Predicting Landing Spots for Top 2024 NFL Free Agents Left on the Market

The NFL world may be focused on the upcoming draft now that the calendar has flipped to April, but plenty of notable free agents still remain unsigned weeks after the new league year kicked off.

While there aren't any bonafide superstars left looking for a new home, there are quite a few veterans available who could make a major impact with their next team. These players may be aging, have injury concerns or are dealing with other issues that kept them from inking big-money, long-term deals, but there's a good chance they end up playing key roles on budget contracts during the 2024 season.

With that in mind, let's look at some of the best free agents still lingering on the open market and pair them with their top potential landing spot.

Odell Beckham Jr. may no longer be an elite No. 1 receiver, but he didn't look too bad upon his return to NFL action last season.

After spending the 2022 campaign rehabilitating an ACL injury that he suffered during Super Bowl LVI, OBJ signed a one-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens last offseason. He finished the 2023 campaign with a respectable 35 catches for 565 yards and three touchdowns in 14 appearances. He accomplished this despite falling a few rungs on the Ravens' pass-catching ladder while playing on a team that threw on a league-low 50 percent of its offensive snaps.

Beckham should be able to boost his numbers and remain a steady contributor by signing with a team that features a more potent aerial attack than Baltimore. While his Spotrac annual market value of $11.9 million certainly isn't cheap, it's a fair deal for a receiver with Beckam's pedigree and potential.

The Buffalo Bills could become the latest Super Bowl hopeful to bring Beckham aboard. They have only $8.5 million in cap space, but they'd offer the aging veteran a real chance to add another ring to his collection before retiring.

Buffalo needs to replace Gabe Davis after the big-play receiver signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency. While the team could shift a good chunk of Davis' vacated workload to incumbent slot receiver Khalil Shakir or free-agent addition Curtis Samuel, Beckham would be a safer option for a team hoping to make a championship run following several years of disappointing postseason finishes.

Beckham has shown he can quickly pick up a new offense and pitch in at a high level. He was an instrumental part of the Los Angeles Rams' Super Bowl run three years ago, contributing 27 catches for 305 yards and five scores in eight regular-season games after landing with the club. He added 21 receptions for 288 yards and two touchdowns during the team's four-game playoff run.

OBJ could rekindle that magic in 2024 while playing with Josh Allen. Given the Buffalo signal-caller's big arm and propensity to air it out often, Beckham could have one of his best seasons ever while setting himself up to cash in when he next hits the open market.

Top Landing Spot: Buffalo Bills

Kyle Dugger was one of the few bright spots on the New England Patriots over the last two seasons. The Patriots used the transition tag on him this offseason, but Dugger could depart Foxborough if he receives an offer from another team that New England declines to match.

Even with a relatively cool safety market this offseason, Dugger could garner a respectable deal. Spotrac estimates he'll earn approximately $16.5 million annually on his next contract, a bump from the $13.8 million he's set to make on the transition tag.

After a slow start to his career, the 2020 second-rounder has steadily emerged as a strong playmaker. He broke out in his third season by recording a trio of picks—two of which he returned for touchdowns—in addition to 78 tackles, eight pass breakups, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a sack while earning a career-best 78.4 grade from Pro Football Focus.

Although Dugger's PFF grade dropped to 61.7 last season, he still racked up a career-high 109 tackles along with seven pass breakups and a pair of picks that brought his career total to nine. There's a real chance that the Patriots end up matching any reasonable offer for Dugger since they have the most cap room in the NFL right now, but if they decline to do so, the Washington Commanders could benefit.

Washington ranks second in available cap space with $43.9 million, and it should have no issue spending some of that to bring Dugger in on a long-term deal. New head coach Dan Quinn was a defensive-minded hire who could make the most of Dugger's playmaking skills.

Upgrading the safety spot should be a priority for Washington's new regime. Neither Percy Butler nor Darrick Forrest—the team's projected starters—have flashed as much upside or skill as Dugger early in their respective careers.

While the Commanders did add another high-ceiling defensive back in Jeremy Chinn this offseason, Dugger's versatility and consistency should appeal to them. Dugger could flourish in the nation's capital, anchoring a secondary that needs all the help it can get as the team rebuilds.

Top Landing Spot: Washington Commanders

Bud Dupree may have lost some luster after failing to live up to the blockbuster contract he signed with the Tennessee Titans as one of the prized free agents of the 2021 class. However, he still has something to offer his next NFL team.

Dupree flashed as much during his lone season with the Atlanta Falcons last year. He finished with 6.5 sacks—his best showing since leaving the Pittsburgh Steelers two years prior—while also tallying 39 tackles (including eight for a loss), eight quarterback hits, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles.

Although Dupree is no longer a nearly every-down player, he stayed on the field for 68 percent of Atlanta's defensive snaps last season—a noticeable boost over the high-50 percent snap shares he logged with the Titans.

Given his schematic versatility—Dupree can play both outside linebacker and defensive end—and the scarcity of capable edge-rushers still on the open market, Dupree should have a number of interested suitors who are hoping to bolster their pass-rushing capabilities.

The Jacksonville Jaguars should be quite interested in Dupree. While they wouldn't need him to take on a huge workload due to the presence of both Josh Allen and Travon Walker, the veteran would be an ideal rotational piece for a squad that should be desperate to improve its pass defense.

Jacksonville has $12.7 million in cap space, which should be enough to fit a market-value deal for the 31-year-old pass-rusher. He signed a one-year, $3 million deal last year with Atlanta.

The Jags could get plenty of value out of signing Dupree, especially after notching only 40 sacks last year and 35 the season prior. While Allen and Walker are both great getting into the backfield, no other Jacksonville defender had more than 3.5 sacks last year. The Jags also allowed 239.8 passing yards per game, the seventh-most in the NFL.

Dupree could be the missing piece for this Jaguars defense. He'd be following former Atlanta defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen as he prepares to implement his system for the Jaguars.

Top Landing Spot: Jacksonville Jaguars

Andrus Peat is one of the more intriguing offensive linemen left on the free-agent market.

Peat spent most of his nine-year NFL career working as a left guard for the New Orleans Saints, but injuries and depth issues forced him to move to left tackle last season. At 6'7" and 316 pounds, Peat has the size and strength to match up with nearly any defender he faces, and he can be plugged in nearly anywhere within the offensive trenches.

While Peat wasn't a Pro Bowl-caliber talent at left tackle—a distinction he earned at left guard for three straight years between 2018 and 2020—he still held up well and could be signed to play either position his next stop.

Peat finished with a PFF grade of 60.2 last year, but he allowed only two sacks and was flagged for six penalties across his 809 offensive snaps. It was an impressive audition for what could become a full-time tackle role in the future.

Availability has been the biggest concern with Peat, as the 30-year-old has never played a full season since the Saints selected him in the first round in 2015. He did suit up for 16 games last season, though, including 12 starts.

If Peat can stay healthy and remain on the field in 2024, he could end up being one of the better-value pickups of free agency this year.

The Cincinnati Bengals would be a great fit for Peat, especially after they let incumbent tackle Jonah Williams walk in free agency and brought in Trent Brown as his replacement on the right side of the line. Brown has a history of inconsistent play and could struggle to live up to the $4.8 million deal he inked this offseason.

The Bengals are well-positioned for a bounce-back year with a healthy Joe Burrow returning under center, but their hopes of a deep playoff run could be quickly derailed by offensive line injuries. Peat would provide Cincinnati with an ideal insurance option in case Brown doesn't live up to expectations, along with some much-needed depth at guard.

Top Landing Spot: Cincinnati Bengals

Justin Simmons was one of the surprising cuts at the start of the offseason. It's even more shocking that the former Denver Broncos safety has yet to find a new home.

Simmons should still have plenty gas left in the tank as he gears up for his ninth NFL season. While he's now on the wrong side of 30, he was just named a second-team All-Pro for the fourth time and earned the second Pro Bowl nod of his career in 2023.

With career totals of 604 tackles, 30 interceptions, five forced fumbles, 4.5 sacks and three fumble recoveries, Simmons is a versatile defensive back who can cover well, create turnovers and tackle at a high level. He should have little issue contributing at a high level for plenty of NFL defenses in 2024.

However, Simmons' price tag could keep some teams out of the running. Denver parted with him to save $14.5 million in much-needed cap space, but Spotrac still estimates he'll make $11.1 million annually on his next contract.

The Philadelphia Eagles look to be the ideal landing spot for Simmons. They have the fourth-most cap space leaguewide ($32.4 million) and would be a great fit for him schematically.

Simmons was already successful earlier in his career working with new Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who was Denver's head coach between 2019-21. The Eagles also need more veteran talent at the safety spot.

If the season began today, 2023 third-rounder Sydney Brown and 2022 undrafted free-agent pickup Reed Blankenship might start ahead of a pair of unproven talents in Mekhi Garner and Tristin McCollum. While C.J. Gardner-Johnson could be in the mix as well, he'll likely see plenty of time at nickel corner.

Simmons is a clear upgrade here and would make perfect sense for a team that needs more veteran contributors as it looks to bounce back after its nightmarish finish to last season.

Top Landing Spot: Philadelphia Eagles

NFL salary-cap data courtesy of Spotrac.