NFL Free Agents 2024: Predictions for Top Players Expected to Hit Open Market
The 2024 NFL offseason will be here before you know it.
For the 12 teams already eliminated from playoff contention, it sort of already is.
These cellar-dwellers will need to strengthen their rosters over the coming months to avoid similar failures in the future, and free agency could be one place to bulk up the roster. Let's examine three of the top players expected to hit the open market and predict where they'll land.
Chris Jones, DT
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Chris Jones started this season in a contract holdout that wound up keeping him out of the Kansas City Chiefs' opener. He was back by Week 2, and he's done his typical chaos-creation ever since.
He's sitting on 9.5 sacks, meaning if he finds his way to a half-sack in the season finale, he'll have the third double-digit sack effort of his career. For all of the obsession with edge-rushers, few things throw off a quarterback more than a dominant interior rusher. Jones certainly fits that bill.
"Jones is not only one of the best interior pass-rushers in the game right now; he's one of the best ever," Brad Spielberger wrote for PFF. "He is also capable of lining up outside of tackles as a five-technique, bending around the edge and getting home."
The Chiefs could technically franchise tag Jones, but they may have to spend roughly $33 million to do it. That might be more than Kansas City can invest.
Prediction: Jones signs a four-year deal with the Chicago Bears
Kirk Cousins, QB
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While an Achilles tear cut Kirk Cousins' campaign short, it may not do a ton of damage to his free-agent market.
That's because, if not for the injury, he may have authored the best season of his career.
In eight games, he piled up 2,331 passing yards with 18 touchdown passes and only five interceptions. His 69.5 completion percentage was the third-highest of his career, while his 63.2 QBR was the third-best he'd posted as a full-time starter, per ESPN.
The Minnesota Vikings have interest in bringing him back, but any quarterback-needy team with win-now intentions will surely give him a look.
Prediction: Cousins signs a two-year deal to stay in Minnesota
Mike Evans, WR
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Mike Evans turned 30 in August, but if you're looking for any evidence of his aging process, you won't find it on the stat sheet.
There, he looks like he always does: a 1,000-yard machine who catches a boatload of touchdowns.
This is his 10th season in the league and 10th in a row with 1,000-plus yards. In fact, it's even been a bit better than most, as his 1,233 yards are the third-most of his career while his 13 touchdown receptions match the second-best he's ever posted. And remember, he still has another game to pump his box-score status even higher.
Each reception he makes—he's had 76 so far—might sound like the ring of a cash register, as his upcoming venture into free agency could be a wildly fruitful one. And while staying in Tampa Bay is certainly on the table, he'll clearly have options should he want to explore them.
"Evans started the season as an impending free agent after the Buccaneers decided not to extend him, and based on his performance this year, the price may have gone up," The Athletic's Dianna Russini wrote. "Over the last few weeks, I've had two general managers not named Jason Licht share that they believe Evans is playing the best football of his career. And the Bucs want to keep him."
Prediction: Evans signs a three-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.
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