NFL free agency rankings 2024: Top 10

Last week, we published my top 150 NFL free agents, complete with scouting reports and stats on every player.

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NFL free-agent rankings: Brian Burns, Saquon Barkley, Kirk Cousins lead the top 150

Below, we’ll look at the pool position by position, with tables of the top 10 players at each spot (overall ranking in parenthesis) and thoughts on each group. Some areas — like edge rusher and interior offensive line — feature a ton of depth this year, offering teams many options. Other positions, like offensive tackle? Good luck finding someone without question marks.

These rankings are shaped by a ton of film work and perspective from many years leading NFL personnel departments. They factor in age (as of Sept. 5, the scheduled date of the 2024 season opener) and injury history but not medical or character information, which teams know more about behind closed doors. You can read more about my criteria and how an NFL GM approaches free agency here.

Quarterbacks

Rk (ovr)PlayerTeamAge

1 (7)

Vikings

2 (20)

Buccaneers

3 (100)

49ers

4 (105)

Giants

5 (107)

Titans

6 (120)

Steelers

7 (123)

Commanders

8 (129)

Colts

9 (136)

Browns

10 (140)

Saints

Just like evaluating QBs in the draft, I would split this group into two categories: players who could be starters, and players with backup skills. The challenge is trying to sort through players who are surrounded by gray area, whether because of injury, underperformance or something else.

Can we trust Kirk Cousins at age 36 coming off a torn Achilles? Sam Darnold has shown potential in flashes — is there still something there? Are there others who could perform better in different circumstances, like Baker Mayfield did last year? Pick one out that you’re willing to bet on.

Running backs

Rk (ovr)PlayerTeamAge

1 (5)

Giants

2 (12)

Raiders

3 (48)

Ravens

4 (51)

Titans

5 (59)

Eagles

6 (70)

Chargers

7 (87)

Patriots

8 (104)

Cowboys

9 (108)

Texans

10 (115)

Chiefs

The two things I value most at this position are: 1) Can this guy be more productive than what our scheme (and the play call) is designed to achieve? And 2) does his style match the identity of our offense?

Saquon Barkley’s style could fit a lot of offenses, and as a three-down weapon, he should draw plenty of interest, especially from teams that are closer to contention than the Giants are. Derrick Henry’s style could make him a culture-changer for teams with offenses built around the run. The question is: Given supply and demand and the rapidly expiring shelf life for running backs, will Henry’s market be limited because of his age and workload (2,030 career carries)?

An interesting contrast to Henry is Gus Edwards, who is only one year younger but has about a third of the career carries (699). Known for his downhill power, Edwards also has surprisingly good agility and receiving ability. He might provide great value as a bargain somewhere.

Wide receivers

Rk (ovr)PlayerTeamAge

1 (23)

Jaguars

2 (29)

Bears

3 (32)

Colts

4 (34)

Bengals

5 (38)

Buccaneers

6 (39)

Lions

7 (45)

Bills

8 (50)

Ravens

9 (79)

Commanders

10 (90)

Cardinals

Teams categorize wide receivers by style, production and their ability to change games. Whom we prioritize from this group might depend on a particular skill set our team is looking for, so everyone’s sequence will be a little different. Do we want speed, forcing teams to defend us differently? Fast guys are usually expensive. Do we want production on third down or in the red zone? Perimeter blocking to improve our run game? What does our offense need most? As with running backs, age is a big factor as well.

Calvin Ridley and Darnell Mooney are explosive, but their numbers are less impressive than those of Michael Pittman Jr. or Mike Evans, who are bigger and more physical types. For others like Tee Higgins, injuries have deflated production. Higgins showed early in his career he has a high ceiling, but it can be tough to shake impressions from a player’s most recent tape, and he did not look like the same player while battling injury in 2023. Regardless, it appears the Bengals will use the franchise tag on him.

The wild card to watch is Odell Beckham Jr. At 31, he could be joining his fifth team after sitting out 2022 and posting so-so production in Baltimore in 2023. But don’t let the numbers fool you — Beckham still has some juice, and that could turn into production on the right team.

Tight ends

Rk (ovr)PlayerTeamAge

1 (30)

Patriots

2 (60)

Seahawks

3 (64)

Texans

4 (91)

Broncos

5 (99)

Patriots

6 (101)

Bengals

7 (113)

Raiders

8 (131)

Cardinals

9 (NR)

Patriots

10 (NR)

Bengals

For me, this group is easy to differentiate: guys who can get open on their own, and guys who need the scheme to free them up. This is identifiable on tape and really narrows the depth of this group. Hunter Henry and Dalton Schultz are proven veterans. Finding the next, younger version is the challenge for team-builders.

Tight end is not usually a position where GMs are willing to commit a big portion of the salary cap. For these reasons, underused options like Noah Fant (age 26) and Irv Smith Jr. (who will be 26 in August) make sense as potential longer-term solutions, even though they have been less productive. To find value, teams will be looking for guys in the next tier who can run.

Offensive tackles

Rk (ovr)PlayerTeamAge

1 (26)

Raiders

2 (33)

Cowboys

3 (53)

Patriots

4 (55)

Saints

5 (63)

Titans

6 (94)

Jets

7 (98)

Bengals

8 (103)

Commanders

9 (111)

Packers

10 (114)

Texans

This year’s group is once again an example of how supply and demand affect the marketplace. Quality tackles are in short supply, and teams are overpaying to keep mediocre ones. The most talented and accomplished in this class is the Cowboys’ Tyron Smith. Unfortunately, he has missed 26 of 54 games over the last three seasons and is 33.

Among the other top options are players whom the league has judged to be better fits at guard but were moved to tackle out of necessity and outperformed expectations there: Jermaine Eluemunor, Mike Onwenu and Andrus Peat. Team-builders must figure out whether any from that group would fit as a longer-term answer at tackle. And if so, how would you structure the contract?

Guards

Rk (ovr)PlayerTeamAge

1 (17)

Rams

2 (19)

Packers

3 (28)

Ravens

4 (44)

Ravens

5 (52)

Dolphins

6 (58)

Dolphins

7 (62)

Lions

8 (78)

Eagles

9 (84)

Jaguars

10 (92)

Commanders

Centers

Rk (Ovr)PlayerTeamAge

1 (15)

Broncos

2 (21)

Eagles

3 (57)

Rams

4 (75)

Cowboys

5 (83)

Steelers

6 (89)

Raiders

7 (97)

Titans

8 (118)

Dolphins

9 (NR)

Texans

10 (NR)

Browns

This might be the deepest field on offense of this free-agent class. Young and improving players are available at both center and guard, which will make it very interesting to see where price tags land. Lloyd Cushenberry III, Kevin Dotson and Jon Runyan have all built a solid body of work and should be rewarded financially because they fit in any system.

There are several more — 10, by my count — who are starting-quality players, even if Jason Kelce retires. Expect them to be targeted by teams that would like to fill a need so they can go in a different direction in the draft. The question is how much it will cost, and how much filling that need is worth to each team. Evaluating these players is much easier than valuing them on the salary cap. Those are two completely different processes.

The Ravens and Dolphins each have two starting guards (plus a starting center for Miami) hitting the market, so it will be interesting to see whom they prioritize. Connor Williams (at center) and especially Isaiah Wynn (left guard) impressed for the Dolphins on film last season before suffering serious injuries, adding to the persistent question marks about their durability.

Edge defenders

Rk (ovr)PlayerTeamAge

1 (1)

Panthers

2 (2)

Vikings

3 (6)

Jaguars

4 (9)

Browns

5 (11)

Texans

6 (18)

Jets

7 (22)

Bills

8 (37)

49ers

9 (40)

Ravens

10 (49)

Vikings

Before franchise and/or transition tags are applied, this is the deepest and most diverse group in the free-agent class. Unfortunately, it’s going to be expensive to shop in this store. You better not show up with a dollar-pinching budget for a day at Saks. Pass rushers are at a premium, and there might be 10 or 12 options for teams to upgrade. Expect at least two or three of the top guys to come off the list before free agency starts, but those are the proven commodities with a full body of work.

How would a lesser-used guy like Bryce Huff play if given a full-time role? How much is fair to spend on players like Za’Darius Smith and Leonard Floyd, who are still harassing quarterbacks but are now in their 30s? Is it worth the risk to bet on a talented but injury-prone player like Marcus Davenport? One lesser-known name to watch will be Houston’s Jonathan Greenard. He’s young, productive and just might come available, which doesn’t happen often at a premium position.

But also keep in mind: The Ravens found bargains late in the calendar last offseason to fill edge roles on a very good defense: Jadeveon Clowney ($2.5 million) and Kyle Van Noy ($1.6 million), who are both available again. Given how deep this group is, a few bargains will be found.

Defensive tackles

Rk (ovr)PlayerTeamAge

1 (3)

Ravens

2 (4)

Chiefs

3 (10)

Dolphins

4 (24)

Seahawks

5 (25)

Bills

6 (35)

Titans

7 (36)

Bears

8 (47)

Bengals

9 (54)

Giants

10 (56)

Eagles

This is another group that was fun to evaluate but might get very diluted after tags are applied. Justin Madubuike, Chris Jones and Christian Wilkins are all clear tag candidates. Keep in mind though: Tags come with giant cap commitments that count immediately and entirely on this season’s cap, which can limit teams’ flexibility, even if the cap rose more than expected.

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My guess is this list will ultimately be topped by Leonard Williams (Seattle), DaQuan Jones (Buffalo) and Denico Autry (Tennessee) — all of whom are in their 30s — with teams valuing each differently depending on their scheme and cap situation. After that, there are several players who would be good additions to a rotation, whether you need a penetrating three-technique or a long five-technique who can play multiple gaps. If you can find a guy deeper in the pile for some value, you’re a good scout.

Linebackers

Rk (ovr)PlayerTeamAge

1 (27)

Ravens

2 (31)

Panthers

3 (65)

Buccaneers

4 (68)

Texans

5 (73)

Seahawks

6 (81)

Buccaneers

7 (102)

Titans

8 (106)

Seahawks

9 (121)

Vikings

10 (125)

Browns

This group always seems to be undervalued. Teams struggle to pay inside linebackers, and I get that, but this pool has both production and youth that, if valued correctly, could lead your defense for multiple years. Just as important as making tackles is calling, communicating and orchestrating the defense, which is still done predominantly by a linebacker. If a player can do that and also stay in the game as a sub-pass rusher or sub-cover guy, he’s going to get paid.

A common theme among the top guys on my list: They all excel as blitzers. That’s a good way to provide value on passing downs, especially if you have a defensive coordinator who likes to get creative. Meanwhile, Bobby Wagner and Lavonte David should not be discounted just because they are older. Either one might just be the temporary glue that puts a defense over the top.

Cornerbacks

Rk (ovr)PlayerTeamAge

1 (8)

Bears

2 (13)

Chiefs

3 (67)

Packers

4 (69)

Texans

5 (72)

Ravens

6 (76)

Cowboys

7 (80)

Commanders

8 (82)

Saints

9 (88)

Dolphins

10 (95)

Jaguars

A rule of thumb, fast cover guys — much like fast receivers — are best found in the draft. Speed is always the most expensive trait on the market, regardless of position. The top two on my list, Jaylon Johnson and L’Jarius Sneed, are high-end corners who would be hard to replace, so I could surely see them being tagged.

This group thins out fast after that, and most of the rest are older — only four of the 14 corners in my top 150 are under age 28, and many have already bounced around to multiple teams. Guys like the Dolphins’ Xavien Howard or the Bengals’ Chidobe Awuzie (who just missed my top 150) were once quality players but might not be the same due to age, injury or both. But for legit playoff teams seeking experience and know-how, the depth of this group is for you.

Those looking for youth could roll the dice on someone like CJ Henderson of the Panthers. The 25-year-old, who is ranked 12th among corners, was a first-round pick of the Jaguars in 2020 and has shown flashes when on the field, but he’s also struggled to stay healthy.

Safeties

Rk (ovr)PlayerTeamAge

1 (14)

Giants

2 (16)

Buccaneers

3 (41)

Chargers

4 (42)

Panthers

5 (43)

Patriots

6 (46)

Lions

7 (85)

Colts

8 (109)

Packers

9 (110)

Ravens

10 (124)

49ers

This is another position where speed and athletic ability traditionally determine who will get paid. Safeties who can cover in the slot will be coveted, as they can turn a questionable play call or scheme into a defensive coordinator’s shining moment. Other key traits are instincts and first-step reactions.

If Antoine Winfield Jr. gets the franchise tag from the Bucs, as the Tampa Bay Times has reported is likely, Xavier McKinney might be one of the hotter commodities on the market (providing, of course, that he isn’t tagged by the Giants). Either way, the next seven players on my list are all young and athletic enough to minimize damage as the last line of defense and also make plays when opportunities arise. It’s a deep group, with more solid contributors beyond the top 10 and even outside my top 150.

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(Photos of Justin Madubuike, 92, Calvin Ridley, 0, and Jaylon Johnson, 33: David Rosenblum / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images, Michael Hickey, David Berding / Getty Images)