Ideal Landing Spots for NFL’s Top Free Agents After Titans Release Jamal Adams
Kristopher Knox@@kris_knoxCorrespondent IOctober 18, 2024Ideal Landing Spots for NFL’s Top Free Agents After Titans Release Jamal Adams0 of 10
S Jamal AdamsPerry Knotts/Getty Images
The 2024 NFL trade market was jump-started on Tuesday when wide receivers Davante Adams and Amari Cooper were both dealt. More moves will occur between now and the November 5 deadline, but teams do have other options for adding in-season depth.
Several capable players remain unsigned, and another joined the free-agent market on Thursday. The Tennessee Titans released three-time Pro Bowl safety Jamal Adams, honoring his request to find a new home in 2024.
While the 29-year-old saw limited playing time with the Titans, he should be capable of helping a contender over the second half of the season in the right situation.
Here, you’ll find a look at the most ideal landing spots for Adams and other top free agents, based on factors such as player upside, scheme fit, team needs and projected role.
S Jamal Adams: Philadelphia Eagles1 of 10
Ryan Kang/Getty Images
Adams only saw the field for 20 defensive snaps in Tennessee, and he didn’t play particularly well for the Seattle Seahawks last season. He logged 48 tackles and two passes defended in 2023, but he allowed an opposing passer rating of 111.7 in coverage.
That said, the 2017 No. 6 pick has a history of defensive versatility and a proven track record of rushing the quarterback. He earned his last Pro Bowl nod in 2020, largely because he racked up 9.5 sacks as a blitzer.
Both of these traits would make him a strong fit for the Philadelphia Eagles. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has used disguised coverage schemes heavily in the past, and Adams could boost the pass rush by blitzing or by simulating pressure and dropping into coverage.
Getting to opposing quarterbacks has been an issue for Philadelphia, which recorded five of its 11 sacks against the injury-plagued Cleveland Browns last Sunday.
The Eagles traded Haason Reddick in the offseason, and free-agent acquisition Bryce Huff has struggled to replace him—and they can’t reacquire Reddick in a trade this season, per league rules.
C Mason Cole: New Orleans Saints2 of 10
Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
It may be too late for the New Orleans Saints to salvage their season, due in large part to injuries, but they have to field a competitive roster for 10 more games.
The injury bug began to bite hard after their 2-0 start, and the Saints were without star receivers Chris Olave (concussion) and Rashid Shaheed (knee) on Thursday night, along with quarterback Derek Carr (obliques). Cornerbacks Paulson Adebo (knee) and Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) both left with injuries.
The Saints have also been playing without standout center Erik McCoy, who suffered a groin injury in Week 3. Though he may return this season, it would behoove the team to grab some talent off the free-agent market.
McCoy’s injury is expected to sideline him for 6-8 weeks, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
Center Mason Cole has been available ever since the Steelers released him at the start of the offseason. While he’s never been a high-level starter, he started all 34 games in his two seasons with Pittsburgh.
There’s little reason for the 28-year-old to be unemployed in mid-October.
RB Latavius Murray: Dallas Cowboys3 of 10
Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
With Kareem Hunt landing with the Kansas City Chiefs—and quickly earning a significant role—the running back market lacks starting-caliber talent.
However, longtime NFL veteran Latavius Murray is out there and waiting to help an offense.
“I’m not done,” the 34-year-old told Go Long’s Tyler Dunne in May. “Definitely not done.”
Murray has bounced around the NFL in recent seasons but has remained a quality contributor at every stop. He appeared in 16 games for the Buffalo Bills last season and recorded 300 rushing yards, 119 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
If there’s a team that could afford to take a chance on such an experienced veteran, it’s the Dallas Cowboys. They rank dead-last in both yards per carry and rushing yards this season, and their plan to rekindle Ezekiel Elliott’s career hasn’t worked.
The three-time Pro Bowler is averaging just 3.0 yards per carry and has fallen far behind Rico Dowdle in the backfield rotation. At some point, the Cowboys need to take a look at Dalvin Cook, who is on their practice squad, but they should consider Murray too.
At worst, adding Murray would make Elliott fully expendable.
CB Marcus Peters: Baltimore Ravens4 of 10
Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
Cornerback Marcus Peters has been available since the Las Vegas Raiders decided to waive him last November. Then-interim coach Antonio Pierce made the move as part of his in-season culture adjustment.
“Pierce wouldn’t go into detail on his decision, but there have been several instances this season when it looked like Peters gave minimal effort on some plays,” Vic Tafur of The Athletic wrote after his release.
While the 31-year-old didn’t make a strong impression in Las Vegas—he allowed an opposing passer rating of 100.9 in coverage—he did hold down a starting spot for 12 games. He’s three years removed from the torn ACL that erased his 2021 season and likely impacted his 2022 campaign, so it’s worth seeing if he can regain his previous form.
A return to the Baltimore Ravens would make a ton of sense for both sides. Peters should already be familiar with the defense, as new coordinator Zach Orr served under former coordinator Mike Macdonald, and the Ravens need secondary help.
Baltimore ranks 27th in net yards per pass attempt allowed and 31st in passing yards allowed this season.
CB Patrick Peterson: Minnesota Vikings5 of 10
Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Cornerback Patrick Peterson performed better than Peters last season—he allowed an opposing passer rating of 91.5 in coverage—though that didn’t stop the Steelers from releasing him one year into a two-year deal.
The 34-year-old can still play, and he knows where he’d prefer to be: back with the undefeated Minnesota Vikings.
“I would love to be there too,” Peterson told the Zach Gelb Show (h/t Jonathan Harrison of SI.com) “I love the coaching staff there. Coach Kevin [O’Connell], had an opportunity to build a solid relationship over the nine months that I was with him.”
There’s probably no shortage of players who would love to play for Minnesota right now given the team’s hot start, but bringing back Peterson, who started for the Vikings in 2021 and 2022, would be sensible.
While Minnesota has been relatively solid on both sides of the ball, it ranks 30th in passing yards allowed. With the NFC North crown being a very realistic goal, the Vikings shouldn’t be afraid to add talent for the stretch run.
WR Hunter Renfrow: New Orleans Saints6 of 10
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
As mentioned, the Saints have been hit hard with injuries this season. While Olave and Carr should both be back at some point in 2024, it appears Shaheed’s campaign is over.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, doctors determined on Thursday that Shaheed’s meniscus injury will need to be fully repaired.
New Orleans needs receiver help, and it would be smart to consider former Raiders receiver Hunter Renfrow. Injuries limited him in 2022, and he largely fell out of the game plan in 2023. Before that, though, he was a Pro Bowler and one of Carr’s favorite targets.
The 28-year-old caught 103 catches for 1,038 yards and nine touchdowns in 2021. Even if he can’t replicate that level of success, he should be able to contribute as a versatile inside-outside receiver.
Reuniting with Carr—once he’s healthy—might allow Renfrow to reestablish some value ahead of 2025 free agency. It would also help give New Orleans a functional receiving corps for the remainder of the season.
OT Donovan Smith: Cleveland Browns7 of 10
Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Offensive tackle Donovan Smith has helped both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Chiefs win Super Bowls over the past three seasons.
However, the 31-year-old’s penchant for drawing flags kept leaguewide interest low during the offseason, according to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell.
The Browns have been no strangers to flags this season—they’ve drawn 50 through six games—and they could probably deal with Smith’s penalty issues if it means improving their pass protection.
Cleveland has surrendered a league-high 31 sacks in 2024.
The Browns aren’t winning anything of note this season, and they admitted as much when they traded Cooper to Buffalo. However, they need to use the rest of the season to determine if quarterback Deshaun Watson can be salvaged. That’ll be difficult to determine if he can’t stay upright and on the field.
Smith might not be perfect, but he has 136 starts on his resume and remains the top tackle on the market. The Browns don’t appear to have a starting-caliber left tackle on their roster.
QB Ryan Tannehill: Miami Dolphins8 of 10
Justin Ford/Getty Images
There’s a real chance quarterback Ryan Tannehill doesn’t find a home in 2024, which could mean we never see him on an NFL field again.
ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio reported on September 15 that the 36-year-old is looking for an opportunity to start for the rest of the season.
Right now, such a situation doesn’t clearly exist. The Miami Dolphins have the closest thing to it, as starter Tua Tagovailoa remains on injured reserve with a concussion, but the team expects to see him again this season.
“As far as timelines go, I know he’s not playing this week,” head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters on Monday. “And I do expect to see him playing football in 2024.”
It would be unfair to leave Tannehill off of our list, though, as he’s been the top veteran QB available since the first wave of free agency unfolded. He has 151 starts under his belt and helped the Titans reach the playoffs three times in his five seasons with them.
A return to the Dolphins, who took Tannehill in the first round of the 2012 draft, would make sense if any setbacks keep Tagovailoa off the field for the rest of the year.
The 2019 Pro Bowler should also be the first free-agent call for any playoff hopeful that loses its starter to a season-ending injury.
WR Michael Thomas: New England Patriots9 of 10
Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
The New England Patriots probably won’t do much winning in 2024 either, but they have a lot more hope than the Browns currently do.
Rookie quarterback Drake Maye showed plenty of potential in his first NFL start last Sunday—he threw for 243 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions—and the Patriots have the rest of the year to develop him for 2025 and beyond.
While this year’s No. 3 pick has loads of upside, his supporting cast remains one of the worst in the NFL. There are few reliable pass-catchers on the roster aside from perhaps Demario Douglas and tight end Hunter Henry.
New England probably won’t be a big buyer at the trade deadline, and it isn’t going to find a true No. 1 receiver in free agency. However, taking a flier on former Saints star Michael Thomas would make sense.
The 31-year-old hasn’t been a Pro Bowler since the 2019 season, and it’s highly unlikely he’ll ever regain that level of form. However, he’s a big-bodied (6’3″, 212 lbs) target and a savvy route-runner who showed in 2023 that he can still make an impact.
In 10 games with the Saints last season, Thomas caught 39 passes for 448 yards and one touchdown.
LB Devin White: Tampa Bay Buccaneers10 of 10
Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
Though he signed with the Eagles in free agency, linebacker Devin White never played a regular-season snap for Philadelphia and was released ahead of the team’s Week 5 bye.
While the 26-year-old was unable to secure a prominent role with the Eagles, he was a solid contributor for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers just last year. He saw reduced playing time toward the end of the season, but he appeared in 14 games with 13 starts and put up strong numbers when he was on the field.
White finished the 2023 season with 83 tackles, 2.5 sacks and six passes defended while allowing a 65.5 opposing quarterback rating in coverage.
The 2021 Pro Bowler can still help a defense, and the Bucs owe it to themselves to see if he can still help them. Tampa is off to a 4-2 start but has defensive issues that he could help address.
The Buccaneers rank 24th in yards per carry allowed, 28th in passing yards allowed and 26th in total defense. They have also placed linebacker SirVocea Dennis on injured reserve following a Week 4 shoulder injury.
