2024 NFL Free Agents: Post-Super Bowl Rumors and Predictions
The 2024 NFL offseason is here.
The Kansas City Chiefs' overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII capped a thrilling 2023 campaign and sent all 32 franchises into offseason mode.
Attention has quickly turned to the top players in the free-agency market, so let's dissect the latest rumors and predict what will happen with the players involved.
Chris Jones Staying Put?
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There were myriad factors that led to Kansas City's championship run, but the play of star defensive tackle Chris Jones was a massive one.
The 29-year-old tied for the team lead with 10.5 sacks in the regular season and had two of the club's 11 quarterback hits in the Super Bowl. His play positioned him for a sizable contract in free agency, but will his pay rate rise above what Kansas City can afford? ESPN insider Adam Schefter doesn't think so.
"Chris Jones, by the way, I know he'll want to get paid of course," Schefter said on the Pat McAfee Show. "But there's certainly a bone there. ... I don't think he's going to want to leave unless there's some huge difference in offers between Kansas City and somewhere else. And the Chiefs value him; they want him back. To me, yeah they're going to run it back with a lot of this team intact."
Jones won't be hurting for suitors. His ability to generate pressure from the interior would be a boon for any defense. Still, the Chiefs know they have a championship core in place, and they'll do everything they can to keep it that way.
Prediction: Jones re-signs with the Chiefs.
Buccaneers Bringing Back Baker Mayfield?
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Baker Mayfield joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a one-year deal last offseason and in need of a resurgent campaign. That's exactly what he wound up engineering.
The 28-year-old posted multiple career highs—including 4,044 passing yards and 28 touchdown passes—while steering the Bucs to an NFC South division title. He played well enough to catch the attention of every quarterback-needy shopper in this free-agency period, but that doesn't mean he's set to leave Tampa Bay any time soon.
"There's mutual interest in Mayfield returning to Tampa Bay for a second season," NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo reported.
Mayfield will, of course, have other options. The NFL insiders mentioned the Atlanta Falcons as one possibility. In the end, though, if both Mayfield and the Buccaneers want this to happen, they should be able to get a new deal done.
Prediction: Mayfield re-signs with the Buccaneers.
New QB Coming to Pittsburgh?
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The Pittsburgh Steelers seem primed to test the quarterback market this summer. As the NFL.com crew put it, "expect significant changes at the position in Pittsburgh."
The Steelers already released Mitchell Trubisky, and they're about to see Mason Rudolph head into free agency. They have indicated they still see Kenny Pickett as their first-string signal-caller for next season, but they're also eager to get him some competition for the gig.
There is an "expectation," per Rapoport, Pelissero and Garafolo, that Pittsburgh "will explore adding free agent Ryan Tannehill. The veteran quarterback enjoyed his most success with the Tennessee Titans while Arthur Smith—now the offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh—was running their offense.
The Steelers could look in different directions, as Schefter mentioned Russell Wilson and Justin Fields with Tannehill as potential targets. All three are interesting options for various reasons, but Tannehill could be the most cost-effective, and his addition would put pressure on Pickett without overwhelming him the way adding Fields or Wilson might.
Prediction: The Steelers sign Tannehill.
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