NFL free agency 2024: Ranking best 50 players set to be free agents

NFL free agency is set to kick off in just a matter of days, when the two-day legal tampering period begins at noon ET on March 11. Deals for players can become official once the NFL's new league year starts at 4 p.m. ET on March 13.

Defensive tackle Chris Jones, running back Saquon Barkley, quarterback Kirk Cousins and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins are some of the top players scheduled to enter free agency this year.

Will your favorite team land one of the best free agents available? USA TODAY Sports ranks the top 50 players set to be NFL free agents. This is our second installment.

1. Chiefs DT Chris Jones

Jones has been Kansas City’s top defensive player during its three Super Bowl championship seasons. A five-time Pro Bowler and twice a first team All-Pro, Jones and Aaron Donald are the two best interior defensive linemen in the NFL.

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2. Giants RB Saquon Barkley

Barkley has topped 1,200 yards from scrimmage in four of his six seasons. The running back position has been devalued in recent years, but Barkley can be a game-changer in the backfield.

3. Broncos S Justin Simmons

Is the safety position becoming less important due to the increased amount of short passes? Plenty of safeties are available, but Simmons is at the top. Since entering the NFL in 2016, no player has more interceptions than Simmons (30).

4. Vikings QB Kirk Cousins

The soon to be 36-year-old quarterback is coming off a torn Achilles, but Cousins exited last season with a 103.8 passer rating. The Vikings will try to keep Cousins and star WR Justin Jefferson together.

5. Dolphins DT Christian Wilkins

Wilkins has been Miami’s best defensive player up front for multiple seasons. He registered a career-high nine sacks and had 61 pressures in 2023.

6. Titans RB Derrick Henry

Henry’s compiled 1,000 rushing yards in five of the past six seasons, including 1,167 yards in 2023. Henry is 30 years old and has a lot of mileage, but he proved last year that he’s still one of the best running backs in the NFL — and has gas in the tank.

7. Raiders RB Josh Jacobs

Jacobs is one year removed from leading the league in rushing and yards from scrimmage. At 26 years old, he’s the youngest among the top free-agent running backs on this list.

8. Cowboys OT Tyron Smith

Smith’s been one of the NFL’s best left tackles over the last decade. Father Time is starting to take its toll on Smith, but he gave up just three sacks and 21 pressures in 13 games last season, per Pro Football Focus.

9. 49ers DE/OLB Chase Young

Young hasn’t taken the next step since his defensive rookie of the year campaign in 2020. The talent is there but consistency is an issue. Young had eight tackles, one sack and two tackles for loss in three playoff games for the 49ers this past season.

10. Vikings DE/OLB Danielle Hunter

Hunter’s 87.5 sacks rank No. 3 in Minnesota franchise history. The 6-foot-5 edge rusher led the NFC last year with 16.5 sacks.

11. Jaguars WR Calvin Ridley

Coming off a year-long suspension for violating the NFL's gambling policy, Ridley led the Jaguars with 1,016 receiving yards. The 29-year-old is one of the top route runners in the NFL.

12. Ravens LB Patrick Queen

One half of Baltimore’s dynamic linebacker duo, Queen produced at least 106 tackles in three of the last four seasons. But the Ravens signed Roquan Smith to a five-year, $100 million contract in January 2023. They are unlikely to dole out another lucrative contract at linebacker.

13. Seahawks LB Jordyn Brooks

A tackling machine. Brooks has compiled over 110 tackles in each of the past three seasons. The inside linebacker is always near the center of the action.

14. Texans DE/OLB Jonathan Greenard

Greenard had a team-high 12.5 sacks last season when defensive rookie of the year Will Anderson Jr. saw most of the double teams and chip blocks. Greenard had 10.5 total sacks in his first three seasons. Can he continue to trend upward? A team will bank on it.

15. Seahawks DE Leonard Williams

Williams can still be a force up front. He had 41 tackles, nine tackles for loss and four sacks in 10 games with the Seahawks.

16. Patriots OL Mike Onwenu

Onwenu allowed three sacks and 23 pressures for New England last season. The versatile offensive lineman can play guard or tackle.

17. Lions S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson

Gardner-Johnson suffered a torn pec in Week 2 of last season. His six interceptions in 2022 were tied for No. 1 in the league. Will he be able to return to form in 2024?

18. Cardinals WR Marquise Brown

Brown and Kyler Murray are good friends, which could factor into his free agency decision. But Brown is probably best suited as a team’s No. 2 wideout. Could Arizona draft Marvin Harrison Jr. No. 4 overall to play alongside of Brown?

19. Commanders CB Kendall Fuller

Fuller allowed a 120.4 passer rating and nine touchdowns when targeted. But his 2023 performance could’ve been a byproduct of Washington’s league-worst defense. 

20. Cowboys CB Stephon Gilmore

The 2019 defensive player of the year stepped up last season, especially when Trevon Diggs (knee) went down for the year. Gilmore will turn 34 years old during the regular season, but showed last year that he can still play at a high level.

21. Bills S Jordan Poyer

Poyer was a surprising release. He was a team captain in Buffalo and his 22 interceptions with the Bills ranks tied for 10th-most all-time in team history.

22. Jets LB Bryce Huff

Huff led a talented Jets defense with 10 sacks last season. He’s a pass-rush specialist, but never has had a season with over 29 tackles.

23. Bills WR Gabe Davis

Davis is a steady receiver who’s never had a season below 35 receptions and 500 receiving yards. He’s best suited as a team’s second or third wide receiver option.

24. Browns DE/OLB Za'Darius Smith

Smith and defensive player of the year Myles Garrett formed a formidable tandem in Cleveland last season. Smith had 5.5 sacks, 61 pressures and three pass deflections for the Browns in 2023.

25. Giants S Xavier McKinney

McKinney’s three interceptions led New York. He also logged 116 tackles. The Alabama product is a productive player in the defensive backfield.

26. Bucs LB Devin White

White is an athletic linebacker, but consistency has been an issue. After three straight seasons with at least 120 tackles and three sacks, White declined to 83 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 2023.

27. Dolphins OG Robert Hunt

Hunt has started 55 games since 2020. He’s had 45 starts at right guard and 11 at right tackle. He’s more comfortable playing at guard. 

28. Panthers LB Frankie Luvu

Guess who led the Panthers in tackles last season? Luvu tallied over 110 tackles in each of the last two seasons and started all 17 games for the Panthers in 2023.

29. Bucs LB Lavonte David

The 34-year-old inside linebacker is long in the tooth, but he’s recordued over 100 tackles in six of the past seven seasons. David has a couple good years left.

30. Ravens DE/OLB Jadeveon Clowney

Clowney had a resurgent year in Baltimore last season. Clowney’s 9.5 sacks tied a career single-season high and his 43 tackles were his most since 2018.

31. Bengals DT D.J. Reader

Reader suffered a devastating quad injury last season. The defensive tackle would be ranked higher if it weren’t for the injury. He’s been a key part of Cincy’s defense since joining the team in 2020.

32. Broncos QB Russell Wilson

Wilson had an up and down two years in Denver. However, the veteran QB did have 26 touchdowns passes to just eight interceptions. Wilson can still be a starting QB in the right system. The Broncos incurred a record-setting $85 million dead cap hit over the next two seasons due to Wilson’s release.

33. Seahawks LB Bobby Wagner

Wagner will be 34 at the start of the 2024 season. That’s the only reason he’s outside of the top 20. He’s defying Father Time. Wagner led the NFL with 183 tackles in 2023. He’s compiled over 100 tackles in 12 of his NFL seasons.

34. Bucs QB Baker Mayfield

Mayfield revitalized his career with the Bucs last year. His 4,044 passing yards and 28 touchdown passes were both career highs. His 2023 performance will likely land him another contract in Tampa Bay.

35. Bucs DE/OLB Shaquil Barrett

Barrett’s productions slipped since his 10-sack season in 2020. Father Time could be starting to creep in, but the edge rusher is coming off a year in which he tallied 52 tackles and 4.5 sacks.

36. Chiefs LB Willie Gay Jr.

Gay Jr. started 28 games the past two years for the back-to-back Super Bowl champions. His championship experience and versatility as an inside linebacker will make him attractive in the open market.

37. Eagles DT Fletcher Cox

A linchpin along Philadelphia’s defensive line since 2012. It’s hard to imagine Cox putting on a different uniform if he doesn’t decide to hang up his cleats.

38. Titans LB Azeez Al-Shaair

Al-Shaair was an underrated linebacker in four seasons with the 49ers. In his lone season in Tennessee, he registered a team-high 163 total tackles, which ranked fifth in the NFL last year.

39. Bills C Mitch Morse

Morse was a Pro Bowler in 2022. He was part of the flurry of veteran cuts the Bills made ahead of free agency.

40. Broncos C Lloyd Cushenberry

Cushenberry has started 57 games over the course of four seasons in Denver. He’s a reliable center who can be plugged in right away.

41. Cowboys RB Tony Pollard

Pollard compiled over 1,000 rushing yards and 300 receiving yards in two straight seasons. The Cowboys won’t place the franchise tag on him this year.

42. Patriots LB Josh Uche

Uche is a reserve linebacker who jumped on the scene in 2022 with 11.5 sacks, however he didn’t make a big impact last season.

43. Commanders QB Jacoby Brissett

Brissett threw for 224 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in three games for the Commanders in 2023. He was the best quarterback in the nation’s capital last season, but the previous regime figured that out too late. 

44. Seahawks S Quandre Diggs

Diggs was a salary cap casualty. He started every game for Seattle the past four seasons and is a three-time Pro Bowler as well as a team captain. The 31-year-old safety produced over 90 tackles in two of the last three seasons.

45. Eagles S Kevin Byard

Byard was acquired by the Eagles in a midseason trade, but never quite found his stride in Philly. He had 75 tackles, three passes defended and one interception in 10 games with the Eagles.

46. Bengals CB Chidobe Awuzie

Awuzie’s been Cincinnati’s top cornerback the past three seasons, although he’s battled some injuries.

47. Seahawks S Jamal Adams

Adams was cut after four underwhelming seasons in Seattle. He never started more than 12 games in a single season with the Seahawks. A change of scenery could do well for the three-time Pro Bowler.

48. Dolphins CB Xavien Howard

Howard’s coverage ability declined a little bit last year. He allowed nearly a 63% completion percentage when targeted, the second highest rate of his career. But entering his ninth year, Howard is still a starting-caliber corner.

49. Dolphins DE/OLB Andrew Van Ginkel

Van Ginkel plays with a high motor. He saw career-highs in both sacks (6) and pass deflections (8) last season.

50. Commanders S Kamren Curl

A primary starter at safety for Washington the past four seasons. Curl produced a career-best 115 tackles in 2023. His five passes defended tied a career high.

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