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USA Today Sports Media Group

Sport

Christian D'Andrea

The top 102 NFL free agents for 2024, from Chris Jones to Isaiah Simmons

Chris Jones NFL USA TODAY Sports Daniel Jones Ravens Christian Wilkins Buccaneers Chiefs Cincinnati (Organization) Cincinnati Bengals

The 2023 NFL season is over. Now begins the race to dethrone the Kansas City Chiefs as world champions.

Kansas City heads into the offseason with the biggest free agent in the league lingering at the top of its to-do list. The Chiefs re-signed defensive tackle Chris Jones to a one-year deal after a brief holdout last season, then saw him devastate opponents and wipe postseason touchdowns off the scoreboard by being a wrecking ball at the center of the team’s defense. He’s made it clear he wants to return to Missouri for 2024 and beyond — but he won’t come cheap.

Jones is only one of nearly 800 NFL veterans who’ll be available on the open market this spring. More are set to come as franchises release highly paid veterans in order to trim their payroll. That’s a prelude to March 11, when the league’s legal tampering period begins and reports of massive contracts will kick off the offseason in earnest.

Who joins Jones amidst the most-wanted free agents of 2024? Let’s run down this year’s top 102 available veterans.

1. DT Chris Jones

2023 team: Kansas City Chiefs
Age: 30
2023 avg. salary: $20,000,000
Who is he? Game-changing pass rusher who may have usurped the mantle of “best interior lineman” from Aaron Donald in 2023.

2. EDGE Brian Burns

2023 team: Carolina Panthers
Age: 26
2023 avg. salary: $3,385,046
Who is he? Dynamic young edge rusher with 46 sacks and 142 quarterback pressures in five seasons with the Panthers.

3. EDGE Josh Allen

2023 team: Jacksonville Jaguars
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $5,685,659
Who is he? Fast-twitch edge rusher who had a breakthrough 17.5 sacks in his age 26 season last fall.

4. WR Tee Higgins

2023 team: Cincinnati Bengals
Age: 25
2023 avg. salary: $2,171,697
Who is he? Big field-stretching wideout who fell off in an injury-plagued 2023 but has all the chops to be a proper WR1.

5. QB Kirk Cousins

2023 team: Minnesota Vikings
Age: 36
2023 avg. salary: $35,000,000
Who is he? Veteran quarterback coming off his best season as a pro but also one that ended with a torn Achilles at age 35.

6. CB Jaylon Johnson

2023 team: Chicago Bears
Age: 25
2023 avg. salary: $1,617,194
Who is he? Rising lockdown corner who allowed just a 50.9 (!) passer rating in coverage last season.

7. IDL Justin Madubuike

2023 team: Baltimore Ravens
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $1,213,328
Who is he? Wrecking ball defensive tackle to surged to prominence under Mike Macdonald but now has to prove he can consistently spring for 10-plus sacks each year.

8. S Antoine Winfield, Jr.

2023 team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Age: 26
2023 avg. salary: $1,826,796
Who is he? Do-everything safety who makes everyone on his defense look better.

9. CB L’Jarius Sneed

2023 team: Chiefs
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $982,330
Who is he? Devastating slot cornerback with the versatility to harass wideouts inside and out.

10. IDL Christian Wilkins

2023 team: Miami Dolphins
Age: 29
2023 avg. salary: $3,859,774
Who is he? Reliable bulldozer of a defensive tackle whose pass rushing breakthrough in 2023 leaves him at the brink of All-Pro status.

11. IDL Leonard Williams

2023 team: Seattle Seahawks
Age: 30
2023 avg. salary: $21,000,000
Who is he? Veteran tackle still capable of being a manace in running lanes or crumpling pockets from the middle-out.

12. EDGE Danielle Hunter

2023 team: Vikings
Age: 30
2023 avg. salary: $17,000,000
Who is he? Rock solid edge rusher who’ll give you double-digit sacks each year as long as he’s healthy.

13. WR Mike Evans

2023 team: Buccaneers
Age: 31
2023 avg. salary: $16,500,000
Who is he? The Instant Pot of NFL wideouts. Throw a bunch of stuff his way and he’ll turn it into a meal with little effort.

14. LT Tyron Smith

2023 team: Dallas Cowboys
Age: 34
2023 avg. salary: $6,000,000
Who is he? Future Hall of Famer with the game to age gracefully after an All-Pro age 33 season.

15. LB Frankie Luvu

2023 team: Panthers
Age: 28
2023 avg. salary: $4,500,000
Who is he? Under-appreciated off-ball linebacker who does a little bit of everything well.

16. WR Calvin Ridley

2023 team: Jaguars
Age: 30
2023 avg. salary: $2,725,183
Who is he? Maybe no longer an All-Pro wideout, but still capable of being a Pro Bowl one.

17. RG Kevin Dotson

2023 team: Los Angeles Rams
Age: 28
2023 avg. salary: $2,250,000
Who is he? Young interior lineman who is anonymous in all the right ways.

18. RT Michael Onwenu

2023 team: New England Patriots
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $874,367
Who is he? Flexible blocker who can handle several positions but has All-Pro upside at guard.

19. WR Michael Pittman, Jr.

2023 team: Indianapolis Colts
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $2,153,211
Who is he? Big-bodied possession receiver who can help his quarterback out of a jam.

20. IDL D.J. Reader

2023 team: Cincinnati Bengals
Age: 30
2023 avg. salary: $13,250,000
Who is he? Blocker-mashing veteran who clogs running lanes and actively prevents quarterbacks from stepping up in the pocket.

21. S Geno Stone

2023 team: Ravens
Age: 25
2023 avg. salary: $1,760,000
Who is he? Rising young safety who has to prove his breakout 2023 was more than the function of a great Ravens defense around him.

22. RG Kevin Zeitler

2023 team: Ravens
Age: 34
2023 avg. salary: $7,500,000
Who is he? Set-it-and-forget-it lineman who rarely gets blown up.

23. S Kyle Dugger

2023 team: Patriots
Age: 28
2023 avg. salary: $2,082,976
Who is he? Hard hitting safety who covers a lot of ground and can generate chaos.

24. S Xavier McKinney

2023 team: New York Giants
Age: 25
2023 avg. salary: $2,097,762
Who is he? Valuable back-line eraser with injury concerns and a high ceiling.

25. CB Chidobe Awuzie

2023 team: Bengals
Age: 29
2023 avg. salary: $7,250,000
Who is he? Trusted starter who battled injuries in Cincinnati and was lowkey disappointing in 2023; he’s still capable of being a top corner.

26. EDGE Chase Young

2023 team: San Francisco 49ers
Age: 25
2023 avg. salary: $8,640,900
Who is he? High profile pass rusher capable of dizzying highs and frustrating lows.

27. WR Marquise Brown

2023 team: Arizona Cardinals
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $2,946,835
Who is he? 1,000-yard receiver who can thrive as an intermediate option but may not be a true WR1.

28. EDGE Bryce Huff

2023 team: New York Jets
Age: 26
2023 avg. salary: $4,304,000
Who is he? Rising young pass rusher who had 10 sacks in 2023 despite playing just 42 percent of the Jets’ defensive snaps.

29. RB Saquon Barkley

2023 team: Giants
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $10,091,000
Who is he? Powerhouse tailback who helped make Daniel Jones a playoff winner, but toiled in 2023 behind a rough offensive line.

30. CB Kendall Fuller

2023 team: Washington Commanders
Age: 29
2023 avg. salary: $10,000,000
Who is he? Solid veteran cornerback who struggled in Washington last season, but so did pretty much everyone.

31. LB Patrick Queen

2023 team: Ravens
Age: 25
2023 avg. salary: $3,040,418
Who is he? Former first round pick who has lived up to the billing the past two years after an uneven start to his career.

32. QB Baker Mayfield

2023 team: Buccaneers
Age: 29
2023 avg. salary: $4,000,000
Who is he? Former top overall pick who went from 2022’s worst starting quarterback to a place just outside the top 10 in Tampa.

33. RG Robert Hunt

2023 team: Miami Dolphins
Age: 28
2023 avg. salary: $2,016,436
Who is he? Big, athletic guard who can seal running lanes in a hurry or keep his QB upright.

34. LB Bobby Wagner

2023 team: Seahawks
Age: 34
2023 avg. salary: $5,500,000
Who is he? Future Hall of Famer who still brings plenty of value to the middle of the field.

35. C Connor Williams

2023 team: Dolphins
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $7,017,500
Who is he? Immensely strong center who gets upfield with a passion to blast open holes.

36. EDGE Za'Darius Smith

2023 team: Cleveland Browns
Age: 32
2023 avg. salary: $11,677,000
Who is he? Veteran pass rusher who remains a valuable edge presence and continues to produce.

37. RB Derrick Henry

2023 team: Tennessee Titans
Age: 30
2023 avg. salary: $12,500,000
Who is he? Bulldozing tailback who brings value even as he ages into the twilight of his career.

38. RB Josh Jacobs

2023 team: Las Vegas Raiders
Age: 26
2023 avg. salary: $11,791,000
Who is he? Former rushing leader who was, uh, less than that in 2023.

39. CB Kenny Moore

2023 team: Indianapolis Colts
Age: 29
2023 avg. salary: $8,325,000
Who is he? Perpetually solid slot cornerback who it would be weird to see anywhere but Indianapolis at this point.

40. CB Stephon Gilmore

2023 team: Cowboys
Age: 34
2023 avg. salary: $10,000,000
Who is he? A continual standout, even in his hired gun, one-year-deal phase.

41. EDGE Andrew Van Ginkel

2023 team: Dolphins
Age: 29
2023 avg. salary: $2,650,000
Who is he? High-motor edge rusher who is perpetually around the ball.

42. RT Jonah Williams

2023 team: Bengals
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $4,407,542
Who is he? Left tackle who was unhappy about being moved to right tackle in Cincinnati and now has something to prove.

43. EDGE Jonathan Greenard

2023 team: Houston Texans
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $1,118,889
Who is he? Under-appreciated defensive end who may be limited to pass rushing duties but does them very, very well.

44. S Kamren Curl

2023 team: Commanders
Age: 25
2023 avg. salary: $852,082
Who is he? Rare bright spot for Washington who has developed into one of the league’s most versatile safeties.

45. TE Dalton Schultz

2023 team: Texans
Age: 28
2023 avg. salary: $6,250,000
Who is he? Useful target at tight end whose blocking doesn’t measure up to his presence in the passing game.

46. RB Tony Pollard

2023 team: Cowboys
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $10,091,000
Who is he? Explosive runner whose red zone woes suggest he may be best suited for a high-powered platoon.

47. S Jeremy Chinn

2023 team: Panthers
Age: 26
2023 avg. salary: $1,310,369
Who is he? He hasn’t lived up to a strong rookie year, but he’s a productive safety who packs a punch despite coverage issues.

48. RB Austin Ekeler

2023 team: Los Angeles Chargers
Age: 29
2023 avg. salary: $6,125,000
Who is he? Game-changing receiver out of the backfield and solid runner who may be settling into the elder statesman phase of his career.

49. LB Lavonte David

2023 team: Buccaneers
Age: 34
2023 avg. salary: $4,500,000
Who is he? Veteran do-everything linebacker whose coverage skills may be slipping but whose leadership is not.

50. C Andre James

2023 team: Raiders
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $4,325,000
Who is he? Mean, space-clearing center in line for more recognition in 2024.

51. CB Sean Murphy-Bunting

2023 team: Titans
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $3,500,000
Who is he? High-ceiling cornerback whose inconsistency can be frustrating but who is capable of lockdown performances.

52. LG Jonah Jackson

2023 team: Detroit Lions
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $1,187,202
Who is he? Pro Bowl interior lineman who can hold his own.

53. CB Steven Nelson

2023 team: Texans
Age: 31
2023 avg. salary: $5,500,000
Who is he? Useful veteran starter who allowed just a 73.3 passer rating in coverage last season.

54. S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Jr.

2023 team: Lions
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $6,500,000
Who is he? Brash safety with boom-or-bust tendencies to go along with his volume off the field.

55. LT Trent Brown

2023 team: Patriots
Age: 31
2023 avg. salary: $6,500,000
Who is he? Massive right tackle who thrives in the right circumstances.

56. IDL Grover Stewart

2023 team: Colts
Age: 31
2023 avg. salary: $10,250,000
Who is he? Beefy tackle who brings his own gravity to the interior of the defensive line.

57. EDGE Leonard Floyd

2023 team: Buffalo Bills
Age: 32
2023 avg. salary: $7,000,000
Who is he? Still-effective veteran pass rusher who can boost a rotation.

58. C Tyler Biadasz

2023 team: Cowboys
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $947,350
Who is he? Space-clearing anchor at the center of the line.

59. LB Devin White

2023 team: Buccaneers
Age: 26
2023 avg. salary: $7,328,954
Who is he? Former All-Pro who was scarcely used in the Buccaneers’ playoff run but, at age 26, could still bring value to a new locale.

60. S Julian Blackmon

2023 team: Colts
Age: 26
2023 avg. salary: $1,134,960
Who is he? Young starting safety coming off a breakout year (four interceptions).

61. QB Gardner Minshew

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

2023 team: Colts
Age: 28
2023 avg. salary: $3,500,000
Who is he? Average starting quarterback who can give you a gap year as a starter or be one of the league’s top backups.

62. RB D’Andre Swift

2023 team: Philadelphia Eagles
Age: 25
2023 avg. salary: $2,134,730
Who is he? Electric tailback with injury concerns despite a breakthrough 2023.

63. C Lloyd Cushenberry

2023 team: Denver Broncos
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $1,144,210
Who is he? Aggressive center who gets flagged a bit more than you’d like, but he’s good enough to make the laundry worthwhile.

64. IDL Sheldon Rankins

2023 team: Texans
Age: 30
2023 avg. salary: $9,750,000
Who is he? Gap-penetrating interior lineman headed into the twilight of his career but still capable of wreaking havoc part-time.

65. C Aaron Brewer

2023 team: Titans
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $4,304,000
Who is he? Young-ish center who outplayed expectations as an undrafted free agent to become a solid starter.

66. LG Damien Lewis

2023 team: Seahawks
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $1,225,537
Who is he? Reliable interior lineman with plenty of tread left on his tires.

67. IDL Denico Autry

2023 team: Titans
Age: 34
2023 avg. salary: $7,666,667
Who is he? Defensive end who thrived in Nashville but questions linger about his age.

68. WR Odell Beckham Jr.

2023 team: Ravens
Age: 32
2023 avg. salary: $15,000,000
Who is he? Capable of thriving in stretches; his 16.1 yards per catch in 2023 were a career high and his 8.8 yards per target ranked 30th among all wideouts.

69. IDL DaQuan Jones

2023 team: Bills
Age: 33
2023 avg. salary: $7,000,000
Who is he? Space-eating tackle who reroutes plays and allows his teammates to thrive.

70. LB Jordyn Brooks

2023 team: Seahawks
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $3,058,901
Who is he? Tackling machine off-ball linebacker who was significantly more effective as a blitzer in 2023 than ever before.

71. IDL Justin Jones

2023 team: Bears
Age: 28
2023 avg. salary: $6,000,000
Who is he? Underrated pass-rushing defensive tackle capable of creating pressure inside.

72. IDL Fletcher Cox

2023 team: Eagles
Age: 34
2023 avg. salary: $10,000,000
Who is he? Eagles legend who can still shrink pockets from his spot inside the trenches, albeit in a limited capacity.

73. EDGE Mike Danna

2023 team: Chiefs
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $889,665
Who is he? Steady edge rusher who proved he could handle a full-time workload last season.

74. S Jordan Whitehead

2023 team: Jets
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $5,250,000
Who is he? Aggressive safety who is useful in coverage but can create frustrating missed tackles.

75. EDGE Dorance Armstrong Jr.

2023 team: Cowboys
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $6,000,000
Who is he? Valuable situational pass rusher who could be vital to a stacked edge rotation.

76. TE Hunter Henry

2023 team: Patriots
Age: 30
2023 avg. salary: $12,500,000
Who is he? Safety valve tight end who can help prop up a young QB with solid hands.

77. RB J.K. Dobbins

2023 team: Ravens
Age: 26
2023 avg. salary: $1,432,360
Who is he? Coming off a torn Achilles and playing a position of abundance, but still a player who’s averaged 5.8 yards per carry in his career.

78. WR Darnell Mooney

2023 team: Bears
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $894,262
Who is he? Go-out-and-get-it wideout who could thrive with a more established downfield quarterback.

79. WR Tyler Boyd

2023 team: Bengals
Age: 30
2023 avg. salary: $10,750,000
Who is he? No longer a 1,000-yard threat, but still a solid presence in the slot to pad out a depth chart.

80. CB Dane Jackson

2023 team: Bills
Age: 28
2023 avg. salary: $2,010,000
Who is he? Useful depth cornerback who backslid in 2023 but can be a viable addition to a healthy secondary.

81. TE Gerald Everett

2023 team: Chargers
Age: 30
2023 avg. salary: $6,000,000
Who is he? Totally cromulent tight end.

82. EDGE Josh Uche

2023 team: Patriots
Age: 26
2023 avg. salary: $1,347,334
Who is he? Rotational edge rusher capable of cleaning up messes with the right running mate.

83. LB Josey Jewell

2023 team: Broncos
Age: 30
2023 avg. salary: $5,500,000
Who is he? Reliable starting off-ball linebacker who doesn’t take anything off the table but won’t necessarily stand out, either.

84. EDGE Jadeveon Clowney

2023 team: Ravens
Age: 31
2023 avg. salary: $2,505,000
Who is he? Hired gun still capable of dazzling offensive tackles with an array of moves.

85. WR Curtis Samuel

2023 team: Commanders
Age: 28
2023 avg. salary: $11,500,000
Who is he? Valuable multi-tool no one’s still quite sure how to best utilize in an offense, but he’s capable of plenty.

86. QB Jacoby Brissett

2023 team: Commanders
Age: 32
2023 avg. salary: $8,000,000
Who is he? A perfect stopgap quarterback who can fill in for spot starts, handle a gap year or just be a really good backup.

87. RT Mekhi Becton

2023 team: Jets
Age: 25
2023 avg. salary: $4,611,512
Who is he? Massive tackle with massive potential who might finally be healthy after an injury-marred start to his career.

88. EDGE D.J. Wonnum

2023 team: Vikings
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $1,011,445
Who is he? Inconsistent but useful pressure-creating edge rusher.

89. K Cameron Dicker

2023 team: Chargers
Age: 24
2023 avg. salary: $870,000
Who is he? Dicker the Kicker hit seven of nine field goals from 50-plus yards last season.

90. CB Adoree’ Jackson

2023 team: Giants
Age: 29
2023 avg. salary: $13,000,000
Who is he? An inconsistent corner whose 2023 failed to live up to a solid 2021-22 stretch with the Giants.

91. CB Keisean Nixon

2023 team: Green Bay Packers
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $4,000,000
Who is he? All-Pro special teamer who can fill in at cornerback (you just hope it’s not for long).

92. P Tommy Townsend

2023 team: Chiefs
Age: 28
2023 avg. salary: $2,627,000
Who is he? All-Pro punter who shined in yet another Super Bowl win. We respect punters here.

93. S Tashaun Gipson

2023 team: 49ers
Age: 34
2023 avg. salary: $2,900,000
Who is he? Veteran safety who continually lingers in free agency, then emerges as a valued starter by September.

94. EDGE A.J. Epenesa

2023 team: Bills
Age: 26
2023 avg. salary: $1,469,326
Who is he? Young rotational pass rusher who may still have untapped potential.

95. S John Johnson

2023 team: Rams
Age: 29
2023 avg. salary: $1,080,000
Who is he? A strong safety who can fill in as a center fielder but does his best work playing downhill.

96. WR K.J. Osborn

2023 team: Vikings
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $890,693
Who is he? Safety valve target with precise routes, strong hands and the capacity to devastate opponents a couple times per year.

97. TE Noah Fant

2023 team: Seahawks
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $3,147,681
Who is he? Efficient tight end with high level athleticism who may still have a breakthrough season left in him.

98. LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin

2023 team: Lions
Age: 29
2023 avg. salary: $1,750,000
Who is he? Special teams stalwart used sparingly as a linebacker.

99. WR Gabriel Davis

2023 team: Bills
Age: 25
2023 avg. salary: $998,593
Who is he? Occasionally prolific downfield threat who never quite matured into a WR2 in Buffalo.

100. WR Jauan Jennings

2023 team: 49ers
Age: 27
2023 avg. salary: $940,000
Who is he? Clutch performer who won’t dazzle you with raw stats but still plays a key role in keeping his offense humming.

101. LT Yosuah Nijman

2023 team: Packers
Age: 28
2023 avg. salary: $4,304,000
Who is he? Viable swing tackle capable of bringing value as a backup or starter.

102. LB Isaiah Simmons

2023 team: Giants
Age: 26
2023 avg. salary: $5,166,014
Who is he? Former top 10 pick who no one’s quite sure where to play, but could still break through… somewhere.