Ideal Landing Spots in 2024 Free Agency: Wide Receiver

The depth of this year’s free agent wide receiver class recently took a hit with Tampa Bay re-signing Mike Evans and both Michael Pittman and Tee Higgins received the franchise tag. There are still some wideouts available that can help plenty of teams out, but not a ton of true difference-making talent.

Thankfully, this rookie wide receiver class is absolutely loaded.

Note: There are still some tag-and-trade speculations surrounding Tee Higgins. Teams that would make sense as potential trade candidates are the Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans.

Check out the “best fit in free agency series”: QB | RB | TE

Ideal Landing Spots in 2024 Free Agency: Wide Receivers

Calvin Ridley

Age: 29
Ideal landing spot: Detroit Lions/Jacksonville Jaguars

It sounds like Jacksonville wants to bring Calvin Ridley back, but the Lions have a ton of cap space and were really a second half away from the Super Bowl. Jameson Williams is likely to play a larger role in his third season, but I like the idea of adding Ridley to this offense. Ridley’s final stat line was solid last year (76/1016/6) but his week-to-week consistency wasn’t great. A lot of that was due to Jacksonville so often lining him out so far out wide, leaving him little real estate to win against press coverage, which he struggled with. With Ben Johnson, the Lions would be far more creative with Ridley, utilizing pre-snap motion at the league’s eighth-highest rate (49.5%). At age 29, Ridley still showed a lot of good on tape, while also leading the league in pass interferences drawn. 

I’d also be fine if he stayed in Jacksonville, but I’d like to see more creative usage. He did lead the entire league in end zone targets during his first season with the Jaguars (22), though when he and Christian Kirk played together, the veteran slot wideout was more productive. 

Marquise Brown

Age: 26
Ideal landing spot: Carolina Panthers/Los Angeles Chargers

Bryce Young needs more talent around him. It’s as simple as that. Young struggled in his rookie year, but no quarterback had his wideouts get open at a lower rate than the former top overall selection. And I’m not saying adding Marquise Brown would suddenly transform this offense. But Dave Canales is there now and if he can help Young the way he helped Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield, Hollywood could have a very solid season as Carolina’s top pass-catcher. 

I also think the Chargers are a sneaky team to pursue Brown. Mike Williams is a realistic cut candidate, and Quentin Johnston had a disastrous rookie season. This team has needed more speed at the wide receiver position for years, while Brown is familiar with Los Angeles’ new offensive coordinator Greg Roman.

Gabe Davis

Age: 24
Ideal landing spot: Kansas City Chiefs/New York Giants

After a few years as one of the most boom/bust fantasy wideouts in the league, Gabe Davis is set to play elsewhere in 2024. Davis had four different games last year where he failed to catch a pass and any team that signs him should know exactly what his role should be — stretch the field and make plays down the field. The Chiefs, who recently released Marquez Valdes-Scantling, could look to replace him with Davis. And if Davis were to play with any quarterback in the world that wouldn’t be a drop off from Josh Allen, it would be Patrick Mahomes. 

The Giants also make plenty of sense. They have needed help at wide receiver for years but have especially been lacking size. Davis is also very familiar with head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen. 

Curtis Samuel

Age: 27
Ideal landing spot: Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins are in a tough cap situation at the moment, but if they can clear some space, I’d love the idea of Curtis Samuel joining this team. Miami got absolutely nothing from the passing game outside of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, with that duo combining to account for 48.6% of the team’s receptions and about 51% of the targets. They also made up 60% of Miami’s receiving yards. I think adding a player like Samuel would be perfect for this team. Mike McDaniel could use him in a variety of ways with the Dolphins comfortably leading the NFL in pre-snap motion last year (78%), scheming up touches for Samuel. Adding more speed, versatility and movement is what this offense is all about and Samuel would be a perfect fit.

Tyler Boyd

Age: 29
Ideal landing spot: New York Jets/Philadelphia Eagles

The Jets would love to add some more wide receiver talent next to Garrett Wilson, and while Tyler Boyd isn’t close to a top-tier wideout, he’s much better than anything they had last year. Wilson will remain the clear alpha, but he needs help after ranking fourth in the league in first-read targets (135) and second in target share (30%). 

I also love the idea of him in Philadelphia. The Eagles obviously have an elite duo in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, but they need more reliability and consistency from their WR3, especially from the slot. I’d imagine we see Brown and Smith move around the formation more with Kellen Moore in town, but Boyd would give this team a more reliable slot option, especially on third downs. 

Odell Beckham

Age: 31
Ideal landing spot: Houston Texans

The Patriots and Titans make sense too, but I think at this stage of his career, Odell Beckham should go to a team that already has solid talent at wide receiver. Why? Well for starters, he’ll be 32 years old in November. But whether it was because of him or a plan the Ravens had in place last year, Beckham played limited snaps most of the time. Beckham played less than 60% of the snaps in every game after Week 1, while running a route on just 54% of dropbacks during that span. With the Texans already having Nico Collins and Tank Dell, I think Beckham would be a perfect upside signing to help C.J. Stroud even more. 

DJ Chark

Age: 27
Ideal landing spot: Baltimore Ravens/Buffalo Bills

Both teams are looking for a vertical deep threat with size, so DJ Chark makes sense for both teams. Of course, that exact position could be what they are targeting during the draft, but free agency is first. Chark isn’t the same player he was during his breakout season in Jacksonville, but his skill-set makes him an ideal fit for both of these teams. Chark could fill the vacated role of Gabe Davis in Buffalo and Odell Beckham in Baltimore.