Each incoming wave of player movement has been a rollercoaster of emotion. Some moves seem to be a perfect fit, and others can’t help must leave you scratching your head.
Some of the NFL’s best players will be in new cities for the 2024 season, such as Saquon Barkley, Christian Wilkins, Kirk Cousins, and more.
Here we track the movements and offer our first thoughts on the impact of each free agent decision.
Quarterback Free-Agent Signings 2024
Running Back Free-Agent Signings 2024
Wide Receiver Free-Agent Signings 2024
Tight End Free-Agent Signings 2024
Offensive Lineman Free-Agent Signings 2024
Now that you’ve seen the top free agents on offense, track the best football futures odds with our NFL line comparison:
Interior Defensive Lineman Free-Agent Signings 2024
Aaron Donald: Retired
You could make the argument for Bob Lilly, Randy White, Joe Greene, Alan Page, Warren Sapp, Merlin Olsen, John Randle, Kevin Williams, Cortez Kennedy and the list goes on. But Aaron Donald is the GOAT defensive tackle.
Chris Jones: Re-signed with KC (five years, $158.75M)
The Chiefs maybe don’t win the Super Bowl without Jones. He’s one of the best defenders in the NFL and comes up huge when his team needed it the most.
Justin Madubuike: Re-signed with BAL (four years, $98M)
Madubuike had a career-best season and forking over nearly $100M is a big ask for a guy that was more of a role player to start his career.
Christian Wilkins: Signed with LVR (four years, $110M)
I’m a bit surprised that the Dolphins allowed Wilkins to test free agency, but his price tag is likely a big part of the reason. A team leader on defense, he gives the Raiders a new identity in their defensive front.
Grover Stewart: Re-signed with IND (three years, $39M)
An absolute space-eater on the interior who anchors this defensive line as a run defender.
Leonard Williams: Re-signed with SEA (three years, $64.5M)
Williams is a hair past his prime, yet you still want no piece of him as a five-technique. I’m not sure what to make of the Seahawks defense as they continue to underachieve no matter who they bring in.
DJ Reader: Signed with DET (two years, TBD)
One of the more underappreciated interior defenders in the NFL that’s been anchoring defensive fronts since 2016.
Sheldon Rankins: Signed with CIN (two years, $26M)
An excellent three-technique defensive tackle that will only make things easier for Sam Hubbard and Trey Hendrickson.
Javon Kinlaw: Signed with NYJ (one year, $7.25M)
It’s taken him a few years. Kinlaw is on the come-up and is an absolute steal to pull away from the 49ers.
Fletcher Cox: Retired
One of the best defensive tackles to ever do it. To lose Hall of Fame caliber players in the middle of their defensive line and with Jason Kelce on their offensive line is a lot to overcome.
A’Shawn Robinson: Signed with CAR (three years, $22.5M)
A two-down run lane plugger who will eat up space inside and allow inside linebackers Shaq Thompson and Josey Jewell to do their thing and keep their jerseys clean.
Edge Defender Free-Agent Signings 2024
Brian Burns: Franchise-tagged by CAR, traded to NYG
The Panthers botched this one by not trading him away a year ago. Now they received much less from the Giants than what they would have if they traded him to the Rams over a year ago.
Burns is one of the best pass rushers in the game and between him and Kayvon Thibodeaux, early condolences to opposing offensive tackles.
Danielle Hunter: Signed with HOU (two years, $49M)
Not a bad deal for a top-flight pass rusher who’s coming off four straight years with at least 10.5 sacks (not including and injury-shortened 2021). Though I’d prefer they would’ve re-signed Jonathan Greenard, who they’ve been grooming since 2020 and just posted 12.5 sacks in 2023.
Josh Allen: Franchise-tagged by JAC (one year, $24.01M)
Stop calling him the other Josh Allen! In what will be his age-27 season, this former Kentucky Wildcats star will look to improve upon his career-best 17.5 sacks.
Jonathan Greenard: Signed with MIN (four years, $76M)
Greenard finally came into his own with the Texans after flashing some serious talent. The Vikings are losing Danielle Hunter so finding a new stud to rush the passer had to be done.
Bryce Huff: Signed with PHI (three years, $51.1M)
In his fourth season, Huff put it together to total 10 sacks in 2023. He’s been mostly a rotational player, so the Eagles will need him to step up into this expanded role.
Chase Young
Jadeveon Clowney
Josh Uche: Re-signed with NE (one year, $3M)
Za’Darius Smith: Re-signed with CLE (two years, 23.5M)
Consistently one of the best two-way edge defenders in the NFL, Smith is a solid re-sign for the Browns. Myles Garrett gets a ton of press, but it’s guys like Smith who allow elevate their teammates to go off.
Leonard Floyd: Signed with SF (two years, $20M)
Floyd’s been a hired gun these last few seasons, playing for the Rams, Bills and now the 49ers. And the production is still there. He’s delivered at least nine sacks in each of his last four seasons, despite only playing in 11 games in 2023.
Dorance Armstrong: Signed with WAS (three years, $33M)
A name most probably don’t know, Armstrong has been waiting in the wings behind Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence. A seasoned young vet with a ton to prove. One of my favorite low-key signings.
D.J. Wonnum: Signed with CAR (two years, $12.5M)
Brandon Graham: Re-signed with PHI (one year, TBD)
Linebacker Free-Agent Signings 2024
Patrick Queen: Signed with PIT (three years, $41M)
I want to believe Queen is great, but I don’t believe he’s ever been the best linebacker on his own team. He’ll immediately start and be a leader in Pittsburgh. He’s really good-there’s just something missing.
Jordyn Brooks: Signed with MIA (three years, $26.25M)
It wasn’t even certain that Brooks would be ready at the start of the 2023 season. Well he was and he didn’t miss a beat, earning a well-deserved big contract from Miami this FA period.
Frankie Luvu: Signed with WAS (three years, $31M)
Luvu, when healthy, has been a tackle monster for Carolina. An undrafted free agent to start his career, the former Wazzou inside linebacker will now terrorize offenses in Washington.
Devin White: Signed with PHI (one year, TBD)
White has been benefitted from playing in a defense that’s overachieved and been surrounded by an elite supporting cast like Lavonte David, Antoine Winfield, and more. I believe he’ll be second fiddle to Nakobe Dean.
Lavonte David: Re-signed with TB (one year, TBD)
A borderline Hall of Famer deserves to finish his career with the Bucs. He’s 12th all-time in combined tackles, up there with the greats.
Bobby Wagner: Signed with WAS (one year, TBD)
Speaking of all-time greats, Wagner takes his talents to the capital. He’s still great against the run, but leaves a lot to be desired in pass coverage.
Jerome Baker
Josey Jewell: Signed with CAR (three years, $22.75M)
A serviceable plug at the center of a defense. He pairs well with Shaq Thompson, who offers a little more athleticism in pass coverage.
Azeez Al-Shaair: Signed with HOU (three years, $34M)
After making a name for himself in San Francisco, Al-Shaair was the man in Tennessee, accumulating the fifth-most tackles in the NFL last year. He bet on himself on that one-year deal and is now handsomely rewarded by Houston.
Blake Cashman: Signed with MIN (three years, $22.5M)
Cashman will hold down the center of the Vikings defense. Minnesota has revamped their LB corps with Cashman, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Greenard.
Drue Tranquill: Re-signed with KC (three years, $19M)
Tranquill outplayed Willie Gay, who signed with the New Orleans Saints. He is the No. 2 in a formidable duo with Nick Bolton.
Cornerback Free-Agent Signings 2024
L’Jarius Sneed: Franchise-tagged by KC (one year, $19.8M)
Sneed has been a shutdown corner for multiple years now and absolutely worth the franchise tag. As much as is made about pass-rushers in today’s NFL, the cornerback position is on the rise because of the difference guys like Sneed can make to a team.
Jaylon Johnson: Re-signed with CHI (four years, $76M)
Johnson is more than just a flashy PFF grade and skilled one-on-one cover corner. He can effectively shut down a whole half of the field and he’s just entering his prime in his age-25 season.
Sean Murphy-Bunting: Signed with ARI (three years, $25.5M)
The Bucs were right to let him test free agency and it shows how thirsty the market is for corners as the Cardinals had to overpay here.
Kendall Fuller: Signed with MIA (two years, $16.5M)
A good, sometimes great, sometimes inconsistent corner that is actually earning much less than he was on his last contract signed with Washington in 2020 (four years, $40M). He’s a quality defender, just not in that first or second tier of corners that many believed him to be just a few years ago.
Adoree’ Jackson
Chidobe Awuzie: Signed with TEN (three years, TBD)
An ACL tear derailed his career for a bit, but look for Awuzie to get back to his former glory in a physical Titans defense.
Kenny Moore II: Re-signed with IND (three years, $30M)
One of the best slot corners in the game is rewarded with a plus contract. A former undrafted free agent has earned two straight big contracts from the Colts. He is this team’s unheralded core and leader.
Stephon Gilmore
Steven Nelson
Safety Free-Agent Signings 2024
Antoine Winfield Jr.: Franchise-tagged by Tampa Bay Buccaneers (one year, $17.12M)
The Buccaneers continue to have to play financial musical chairs with so many veterans coming up in free agency. Winfield Jr. is an All-Pro caliber talent and deserves every penny.
Xavier McKinney: Signed with Green Bay Packers (four years, $68M)
On paper, you’ll hear about what McKinney does in coverage, but he’s even better when you watch him play. The Packers needed to shore up their passing defense and this certainly upgrades their secondary.
Kyle Dugger: Franchise-tagged by New England Patriots (one year, $13.81M)
Dugger has been one of the lone bright spots in what was once one of the better defenses in the league. Whether he’s covering the slot, working in the box, or covering a deep-half, Dugger does it all in this defense.
Kamren Curl: Signed with LAR (two years, $13M)
Missing the first couple games of the 2022 season put on display how much Curl was central to Washington’s defense. The Rams got a great deal here.
C.J. Gardner-Johnson: Signed with PHI (three years, $33M)
CJGJ can do it all, whether it’s sliding into the slot, bulking up the box in run support, or dropping back into coverage. He’s back in Philly and probably should’ve never left after his 2022 season.
Julian Blackmon
Jordan Fuller
Jordan Whitehead: Signed with TB (two years, $9M)
Whitehead turned his career around with the Jets over the last two years after beginning his career in Tampa.
Kevin Byard: Signed with Chicago Bears (two years, $15M)
Maybe not quite the ball hawk he used to be, Byard is one of the better deep safeties in the league.
DeShon Elliott: Signed with PIT (two years, $6M)
Elliott is like a linebacker and will allow Minkah Fitzpatrick to roam free. The Steelers secondary got a great deal at this price.
Tashaun Gipson Sr.
Eddie Jackson
Geno Stone: Signed with Cincinnati Bengals (two years, $15M)
Stone, the Ravens third-best safety last year, behind Kyle Hamilton and Marcus Williams, is better than many team’s best starting safety.
Jeremy Chinn: Signed with WAS (one year, $5.1M)
Chinn can be a liability in coverage, but he’s lights out when he can focus on the run game. The Commanders need to play him to his strengths.
