6 Perfect Landing Spots for NFL Free Agents (2024 Fantasy Football)

With the franchise tags in place, we now know who will and won’t be hitting free agency in less than a week’s time.

Like any year, the very best players have been kept away from the open market, but plenty of intriguing names will still be available. This includes a deep running back group coincidentally in a year when the draft is not flush with top-tier backs.

This article will examine some of the best landing spots for the top free agents.

Ideal NFL Free Agency Landing Spots

Kirk Cousins (QB – MIN) → Atlanta Falcons

Six years after arriving in Minnesota, Kirk Cousins looks set to depart and will be the most popular quarterback on the market, despite being 35 years old and coming off an Achilles tear. Mobility has never been a part of Cousins’s game, and he should be recovered in time to start the season, most likely in a new home.

For those claiming Kirk Cousins would wipe out the #Falcons ability to have an aggressive free agency period, you’re wrong.

The contract structure could reduce Cousins’ 2024 cap hit considerably AND Atlanta could restructure several of their core players for over $37M in savings

— Kevin Knight (@FalcoholicKevin) March 6, 2024

The Vikings seem lukewarm on bringing him back, partly because Cousins has enough leverage to want a fully-guaranteed contract stretching multiple years. In turn, this opens things up for more desperate teams like the Atlanta Falcons. Cousins has played in similar offenses to the one we think Zac Robinson will run in Atlanta, having followed Raheem Morris from the Rams. All whispers suggest the Falcons want to finally see what they have in Drake London and Kyle Pitts. They need a pass-first quarterback like Cousins to do that. If this were to happen, Cousins would be a fringe top-12 quarterback, and the rest of his offensive pieces could have true breakout years.

Marquise Brown (WR – ARI) → Buffalo Bills

The Cardinals gave up a first-round pick to reunite Kyler Murray with Marquise Brown two years ago. However, Brown might be on the move with a new regime in control and the potential to add a high-draft pick to the receiver room. There is talk that Brown might have to accept a one-year prove-it deal after struggling to stay healthy in 2023 and 2022, playing 26 games combined in the two seasons.

However, with Mike Evans, Michael Pittman and Tee Higgins all not hitting the market, Brown will still be close to the best option at WR. The Bills have been clearing cap space aggressively to get back into a better position ahead of the new year. While they might not be able to pay top dollar, they need a field stretcher who commands respect in a way that Gabriel Davis didn’t. Pairing Brown with Diggs would keep defenses honest. Perhaps Brown would enjoy being back on a contender enough to take a deal that worked around Buffalo’s finances. Brown hasn’t been a top-30 WR since leaving Baltimore, but this would firmly put him back into that conversation.

Calvin Ridley (WR – JAX) → Chicago Bears

When talking about the Chicago Bears in 2024, it’s important to remember this won’t be the Justin Fields-led team we’ve seen over the last couple of years. The Bears will be drafting Caleb Williams and embarking on a new lease of life with a more comfortable passer. Having a deeper group of pass-catchers to throw to would help Wilson. There is currently only DJ Moore and Cole Kmet, which might make Bryce Young green with envy, but it still lacks another threat to keep defenses spread out.

Calvin Ridley is a Wide Receiver in the NFL.
This is his success rate after 1.5 years of not playing and overcoming mental health concerns.
Ridley’s ADP is WR35. Ridley has never finished below WR27 in fantasy points per game. pic.twitter.com/sVUuQqMekY

— Bradley Stalder (@DjiboutiPuns) March 5, 2024

Calvin Ridley didn’t meet expectations in 2023, coming off two years of missed games. However, he still managed 70 receptions and seven touchdowns despite being asked to run high-variance routes on the boundaries consistently. Let’s get Ridley to Chicago and give the man some easy completions.

Josh Jacobs (RB – LV) → Houston Texans

The current odds suggest Saquon Barkley is the most likely RB to land in Texas with CJ Stroud. However, a week ago, bookmakers were convinced Fields was heading to Atlanta, and now that looks like it was never even close.

The Texans are a young team and have plenty of cap space, with over $70M at the time of writing. That should allow them to be shrewd with their moves and pick the back that feels best. Barkley undoubtedly has a high upside, but Josh Jacobs is younger at 26. If the Texans intend to build for this year and the next few, then paying the younger running back would make sense. Jacobs would see an immediate jump in ADP and have the chance to get back into the top five.

Saquon Barkley (RB – NYG) → Dallas Cowboys

Jerry Jones told the media that the Cowboys would be all-in on 2024, bringing back head coach Mike McCarthy after being unceremoniously dumped out of the playoffs… again. With Tony Pollard also a free agent, this leaves a gaping hole for the Cowboys at a position that’s long been a strength and part of their identity. Barkley had a 1.7% touchdown rate in 2023, the lowest mark of any top-16 running backs in PPR scoring.

I could watch Saquon Barkley highlights for hours. pic.twitter.com/T1UNkrf2bO

— Zach Seyko (@zach_seyko) March 6, 2024

Being on a team like the Cowboys, with easily the best offensive line he’d ever played behind, would allow him to easily score over 10 touchdowns for the first time since his rookie season in 2018.

Derrick Henry (RB – TEN) → Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens and the Titans were close to agreeing on a deal that would have sent Henry to Baltimore before the trade deadline. Considering how anemic the Ravens’ rushing offense looked in the playoff loss to the Chiefs, it’s hard not to think it was a missed opportunity for Baltimore.

Henry, though, is now a free agent for the first time in his career at age 30. Although his rushing yards per game (68.6) have decreased for four straight seasons, he’s never rushed for under 4.2 yards per carry. He has also scored double-digit touchdowns in each of the last six years.

Running behind the Ravens’ offensive line while defenses try to account for him and Lamar Jackson would be nothing but an improvement in his situation. The Ravens would unlikely turn everything over to a 30-year-old back, but Henry could continue to be a reliable RB2 most weeks.

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Free Agency NFL Kirk Cousins Drake London Kyle Pitts Marquise Brown Kyler Murray Mike Evans Michael Pittman Tee Higgins Gabriel Davis Calvin Ridley Justin Fields Caleb Williams DJ Moore Cole Kmet Bryce Young Josh Jacobs (RB – LV) Saquon Barkley CJ Stroud Tony Pollard Derrick Henry Lamar Jackson

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Tom Strachan

@NFL_Tstrack

I'm a fantasy football addict, particularly in love with best ball and DFS. I can often be found scrutinising ADP and looking for edges in the best ball streets.