2024 Fantasy Free Agency Preview
© Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
The NFL's free agency period begins on March 13, though teams can legally negotiate with players' agents beginning on March 11. In the table below, I've compiled the free agents at the four primary fantasy positions (QB, RB, WR, and TE), sorted by their 2023 per-game average (half-PPR). Their status indicates whether the player is unrestricted, restricted, or an exclusive rights free agent. I've also included the Average Annual Value (AAV) of their contract in 2023, which I found at the wonderful site Spotrac.com.
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Here's a quick refresher on the NFL's (oftentimes convoluted) free agency rules:
- An unrestricted free agent (UFA) can sign with whomever he wants with no compensation going to his old team.
- A restricted free agent (RFA) has three years of service in the NFL and an expired contract. He's free to negotiate with other teams, but once he signs an offer sheet, his old team has seven days to match the deal and retain the player. If his old team declines to match, his new team may have to send a draft pick as compensation, depending on what type of RFA tender the old team offered the player.
- A team can apply a franchise tag to a player to guarantee that the team retains the player's rights for another season in the hopes that the two sides can work out a long-term deal. The price is steep -- it's a formula based on a certain percentage of the salary cap and the salaries of the top five players at the position. (The window to tag a player this season is February 20 to March 5.)
- Under the franchise tag, a player can be labeled an exclusive (EFT) or non-exclusive (NEFT) franchise player. Exclusive franchise players cannot negotiate with other teams. Like restricted free agents, a non-exclusive franchise player can sign an offer sheet from another team. If his old team declines to match, they'll receive two first-round picks as compensation. (In 2023, six players were slapped with the franchise tag, and all six were non-exclusive.)
- If a team doesn't apply a franchise tag, it can elect to apply a transition tag instead. The tender is cheaper because it uses the top 10 salaries at the position, but if another team negotiates a deal and his old team elects not to match, they won't get any draft picks as compensation. In previous years, teams could use both the franchise and transition tags, but under the new CBA, a team can use one or the other, but not both. The transition tag is rarely used in the NFL.
As is my approach with the Draft, I don't spend much time speculating about landing spots for the top players because it's a waste of time since things will typically be solidified in a few weeks. Just tell me where everyone lands and let me start my 2024 projections!
| PLAYER | POS | AGE | TEAM | G | 2023 AAV | STATUS | 2023 PPG (HALF-PPR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Flacco | QB | 39.1 | CLE | 5 | $ 2,500,000 | UFA | 20.2 |
| Kirk Cousins | QB | 35.5 | MIN | 8 | $ 35,000,000 | UFA | 18.7 |
| Russell Wilson | QB | 35.3 | DEN | 15 | $ 41,333,000 | UFA | 17.1 |
| Baker Mayfield | QB | 28.8 | TB | 17 | $ 4,000,000 | UFA | 16.7 |
| Joshua Dobbs | QB | 29.1 | MIN | 13 | $ 2,000,000 | UFA | 15.4 |
| Easton Stick | QB | 28.4 | LAC | 5 | $ 1,800,000 | UFA | 12.9 |
| Gardner Minshew | QB | 27.8 | IND | 16 | $ 3,500,000 | UFA | 12.5 |
| Mason Rudolph | QB | 28.6 | PIT | 4 | $ 1,080,000 | UFA | 10.5 |
| Mitch Trubisky | QB | 29.5 | PIT | 5 | $ 5,625,000 | UFA | 9.7 |
| Ryan Tannehill | QB | 35.6 | TEN | 10 | $ 29,500,000 | UFA | 8.5 |
| Jacoby Brissett | QB | 31.2 | WAS | 3 | $ 8,000,000 | UFA | 7.6 |
| Drew Lock | QB | 27.2 | SEA | 4 | $ 4,000,000 | UFA | 7.3 |
| Tyrod Taylor | QB | 34.6 | NYG | 11 | $ 5,500,000 | UFA | 7 |
| Trevor Siemian | QB | 32.2 | NYJ | 5 | $ 1,165,000 | UFA | 6 |
| Tyler Huntley | QB | 26.1 | BAL | 6 | $ 2,627,000 | UFA | 2.9 |
| Sam Darnold | QB | 26.7 | SF | 10 | $ 4,500,000 | UFA | 0.7 |
| Marcus Mariota | QB | 30.3 | PHI | 3 | $ 5,000,000 | UFA | 0.6 |
| Teddy Bridgewater | QB | 31.2 | DET | 1 | $ 3,000,000 | UFA | - |
| Nate Sudfeld | QB | 30.3 | DET | $ 1,600,000 | UFA | - | |
| Blaine Gabbert | QB | 34.3 | KC | 2 | $ 1,317,500 | UFA | - |
| Josh Johnson | QB | 37.8 | BAL | $ 1,317,500 | UFA | - | |
| Carson Wentz | QB | 31.2 | LAR | 2 | $ 1,315,000 | UFA | - |
| Brandon Allen | QB | 31.4 | SF | $ 1,232,500 | UFA | - | |
| Kyle Allen | QB | 27.9 | BUF | 7 | $ 1,232,500 | UFA | - |
| AJ McCarron | QB | 33.4 | CIN | 2 | $ 1,165,000 | UFA | - |
| Matt Barkley | QB | 33.4 | JAC | 1 | $ 1,165,000 | UFA | - |
| Logan Woodside | QB | 29.1 | ATL | 1 | $ 952,500 | UFA | - |
| Feleipe Franks | QB | 26.2 | ATL | $ 813,333 | RFA | - | |
| Garrett Gilbert | QB | 32.7 | NE | - | UFA | - | |
| Saquon Barkley | RB | 27.0 | NYG | 14 | $ 10,091,000 | UFA | 13.8 |
| Derrick Henry | RB | 30.1 | TEN | 17 | $ 12,500,000 | UFA | 13.2 |
| Josh Jacobs | RB | 26.0 | LV | 13 | $ 11,791,000 | UFA | 12.5 |
| Zack Moss | RB | 26.2 | IND | 14 | $ 1,153,079 | UFA | 11.8 |
| Austin Ekeler | RB | 28.8 | LAC | 14 | $ 6,125,000 | UFA | 11.7 |
| Tony Pollard | RB | 26.8 | DAL | 17 | $ 10,091,000 | UFA | 11.2 |
| D'Andre Swift | RB | 25.1 | PHI | 16 | $ 2,134,729 | UFA | 11.2 |
| Gus Edwards | RB | 28.8 | BAL | 17 | $ 4,500,000 | UFA | 11.1 |
| J.K. Dobbins | RB | 25.2 | BAL | 1 | $ 1,432,359 | UFA | 10.7 |
| D'Onta Foreman | RB | 27.8 | CHI | 9 | $ 2,000,000 | UFA | 9.5 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | RB | 28.6 | NE | 17 | $ 3,000,000 | UFA | 8.7 |
| Devin Singletary | RB | 26.5 | HOU | 17 | $ 2,750,000 | UFA | 8.7 |
| Kareem Hunt | RB | 28.5 | CLE | 15 | $ 1,350,000 | UFA | 7.9 |
| Alexander Mattison | RB | 25.7 | MIN | 16 | $ 3,500,000 | UFA | 7.7 |
| A.J. Dillon | RB | 25.8 | GB | 15 | $ 1,321,458 | UFA | 7.1 |
| Antonio Gibson | RB | 25.7 | WAS | 16 | $ 1,233,159 | UFA | 6.6 |
| Jerick McKinnon | RB | 31.8 | KC | 12 | $ 1,317,500 | UFA | 6 |
| Cam Akers | RB | 24.7 | MIN | 7 | $ 1,543,259 | RFA | 5.9 |
| Rico Dowdle | RB | 26.1 | DAL | 16 | $ 1,040,000 | RFA | 4.8 |
| Latavius Murray | RB | 34.1 | BUF | 16 | $ 1,317,500 | UFA | 4.7 |
| Salvon Ahmed | RB | 25.2 | MIA | 8 | $ 1,450,000 | UFA | 4.4 |
| Clyde Edwards-Helaire | RB | 24.8 | KC | 15 | $ 2,705,393 | UFA | 4.3 |
| Ty Johnson | RB | 26.4 | BUF | 10 | $ 1,080,000 | UFA | 3.9 |
| Joshua Kelley | RB | 26.2 | LAC | 17 | $ 1,018,835 | UFA | 3.6 |
| Damien Harris | RB | 27.0 | BUF | 6 | $ 1,770,000 | UFA | 3 |
| Chase Edmonds | RB | 27.8 | TB | 13 | $ 1,232,500 | UFA | 2.5 |
| Patrick Taylor | RB | 25.8 | GB | 11 | $ 660,000 | ERFA | 2.5 |
| Matt Breida | RB | 29.0 | NYG | 16 | $ 1,400,000 | UFA | 2.4 |
| Cordarrelle Patterson | RB | 32.9 | ATL | 14 | $ 5,250,000 | UFA | 2.3 |
| Craig Reynolds | RB | 27.7 | DET | 17 | $ 1,080,000 | UFA | 2.1 |
| Ameer Abdullah | RB | 30.7 | LV | 17 | $ 1,750,000 | UFA | 1.9 |
| D'Ernest Johnson | RB | 28.0 | JAC | 17 | $ 1,232,500 | UFA | 1.9 |
| Rashaad Penny | RB | 28.1 | PHI | 3 | $ 1,350,000 | UFA | 1.4 |
| Raheem Blackshear | RB | 25.7 | CAR | 12 | $ 787,500 | ERFA | 1.4 |
| Boston Scott | RB | 28.8 | PHI | 15 | $ 2,000,000 | UFA | 1.3 |
| Dare Ogunbowale | RB | 29.8 | HOU | 12 | $ 1,500,000 | UFA | 1.3 |
| Zonovan Knight | RB | 22.8 | DET | 2 | $ 870,000 | ERFA | 1.3 |
| Lynn Bowden | RB | 26.3 | NO | 15 | $ 870,000 | ERFA | 1.2 |
| Trayveon Williams | RB | 26.3 | CIN | 17 | $ 1,232,500 | UFA | 0.7 |
| DeeJay Dallas | RB | 25.4 | SEA | 17 | $ 947,350 | UFA | 0.7 |
| Marlon Mack | RB | 27.9 | ARI | $ 1,080,000 | UFA | - | |
| Eno Benjamin | RB | 24.8 | NO | $ 849,428 | UFA | - | |
| Julius Chestnut | RB | 23.3 | TEN | 3 | $ 787,500 | ERFA | - |
| Michael Pittman | WR | 26.3 | IND | 16 | $ 2,153,213 | UFA | 12.7 |
| Calvin Ridley | WR | 29.2 | JAC | 17 | $ 2,725,178 | UFA | 10.8 |
| Kendrick Bourne | WR | 28.6 | NE | 8 | $ 5,000,000 | UFA | 10.2 |
| Tee Higgins | WR | 25.1 | CIN | 12 | $ 2,171,696 | NEFT | 9.7 |
| Gabe Davis | WR | 24.9 | BUF | 17 | $ 998,595 | UFA | 8.7 |
| Noah Brown | WR | 28.1 | HOU | 10 | $ 2,600,000 | UFA | 8.5 |
| Curtis Samuel | WR | 27.5 | WAS | 16 | $ 11,500,000 | UFA | 8.1 |
| Rashid Shaheed | WR | 25.5 | NO | 15 | $ 787,500 | ERFA | 8 |
| Marquise Brown | WR | 26.8 | ARI | 14 | $ 2,946,835 | UFA | 7.8 |
| Tyler Boyd | WR | 29.2 | CIN | 17 | $ 10,750,000 | UFA | 6.9 |
| D.J. Chark | WR | 27.4 | CAR | 15 | $ 5,000,000 | UFA | 6.7 |
| Odell Beckham | WR | 31.2 | BAL | 14 | $ 15,000,000 | UFA | 6.4 |
| Josh Reynolds | WR | 29.0 | DET | 17 | $ 3,000,000 | UFA | 6.4 |
| K.J. Osborn | WR | 26.7 | MIN | 16 | $ 890,693 | UFA | 6.3 |
| Nick Westbrook-Ikhine | WR | 26.9 | TEN | 14 | $ 1,260,000 | UFA | 5.1 |
| Alex Erickson | WR | 31.2 | LAC | 8 | $ 1,165,000 | UFA | 4.8 |
| Greg Dortch | WR | 25.8 | ARI | 16 | $ 1,010,000 | ERFA | 4.2 |
| Darnell Mooney | WR | 26.3 | CHI | 15 | $ 894,263 | UFA | 4.2 |
| Cedrick Wilson | WR | 28.2 | MIA | 15 | $ 7,350,000 | UFA | 4 |
| Brandon Powell | WR | 27.4 | MIN | 17 | $ 1,232,500 | UFA | 3.7 |
| Chris Moore | WR | 30.7 | TEN | 17 | $ 1,317,500 | UFA | 3.3 |
| Jauan Jennings | WR | 26.6 | SF | 13 | $ 940,000 | RFA | 3.2 |
| Jamal Agnew | WR | 28.9 | JAC | 11 | $ 4,750,000 | UFA | 3 |
| Trenton Irwin | WR | 28.2 | CIN | 16 | $ 882,500 | RFA | 3 |
| Marquez Valdes-Scantling | WR | 29.3 | KC | 16 | $ 10,000,000 | UFA | 2.9 |
| Braxton Berrios | WR | 28.3 | MIA | 16 | $ 3,500,000 | UFA | 2.8 |
| Mack Hollins | WR | 30.4 | ATL | 13 | $ 2,500,000 | UFA | 2.8 |
| Jalen Guyton | WR | 26.7 | LAC | 8 | $ 1,232,500 | UFA | 2.5 |
| Jamison Crowder | WR | 30.7 | WAS | 17 | $ 1,165,000 | UFA | 2.4 |
| River Cracraft | WR | 29.3 | MIA | 10 | $ 1,080,000 | UFA | 2.3 |
| Laviska Shenault | WR | 25.3 | CAR | 8 | $ 1,924,017 | UFA | 2.1 |
| Parris Campbell | WR | 26.6 | NYG | 12 | $ 4,700,000 | UFA | 1.9 |
| Chase Claypool | WR | 25.6 | MIA | 12 | $ 1,654,156 | UFA | 1.9 |
| Olamide Zaccheaus | WR | 26.6 | PHI | 17 | $ 1,232,500 | UFA | 1.9 |
| KhaDarel Hodge | WR | 29.2 | ATL | 17 | $ 1,200,000 | UFA | 1.9 |
| Ray-Ray McCloud | WR | 27.3 | SF | 12 | $ 2,000,000 | UFA | 1.8 |
| Van Jefferson | WR | 27.6 | ATL | 17 | $ 1,402,784 | UFA | 1.8 |
| Ihmir Smith-Marsette | WR | 24.5 | CAR | 17 | $ 940,000 | RFA | 1.8 |
| Scott Miller | WR | 26.6 | ATL | 17 | $ 1,232,500 | UFA | 1.6 |
| Deven Thompkins | WR | 24.2 | TB | 17 | $ 787,500 | ERFA | 1.6 |
| Richie James | WR | 28.4 | KC | 9 | $ 1,232,500 | UFA | 1.5 |
| Randall Cobb | WR | 33.5 | NYJ | 11 | $ 3,000,000 | UFA | 1.4 |
| Byron Pringle | WR | 30.2 | WAS | 17 | $ 1,080,000 | UFA | 1.4 |
| Jalen Reagor | WR | 25.2 | NE | 11 | $ 1,010,000 | UFA | 1.4 |
| Keelan Doss | WR | 27.9 | LAC | 5 | $ 940,000 | UFA | 1.3 |
| Donovan Peoples-Jones | WR | 25.0 | DET | 15 | $ 870,402 | UFA | 1.3 |
| Isaiah McKenzie | WR | 28.8 | IND | 13 | $ 1,232,500 | UFA | 1.2 |
| Equanimeous St. Brown | WR | 27.4 | CHI | 7 | $ 1,165,000 | UFA | 1.1 |
| Quez Watkins | WR | 25.7 | PHI | 9 | $ 866,166 | UFA | 1.1 |
| Marquise Goodwin | WR | 33.2 | CLE | 12 | $ 1,700,000 | UFA | 1 |
| Keith Kirkwood | WR | 29.2 | NO | 13 | $ 1,010,000 | UFA | 0.9 |
| Mecole Hardman | WR | 25.9 | KC | 11 | $ 4,000,000 | UFA | 0.8 |
| Sterling Shepard | WR | 31.0 | NYG | 15 | $ 1,317,500 | UFA | 0.8 |
| Tim Jones | WR | 25.9 | JAC | 17 | $ 787,500 | ERFA | 0.8 |
| Trent Sherfield | WR | 28.0 | BUF | 17 | $ 1,770,000 | UFA | 0.6 |
| DeAndre Carter | WR | 30.8 | LV | 17 | $ 1,500,000 | UFA | 0.5 |
| Devin Duvernay | WR | 26.4 | BAL | 13 | $ 1,143,953 | UFA | 0.5 |
| Miles Boykin | WR | 27.3 | PIT | 17 | $ 1,080,000 | UFA | 0.2 |
| Austin Trammell | WR | 25.7 | LAR | 16 | $ 870,000 | ERFA | 0.2 |
| Jakeem Grant | WR | 31.3 | CLE | $ 3,333,333 | UFA | - | |
| Matt Slater | WR | 38.4 | NE | 16 | $ 2,667,500 | UFA | - |
| Chris Conley | WR | 31.3 | SF | 8 | $ 1,165,000 | UFA | - |
| Laquon Treadwell | WR | 28.7 | BAL | 5 | $ 1,165,000 | UFA | - |
| Trent Taylor | WR | 29.8 | CHI | 16 | $ 1,080,000 | UFA | - |
| Gunner Olszewski | WR | 27.2 | NYG | 12 | $ 1,010,000 | UFA | - |
| James Proche | WR | 27.4 | CLE | 10 | $ 1,010,000 | UFA | - |
| Joe Reed | WR | 26.1 | CHI | $ 870,000 | ERFA | - | |
| Tre Nixon | WR | 26.1 | NE | $ 750,000 | ERFA | - | |
| Jaylon Moore | WR | 26.7 | JAC | $ 750,000 | ERFA | - | |
| Darrius Shepherd | WR | 28.3 | LAC | - | UFA | - | |
| Dalton Schultz | TE | 27.6 | HOU | 15 | $ 6,250,000 | UFA | 8.2 |
| Hunter Henry | TE | 29.2 | NE | 14 | $ 12,500,000 | UFA | 7.1 |
| Logan Thomas | TE | 32.7 | WAS | 16 | $ 8,021,667 | UFA | 6.5 |
| Gerald Everett | TE | 29.7 | LAC | 15 | $ 6,000,000 | UFA | 6.1 |
| Jonnu Smith | TE | 28.5 | ATL | 17 | $ 12,500,000 | UFA | 5.6 |
| Tanner Hudson | TE | 29.2 | CIN | 12 | $ 940,000 | RFA | 5.3 |
| Noah Fant | TE | 26.2 | SEA | 16 | $ 3,147,680 | UFA | 3.6 |
| Mike Gesicki | TE | 28.4 | NE | 17 | $ 4,500,000 | UFA | 3.1 |
| Adam Trautman | TE | 27.0 | DEN | 17 | $ 1,124,851 | UFA | 2.9 |
| Colby Parkinson | TE | 25.1 | SEA | 17 | $ 991,360 | UFA | 2.9 |
| Jimmy Graham | TE | 37.2 | NO | 12 | $ 1,317,500 | UFA | 2.6 |
| Drew Sample | TE | 27.8 | CIN | 17 | $ 1,232,500 | UFA | 2.4 |
| Irv Smith Jr. | TE | 25.5 | CIN | 12 | $ 1,750,000 | UFA | 2 |
| Harrison Bryant | TE | 25.8 | CLE | 16 | $ 1,016,007 | UFA | 2 |
| Austin Hooper | TE | 29.2 | LV | 17 | $ 2,750,000 | UFA | 1.9 |
| Pharaoh Brown | TE | 29.8 | NE | 17 | $ 1,080,000 | UFA | 1.9 |
| Johnny Mundt | TE | 29.2 | MIN | 17 | $ 1,207,500 | UFA | 1.5 |
| Brock Wright | TE | 25.2 | DET | 14 | $ 940,000 | RFA | 1.5 |
| MyCole Pruitt | TE | 31.9 | ATL | 17 | $ 1,215,000 | UFA | 1.2 |
| Robert Tonyan | TE | 29.8 | CHI | 17 | $ 2,650,000 | UFA | 1 |
| Geoff Swaim | TE | 30.4 | ARI | 14 | $ 1,700,000 | UFA | 1 |
| Kenny Yeboah | TE | 25.3 | NYJ | 5 | $ 1,338,250 | RFA | 1 |
| Josiah Deguara | TE | 27.0 | GB | 14 | $ 1,136,942 | UFA | 0.8 |
| Marcedes Lewis | TE | 39.8 | CHI | 16 | $ 2,000,000 | UFA | 0.7 |
| Quintin Morris | TE | 25.1 | BUF | 14 | $ 787,500 | ERFA | 0.7 |
| Mitchell Wilcox | TE | 27.2 | CIN | 17 | $ 1,040,000 | RFA | 0.6 |
| Blake Bell | TE | 32.5 | KC | 17 | $ 1,165,000 | UFA | 0.5 |
| Jesper Horsted | TE | 27.0 | LV | 13 | $ 1,120,000 | UFA | 0.3 |
| Brycen Hopkins | TE | 26.9 | LAR | 15 | $ 987,033 | UFA | 0.3 |
| Jack Stoll | TE | 26.1 | PHI | 17 | $ 815,833 | RFA | 0.3 |
| Giovanni Ricci | FB | 27.3 | CAR | 5 | $ 808,333 | RFA | 0.2 |
| Ross Dwelley | TE | 29.1 | SF | 12 | $ 1,700,000 | UFA | 0.1 |
| Charlie Woerner | TE | 26.3 | SF | 17 | $ 869,007 | UFA | 0.1 |
| Tyler Kroft | TE | 31.3 | MIA | 8 | $ 1,190,000 | UFA | - |
| Nick Vannett | TE | 30.9 | LAC | 8 | $ 1,165,000 | UFA | - |
| Tyler Davis | TE | 26.9 | GB | $ 1,040,000 | UFA | - | |
| Jody Fortson | TE | 28.2 | KC | $ 940,000 | RFA | - | |
| Shane Zylstra | TE | 27.2 | DET | $ 940,000 | RFA | - | |
| Nick Muse | TE | 25.2 | MIN | 2 | $ 870,000 | ERFA | - |
| Brandon Dillon | TE | 26.8 | WAS | $ 870,000 | ERFA | - | |
| Brady Russell | TE | 25.5 | SEA | 14 | $ 750,000 | ERFA | - |
| David Wells | TE | 28.8 | TB | 5 | $ 216,000 | UFA | - |
| Ben Ellefson | TE | 27.5 | MIN | - | UFA | - |
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