Ranking the Strongest Position Groups of 2024 NFL Free Agency
In about three weeks, NFL teams will look to bolster their rosters when the legal tampering period starts on March 11. This offseason, general managers can load up on talent for the defensive line, add star playmakers at the offensive skill positions and strengthen the secondary with sticky-coverage cornerbacks.
Of course, teams will make an attempt to re-sign key veterans to keep them off the open market, but household names across several positions could cash in for a more lucrative salary in free agency. As a result, look for clubs to fill major roster voids before the draft.
Who are some of the top names? Which positions will garner the most attention?
To sort all of that out, we ranked the five strongest roster positions based on the production and accolades of players atop each group along with the depth at every position.
Moreover, we considered the ability of the top players to make an immediate impact with new teams and the potential for underrated players to blossom with more opportunities in expanded roles.
Now, let's take a dive into the free-agent pool, starting with the six positions outside the top five.
Best of the Rest
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Interior Offensive Line
Top players: Connor Williams, Robert Hunt, Kevin Dotson
The interior offensive line group doesn't feature a standout veteran in his prime with Pro Bowl or All-Pro accolades. Because of his guard-center versatility, Connor Williams may draw the most attention out of this group, but he's recovering from a torn ACL and missed eight games this past season.
In his age-27 term, Robert Hunt cut down on his penalties, and he will likely be rewarded for his recent improvements this offseason. Kevin Dotson looked far better in one year with the Los Angeles Rams than he did in three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, which makes him a bit of a gamble pending his fit with a new team. Graham Glasgow and Kevin Zeitler are solid options, but they're both on the older side of 30 years old.
Tight Ends
Top players: Dalton Schultz, Hunter Henry, Gerald Everett
In terms of production, Dalton Schultz leads the tight end class with at least 57 receptions in four consecutive seasons. Hunter Henry has hauled in at least 41 passes in five straight terms, and Gerald Everett has recorded the same number of receptions in four straight years.
However, the tight end group doesn't have an explosive playmaker who can transform an aerial attack. Schultz, Henry and Everett all averaged 10.8 yards per catch or less last season. They're solid chain-movers but fall short of game-changing status at the position.
Safety
Top players: Antoine Winfield Jr., Kyle Dugger, Xavier McKinney
The safety group ranks higher than the interior offensive line position because of Antoine Winfield Jr., who earned his first All-Pro nod for his standout 2023 season. He could become a chess piece for a secondary that needs a defender capable of playing both safety positions and slot cornerback.
If Winfield doesn't hit the open market, teams can also target Kyle Dugger and Xavier McKinney as multipurpose safeties who can effectively man the slot cornerback position.
Quarterbacks
Top players: Kirk Cousins, Baker Mayfield, Gardner Minshew
Because of the importance of the position, average starting-caliber quarterbacks rarely reach the free-agent market. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have the "inside to track" to re-sign Baker Mayfield.
Cousins is coming off a torn Achilles, which is why he may become available.
Other than Cousins and Mayfield, Gardner Minshew, Ryan Tannehill and Jacoby Brissett could garner buzz as potential Week 1 starters if they sign with teams that don't want to rush the development of a rookie signal-caller.
Offensive Tackle
Top players: Tyron Smith, Mike Onwenu, Trent Brown
Two of the top impending free-agent offensive tackles have recognizable names. Tyron Smith has eight Pro Bowl and two All-Pro seasons on his resume, and he made the second-team All-Pro list for 2023. Trent Brown is four years removed from his Pro Bowl year, but he's one of the best pass-blocking tackles when healthy.
With that said, Smith and Brown have lengthy injury histories. The former has missed at least four games in each of the previous four terms, and the latter sat out six contests this past season.
Mike Onwenu isn't as accomplished as Smith or Brown, but he's played right tackle and both guard positions while missing just three games in four years. He's the most reliable player among the top three offensive tackles.
Linebacker
Top players: Frankie Luvu, Bobby Wagner, Jordyn Brooks
The linebackers missed the cut for the top five positions because Frankie Luvu and Jordyn Brooks don't have the accolades to bolster their respective resumes. Though arguably the most accomplished player at the position, Bobby Wagner saw his pass coverage numbers dip in his age-33 term.
Yes, Wagner led the league in tackles as a Pro Bowl player for the 2023 campaign, but he's not going to cash in like a few of the younger linebackers or high-end free agents in their prime years.
On the flip side, this year's free-agent linebacker class has tremendous depth with Patrick Queen, Willie Gay, Lavonte David, Devin White and Azeez Al-Shaair set to hit the open market. All of the aforementioned names should land starting jobs in 2024.
5. Cornerback
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Top players: L'Jarius Sneed, Jaylon Johnson, Stephon Gilmore
As a shutdown boundary defender in the Kansas City Chiefs secondary, L'Jarius Sneed allowed a 51 percent completion rate, a 56.2 passer rating and zero touchdowns in 16 starts through the regular season.
Meanwhile, Jaylon Johnson recorded 10 pass breakups and four interceptions while allowing a 55.2 percent completion rate and a 50.9 passer rating in coverage.
Sneed and Johnson are ascending lead cornerbacks with outstanding coverage numbers. The former served as a key playmaker in the Kansas Chiefs' second-ranked pass defense, and the latter earned his first Pro Bowl nod.
Unlike Sneed and Johnson, Stephon Gilmore is past his prime, but he recorded 13 pass breakups and two interceptions while surrendering a 55.8 percent completion rate and an 82.7 passer rating in coverage.
At 27 years old, Sneed has positioned himself for a massive raise. Johnson, who's headed into his age-25 term, has the upside to draw multiple suitors. Gilmore has the accomplishments and sustained production to command a high-end salary on the open market.
Because of that trio, cornerbacks ranked higher than the linebackers among free-agent groups.
Beyond the top names at cornerback, Kendall Fuller, Chidobe Awuzie, Kenny Moore II and Steven Nelson could generate some buzz as high-end, second-tier players at the position.
4. Wide Receiver
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Top players: Mike Evans, Tee Higgins, Michael Pittman Jr.
Like Stephon Gilmore among the cornerbacks, Mike Evans has made a case for a bust in Canton, Ohio, but he's still a high-level playmaker with a decade of playing experience. Similar to the cornerback group, two of the top three names are ascending playmakers in their mid-20s.
The wide receivers list one spot higher than the cornerbacks because of depth.
Because Calvin Ridley sat out a little more than a year and a half because of personal reasons and a gambling suspension, he's a step behind Tee Higgins and Michael Pittman Jr. in production consistency. Yet he possesses the skill set to become a lead wideout in an offense.
After an extended period away from the football field, Ridley led the Jacksonville Jaguars in receiving yards (1,016) and touchdown receptions (eight) for the 2023 campaign.
Marquise Brown, Darnell Mooney and Tyler Boyd have racked up 1,000-plus receiving yards in a single season; Boyd did it twice. Gabriel Davis can stretch the field as a big-play No. 2 receiver. Kendrick Bourne, Curtis Samuel, Josh Reynolds and K.J. Osborn have flashed with increased opportunities in recent years.
By the way, Odell Beckham Jr. isn't worth a $15 million deal, but he's a serviceable playmaker who averaged a career-high 16.1 yards per reception in 2023.
This year, teams will have plenty of free-agent options at wide receiver. General managers won't have to overpay for top guys to improve their team's passing attack.
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3. Interior Defender
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Top players: Chris Jones, Justin Madubuike, Christian Wilkins
Though interior defender isn't a premium position, teams will be able to find pass-rushers within this group, which raises the value of this free-agent unit.
Behind Aaron Donald, Chris Jones has become the best pass-rushing interior defensive lineman in the league, recording 85 pressures and 26 sacks over the past two years.
Justin Madubuike and Christian Wilkins had a breakout 2023 campaign. The former racked up 13 sacks and 33 pressures, while the latter notched nine sacks and 30 pressures. Both defensive tackles will see a massive bump in salary whether they remain with their current teams or sign elsewhere.
Though Leonard Williams turns 30 years old in June, he's going to command a sizable salary after logging 23 pressures, 5.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss with the New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks this past season. He's been productive at every career stop, which includes four-and-a-half years with the New York Jets.
The interior defenders edged the wide receiver group because of Fletcher Cox and Calais Campbell.
Cox and Campbell are older veterans who can bring a wealth of experience to a defensive line group and still find a way to get to the quarterback in the latter stages of their respective careers. Both defensive linemen have recorded 12 sacks over the past two years.
This group is so much deeper than most of the other positions in free agency.
2. Running Back
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Top players: Josh Jacobs, Derrick Henry, Saquon Barkley
The running back class ranks second because of its star power. Josh Jacobs and Derrick Henry have three rushing titles between them. Saquon Barkley has logged 2,892 yards and 20 touchdowns from scrimmage over the past two years. All three of them have led the league in scrimmage yards for a single season.
Other than the top three names, teams may take a look at Austin Ekeler, who led the league in touchdowns from scrimmage between 2021 and 2022 as one of the league's best pass-catching running backs.
Coming off his first 1,000-plus-yard rushing season, D'Andre Swift should have multiple suitors; the same can be said about Tony Pollard, who has strung together back-to-back 1,000-plus-yard rushing campaigns.
J.K. Dobbins, Devin Singletary, AJ Dillon, Gus Edwards and Zack Moss may be third-tier free-agent running backs, but they're all capable of leading a backfield as a featured ball-carrier.
The top free-agent running backs may struggle to land eight-figure deals because of the low value of the position, but this is a star-studded group with several players who could change the dynamic of an offense.
1. Edge-Rusher
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Top players: Brian Burns, Danielle Hunter, Josh Allen
The edge-rushers match the running backs in star power, and then they run about 10 or 11 deep in potential starters.
Brian Burns, Danielle Hunter and Josh Allen could all sign megadeals in the offseason. Burns and Allen are in their prime years, and Hunter just wrought havoc in his most productive season, recording career highs in tackles for loss (23) and sacks (16.5).
Teams that don't want to splurge on a star edge-rusher can pay a little less for defenders who have room to grow in bigger roles.
Bryce Huff isn't a household name, but he broke out with 10 sacks this past season, and he still has some upside if a team signs him to fill a starting position. Josh Uche fits into the same discussion; he logged 11.5 sacks in 2022.
In 2023, 26-year-old Jonathan Greenard recorded 12.5 sacks while on the field for 62 percent of the defensive snaps. Despite playing less than 48 percent of the defensive snaps over the past two years, Dorance Armstrong has 16 sacks and 33 pressures.
Don't forget the older veterans who can solidify a defensive front like Jadeveon Clowney, Leonard Floyd and Za'Darius Smith.
This group also has a wild-card option in Chase Young, who was 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year. Though Young had a relatively quiet nine-game stretch with the San Francisco 49ers following a trade from the Washington Commanders, he matched his rookie sack total (7.5) and logged a career high in pressures (25).
The edge-rusher group has a little bit of everything: established high-level playmakers, rotational defenders with untapped potential, productive grizzled veterans and an early bloomer in Young who's a former No. 2 overall pick with something to prove.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
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