, but has plenty of experience and isn’t old enough to be in complete decline.

Mason Cole did a horrendous job in pass protection this past season. He was better in prior years.

A favorite of Arthur Smith’s, Jonnu Smith was relatively productive for the Falcons this past season.

Logan Thomas can be a solid intermediate weapon when healthy, but he’s been injured way too often.

Kevin Byard was once one of the top safeties in the NFL. He has regressed now that he’s in his 30s, but he can still play at a decent level.

Marcus Maye was once a star with the Jets, but he has struggled ever since leaving New York. He was a liability for the Saints in 2023. There’s a chance he could rebound next year.

Russell Wilson was abysmal in Denver, only playing well when down double digits. He may not even be worth two stars.

Jamal Adams tends to make big plays sometimes, but he can also be a big liability in coverage, making him an overrated player.

Will Dissly isn’t much of a receiver, but he’s been an excellent blocker for the Seahawks.

Eric Kendricks was once one of the top linebackers in the NFL. He has regressed in recent years, but rebounded well with the Chargers in 2023.

Rayshawn Jenkins signed a big contract with the Jaguars after playing well for the Chargers. He has mostly been a flop. He’s now 30, so time is running out for him to rebound.

Avonte Maddox is a fine slot cornerback when healthy, but he has dealt with numerous injuries lately.

Michael Thomas has enjoyed a great career, but it seemed to be coming to an end as a result of injuries sapping his athleticism.

Patrick Peterson was forced into switching to safety late in the year. That may have to be a permanent move, based on how he performed last year.

Bradley Bozeman has seen his pass-blocking ability decline in recent years, but he’s young enough to bounce back to the level of play he maintained in Baltimore.

Hunter Renfrow was once a solid slot option for Derek Carr. His production fell off a cliff in 2023, but was in a very crowded receiving corps.

Leighton Vander Esch is a great talent, but he has severe neck problems and can’t be counted on to remain on the field.

Cameron Sutton had some struggles in 2023, but was released because a warrant for his arrest for alleed domestic battery by strangulation was issued.