2024 NFL Draft Position Groups That Will Have Biggest Impact on Free Agency Decisions

2024 NFL Draft Position Groups That Will Have Biggest Impact on Free-Agency Decisions0 of 5

Malik NabersJonathan Bachman/Getty Images

The NFL’s window for clubs to franchise-tag their impending free agents opened this week and the NFL Scouting Combine begins next week, meaning every team in the league is evaluating how to improve its roster.

General managers will spend the next several months deciding between filling needs with free agents or draft prospects as the league’s two biggest offseason events, free agency and the draft, go hand-in-hand with each other. So, how could the quality of this year’s crop of incoming rookies impact the veterans who are trying to get paid in the spring?

Looking at B/R’s latest NFL draft big board, we’ll dive into the five position groups that could have the biggest effect on free agency. The criteria for the selected positions were determined by which ones have the most players in B/R’s Top 100.

Also covered are a few examples of impending free agents who could be impacted the most by the depth of the draft class.

Wide Receiver 1 of 5

Rome OdunzeCarmen Mandato/Getty Images

WRs in B/R’s Top 100: 17

By now, just about everyone who follows the NFL draft knows that Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr. is one of the best wide receiver prospects in several years. However, the 2024 crop of wideouts is more than Harrison Jr., as it’s incredibly deep.

Receivers not only account for a large chunk of B/R’s Top 100, but the position also makes up nearly 20 percent of the 50 best prospects in this year’s class.

Additionally, there are several different flavors of wideouts, including tall guys who can run, such as Oregon’s Troy Franklin, contested-catch threats such as Xavier Legette from South Carolina, and smaller slot types like Ladd McConkey out of Georgia. That gives general managers plenty of cheaper options to fill needs at the positions.

Free Agent WRs Impacted

This could be bad news for wideouts like Marquise Brown, Calvin Ridley and Gabe Davis, to name a few.

Brown is already facing an uphill battle as a smaller outside receiver, and several Day 2 draft prospects could fill that role, like Texas’ Xavier Worthy, Michigan’s Roman Wilson and Washington’s Jalen McMillan.

Meanwhile, Ridley and Davis—taller receivers who can win down the field—could be replaced by Franklin, Brian Thomas Jr. from LSU and Florida State’s Johnny Wilson.

Cornerback2 of 5

Terrion ArnoldJoe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

CBs in B/R’s Top 100: 15

As the NFL continues to be a passing league, we can expect to see more noteworthy battles in the air over the next few years as the upcoming draft class has almost as many top-100 cornerbacks as wide receivers.

Granted, the corner class doesn’t have the top-end talent that the wide receivers do, but it’s still plenty deep with 10 players at the position falling within the first 70 prospects on B/R’s board.

There’s also a lot of length in the group between Khyree Jackson from Oregon, Nate Wiggins out of Clemson and Notre Dame’s Cam Hart. The ball hawks are well-represented as well with Alabama’s Terrion Arnold, Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell and D.J. James out of Auburn all showing impressive ball skills that should translate to the next level.

Free Agent CBs Impacted

While the top two impending free agent corners—Jaylon Johnson and L’Jarius Sneed—likely won’t be impacted by the draft class since they’re on the younger side and coming off career years, the older ones looking for a payday could be.

Kendall Fuller, Chidobe Awuzie, Stephon Gilmore and Steven Nelson could have a hard time getting new deals, or at least ones to their liking, since all will be at least 29 years old by September. Gilmore and Nelson might have it the worst, seeing as they’ve already hit their 30s.

So, don’t be surprised if general managers go with the cheaper young pups in the secondary and those four end up waiting longer than expected for their next contracts.

Interior Offensive Line3 of 5

Jackson Powers-JohnsonSteph Chambers/Getty Images

IOLs in B/R’s Top 100: 12

In full disclosure, B/R has a few interior offensive line prospects who played tackle in college and might be listed as a tackle elsewhere, such as Washington’s Troy Fautanu, Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga and Duke’s Graham Barton. So, the number above is somewhat fluid and could vary from team to team, depending on how each club views each player.

However, that also speaks to the versatility of this year’s offensive line class and is part of the reason it’s so deep.

In addition to the names previously mentioned, players such as Jackson Powers-Johnson out of Oregon, Kansas State’s Cooper Beebe and Dominick Puni from Kansas can all line up at multiple spots in the trenches. That somewhat diminishes a few impending free agents whose competitive advantage is versatility.

Free Agent IOLs Impacted

Connor Williams is going to be battling the “injury-prone” label in free agency after suffering two injuries last season, including the second torn ACL of his career. So, ideally, Williams’ value proposition for potential suitors this spring is that he’s played both guard and center at a high level.

However, that doesn’t carry as much weight, considering the versatility of this draft class.

Meanwhile, Graham Glasgow is in a similar boat as someone who has built a career from being a plug-and-play interior offensive lineman. Glasgow’s pitch to clubs that he can fill in if a starter goes down might not carry the same weight as it would in previous years when the draft class didn’t include as many blockers whose position can be fluid.

Defensive Tackle4 of 5

Jer’Zhan NewtonMichael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

DTs in B/R’s Top 100: 11

With defensive tackle being considered a lower-value position than other spots like edge-rusher or cornerback, it’s difficult for interior defenders to get a first-round grade or rank within the top 32 prospects. However, B/R’s big board has three who fall into that category, and there’s a plethora of Day 2-caliber players at the position.

For example, a nose tackle would typically rank around the 60th or 70th spot at the highest since they’re normally two-down players. But T’Vondre Sweat from Texas holds the 49th spot on the board because he’s a unique nose who can contribute as a pass-rusher.

That’s kind of the common theme with this year’s class, as there are several well-rounded players like Illinois’ Jer’Zhan Newton and Texas’ Byron Murphy.

Even moving further down the draft board, Ruke Orhorhoro out of Clemson and Darius Robinson from Missouri are examples of interior defenders who are stout against the run and have at least shown potential to grow as pass-rushers.

Free Agent DTs Impacted

While Grover Stewart has proved to be a good run defender for the Indianapolis Colts, he doesn’t offer much as a pass-rusher. With how many three-down defensive tackles there are in this year’s draft class, that could impact how much the Colts or another suitor is willing to give Stewart on the open market, especially since he’ll be 31 in August.

A similar statement could be made about Sheldon Rankins, who had a good year as a pass-rusher for the Houston Texans, but Rankins struggled against the run and will be 30 in about two months.

Overall, this defensive line class has several prospects who might make teams hesitant to hand out big contracts to aging free agents, which is the bulk of the players at the position who are about to hit the open market.

Offensive Tackle5 of 5

Joe AltMichael Miller/ISI Photos/Getty Images

OTs in B/R’s Top 100: 9

As discussed, there are a handful of offensive linemen that B/R is projecting to switch from tackle to guard, so the figure above could be even higher. That just goes to show how deep this year’s tackle class is.

There are a couple of blue-chip prospects who could be blindside protectors in the NFL for several years, including Joe Alt from Notre Dame and Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu. Those two rank fifth and sixth, respectively, on B/R’s big board and are only separated by one-hundredth of a point on the grading scale.

Also, teams looking for a right tackle will have a couple of options in JC Latham out of Alabama and Amarius Mims out of Georgia. Not to be forgotten is Oklahoma’s Tyler Guyton, who is a fringe first-rounder for B/R. Additionally, BYU’s Kingsley Suamataia and Houston’s Patrick Paul have the potential to immediately contribute as second-round prospects.

That could make for a frustrating free agency for a few veteran offensive tackles who are about to hit the open market.

Free Agent OTs Impacted

While Tyron Smith is still a good player when healthy, he’s struggled to stay on the field over the last several years. Since the Dallas Cowboys will have a handful of options at left tackle in the draft, it will be a lot easier for them to let the 33-year-old walk this offseason. It wouldn’t be surprising to see other teams prefer a younger, healthier project, too, so Smith’s contract offers could be underwhelming.

Then there’s the defending back-to-back champions who have a decision to make with their starting left tackle, Donovan Smith. After a down year from Smith, the Kansas City Chiefs would probably be better off targeting someone in the draft than bringing back the soon-to-be 31-year-old.

This isn’t a good offseason to be an aging offensive tackle, given the crop of rookies about to enter the league.