8 NFL Players Who May Be Disappointed in 2024 Free Agency Interest
As the official start of NFL free agency approaches on March 13, established players will look to draw lucrative offers from multiple teams, though others may not garner the expected interest on the open market.
Over the past week, teams have informed prominent players of their imminent release, which will add to the competition for suitors in free agency.
Other notable players will find it difficult to match or make more than they did on a previous contract because of a sharp decline in production, injuries or skill set limitations.
We'll highlight eight big-name players who should temper their expectations as they prepare to test the market.
S Jamal Adams
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On Tuesday, the Seattle Seahawks released Jamal Adams. Because of injuries, Adams has played 10 out of 34 games over the last two years.
Because of his recent inability to stay healthy, Adams may have a small market despite his unique ability to supplement the pass rush at his position.
Furthermore, Adams has limitations in pass coverage, which is why he needs pass-rushing production to increase his value. He's better suited lining up closer to the line of scrimmage or designated to rush the quarterback in blitz packages.
Adams' skill set could work against him with teams that prefer a safety who's more equipped to handle deep coverage assignments.
Only Jessie Bates III signed a contract worth more than $7.5 million annually (h/t Spotrac) in free agency last offseason. Between 2018 and 2022, he recorded 14 interceptions and 43 pass breakups. For comparison, Adams only has four interceptions and 36 pass breakups in his seven-year career.
According to SNY's Connor Hughes, the New York Jets have "zero" interest in Adams, and many other teams may have the same stance on the oft-injured box safety.
WR Odell Beckham Jr.
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Last offseason, the Baltimore Ravens signed Odell Beckham Jr. to a fully guaranteed one-year, $15 million contract, which seems like an overpay for a 30-year-old wideout who suffered two ACL tears since 2020 and missed the entire 2022 campaign.
In 2023, Beckham caught 35 passes for 565 yards and three touchdowns.
Though Beckham filled voids in the Ravens' passing game while All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews recovered from an ankle injury, he finished with a 54.7 percent catch rate.
Based on catch rate, Beckham was far less efficient than Andrews (73.8 percent), rookie first-round wideout Zay Flowers (71.3 percent) Nelson Agholor (77.8 percent) and even backup tight end Isaiah Likely (75 percent) as a pass-catcher.
In spurts, Beckham can still burn defenders on short slants, but because of his age coupled with a catch rate of 55.6 percent or worse every year since 2019, he may struggle to command another eight-figure salary.
S Kevin Byard
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As the starting safety for the Tennessee Titans between 2016 and 2023, Kevin Byard earned a reputation as a ball hawk in the secondary, racking up 63 pass breakups and 27 interceptions with the team.
Back in October, the Titans traded Byard to the Philadelphia Eagles for safety Terrell Edmunds and 2024 fifth- and sixth-round picks.
In 10 contests with the Eagles, Byard logged three pass breakups and an interception. While in coverage, he allowed a 103.3 passer rating and a 75.6 percent completion rate, which hurt the Eagles' 31st-ranked pass defense.
According to Fox Sports' Ralph Vacchiano, the Eagles will release Byard and save $13 million in cap space.
At 30 years old and coming off his worst statistical season, the two-time All-Pro will likely sign a relatively modest deal worth $5 million or less annually.
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CB J.C Jackson
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After an impressive four-year stretch with the New England Patriots, during which he recorded 53 pass breakups and 25 interceptions, J.C. Jackson went into free agency as one of the top players available in 2022. He signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Two years into Jackson's contract, the Chargers traded him back to New England along with a 2025 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick, indicating that he had lost significant value on the cornerback market.
In 2022, Jackson ruptured his patellar tendon, which cost him more than half the season, but he also had some off-field question marks as well.
Last year, Jackson violated the terms of his probation, and a Massachusetts judge issued a warrant for his arrest (h/t The Athletic's Jeff Howe). The Chargers listed him as a healthy inactive for Week 3, and according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, the Pro Bowl cornerback refused to enter the game in Week 4 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Jackson suited up for just seven contests with the Chargers before the club sent him back to the Patriots.
Jackson's return to New England didn't work out in his favor though. In eight games (six starts), he allowed a 107.8 passer rating and four touchdowns in coverage, by far his worst coverage marks in a single season.
Moreover, the Patriots benched Jackson because of lateness and didn't bring him to Germany for the team's matchup with the Indianapolis Colts because of "reliability issues," per Rapoport and the MMQB's Albert Breer.
New England released Jackson on March 1.
Jackson's laundry list of missteps from the previous season will significantly hurt him on the open market this offseason. He may be available as a post-draft pickup.
DE Carl Lawson
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At 28 years old, Carl Lawson needs a prove-it season before he's able to command another sizeable salary.
In 2021, the New York Jets signed Lawson to a three-year, $45 million contract. He sat out his entire first year with Gang Green because of a ruptured Achilles tendon, returned in 2022, logging 33 tackles, nine for loss, seven sacks along with 26 pressures and then lost his spot in the defensive end rotation last year.
Last offseason, Lawson dealt with a back injury and went inactive for most of the season. Before the 2023 trade deadline, he expressed displeasure with his reduced role, which indicates that the Jets didn't hold him out because of an injury.
Lawson finished the 2023 term with five tackles and zero sacks in six outings.
Though Lawson plays a premium position, teams will likely take note that he only had one productive campaign while on a contract that averaged $15 million per year.
Lawson will likely join a team's edge-rushing rotation as a bargain-bin pickup in free agency.
RB Tony Pollard
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Tony Pollard had a chance to show everyone that he could be a workhorse tailback rather than a complementary playmaker out of the backfield, but he didn't quite meet that standard.
Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy doesn't care much about winning by big margins, he wants to "run the damn ball" to rest his defense.
McCarthy had to rely heavily on Pollard, who became the team's lead ball-carrier after the team released Ezekiel Elliot last March.
Though Pollard posted decent rushing numbers for the 2023 term, his production didn't look much different from his time as a change-of-pace tailback alongside Elliott.
In fact, he rushed for two fewer yards and logged 59 more carries compared to the 2022 campaign and finished with a career-low four yards per carry. Dallas ranked 14th in rushing yards per game.
Pollard seems better suited to provide juice to a backfield duo rather than handle the majority of touches, which hurt his efficiency last season.
Pollard has the quickness to break off big runs and the hands to pick up first downs in the short passing game, but don't expect him to get a massive pay raise with this year's star-studded group of free-agent running backs, which includes Derrick Henry (2019 and 2020 rushing champion), Josh Jacobs (2022 rushing champion) and Saquon Barkley.
QB Ryan Tannehill
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As we all know, the quarterback is the most important position on the roster. Therefore, serviceable signal-callers can earn a decent payday on the open market.
With 151 career starts, nearly twice as many touchdown passes compared to interceptions, a 2019 Comeback Player of the Year award and an AFC Championship Game appearance, Tannehill should be able to land a starting job, but teams may consider other options.
Since 2020, Tannehill's passing numbers have gone on the decline across multiple categories. He's also missed 12 games over the last two years.
Lastly, Tannehill had an abysmal injury-marred 2023 campaign, throwing for four touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Initially, Tannehill lost his starting job to rookie second-rounder Will Levis because of an ankle issue, but the Tennessee Titans continued to roll with Levis after Tannehill recovered from injury. In two of the final three weeks of the season, Tannehill reclaimed the starting position because Levis also suffered an ankle injury.
Though several teams need a starting quarterback or a veteran bridge-gap signal-caller in the short term, Tannehill's age, steady decline, and recent injury history likely narrow his pathway to a lead position. He turns 36 in July and will likely transition to a backup role with a new team.
LB Devin White
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Based on Devin White's reported asking price of $18-20 million on an extension (h/t ESPN's Jenna Laine), he may not like what his agent says about the offers in free agency.
For starters, Roquan Smith, Fred Warner and Tremaine Edmunds are the only off-ball linebackers who make between $18-20 million yearly, and they're all three-down playmakers capable of handling coverage assignments with consistency, which isn't White's strong suit.
To White's credit, he posted his best numbers in pass coverage last season, logging six pass breakups and two interceptions while allowing a 65.5 passer rating and one touchdown.
On the flip side, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers planned to bench White, his attitude might have rubbed teammates and coaches the wrong way, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. White's commitment to the team also came into question.
White tried to clear the air, but the Buccaneers listed him as inactive for three consecutive weeks, and K.J. Britt started in his place for four straight outings between Weeks 13 and 16.
White's pass-rushing ability (23 sacks and 91 pressures in 76 games) could boost his value on the open market, but his late-season benching and inconsistencies in coverage before the 2023 term could give potential suitors second thoughts about paying him at a high-premium rate.
Player contract details are provided by Over the Cap unless otherwise noted.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
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