2024 NFL FREE AGENCY LANDING SPOTS: BEST FITS FOR RYAN TANNEHILL, J.K. DOBBINS, ODELL BECKHAM JR., AND 10 MORE FAS

With the 2024 NFL Draft on the horizon, NFL free agency has slowed to a crawl. Now that the third wave of the free agent period has hit, many teams may simply wait until the draft is complete before re-assessing their needs.

However, the open market still features many useful contributors at many positions. Veterans may already be willing to take less than they were targeting when free agency began, which could lead to clubs scoring bargains during the next few weeks.

Let’s run through the best landing spots for the top remaining NFL free agents, beginning with the best quarterback still on the board.

Best Fits for Remaining NFL Free Agents

QB Ryan Tannehill | Chicago Bears

While the Denver Broncos are probably the only NFL team that could hand Ryan Tannehill a starting job, Sean Payton and Co. might be deciding between trading up for a rookie quarterback or quietly tanking in 2024.

Instead, Tannehill could back up presumptive Bears QB Caleb Williams, offering mentorship to the likely No. 1 overall pick and a reliable No. 2 option if Williams gets injured during his rookie campaign. Undrafted rookie QB Tyson Bagent performed better than anyone in Chicago could’ve expected in 2023, but Tannehill would give the Bears a higher floor.

RB J.K. Dobbins | Los Angeles Chargers

Injuries have limited J.K. Dobbins to just 24 of a possible 67 games since entering the NFL in 2020. He’s now attempting to recover from a torn Achilles, typically a debilitating injury that can sap an RB’s explosion.

Dobbins has usually been effective when he’s been able to stay healthy and was medically cleared for football activities earlier this week. He visited the Chargers on Tuesday and would reunite with former Baltimore Ravens OC Greg Roman if he lands a deal with the Bolts. Los Angeles signed another ex-Ravens RB — Gus Edwards — this offseason but could use another backfield bet.

WR Odell Beckham Jr. | New Orleans Saints

Odell Beckham Jr. flashed when healthy in 2023 and still has juice in the passing game. But his age and injury concerns mean he’s unlikely to make even half the $15 million salary he earned with the Ravens in 2023.

While the Miami Dolphins have made an offer to OBJ, we have a different fit in mind. The Saints haven’t re-signed Micahel Thomas and need a WR3 to complement Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. Beckham might be willing to take a hometown discount to return to his native Louisiana.

WR Tyler Boyd | Miami Dolphins

Miami is clearly looking for another wideout to play alongside Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Let’s give them a veteran pass catcher who’s already used to working behind two dominant receivers.

Tyler Boyd has spent the past three seasons playing third fiddle to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, serving as a reliable third option for the Cincinnati Bengals. He’s essentially a slot-only player, but Boyd could be a dependable possession receiver for the Dolphins.

WR Michael Gallup | Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers traded WR Diontae Johnson to the Carolina Panthers earlier this month, leaving them with George Pickens and a host of question marks on their wideout depth chart. Pittsburgh has signed Van Jefferson and Quez Watkins, neither of whom is an inspiring choice as a starting wide receiver.

Michael Gallup hasn’t been the same player since tearing his ACL in 2022 but has a 1,000-yard campaign (2019) on his ledger. The 6’1″, 200-pounder can give the Steelers more size on the perimeter and wouldn’t prevent them from drafting an early-round WR. Gallup has drawn free agent interest from the Panthers and Ravens since being released by the Dallas Cowboys in early March.

TE Logan Thomas | Minnesota Vikings

Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson isn’t expected to be ready for the start of the 2024 season after tearing his ACL in December. While Minnesota still has fellow TE Josh Oliver and re-signed Johnny Mundt, those veterans are blocking specialists.

MORE: Ranking Supporting Casts of Teams That Could Draft a First-Round QB

Logan Thomas is 32 years old and probably won’t ever match his standout 2020 campaign (72-670-6). But he put up 55 catches for 496 yards and four TDs last season and could be a valuable temporary Hockenson replacement, especially in the red zone.

OT Mekhi Becton | Kansas City Chiefs

After injuries limited him to just one game from 2020 to 2021, Mekhi Becton finally managed to stay healthy for 16 games this past season. He missed one contest and part of another after spraining his ankle, but any intrigued team has to be encouraged by Becton’s stretch of availability in 2023.

As long as he stays in shape, Becton has all the tools to be a high-end left tackle. The Chiefs have not re-signed OT Donovan Smith and might be willing to start the season with 2023 third-round pick Wanya Morris on Patrick Mahomes’ blindside. Becton could be a low-cost, high-upside alternative if Kansas City wants to add one more free agent.

OT Donovan Smith | Washington Commanders

After being flagged for 12 penalties in 2022 (second-most among offensive linemen), Donovan Smith committed just five accepted fouls this past season. While injuries were a problem in both years, Smith is still just 30 years old.

Washington will presumably find its franchise QB with the No. 2 overall pick in next month’s draft, but the club also needs a left tackle. While the Commanders signed Tyler Biadasz and Nick Allegretti this offseason, they’ll be hard-pressed to send Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, or J.J. McCarthy onto the field with a void on their blindside.

DL Calais Campbell | Los Angeles Rams

The Rams rebuilt their secondary this offseason by adding CBs Tre’Davious White and Darious Williams and S Kam Curl, but Los Angeles could stand to add defensive line reinforcements after Aaron Donald’s surprising retirement.

Calais Campbell is 37 years old but still managed 6.5 sacks and 17 QB hits for the Atlanta Falcons in 2023, his best totals since 2019. The on-field production is there, while Campbell would also be a valuable mentor for young Rams defensive linemen like Kobie Turner and Bobby Brown III.

EDGE Mike Danna | Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons are in a position to add a pass rusher like Dallas Turner, Jared Verse, or Laiatu Latu in the first round of the draft. Even then, Atlanta could still use another defensive to play alongside Arnold Ebiketie, Lorenzo Carter, and the club’s Round 1 selection.

While Mike Danna is hardly a star, he posted at least five sacks and 10 QB hits for the Chiefs in each of the last two seasons. He’s solid against the run and should offer the Falcons a stable presence to pair with a high-upside first-round pick. Atlanta is pressed for cap space, but Danna should be affordable at this stage of free agency.

CB Stephon Gilmore | Detroit Lions

Detroit traded for CB Carlton Davis and signed CB Amik Robertson this offseason, but incumbent corner Cameron Sutton’s arrest warrant and subsequent release means the Lions have another void in the secondary.

Head coach Dan Campbell admitted this week that Detroit could add another CB before the draft, and Stephon Gilmore is the best defensive back on the market. The 34-year-old proved he was still a CB1 after being traded from the Indianapolis Colts to the Cowboys in 2023, appearing in all 17 games while playing primarily single coverage.

S Justin Simmons | Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens deployed plenty of three-safety looks in 2023, as Kyle Hamilton, Marcus Williams, and Geno Stone each played at least 700 snaps. Hamilton spent much of his time in the slot but could be forced to line up as a true safety if Baltimore doesn’t add another defensive back.

Justin Simmons can be another versatile back-end option for the Ravens after seeing action in the box, in the slot, and in center field during his eight-year career with the Broncos. The 30-year-old was named a second-team All-Pro in four of the past five seasons and would bring 108 games’ worth of starting experience to Baltimore’s roster.

S Julian Blackmon | Indianapolis Colts

Blackmon set career highs in starts (15), interceptions (four), pass breakups (eight), and tackles for loss (five) in 2023, posting his best season in his platform campaign. He’s a solid fit as the single-high safety in Gus Bradley’s Cover 3-dominant game plans.

KEEP READING: 2024 NFL Free Agents by Position

The Colts have the cap space to re-sign Blackmon, and they’ve shown no willingness to turn things over to former third-round pick Nick Cross, who played roughly a quarter of Indy’s defensive snaps this year.

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2024-03-28T23:42:13Z dg43tfdfdgfd