The 2024 NFL Free Agency Class Is Setting Up to Be a Star-Studded One
Josh Frey
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The past few years have brought some wild offseasons in the NFL with star players changing teams left and right. This has brought a newfound excitement across the league for free agency.
Following the franchise tag deadline earlier this week, it appears that the 2024 NFL free agency period could be another extremely intriguing one as well. As of now, next March could see one of the most star-studded free agency classes we’ve seen to date. Take a look at some of the Pro Bowl talents who could hit free agency next spring:
- QB Kirk Cousins
- QB Ryan Tannehill
- RB Derrick Henry
- RB Saquon Barkley
- RB Dalvin Cook
- RB Austin Ekeler
- RB Josh Jacobs
- RB Cordarrelle Patterson
- RB Tony Pollard
- RB Jonathan Taylor
- WR Odell Beckham Jr.
- WR Mike Evans
- WR Mecole Hardman
- TE T.J. Hockenson
- TE Dalton Schultz
- EDGE Josh Allen
- EDGE Nick Bosa
- EDGE Danielle Hunter
- EDGE Za’Darius Smith
- EDGE Chase Young
- DT Fletcher Cox
- DT Chris Jones
- LB Bobby Wagner
- LB Devin White
- S Antoine Winfield
Folks, this is a ton of talent that could be up for grabs. Obviously, the assumption, at least for now, should be that some of these players are given extensions to remain with their current teams. Then, especially at the running back spot, we have to take the franchise tag into account. Both Barkley and Jacobs could be franchise tagged again, but as of now, their status even in 2023 on the tag is up in the air.
There is a reason that Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has been clearing up cap space in Minnesota for the past few months, though. They departed with long-time starters such as Eric Kendricks and Adam Thielen, and currently, the Vikings have the 10th-most cap space for 2024 at $54.1 million.
Minnesota could opt to bring back Cousins, Hockenson, and Hunter on shiny new contracts that eat into this space a little bit, but we also should take into account that Minnesota has over $18 million remaining for this year. Considering we are on the verge of training camps beginning, it is unlikely that all this money will be used, which would then allow the Vikings to roll over even more money into 2024.
Overall, Minnesota has been making sure that they are able to keep their options open for next spring. At the very least, they should be expected to be aggressive in pursuit of some of these free agents.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.