NFL free agency began over a week ago, and many of the top free agents in the 2024 cycle have already found new homes. Players like Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Kirk Cousins, and Calvin Ridley are on new teams, but there are still a good number of quality players on the market.
Here are ten of the top available free agents:
Justin Simmons
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Simmons is one of the top free agents on the market. Simmons is coming off a season in which he was named a second-team All-Pro, recording 70 tackles, three picks, one sack, and two forced fumbles. Whichever team wins him over will surely have a great addition coming in.
Jadeveon Clowney
Clowney put in a strong season for a tremendous Baltimore Ravens in 2023. He tied his career-high with 9.5 sacks while adding two forced fumbles. In addition, Clowney played in every game in 2023 for the first time since 2017. He can be a good pickup to bolster a D-line and their pass rush.
Stephon Gilmore
Gilmore proved he still has gas left in the tank in a productive year with the Dallas Cowboys. Though Gilmore is now 33, the former Defensive Player of the Year and two-time All-Pro showed he can still contribute to a team, especially one that doesn’t have depth in the secondary.
Julian Blackmon
The former Colts safety is one of the younger free agents left on the market at just 26 years old. A player who notched four interceptions and two fumble recoveries in 2023 has an upside and should be able to find a home soon.
Andrus Peat
The former New Orleans Saint remains on the market as one of the better available offensive line free agents. A three-time Pro Bowler, Peat was part of an O-line that allowed the seventh-fewest sacks in 2023.
Micah Hyde
A key piece to the Buffalo Bills secondary along with Jordan Poyer over the last few years, Hyde is now in search of a team. The primary thing working against Hyde, a two-time second-team All-Pro, is his age. At 33, there might be only so much longer that Hyde is effective. However, he could bring a strong veteran presence to a team on a short-term deal.
Josh Reynolds
Reynolds was an undervalued piece of the Detroit Lions wide receiving core in 2023, helping the team reach the NFC Championship Game for the first time since the 1990s. Reynolds went for 608 yards and five touchdowns in the Ben Johnson offense and could help another team as a WR3. If signed to a team with a good OC like Johnson, Reynolds could be a key offensive addition.
Odell Beckham Jr.
OBJ is the biggest name of any free agent remaining but has some question marks surrounding him. Beckham has struggled with injuries over the last five years, and Though OBJ played more in
Steven Nelson
Nelson was a key piece for the Houston Texans’ much-improved defense in 2023. The cornerback notched four interceptions and 12 pass breakups while allowing just a 73.3 passer rating when targeted by opposing quarterbacks.
Adoree Jackson
A former first-round pick and recent New York Giant, Jackson remains a versatile player who could do well with the right scheme. Though his 2023 season wasn’t amazing, he did allow less than a 53% completion rate in 2021 and 2022 when targeted. That kind of rate would be helpful for several teams.
Uncommon Knowledge
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