Deadseriousness Top 50 Free Agents Heading into 2024 Offseason

With the season officially over, let’s start previewing the 2024 NFL offseason and first, let’s take a look at free agency. Let’s talk about the top guys seeking new contracts this spring.

Here are the Top 50 free agents heading into the 2024 offseason:

1. Chris Jones DL

This Super Bowl run was incredible advertising for Chris Jones’s services. He’s the exact type of player I would’ve loved as a kid discovering football for the first time obsessing over guys like Zach Thomas and Junior Seau who just crushed dudes with a very specific type of flare.

Jones was named first-team All-Pro this year and was a crucial driver of the Chiefs Super Bowl run including two hits on Brock Purdy and making him look like a game manager out there.

2. Christian Wilkins DT

Age: 28

Key 2023 Stats: 9 sacks, 10 TFL, 23 QB hits

People will say Tyreek Hill deserved to be the 2023 MVP and he was the best player on the team but I’d say all of Miami’s success goes through Christian Wilkins abusing interior offensive linemen. Wilkins just recorded a career-high 9 sacks and 23 QB hits. He had the best season of his career and I can see him refusing a franchise tag and holding out for a big pay day.

3. Kirk Cousins QB

Age: 35

Key 2023 Stats: (8 starts) 2,331 passing yards, 18 TDs, 5 INTs, 103.8 passer rating

Somehow, Kirk Cousins is once again up for a huge bag after a career full of stealing massive paychecks he didn’t deserve by always being slightly better than his potential replacements. He was better than a broken RGIII and he was better than Case Keenum. Let’s see which replacement-level QB he’s about to get rich off of this offseason.

4. Tee Higgins WR

Age: 25

Key 2023 Stats: (12 starts) 42 receptions, 656 receiving rards, 5 TDs

Tee Higgins has been in trade talks the last couple seasons to avoid this exact moment when Higgins knows he can be a no.1 wide receiver somewhere and demand no. 1 receiver money but the Bengals would be insane to pay him that knowing he’s not JaMarr Chase and you can’t have two wide receivers making star money. The Kansas City Chiefs just made the Super Bowl with zero receivers making real dollars.

5. Saquon Barkley RB

Age: 26 | FA Position Rank: No. 1 RB

Key 2023 Stats: 247 attempts, 962 rushing yards, 41 receptions, 280 receiving yards, 10 Total TDs

I will never forgive Dave Gettleman for drafting Saquon Barkley with the no. 2 overall pick ahead of Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson while the Giants had an offensive line made up of guys who were trapped in an alternate dimension where they were moving at half the speed of this dimension and a elderly quarterback who was constantly crawling into a ball to avoid any and all physical contact.

Anyway, good luck with your future endeavors, man. I hope you find what you’re looking for.

6. L’Jarius Sneed CB

Age: 27

Key 2023 Stats: 2 INTs, 14 passes defensed, 78 tackles

Sneed has established himself as one of the best corners in the NFL He can come off the slot and bodyslam quarterbacks with CB blitz’s and he can guard both between and outside the lines. He’s strong enough and quick enough to stay with any receiver and this Super Bowl run just put a lot of money in his bank account.

7. Josh Allen EDGE

Age: 26

Key 2023 Stats: 17.5 sacks, 17 TFL, 33 QB hits

Josh Allen was first round pick who had all the tools to be a top pass rusher in the NFL and this season, he finally put everything together finishing 5th in pressures and second in sacks. Somehow, Allen didn’t make an All-Pro team with 17.5 sacks. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, no one watches the Jacksonville Jaguars.

8. Justin Madubuike DT

Age: 26

Key 2023 Stats: 13 sacks, 12 TFL, 33 QB hits

Madubuike was named second-team All-Pro and even received some Defensive Player of the Year votes. He went from 5 sacks in 2022 to 13 this season and 9 QB hits to 33. Everyone on this Baltimore Ravens defense turned into superstars chasing around Lamar Jackson in practice every day.

I don’t see Baltimore letting Madubuike talk to any other team this offseason.

9. Brian Burnes EDGE

Age: 25

Key 2023 Stats: 8 sacks, 16 TFL, 18 QB hits

Burns had a bit of a down year but so did everyone on the Carolina Panthers. How well can you play when your quarterback can’t get a first down and you’re constantly on the field? Eventually, you’re going to take your foot off the gas when there’s no chance to actually win the game.

Free Brian Burnes.

10. Jaylon Johnson CB

Age: 24

Key 2023 Stats: 4 INTs, 10 passes defensed, 36 tackles

You could make the argument Jaylon Johnson is the best corner in the NFL, receiving second-team All-Pro honors with quarterback recording a 50.9 QB rating when throwing his direction which was 5th in the NFL. Swatted 10 passes away and caught 4 INTs. Whoever signs Jaylon is about to have the best defense in the NFL.

11. Antoine Winfield Jr S

Age: 25

Key 2023 Stats: 3 INTs, 6 forced fumbles, 6 sacks, 122 tackles

A first-team All-Pro and receiver of Defensive Player of the Year votes, Antoine Winfield Jr was a key factor in Tampa Bay’s random success this season. Outside of Kyle Hamilton in Baltimore, Winfield might be the most dynamic safety in the NFL.

12. Michael Pittman Jr WR

Age: 26 | FA Position Rank: No. 3 WR

Key 2023 Stats: 109 receptions, 1,152 receiving yards, 4 TDs

109 catches and 1,152 yards receiving passes from Gardner fucking Minshew. Michael Pittman Jr might be the most underrated wide receiver in the NFL. I pray he stays in Indianapolis so he and Anthony Richardson could put up Hall of Fame numbers together.

13. Mike Evans WR

Age: 30

Key 2023 Stats: 79 receptions, 1,255 receiving yards, 13 TDs

The best wide receiver in Buccaneers history, Mike Evans may finally be ready to see what the grass is like on the other side. He’s played with Jameis Winston, Tom Brady and Baker Mayfield. None of those 3 quarterbacks are anything alike and Evans has gotten his numbers regardless of who’s throwing to him. Pair him with literally anyone and he’ll get his 1,000 yards for the year.

14. Tyron Smith OT

Age: 33

Nate Solder was one of the best left tackles in the NFL for almost a decade in New England. Then the Giants gave him a huge contract and he let every single pass rusher casually walk right past him to the backfield. Tyron Smith is better than Solder ever was but good luck to whatever teams think Tyron Smith is going to be anywhere near as good as he’s been in Dallas.

15. Kyle Dugger S

Age: 27

Key 2023 Stats: 2 INTs, 7 passes defensed, 109 tackles

16. Danielle Hunter DE

Age: 29

Key 2023 Stats: 16.5 sacks, 23 TFL, 22 QB hits

8 years into his career, Danielle Hunter is still consistently one of the best pass rushers in the NFL. In fact, he’s still getting better. His 16.5 sacks were a career high for him and he led in the NFL in tackles for a loss. Hunter is a monster who makes gigantic offensive linemen look like JV backups.

Where he lands has everything to do with Kirk Cousins. If the Vikings let Cousins walk, they may be looking at some sort of rebuild and I can’t imagine Hunter would want to participate in that at this point in his career.

17. Leonard Williams DL

Age: 29

Key 2023 Stats: 5.5 sacks, 37 solo tackles, 10 TFL, 16 QB hits

Leonard Williams is at his best playing alongside other talented defensive linemen because he’s incredible at finishing a sack, an underrated skill where seemingly 90% of pass rushers use all of their strength and energy to get to a QB and then collapse at their feet without finishing the tackle and allowing the QB to squirt out of the collision.

18. Chase Young DE

After sleepwalking through a season and a half in Washington, Chase Young got new life in San Francisco playing next to his Ohio State teammate, Nick Bosa, and was able to double his sack numbers in LA.

The man just got a sack on Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl. This is how you get paid. I’m not totally sure why Chase Young simply elects not to put an effort in most of the game but perhaps that had more to do with how shitty Washington was and maybe losing a Super Bowl will put a battery in Young’s back.

19. Baker Mayfield QB

Age: 28

Key 2023 Stats: 4,044 passing yards, 28 TDs, 10 INTs, completed 64.3 percent of his passes

Baker Mayfield stepped in after Tom Brady retired and kept the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the playoffs. The man started the year battling KYLE TRASK for the starting position in training camp and then beat the defending NFC champions on the road in Philadelphia.

Mayfield made his first All-Star game. He hit career highs in completion percentage, passing yards and touchdowns. Now it’s time to steal a bag from a team he will absolutely disappoint next year.

20. Michael Onwenu OT

Age: 26

At 6-foot-3 and 350 pounds and a rare ability to stay on the field week after week, Michael Onwenu should be demanding top dollar. Especially having shown he can play both guard and right tackle and can control the running game.

21. Bryce Huff EDGE

Age: 25

Key 2023 Stats: 10 sacks, 10 TFL, 21 QB hits

Bryce Huff was Top 20 in pressures, QB hits and QB knockdowns. He finished with 10 sacks all while being a platoon D-Lineman who didn’t start a single game last season for the New York Jets. I’d love to see Huff on a team where he gets way more playing time and see what type of numbers he gets as a starter.

22. Kevin Dotson OG

Age: 27

Key 2023 Stats: 14 starts, 32 Total Points (15th of 80 qualifying OGs)

This season Kevin Dotson’s PFF grade was second amongst all guards and when you’re talking about offensive linemen, Pro Football Focus’s random evaluations are really all you can go by and apparently, PFF loves Dotson.

23. Hollywood Brown WR

Age: 26

Key 2023 Stats: 51 receptions, 574 receiving yards, 4 TDs

Marques Brown has all the tools to be one of the best deep threats in the NFL but almost everything around him has to be perfect. He needs a quarterback with a good enough offensive line in front of him to give Brown time to get downfield and a QB with an accurate enough arm to get the ball to Brown and his 5-foot-9 frame in a tight window because most corners are bigger than him.

The Arizona Cardinals had none of that.

I’d like him with a Jared Goff or even Kirk Cousins when he’s confident and lets it fly.

24. Calvin Ridley WR

Age: 29

Key 2023 Stats: 76 receptions, 1,016 receiving yards, 8 TDs

After being suspended for a season because he was caught gambling, Calvin Ridley moved to Jacksonville last season and was the first player in NFL history to wear no. 0 on his jersey. I guess he had to motivate himself or something? I try to ignore when players attempt to mythologize themselves in real time with intangible nonsense like the interpretation of their jersey number.

I mean, I reckon it worked on the awards voters as Calvin Ridley finished 7th in Comeback Player of the Year voting because he managed to miracously return from being caught challenging the integrity of the sport.

Anyway, he’s a decent WR2 or whatever.

25. Devin White LB

Age: 26

Key 2023 Stats: 49 solo tackles, 2.5 sacks, 5 TFL, 9 QB hits, 6 passes defensed

In 2020, Devin White was second-team All-Pro. In 2021, White’s stats went down a bit and he made the All-Star team. In 2023, White had career lows in tackles and pressures.

BUT, he had a much stronger impact in the passing game than he ever had prior. Perhaps he’s a more balanced linebacker these days than the beginning of his career when he was just sprinting 200mph helmet-first into whoever was holding the football.

26. Jonathan Greenard EDGE

Age: 26

Key 2023 Stats: 12.5 sacks, 15 TFL, 22 QB hits

Jonathan Greenard blacked out this year. He went from 1.5 sacks in 2022 to 12.5 sacks this season. One of the best contract years of anyone on this Top 50 free agents list. Yesterday’s price is not today’s price. At all.

Unfortunately, this season’s success could almost exclusively be attached to his first season of full health and teams will be paying for 2023 Greenard assuming he’ll be playing every game when he’ll most likely only be available for like, 8-12 games a season going forward.

27. Kenny Moore CB

Age: 28

Key 2023 Stats: 3 INTs, 6 passes defensed, 93 tackles

Kenny Moore had 3 interceptions and 2 touchdowns. I like a guy who instantly creates points off turnovers on his own. I recognize how much look guys into a pick-six but I also believe there is a genuine mentality some players have to get to the endzone every chance they get and an interception isn’t good enough. Kenny Moore is that guy.

28. Xavier McKinney S

Age: 24

Key 2023 Stats: 3 INTs, 11 passes defensed, 116 tackles

McKinney was in the center of a real messy 2023 season for the New York Giants. He and defensive coordinator, Wink Martindale, had a little mini beef following McKinney’s comments saying the team captains were being ignored by the coaching staff.

Martindale was fired after an attempted coup of the head coaching position from Brian Daboll. I’d like to see Xavier McKinney’s ceiling when he’s in a locker room that’s not at war.

#FreeX

29. DJ Reader DT

Age: 29

Key 2023 Stats: 20 solo tackles, 1 sack, 7 QB hits

Reader is coming off a torn quad because the Cincinnati Bengals owner founder a monkey paw where he wished for a quarterback that could beat Patrick Mahomes but the side effect was every player suffering season ending injuries so the team will never be in a situation where their QB could prove he can beat Mahomes.

DJ Reader may not have any accolades on his mantle yet but he has been an instrumental part of Cincinnati’s recent success and you need an interior D-Lineman like Reader who swallows up holes and allows linebackers to come crash down at the line of scrimmage.

30. Sean Murphy-Bunting CB

I know it’s not a great look that both the Titans and now the Buccaneers are moving on from Sean Murphy-Bunting before he ever got a second contract and I know he wasn’t heavily recruited out of college but when certain guys prove they can make big plays in big games ONCE, I’m a fool who thinks they can replicate it again in the right situation.

31. Josh Jacobs RB

Age: 26

Key 2023 Stats: 805 rushing yards , 296 receiving yards , 6 TDs

After being an All-Pro running back in 2022 and earning Offensive Player of the Year votes, Josh Jacobs might’ve just had one of the worst contract years of all time. When Aaron Judge wanted a new contract, he broke the single-season home run record. When Josh Jacobs wanted a new contract, he ran for half as many yards as he did the year before on 3.5 yards per carry. Ew.

I’m rooting for Antonio Pierce to succeed with the Raiders and the first order of business is to restart the running back cycle by drafting someone new on a cheaper deal and letting Jacobs go find peace elsewhere.

32. Kamren Curl S

Age: 24

Key 2023 Stats: 5 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble, 115 tackles

Kamren Curl had the best season of his career playing all over the field for a Washington team that desperately needed anyone to play for them. He’s comfortable lining up in deep coverage, in the box to stop the run or even in the slot defending shifty receivers.

Most teams should be calling Curl. Especially considering how many Commanders are set to be free agents and Washington bringing in a new coaching regime. Kamren Curl will definitely be better on Green Bay or Houston.

33. Chidobe Awuzie CB

Age: 28

Key 2023 Stats: 43 solo tackles, 6 passes defensed, 2 TFL

Awuzie’s 2023 season wasn’t his best but he was coming back from a torn ACL and still looked pretty good considering he missed a full year of football. He’ll never be the main no. 1 corner on a well-built defense but he could be an overqualified no. 2.

If you’re a team in need of a physical corner then you should take a risk on a guy like Awuzie you can probably get on a discount.

34. Kendall Fuller CB

Age: 29

Key 2023 Stats: 2 INTs, 55 solo tackles, 9 passes defenses

Kendall Fuller’s 2023 stats don’t look super impressive but no one’s in Washington did. They fired their defensive coordinator midway through the year. Those guys were out there just playing with the dandelions and freshly cut grass.

But Fuller has championship pedigree helping the Chiefs win their first Super Bowl. I think when great players go to terrible situations, they stop caring and they take full possessions off but put Fuller back in a winning atmosphere and he’ll return to some version of what he was in Missouri.

35. Tony Pollard RB

Age: 28

Key 2023 Stats: 252 attempts, 1,005 rushing yards, 311 receiving yards, 6 total TDs

Sometimes at work, we believe we deserve a promotion only to receive that promotion and realize we are nowhere near qualified for the new job responsibilities and have to reluctantly return to our original role where we excelled.

Yeaaaaa, I hope Tony Pollard can find an opportunity to find the next Ezekiel Elliot whose sidecar he can ride in. Pollard didn’t fail as the RB1 post-Zeke but he went from averaging 5.5 yards per carry as the change of pace back to only 4.0 this season as the main guy.

36. Derrick Henry RB

Age: 30

Key 2023 Stats: 1,167 rushing yards, 12 TDs, 214 receiving yards

Seemingly under the radar, Derrick Henry once again had another great 2023 rushing season for a Tennesee Titans team that was borderline irrelevant all year. Henry finished 2nd in rushing yards and was 4th among running backs in rushing touchdowns.

Derrick Henry also led the NFL in carries. Shout out to the Titans knowing they have no plans on bringing him back next season so they had no qualms running his ass to the ground. Henry led the league in carries 4 times in his career.

Henry’s next team is getting a guy with a lottttt of wear on the tires.

37. Kevin Zeitler OG

Age: 34

At 33 years old, Kevin Zeitler made his first All-Star team after being one of the better offensive guards for most of his career. He is a key cog in the Baltimore Ravens running game and Baltimore should do everything in their power to maintain, if not always be improving, their running system.

Personally, I’m glad to see him find success after watching him come to New York in that nasty Odell Beckham Jr trade when then-GM, Dave Gettleman said he’s definitely not trading ODB and then traded him as soon as he could.

38. Trent Brown OT

Age: 30

At 6-foot-8 and nearly 400 POUNDS, Trent Brown is just a brick wall pass rushers have to deal with. I reckon his sized can be used against him in a modern NFL where edge rushers are both gigantic and fast as lightning.

But there are teams like Cincinnati or Arizona who can’t keep their quarterbacks on the field should absolutely be calling Trent Brown to just sit on the end of their defensive line and do his best Hodor impression.

39. Jonah Jackson OT

Age: 27

In 2021, Jonah Jackson made an All-Star team for a 3-win Detroit Lions team where Tim Boyle was out there playing some of the worst football anyone’s ever seen. Regardless of who’s playing QB behind him, Jonah Jackson has made it very clear he can dominate in the run game. Any clip you’ve seen of a Lions running back breaking a huge run has Jackson throwing a DT out of the way to create the hole.

His biggest flaw, however, is his inability to stay healthy which should scare teams a bit. You can’t bring in a new offensive guard who can’t stay healthy because he’ll never get enough reps to find chemistry with the rest of the line.

40. Lavonte David LB

Age: 34

Key 2023 Stats: 86 solo tackles, 4.5 sacks, 17 TFL, 1 forced fumble

I had not realized Lavonte David was 34 years old and still making this big of an impact on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense. He DOMINATED in the playoffs and even though Tampa lost to Detroit in the 2nd round, David was all over the field making plays everywhere.

David finished in the Top 10 in tackles for a loss this year. I’d love to see him finish his career in Tampa Bay but I could see him stealing one last big bag from a team that also doesn’t realize he’s 34 years old.

41. Patrick Queen LB

Age: 24

Key 2023 Stats: 84 solo tackles, 3.5 sacks, 9 TFL, 1 forced fumble

Patrick Queen was named second-team All-Pro and made his first All-Star team this season. Roquan Smith unlocked a new level of Queen as Smith took care of the middle of the field while Queen could focus on running around and causing havoc everywhere else.

The 2023 Baltimore Ravens had a legendary defense and it only occurred because they figured out how to maximize their 2020 first-round draft pick.

42. Stephon Gilmore CB

Age: 33

Key 2023 Stats: 2 INTs, 54 solo tackles, 13 passes defensed, 1 forced fumble

This season, Stephon Gilmore recorded the most tackles of his career. Cornerbacks racking up a bunch of tackles is typically a sign they’re allowing their receivers to catch balls on them. If I’m being generous, I’d say opposing QBs targeted Gilmore more because DaRon Bland was on the other side of the field picking off every pass in his direction. Shrug.

But Gilmore is still in the upper percentile of corners and is good for a couple big interceptions here and there. I’d be curious to see him play in a different scheme next season.

43. Dalton Schultz TE

Age: 27

Key 2023 Stats: 59 receptions, 635 receiving yards, 5 TDs

Nottttt a great class of free agent tight ends this spring when Dalton Schultz is the prize of the market. And no offense to Schultz. He was instrumental in the growth of Rookie of the Year, CJ Stroud, but you’d think he would’ve ascended to the top of the tight end discussion playing with one of the best QBs in the NFL.

Admittedly, I am a biased New York Giants fan who remembers Dalton Schultz constantly getting first downs and extending drives exclusively against my favorite team and now I pray for his downfall. As one does.

44. Jadeveon Clowney EDGE

Age: 30

Key 2023 Stats: 9.5 sacks, 9 TFL, 19 QB hits

The rumors of Jadeveon Clowney being super washed were erased this season in Baltimore as he arguably had the best season of his career. His 9.5 sacks matched his career-high and his 43 tackles were his most since his 2018 All-Star season.

Clowney finished 5th in pass rush win rate. I genuinely thought his career was over but this Ravens defense revived him. If I were Jadeveon, I would never leave Baltimore. I’m hitching my wagon to Lamar Jackson til the wheels fall off.

45. Za’Darius Smith LB

Age: 31

Key 2023 Stats: 5.5 sacks, 8 TFL, 20 QB hits

This season, Za’Darius Smith’s sack numbers dropped literally in half from 10 in 2022 to 5.5 but he hit the QB the same number of times so I imagine your sack totals go down when you’re playing next to a guy like Myles Garrett who is finishing every single pressure you start.

Za’Darius Smith finished 13th in QB knockdowns and the only thing keeping him out of the Top 10 of every pass-rushing category was Cleveland’s substitution packages. Give this man more playing time and he’ll be a Defensive Player of the Year candidate.

46. Noah Fant TE

Age: 26

Key 2023 Stats: 32 receptions, 414 receiving yards

Noah Fant may not have the numbers you’d want from a former first-round draft pick and his zero (0) touchdowns last season won’t do him any favors in his contract negotiations. But he did the best he could in an offense that didn’t prioritize tight ends in the passing game. Geno Smith was throwing to DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and no one else.

At 26 years old, I think a change of scenery to an offense with the desire to use tight ends could unlock the Noah Fant we all expected out of college.

47. Calais Campbell DT

Age: 37

Key 2023 Stats: 6.5 sacks, 10 TFL, 17 QB hits

Calais Campbell has a LOT of years under his belt but I still think a Super Bowl contender could add the 3-time All-Pro, and 6-time All-Star defensive lineman and provide some depth and a veteran who knows how to beat every single offensive lineman.

Campbell is coming off his best season in years. His 17 QB hits and 6.5 sacks were his most since 2019. There’s still somethingggggg left in the tank for the potential future Hall of Famer.

48. Frankie Luvu LB

Age: 27

Key 2023 Stats: 5.5 sacks, 66 solo tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 10 TFL, 11 QB hits

Frankie Luvu was one of the few bright spots for a Carolina Panthers team that seemed determined to lose every football game no matter what. Luvu led the defense in tackles and was involved in EVERYTHING on that side of the ball.

In 2022, he finished 2nd in the NFL in tackles for a loss. He gets to the QB. He stops running backs. He can even hold his own in defending tight ends. My only hesitation is perhaps Luvu was a big fish in a small pond and most of his success only occurred because he was playing meaningless Panthers games.

49. Gabe Davis WR

Age: 24

Key 2023 Stats: 45 receptions, 746 receiving yards, 7 TDs

Gabe Davis is a decent deep threat in a league where defenses are doing everything in their power to limit big plays downfield and quarterbacks are being taught to make little 5-yard passes to move the chains instead of closing their eyes and chucking it like the good ol’ days.

Finishing in the Top 10 of yards per reception each of the last 4 seasons, any team with an aggressive offense could use his talents. Maybe if the Ravens want to upgrade from Odell Beckham Jr or if Cleveland re-signs Marlboro Joe Flacco and he throws deep bombs to Gabe Davis while Deshaun Watson nurses some injury he made up to avoid playing.

50. Austin Ekeler RB

Age: 28

Key 2023 Stats: 179 attempts, 628 rushing yards, 436 receiving yards, 6 total TDs

Last offseason, Austin Ekeler organized a Zoom meeting with all of the top running backs in the league to discuss ways of raising everyone’s salaries. Then Saquon Barkley closed his laptop and immediately signed a contract with the New York Giants that was a couple million less than their original offer.

Then Ekeler proceeded to have the worst season of his NFL career averaging only 3.5 yards per attempt which qualified him as the 44th-ranked rusher in the entire league. I’m all for running backs making more money but I’m also all for Austin Ekeler not being included in that conversation and being happy with whatever pennies he can get.

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