Top three 2024 NFL free agents at each offensive position: Ryan Tannehill, Donovan Smith among best available

NFL free agency spent its third wave as the the best players have already signed, and the next crop of free agents has found a home for 2024 after the draft concludes. There are still some good players available at the start of the summer, but most of those players likely won’t sign until training camp.

Compensatory choices are no longer factored into the equation. The players who should be selected are still available to be chosen.

These are the top three free agents available at every position.

Quarterback

The best of the remaining free agent quarterbacks, Tannehill is likely awaiting an opportunity to compete for a starting job, given his resume. Tannehill has made 151 career starts in his 12-year career (81-70 record), throwing for 34,881 yards and 216 touchdowns with a 91.2 rating.

Tannehill, 35, will likely have to wait until after the draft to sign with a team, as his veteran presence as a starter or backup makes the quarterback space better. Tannehill could still compete for a starting role, even after being a starter at Tennessee last season.

Hoyer actually started for the Las Vegas Raiders last season, as the 38-year-old quarterback has 41 starts under his belt. A prototypical backup quarterback at this stage of his career, it remains to be seen whether Hoyer wants to continue playing after 15 seasons.

Las Vegas released Hoyer in March. If Hoyer wants to keep playing, he’ll probably end up playing quarterback somewhere.

Gabbert’s days in Kansas City ended after Carson Wentz signed with the Chiefs, so the former first-round pick is looking for a new team. The 34-year-old has started 49 games in his career, but only one in the last four seasons (game in Week 18 last season, in which he completed 50% of his passes and made three interceptions).

A veteran of 13 seasons, Gabbert is one of the most experienced backup quarterbacks left.

Running back

Hunt was a red zone force as Cleveland’s No. 2 running back last season, scoring nine touchdowns in 15 games. He rushed for 411 yards and averaged just 3.0 yards per carry, but he still adds value to a running back looking for versatility (he has 226 career receptions and averages 8.4 yards per catch) and a boost in short yardage situations.

A restricted free agent who was undrafted by the Vikings, Akers is recovering from his second Achilles injury. He finished with 60 carries for 167 yards and two touchdowns (2.8 yards per carry) before going down in Week 9.

At just 24 years old, a team could take a chance on Akers as a depth running back. He is just two years removed from 786 yards and seven touchdowns.

The Chiefs appear to have moved on from the 32-year-old McKinnon, who is more of a receiving threat out of the backfield at this stage of his career. He finished with 25 receptions for 192 yards and four touchdowns last season.

McKinnon could retire as a two-time Super Bowl champion, but he has value as a depth running back.

Wide receiver

A team in need of a slot receiver or WR3 could target Renfrow, who is still on the market in the summer. Renfrow had a career-low 25 receptions for 255 yards and no touchdowns last season, three years after a 1,000-yard campaign.

Injuries have limited the 31-year-old Thomas since 2019, when he finished with 39 receptions for 445 yards and a touchdown in 13 games (10 starts) last season. Thomas hasn’t been the same since setting the NFL record for receptions in 2019 (149).

Thomas remains strong in the spot, good for teams that need a veteran there.

Gage suffered a torn patellar tendon in his right knee in 2023, not playing in the regular season. He last played in 2022, recording 51 receptions for 426 yards and five touchdowns (8.4 yards per catch).

The Saints worked out Gage this week, as he is a player who could get a job in training camp.

Tight finish

Graham is considering retirement based on the Saints’ desire to keep him, even though he is technically a free agent. Graham had six receptions for 39 yards and four touchdowns last season.

For Graham, it’s either the Saints or life after football.

Minimal picks for tight ends, as Swaim had 10 catches for 94 yards with the Cardinals last season. Swaim would be brought in for tight end depth for teams in need of a TE3.

The veteran tight end remains on the market after playing eight games in 2023 with the Miami Dolphins. Kroft recorded no catches, nor was he targeted. He has started 52 of 100 games played in nine seasons and has been a valuable reserve.

Face

One of the best tackles in the game when healthy, Bakhtiari has missed 38 games over the past three seasons. A First Team All-Pro in 2020, Bakhtiari made five consecutive All-Pro teams before injuries caught up with him. He has allowed just one sack and 10 pressures in 11 games in 2022.

A veteran starter in the league, Smith allowed two sacks and 36 pressures in 476 pass blocks last season (7.6% pressure rate). Smith, 30, started all 136 league games, all at left tackle.

Released by the Commanders in March, Leno has yet to find a home with a new team. Leno allowed three sacks and 30 pressures last season (5.0% pressure rate allowed per draw).

For teams that need depth in attack, Leno, who will soon turn 33, is an option.

Guard

Glowinski started just six games for the Giants, allowing seven sacks and 18 pressures on 283 pass-blocking snaps (6.0% pressure rate allowed per dropback). Although he has starting experience, Glowinski cannot sign until the start of training camp.

For teams that could use guard depth, Glowinski is one of the best veteran players available.

Gates started 10 games and allowed five sacks and 21 pressures for the Commanders last season. He was released in March, year 1 of a three-year contract.

Gates started 29 of 44 games over five seasons. Like Leno, he is an option for guard depth.

A swing tackle who can also play guard, Vaitai allowed one sack and three pressures in 116 pass blocks last season. A back injury was the reason for Vaitai’s departure from the Lions.

For teams in need of a swing tackle who can play guard (and has starting experience on a Super Bowl championship team), Vaitia is available.

center

Another interior forward who can play guard and center, Williams is arguably the best left center in free agency. Williams, 26, allowed just one sack and six pressures in nine games last season for a 2.9 percent pressure rate before suffering a season-ending knee injury in December.

The Steelers released the 28-year-old Cole in March, a year after he allowed two sacks and 28 hurries on 569 pass-blocking snaps. Cole started 73 of the 94 games played in his career and is still a starting center in the league.

Unfortunately, there are still a few starting centers left in free agency.

McGovern allowed one sack and 17 pressures in 227 pass blocks last season. McGovern, 31, has started his last 61 games at center, with his 2023 season cut short due to a knee injury.

Thanks to the number of starting centers available in free agency, it will be intriguing where McGovern ends up.