One NFL Free Agent Each Team Must Sign

The NFL free agent frenzy is about to get underway.

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When the market opens on March 13, there will be a litany of former All-Pros and Super Bowl champions available, as well as ascending talents who shook loose from their former teams amid mad dashes to get under the salary cap.

As free agency nears, here's a look at the one free agent that each team must make every effort to sign:

Arizona Cardinals - CB Darious Williams

After being released by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Darious Williams is arguably the premier cornerback on the open market. Williams intercepted four passes last season while stifling opposing wide receivers as quarterbacks posted a meager 69.6 passer rating when targeting him. At age 30, Williams has the veteran experience the Cardinals need to lead a young defensive back room.

Atlanta Falcons - QB Kirk Cousins

The Falcons have a plethora of weapons, and the offense could benefit from the stability of a consistent veteran such as Cousins. Prior to rupturing his Achilles tendon in Week 12, Cousins was in the midst of the most prolific season of his career, passing for 2,331 yards with 18 touchdowns to five interceptions. Prior to his injury, Cousins had surpassed 4,200 passing yards in three straight seasons. That kind of production will elevate the Falcons' weapons and offense at large.

Baltimore Ravens - RB Derrick Henry

Henry would be the between-the-tackles bruiser the Ravens need for the offense to reach new heights. Few combinations would be more taxing on a defense than being asked with containing Lamar Jackson's elusiveness as a scrambler out of the pocket, Zay Flowers' explosiveness on the perimeter, and the physicality of Henry's running style. Henry could be the missing ingredient to lift the Ravens into a Super Bowl as early as 2024.

Buffalo Bills - WR Calvin Ridley

The Bills are going to need to continue making Draconian cuts and ask veterans to restructure their deals to get cap-compliant. However, if Buffalo is serious about overcoming the Chiefs and Ravens roadblocks in the AFC, Ridley and his field-stretching ability would be an ideal complement to Stefon Diggs on the perimeter and an insurance policy on Diggs demanding a trade, which he's hinted at. Josh Allen is the type of quarterback who can maximize Diggs' and Ridley's game-breaking speed over the top.

Carolina Panthers - OT Mike Onwenu

Everything the Panthers do this offseason should be predicated on keeping Bryce Young upright and surrounding him with weapons. Onwenu would be a major step towards fortifying the line in front of Young, who was sacked 62 times as a rookie. Last season in New England, Onwenu allowed only three. Signing Onwenu is the type of move that gives the offensive line an anchor and the offense a cornerstone Carolina can build upon.

Cincinnati Bengals - TE Noah Fant

Few situations would be more attractive for an ascending tight end such as Fant than joining Joe Burrow's supporting cast, with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins creating space underneath by stretching the field on the perimeter. Fant's 11 career red-zone touchdowns would provide an added dimension to Burrow's arsenal and the Bengals' offense.

Chicago Bears - S Justin Simmons

The Denver Broncos' loss should be the Bears' gain. After locking in All-Pro cornerback Jaylon Johnson on a record-setting contract, Chicago can form one of the league's more dominant safety duos by pairing Simmons alongside Jaquan Brisker. Last season, as PFF points out, Simmons held opposing quarterbacks to a paltry 85.9 passer rating when targeting him. Adding a dominant and physical cover safety like Simmons would significantly bolster the Bears' ascending defense.

Cleveland Browns - LB Patrick Queen

Cleveland has the chance to pluck of a division rival's most consistent defensive difference-makers, but signing Patrick Queen to quarterback the defense. The All-Pro linebacker has posted 453 total tackles with 14 sacks thus far in his career, and is the type of player who can help the Browns' defense reach new heights, perhaps closing the gap on his former team that made it to the doorstep of the Super Bowl.

Dallas Cowboys - RB Saquon Barkley

The Dallas Cowboys would like nothing more than to plunder one of the division-rival Giants' most prolific weapons. Barkley would give the Cowboys a bell-cow running back they've been missing since Ezekiel Elliot's departure, and his 26 explosive runs, behind one of the league's most porous offensive lines, give a lot of reason to be optimistic about the numbers he'd put up behind one of the league's best.

Detroit Lions - CB Xavien Howard

Xavien Howard might not be the same player he was in 2020 when he intercepted 10 passes, but he remains among the sport's stingiest and most dominant cornerbacks. However, Howard's veteran presence and consistency make him the type of player who immediately upgrades a secondary. Behind as menacing a front seven as Detroit has built, Howard has immediate All-Pro potential.

Green Bay Packers - S Xavier McKinney

New Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley's scheme is predicated on dominant secondary play, and Xavier McKinney is one of the league's ascending safety talents. A playmaker in coverage, McKinney has nine career interceptions and isn't afraid to throw his weight around near the line of scrimmage against the run or rushing the passer. McKinney immediately becomes the centerpiece of the Packers' defensive rebuild.

Houston Texans - RB Josh Jacobs

The Texans might have the brightest future in the league, especially with C.J. Stroud leading an offense with young and dynamic receivers Nico Collins and Tank Dell. But, the Texans could benefit from a punishing ground game, which Jacobs is capable of providing. Jacobs is one year removed from winning the rushing title by rushing for 1,653 yards and 12 touchdowns. Plus, Jacobs' 197 career receptions underscore the impact he can make to add new wrinkles in Houston's passing game, as well.

Indianapolis Colts - WR Michael Pittman Jr.

This one isn't hard. Pittman is coming into his own and emerging as a consistent playmaker on the perimeter. A homegrown talent, who can continue to develop alongside second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson, this duo has the potential to be explosive. Pittman Jr. already has two 1,000-yard seasons under his belt with even loftier potential being on the receiving end of Richardson's deep balls.

Jacksonville Jaguars - DT Christian Wilkins

It's time for the Jaguars to complete their defensive line by dropping one of the game's most formidable defensive tackles between two of the more athletic pass-rushers in the sport. Wilkins fits right in as an elite run-stuffer with interior pass-rush upside alongside Josh Allen and Travon Walker. That trio has the potential to be one of the most disruptive in the league.

Kansas City Chefs - DT Chris Jones

The Chiefs seem to be maneuvering to bring Jones back, especially tagging All-Pro cornerback L'Jarius Sneed to buy time to find a trade partner, and for good reason. Jones is a future Hall of Famer whose impact on the Chiefs' defense and Super Bowl run was as evident in his dominance all last season as it was in his absence last September. Expect Kansas City to make Jones a deal that ensures he finishes his career continuing to collect Lombardis in a Chiefs uniform.

Las Vegas Raiders - WR Gabriel Davis

Gabriel Davis has elite straight-line speed to be a vertical threat in the passing game and a perfect complement to Davante Adams. Boasting a career 17 yards per catch average with 27 touchdowns, Davis is an ideal weapon to drop into an offense looking for a secondary playmaker to emerge.

Los Angeles Chargers - RB D'Andre Swift

Jim Harbaugh's arrival in Los Angeles signals one thing; the Chargers are about to be a ground-and-pound offense. Swift has averaged 682 yards per season but adds 195 career catches. The versatility to evade defenders in the open field and contribute in the passing game makes Swift an ideal fit for Justin Herbert's supporting cast.

Los Angeles Rams - EDGE Andrew Van Ginkel

Miami Dolphins - S Geno Stone

Geno Stone is a rising talent at the safety position and a perfect fit for a revamped Dolphins secondary. Stone could conceivably follow his former position coach with the Ravens, now Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver to Miami. At age 24, Stone locked down opposing quarterbacks, holding them to a 53.1 passer rating when targeting him as he intercepted seven passes. The Dolphins must significantly upgrade the defense if they are going to get serious about competing for Super Bowls, and Stone would be a watershed addition.

Minnesota Vikings - RB Tony Pollard

The Vikings' quarterback situation is in flux, however, the wide receiver position features dynamic talents, Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Pollard can be both a battering ram and a target with upside in the passing game. With 176 career receptions and 3,621 rushing yards, Pollard is an ideal fit as a versatile contributor in Kevin O'Connell's offense.

New England Patriots - WR Darnell Mooney

In all likelihood, the Patriots are going to select a quarterback at the top of the draft they hope will ultimately restore the franchise's glory days. The quickest way to accelerate a quarterback's development is to surround him with weapons, and Mooney has tremendous upside with a resumé of consistent production. With 2,593 yards and 11 touchdowns through four seasons, Mooney's best days are ahead of him.

New Orleans Saints - WR K.J. Osborn

As the Saints move on from Michael Thomas, New Orleans is going to need to replace his production this offseason. Osborn has caught 15 touchdowns through his first four seasons and could wind up being an ideal complementary weapon alongside Chris Olave in the Saints' receiving corps.

New York Giants - RB Devin Singletary

The New York Giants are entering a pivotal third season of the Joe Schoen-Brian Daboll era, and likely won't spend top-dollar to bring Saquon Barkley back to the swamps of Jersey. However, Singletary is a speedster, competent in the passing game, and has proven he can be productive at a lower contract than the top backs are likely to fetch this offseason.

New York Jets - OT Tyron Smith

With Aaron Rodgers set to return, nothing matters more for the Jets and general manager Joe Douglas than fortifying the offensive line in front of him. Smith remains one of the premier offensive tackles in the sport, after allowing just one sack last season. Even on a one-year contract, Smith could anchor one side of the line while Penn State's Olu Fashanu or Notre Dame's Joe Alt represents the future on the other.

Philadelphia Eagles - LB Josey Jewell

It's long past time that the Philadelphia Eagles invest in the linebacker position, especially after the defense's abject collapse down the stretch of the 2023 season. Jewell had the most disruptive season of his career playing under Vic Fangio, who gave Jewell green-dot privileges in Denver. Jewell, coming off a 108-tackle and three sack campaign, would be as dominant a player on the field as he would a valued voice helping his teammates pick up Fangio's scheme.

Pittsburgh Steelers - QB Russell Wilson

The Steelers desperately need competent quarterback play, especially if Pittsburgh is going to break through and win a playoff game in 2024. Fortunately for the Steelers, Wilson's contract extension hasn't even kicked in yet and the former Super Bowl winner might be able to be had for the veteran minimum. At a minimum, Wilson offers some upside for 2024 and buys Pittsburgh some time to figure out how to stabilize the quarterback position in the coming years while possibly competing on the fly.

San Francisco 49ers - WR Jauan Jennings

Given the modicum of uncertainty surrounding Brandon Aiyuk's future in San Francisco, combined with Jennings' dominance as a run-blocker and smoothness as a route-runner, keeping Jennings should be a top priority for the 49ers. Jennings represents another ascending weapon in the 49ers' versatile offensive arsenal.

Seattle Seahawks - OG Kevin Zeitler

The Seahawks' offensive line remains a work in progress, and Zeitler is as steady an interior offensive lineman as they come. Zeitler only allowed two sacks last season, and could be a stabilizing force along Seattle's rebuilt front.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - QB Baker Mayfield

Tampa Bay ensured Mike Evans will wear a Buccaneers uniform for the rest of his career, but the only way this team is going to have any meaningful chance of competing in 2024 is by aking sure Baker Mayfield is back in the fold. Mayfield is coming off the most prolific season of his career, and seems to have found a home among the Buccaneers' collection of playmakers in the passing game. If Tampa believes Mayfield has entered a career renaissance, he will pull down life-changing money in the coming weeks.

Tennessee Titans - WR Marquise Brown

The Will Levis era has dawned in Tennessee, and the time has come for the Titans to surround the former second-round pick with elite weapons. Pairing Brown opposite DeAndre Hopkins would form a lethal receiving duo plenty capable of capitalizing on Levis' cannon of an arm in the vertical passing game. Brown has caught 28 touchdowns through his first five seasons and has the speed to punish opposing defenses.

Washington Commanders - EDGE Danielle Hunter

Washington has the resources to be in the mix for every elite free agent this offseason, but few positions matter more to the franchise's trajectory than fixing the pass rush. Hunter has 87.5 career sacks and has reached double-digits five times through eight seasons. After trading away both Chase Young and Montez Sweat at the trade deadline, the Commanders add Hunter, one of the game's most consistent as a centerpiece of their rebuild.

MORE: The One NFL Free Agent Each Team Must Re-Sign