It’s a good year to be an NFL free agent

The NFL announced the salary cap for the 2024 season on Friday, and each of the league’s 32 teams will have $30.6 million more to spend on players than it did in 2023.

The $255.4 million salary cap surpassed expectations that it would be in the $242 million range with the biggest increase in NFL history, fueled by the continue escalation of the league’s income. For the 2013 season, the salary cap was $123 million per team.

With a budget figure in hand now, NFL teams can start spending by re-signing their players with expiring contracts or begin counting down the 19 days until players with expiring contracts become free agents at 3 p.m. CST March 13.

The player with Alabama football roots expected to land the biggest deal this offseason is Jacksonville Jaguars outside linebacker Josh Allen (Abbeville) after he recorded 17.5 sacks in the 2023 season.

Other players from Alabama high schools and colleges who are likely to attract premium offers include Los Angeles Chargers tight end Gerald Everett (UAB/South Alabama), Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (Alabama), New York Jets defensive end Bryce Huff (St. Paul’s Episcopal), Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (Alabama), New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney (Alabama), Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley (Alabama) and Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Jonah Williams (Alabama).

That’s if their current teams don’t use the franchise tag. With the salary cap set, so are the tag values. If the Jaguars place the franchise tag on Allen, Jacksonville would guarantee the pass-rusher a pay day of $24 million for the 2024 season while gaining four months to work out a long-term contract.

Any NFL player with at least four seasons of experience and an expiring contract will become a free agent at 3 p.m. March 13 if he doesn’t sign a contract extension or his team doesn’t use its franchise tag on him before then.

The players headed toward unrestricted free agency at that time include 42 from Alabama high schools and colleges who were on NFL active rosters or reserve lists at the end of the 2023 regular season:

· Las Vegas Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah (Homewood)

· Pittsburgh Steelers defensive tackle Montravius Adams (Auburn)

· Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Kwon Alexander (Oxford)

· Jacksonville Jaguars outside linebacker Josh Allen (Abbeville)

· Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Angelo Blackson (Auburn)

· Indianapolis Colts cornerback Tony Brown (Alabama)

· Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zach Cunningham (Pinson Valley)

· Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Marlon Davidson (Greenville, Auburn)

 

· Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Raekwon Davis (Alabama)

· Carolina Panthers linebacker Tae Davis (Oxford)

· Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Jack Driscoll (Auburn)

· Los Angeles Chargers tight end Gerald Everett (UAB/South Alabama)

· Washington Commanders running back Derrick Gore (Alabama)

· Miami Dolphins defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand (Alabama)

· Buffalo Bills running back Damien Harris (Alabama)

· Indianapolis Colts safety Ronnie Harrison (Alabama)

· New York Giants center J.C. Hassenauer (Alabama)

· Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (Alabama)

· Tennessee Titans offensive tackle Chris Hubbard (UAB)

· New York Jets defensive end Bryce Huff (St. Paul’s Episcopal)

· Dallas Cowboys cornerback Noah Igbinoghene (Hewitt-Trussville, Auburn)

· Houston Texans safety Kareem Jackson (Alabama)

· Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs (Alabama)

· New England Patriots linebacker Anfernee Jennings (Dadeville, Alabama)

· Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Julio Jones (Foley, Alabama)

· New York Jets defensive end Carl Lawson (Auburn)

· Carolina Panthers outside linebacker Eku Leota (Auburn)

· New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney (Alabama)

· Chicago Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney (Gadsden City)

· Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nicholas Morrow (Huntsville)

· Washington Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves (South Alabama)

· Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Calvin Ridley (Alabama)

· New York Giants defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson (Alabama)

· Cincinnati Bengals tight end Irv Smith Jr. (Alabama)

· Jacksonville Jaguars safety Daniel Thomas (Lee-Montgomery, Auburn)

· Los Angeles Rams long snapper Carson Tinker (Alabama)

· Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Levi Wallace (Alabama)

· Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Quez Watkins (Athens)

· Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Jonah Williams (Alabama)

· Los Angeles defensive tackle Nick Williams (Minor, Samford)

· New England Patriots linebacker Mack Wilson (Carver-Montgomery, Alabama)

· New Orleans Saints quarterback Jameis Winston (Hueytown

Even with the jump in the salary cap, eight teams already have contractual obligations for the 2024 season that exceed $255.4 million – the New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys.

Four teams have more than $80 million in salary-cap space available – the Washington Commanders, New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans and Chicago Bears.

Two other NFL players from Alabama high schools and colleges are eligible to become restricted free agents on March 13 – Seattle Seahawks cornerback Mike Jackson (Spain Park) and Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Prince Tega Wanogho (Edgewood Academy, Auburn).

A restricted free agent is a player with three NFL seasons and an expiring contract. Like unrestricted free agents, restricted free agents can negotiate with any interested teams, but their original teams can tender restricted free agents with qualifying offers from four tiers. All the tenders give the original teams the ability to match any contract offer before losing a player and some carry draft-pick compensation if a player signs elsewhere.

Yet another type of NFL free agent is the exclusive-rights free agent. An ERFA is a player with fewer than three seasons and an expiring contract. If his original team offers the ERFA a contract, he cannot negotiate with other teams.

The NFL’s pending exclusive-rights free agents include one with Alabama football roots – Carolina Panthers defensive tackle LaBryan Ray (James Clemens, Alabama).