• Guard Jon Runyan offers a high ceiling despite lackluster 2023: Over the past four seasons, the former Michigan Wolverine ranks 21st among 63 qualifying guards in PFF pass-blocking grade (70.5).
• Alohi Gilman's ball skills will be an asset to his signing team: Gilman was targeted 35 times, tied for only the 37th most among safeties, yet the eight incompletions he forced were tied for the fourth most.
• Draft and trade for yourself: Try PFF's Mock Draft Simulator — trade picks and players and mock for your favorite NFL team.
Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes
The free agency spotlight is naturally on the likes of quarterback Kirk Cousins and interior defender Chris Jones, who will get the biggest contracts as the most coveted free agents. However, there are always players who become impact signings despite being not much more than an afterthought in March.
With that in mind, here is a look at three impending free agents who might be flying under the radar but could provide a significant return on investment for their new teams during the 2024 NFL season.
G Jon Runyan
- PFF Free-Agent Rank: 92
- Contract Projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
Runyan generally had a rough 2023 season, and his starting position was in jeopardy at times while the Packers rotated between him and Sean Rhyan at right guard. However, Runyan displayed a promising ceiling over the past four seasons.
Over the past four seasons, the former Michigan Wolverine ranks 21st among 63 qualifying guards in PFF pass-blocking grade (70.5). He gave up pressure on just 3.5% of his pass-blocking snaps over the span — the fifth-best rate among guards.
LB Tyrel Dodson
- PFF Free-Agent Rank: 109
- Contract Projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
Dodson carries some risk as a linebacker with only 1,066 career snaps, and one who was not a starter for the Bills until Matt Milano got injured in Week 5 of the 2023 season. However, what he did with the opportunity and how he played once he became a starter makes him one of the more intriguing free agents this year.
Dodson ended up as PFF's highest-graded linebacker in 2023 (90.2). He was the only linebacker in the NFL to earn a grade above 83.0 both for his work in run defense and coverage.
S Alohi Gilman
- PFF Free-Agent Rank: 137
- Contract Projection: Available in PFF's free agency rankings
Not unlike Dodson, Chargers safety Alohi Gilman broke out in 2023, especially in coverage. While he played just 975 snaps in his first three seasons in the league, Gilman logged 928 snaps for the Chargers in 2-23, which ranked fifth among Los Angeles defenders despite his missing three games due to an injury.
He played well as a deep, middle-of-the-field safety, earning an 89.2 coverage grade in 2023, which ranked fifth among 85 qualifying safeties. Gilman was targeted 35 times, tied for only the 37th most among safeties, yet the eight incompletions he forced were tied for the fourth most in the league at the position. Gilman frequently made plays on the ball when he was targeted, so much so that his 22.9% forced incompletion rate ranked sixth among safeties.
© 2024 PFF - all rights reserved.