We’re past the point in 2024 NFL free agency where a lot of the big-money deals get handed out by teams, meaning that teams will now shift toward finding value with the remaining free agents on the market.
This time of year on the NFL calendar can be known as “when the smart teams sign free agents,” as many wise franchises find incredible value with guys who fit right into their systems and thrive without breaking the bank in the first week of free agency. Who might some of those names be?
Now, there are some big-name free agents still available like quarterback Ryan Tannehill, safety Justin Simmons, wide receivers Mike Williams and Odell Beckham Jr., outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney and cornerback Xavien Howard that will eventually sign with other teams for likely substantial deals.
Rather than focus on the “best” players still available, we’re going to focus on some guys who might fly under the radar once they eventually sign somewhere but could be major assets at a fraction of the cost of some of their peers. Let’s see who some of these guys are and why they might help your team.
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After totaling 6.5 sacks in his fourth season as one of the disruptive pass rushers on the Chiefs defensive line, it’s a bit surprising that Danna hasn’t signed a lucrative second contract yet.
However, it feels like Danna is just waiting to make an NFL general manager look smart for signing him in the second wave of free agency. He’s a starting player at a premium position with plenty of room to grow.
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For the 2019 and 2020 seasons, Robinson was one of the most productive wide receivers in the NFL. However, he’s been the victim of some time missed for injury and some shaky quarterback play the last couple of seasons (even his lone stint with the Los Angeles Rams in which Matthew Stafford was injured).
At only 30, a contending team with reliable quarterback play should absolutely take a flier on Robinson’s past excellence to see if stability in the passing game could unlock his best self.
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Williams is a very good, young starting center that hasn’t yet signed with a team, but someone is going to get a quality player who can be a franchise rock on the offensive line.
However, a late-season ACL injury has caused him to miss out on the first wave of free agency since his availability might be in question at the beginning of the season. That shouldn’t preclude a team with a need at center from signing him now, though. He’ll thrive once he gets healthy, and any team that needs an answer to anchor the offensive line should really consider getting Williams in.
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Chark stayed relatively healthy through the 2023 season and still totaled 525 yards and five touchdowns with Bryce Young behind center. For a team that needs speed at receiver, the former LSU player is only 27 and should still be a valuable cog of a strong passing game.
While durability concerns might still linger for Chark, any contending team needing receiver help needs to consider the explosive play potential that the wide receiver brings to an offense.
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Tart entered 2023 as one of the potential breakout stars on the Tennessee Titans defensive line, but he wound up being waived during the season and finished the year with the Houston Texans.
Any team that needs an athletic defensive tackle that provides quality play against the run and the pass needs to take a chance on Tart. He could really be one of the better signings at this stage if he lives up to his potential from his Titans days.
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Smoot is the perfect rotational pass rusher who can get you five-to-six sacks a season, even though he didn’t have a full season in 2023 as he was rehabbing from an Achilles injury.
Any team that needs to bolster its edge group should really consider signing Smoot. He’s really one of the better pass rushers available with proven production. He might not be a high-impact starter, but those guys who come off the bench and get pressures and sacks matter in playoff time.
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Vaitai is a plug-and-play offensive lineman with guard and tackle with plenty of quality reps. He’s only 30, so any contending team that needs a guard has a great option in free agency right now.
While he might not return to the Detroit Lions, he might be another team’s gain at a time of the year where it’s not really a given that you can find good starting players for the offensive line.
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Bryant ascended from an undrafted free agent out of Washington in 2020 to a starting-caliber cornerback with the New England Patriots. He played in all of the Patriots games in 2022 and 2023 and should be a steady second cornerback with an established starter playing next to him.
If your team needs secondary help, Bryant would be an excellent fit at this point.
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Every time Foreman winds up as a free agent that could be signed at a bargain, he always balls out. His 2022 season with the Panthers was very strong, one where he rushed for 914 yards and five touchdowns. He got lost in a crowded Chicago Bears depth chart last season, and it would not be surprising to see him sign a one-year deal with a team and seize the opportunity yet again.
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Fulton didn’t have the best 2023, but he’s put quality reps on the field in the past and could be a really nice candidate for a bounceback season. It’s hard to find good starting cornerbacks in the NFL, and Fulton has been one in the past. It’s very possible, with the right team, he can be again.
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Maulet had a stellar resurgence with the Ravens last season and looks primed to be the next Baltimore free agent to sign a nice deal elsewhere and carry that momentum over.
While it wouldn’t shock us to see the Ravens bring him back, some team might land a really nice rotational piece to the secondary with Maulet still available.
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Kelley has been a very solid rotational rusher for the Chargers the last couple of seasons, and he feels primed to take on a bigger role elsewhere if he’s given the chance.
He’s only played four seasons, and it doesn’t seem like he’s going to return to Los Angeles with the regime change in place. However, he feels like he could be a steal primed for more.
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Toohill had a bit of a breakout season last year with five sacks once he took on a bigger role in the Commanders defense. Like Smoot, he might be one of those five-to-six sack guys a season who plays a valuable role in a pass rush rotation. Maybe he could provide even more in the right scheme. Either way, somebody needs to sign this guy and see what he could provide.
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Tomlinson is just a very sturdy guard, maybe not quite elite but durable and reliable in keeping quarterbacks upright. Any team that needs a starter should consider Tomlinson as a really nice add at this point in the offseason, particularly any team that runs the Shanahan offense after his years of experience in that style of scheme.
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It’d feel weird to exclude a quarterback, and believe it or not, Wentz is the best value quarterback available right now. His days as a starting quarterback might be over, but he played a game for the Los Angeles Rams last season and got time around the Sean McVay system.
That has proved very valuable in the past for journeymen quarterbacks, and any team with