1 Under-the-Radar Free-Agent Target from Each 2024 NFL Playoff Team
Some teams are entering Week 18 with their playoff hopes on the line, others are resting up for a playoff run and then there's the group whose eyes are already trained on 2024 free agency.
Nine teams have already clinched a playoff spot. They have done the roster-building and won enough games to go into their final game with a lot less pressure than those on the outside looking in.
For those not in that spot, there's a good chance they'll be watching these nine teams over the next few weeks.
It will give them an opportunity to keep an eye out for upcoming free agents they might want to pluck. Identifying under-the-radar talent from winning teams can be a strategy that not only adds talent, but improves culture and leadership.
Here, we'll take a look at one free agent who isn't going to be at the top of their respective market, but could be a contributor for a team looking to improve in 2024. We'll also pick out a few good fits for each, considering their needs and cap situation heading into the offseason.
Baltimore Ravens: DT Michael Pierce
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The defensive tackle group could feature some huge names this offseason. Chris Jones, Christian Wilkins and Leonard Williams are all on the final year of their contracts. They would command massive contracts if they aren't re-signed.
For those who might not be able to afford one of those game-changers, someone like Michael Pierce could fill a different kind of void.
Filling open space is Pierce's specialty. The 6'0", 355-pound nose tackle doesn't have flashy box score stats, but he's the 18th-ranked interior defender by PFF's grading system. Pierce doesn't just take up two blockers, he's capable of pushing them back and disengaging, making him a force in the center of the Ravens defense.
Pierce's market could be depressed because of his age. He's 31 years old and was released by the Vikings after just one year of a three-year deal in 2022.
However, Pierce would make a lot of sense for any team with a struggling run defense and he isn't likely to cost a lot after making just $3.2 million this season.
The Cincinnati Bengals could see him as a cheaper D.J. Reader replacement while the Broncos had one of the worst run defenses in the league.
Potential Fits: Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos
Cleveland Browns: LB Sione Takitaki
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The Browns have locked up the No. 5 seed thanks to a dominant defense in 2023. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz and a few acquisitions over the offseason unlocked an already talented unit that had underachieved the year before.
The difference has been clear in multiple players, including linebacker Sione Takitaki.
The 28-year-old is a part-time player but has still been on the field for 61 percent of the defensive snaps this season. He's also held his own in coverage, giving up a passer rating of 65.3 when targeted after giving up 97.6 in 2022.
Takitaki was also asked to blitz more often under Schwartz, going 32 times and generating two sacks with four total pressures. It isn't a ton, but it's a decent percentage and something that another coaching staff could build on.
The linebacker has probably earned a slight pay bump from the one-year, $2.4 million contract he played on this season, but he could still be a cost-effective option for a team on a budget looking to add a starting linebacker.
The Seahawks might have to find a replacement for Jordyn Brooks. He figures to be one of the top free agents at the position and they will be limited on cap space. The Chargers will be in a similar situation with Kenneth Murray heading toward free agency.
Potential Fits: Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Chargers
Dallas Cowboys: EDGE Dorance Armstrong Jr.
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Dorance Armstrong didn't appear in our early free agency big board, which featured the top 50 free agents after the trade deadline. You'll have to do a lot of scrolling to find him on PFF's Top 100, where he ranks 86th.
He's not mentioned a lot on a loaded defensive front that features Micah Parsons, but he's second on the team in sacks with 6.5 on the season. At just 26 years old teams can feel comfortable giving him a three to four year contract without worrying about a serious decline.
Based on the progression of his career thus far, his best football might be ahead. The former fourth-round pick has been a bit of a late bloomer for the Cowboys. They didn't get a return on the pick until around his fourth season when he became a heavy part of the rotation.
Over the last two seasons he has combined for 15 sacks. His length gives him the ability to line up in multiple spots so he could really fit in with most defensive systems.
Anyone in need of a secondary pass-rusher should be interested in giving Armstrong a larger role than the one he has in Dallas right now.
The Panthers have the worst pressure percentage in the league. They need all the help they can get outside of Brian Burns who is a candidate to be franchise tagged. The Commanders will also be in the market after trading away Chase Young and Montez Sweat. They certainly wouldn't mind taking some talent from a division rival.
Potential Fits: Carolina Panthers, Washington Commanders
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Detroit Lions: WR Josh Reynolds
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This is a loaded class of free agent wide receivers. Some will obviously re-sign with their clubs before free agency but Tee Higgins, Mike Evans, Michael Pittman Jr. and Calvin Ridley are all set to hit the market right now.
That leaves someone like Josh Reynolds—a useful role player—in the dark.
The 28-year-old has served an important role for the Lions. The 6'3" receiver is second on the team in average depth of target with Jameson Williams the only player ahead of him. With his height and long strides, he's a deep-ball specialist who has fit in well with Jared Goff's big arm.
His role in Detroit has dwindled as Jameson Williams has become more comfortable, though. Williams was suspended at the beginning of the season and Reynolds had some notable performances before Williams made his debut.
In the three games he played at the beginning of the season without the second-year wideout he saw at least six targets. He saw five in Williams' debut and hasn't seen more than four in a game since.
Reynolds has modest production across his seven seasons in the league. He's not going to command a huge contract, but would be a good pickup for a team that needs a vertical threat at a discount price.
The Jets are going to be looking to give Aaron Rodgers another deep threat on a bargain contract. They need help alongside Garrett Wilson. The Cardinals could also be on the lookout for an alternative to Marquise Brown if he decides to leave the desert.
Potential Fits: New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals
Kansas City Chiefs: EDGE Mike Danna
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The Chiefs defensive line is usually the Chris Jones Show, but Mike Danna is an under-the-radar free agent that bears watching. The 27-year-old has seen an uptick in his production and role in each of his first four years with the Chiefs.
This year, he has finally become a starter opposite George Karlaftis on the edge. He initially was the starter with Charles Omenihu serving a six-game suspension, but he's played well enough to retain that role, starting all 16 games heading into Week 18.
Danna has always been a strong run defender, but his pass-rushing is starting to catch up with that dimension of his game. He has a career-high 6.5 sacks in 2023 with 21 total pressures.
Danna's market will be interesting. He's clearly an ascending talent, but it's fair to wonder how much higher his ceiling will go. Either way, he would make sense for a team looking to get younger in their defensive end room.
The Raiders would make sense as a suitor. They still need Tyree Wilson to develop and bringing in Danna would give them an experienced player with a winning franchise to help in that process.
The Jaguars are also going to be on the lookout for young defensive ends. K'Lavon Chaisson, Josh Allen and Dawuane Smoot are all free agents. Allen will likely be brought back but Chaisson has been disappointing and Smoot is an aging veteran with injury concerns.
Potential Fits: Las Vegas Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars
Los Angeles Rams: CB Ahkello Witherspoon
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At the beginning of the season, the Rams looked nothing like a playoff team on paper. The team was primarily made up of three stars—Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald—a ton of rookies and a handful of low-level free agents.
As it turns out, that's all they needed to lock up a playoff berth.
Ahkello Witherspoon and the Rams are a great example of how valuable some under-the-radar signings can be. The cash-strapped Rams were able to find a starting outside cornerback in Witherspoon and his one-year, $1.1 million contract.
The 6'2", 195-pound corner was worried that he wasn't even going to get another shot to play after a tumultuous 2022 season with the Steelers that included a hamstring injury. Now, a healthy Witherspoon has held opposing passers to a 76.2 passer rating on over 100 targets.
The corner isn't going to get the same kind of attention as L'Jarius Sneed, but he's proving to be a valuable veteran asset who may have just needed time to get healthy.
There are several teams who could use Witherspoon as a bigger corner who can play in a zone-heavy scheme like the Rams.
The Colts are one of the most Cover 3-dependant teams in the league and have a clear need at cornerback. The Titans fall in the same camp and might have to replace Sean Murphy-Bunting as well as Kristian Fulton.
Potential Fits: Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans
Miami Dolphins: EDGE Andrew Van Ginkel
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Andrew Van Ginkel might not be so under-the-radar when the Dolphins playoff run is over. With Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips both sidelined, Miami is going to rely on him to lead the pass rush.
That being said, Van Ginkel is often overshadowed by Christian Wilkins in the Dolphins free agent group and the likes of Josh Allen, Brian Burns and Danielle Hunter at his position.
Still, Van Ginkel is proving to be capable of solid production this season. He has a career-high six sacks to go with eight tackles for a loss and 18 quarterback hits. He's also capable of dropping back and playing some coverage with two interceptions over the last two seasons and just 4.7 yards allowed per target on 41 in the same period.
That's not going to net him an extravagant contract, but it would make him a notable addition to several defenses around the league.
Teams with a 3-4 base who need some additional pass-rush juice on their roster should come calling.
He would be a fun chess piece in Wink Martindale's aggressive Giants defense. They have the second-highest blitz rate in the league while the Pittsburgh Steelers could use a third rusher to go with Alex Highsmith and T.J. Watt but will be on a budget due to their cap situation.
Potential Fits: Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles: RB D'Andre Swift
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There aren't a lot of options to choose from with the Eagles. The vast majority of the players who will be contributors in the playoffs are already under contract beyond 2024.
However, D'Andre Swift is one of the exceptions and is a bit overshadowed by a free agent class of running backs that includes Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Derrick Henry and Austin Ekeler.
The Eagles traded for Swift in the final year of his rookie deal as the Lions looked to renovate their running back room with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs this offseason. Now Swift is set to hit an open market that hasn't been kind at the position.
Swift hasn't been as explosive as the top end of this free agent class, but he is proving his ability to shoulder the burden of being the featured back in a run-heavy offense. He's four h in the league in rushing yards with 1,049 and eighth in carries with 229.
The running back market might be depressed, but there's still some value in a back like Swift who, up until this season, has always been in a split backfield. He's still just about to turn 25.
That should make him an interesting target for a few teams who could be looking for running back help in 2024, including the Titans who might be looking to replace Henry and the Chargers who were the worst running team according to EPA per rush with impending free agent Ekeler.
Potential Fits: Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Chargers
San Francisco 49ers: S Tashaun Gipson Sr.
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Tashaun Gipson Sr. is getting up there in age, but he's still a vital part of a successful 49ers secondary. The 33-year-old is sitting out Week 18 with a quad strain, but he's remained healthy for an aging veteran, making every start until Sunday over the last two seasons.
Not only has he started, but he's been an asset. Gipson had five interceptions in 2022 and he is holding opposing passers to a 65.4 passer rating and 4.8 yards per target this season.
The safety rarely makes mistakes, which is one of the most important attributes at the position. He has given up just one touchdown in each of the last three seasons and has just five missed tackles over the last two campaigns with San Francisco.
It might be hard to convince the veteran to sign with a team that isn't in as good a position as the Niners next season, but with Talanoa Hufanga and Ji'Ayir Brown coming back next season he might not have a starting job.
That would open the path for a young team with a developing secondary to scoop him up and become a mentor for another group of defensive backs.
The Broncos had one of the worst secondaries in the league this season and just parted ways with Kareem Jackson. The Packers safety room was also a liability this season that could be improved with Gipson back there next season.
Potential Fits: Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers
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