We’ve examined the top 10 free-agent wide receivers for 2024. While the next five are a notch below the elite, these players are still worthy of consideration and can significantly help teams needing depth and overall improvement in their passing game. Note that the players’ 2023 team is in parentheses.
11 – Kendrick Bourne (New England Patriots)
Bourne was the number one option for the Patriots before going down with an ACL injury in week 8. He caught 37 passes for 406 yards and four touchdowns for the season after only 35 receptions in 16 games in 2022. Bourne has caught 264 passes and 21 touchdowns over a seven-year career.
While not the most athletic receiver, Bourne is a great route runner and uses his hands superbly. In addition, he is good at shielding defenders from the ball and is tough to bring down after the catch.
There is a possibility that the Patriots will try to trade Bourne. Potential landing spots in this scenario or in free agency include the Las Vegas Raiders, Chicago Bears, and New York Giants.
12 – Michael Thomas (New Orleans Saints)
Thomas was arguably the best wide receiver in the league from 2017 through 2019 when he hauled in 378 passes. He was limited to ten games over the next three seasons and missed all of 2021 with an ankle injury. Last season, Thomas played in ten games, catching 39 passes for 448 yards.
At nearly 31 years of age, Thomas is a shell of the player he once was. However his veteran presence, knowledge of the game, ability to get open, and sure hands will land him a spot as a number two on an NFL roster.
Teams in a complete overhaul that could benefit from Thomas include the New York Giants and Chicago Bears. More interesting scenarios that could potentially lead to a Super Bowl include the Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, and Kansas City Chiefs. Thomas would have a reduced role on a contending team, but at this stage of his career, a Super Bowl might be a higher priority than playing time.
13 –
(Minnesota Vikings)
Osborn had seven touchdown receptions in 2021 but has steadily declined to five in 2022 and just three last season. He caught 48 passes last season after 110 over the previous two. Osborn is only 26 years of age so his decline in production has nothing to do with wear and tear on the body.
Osborn is not a big-play threat but is a good possession receiver who can make an impact on a team with an already proven number-one receiver. A trade during the past season wasn’t out of the question and it was rumored that a third to fifth-round draft pick would be a fair return.
Now entering free agency, potential landing spots for Osborn include the Los Angeles Chargers and Houston Texans. Osborn would fit in nicely next to Keenan Allen in Los Angeles or Nico Collins and Tank Bell in Houston.
14 – Josh Reynolds (Detroit Lions)
Reynolds has played for three teams during a seven-year NFL career. He was third in receptions for the Lions in 2023 behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam Laporta. Reynolds’ five touchdown receptions this past season are a career-best, and his career-best in receptions was 52 with the Rams in 2020.
Reynolds’ fantasy value declined throughout the 2023 season after nearly 300 yards receiving and four touchdown receptions over the first four weeks. However, at age 28, he still appears to have plenty left in the tank. His size alone (6’ 3” 200 pounds) makes him a big target and his 15.2 yards per catch average shows he can stretch the field.
15 – D.J. Chark (Carolina Panthers)
Chark was a Pro Bowl player with the Jaguars in 2019 and has shown to be able to stretch the field throughout his career. He averaged 15 yards per catch last season with five touchdowns in 35 receptions. Chark was third in targets and fourth in receptions on a dreadful 2-15 Panthers’ team that averaged under 200 yards per game in the air.
Injuries have hindered Chark over the past few seasons but when healthy still is young enough to return to his 2019 from when he caught 73 for 1008 yards and eight touchdowns.
Minnesota would be an ideal landing spot for Chark, who would likely see increased targets with Justin Jefferson seeing regular double teams. Although the Kansas City Chiefs are once again contending for another Super Bowl title, they don’t have much in the way of reliable deep threats. Adding Chark is an interesting possibility to go along with Travis Kelce, Rashee Rice, Justin Watson, and Marquez-Valdes Scantling.
