2024 NFL Free Agency Rankings: Wide receivers

2RWP2PB Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) reacts after scoring a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

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 wide receivers slated to hit free agency in 2024. Click here for PFF's full list of the top 200 free agents.

1. WR TEE HIGGINSCINCINNATI BENGALS

2024 Free agency rank: 4

Injuries hampered almost the entire 2023 season for Higgins after his second consecutive 1,000-yard season in 2022 with a receiving grade above 75.0. A franchise tag already seemed likely heading into this season, and with little new data to impact the negotiation either way, that seems inevitable. The field-stretching, jump-ball receiver should have the chance to bounce back in 2024 along with the entire Bengals team following a disappointing campaign.

Top free agent comparison: Mike Williams, 2022
Player Receiving grade Yards per route run Average depth of target Yards after catch per reception APY as % of Cap at signing
Tee Higgins 70.9 1.66 13.1 5.6 ?
Mike Williams 78.0 1.78 13.5 4.6 9.6%

*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing

Contract projection:Available in PFF's free agency rankings


2. WR MICHAEL PITTMAN JR.INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

2024 Free agency rank: 11

Plenty of holes will be poked in Pittman’s game as he gets set to enter free agency, with some athletic limitations keeping his average depth of target down, especially compared to predominantly outside wide receivers.

Nonetheless, Pittman is as reliable a possession receiver as there is in the NFL, and it’s also fair to wonder if a carousel at quarterback in Indianapolis has limited his production. Pittman earned a career-best receiving grade with 100-plus catches and 1,000-plus receiving yards — that gets a player paid even if there is a perceived ceiling to his game.

Top free agent comparison: Allen Robinson, 2022
Player Receiving grade Yards per route run Average depth of target Yards after catch per reception APY as % of Cap at signing
Michael Pittman 77.8 1.72 7.9 4.1 ?
Allen Robinson 83.8 1.72 10.8 3.0 7.4%

*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing

Contract projection:Available in PFF's free agency rankings


3. WR MIKE EVANSTAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

2024 Free agency rank: 13

Another starting quarterback in Tampa Bay? Another 1,000-yard season from Mike Evans. The record-setting 10th straight season to start a career with 1,000-plus yards is one thing, but an 83.9 receiving grade with double-digit touchdowns for the third time in four years is extraordinary.

Evans’ free agency will be tricky and has a wide range of outcomes, with nagging soft-tissue injuries seemingly bothering him for years now. There could also be sticker shock with recent outcomes on 30-plus-year-old receivers. Nonetheless, there is no reason he should ask for less than the recent crop of players, including Davante Adams, who effectively signed a three-year, $67.7 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Top free agent comparison: Kenny Golladay, 2021
Player Receiving grade Yards per route run Average depth of target Yards after catch per reception APY as % of Cap at signing
Mike Evans 82.6 2.03 14.5 3.5 ?
Kenny Golladay 82.2 2.12 15.8 4.1 9.8%**

*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing

**2021 salary cap of $182.5 million, dropped due to the pandemic

Contract projection:Available in PFF's free agency rankings


4. WR MARQUISE BROWNARIZONA CARDINALS

2024 Free agency rank: 17

The Ravens traded Brown and a third-round pick to the Cardinals for a 2022 first-round pick, and his time in Arizona was a journey, to say the least. Between his own injuries and Kyler Murray’s torn ACL, the former college teammates weren't able to team up as much as the old regime probably hoped, but he has flashed when in the lineup.

It’s hard to come up with a solid comparable player for a 5-foot-9, 180-pound outside wide receiver — although now the NFL is adding more of this archetype each year — and it’s also fair to wonder how badly Arizona wants to extend anyone, given the team's timeline and the emergence of rookie wideout Michael Wilson.

Top free agent comparison: Christian Kirk, 2022
Player Receiving grade Yards per route run Average depth of target Yards after catch per reception APY as % of Cap at signing
Marquise Brown 70.5 1.35 12.2 3.5 ?
Christian Kirk 69.2 1.52 12.5 3.4 8.6%

*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing

Contract projection:Available in PFF's free agency rankings


5. WR CALVIN RIDLEYJACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

2024 Free agency rank: 24

Ridley’s contract situation is a true one-of-one. He returned to play in 2023 after missing all of 2022 while serving a suspension for sports gambling and had stepped away from football before the 2021 campaign was over but was a top wide receiver in 2020. There were drop issues in 2023 as Ridley returned to full speed, but he still proved capable of taking over a game while breaking off a series of explosive receptions.

Equally fascinating are the conditions on Ridley’s trade to Jacksonville, where the pick the Jaguars will send to the Atlanta Falcons escalates to a second-rounder if the two parties agree to an extension. We’re not 100% certain that the same language for the condition exists here as it did when Leonard Williams was sent from the New York Jets to the New York Giants, but there the Giants did not have to send a better pick by merely placing a franchise tag instead of signing Williams to a multi-year extension in 2020.

Top free agent comparison: Odell Beckham Jr., 2023
Player Receiving grade Yards per route run Average depth of target Yards after catch per reception APY as % of Cap at signing
Calvin Ridley 69.2 1.47 14.0 2.6 ?
Odell Beckham Jr. 76.9 1.62 13.6 3.3 6.7%

*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing

Contract projection:Available in PFF's free agency rankings


In Mooney’s second season in 2021, he put up 1,055 receiving yards on 81 receptions with a career-best 74.9 receiving grade. Since then, Mooney has unfortunately dealt with a few minor injuries and one of the lower-volume passing attacks in the league. Nonetheless, he creates separation on intermediate and deep routes consistently, and he could be the ultimate buy-low for a team that can tap into the potential we saw a few years back.

Top free agent comparison: Emmanuel Sanders, 2014
Player Receiving grade Yards per route run Average depth of target Yards after catch per reception APY as % of Cap at signing
Darnell Mooney 64.3 1.20 12.3 5.1 ?
Emmanuel Sanders 70.0 1.43 11.5 4.7 3.8%

*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing

Contract projection:Available in PFF's free agency rankings


Davis is your typical vertical threat out wide, averaging more than 15 yards per reception in every season of his career and coming down with a fair amount of contested catches with good high-pointing skills. However, Davis doesn’t have the fastest release off the line and doesn’t snap off in-breakers with a sharpness to create separation over the middle. He’ll help stretch the field outside the numbers for an acquiring team and can have some huge outings on occasion, but he can also be absent from the box score at times.

Top free agent comparison: Devin Funchess, 2019
Player Receiving grade Yards per route run Average depth of target Yards after catch per reception APY as % of Cap at signing
Gabriel Davis 67.3 1.35 16.2 3.1 ?
Devin Funchess 72.1 1.51 13.7 3.3 5.3%

*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing

Contract projection:Available in PFF's free agency rankings


Beckham progressively looked more and more like his old self as 2023 wore on. His 90.0 receiving grade from Weeks 9-14 trailed only Tyreek Hill among wide receivers.

Top free agent comparison: N/A
Player Receiving grade Yards per route run Average depth of target Yards after catch per reception APY as % of Cap at signing
Odell Beckham Jr. 77.7 2.03 14.9 4.8 ?
N/A

*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing

Contract projection:Available in PFF's free agency rankings


It will be fascinating to see if and how Cincinnati attempts to keep the elite trio of Ja’Marr Chase, fellow free agent Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd together in 2024 and beyond, but Boyd could be the odd man out looking for a third contract after playing out the term of his four-year extension signed in 2020.

Boyd is a big slot receiver with solid blocking chops in the run game. He rarely ever drops a target and does well to sit down in soft spots of zones on key passing downs. However, Boyd posted several career-low marks in 2023, and with so many big financial decisions facing Cincinnati, the Bengals may not be willing to offer him as much as other teams looking to upgrade their unit over the middle.

Top free agent comparison: Robert Woods, 2023
Player Receiving grade Yards per route run Average depth of target Yards after catch per reception APY as % of Cap at signing
Tyler Boyd 70.0 1.26 8.6 4.2 ?
Robert Woods 70.2 1.38 8.7 3.8 3.4%

*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing

Contract projection:Available in PFF's free agency rankings


Samuel was an efficient target in Eric Bienemy’s Washington offense that spread the ball around more than any team in the NFL, hauling in just shy of 73% of passes thrown his way with just four drops on 85 targets in 2023. Samuel was used as a ball carrier in 2023 like he was in 2022 and previous seasons dating back to his Ohio State days. His Swiss Army knife skill set shows up with good change of direction in space and start-stop ability that is still above average at this stage of his career.

Top free agent comparison: Adam Humphries, 2019
Player Receiving grade Yards per route run Average depth of target Yards after catch per reception APY as % of Cap at signing
Curtis Samuel 73.4 1.41 7.1 4.3 ?
Adam Humphries 70.1 1.35 6.4 5.3 4.8%

*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing

Contract projection:Available in PFF's free agency rankings


11. WR Kendrick Bourne, New England Patriots

2024 Free agency rank: 87

Bourne unfortunately tore his ACL in Week 8 after serving as the clear No. 1 option in the Patriots’ passing attack for the first half of the season. He has inside-outside ability and is a willing run blocker.

Bourne makes up for his lack of elite athleticism with suddenness to his game, including crisp breaks out of routes and late hands to avoid as many contested targets by catching defensive backs off guard. Bourne can make a catchable but inaccurate throw look better with good ball-tracking ability, and he runs hard after the catch.

Top free agent comparison: James Jones, 2014
Player Receiving grade Yards per route run Average depth of target Yards after catch per reception APY as % of Cap at signing
Kendrick Bourne 70.3 1.58 10.5 4.9 ?
James Jones 71.1 1.41 11.2 4.8 2.5%

*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing

Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings


12. WR D.J. Chark, Carolina Panthers

2024 Free agency rank: 108
Top free agent comparison: Kenny Britt, 2015
Player Receiving grade Yards per route run Average depth of target Yards after catch per reception APY as % of Cap at signing
D.J. Chark 64.9 1.24 15.5 3.5 ?
Kenny Britt 65.2 1.27 15.4 2.9 3.2%

*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing

Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings


13. WR Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints

2024 Free agency rank: 115
Top free agent comparison: A.J. Green, 2021
Player Receiving grade Yards per route run Average depth of target Yards after catch per reception APY as % of Cap at signing
Michael Thomas 72.6 1.45 10.6 2.4 ?
A.J. Green 69.2 1.28 13.6 2.7 3.3%

*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing

Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings


14. WR Josh Reynolds, Detroit Lions

2024 Free agency rank: 116
Top free agent comparison: Kamar Aiken, 2017
Player Receiving grade Yards per route run Average depth of target Yards after catch per reception APY as % of Cap at signing
Josh Reynolds 69.5 1.31 12.1 4.0 ?
Kamar Aiken 71.3 1.29 12.4 3.0 1.6%

*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing

Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings


15. WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tennessee Titans

2024 Free agency rank: 134
Top free agent comparison: Demarcus Robinson, 2020
Player Receiving grade Yards per route run Average depth of target Yards after catch per reception APY as % of Cap at signing
Nick Westbrook- Ikhine 59.7 1.03 13.1 4.2 ?
Demarcus Robinson 57.6 1.01 12.5 4.2 1.2%

*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing

Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings


16. WR K.J. Osborn, Minnesota Vikings

2024 Free agency rank: 142
Top free agent comparison: Parris Campbell, 2023
Player Receiving grade Yards per route run Average depth of target Yards after catch per reception APY as % of Cap at signing
K.J. Osborn 60.0 1.02 8.9 4.5 ?
Parris Campbell 61.9 1.09 8.4 4.2 2.1%

*All data in tables reflects two years prior to UFA contract signing

Contract projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings


17. WR Noah Brown, Houston Texans

2024 Free agency rank: 144
Top free agent comparison: Cecil Shorts, 2015
Player Receiving grade Yards per route run Average depth of target Yards after catch per reception APY as % of Cap at signing
Noah Brown 67.7 1.50 11.8 4.8 ?
Cecil Shorts 67.4 1.41 10.0 4.7 2.1%

*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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