On March 11, the NFL’s table-setting frenzy officially begins.
That’s when legal tampering between teams and free agents is permitted, two days before signings can become official at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. It’s also the day hundreds of millions of dollars worth of contracts will be reported in rapid fire, snapping up the league’s best available veterans as hopeful teams lay the foundation for a run to Super Bowl 59.
We don’t know what exactly those signings will be. But given what we know about who is available and each team’s needs and salary cap space, we can at least begin to shape the wish lists for all 32 teams. For some, March will mark a spending spree. Others will have to be frugal. But everyone will bring in fresh veteran talent tasked with either keeping a good franchise chugging along or transforming the future of a bad one.
Let’s make some educated guesses to who the biggest pickups might be by projecting one big free agent fit for each team in the NFL.
The ground rule here is an assumption every free agent will be available and that each team will add a new face who is at least moderately high profile through the open market. Chris Jones probably isn’t leaving the Kansas City Chiefs — he said so himself at their Super Bowl parade — but that doesn’t mean teams can’t reach out. And if he were willing to leave, here’s the franchise that may be willing to fight hardest to sign him.
Of course, adding big names gets tougher the further into salary cap hell you wade. Franchises like the New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills probably can’t land someone on a nine-figure contract since they’ll be shedding salary this spring. As a result, their high profile additions may be lesser known bargain pickups who could still play a major role in reshaping their 2024 outlook.
Let’s look at the players who could be the best fits if they truly hit the open market. All salary cap space data is courtesy of the wildly useful Over The Cap.
Arizona Cardinals: DT Chris Jones
- Cap space: $41,716,463
- Needs: EDGE, WR, CB, LB, QB
Oh, we’re getting *serious* about rebuilding, huh? Kyler Murray played like a top 10 quarterback over the final six games of 2023. The fourth overall pick should land him a proper WR1. But that leaves a defense in serious need of help and a rising tide in Jones, a day-ruining presence who can line up across the defensive front and ruin opponents’ game plans.
Atlanta Falcons: EDGE Josh Allen
- Cap space: $25,849,508
- Needs: EDGE, DT, QB, CB
Atlanta’s defense kept a flawed team in the playoff hunt last season, but the Falcons’ 42 sacks ranked just 21st in the NFL. Allen may not be able to replicate his 17.5-sack 2023, but he’s a high-motor outside linebacker who can slide into Bud Dupree’s vacated spot and be a major upgrade. Even better, the chaos he sews would create sack opportunities for Arnold Ebiketie to harvest on the opposite side of the lineup.
Baltimore Ravens: OG Mike Onwenu
- Cap space: $7,328,828
- Needs: IOL, WR, EDGE, DT
Both Baltimore’s starting guards are free agents. Onwenu gives the Ravens the opportunity to get younger at the position while adding a blocker who can swing out to tackle in a pinch. His space-clearing bonafides would be a boon for whichever running backs emerge as starters only to get injured halfway through the season in 2024.
Buffalo Bills: WR Jauan Jennings
- Cap space: -$51,277,109
- Needs: WR, CB, S, EDGE
Restructuring Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs’ contracts while releasing Von Miller can push Buffalo toward the black, but this is a cap situation that suggests most of 2024’s roster building will be done at the draft. Jennings wouldn’t fix the team’s receiving depth issues, but would give Josh Allen a low cost reliable target on third down who’d help expand Joe Brady’s playbook.
Carolina Panthers: WR Tee Higgins
- Cap space: $28,599,402
- Needs: OL, WR, CB, LB, EDGE, RB
Carolina has many needs, but there’s no higher priority than finding the players to unlock Bryce Young’s potential. That’s going to hinge on blocking help and finding the proper wideouts to be the Stefon Diggs/Tyreek Hill-type influence for a young, volatile quarterback. Higgins can fit that mold, and while the added defensive focus and step down from playing with Joe Burrow may sting, the Panthers would make it worth his while financially.
Chicago Bears: WR Mike Evans
- Cap space: $66,996,157
- Needs: QB, LB, OL, CB, WR
Whether it’s Justin Fields, Caleb Williams, Drake Maye or someone else behind center in 2024, they’re going to need some help. DJ Moore is a great start, but adding another safety net under a flawed young passer would be a boon to developing the position. Enter Evans, who has 10 1,000-yard seasons in 10 years as a pro and was most recently spotted turning Baker Mayfield from 2022’s worst starting quarterback into an above-average passer in 2023.
Cincinnati Bengals: WR Calvin Ridley
- Cap space: $59,436,373
- Needs: OT, DL, EDGE, RB, TE
Higgins is gone in this scenario and Tyler Boyd is a free agent. Andrei Iosivas is a dynamic athlete who could develop into a red zone threat, but there’s room for another wideout here — particularly one who thrives alongside another playmaker. Ridley would get to pair with Ja’Marr Chase to keep Joe Burrow flush with high ceiling receivers for another year.
Cleveland Browns: WR Darnell Mooney
- Cap space: -$19,622,046
- Needs: WR, IOL, LB, EDGE
Cleveland needs a reliable intermediate threat who can operate within a shaky quarterback situation. Who better than Mooney, who had a 1,000-yard season with the Chicago Bears in 2021? His ability to adjust to the ball has made him sort of a comedian’s comedian among the NFL’s current wideouts — and a stabilizing presence for a developing Browns offense.
Dallas Cowboys: CB Steven Nelson
- Cap space: -$21,570,700
- Needs: CB, S, OT, RB
The Cowboys can slash and restructure their way to $25 million in cap space fairly easily — doubling down on Dak Prescott could shave nearly $22 million off this year’s cap hits alone. That creates the space to add a trusted veteran to a group that could lose Stephon Gilmore and Jourdan Lewis this spring. Nelson has been a steady performer across a handful of different defenses and could provide stable play against the boom/bust backdrop of Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland.
Denver Broncos: EDGE A.J. Epenesa
- Cap space: -$24,113,842
- Needs: CB, LB, EDGE, S, TE
Getting out from Russell Wilson’s contract will accelerate at least $18.4 million of dead money onto the Broncos’ 2024 salary cap. As a result, Denver will have to settle for modest deals in free agency.
In this case it’s a buy-low swing on a former second round pick who’d have to adjust from a 4-3 defense to Sean Payton’s 3-4. Epenesa’s 41 percent snap share was a career high in 2023 but he’s had 6.5 sacks each of the last two seasons. A larger role could unlock better play from a guy with 30.5 tackles for loss his final two seasons at Iowa.
Detroit Lions: CB L'Jarius Sneed
- Cap space: $50,343,386
- Needs: CB, WR, EDGE, LB
The Lions tried to fix their secondary in free agency last season, but CJ Gardner-Johnson and Emmanuel Moseley both got hurt and Cameron Sutton underwhelmed in his first season with the team. Throwing a big contract at Sneed would show the NFL how serious Detroit is about contending after a trip to the NFC title game. He’s the kind of slot eraser who would make life difficult for Jordan Love and whomever the Vikings and Bears roll out at quarterback in 2024 and beyond.
Green Bay Packers: DT DJ Reader
- Cap space: -$5,242,641
- Needs: OT, OG, S, CB, EDGE
Green Bay’s biggest defensive liability remains its struggle to stop the run. Bringing in Reader would add a proven gap closer up front, a powerhouse who can rearrange blockers and send tailbacks into the waiting arms of linebackers. While big decisions loom for pricy veterans like Jaire Alexander and David Bakhtiari, the Packers get better at a position of need here.
Houston Texans: EDGE Brian Burns
- Cap space: $57,744,290
- Needs: IOL, EDGE, DT, TE, WR
Houston upgrades from good to great, replacing Jonathan Greenard with Burns to give the Texans one of the most devastating edge rush combinations in the game. The next three seasons give the franchise plenty of spending room thanks to CJ Stroud’s rookie contract — and, now, a Burns/Will Anderson combo to crumple pockets and keep Houston atop the AFC South.
Indianapolis Colts: CB Jaylon Johnson
- Cap space: $58,923,573
- Needs: CB, OT, EDGE, LB, WR
The Colts rallied to the brink of the playoffs with a first year head coach and a backup quarterback. That should serve as a green light to spend in 2024.
While a top wideout would be vital whether or not Michael Pittman Jr. returns, let’s address the league’s 28th-ranked scoring defense instead. Swapping out Kenny Moore for Johnson would raise the ceiling of Indianapolis’ secondary as a whole, even if there’s a bigger need to fill at safety.
Jacksonville Jaguars: OT Tyron Smith
- Cap space: $11,269,167
- Needs: OT, DT, EDGE, S
Could the Jaguars be to Smith what the Rams were to Andrew Whitworth? I mean, probably not, but that’s not the point of this exercise. It’s tough to imagine Smith outside of Dallas, but the Cowboys are squeezed hard for cap space. If that makes Smith available Jacksonville could pounce in its latest attempt to shove Trevor Lawrence into his own potential.
Kansas City Chiefs: EDGE Jonathan Greenard
- Cap space: $15,222,796
- Needs: WR, LB, EDGE, OT, DT
Losing Chris Jones would strike at the strength up front. Pairing Greenard with George Karlaftis would give Kansas City the edge pressure to make up for his departure. He had 22 quarterback hits and 32 pressures for the Texans in 2023.
Las Vegas Raiders: CB Kenny Moore II
- Cap space: $35,253,311
- Needs: CB, LB, WR, EDGE, QB
Las Vegas has struggled to add cornerbacks at the draft, so bringing in an established talent like Moore would be a significant win. The longtime Colt has the flexibility to play inside or out and would be a valuable veteran leader amongst a group of CBs who all entered the league in 2021 or later.
Los Angeles Chargers: DL Justin Jones
- Cap space: -$35,516,935
- Needs: CB, DT, IOL, LB, TE
The Chargers can’t restructure their way to salary cap compliance, which means some veterans will have to go and any free agent spending will be modest. Jones’ market may make this signing a luxury LA can’t afford, but it would make sense. Bringing him back to the West Coast would give the Chargets an Austin Johnson replacement who can get to the quarterback from his spot at defensive tackle and clean up the messes Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack create.
Los Angeles Rams: S Kyle Dugger
- Cap space: $27,699,574
- Needs: OL, S, EDGE, QB, DT
The Rams’ defense rebuilt on the fly last year, taking a unit that only had two returning players who’d started at least 10 games the year prior and turning it into a playoff squad. Los Angeles needs reinforcements, however, and Dugger’s hard-hitting versatility would be an easy fit in the secondary. Both John Johnson and Jordan Fuller are free agents, making safety a priority for general manager Les Snead.
Miami Dolphins: S John Johnson III
- Cap space: -$51,898,203
- Needs: OT, IOL, S, EDGE, CB
Miami can restructure its way under the salary cap and create a little space in hopes of finding the veteran who can deliver the team’s first playoff win since Dave Wannstedt was head coach. Johnson would be an inexpensive addition to a veteran secondary who’d get the chance to move back to the position he plays best by replacing DeShon Elliott at strong safety. While the veteran doesn’t get targeted a ton, he’d never allowed a passer rating over 83.0 in coverage as a pro.
Minnesota Vikings: QB Baker Mayfield
- Cap space: $24,658,132
- Needs: QB, EDGE, LB, CB
Since we can’t re-sign Kirk Cousins (see below) and there’s a limited opportunity to add an impact rookie, Minnesota turns to the second-best veteran quarterback in this year’s market. Mayfield redeemed himself throwing to a dynamite combination of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in Tampa. Now he gets Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and TJ Hockenson in the Twin Cities.
New England Patriots: S Antoine Winfield Jr.
- Cap space: $69,527,006
- Needs: QB, WR, OT, TE, CB
Devin McCourty retired a year ago. Kyle Dugger is a free agent. New head coach Jerod Mayo knows the value of a versatile, reliable safety and he gets one of the league’s best by sniping Winfield from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The fifth-year veteran does everything well, providing a valued center field presence who can charge downhill as a deterrent against the run.
New Orleans Saints: WR Curtis Samuel
- Cap space: -$83,683,454
- Needs: OT, IOL, TE, WR, EDGE, LB
Per tradition, general manager Mickey Loomis will hack, slash and use voidable years to finagle his way under the salary cap en route to some notable free agent signings. By adding Samuel to a lineup that already includes Taysom Hill, he takes another step toward an all-gadget play offense. With Derek Carr embodying risk-averse averageness, Samuel could be the playmaking balm to soothe a burned roster.
New York Giants: OG Kevin Zeitler
- Cap space: $19,462,691
- Needs: QB, WR, OG, CB, LB
Daniel Jones was sacked on nearly 16 percent of his dropbacks last season before being lost for the year due to injury after just six games. Saquon Barkley’s yards before contact per carry dropped from 2.5 in 2022 to 1.9. New York needs help up front, and while this year’s free agent class is limited when it comes to tackles it’s flush with solid guards.
New York Jets: OT Jonah Williams
- Cap space: $1,667,122
- Needs: OL, QB, WR, S, DT
New York badly needs blockers, considering its hopes and dreams are tied to a soon-to-be 41-year-old coming off an Achilles tear. The 2024 free agent marketplace is light on big name tackles, but Williams will be a commodity as he returns to his preferred spot at the blind side. He may be the best option when it comes to protecting Aaron Rodgers’ blind side in the short term.
Philadelphia Eagles: LB Frankie Luvu
- Cap space: $19,923,513
- Needs: LB, CB, S, WR, EDGE
The Eagles badly need a youth infusion at cornerback, but moderate cap space may make that difficult. Instead, they can address that need at the draft and fill a different void by stealing Luvu from Carolina. The former Jet has developed into a well-rounded star to provide the gravity for a defensive solar system around him. His sideline-to-sideline presence would be a rising tide for a defense with questions left to answer.
Pittsburgh Steelers: LB Josey Jewell
- Cap space: -$6.017,045
- Needs: QB, OL, CB, LB
It’s not a sexy signing, but restructures and the release of Chukwuma Okorafor can only shore up a little under $20 million in salary cap space this offseason for a team that’s typically prudent on the open market anyway. There’s room for upgrades in the middle of the field and Jewell is the kind of lunch pail player who’d thrive at not-Heinz Field. The former Bronco is a steady jack of all trades who can help free up the defenders around him for bigger things.
San Francisco 49ers: OT Trent Brown
- Cap space: -$12,375,835
- Needs: OT, IOL, S, CB, EDGE
Welcome back to the Bay Area, Trent. The former 49er returns to the franchise that drafted him to replace Colton McKivitz at right tackle, giving Brock Purdy a pair of veteran bookends along his offensive line. That’s a big deal; Steve Spagnuolo’s Super Bowl pressure proved to be the difference between a San Francisco parade and three decades without a Vince Lombardi Trophy for the Niners.
Seattle Seahawks: EDGE Denico Autry
- Cap space: -$5,230,353
- Needs: EDGE, IOL, LB, DT
Autry has thrived as a 3-4 defensive end, recording 28.5 sacks in three seasons with the Tennessee Titans. Now he gets to bring his veteran expertise to a defensive line that may lose Leonard Williams this offseason. New head coach Mike Macdonald built his reputation pushing Ravens defenders to new heights, creating a pathway for Autry to thrive into his mid-30s.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: OG Robert Hunt
- Cap space: $36,891,102
- Needs: QB, IOL, OT, S, EDGE
The middle of the offensive line has been a serious weakness for years now — Tampa Bay ranked 32nd and 31st in 2022 and 2023, respectively, when it came to yards before contact on running plays. Bringing in Hunt adds a key member of the Miami line that ranked fifth in yards before contact last fall. He’s an aggressive blocker who can reinforce the pocket and, importantly, get to the next level and mash linebackers.
Tennessee Titans: WR Michael Pittman Jr.
- Cap space: $67,770,341
- Needs: WR, CB, S, LB, OT
DeAndre Hopkins still has some juice as a deep threat. That leaves plenty of space in the short to intermediate range, which is where Pittman thrives. His clockwork route running and strong hands would be a boon for the development of Will Levis and help push the Titans toward a pass-first offense as they emerge from the Mike Vrabel era.
Washington Commanders: QB Kirk Cousins
- Cap space: $73,649,626
- Needs: OT, QB, EDGE, CB
“Things are better now. We got rid of the bad man, see?” the Commanders tell the world at large by reuniting with Cousins. It’s a risky move for a team that isn’t merely a quarterback away from contention — but with more than $70 million to spend this offseason, there’s plenty of room for upgrades. This gives Washington the leverage to auction the No. 2 overall pick to the highest bidder and prove Josh Harris’s ownership can, quite literally, undo the mistakes of predecessor/living garbage dump Dan Snyder.
