The 2024 NFL draft has come and gone. OTAs begin in late May. This is the time period when NFL teams fill out their rosters at positions that weren’t addressed during the draft.
There are plenty of impactful free agents still available who can be Week 1 starters, including safety Justin Simmons, cornerback Stephon Gilmore and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
Will your favorite team land one of the best free agents still available? USA TODAY Sports ranks the top 20 free agents following last week’s NFL draft:
1. Safety Justin Simmons
Is the safety position becoming less important due to the increased amount of short passes? Plenty of safeties are available, but Simmons is at the top. Since entering the NFL in 2016, no player has more interceptions than Simmons (30).
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2 Cornerback Stephon Gilmore
The 2019 defensive player of the year stepped up last season, especially when Trevon Diggs (knee) went down for the year. Gilmore will turn 34 during the regular season, but showed last year he can still play at a high level.
3. Safety Quandre Diggs
Diggs was a salary cap casualty. He started every game for Seattle the past four seasons and is a three-time Pro Bowler as well as a team captain. The 31-year-old safety produced over 90 tackles in two of the last three seasons.
4. Cornerback Xavien Howard
Howard’s coverage ability declined a little bit last year. He allowed nearly a 63% completion percentage when targeted, the second-highest rate of his career. But entering his ninth year, Howard is still a starting-caliber corner.
5. Defensive lineman Calais Campbell
The 37-year-old defensive lineman wants to play a 17th season in the NFL. He’s still wildly durable and effective. He started all 17 games for the Falcons and compiled 6.5 sacks last season. Campbell is a veteran leader who can still make an impact despite his age. He has 105.5 career sacks.
6. Cornerback Adoree' Jackson
Jackson started 36 games for the Giants the past three seasons. He only has two interceptions the last three years, but he did log 23 passes defended. He can also be used as a return man.
7. Safety Jamal Adams
Adams was cut after four underwhelming seasons in Seattle. He never started more than 12 games in a single season with the Seahawks. A change of scenery could do well for the three-time Pro Bowler.
8. Cornerback Steven Nelson
The well-traveled cornerback could be playing for his fifth team. But Nelson, 31, is an experienced corner with 13 interceptions and 78 passes defended in 130 career games.
9. Wide receiver Odell Beckham
Beckham doesn’t have the explosion and quickness he once did. He had 35 catches and three touchdowns in one quiet year in Baltimore. The wideout is probably best as a third pass-catching option.
10. Safety Micah Hyde
The 33-year-old safety started 14 games for Buffalo in 2023 and still has a nose for the football.
11. Wide receiver Tyler Boyd
One of the NFL’s most underrated slot receivers, Boyd’s had at least 58 catches for six straight years. Boyd was the veteran leader in Cincinnati’s wideout room.
12. Offensive lineman Connor Williams
Williams tore his ACL in December last season. He likely won’t be full-go for a while. When healthy, he’s a starting-caliber interior lineman who can play guard or center.
13. Offensive tackle Donovan Smith
Smith had an up-and-down lone season in Kansas City. He struggled with execution errors. But the starting tackle did step up during Kansas City’s Super Bowl run and helped the team repeat as champions.
14. Wide receiver Michael Thomas
Injuries have derailed Thomas’ career. Thomas led the NFL in catches and receiving yards in 2019 but hasn’t played a full season healthy since. He showed flashes in 10 games in 2023.
15. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill
Tannehill’s time in Tennessee is over after the Titans gave the quarterback keys to Will Levis. Tannehill isn’t a starter at this point of his career, but he would be one of the best and dependable backup QBs in the NFL. He has experience and an 81-70 record as a starter.
16. Wide receiver Michael Gallup
Gallup can be a No. 2 wide receiver, but probably better off as a third wideout option. He hasn’t had a season with over 50 catches since 2020 but averaged over 12 yards a reception for the Cowboys last year.
17. Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon
Witherspoon started all 17 regular-season games with the Rams last season. He allowed a 48% competition percentage when targeted.
18. Offensive lineman Dalton Risner
Risner is most comfortable at left guard. He allowed 30 pressures in 745 snaps in one year with the Vikings. He played the first four years of his career in Denver.
19. Offensive lineman Andrus Peat
Peat primarily plays tackle but can be plugged in at guard. The offensive lineman has started 102 career games in nine seasons, all in New Orleans.
20. Edge Emmanuel Ogbah
Ogbah played the past four seasons in Miami. He tallied 20 tackles and 5 sacks in 2023. He’s a situational pass rusher and a solid depth piece along the defensive line.
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