The Best NFL Free Agents In 2024

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6. Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals​

2023 salary: $3 million
Age entering 2024 season: 25

Why he could get paid: The 6-foot-4 target can produce at all three levels of the route tree, making him our top wide receiver right now for free agency. Higgins has 21 touchdowns over four seasons, along with two 1,000-yard seasons despite sharing targets in the Bengals offense with Ja'Marr Chase. He has the inside/outside alignment flexibility and vertical stretch traits to post high-end numbers as a volume target. -- Bowen

What we're hearing: Largely considered a No. 1-caliber receiver, Higgins will be hard for Cincinnati to keep. The franchise tag is $22.9 million, and the Bengals also need to pay Chase eventually. Higgins had significant trade interest at the deadline. He's exactly what a team like Carolina needs -- a bona fide vertical threat with size. Should he get to free agency, Higgins is probably the best wide receiver on the open market since Amari Cooper in 2020. -- Fowler

 

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5. Danielle Hunter, EDGE, Minnesota Vikings​

2023 salary: $17 million
Age entering 2024 season: 29

Why he could get paid: Hunter has been highly productive this season, currently tied for a league-best 11 sacks. Plus, he has 31 pressures and three forced fumbles. With his long frame and great short-area speed, Hunter has the upper-level pass-rushing traits that NFL teams want on the edge. -- Bowen

What we're hearing: No one has helped their free agency profile more than Hunter, who is tracking for nearly 19 sacks on the season. Hunter will be 29 to start the 2024 season, paving the way for a lucrative three- or four-year deal at well above $20 million per season. Jacksonville has long been a fan of Hunter's game, but Denver also could bolster its pass rush -- the Broncos are typically unafraid to spend in March. -- Fowler

 

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4. Christian Wilkins, DT, Miami Dolphins​

2023 salary: $10.8 million
Age entering 2024 season: 28

Why he could get paid: Wilkins has the position versatility to produce in multiple NFL fronts. He can align as a 3-technique, play nose tackle or even slide to the edge. And he is an explosive mover off the ball with the lateral juice to impact both the run and pass defense. This season, Wilkins has 4.5 sacks, 18 pressures and 37 tackles. -- Bowen

What we're hearing: Enough teams love Wilkins' versatile game that he will be paid handsomely. Several respected executives consider him a top-10 defensive tackle. Miami and Wilkins' agent, David Mulugheta, negotiated diligently over the summer but couldn't agree on a structure. Lack of sack production (11.5 through his first four seasons) loomed large over talks, but he's pacing for a career-high 8.5 sacks this year, which only strengthens his position. The franchise tag for defensive tackles is around $20.8 million. -- Fowler

 

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3. Kirk Cousins, QB, Minnesota Vikings​

2023 salary: $35 million
Age entering 2024 season: 36

Why he could get paid: Before tearing his right Achilles in Week 8, Cousins was completing nearly 70% of his throws, and he had thrown 18 touchdown passes to five interceptions. He's an easy fit for a system with play-action elements in the pass game, and Cousins should be viewed as an immediate upgrade for many offenses this offseason. -- Bowen

What we're hearing: Cousins' current contract states he cannot be franchise-tagged, so it's open season for the accomplished quarterback. That said, staying in Minnesota is still on the table. Teams I've talked to project a Derek Carr-like market ($37.5 million annually) with stronger guarantees, though perhaps not the fully guaranteed deals that Cousins has enjoyed in the past. Multiple people I've talked to around the league consider Atlanta a sensible spot for Cousins. -- Fowler

 

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2. Chris Jones, DT, Kansas City Chiefs​

2023 salary: $18.4 million
Age entering 2024 season: 30

Why he could get paid: With 5.5 sacks this season and the versatility to align off the edge -- where his pass rush win rate jumps from 14.7% to 25.0% -- Jones is still a game-wrecking talent on the defensive front. The eight-year veteran is a true disruptor, with 70.5 sacks, 12 forced fumbles and 25 pass breakups over his career. -- Bowen

What we're hearing: After talking to several people around the league about Jones, the feeling is he could flirt with the $30 million-per-year threshold on a new deal. He's the closest thing to Aaron Donald and has prime years left, turning 30 in July. The Chiefs likely can't afford to tag Jones; that would be worth 120% of his current $26.8 million cap hit, which works out to be more than $32 million. -- Fowler

 

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1. Brian Burns, EDGE, Carolina Panthers​

2023 salary: $16 million
Age entering 2024 season: 26

Why he could get paid: Burns has five sacks this season after posting 12.5 in 2022, and his pass rush win rate of 27.3% would rank third in the NFL if he qualified. He's just now entering his prime playing years, too. Burns has high-end edge-rushing traits, including the speed, explosive power and lower-body flexibility to consistently create pocket disruption. -- Bowen

What we're hearing: Burns would have a massive market in free agency, but the expectation around the league is the Panthers will franchise-tag Burns at around $22 million. Things will then get interesting. Does Burns stay away from the team and threaten to miss games? The sides never closed the gap in 2023 offseason negotiations, and it feels like anything is possible at this point. -- Fowler

 

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Pittman Jr is top 10