The First Domino Fell...

Free agency is upon us! It’s the franchise tag portion of the offseason, and for this newsletter, we’ll be focusing more on an overview of the free agent pool for 2024 and less so on “projected landing spots”.

Why? I can predict all I want, but speculation is more of a wish list than analysis. I want you to be aware of the free agents who are out there and the list of potential destinations that are available to all. Becasue in the end it’s not about where I want them to go, it’s about where they do go. But I also want to have a little fun, so for a couple, I will give them my ideal landing spot.

And we already have the spot for one of, if not the top 2024 free agent wide receiver:

Higgins returning to the Bengals is huge for his fantasy value. He’s tied to Joe Burrow for at least one more season and I think that they will eventually work out a long-term deal with the salary cap spike giving teams extra room to work with.

Let’s talk about everyone else…

Quarterbacks

TOP QB FA’s: 🏴‍☠️ Baker Mayfield, Kirk Cousins, Ryan Tannehill, Joshua Dobbs, Gardner Minshew, Joe Flacco

The main two here that have legitimate shots at a starting job are Cousins and Mayfield. Tampa Bay and Mayfield seem to be mutually interested in him signing there. Cousins said he would like to return to Minnesota, but they could decide to move on and go with a young QB in the draft. It’s possible they draft a QB and bring back Cousins to start as their young QB develops.

Dobbs, Tannehill, Minshew, and Flacco will all be competing for backup jobs somewhere. Minshew has the edge in keeping teams afloat enough to get you through hard times that he’s likely finding another job. Tannehill may be stuck as a backup helping younger QB’s develop, something he doesn’t care to do. Flacco is a wildcard. Dobbs may find a job, but it could prove tough after his fall from grace.

Running Backs

TOP RB FA’s: Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, 🔥 Derrick Henry, Tony Pollard, Austin Ekeler, 🦅 D’Andre Swift, AJ Dillon, Devin Singletary, Zack Moss, Gus Edwards, Ezekiel Elliot, Clyde Edwards Helaire.

ESPN reported that it’s unlikely Barkley, Jacobs, Henry, or Pollard will be franchise tagged. Deals may be handed out or negotiated with their current respective teams, but there’s not guarantee that they will return. For Jacobs and Pollard, their best route for future success likely lies with their current teams. For Saquon and Henry, it’s best to find work elsewhere, if there is a market.

Several teams could benefit from a high-end running back: Minnesota, Baltimore, Tennessee (depending on your view of Tyjae Spears), Houston, Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina, Chicago, Philadelphia, or even someone like Denver.

The incoming running back rookie class is fairly weak, so teams may be more eager to spend money on some more premium talent, whether it’s to contend or aid in developing young quarterbacks (CAR, DEN, TEN, HOU).

For Saquon, I’d like him to end up in either LAC or HOU. You’re attached to an elite talent at QB in Herbert or Stroud, with a new coaching staff full of hope and a potentially bright future.

Wide Reciever

TOP WR FA’s: Mike Evans, 🐆 Calvin Ridley, Michael Thomas, Marquise Brown, Michael Pittman, Odell Beckham, Gabe Davis, Tyler Boyd, Jauan Jennings, Darnell Mooney, 🐬 Chase Claypool, Kendrick Bourne

With Tee Higgins off the market, Mike Evans is now the prize at the top. Ridley was very volatile last year and depended heavily on his surrounding cast to be fully healthy in order to produce. I’m sure that’s not lost on NFL front offices.

Michael Thomas might get a cheap deal, but he’s more or less washed at this point with the injuries he’s sustained for the last several years. His dominant 2019 season feels like a lifetime ago. Since then he’s accumulated a combined 1095 yards, after going for over 1700 in 2019. Odell Beckham is similar to Thomas; a once-promising top talent whose age and injuries have caught up with them.

Everything I’m hearing indicates Michael Pittman will return to the Colts. If he does decide to enter free agency, he’ll be highly sought after.

I have loved Darnell Mooney since he came out of college, so I’m giving him special treatment here. I hope he finds a spot where he can resurrect his career after a promising start.

I hope the Bills move on from Gabe Davis and let him walk. Feels like the hype train has left the station.

I’ve heard speculation that Ridley could go to KC, which is interesting. He’s an older receiver, but if everyone in KC stays healthy, Ridley might be able to produce like he did in Jacksonville when their cast was all present.

Tight Ends

TOP TE FA’s: Hunter Henry, Dalton Schultz, Gerald Everett, Noah Fant, Harrison Bryant 🟠 

Personally, I think Houston should bring Schultz back. Not saying they will, but giving Stroud a solid tight end doesn’t sound like a bad idea.

Hunter Henry had a productive stint with the Patriots, and Gerald Everett was similarly productive in his time with the Chargers. With their respective offenses being in the shape they are in, I think both guys return. Hopefully, that last sentence made sense. I get I am speculating landing spot like I said I wouldn’t do, but it makes sense to me.

Noah Fant and Harrison Bryant are a bit of a wildcard. Both have flashed and shown ability in their limited roles. Fant has a little more oomph to his name, having the more productive career thus far. But both could find a home on tight-end needy teams such as Miami, Washington, Cincy, or New York.

That will do it for this week’s edition of the Ballfield Banter newsletter! Obviously, this is not an exhaustive list of the free agents available, but I think it hit the highlights of the fantasy-relevant ones. I wanted to give you the free agents and potential teams who could use their services rather than listing a specific team for each player. And I hope I did that. Because in the end, we have no clue where a player will actually go. However, I gave you the supplies, the brush, paint, and canvas. Paint your free agent picture however you see fit, and hope that it fits with reality!