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Free Agency: Looking at 10 remaining free agents the #Falcons could target for 2024
After getting quarterback Taylor Heinicke to take a pay cut, the Atlanta Falcons have roughly $6 million in cap space. However, the total could be less with veteran defensive tackle Eddie Goldman reportedly agreeing to a deal.
The Falcons could create additional cap space through restructures if they want to go after any of the remaining free agents. Here’s a look at 10 potential free-agent targets for Atlanta in 2024.
Could the Raiders be a fit for free-agent CB Xavien Howard?
The Raiders have addressed most of their biggest weaknesses in free agency, including quarterback and defensive tackle. But the one spot they have yet to add to is cornerback. While free agency isn’t over, the market is drying up quickly.
So which cornerback could the Raiders be interested in signing to improve the depth in the secondary? In a recent article by Bill Barnwell of ESPN, he ranked the top 19 free agents still on the market.
Coming in at No. 1 was Xavien Howard, formerly the cornerback of the Miami Dolphins. Here is why Barnwell believes he can still be an elite player in the NFL:
Howard was officially released at the start of the league year by the Dolphins. He will have interest from multiple teams, too, due to his perimeter coverage traits and on-the-ball production. Howard has 29 interceptions in eight seasons, and he can elevate a contending secondary.
Howard isn’t a long-term solution for the Raiders as he’ll turn 31 during the 2024 season, but he could prove to be an upgrade over what they have on their roster right now. On a one-year deal, Howard would make a lot of sense for a defense that needs more ballhawks.
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Former Dolphins CB shares what it was like to play for the team’s former HC.
For the first time in his NFL career, former Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard is a free agent and is looking for a new team to spend at least the next year with.
Howard, 30, played eight seasons for the Dolphins, making two All-Pro teams and four Pro Bowls during his time in aqua and orange. He’s also recorded the second-most interceptions in the league since he was drafted in 2016.
The former Baylor Bear did all of that despite playing for three different head coaches – Adam Gase, Brian Flores and Mike McDaniel.
Flores’ reign (2019-21) ended with some fireworks, as a lawsuit was filed against the team and the league citing discrimination which also led to the Dolphins losing multiple draft picks.
And, while there’s been much said about his attitude and relationships with his players and staff, Howard, who was in Miami for Flores’ entire tenure, recently called him a player’s coach.
“Brian Flores was like that,” Howard said on “The OGs” podcast. “He gets all of the this and that in the media, but he was a player’s coach guy. It was like, he came from the Patriots, so he’s seen greatness from the G.O.A.T. It’s his standard how he holds guys around, our team, the Dolphins at the time, he held everybody to a standard. Me and Flores probably weren’t buddy-buddy, this and that, but I respect him. How he came in there every day. He approached every day the same way. It doesn’t matter who you are, he’s going to chew your ass out if you aren’t doing something right. He isn’t going to dap you out if you’re doing something right. You’re supposed to do that.”
Flores spent the first 15 seasons of his career in professional football working for the New England Patriots under then-head coach Bill Belichick. There’s been a long list of former Patriots coaches who have gone elsewhere and have had their personalities clash with those around them.
This past season, Flores served as the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings and is set to return to the position in 2024. And, this offseason, he recruited one of his former Dolphins, linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, to join him in purple and gold. Could Howard’s comments hint at him doing the same in the near future?
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10 best available free agents to fit Raiders needs
It’s Friday, which means the end of the work week. It also means it’s been two work weeks since the free agent market opened for business. The Raiders handled their number one business, which was to land top free agent defensive tackle Christian Wilkins. His addition along with the return of Adam Butler and John Jenkins helped to solidify the definsive interior, but that still leaves them with plenty to do to get this team in good shape headed into the draft.
They have some $28.3 million in cap room with which to try and add some upgrades, competition, and insurance at several position still in need. And there is still some talent out there who could provide what they need.
This is the top ten free agents still on the market who could come in and fill a need position for the Raiders.
ESPN gives best fit for former Dolphins CB Xavien Howard.
Just over a week ago, the Miami Dolphins officially released cornerback Xavien Howard, ending his eight-year tenure in aqua and orange.
During his time in South Florida, Howard was one of the most successful cornerbacks in the NFL, recording more interceptions than all but one player since he entered the league (former Denver Broncos safety Justin Simmons, who is also a free agent, has one more interception in 18 more games).
Now, as Howard looks for his next opportunity, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell lists the Kansas City Chiefs as the best fit for the cornerback’s services this offseason.
Here’s what Barnwell had to say:
“I keep coming back to the Chiefs, who typically prefer younger cornerbacks but have a habit of signing overlooked playmakers in that spot. Howard’s ability to hold up in man coverage and create takeaways are skills that should appeal to them. This is less of a fit if L’Jarius Sneed comes back for 2024, but if the Chiefs trade their franchise-tagged cornerback, Howard could be one of the additions general manager Brett Veach makes to replace his top coverage guy from last season.”
Howard may not be playing his best football as he enters his age-30 season, but he can still be a difference-maker for the defending champions who are looking to become the first team to win three Super Bowls in a row.
Miami has officially released Xavien Howard.
The Miami Dolphins have been in a tough position when it comes to the salary cap this offseason, as they barely got salary cap compliant before the start of the new league year.
However, they’ll get more money in June, as the team officially released cornerback Xavien Howard with a failed physical designation.
This isn’t a surprising move, as Howard was informed of his pending release last month, and he’s already shut the door on returning to the team on a new contract to play in 2024.
His release will create $18.5 million in cap space.
The former Baylor Bear will finish his tenure with the Dolphins having made eight Pro Bowls and one All-Pro team while recording the second-most interceptions by anyone in the league since he was drafted in 2018.
Miami will need to address their starting cornerback situation at some point this offseason, as Kader Kohou and Cam Smith would currently be the team’s starters at outside and nickel cornerback if the season started today.
The Dolphins keep another one of their DBs around.
Per Barry Jackson, the Dolphins are interested in bringing back defensive back, Nik Needham. An undrafted free agent in 2019, Needham re-signed with Miami last season, and clearly, the versatile boundary cornerback/turn slot-specialist/safety candidate’s work is not done in South Florida.
Per source, Dolphins want to keep impending FA Nik Needham and a new deal is expected to be finalized shortly. Needham, one of Dolphins' best undrafted rookie signings of this era, can play both cornerback and safety, of course.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) March 9, 2024
The potential deal will help maintain consistency in a secondary that will not have Xavien Howard, the longest-tenured defensive Dolphin from last year’s team. Connecting some dots, as a rookie, Needham subbed in for an injured Howard and performed well on the outside in 2019, playing in 12 games in which he started 11. He registered 11 passes defensed, including two interceptions in relief.
Needham followed his rookie year with two consecutive seasons in which he registered a pair of interceptions, and in 2021, he was considered a top-tier slot corner in the entire NFL. In fact, according to Pro Football Focus, his 2021 coverage grade from the slot was the best in the league (90.8), as he didn’t allow a single touchdown from that area of the field that season. 2022 was looking to continue that momentum until an Achilles injury occurred in Week 6 against the Minnesota Vikings, ending his season.
2023 was essentially a wash, as Needham rehabbed his injury and returned to the 53-man roster yet didn’t have ample opportunity to show his skills to then-defensive coordinator Vic Fangio during OTAs and training camp. A new defensive coordinator in Anthony Weaver could create a chance for Needham to return to his 2021 form if utilized in the slot, or should he be a prime candidate to step in for Xavien Howard, as he has proven to handle that task as well.
Intriguing as well is the fact that Needham has safety ability, and Miami does have a few more unrestricted free agents in DeShon Elliott and Brandon Jones to think about. The move to retain Needham creates flexibility, and it’s a bit unknown how this Dolphins’ secondary will look in 2024. All-World defensive back Jalen Ramsey could be used a bit more as a chess piece with this new scheme, and like Needham, fellow defensive backs Cam Smith and Kader Kohou could be moved around to different spots in the defensive backfield.
Whatever happens with the rest of the secondary, the defense, and the Dolphins, as a whole, is still up in the air. However, as this week ends, re-signing Needham was a step in the right direction. His work ethic, overall knowledge of the game, and potential are all reasons he was re-signed yet again by the team that saw his ability as a college student and took a chance on him five years ago.
Over his five-season career with the Dolphins, Needham has recorded 199 total tackles, 25 passes defensed, six interceptions, a forced fumble, and a recovered fumble. He also took an interception to the house against the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football back in 2021, a “Nik-6” as some would call it.
EDIT: The deal has been agreed to, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
Two veteran cornerbacks were named as potential fits for the Commanders, including one of the NFL’s best in recent years.
How will the Washington Commanders improve the cornerback position under new head coach Dan Quinn?
Washington spent a first-round pick on cornerback Emmanuel Forbes in the 2023 NFL draft, and he struggled. Third-year cornerback Benjamin St-Juste took a step back in 2023 after a promising second season.
As he had been for the previous three seasons, veteran Kendall Fuller remained the Commanders’ top cornerback.
Now, Fuller is a free agent. He’s also 29, and his knee has some injury concerns. Additionally, Fuller wants a raise from the $10 million he earned annually over the past four seasons, and that raise would be warranted. While the Commanders would love to keep Fuller, he likely makes more sense for a contender on a short-term deal.
Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. come from Dallas, where a Cowboys cornerback led the NFL in interceptions in two of the previous three years. DaRon Bland set an NFL record for most interceptions returned for touchdowns in a single season.
Whitt and secondary coach Tom Donatell’s primary goal is to fix Forbes. In his introductory press conference, Whitt said he liked Forbes coming out in last year’s draft.
Regardless, the Commanders must bring in veteran help. Some options exist depending on how much Washington wants to pay.
CBS Sports named 10 recent salary cap casualties and where they could best fit. Two cornerbacks, including Xavien Howard, were named potential fits for the Commanders.
Cornerback is a premier position in today’s NFL, and Howard has been one of the best for years now. He turns 31 in July, but is a four-time Pro Bowler and led the league in interceptions twice — including a 10-interception campaign in 2020. Howard’s streak of three straight Pro Bowls was snapped this past season, but he still recorded 12 passes defensed and one interception in 13 games played.
Howard seems like a long shot for Washington. He will probably earn more than the Commanders are willing to pay. General manager Adam Peters and Quinn will likely target a cheaper veteran and use the draft to add another corner as high as the second round.
The other potential target was Darious Williams, recently released by the Jaguars.
One of the more underrated cap casualties so far. Williams was set to enter the final season of a three-year, $30 million contract with the Jags. He didn’t have any guaranteed money left on his deal, and his release saves Jacksonville $11.5 million against the cap. While Williams turns 31 this month, he tied for the team lead in interceptions this past season with four. He will absolutely have a market.
Williams is absolutely the type of player Washington could target on a one- or two-year deal with the Commanders.
Washington will be active in free agency, but don’t expect the Commanders to go big-game hunting, instead focusing on team fits and familiarity.
Dolphins CB says he’s not coming back after release.
The Miami Dolphins are set to release cornerback Xavien Howard as a post-June 1 cut, which will save the team $18.5 million in 2024.
At the annual NFL Scouting Combine, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier told reporters that the door wasn’t closed for a reunion between the two sides later in the offseason. However, speaking on “The Joe Rose Show” on Tuesday, the cornerback wasn’t quite on the same page as Grier.
“That door is closed,” Howard said. He went on to say that he’s looking to win and join a team that’s capable of making a playoff run in 2024.
Howard’s words aren’t too surprising, as the two sides have had contentious contract negotiations for the last few years, and with this move being to save money, it was tough to imagine that the former Baylor Bear would be willing to return to South Florida for a pay cut.
Instead, Howard will finish his Dolphins career tied for the fourth-most interceptions in team history (29) alongside Glenn Blackwood and Patrick Surtain.
There are at least 17 who might interest Seattle.
The Seattle Seahawks aren’t the only team in the NFL that’s been busy cutting players this week. So far Seattle has released safeties Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams, plus tight end Will Dissly and nose tackle Bryan Mone. Meanwhile, several other teams around the league have taken a slash and burn approach to the week before free agency as well, releasing some very interesting players onto the open market.
The group includes a pair of strong edge rushers, some brilliant cover corners, a few proven offensive linemen and a handful of high-upside tight ends. All together, there are at least 17 new free agents who might interest Seattle. Here’s the full list.
Seahawks fans react to Jamal Adams, Quandre Diggs and Will Dissly getting cut
