Top Remaining NFL Free Agents Who Could Help Injury-Impacted Teams This Season
The 2024 NFL season has been filled with surprises, upsets and, unfortunately, injuries.
Injuries become a factor in every year, of course, but we've seen a number of prolific players go down hurt over the first three weeks. Many of them—including Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, Christian McCaffrey, Tua Tagovailoa, Alex Highsmith and Javon Hargrave—play for expected contenders or teams that have looked playoff-worthy during the early season.
In other words, there could be multiple teams who have their playoff hopes dashed by injuries in 2024. With nearly 15 full weeks left in the season, even non-contenders may have to add reinforcements just to make it to January.
The good news is that several experienced veterans remain available, even for teams that choose not to utilize the trade market—Bleacher Report's latest trade block big board can be found here.
Let's take a look at some of the best free agents still available, based on past production and upside, along with the injury-impacted teams they could help moving forward.
C Mason Cole
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Logical Landing Spot: New Orleans Saints
Center Mason Cole was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers at the start of the offseason and has yet to find a new landing spot.
His availability in late September is a bit surprising. While never one of the league's top centers, the 2018 third-round pick became a steady starter with the Steelers after spending his first four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings.
In two seasons with Pittsburgh, Cole started all 34 games. He won't turn 29 until next March, which means he could also provide a team with long-term value.
The New Orleans Saints might not need a long-term answer at center, but they need help now. They are firmly in the NFC South mix at 2-1 but have lost starting center Erik McCoy for an extended period after he suffered a groin injury that will require surgery.
"You lose a guy like Erik, it hurts," New Orleans quarterback Derek Carr said.
If the Saints hope to remain in playoff contention, they would be wise to add a new starting-caliber center. Cole is easily the best option available.
OL La'el Collins
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Logical Landing Spot: Cleveland Browns
Once considered one of the NFL's more reliable linemen, La'el Collins has largely disappeared in recent years.
He struggled with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2022 before suffering a torn ACL and MCL. He had a brief stint on the Dallas Cowboys practices squad late last season and was released as part of the Buffalo Bills' roster cuts in August.
At 31 years old, though, there's still time for Collins to resurrect his NFL career and, ideally, return to pre-injury form. Between 2015 and 2021, he started 71 games at guard or tackle for the Cowboys.
Collins would be a sensible target for the Cleveland Browns, who have had one of the league's worst offensive lines, largely due to injuries.
Cleveland's top three tackles from 2023, Jedrick Wills Jr., Jack Conklin and Dawand Jones, have all returned from season-ending injuries.
Conklin has yet to debut, while Wills has struggled to stay on the field and Jones has just struggled—he's been responsible for three penalties and two sacks allowed, per Pro Football Focus.
The Browns reached the playoffs last year, but they were dealt another blow when standout guard Wyatt Teller suffered a knee injury in Week 3 and went on injured reserve.
Adding Collins wouldn't suddenly make Cleveland's line good, but it would provide valuable depth at multiple spots.
G Phil Haynes
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Logical Landing Spot: Los Angeles Rams
With a dwindling list of available interior linemen—and an increasing demand for them—former Seattle Seahawks starter Phil Haynes should draw interest sooner than later.
Haynes, a 2019 fourth-round pick out of Wake Forest, primarily played a reserve role for Seattle before emerging as a starter in 2023. He started all eight games in which he appeared before landing on injured reserve with a toe injury.
While he wasn't exactly a star last season—he allowed five sacks, according to Pro Football Focus—he won't turn 29 until Oct. 19 and has room for improvement.
Adding Haynes would make sense for the Los Angeles Rams, a 2023 playoff team that has already experienced numerous injuries this season. Guard Jonah Jackson was recently placed on injured reserve with a shoulder issue, while center Steve Avila will be out for an extended period with an MCL tear.
Because of Avila's injury, Los Angeles could easily be one of the teams with whom the Saints end up competing to land Cole.
Haynes likely wouldn't be a long-term solution for the Rams, but he could help them navigate Jackson's absence. His experience against NFC West defenders would provide added value as a depth piece.
The Browns may also want to consider Haynes, as Cleveland offensive line coach Andy Dickerson held the same role in Seattle last season.
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Edge Shaq Lawson
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Logical Landing Spot: Pittsburgh Steelers
With Yannick Ngakoue recently joining the Baltimore Ravens, Shaq Lawson has become a top option for teams in need of pass-rushing help.
Lawson hasn't delivered impressive statistics since the 2019 season (6.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss), but he has shown an ability to contribute as a rotational player. With the Buffalo Bills last season, he tallied a sack, 10 quarterback pressures and two tackles for loss while playing just 33 percent of the defensive snaps.
The 30-year-old has recorded at least 3.5 sacks in five of his eight seasons, most recently in 2022.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, who are one of only five undefeated teams, could target Lawson for additional edge depth. They, arguably, have the best pass-rusher in the NFL in T.J. Watt, but they recently lost Highsmith to a groin injury.
The Steelers may not need to add a free agent during Highsmith's absence because second-year man Nick Herbig (two sacks, two tackles for loss in Week 3) appears capable of filling the gap.
However, Lawson would be a sensible addition if Pittsburgh wants more depth behind Herbig and third-year player DeMarvin Leal.
DT Hassan Ridgeway
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Logical Landing Spot: San Francisco 49ers
The big question regarding defensive tackle Haason Ridgeway is whether he's healthy enough to contribute now. He appeared in only three games for the Houston Texans last year before suffering a season-ending Achilles tear in Week 9.
If the 29-year-old is near 100 percent, he would be a fine addition to virtually any team in need of help along the defensive line. During his eight-year career, he has largely been a rotational player but has been an impactful one.
With the San Francisco 49ers in 2022, Ridgeway appeared in 12 games with seven starts and finished with 28 tackles, a sack and three tackles for loss.
A reunion with San Francisco would make a ton of sense. The 49ers have found a fill-in for Christian McCaffrey in Jordan Mason, while Jauan Jennings did a remarkable job of replacing Deebo Samuel (calf) in Week 3 (11 catches, 175 yards, 3 TDs).
However, San Francisco now needs a replacement for Hargrave, who is likely out for the year with a triceps tear.
"It's a big loss, and he's one of our better players," Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan said.
While the 49ers have a new defensive coordinator in Nick Sorensen, Ridgeway should be familiar with many of his concepts—Sorensen was a 49ers defensive assistant in 2022—and San Francisco's personnel.
WR Hunter Renfrow
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Logical Landing Spot: Philadelphia Eagles
Former Las Vegas Raiders receiver Hunter Renfrow has been through a trying couple of seasons. Injuries limited him in 2022, and he largely fell out of the game plan after last year's addition of Jakobi Meyers.
However, Renfrow was a Pro Bowler in 2021, a season he finished with 103 catches for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns. He's a reliable pass-catcher with an ability to find space and some inside-outside versatility, though he has done his best work out of the slot.
There's a chance that the 28-year-old never replicates his 2021 numbers, but he had two other strong campaigns (each with over 600 receiving yards) before the 2022 injury. That suggests he can be a capable contributor again.
Renfrow would be a terrific option for the Philadelphia Eagles. No. 1 receiver A.J. Brown has been sidelined with a hamstring issue, while DeVonta Smith suffered a concussion in Week 3. Perhaps more importantly, the Eagles recently placed Britain Covey on injured reserve with a broken scapula.
In addition to providing Philadelphia with receiver depth, Covey has been one of the team's primary return specialists—he led the NFL in return yards last season. Renfrow returned 70 punts for the Raiders during his first four seasons with them.
OT Donovan Smith
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Logical Landing Spot: Cleveland Browns
Offensive tackle Donovan Smith is only 31 years old and has won Super Bowls with two different franchises. He helped Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win it all in 2020, and he covered Patrick Mahomes' blind side with the Kansas City Chiefs last season.
During his nine years in the NFL, the 2015 second-round pick has started all 124 games in which he has appeared. He's experienced, capable and has loads of postseason experience.
Yet, Smith hasn't garnered a ton of attention this offseason, possibly for one specific reason.
"Penalties," ESPN's Bill Barnwell wrote in March. "Smith has 29 over the last four seasons, which ties him for the third-most of any player."
For the Browns, though, penalties could be acceptable if it means reducing sacks. Smith was credited with only two sacks allowed last season, per Pro Football Focus. Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson has already been sacked a league-high 16 times this season.
Penalties can stall drives, but sacks can lead to season-ending injuries. After starting five different quarterbacks in 2023, the Browns should be eager to improve their pass protection. There's no guarantee their top tackles can get and stay healthy enough to do it without help.
QB Ryan Tannehill
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Logical Landing Spot: Miami Dolphins
Ryan Tannehill has been the top veteran quarterback available for most of the offseason.
The 2019 Pro Bowler was merely average over the last few seasons with the Tennessee Titans, but he has 151 starts on his resume and helped them reach the postseason three times in five seasons.
There's a caveat with Tannehill, though. According to ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio, the 36-year-old is looking to find a situation that will allow him to start for the rest of the season.
Right now, such a situation doesn't exist. But that could change, depending on how things unfold with Tua Tagovailoa's latest concussion.
The Miami Dolphins have already placed the 26-year-old on injured reserve, meaning he'll miss at least four more games. He doesn't plan to retire after the third diagnosed concussion of his NFL career, but that doesn't mean Miami will rush him back to the field.
"The team is not rushing its recently crowned franchise quarterback back from another traumatic head injury," ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques wrote on September 17. "Tagovailoa will seek opinions from multiple independent neurologists before returning to the field."
If Miami, Tagovailoa or the doctors decide that taking the rest of the year off is best for the quarterback, Tannehill—who began his career with the Dolphins—would be the most logical replacement.
WR Michael Thomas
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Logical Landing Spot: Los Angeles Rams
Former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas hasn't been a Pro Bowler since the 2019 season, and it's highly unlikely he'll ever regain the Hall of Fame trajectory he appeared to be on over his first four NFL seasons.
The 31-year-old topped 1,100 yards in each of his first four campaigns, led the NFL in receptions twice and was the league's Offensive Player of the Year in 2019.
That said, the Ohio State product can still help a receiver-needy team. He's a terrific route-runner with strong hands and a big, physical (6'3", 212 lbs) frame. In 10 games with the Saints last season, he caught 39 passes for 448 yards and one touchdown.
Given their injuries at receiver, the Rams should consider Thomas. Puka Nacua remains on injured reserve with a knee ailment and could be out until Week 9, according to NFL Media's Ian Rapoport. Though he hasn't landed on injured reserve yet, Cooper Kupp is dealing with an ankle problem and won't return for Week 4.
Thomas' size profile would make him a sensible fill-in for Nacua (6'2", 212 lbs) and/or Kupp (6'2", 207 lbs), who both serve as bigger targets for quarterback Matthew Stafford.
And if Thomas is looking to revive his career, he could do worse than landing with a Hall of Fame QB and a head coach in Sean McVay who excels at getting his receivers into open space.
*Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference unless otherwise noted.
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