5 NFL Players Who Could Revive Their Careers on a New Team in 2024
The 2024 NFL offseason is rapidly approaching, and with it comes a free-agent signing period that should see plenty of big-name players get shuffled around. While there won't be too many superstars on the open market this year, there are plenty of high-end talents who have seen their star start to fade in recent seasons.
A change of scenery could be the breath of fresh air these veterans need to return to the elite level they once performed at.
With that in mind, here's a look at five NFL players who could see a career revitalization if they catch on with a new club for the 2024 campaign.
Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
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Austin Ekeler appeared to have seen the writing on the wall ahead of the 2023 season and sought a trade after the organization declined to negotiate a contract extension. While Ekeler eventually walked back the request after the Bolts tacked some performance-based incentives onto the final year of his contract, he ultimately failed to meet those benchmarks during the most trying season of his career.
The 28-year-old now enters free agency on the heels of a campaign in which he only tallied 1,064 yards and six touchdowns from scrimmage on 230 touches over 14 games. It's a noticeable dip from his incredible output during the 2021-22 seasons, a stretch in which he averaged nearly 1,600 yards and 19 touchdowns on 294 touches.
Ekeler didn't hide his frustrations with the new role he assumed this past season under offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, telling ESPN's Chris Rihm it was "tough" to accept being relegated from a feature piece of the offense. Ekeler went on to state that he's motivated to prove he can still perform at a high level despite the down year.
While Ekeler's regression has likely impacted his value in an already stingy running back market—Spotrac estimates he's worth around $7.4 million annually, a slight increase over the $6.1 million per year he was averaging on his previous deal—he could still be a high-level contributor in the right system.
Ekeler can still thrive as a pass-catching, third-down back at this point of his career. Despite catching 56 fewer passes this season compared to last, he still leads his position in receptions by a wide margin since the start of the 2021 campaign—228 in that span, 39 more than second-place Christian McCaffrey has in the same time frame.
Although Ekeler may not possess the same speed and acceleration he displayed in his nascent NFL seasons, he remains capable of making defenders miss with elusiveness and agility. That, coupled with his elite hands and versatility, would make him a significant asset in a system like the one the New Orleans Saints deploy.
Speaking of the Saints, they may find themselves looking for an Alvin Kamara replacement this spring...
Darnell Mooney, WR, Chicago Bears
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Darnell Mooney put himself on the map with a breakout sophomore season back in 2021, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark and scoring four touchdowns on 81 receptions for a plucky Chicago Bears squad. That has been the high-water mark of his four-year NFL career, however, as Mooney has seen his usage and production dip in each of the past two seasons, culminating in a pedestrian 31-catch, 414-yard, one-touchdown outing in 2023.
Mooney's decline has coincided with several injuries that have limited his ability to stay on the field and perform at a high level. After playing all 17 games in 2021, he missed the final five games of 2022 with an ankle issue and missed a pair of games while dealing with a knee bruise and concussion this past season.
Chicago's propensity for running the ball has also capped Mooney's potential contributions. The Bears passed on 55.8 percent of their offensive plays in 2021, a ratio that drastically changed in both 2022—Chicago only threw on a league-low 43.8 percent of snaps that season—and 2023, when the team passed less often (51.3 percent) than any team but the Baltimore Ravens.
While Mooney could conceivably get healthy and bounce back in Chicago after offensive coordinator Luke Getsy was fired and replaced by Shane Waldron, it's hard to envision the Bears becoming a premier passing attack next season. Regardless of whether they retain Justin Fields or move on from the incumbent starting quarterback and replace him with a rookie prospect, the Bears aren't exactly tracking toward high-level play in that department.
Mooney and his ability to consistently create separation from his defenders on deep routes would be better utilized on a team that has a proven signal-caller who doesn't hesitate to air it out. If he lands with a club that has a strong-armed quarterback like the Buffalo Bills with Josh Allen, Mooney could become one of the best value pickups—Spotrac estimates him making just over $10 million per season—of this free-agent signing period.
Hunter Henry, TE, New England Patriots
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The New England Patriots offense may have been abysmal over the past couple of seasons, but Hunter Henry has stood out as one of the team's few consistent pieces. The tight end led the squad with six touchdown grabs and was second to only DeMario Douglas in receptions (42) and receiving yardage (419) in 2023.
Henry's numbers may not be eye-popping, but they certainly weren't poor given they came in an offense that ranked 30th in yardage and last in scoring while rotating through a pair of ineffective quarterbacks in Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe. Getting the veteran tight end in a more potent scheme could result in an uptick in production as he gears up for his age-30 campaign.
Although the 6'5", 258-pounder isn't the most athletic or quick player at his position, he has solid hands and uses his size well. Henry has been one of New England's only reliable options in the red zone since signing in 2021, tallying up 17 scores in that span. He's also one of the few proven options at his position who can both block and catch at a respectable level hitting free agency this year, as the drop-off after Henry and Dalton Schultz is rather significant.
Landing with a team that desperately needs a sure-handed safety valve for its signal-caller would be mutually beneficial for both Henry and his potential new employer. The Carolina Panthers stick out as a franchise that lacks a tight end capable of contributing at Henry's level. Tommy Tremble was Carolina's top pass-catcher at the position this past year, and he only notched 194 yards and three touchdowns on 32 catches.
Henry would be a noticeable upgrade there and would be a boon for a club hoping to jump-start Bryce Young's development on the heels of a disappointing rookie campaign.
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Jonah Williams, OT, Cincinnati Bengals
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Jonah Williams was miffed by the Cincinnati Bengals' decision to sign Orlando Brown Jr. last season, a move that forced the incumbent starter at left tackle to switch to the other side of the team's offensive line. While Williams initially demanded a trade in the wake of the pickup, he eventually relented and went on to man the right tackle spot at a high level in 2023.
That display of versatility, as well as his reliability could make Williams a popular free-agent target this offseason. He appeared in all 17 games for the first time this past season and played 100 percent of the offensive snaps just a year after suffering a pair of knee injuries, including one that kept him sidelined for a good chunk of the playoffs.
While Williams, a first-round pick in 2019, may not have reached the perennial All-Pro ceiling he seemed to possess coming out of Alabama, he has evolved into a high-end pass protector who isn't a liability on run plays. The 26-year-old is only two seasons removed from earning a career-high 77.1 PFF grade. Knee issues help explain his grade falling to a 61.2 in 2022, while a position switch and quarterback instability caused him to log a career-low 58.5 mark this past season.
It's not only possible, but rather likely that Williams returns to form if he signs a contract to play left tackle for 2024 and beyond. If he does, his Spotrac-estimated market value of $14.9 million per year will be a bargain, especially if a cash-strapped potential contender like the New York Jets—a squad that desperately needs offensive line upgrades—is able to land him on the open market.
Carl Lawson, EDGE, New York Jets
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Carl Lawson has seen his career take a sharp downward turn since becoming a prized free-agent signing of the New York Jets in 2021. The edge-rusher suffered an unfortunate season-ending Achilles rupture before he could take his first regular-season snap for Gang Green and hasn't yet returned to the elite level he performed at earlier in his career.
Lawson appeared to be on his way back to stardom in 2022, a season in which he appeared in all 17 games and notched 7.5 sacks—his most since an impressive 8.5-sack rookie campaign in 2017. A regression followed, however, as the 28-year-old spent much of the past season sidelined as a healthy scratch. Lawson failed to record a sack in any of the six games he suited up for in 2023.
Lawson made it clear he wasn't happy being kept out of New York's deep edge-rushing rotation, stating that he wanted to produce and that he was a "football player, not a cheerleader" when asked if he'd embrace a trade to get more playing time. While the trade rumors that swirled around Lawson never came to fruition, he'll soon be able to escape the Big Apple as a free agent with a chance to catch on with a team that can offer more snaps.
There's no shortage of rosters that could benefit from a savvy, veteran pass-rusher right now. Lawson's blend of speed and power will make him an asset if he can stay healthy, something many squads should be willing to gamble on.
The Arizona Cardinals stand out as a potential suitor for Lawson. The team has plenty of needs on defense after giving up an average of 26.8 points per game this past season—the second-worst mark in the league—but edge-rushing should be the No. 1 priority given it finished No. 30 with a paltry 33 sacks. A healthy Lawson could help improve that number significantly without breaking the bank.
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