One free-agent target for each NFC team in 2024 offseason

It's never too early for us to sift through team needs for the NFL offseason. (We're especially looking at you, wide receiver-needy New York Giants.) As determined by Yardbarker NFL writers, here's one 2024 free agent worth pursuing for each NFC team.

NFC East 

DALLAS COWBOYS | LB Blake Cashman: Cashman leads the Texans with 87 tackles (51 solo) and has three games with double-digit tackles. Per Pro Football Focus, "Among 55 linebackers with at least 50 tackles in 2023, Cashman’s 7% missed tackle rate is a top-15 mark." After giving up 266 yards rushing in a loss to Buffalo in Week 15, the Cowboys certainly could use his help.

NEW YORK GIANTS | WR Tee Higgins: They'd love to get Mike Evans out of Tampa Bay, but with roughly $36M in projected cap space for 2024, the Giants probably can’t afford him. With 3,525 career yards, 23 touchdown catches and a more reasonable price tag, the 24-year-old Higgins could do wonders for the NFL’s most inept passing game.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | Safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson: Detroit’s 26-year-old safety led Philadelphia with six interceptions to help it win the NFC in 2022, but because of a torn pectoral muscle, he hasn’t played since Week 2. That should bring down the price for an Eagles team giving up the fifth-most passing yards (255.4 per game) in the NFL.

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | LT Tyron Smith: With a league-leading $89M in projected cap space for 2024, Washington can afford an eight-time Pro Bowler like Smith, arguably the best left tackle in football. After being sacked a league-leading 59 times this season, quarterback Sam Howell should meet him at the airport if the Commanders can steal him from the Cowboys. — Bruce Ewing

NFC West 

ARIZONA CARDINALS | Outside linebacker Josh Allen: The Cardinals have one of the NFL’s worst defenses, especially when it comes to rushing the passer (32 sacks). Allen has been one of the NFL’s best pass-rushers (14 sacks, 26 quarterback hits) this season for the Jaguars, who will desperately look to keep him. 

LOS ANGELES RAMS |  Cornerback Jaylon Johnson: The Rams have had a desperate need at corner since trading Jalen Ramsey in March — they have just eight interceptions this season and rank 21st against the pass (226.1 per yards per game). Johnson has blossomed into a star with four interceptions, is set to be the top cornerback on the market and would be a significant upgrade to the defense. 

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | Cornerback Stephon Gilmore: The 49ers have one of the best and deepest rosters in the NFL, but cornerback depth is an area of need. Dallas' Gilmore is a seasoned veteran who can still make an impact.  

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | Safety Geno Stone: The Jamal Adams experience at safety in Seattle has been mostly ugly. Baltimore's Stone, with his six interceptions this season and youth (he will be 25 next season), would give the Seahawks the game-changing impact safety they thought they were getting in Adams. — Adam Gretz

NFC North

CHICAGO BEARS | Defensive lineman Justin Madubuike: Pass rush is a major need for Chicago, and Madubuike — who's having a breakout season for Baltimore (57 pressures, 13 sacks) — would be the perfect fix. Due to the Ravens' cap issues and potential franchise tag cost ($19.7M), he could be available for the Bears to scoop up.

DETROIT LIONS | Edge-rusher Bryce Huff: An emerging, explosive pass-rusher off the edge for the New York Jets, Huff boasts the fourth-best pass-rush win rate per Pro Football Focus (21.5%). In 14 games, he already has a career-high eight sacks. The 25-year-old could form a chaotic duo with DE Aidan Hutchinson and might be a more realistic target, especially if more proven edge-rushers fail to hit the market or fall out of Detroit's price range.

GREEN BAY PACKERS | Safety Antoine Winfield Jr.: Weak at safety, the Packers might consider signing two. If they sign just one, former Pro Bowler Winfield — now with Tampa Bay — would fill a considerable need. Per PFF, he has the eighth-lowest passer rating against (51.2) among safeties. He also has equaled or surpassed career-highs in tackles (107), passes defensed (11) and sacks (four) this season.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS |  Quarterback Baker Mayfield: The 28-year-old has had a renaissance of sorts with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is on pace to throw for 4,025 yards and 29 touchdown passes, easily career highs for the former first overall pick. If a reunion with Kirk Cousins isn't in the cards, and the Vikings believe they can still contend, Mayfield would fit nicely into the team's "competitive rebuild" approach.— Mike Santa Barbara

NFC South

ATLANTA FALCONS | Edge-rusher Danielle Hunter: A quarterback would be nice, but the Falcons might be better off drafting one and pursuing Hunter in free agency. The Vikings' edge-rusher has 15.5 sacks while the Falcons are tied for 28th in sacks (30) and only have 51 over the past two seasons, the second fewest in the league over that span.

CAROLINA PANTHERS | Wide receiver Tee Higgins: The Panthers must get quarterback Bryce Young help, and it’s hard to think of a more exciting option than Higgins. He scored two touchdowns in Cincinnati’s 27-24 overtime win over Minnesota in Week 15, including the remarkable tying score with Ja’Marr Chase sidelined, showing that he’s ready to be a No. 1 wideout. 

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | Defensive tackle D.J. Reader: New Orleans would shore up the interior of its defense by adding Reader, who's now with Cincinnati. The Saints are tied for the fifth-fewest sacks (30) and are 24th against the run while Reader is the 10th-highest graded run defender among interior defensive linemen and 11th as a pass-rusher, per PFF.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | Cornerback Stephon Gilmore: Tampa Bay’s secondary has let the team down on a couple of occasions this season and ranks 31st in pass defense (263.9 yards per game). Gilmore would fit in with the team’s veteran core and be an improvement over Carlton Davis, who has struggled this season. — Eric Smithling