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ESPN Writer- Matt Bowen is a fantasy football and NFL writer for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2015, writes regularly for ESPN+ and spent multiple years on "NFL Matchup." After graduating from the University of Iowa, Matt played safety in the NFL for St. Louis, Green Bay, Washington and Buffalo over seven seasons.
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senior NFL national reporter- Jeremy Fowler is a senior national NFL writer for ESPN, covering the entire league including breaking news. Jeremy also contributes to SportsCenter both as a studio analyst and a sideline reporter covering for NFL games. He is an Orlando, Florida native who joined ESPN in 2014 after covering college football for CBSSports.com.
As we hit the second-half stretch of the 2023 NFL season, many teams will soon start thinking about their 2024 offseason plans. And part of that, of course, is how they will approach the free agent pool. The negotiation period set to begin on March 11, with free agency officially opening two days later on March 13 -- is just four months away now.
NFL analyst Matt Bowen looked at the current group of players primed to hit unrestricted free agency -- because of expiring contracts or deals in line to void -- and ranked the top 25 who might end up available, starting with two defensive stars. Only two quarterbacks make the list, but multiple playmakers on both sides of the ball could be out there for teams to sign to lucrative deals. Factors in the ranking include age, positional value (the pair of QBs get a boost), expected future production and scheme versatility.
But a lot can change, and our final free agent ranking in March will look much different. Remember, Jalen Hurts, Nick Bosa and Jonathan Taylor were all on our way-too-early lookahead eight months ago but all signed big new deals since then -- and they won't be the last to do so. Many of the players listed below will re-up with their current franchises before March. So senior NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler also weighed in with the latest buzz on each player and whether they might be re-signed or franchise-tagged by their 2023 team.
More 2024 offseason prep from 
:
Biggest team needs | Draft rankings
1. Brian Burns, EDGE, Carolina Panthers
2023 salary: $16 million
Age entering 2024 season: 26
Why he could get paid: Burns has five sacks this season after posting 12.5 in 2022, and his pass rush win rate of 27.3% would rank third in the NFL if he qualified. He's just now entering his prime playing years, too. Burns has high-end edge-rushing traits, including the speed, explosive power and lower-body flexibility to consistently create pocket disruption. -- Bowen
What we're hearing: Burns would have a massive market in free agency, but the expectation around the league is the Panthers will franchise-tag Burns at around $22 million. Things will then get interesting. Does Burns stay away from the team and threaten to miss games? The sides never closed the gap in 2023 offseason negotiations, and it feels like anything is possible at this point. -- Fowler
2. Chris Jones, DT, Kansas City Chiefs
2023 salary: $18.4 million
Age entering 2024 season: 30
Why he could get paid: With 5.5 sacks this season and the versatility to align off the edge -- where his pass rush win rate jumps from 14.7% to 25.0% -- Jones is still a game-wrecking talent on the defensive front. The eight-year veteran is a true disruptor, with 70.5 sacks, 12 forced fumbles and 25 pass breakups over his career. -- Bowen
What we're hearing: After talking to several people around the league about Jones, the feeling is he could flirt with the $30 million-per-year threshold on a new deal. He's the closest thing to Aaron Donald and has prime years left, turning 30 in July. The Chiefs likely can't afford to tag Jones; that would be worth 120% of his current $26.8 million cap hit, which works out to be more than $32 million. -- Fowler
3. Kirk Cousins, QB, Minnesota Vikings
2023 salary: $35 million
Age entering 2024 season: 36
Why he could get paid: Before tearing his right Achilles in Week 8, Cousins was completing nearly 70% of his throws, and he had thrown 18 touchdown passes to five interceptions. He's an easy fit for a system with play-action elements in the pass game, and Cousins should be viewed as an immediate upgrade for many offenses this offseason. -- Bowen
What we're hearing: Cousins' current contract states he cannot be franchise-tagged, so it's open season for the accomplished quarterback. That said, staying in Minnesota is still on the table. Teams I've talked to project a Derek Carr-like market ($37.5 million annually) with stronger guarantees, though perhaps not the fully guaranteed deals that Cousins has enjoyed in the past. Multiple people I've talked to around the league consider Atlanta a sensible spot for Cousins. -- Fowler
4. Christian Wilkins, DT, Miami Dolphins
2023 salary: $10.8 million
Age entering 2024 season: 28
Why he could get paid: Wilkins has the position versatility to produce in multiple NFL fronts. He can align as a 3-technique, play nose tackle or even slide to the edge. And he is an explosive mover off the ball with the lateral juice to impact both the run and pass defense. This season, Wilkins has 4.5 sacks, 18 pressures and 37 tackles. -- Bowen
What we're hearing: Enough teams love Wilkins' versatile game that he will be paid handsomely. Several respected executives consider him a top-10 defensive tackle. Miami and Wilkins' agent, David Mulugheta, negotiated diligently over the summer but couldn't agree on a structure. Lack of sack production (11.5 through his first four seasons) loomed large over talks, but he's pacing for a career-high 8.5 sacks this year, which only strengthens his position. The franchise tag for defensive tackles is around $20.8 million. -- Fowler
5. Danielle Hunter, EDGE, Minnesota Vikings
2023 salary: $17 million
Age entering 2024 season: 29
Why he could get paid: Hunter has been highly productive this season, currently tied for a league-best 11 sacks. Plus, he has 31 pressures and three forced fumbles. With his long frame and great short-area speed, Hunter has the upper-level pass-rushing traits that NFL teams want on the edge. -- Bowen
What we're hearing: No one has helped their free agency profile more than Hunter, who is tracking for nearly 19 sacks on the season. Hunter will be 29 to start the 2024 season, paving the way for a lucrative three- or four-year deal at well above $20 million per season. Jacksonville has long been a fan of Hunter's game, but Denver also could bolster its pass rush -- the Broncos are typically unafraid to spend in March. -- Fowler
6. Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
2023 salary: $3 million
Age entering 2024 season: 25
Why he could get paid: The 6-foot-4 target can produce at all three levels of the route tree, making him our top wide receiver right now for free agency. Higgins has 21 touchdowns over four seasons, along with two 1,000-yard seasons despite sharing targets in the Bengals offense with Ja'Marr Chase. He has the inside/outside alignment flexibility and vertical stretch traits to post high-end numbers as a volume target. -- Bowen
What we're hearing: Largely considered a No. 1-caliber receiver, Higgins will be hard for Cincinnati to keep. The franchise tag is $22.9 million, and the Bengals also need to pay Chase eventually. Higgins had significant trade interest at the deadline. He's exactly what a team like Carolina needs -- a bona fide vertical threat with size. Should he get to free agency, Higgins is probably the best wide receiver on the open market since Amari Cooper in 2020. -- Fowler
7. L'Jarius Sneed, CB, Kansas City Chiefs
2023 salary: $2.7 million
Age entering 2024 season: 27
Why he could get paid: Sneed has the traits to match up on the perimeter or play a disruptive role as a slot defender, with one interception and four pass breakups in nine games this season. He is a scheme-versatile corner who can fit in both man and zone systems. Over a four-year career, Sneed has nine picks and 6.5 sacks. -- Bowen
What we're hearing: Sneed's do-it-all style will translate well to free agency, with the ability to play press coverage on the outside or be physical in the slot. Kansas City would like to keep Sneed and has had preliminary contract talks with him, but right now both sides appear focused on the current season. Talks could reignite after it ends, and if they go nowhere, Sneed is a franchise tag or free agency candidate. Enough contending teams were looking for a corner at the trade deadline -- including Buffalo, San Francisco, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh -- that the market will be viable for him. -- Fowler
8. Chase Young, EDGE, San Francisco 49ers
2023 salary: $5.3 million
Age entering 2024 season: 25
Why he could get paid: The start to Young's pro career has been disrupted by injuries, as he has played in only 35 games since going No. 2 overall in 2020. But with his high-end physical tools, Young has flashed on the tape, and he's just entering his prime playing years. A strong second half to the season in San Francisco would boost Young's value in free agency. He has 5.5 sacks, and his 24.1% pass rush win rate ranks eighth in the NFL. -- Bowen
What we're hearing: He might be the biggest enigma in the free agency class. Young has shown the ability to be a top-10 pass-rusher in the NFL, but teams are also eager to see him complete a full, healthy season. Jacksonville is a team that will need a pass-rusher if they lose Josh Allen, but re-signing with San Francisco feels like an option, too. -- Fowler
9. Josh Allen, EDGE, Jacksonville Jaguars
2023 salary: $10.9 million
Age entering 2024 season: 27
Why he could get paid: Allen has nine sacks this season, along with 31 tackles, 23 pressures and 2 forced fumbles. He's a versatile, 6-foot-5 edge defender who can rush, defend the run or drop into coverage. And he fits as a base 3-4 outside linebacker, with the ability to rush in multiple sub-fronts because of his frame and closing speed. -- Bowen
What we're hearing: Allen finally has the sack production to match the enormous upside as a top-10 pick. The franchise tag could be on the table here. The Jaguars will likely make efforts to re-sign him, either before free agency or at the July deadline for franchise-tagged players (should they go that route). But if the Vikings lose Danielle Hunter, Allen could also make sense as a replacement in Brian Flores' 3-4 scheme. -- Fowler
10. Robert Hunt, G, Miami Dolphins
2023 salary: $3 million
Age entering 2024 season: 28
Why he could get paid: At 6-foot-6 and 322 pounds, Hunt has the movement ability to mirror and win in pass pro, where he has registered a pass block win rate of 89.8% this season. He's a fit for multiple run schemes, too, as Hunt can reach and climb as a zone blocker or displace defenders on gap concepts. -- Bowen
What we're hearing: Hunt's name has been buzzing in league circles dating back to Week 3. He has upped his play in Mike McDaniel's system, emerging as one of the top guards in free agency. McDaniel's style of offense suits him, using his mobility to block downfield in the running game. To that point, the 49ers could use guard help. -- Fowler
11. Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2023 salary: $1.4 million
Age entering 2024 season: 26
Why he could get paid: Winfield is an impact defender with the multi-dimensional traits to match in coverage, create pressure and showcase range to the ball. Entering his peak years, he already has 11 sacks, eight forced fumbles and five interceptions over his career. -- Bowen
What we're hearing: Landing a top-10 safety coming off a career season will cost prospective teams big money. Winfield is a cornerstone for Tampa Bay, but the Bucs haven't aggressively tried to sign any of their top young players yet. A top safety in March will likely cost $16 million per year on a new deal, with an average of $18 million per year over the first two seasons. That's essentially what Atlanta gave Jessie Bates III ($64 million over four years, $36 million over 2023-24) in March. -- Fowler
12. Jaylon Johnson, CB, Chicago Bears
2023 salary: $3 million
Age entering 2024 season: 25
Why he could get paid: Johnson has only three career interceptions, but he has broken up 31 passes. And we can see the coverage ability on the tape. Johnson can challenge in both press and off-man alignments, and he plays with the backfield vision to drive on the ball in zone schemes. He's a physical corner who fits best in today's split-safety systems. -- Bowen
What we're hearing: Negotiations between Johnson and the Bears cratered before the trade deadline, and Johnson holds leverage if the Bears want to keep him. Chicago can franchise tag him at somewhere above $19 million or come with a strong offer. Johnson has been an impressive cover man for the Bears, and the Eagles are among many teams that need that. Two free agencies ago, corners like Carlton Davis III and J.C. Jackson commanded deals worth between $14.8-16.5 million per season. That kind of pact could be coming for Johnson -- and with interest, due to cap inflation. -- Fowler
13. Justin Madubuike, DT, Baltimore Ravens
2023 salary: $2.7 million
Age entering 2024 season: 26
Why he could get paid: Madubuike has already recorded a career-high 8.5 sacks this season after posting 5.5 in 2022. The foot quickness jumps on the tape, as does the short-area juice, which allows Madubuike to leverage blockers and create interior pressure. The arrow is pointing up on him; he can win one-on-one or push the pocket in schemed fronts. -- Bowen
What we're hearing: While Chris Jones and Christian Wilkins are the more well-known names at interior defensive line, Madubuike is also in line to earn big dollars in March. Like Robert Hunt, he's in the category of "he'll make more money than people think." He's a major disruptor in the Ravens' 3-4 scheme. The Giants need a Leonard Williams replacement, and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale could tap into his old team's current roster for help. -- Fowler
14. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2023 salary: $14.5 million
Age entering 2024 season: 31
Why he could get paid: Evans has the powerful frame to isolate as the boundary X receiver, creating matchup potential outside the numbers. The vertical ability is still there, too, and Evans has the route traits to uncover. With six touchdowns and 17.1 yards per reception this season, Evans should be viewed as a priority target in free agency. -- Bowen
What we're hearing: He's basically a lock for 1,000 yards every season, and his downfield ability has held up well over 10 NFL seasons. He'll be 31 in August but reminds us of a Calais Campbell-type player, only on offense -- his body type will help him age well for a contender. Some people in the league believe the Bucs will find a way to re-sign Evans, allowing the franchise staple to retire in Tampa Bay. -- Fowler
15. Jonah Williams, OT, Cincinnati Bengals
2023 salary: $12.6 million
Age entering 2024 season: 26
Why he could get paid: Williams, who owns a pass block win rate of 82.1% this season (58th out of 68 qualified tackles), doesn't have upper-tier power or length at the position. But he wins with technique, gaining depth to create blocking angles and pass-set lines. He can upgrade a front on the right side. -- Bowen
What we're hearing: Functional offensive tackles typically do well in free agency, and Williams, a 2019 first-round pick, has been solid after his move to right tackle. He might not reach the Mike McGlinchey threshold from this spring ($17.5 million annually) but will definitely post a double-digit number. The same goes for Patriots right tackle Mike Onwenu, who can play guard or tackle. -- Fowler
16. Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants
2023 salary: $10.1 million
Age entering 2024 season: 27
Why he could get paid: Barkley has the dual-threat traits to operate and produce in any pro system, thanks to his ability to hit home runs when he has the ball in his hands. He's a true lead back -- a volume player -- who has amassed 270 receptions and 40 total touchdowns over his six pro seasons. But while he is averaging 100.6 scrimmage yards per game over his career, he has only played two full seasons since being draft No. 2 in 2018. -- Bowen
What we're hearing: Barkley's play has held up well during a traumatic Giants season, and he's the kind of top-flight talent who can transcend a down positional market. But it's also a team-friendly market, which potentially waters things down. The Giants can tag Barkley at around $12 million, but they are also very much in transition and could allocate dollars elsewhere. Does Buffalo seek a backfield difference-maker to pair with James Cook in the backfield? -- Fowler
17. Kendall Fuller, CB, Washington Commanders
2023 salary: $8.5 million
Age entering 2024 season: 29
Why he could get paid: A veteran with savvy coverage technique and transition speed out of his pedal, Fuller has two interceptions this season, giving him a total of 16 in his career. He'd be a smart fit for a Quarters-based system. And Fuller can set an edge against the run game, too, with 52 tackles in 2023. I see a player who can boost the profile of a secondary for a contending team. -- Bowen
What we're hearing: While Tennessee's Sean Murphy-Bunting has had a resurgent season in Tennessee, and Cincinnati's Chidobe Awuzie is a proven commodity as he rounds into form off a torn ACL, Fuller is perhaps a safer play among free agent corners. He has been solid for Washington, can play multiple spots and turns 29 in February. San Francisco and Buffalo would be schematic fits. -- Fowler
18. Jonah Jackson, G, Detroit Lions
2023 salary: $3 million
Age entering 2024 season: 27
Why he could get paid: Jackson is an interior mauler who can keep the pocket firm in pass pro, and he holds a pass rush win rate of 89.7% this season. He plays with a physical edge in the run game, too, with the ability to latch onto defenders and move them off the ball. -- Bowen
What we're hearing: Detroit had preliminary contract talks with Jackson in the preseason, but nothing materialized. The Lions already paid center Frank Ragnow and left tackle Taylor Decker, and they need to budget for tackle Penei Sewell. The guard market will be robust; consider that Ben Powers got nearly $13 million per year from Denver in March. Jackson has versatility as a guard or center, too. -- Fowler
19. Calvin Ridley, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
2023 salary: $11.1 million
Age entering 2024 season: 29
Why he could get paid: As a sudden-mover in the route tree, Ridley can create second-level separation and test defenses vertically. He gets out of his breaks with speed, too. His numbers haven't jumped this season in Jacksonville, but Ridley has produced two games with over 100 receiving yards, and more than 25% of his 35 catches have gone for at least 20 yards. -- Bowen
What we're hearing: Ridley might be the most explosive receiver in the class. Yes, he's pacing for less than 1,000 yards this season, but that won't dissuade teams from paying him. They have enough tape from his Atlanta days to know he can be a fringe top-10 receiver. Many of the usual suspects could be looking for a wideout, including the Giants, Colts and Panthers. -- Fowler
20. Devin White, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2023 salary: $11.7 million
Age entering 2024 season: 26
Why he could get paid: White has the second-level range and pursuit speed to track the ball, and he's a productive blitzer who can get home to the quarterback. He has 22.5 career sacks since going No. 5 overall back in 2019. White has the ceiling of an impact linebacker against today's NFL passing games, coming off three straight 120-plus-tackle seasons and pacing toward another (60). -- Bowen
What we're hearing: One of the more talented linebackers of the past five years had an uneven performance in 2022 but has been more consistent this season and showed toughness playing through a nagging foot injury. When healthy and flying around the field, he's a big-money player. Word around the league is that White wanted $20 million per year from the Bucs on a new deal. He likely won't get that, but he'll do well. Baltimore linebacker Patrick Queen is having a strong season and has upped his value, too, so there should be good linebackers available. -- Fowler
21. Dalton Schultz, TE, Houston Texans
2023 salary: $6.25 million
Age entering 2024 season: 28
Why he could get paid: In Houston's explosive-play offense, Schultz has caught 37 passes and four touchdowns on the season. He's a seam-stretcher who can also work the underneath levels and slip tacklers after the catch. Plus, he's a willing blocker in the run game. Schultz has the makeup of a traditional in-line tight end, but I do see the ability to flex out as a receiver, too. -- Bowen
What we're hearing: The market could finally fall right for Schultz. He was set to earn a big deal in 2022 free agency, but the Cowboys tagged him. Then last March, a loaded draft class of tight ends sullied the market for veterans. Schultz took a one-year, $6.25 million deal with Houston and vowed to produce. He's 27 with prime years left and is capable as a receiver and blocker, but don't be surprised if Houston tries to re-sign him. -- Fowler
22. Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
2023 salary: $11.8 million
Age entering 2024 season: 26
Why he could get paid: Jacobs is a volume grinder, with the pad level and physical running style to finish runs. But he also has the lateral quickness to shake defenders in a phone booth. Jacobs has averaged 3.3 yards per carry this season, but he is coming off his first 100-yard game and has the receiving skills to post numbers on screens, swings and unders. Let's not forget that he led the league in rushing just one year ago with 1,653 yards. -- Bowen
What we're hearing: His game has perked up in recent weeks, but that aforementioned average of 3.3 yards per carry could affect his bottom line. Jacobs is still a lead back who's perfect for a team dedicated to the run. Tampa Bay is just that and needs a decisive runner to complement Rachaad White. -- Fowler
23. Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts
2023 salary: $3 million
Age entering 2024 season: 26
Why he could get paid: With his physical frame and high-end ball skills, Pittman can play on the boundary or create vertical matchups from slot alignments. He has the vision to produce on catch-and-run concepts, with 45.3% of his 677 receiving yards coming after the catch this season. Pittman has caught 66 passes through Week 10 and is set to top 120 targets for a third straight season. -- Bowen
What we're hearing: The Colts have paid many of their productive draft picks in the Chris Ballard era, so I'm expecting Indy to try to keep its top receiver. Pittman is pacing for more than 100 catches and 1,100-plus yards. The last Colts player to hit both of those marks in a single season was Pittman's wide receivers coach, Reggie Wayne, in 2012. -- Fowler
24. Kyle Dugger, S, New England Patriots
2023 salary: $2.8 million
Age entering 2024 season: 28
Why he could get paid: Dugger has rare position versatility at 6-foot-2, 222 pounds, and he has the impact traits to play from depth or roam underneath as a hybrid defender in sub-package sets. That makes him a fit for a multiple defensive system that uses dime personnel. Dugger has 277 tackles, nine interceptions, a forced fumble and two sacks in his four pro seasons. -- Bowen
What we're hearing: Versatile safeties should have a good free agency market, and some teams consider Dugger the No. 2 safety in the class, with Cleveland's Grant Delpit and others also in the mix. The Patriots received trade interest in Dugger at the deadline. A few league sources predict Dugger should get a strong contract, but the only hangup would be his position -- safety doesn't always yield premium payouts. Dugger is the kind of player Pats coach Bill Belichick typically wants to keep. -- Fowler
25. Baker Mayfield, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2023 salary: $4 million
Age entering 2024 season: 29
Why he could get paid: Mayfield has played his best football of the season over his past three games in Tampa Bay, throwing six touchdown passes to one interception. He has been decisive with the ball, attacking multiple levels of the field and using his mobility to reset his throwing window. On the season, Mayfield has 2,143 yards, 14 touchdown passes and five interceptions. He'd be a good fit for an offense with play-action concepts and schemed verticals, and I'm looking for Mayfield to lock in a starting job this offseason. -- Bowen
What we're hearing: Mayfield has reinvented himself in Tampa, posting a respectable 56.4 Total QBR, ranking 14th in the NFL. The Buccaneers are open to extending Mayfield, though nothing is happening there yet. QB-needy teams not willing to pay Cousins' price could look to Mayfield, but Minnesota's Joshua Dobbs also is becoming an intriguing option. -- Fowler