With training camps getting underway, we’re getting closer and closer to the start of the 2024 NFL season. And while most rosters are largely set at this point, there are still notable additions teams can make in free agency.
With that in mind, here’s one free agent each team in the NFC should consider adding between now and Week 1.
1 Training Camp Free Agent Signing For Every NFC Team
Arizona Cardinals | Sign EDGE Shaq Lawson
Rookie tweener Darius Robinson should help immediately, but the Cardinals don’t have much pass-rushing depth. They declined former first-round pick Zaven Collins’ fifth-year option, signaling their displeasure with his conversion from off-ball to the edge. Dennis Gardeck is a viable rotational piece, but Arizona is banking on more from 2023 second-rounder BJ Ojulari.
Shaq Lawson is still only 30 years old and has played at least 300 defensive snaps each of the past seven seasons. While he’s not a perfect fit as a stand-up outside linebacker in the Cardinals’ 3-4 base package, Lawson could see time as a part-time player.
Atlanta Falcons | Sign EDGE Carl Lawson
The Falcons deployed veteran Calais Campbell as a true edge defender in 2023, watching the 37-year-old lineman produce 6.5 sacks and 17 QB hits. Campbell left for the Dolphins, while fellow pass rusher Bud Dupree signed with the Chargers, leaving Atlanta with Arnold Ebiketie, Lorenzo Carter, and third-round rookie Bralen Trice as their top pass rushers.
After tearing his Achilles, Carl Lawson missed the entire 2021 campaign and was a regular healthy scratch in 2023. In between, he posted seven sacks and 49 pressures for the Jets.
Lawson may never return to the force he was earlier in his career with the Bengals, but he’s a feasible rotational piece.
Carolina Panthers | Sign CB Eli Apple
The Panthers have three competent cornerback starters in Jaycee Horn, Dane Jackson, and Troy Hill. However, Carolina lacks depth after trading CB Donta Jackson to the Steelers for WR Diontae Johnson in March.
Eli Apple has a mercurial personality and can sometimes be beaten, but NFL teams continue to trust him as a starter. He played 900+ snaps for the Bengals in 2021 and 2022, then saw an 81% snap rate in 10 games with the Dolphins in 2023. Apple would be an upgrade over current Panthers backup corners D’Shawn Jamison and Dicaprio Bootle.
Chicago Bears | Re-Sign EDGE Yannick Ngakoue
Montez Sweat bolstered the Bears’ pass rush after joining the club last October, posting six sacks in nine games. Chicago rarely blitzes, so it needs another edge rusher capable of winning 1-on-1 matchups.
While Bears general manager Ryan Poles said Friday he’s “comfortable” with his team’s DE options opposite Sweat, Chicago could stand to add another body alongside DeMarcus Walker, Dominique Robinson, Jacob Martin, and fifth-round rookie Austin Booker.
Bringing back Yannick Ngakoue, who started 13 games for the Bears in 2023 before breaking his ankle in Week 14, should make sense for the upstart NFC North franchise. His speed-based game complements Sweat’s power-centric approach, and Ngakoue shouldn’t cost anywhere near the $10.5 million he earned for Chicago last season.
Dallas Cowboys | Sign RB Latavius Murray
The Cowboys reunited with Ezekiel Elliott this summer, adding him to a backfield that also includes Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, Royce Freeman, and others. Dallas, arguably the least active NFL team of the 2024 free agent period, should consider signing another RB before the season begins.
Now 34 years old, Latavius Murray was the oldest running back in the NFL last season. He signed with the Bills in May and became a contributor after fellow RB Damien Harris suffered a season-ending injury in Week 5. Murray became Buffalo’s No. 2 back, taking 96 touches for 419 total yards and four touchdowns.
Detroit Lions | Sign WR Michael Thomas
It’s almost baffling that Detroit didn’t add a receiver in free agency or the draft, especially after losing Josh Reynolds, who played the second-most snaps among Lions WRs in 2023. The Lions have plenty of weapons in RB Jahmyr Gibbs, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Sam LaPorta, but the club is hoping for a Jameson Williams breakout.
KEEP READING: 1 More Free Agent Signing For Every NFL Team
Admittedly, we’re unsure if Michael Thomas is a cultural fit for Dan Campbell’s club; Thomas had multiple clashes with Saints management that might not fly in Detroit. But he could be worth a shot for the Lions and should come relatively cheap.
While it’s been five years since Thomas caught an NFL-record 149 passes, Detroit wouldn’t be asking him to serve as a WR1.
Green Bay Packers | Sign QB Ryan Tannehill
Almost every NFL team has its quarterback room in order as training camps begin. Ryan Tannehill won’t be a starter in 2024, but he might have difficulty even landing a backup gig.
The Packers stand out as a potential landing spot for the 35-year-old Tannehill. Green Bay has one of the worst backup QB situations in the NFL. Sean Clifford, a 2023 fifth-round choice, attempted exactly one pass (a 37-yard completion) in his rookie campaign.
The Packers are a viable Super Bowl threat in 2024; rostering a veteran QB2 like Tannehill behind Jordan Love makes more sense than an inexperienced passer like Clifford.
Los Angeles Rams | Sign LB Kwon Alexander
Kwon Alexander tore his Achilles in November and is unlikely to be ready for the start of the 2024 NFL season. But that could work for the Rams, who need more options alongside Ernest Jones at off-ball linebacker.
Los Angeles is expected to compete for a playoff spot again this season, and Alexander should be healthy by the end of the campaign. He could become something of a de facto trade deadline acquisition for Sean McVay’s team and would compete to steal snaps from LB Christian Rozeboom.
Minnesota Vikings | Sign WR Hunter Renfrow
The Vikings needed another pass catcher even before Jordan Addison risked suspension by being arrested for DUI earlier this month. Tight end T.J. Hockenson (ACL, MCL) might not be ready for Week 1, while Minnesota’s slot options — Brandon Powell, Trent Sherfield, and Jailen Nailor — are uninspiring.
Two years removed from a 103-1,038-9 line, Hunter Renfrow played just 35% of Vegas’ offensive snaps in 2023. Renfrow wouldn’t immediately overtake Powell et al. in Minnesota’s slot, but he’d be a far more experienced choice than what the Vikings currently have on their roster.
New Orleans Saints | Sign OT D.J. Humphries
The Saints ended right tackle Ryan Ramczyk’s 2024 season before it began by placing him on the reserve/PUP list this week. First-round rookie Taliese Fuaga is set to line up at left tackle after playing solely on the right side at Oregon State. Trevor Penning, New Orleans’ 2022 Round 1 selection, is expected to play RT.
Suffice it to say the Saints need additional tackle options. D.J. Humphries tore his ACL in January and may not be ready for Week 1. Still, he could be available later in the season, allowing New Orleans to reconfigure its front five depending on how Fuaga and Penning are faring.
New York Giants | Sign RB Jerick McKinnon
Jerick McKinnon played 535 offensive snaps and hauled in 51 receptions for the Chiefs in 2022, but his role dwindled in 2023. His snap rate was nearly sliced in half, while the 31-year-old spent time on injured reserve late in the season before being activated for Kansas City’s eventual Super Bowl victory.
Despite his age, McKinnon doesn’t have much wear and tear. He’s only carried the ball 660 times in his NFL career, instead doing most of his damage as a pass catcher. That’s a role he could play for Daniel Jones and Co. next season.
Philadelphia Eagles | Sign LB Zach Cunningham
Philadelphia typically refrains from heavily investing in linebackers, and this season may be no different. New DC Vic Fangio could try to patch things together with a combination of Devin White, Nakobe Dean, Oren Burks, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., and Zack Baun, but the Eagles could also consider a veteran addition.
Known primarily as a run-stopper, Zach Cunningham received the best PFF coverage grade of his career with the Eagles in 2023. He earned less than $2 million with Philadelphia last season, and there’s no reason GM Howie Roseman can’t sign him again this summer if the club’s current LB crop struggles in camp.
San Francisco 49ers | Sign C Connor Williams
The 49ers ranked 20th in pass-block win rate and 23rd in run-block win rate last year but mostly opted for OL continuity during this offseason. San Francisco re-signed right guard Jon Feliciano and gave right tackle Colton McKivitz an extension through 2025.
The club’s only new addition was third-round selection Dominick Puni, who could theoretically compete for playing time on the interior.
Connor Williams is expected to be available for the start of the regular season after suffering what his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, deemed a “pretty significant” ACL tear in December. Depending on how his medicals check out, the 26-year-old could become an upside play for the 49ers, who could stand to improve over incumbent center Jake Brendel.
Seattle Seahawks | Sign S Adrian Phillips
Seattle doesn’t have many obvious weaknesses on its roster. While the Seahawks could conceivably add another interior offensive lineman, new faces like veterans Laken Tomlinson and Nick Harris and third-round rookie Christian Haynes should provide enough competition at guard and center.
Let’s give the Seahawks more safety depth after they parted ways with Jamal Adams and Quandre Diggs this offseason. Adrian Phillips was a full-time starter for the Patriots before moving into a reserve role in 2023. At worst, he’d be a special teams maven in Seattle after playing 321 ST snaps last season.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Sign CB Fabian Moreau
The Buccaneers got younger at corner this offseason, trading Carlton Davis III to the Lions for a third-round pick and installing Zyon McCollum as a starter alongside Jamel Dean and slot defender Christian Izien.
Adding depth to the secondary is a must for Tampa Bay general manager Jason Licht. While signing a high-profile option like Stephon Gilmore doesn’t make sense after the Bucs moved Davis in a salary dump, Fabian Moreau should be inexpensive. The journeyman corner started 11 games for the Broncos in 2023 and has played at least 700 snaps in each of the past three years.
Washington Commanders | Sign OT Donovan Smith
Although the Commanders filled many of their needs in free agency and the draft, they missed out on a Round 1 or 2 offensive tackle. Third-rounder Brandon Coleman will get a shot at protecting Jayden Daniels’ blindside, but some draft analysts viewed the TCU product as an NFL guard.
While Donovan Smith isn’t a world-beater, he’s made 136 career starts. He battled injuries with the Chiefs in 2023 but still appeared in 12 regular-season games before starting four playoff games on the way to a Super Bowl title.
