This crop of free agents is deeper than usual at wide receiver and thin on top-level talent overall. Teams are doing a better job than ever before at keeping their best players off the market, but there are always values to be found. To the list:
With apologies to post-surgery Peyton Manning, Prescott is poised to be the most attractive free-agent quarterback in history. He knows it, and it increasingly looks like he plans to test the market.
EDITOR’S UPDATE: Prescott and the Cowboys have agreed to a four-year, $240 million extension that includes $231 million guaranteed, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported on Sept. 8.
Honestly, it’ll be a shock if Lamb isn’t signed to an extension before Week 1. But at the moment, he’s officially in the last year of his rookie contract.
EDITOR’S UPDATE: Lamb and the Cowboys have agreed to a four-year, $136 million extension that includes $100 million guaranteed, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported on August 26.
The best 49ers receiver of the Kyle Shanahan era. Aiyuk’s improvement at route running has helped turn him into a top-15 wideout.
EDITOR’S UPDATE: Aiyuk and the 49ers agreed to a four-year, $120 million extension that includes $76 million guaranteed, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on August 29.
Humphrey is arguably the best center in football, set to hit free agency smack in the middle of his prime. The Chiefs may have to choose between him and …
EDITOR’S UPDATE: Humphrey and the Chiefs have agreed to a four-year, $72 million extension, which makes him the NFL’s highest-paid center, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on August 22.
Guards usually get paid more than centers in free agency, which might be a reason the Chiefs are forced to let Smith walk.
Terrell hasn’t quite matched his breakout 2021 since it happened, but I’ve seen enough to know he’s one of the 20 best cornerbacks in football.
EDITOR’S UPDATE: Terrell and the Falcons agreed to a four-year, $81 million contract extension, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on August 22. The deal includes $65.8 million fully guaranteed, making Terrell the second-highest paid CB in NFL history, per Rapoport.
Higgins combines red-zone skills with the ability to hit big plays. Even if he’s not a true No. 1 wideout, elite secondary receivers are getting paid well over $20 million per season.
The 49ers gave Ward huge money when he first hit free agency in 2022 and haven’t regretted it for a minute.
McNeill is getting a boost here because there are so few promising D-line free agents in this class, especially on the interior.
While Reddick turns 30 in September, he has started a moderate amount of games (81) in his career, so he still should have ample tread on his tires. The edge rusher’s currently holding out of Jets camp, having requested a trade from the team that acquired him in a March deal with the Eagles.
Quality starting left tackles are so hard to find and they’ve been aging well into their mid-30s, meaning the 32-year-old Bolles is set for one more big payday.
Every year in this exercise, I rank the safeties higher than their relative pay from NFL teams, and every year, I find a safety like Holland whom I’d absolutely pay because he’s worth it.
Like a lot of young cornerbacks, Adebo took time to marinate. That makes his 2024 massive because he’s going to be a top-of-the-market player if he can repeat his breakout third season.
Samuel Jr. has a similar story to Paulson Adebo, improving his weaknesses on the fly. He’s a playmaker.
I still think Diggs has plenty of juice left, and he’ll be motivated during a prove-it year with the Texans.
At times inscrutable, but always productive. Cooper’s down years aren’t that far down and he’s a beast when he’s rolling.
At his streaky best, Davis still looks like a shutdown corner. Just ask him!
Don’t be surprised if Johnson has a monster season with the Panthers and raises his spot on this list.
Defensive tackles often start playing their best after 2-to-3 seasons. Odighizuwa is following that pattern, having logged 43 pressures in 2023, according to PFF.
Judon was one of Bill Belichick’s best free-agent signings and now enters a contract year with the Falcons. He’s coming off an injury (biceps tear) that shouldn’t impact his productivity going forward.
One of the greatest guards of all time, Martin could decide to retire rather than hitting free agency.
Bolton’s one of the foundational pieces of Kansas City’s defense. Look for the Chiefs to find a way to keep the linebacker beyond this season.
While the freak injury (torn Achilles) suffered in the Super Bowl might depress his value, Greenlaw should be all the way back by the start of the 2025 season.
Tight ends are sneaky hard to find in free agency and the best still should be ahead for Freiermuth.
EDITOR’S UPDATE: Freiermuth and the Steelers agreed to a four-year, $48.4 million extension, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported on Sept. 6.
While Godwin has slowed down some since having surgeries, he’s still only 28 years old and remains incredibly savvy.
At worst, Fields is a floor-raiser. His running ability provides a baseline for an offense and there’s still potential for more if he lands in the right system.
There are more potential starting tackles available than usual, and they are all hard to separate because they are roughly league-average starters. Jackson gets the edge here because of his youth.
You’ll notice that wide receiver is deep this season. Consequently, it behooves all the elder statesmen to stay healthy in 2024, so they can cash in when they hit the market.
See above.
The sack total has leveled off, but Lawrence is still a rugged force to be reckoned with down after down.
Good-not-great starting edge players are still worth plenty. Sweat has been mostly consistent in producing pressures for the Eagles.
Young’s strong training camp with the Saints is giving me hope he can have a resurgent season.
Koonce came on strong in 2024 playing opposite Maxx Crosby. He could be peaking at the right time.
This is admittedly a projection, but every bit of evidence thus far has shown Little can be a quality starting left tackle in the league. He’s just been stuck behind Cam Robinson.
A rock-solid starter for the Falcons, Dalman is only ranked this low because his elite run-blocking skills aren’t matched by his pass protection.
Once thought of as the future of the tackle position, Stanley is now in a prove-it year with the Ravens because his body has been breaking down.
A quiet leader and glue guy for Steve Spagnuolo’s defense in Kansas City, Reid’s versatility makes him valuable.
The Jaguars can’t ever seem to quit Robinson, who would upgrade plenty of tackle rooms.
An injury has Brown’s latest contract year off to a bad start, but it won’t be a surprise if Patrick Mahomes ultimately gives “Hollywood” a statistical bump.
The dude looks shot out of a canon off the edge and is still learning the position.
A talented pass rusher who has a chance for a breakout season as part of a great Colts pass rush.
Not the weekly game-wrecker he once was, Mack could still be worth another solid contract as a part-time player.
A high draft pick with plenty of starting experience will keep getting chances, even if Wills’ play has left the Browns wanting recently.
Despite being 35 years old, Heyward still looks to have good years left as a rotational player.
EDITOR’S UPDATE: Heyward and the Steelers agreed to a three-year, $45 million deal that includes $16 million fully guaranteed, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Sept. 3.
The Vikings cornerback (by way of Arizona) can play inside or out as a plus starter.
After making his mark in Super Bowl LVI as a rookie, Jones has slowly developed into a strong all-around linebacker.
Everyone’s favorite undersized safety is an expert at beating expectations year after year.
He’s year-to-year at this point of his career. A healthy Smith is still a valuable one.
White has a chance to revive his career and his free agency value after signing a one-year contract with the Rams.
Chubb is recovering from a devastating knee injury, but I can’t bear to leave one of the best players of his generation off this list.
