10 games between NFL free agents and teams in August 2024

The Giants are in trouble if quarterback Daniel Jones plays in the regular season like he did Saturday against the Houston Texans. Brian Daboll enters his third season with the Giants and is definitely under pressure to win, and if that’s their reality, it’s going to be tough with Jones at quarterback. Tannehill may not be as good at this point as he was in his second season with the Tennessee Titans, but the team should at least see if he would be a backup. The NFC East won’t be easy this fall, but that’s no excuse to bring up poor quarterback performances when Jones struggles. Adding Tannehill to the quarterback lineup seems like a smart hedge at worst and a new starter at best.

The Chiefs should be the favorites to make the Super Bowl until another team proves otherwise, but the team’s situation at the left tackle position remains a little dicey. Second-round rookie Kingsley Suamataia could very well be the likely successor at the position, but having him start 17 games and the playoffs to push for a third straight win seems like an avoidable risk. Bakhtiari is the proven veteran the Chiefs should look at, even if he’s still not ready to play on turf surfaces. Suamataia could still get some starts this year, with Bakhtiari taking over the home and away games on turf, and we’re sure the former Packers starter would play on any surface required for a Super Bowl push.

That’s nothing compared to second-round rookie cornerback Kamari Lassiter, who could one day be a strong starter for the Texans in the secondary. However, Gilmore would immediately upgrade the cornerback position for Houston opposite Derek Stingley Jr. and give the Texans another formidable starter on defense. For a team looking to make a serious push for the AFC title in quarterback CJ Stroud’s second season, signing Gilmore at this point in the offseason would be a godsend.

The Vikings need a starting cornerback on their roster, as we expect Kevin O’Connell’s Minnesota team to be a little more aggressive than expected this season. Why not sign Jackson, who has proven throughout his career that he’s a decent cornerback at his worst? The former Giants player would give the Vikings an instant boost at the position in August.

Although the team has rookie pass rusher Laiatu Latu waiting in the wings, the season-long loss of pass rusher Samson Ebukam was a major blow for a Colts team trying to make the playoffs. Why not bring back Ngakoue, who recorded 9.5 sacks in 2022 for Indy defensive coordinator Gus Bradley? This seems like an easy move for the Colts to bring back a player who is familiar with their scheme, can come off the bench and provide valuable pass-rushing snaps.

Although the Falcons just added two veteran players to their defense, the team should at least consider the possibility of bringing in Smith-Schuster as a veteran wide receiver. The wide receiver played for Falcons receivers coach Ike Hilliard while the two were with the Pittsburgh Steelers and put up tremendous numbers under Hilliard’s leadership. As long as Smith-Schuster is healthy, the Falcons could use him in a receiver room that needs some more depth heading into the season.

Broncos coach Sean Payton and offensive assistant Pete Carmichael oversaw the best stretch of Thomas’ career with the New Orleans Saints, and it’s very possible that a poor season in Denver will prompt the team to trade wide receiver Courtland Sutton by the NF: transfer deadline. If rookie quarterback Bo Nix hits the ground running and the Broncos look legitimate, they’ll need more help at the receiver position to make this season as good as it can be. Either way, it makes too much sense to reunite Thomas with his old Saints coaches. His health is just what it is right now, but managing his snaps in a comfortable offense could provide Thomas the best path to continue his career.

The Ravens are taking a risk by starting second-year guard Andrew Vorhees on the left side of the offensive line, and it would be smart to sign a veteran player as a backup given Super Bowl aspirations. Luckily for Baltimore, the team has a knack for signing veteran players this time of year, and that’s exactly what Vaitai is. He could start for the Ravens in a pinch and fill the left guard position, as he’s coming off a solid season with the Detroit Lions. Even if he’s just one of the best backup guards in the NFL, Vaitai could offer Baltimore a lot of value.

The Eagles have one of the better rosters in the NFL, but the team could use a little more help at the safety position. Hyde has the most experience of any free agent at the position, and he has plenty of playoff experience from his time with the Buffalo Bills. The Eagles could have a lot worse options than signing Hyde to their defensive back room on a one-year loan.

There is a big question mark on the Saints’ offensive line as it relates to how 2022 first-round draft pick Trevor Penning will fare as a starter this season. If New Orleans wants to give rookie tackle Taliese Fuaga opportunities on the right side of the line and have Penning serve as a swing tackle, signing a reliable veteran like Humphries would be a smart move for the team. New Orleans may not have made up its mind on Penning yet, but if they do, signing Humphries is a smart move.