The Most Underrated 2024 NFL Free Agents Still Available
The first wave of free agency may be over, but there is still plenty of serviceable veteran talent on the open market.
Some of these players are well-known entities poised to cash in with some relatively large contracts—guys such as Chase Young and Mike Williams— but others are flying under the radar and could provide huge returns on relatively small investments.
Making shrewd pickups using low-risk, high-reward deals is what separates great NFL front offices from average ones. Expect to see several Super Bowl contenders quietly come to terms with some of the more undervalued free agents in the coming weeks, making pickups that won't move the needle in the offseason but will pay dividends during the 2024 campaign and subsequent playoffs.
With that in mind, here's a look at some of the more underrated free agents still up for grabs.
S Julian Blackmon
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It was only a few short years ago that Julian Blackmon looked to be on his way to becoming one of the NFL's better safeties. His star may have faded a bit since, but there's still a good chance Blackmon develops into a very serviceable defensive back—especially after a career year in 2023.
The Utah product put together a strong rookie season after being selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 2020 draft, starting 14 of the 15 contests he appeared in while logging 42 tackles, six pass defenses and a pair of interceptions. An Achilles tear limited him to six games the following season, and his 2022 showing wasn't anything too special either.
Blackmon did prove he can still be a quality safety this past season, recording career highs in tackles (88), interceptions (four), pass defenses (eight) and fumble recoveries (two). He earned his best Pro Football Focus grade to date (a decent 68.3 mark) and looks poised to build upon that at his next stop.
While there are coverage issues to sort out—Blackmon allowed 31 catches on 44 targets last season—and his tackling skills haven't been great, the upside for further improvement is clearly there. Getting him in the right role in the right defensive scheme could result in new highs for Blackmon in 2024.
WR Tyler Boyd
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Tyler Boyd strung together a number of quality seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals after the club selected him in the second round in 2016. He had a down year in 2023—catching 67 of his 98 targets for 667 yards and two scores—that will likely lead the cash-strapped squad to move on. But Boyd should still have something left in the tank at age 29.
Between 2018 and 2022, Boyd appeared in 77 games and tallied 4,505 yards and 26 touchdowns on 370 receptions. His usage diminished after Cincy drafted a pair of elite receivers in Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, but he can still be an asset for myriad teams.
Boyd brings some nice versatility due to his ability to line up both out wide and in the slot. The 6'2", 203-pounder has the size and athleticism to compete well against opposing defensive backs and can create mismatches when being moved around. He may not be the 1,000-yard receiver he was in his earlier seasons, but he'll still be able to rack up catches in a high-volume passing attack.
Teams could do far worse than putting a market-value offer on the table for Boyd, whose next deal isn't even projected by Spotrac to eclipse $9 million annually. Considering he's likely to cost quite a bit less than other unsigned wideouts such as Mike Williams and Odell Beckham Jr., he's a fantastic option for teams on a tight budget seeking steady production.
Edge Jadeveon Clowney
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Jadeveon Clowney may be firmly in the mercenary stage of his career, but any squad hoping to bolster its pass-rushing capabilities would be foolish to not at least consider the veteran this offseason.
Clowney has been providing fantastic returns on the series of one-year deals he began signing following the 2018 campaign. After a half-decade stint with the Houston Texans—the team that selected him atop the 2014 draft—Clowney has gone on to play for the Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and, most recently, the Baltimore Ravens.
He's found success at every stop, including last year when he notched 9.5 sacks—tying a career-best mark—while starting 15 of the 17 games he appeared in for Baltimore. His 85.7 PFF grade was remarkable and one of the best scores of his lengthy professional career.
Although he's entering his age 31 season, Clowney still appears to have plenty left to offer his NFL employers. He's a fantastic secondary edge-rushing option who also brings solid run-stopping ability. Teams will want to avoid relying on him to be their main pressure generator, but he's an excellent complementary piece when paired with other standout pass-rushers.
Considering the immense importance of harassing opposing signal-callers in the modern game, Clowney could very well be remembered as one of the best pickups during the second wave of the 2024 free-agent signing period.
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CB Stephon Gilmore
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Although he's well on the wrong side of 30 and entering his 13th NFL season, Stephon Gilmore remains one of the league's great cornerbacks.
The 33-year-old may no longer be a candidate to win Defensive Player of the Year—an accolade he garnered back in 2019—but he is still oozing shutdown potential and represents an upgrade for nearly every secondary. He's proved to be a stabilizing option at each of his career stops and will remain so for the next team fortunate enough to get his signature.
Gilmore is now looking for his fourth team in as many seasons and will likely continue to ink short-term deals until his illustrious career is finished. He's more than held up his end of the bargain on each of his contracts, including in 2023 when he posted a respectable 74.4 PFF grade by allowing a meager 50 catches on 91 targets while recording a pair of interceptions for the Dallas Cowboys.
Gilmore hasn't graded lower since the 2020 campaign, his last with the New England Patriots and the only year he dipped into the 60s on PFF's scale since 2017.
While health was a nagging issue for Gilmore back in 2020-21—a span in which he missed 14 contests—those problems appear to be in the rearview. He started all 17 games for Dallas last year and logged 16 starts for the Indianapolis Colts the prior season. The star cornerback should be able to hold up fine for his next squad, even if it is during an age-34 season.
CB Ahkello Witherspoon
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Ahkello Witherspoon is one of the most intriguing unsigned cornerbacks.
The rangy defensive back finally had the first fully healthy season of his seven-year NFL career in 2023, starting all 17 games for the Los Angeles Rams. He ascended to become the team's top cornerback despite playing on a meager one-year, $1.1 million contract, notching career highs with 52 tackles, three interceptions, 14 pass defenses and two fumble recoveries.
While Witherspoon must prove that was no fluke after appearing in just 60 total games between 2017 and 2022, he's certainly worth taking a chance on. The 6'2", 195-pound corner has more than adequate size to match up with opposing No. 1 wideouts and can be a real asset for a contending squad on a relatively cheap deal.
The 28-year-old may not be emerging as a Pro Bowler anytime soon, but his 64.3 PFF grade and coverage abilities—he limited his man to 48 catches on 99 targets—indicates Witherspoon can reasonably start for a Super Bowl hopeful at a value cost.
Betting on Witherspoon's health looks to be well worth the risk after his breakout 2023 campaign.
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