Published: Aug 15, 2024 at 10:55 AM
Gregg Rosenthal
NFL Daily Host
This crop of free agents is deeper than usual at wide receiver and thin on top-level talent overall. Teams are doing a better job than ever before at keeping their best players off the market, but there are always values to be found. To the list:
Rank
1
Dak Prescott
Dallas Cowboys · QB
With apologies to post-surgery Peyton Manning, Prescott is poised to be the most attractive free-agent quarterback in history. He knows it, and it increasingly looks like he plans to test the market.
Rank
2
CeeDee Lamb
Dallas Cowboys · WR
Honestly, it'll be a shock if Lamb isn't signed to an extension before Week 1. But at the moment, he's officially in the last year of his rookie contract.
Rank
3
Brandon Aiyuk
San Francisco 49ers · WR
The best 49ers receiver of the Kyle Shanahan era. Aiyuk's improvement at route running has helped turn him into a top-15 wideout.
Rank
4
Creed Humphrey
Kansas City Chiefs · C
Humphrey is arguably the best center in football, set to hit free agency smack in the middle of his prime. The Chiefs may have to choose between him and ...
Rank
5
Trey Smith
Kansas City Chiefs · OG
Guards usually get paid more than centers in free agency, which might be a reason the Chiefs are forced to let Smith walk.
Rank
6
A.J. Terrell
Atlanta Falcons · CB
Terrell hasn't quite matched his breakout 2021 since it happened, but I've seen enough to know he's one of the 20 best cornerbacks in football.
Rank
7
Tee Higgins
Cincinnati Bengals · WR
Higgins combines red-zone skills with the ability to hit big plays. Even if he's not a true No. 1 wideout, elite secondary receivers are getting paid well over $20 million per season.
Rank
8
Charvarius Ward
San Francisco 49ers · CB
The 49ers gave Ward huge money when he first hit free agency in 2022 and haven't regretted it for a minute.
Rank
9
Alim McNeill
Detroit Lions · DT
McNeill is getting a boost here because there are so few promising D-line free agents in this class, especially on the interior.
Rank
10
Haason Reddick
New York Jets · Edge
While Reddick turns 30 in September, he has started a moderate amount of games (81) in his career, so he still should have ample tread on his tires. The edge rusher's currently holding out of Jets camp, having requested a trade from the team that acquired him in a March deal with the Eagles.
Rank
11
Garett Bolles
Denver Broncos · OT
Quality starting left tackles are so hard to find and they've been aging well into their mid-30s, meaning the 32-year-old Bolles is set for one more big payday.
Rank
12
Jevon Holland
Miami Dolphins · S
Every year in this exercise, I rank the safeties higher than their relative pay from NFL teams, and every year, I find a safety like Holland whom I'd absolutely pay because he's worth it.
Rank
13
Paulson Adebo
New Orleans Saints · CB
Like a lot of young cornerbacks, Adebo took time to marinate. That makes his 2024 massive because he's going to be a top-of-the-market player if he can repeat his breakout third season.
Rank
14
Asante Samuel Jr.
Los Angeles Chargers · CB
Samuel Jr. has a similar story to Paulson Adebo, improving his weaknesses on the fly. He's a playmaker.
Rank
15
Stefon Diggs
Houston Texans · WR
I still think Diggs has plenty of juice left, and he'll be motivated during a prove-it year with the Texans.
Rank
16
Amari Cooper
Cleveland Browns · WR
At times inscrutable, but always productive. Cooper's down years aren't that far down and he's a beast when he's rolling.
Rank
17
Carlton Davis
Detroit Lions · CB
At his streaky best, Davis still looks like a shutdown corner. Just ask him!
Rank
18
Diontae Johnson
Carolina Panthers · WR
Don't be surprised if Johnson has a monster season with the Panthers and raises his spot on this list.
Rank
19
Osa Odighizuwa
Dallas Cowboys · DT
Defensive tackles often start playing their best after 2-to-3 seasons. Odighizuwa is following that pattern, having logged 43 pressures in 2023, according to PFF.
Rank
20
Matt Judon
Atlanta Falcons · Edge
Judon was one of Bill Belichick's best free-agent signings and now enters a contract year with the Falcons. He's coming off an injury (biceps tear) that shouldn't impact his productivity going forward.
Rank
21
Zack Martin
Dallas Cowboys · OG
One of the greatest guards of all time, Martin could decide to retire rather than hitting free agency.
Rank
22
Nick Bolton
Kansas City Chiefs · LB
Bolton's one of the foundational pieces of Kansas City's defense. Look for the Chiefs to find a way to keep the linebacker beyond this season.
Rank
23
Dre Greenlaw
San Francisco 49ers · LB
While the freak injury (torn Achilles) suffered in the Super Bowl might depress his value, Greenlaw should be all the way back by the start of the 2025 season.
Rank
24
Pat Freiermuth
Pittsburgh Steelers · TE
Tight ends are sneaky hard to find in free agency and the best still should be ahead for Freiermuth.
Chris Godwin
Tampa Bay Buccaneers · WR
While Godwin has slowed down some since having surgeries, he's still only 28 years old and remains incredibly savvy.
Rank
26
Justin Fields
Pittsburgh Steelers · QB
At worst, Fields is a floor-raiser. His running ability provides a baseline for an offense and there's still potential for more if he lands in the right system.
Rank
27
Alaric Jackson
Los Angeles Rams · OT
There are more potential starting tackles available than usual, and they are all hard to separate because they are roughly league-average starters. Jackson gets the edge here because of his youth.
Rank
28
DeAndre Hopkins
Tennessee Titans · WR
You'll notice that wide receiver is deep this season. Consequently, it behooves all the elder statesmen to stay healthy in 2024, so they can cash in when they hit the market.
Rank
29
Keenan Allen
Chicago Bears · WR
See above.
Rank
30
Demarcus Lawrence
Dallas Cowboys · Edge
The sack total has leveled off, but Lawrence is still a rugged force to be reckoned with down after down.
Rank
31
Josh Sweat
Philadelphia Eagles · Edge
Good-not-great starting edge players are still worth plenty. Sweat has been mostly consistent in producing pressures for the Eagles.
Rank
32
Chase Young
New Orleans Saints · Edge
Young's strong training camp with the Saints is giving me hope he can have a resurgent season.
Rank
33
Malcolm Koonce
Las Vegas Raiders · Edge
Koonce came on strong in 2024 playing opposite Maxx Crosby. He could be peaking at the right time.
Rank
34
Walker Little
Jacksonville Jaguars · OT
This is admittedly a projection, but every bit of evidence thus far has shown Little can be a quality starting left tackle in the league. He's just been stuck behind Cam Robinson.
Rank
35
Drew Dalman
Atlanta Falcons · C
A rock-solid starter for the Falcons, Dalman is only ranked this low because his elite run-blocking skills aren't matched by his pass protection.
Rank
36
Ronnie Stanley
Baltimore Ravens · OT
Once thought of as the future of the tackle position, Stanley is now in a prove-it year with the Ravens because his body has been breaking down.
Rank
37
Justin Reid
Kansas City Chiefs · S
A quiet leader and glue guy for Steve Spagnuolo's defense in Kansas City, Reid's versatility makes him valuable.
Rank
38
Cam Robinson
Jacksonville Jaguars · OT
The Jaguars can't ever seem to quit Robinson, who would upgrade plenty of tackle rooms.
Rank
39
Marquise Brown
Kansas City Chiefs · WR
An injury has Brown's latest contract year off to a bad start, but it won't be a surprise if Patrick Mahomes ultimately gives "Hollywood" a statistical bump.
Rank
40
Baron Browning
Denver Broncos · Edge
The dude looks shot out of a canon off the edge and is still learning the position.
Rank
41
Dayo Odeyingbo
Indianapolis Colts · Edge
A talented pass rusher who has a chance for a breakout season as part of a great Colts pass rush.
Rank
42
Khalil Mack
Los Angeles Chargers · Edge
Not the weekly game-wrecker he once was, Mack could still be worth another solid contract as a part-time player.
Rank
43
Jedrick Wills
Cleveland Browns · OT
A high draft pick with plenty of starting experience will keep getting chances, even if Wills' play has left the Browns wanting recently.
Rank
44
Cameron Heyward
Pittsburgh Steelers · DT
Despite being 35 years old, Heyward still looks to have good years left as a rotational player.
Rank
45
Byron Murphy
Minnesota Vikings · CB
The Vikings cornerback (by way of Arizona) can play inside or out as a plus starter.
Rank
46
Ernest Jones
Los Angeles Rams · LB
After making his mark in Super Bowl LVI as a rookie, Jones has slowly developed into a strong all-around linebacker.
Rank
47
Budda Baker
Arizona Cardinals · S
Everyone's favorite undersized safety is an expert at beating expectations year after year.
Rank
48
Tyron Smith
New York Jets · OT
He's year-to-year at this point of his career. A healthy Smith is still a valuable one.
Rank
49
Tre'Davious White
Los Angeles Rams · CB
White has a chance to revive his career and his free agency value after signing a one-year contract with the Rams.
Rank
50
Nick Chubb
Cleveland Browns · RB
Chubb is recovering from a devastating knee injury, but I can't bear to leave one of the best players of his generation off this list.
