NFL free agency is a year-round process, as teams scout opposing players in an effort to defeat them during the year and perhaps sign them in the offseason.
Now we're at the end of the 2023-24 NFL season, the free agency picture is coming into focus, and teams are beginning to identify potential targets to improve their roster weaknesses.
Here are the top offensive tackles slated to hit free agency in 2024. Click here for PFF's full list of the top 200 free agents.
1. T TYRON SMITH, DALLAS COWBOYS
2024 Free agency rank: 14
When Tyron Smith is healthy, he is an impenetrable brick wall as a blindside protector, no matter the matchup. Smith playing through nearly the entirety of his eight-year extension signed in 2014 is something we will probably never see again, and he provided enormous surplus value to Dallas despite the time he missed here and there.
After agreeing to a revised one-year deal worth $6 million for 2023, Smith outplayed that deal once again. Perhaps he is more focused on remaining a career Cowboy and chasing a Lombardi Trophy, a la Andrew Whitworth with the Los Angeles Rams, but he deserves a solid payday if he wants to pursue one.
Top free agent comparison: Terron Armstead, 2022
| Player | Pass-block grade | True pass set pass-block grade | Negative run-block grade percentage | APY as % of Cap at signing | |
| Tyron Smith | 81.6 | 79.0 | 11.5% | ? | |
| Terron Armstead | 87.3 | 80.1 | 11.9% | 7.2% | |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
2. T TRENT BROWN, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
2024 Free agency rank: 22
Brown’s free agency will always be a unique case, with clauses in recent contracts rewarding him for keeping his weight down, and he probably fits only in a gap-heavy offensive scheme. Nonetheless, Brown stonewalls defenders in pass protection and is comfortable playing on either bookend of the line of scrimmage, which adds value as teams shuffle things around to get their best five on the field amid in-season injuries.
Top free agent comparison: Nate Solder, 2017
| Player | Pass-block grade | True pass set pass-block grade | Negative run-block grade percentage | APY as % of Cap at signing | |
| Trent Brown | 76.4 | 69.4 | 11.7% | ? | |
| Nate Solder | 76.5 | 69.3 | 8.0% | 8.7% | |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection:Available in PFF's free agency rankings
3. T MIKE ONWENU, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
2024 Free agency rank: 25
Onwenu had been shuffled around endlessly throughout his rookie contract but returned to right tackle in Week 7 of 2023, the position he seems most comfortable playing as a solid pass protector and a strong gap scheme blocker with good footwork to combo block at the line and get to the second level fairly well.
Onwenu is not the quickest player off the line, given his massive frame, but has the strength to wall off backside pursuit defenders in the run game with a solid base and heavy hands when called upon.
Top free agent comparison: Daryl Williams, 2021
| Player | Pass-block grade | True pass set pass-block grade | Negative run-block grade percentage | APY as % of Cap at signing | |
| Mike Onwenu | 75.0 | 66.7 | 13.3% | ? | |
| Daryl Williams | 76.6 | 72.9 | 10.0% | 4.4% | |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection:Available in PFF's free agency rankings
4. T MEKHI BECTON, NEW YORK JETS
2024 Free agency rank: 47
The former No. 11 overall pick of the 2020 draft has always had the athletic ability to play at a high level in this league — injuries have just destroyed a promising young career.
More importantly than anything else, Becton played more snaps in 2023 than he did over his first three seasons combined. The 6-foot-7, 363-pound dancing bear looked leaner in training camp and performed admirably as a pass protector despite the revolving door of quarterbacks operating behind him. He has the ability to be the lead blocker to the play side but often got caught up in the muck this season when pull-blocking across the formation, getting his feet tangled and ending up on the ground.
Top free agent comparison: Greg Robinson, 2019
| Player | Pass-block grade | True pass set pass-block grade | Negative run-block grade percentage | APY as % of Cap at signing | |
| Mekhi Becton | 66.4 | 53.5 | 21.3% | ? | |
| Greg Robinson | 62.1 | 54.6 | 17.4% | 3.4% | |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
Williams requested a trade this past offseason after the Bengals signed free agent tackle Orlando Brown Jr. to take over on the left side, but he eventually rescinded the request and got back to work mastering his craft at right tackle, where he hadn’t started since his undergraduate days in college at Alabama. The former first-round pick has always been an above-average pass protector and has stayed healthy throughout 2023.
While Williams may not have the ceiling perceived coming out of college, a high-floor pass blocker with a strong pedigree should do fairly well in unrestricted free agency with the league-wide scarcity of solid tackle play.
Top free agent comparison: Ja’Wuan James, 2019
| Player | Pass-block grade | True pass set pass-block grade | Negative run-block grade percentage | APY as % of Cap at signing | |
| Jonah Williams | 63.2 | 60.9 | 12.6% | ? | |
| Ja’Wuan James | 72.5 | 64.2 | 14.1% | 6.8% | |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
Eluemunor is a longtime swing tackle who found a home last year at right tackle for the Raiders, signing a one-year, $3 million deal in free agency to return for 2023. Eluemunor backed up a strong 2022 with another good year, posting pressure rates allowed below 5% in each season. Bendier edge rushers who can flatten out their rush paths at the top of the arc and get around the corner will beat Eluemunor at times, but he handles speed to power well and has proven to be a starting-caliber tackle.
Top free agent comparison: Austin Howard, 2017
| Player | Pass-block grade | True pass set pass-block grade | Negative run-block grade percentage | APY as % of Cap at signing | |
| Jermaine Eluemunor | 72.0 | 74.7 | 12.6% | ? | |
| Austin Howard | 70.2 | 64.7 | 10.5% | 3% | |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
7. T Donovan Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
2024 Free agency rank: 117
Top free agent comparison: George Fant, 2023
| Player | Pass-block grade | True pass set pass-block grade | Negative run block grade percentage | APY as % of Cap at signing | |
| Donovan Smith | 67.6 | 60.2 | 19.2% | ? | |
| George Fant | 63.9 | 59.1 | 17.1% | 1.3% | |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
8. T George Fant, Houston Texans
2024 Free agency rank: 124
Top free agent comparison: Mike Remmers, 2021
| Player | Pass-block grade | True pass set pass-block grade | Negative run block grade percentage | APY as % of Cap at signing | |
| George Fant | 60.4 | 58.0 | 17.4% | ? | |
| Mike Remmers | 70.4 | 60.8 | 17.1% | 1.8% | |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
9. T Cam Fleming, Denver Broncos
2024 Free agency rank: 143
Top free agent comparison: Jermon Bushrod, 2016
| Player | Pass-block grade | True pass set pass-block grade | Negative run block grade percentage | APY as % of Cap at signing | |
| Cam Fleming | 74.4 | 73.4 | 12.6% | ? | |
| Chris Clark | 79.0 | 76.2 | 10.1% | 1% | |
*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing
Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
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