Ranking the NFL's True Franchise Players for Teams to Build Around Before 2024 Season

While training camps have opened around the NFL, a few contract situations continue to linger. Players like Dak Prescott, Brandon Aiyuk, CeeDee Lamb, Amari Cooper and Haason Reddick are entering contract years, want new long-term deals and have yet to receive them.

These are clearly valuable, Pro Bowl-caliber players. However, their teams' reluctance to lock them up long-term suggests they don't view them as true franchise players worth building the rest of the roster around.

True franchise players are the most indispensable of the NFL's elite. We're talking about Hall of Fame-caliber stars who can lift their teams in the biggest games and change outcomes multiple times per seasons. We're talking about those who can be centerpieces for a decade or more.

We're talking about players like the ones you'll find on the list below.

These are our picks for the top 15 true franchise players in the NFL entering the 2024 season. To qualify, players must be 28 or younger when the regular season begins on September 5 and must still be with the teams that drafted them.

Players were ranked based on factors like proven production, positional versatility and upside.

Nick Bosa, Edge, San Francisco 49ers

Leaving San Francisco 49ers pass-rusher Nick Bosa off the list proper was a difficult decision. He's recorded double-digit sacks in three of his five seasons and has made the Pro Bowl in each of the past three years and in four of five.

Bosa was also named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2022.

However, Bosa's production dipped slightly in 2023—his 10.5 sacks were his lowest total of the past three seasons—and one could easily argue that he's not the most valuable player on his own team. He's still an elite player with Hall of Fame potential, though, and should make the 2025 list with a return to his 2022 form.

CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb is fantastic and might be even more important to his team's long-term success than Prescott. In only four seasons, the 25-year-old has racked up 5,145 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns.

Yet, Dallas' reluctance to give Lamb a top-of-the-market extension is telling. The reality is that the draft continues to produce top-tier pass-catchers, and at some point, teams will stop trying to out-pay everyone else for receiver talent.

The trend could begin with Lamb, who is undoubtedly a game-changer but who has yet to make the Cowboys serious Super Bowl threats.

Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was an honorable mention on last year's list. The argument then was that one good season and a playoff loss wasn't enough to anoint Lawrence as the next great quarterback.

While the Jaguars saw enough to reward the 24-year-old with a deal worth $55 million annually this offseason, Lawrence struggled enough in 2023 to leave questions. Yes, he battled injuries—including a high ankle sprain and a sprained AC joint—but he had his second underwhelming campaign in three seasons.

Lawrence still has all of the physical tools to be great. However, he needs to return to 2022 form to prove that he's truly a franchise quarterback and not just a talented one who received a premature extension.

Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love underwent a masterful transformation in 2023. After spending his first three seasons (mostly) on the bench as Aaron Rodgers' backup, he finally took the reins. After a few early season struggles, he then took off.

Love was playing like one of the league's best signal-callers by season's end, and he helped lead Green Bay to a playoff berth, a dominant postseason victory and a near-upset of the 49ers in the playoffs.

However, it's hard to call a quarterback a true franchise quarterback after just one impressive season. That's likely why it's taking time for Love and the Packers to hammer out an extension—and it's why he's only an honorable mention here.

Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers

In roughly a year-and-a-half as the 49ers starter, Brock Purdy has certainly looked the part of a future franchise quarterback. Statistically, he was fantastic in 2023, finishing with 4,280 passing yards, 31 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

By nearly leading San Francisco to a Super Bowl victory in February, Purdy has also shown that he isn't afraid of the biggest moments.

Yet the third-year signal-caller has benefited from arguably the league's best offensive supporting cast. Would he be even close to as successful with a different franchise? It'll likely be some time before Purdy is asked to answer that question. The 49ers can certainly win with Purdy, but they'll probably want to see at least one more year of high-level production before deciding to build around him.

C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans

Like Love, Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud only has one full year of starting experience on his NFL resume. That's why we're leaving him off the list proper, even after arguably the most impressive rookie season in recent memory.

Stroud showcased accuracy, timing, mobility in the pocket, terrific deep-ball prowess and poise. He helped lead a Texans team that won three games in 2022 to an AFC South title and a decisive playoff win.

Stroud certainly looks to be a star, but we'd like to see just a bit more before proclaiming him the next elite QB. If he plays in 2024 like he did in 2023, though, he'll not only make the list proper, but he'll also challenge for a spot in the top five.

Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins

Like Purdy, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has found success thanks to a stellar supporting cast. His accuracy, timing and quick release perfectly complement Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Raheem Mostert, De'Von Achane and Mike McDaniel's offense. Yet, it's hard to say that he's actually carried the Dolphins' passing attack.

Injuries have also been an issue during Tagovailoa's playing career, though he managed to stay healthy in 2023 en route to a league-high 4,624 passing yards.

There's a reason Tagovailoa is heading into the final year of his rookie deal without a new contract. Miami hasn't offered a top-of-the-market deal, and Tagovailoa needs to show more to justify one.

Last year, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase was the third-ranked non-QB on our list of true franchise players. He is certainly worth building around, even if the Bengals aren't ready to commit to the extension-eligible receiver long-term just yet.

"It's not so likely that this is the good time to negotiate," team president Mike Brown said, per ESPN's Ben Baby. "The offseason is a better time for that and we're going to try to keep focused on the football part."

In three seasons with Cincinnati, Chase has produced 3,717 receiving yards and 29 touchdowns while making three consecutive appearances in the Pro Bowl.

However, Chase ranks relatively low on this year's list for a couple of reasons. For one, he has yet to fully establish himself as the best receiver in football. Secondly, as previously mentioned, an influx of elite receiver prospects has made it more difficult to justify really building around veteran wideouts.

Chase was, of course, an example of this as a rookie in 2021. However, in 2022 and 2023, respectively, we saw Garrett Wilson and Puka Nacua follow in Chase's footsteps.

The Bengals probably aren't going to break up the connection between Chase and his current/college quarterback Joe Burrow. However, the idea of keeping a young receiver through his rookie deal and possibly a bit longer via the franchise tag and then replacing him is no longer an outlandish one.

The Denver Broncos lack star power and don't feature many top-tier players. However, they do have one standout worth building around in cornerback Pat Surtain II.

Surtain, the ninth overall pick in the 2021 draft, has quickly established himself as one of the league's best defensive backs, if not the very best. A two-time Pro Bowler and one-time first-team All-Pro, Surtain is arguably the best young cover corner in the NFL.

Playing on a defense that was historically bad for roughly half the season, the 24-year-old had a down year in 2023 and still only allowed an opposing passer rating of 88.2 in coverage. He allowed opposing passer ratings below 63.0 in each of his first two seasons.

In a recent ESPN poll of coaches, executives and scouts, Surtain was named the NFL's top cornerback.

"Complete corner that can play in any coverage and has size, instincts, ball skills and will tackle," one NFL personnel director told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. "I like the corners that can do it all."

There isn't much Surtain can't do, aside from carrying Denver into the postseason. That could change, though, if the Broncos put the right pieces around him.

Justin Jefferson is arguably the league's top wide receiver and was the top non-QB on our list last offseason. This offseason, he became the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history with a four-year extension worth $35 million annually.

There's a reason the Minnesota Vikings were willing to shell out that kind of money to a pass-catcher. Jefferson has become perhaps the most consistent big-play threat in the NFL and has numbers that reflect that.

Despite missing seven games and playing with a rotating list of quarterbacks in 2023, Jefferson has amassed 5,899 yards, 30 touchdowns, three Pro Bowls and one Offensive Player of the Year award in only four seasons.

Jefferson only turned 25 last month.

There's a very real chance that Jefferson will still be among the league's best receivers when his current contract expires after the 2028 season. The question is whether the gap between the best wide receivers and the second tier of No. 1 targets will be as great in the next few seasons as it has been in years past.

Simply put, it's becoming harder to find franchise-altering defenders and offensive linemen than it is to find receivers. That's the sole reason Jefferson ranks a bit lower than his production might otherwise suggest.

With Aaron Donald now retired, the battle to become the NFL's next top defensive tackle has begun. Kansas City Chiefs star and five-time Pro Bowler Chris Jones is probably the front-runner for the title, but at 30 years old, he may not hold it for long.

Quinnen Williams of the New York Jets is probably the next DT up after Jones, and he could supplant him this season. He was ranked behind only Jones on an ESPN poll of coaches, scouts and executives, and for good reason.

The 26-year-old has emerged as one of the league's most disruptive interior defenders over the past three seasons. During that span, Williams recorded an impressive 23.5 sacks, 76 quarterback pressures, 30 tackles for loss, 110 total tackles, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Those would be solid numbers for an edge-rusher, but Williams is a 303-pound defensive tackle who is often also tasked with moving the line of scrimmage in the defense's favor. There isn't much that the two-time Pro Bowler can't do, and he does it all with a relentless motor.

Seeing reigning Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett this low on our list might surprise a few readers. However, the Cleveland Browns' biggest star will turn 29 in December, meaning that building around him for the next decade isn't likely—though still theoretically possible.

That said, few players in the NFL can change a game in an instant quite like Garrett can. He can get after the quarterback, chase down ball-carriers, generate turnovers in bunches and even block kicks.

Garrett has played 100 regular-season games and has already racked up 88.5 sacks, 94 tackles for loss, 16 passes defended and 17 forced fumbles. He's done it all while consistently fighting through double-team blocks.

According to ESPN, only Micah Parsons faced more double-teams than Garrett in 2023, and only Parsons ranked higher in pass-rush win rate.

The five-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro has become one of the NFL's best players at any position. Only Patrick Mahomes ranked higher on Pro Football Focus' list of top players ahead of the 2024 season.

"Myles Garrett has been an elite player for years, but the second the Browns put a supporting cast around him, he became Defensive Player of the Year," Sam Monson of PFF wrote.

Garrett's production waned down the stretch last season as he battled a shoulder injury. If he can stay healthy and continue to enjoy a strong supporting cast, Garrett's next season may be even more impressive than his last.

Las Vegas Raiders fans have been well aware of pass-rusher Maxx Crosby since he entered the league as a fourth-round draft pick in 2019. Fans outside of Las Vegas have gotten increasingly in-your-face introductions to him over the past few seasons.

Crosby has perhaps the highest motor of any defender in the NFL. Combined with a technically sound set of pass-rush moves, that makes him also one of the league's most disruptive players.

Last season, Crosby racked up 14.5 sacks, 50 quarterback pressures, 90 total tackles and a league-high 23 tackles for loss (tied with Danielle Hunter). He also led the league in tackles for loss with 22 the previous season.

Over the past four years, Crosby has recorded 35 sacks, notched 58 tackles for loss and made three Pro Bowls. He's also received votes for Defensive Player of the Year in each of the past two seasons.

Crosby now belongs in the same conversation as Garrett, T.J. Watt and Micah Parsons—and the 29-year-old Watt is the only one from that group who didn't make our list. At only 26 years old, there's still time for Crosby to beat all of them in DPOY voting.

The Detroit Lions have several good young players worth building around, including Amon-Ra St. Brown, Aidan Hutchinson, Jahmyr Gibbs and Sam LaPorta. Right tackle Penei Sewell is as important as any of them.

The seventh overall pick in the 2021 draft, Sewell has wasted little time in playing up to his draft status. He's already a two-time Pro Bowler and one-time first-team All-Pro and became the league's highest-paid right tackle this offseason.

Much of what Detroit does offensively is possible because of its elite offensive line, and Sewell is its anchor.

"Some OTs are great pass-blockers but just average in the run game. He's elite in both phases," one unnamed AFC executive told Fowler. "Very consistent. Plays with an edge."

Sewell has allowed just three sacks over the past two seasons, according to Pro Football Focus, and is indeed one of the most consistent and reliable linemen in the NFL today.

The Lions have locked up Sewell through the 2029 season. At only 23 years old, however, he could remain a team centerpiece for several years after his current contract expires.

Like Prescott, Lamb, Aiyuk and some other top players, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs is entering a contract year without a new deal. However, his situation is a tad different.

The Buccaneers began the offseason looking to keep a playoff-caliber roster together and first needed to address impending free agents like Antoine Winfield II, Lavonte David, Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield.

Mayfield doesn't believe Tamp will let Wirfs get away.

"I know those front-office guys pretty well," Mayfield told Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. "... I don't think they're gonna let him go."

The Bucs would be foolish to lose Wirfs. The 25-year-old has already established himself as one of the best—and most versatile—offensive linemen in the game. He was a two-time Pro Bowler and a one-time first-team All-Pro at right tackle by his third season. In Year 4, he transitioned to left tackle and made another Pro Bowl.

Wirfs has also played 100 percent of the offensive snaps in every game in which he has appeared.

Tampa may or may not have found its answer at quarterback in Mayfield, who made his first career Pro Bowl as an alternate in 2023. It has a franchise tackle in Wirfs. His ability to thrive at the all-important left tackle spot gives him the slightest of edges over Sewell.

Failing to extend Prescott and Lamb before their respective markets skyrocketed has already made the Cowboys the biggest losers of the 2024 offseason. If Dallas doesn't manage to lock up pass-rusher Micah Parsons sooner than later, however, it will have truly failed as a franchise.

Parsons, who became extension-eligible before he turned 25 in May, hasn't been named Defensive Player of the Year just yet. However, few would argue that he isn't among the league's most impactful players at any position.

In three short seasons, Parsons has amassed 40.5 sacks, 131 quarterback pressures, 213 tackles, seven forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries and a defensive touchdown. He's also been named to three Pro Bowls, two first-team All-Pro squads and was the 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Parsons knows that his efforts will eventually land him one of the league's most lucrative long-term deals.

"This market is going to just jump up and the cap goes up again next year," Parsons said, per Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "They're talking about these contracts might for a high-caliber player might be up to $40 million by then."

Parsons should be among the NFL's highest-paid players. He's dominant, disruptive and may not have even reached his ceiling yet. If the Cowboys don't build around him, another team will.

No matter how great a player at any other position might be, quarterback is still the position teams hope to build around above all others. The Los Angeles Chargers were willing to extend Justin Herbert before he delivered his first playoff win.

Herbert is still searching for that first postseason victory, and he battled both injuries—including a season-ending finger fracture—and a lackluster Chargers roster in 2023. However, one down year isn't enough to knock the 26-year-old off our list.

As a rookie in 2020, Herbert took over as the starter in Week 2 of his rookie season when Tyrod Taylor suffered an accidentally punctured lung during a pregame procedure, and he went on to have an inaugural campaign nearly as impressive as Stroud's.

The 2020 Offensive Rookie of the Year then made the Pro Bowl in Year 2 and helped to deliver a playoff berth in Year 3. Herbert has shown far more good than bad, and he's already impressing new head coach Jim Harbaugh.

"He's bigger. Taller than you think watching TV," Harbaugh said in June, per Elliott Teaford of the Orange County Register. "Every kind of sense. Smart. Incredible the way he picks things up, masters things. Every detail. Every small detail."

The Chargers certainly need Herbert to bounce back this season, but he's a franchise guy, and his 2023 struggles are likely to soon be a distant memory.

Like Herbert, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts had a down season in 2023. Statistically, he was still above-average—he posted an 89.1 passer rating and also rushed for 15 touchdowns—but he wasn't as indefensible as he appeared to be in 2022.

Hurts' biggest issue in 2023 seemed to be his struggles against the blitz. He simply didn't seem to have a consistent answer for the blitz—a problem that was evident during Philly's blowout playoff loss—though, to be fair, former offensive coordinator Brian Johnson didn't provide him with a ton of options.

How Hurts fares under new coordinator Kellen Moore this season will be telling. He could return to his near-MVP form of 2022, or he may simply remain the good-but-not-great quarterback he's been in two of three years as a starter.

If we see the latter outcome, Hurts may fall off our 2025 list entirely. For now, though, we'll give him the benefit of the doubt. After all, he was banged up for part of the year and was far from the only reason the Eagles struggled last season.

And there have many times in which Hurts has been the reason Philly has won. While Hurts may not be a finished product just yet, he's seen three playoff berths, one Super Bowl appearance and two Pro Bowls in three years as "the guy." He remains one of the top three dual-threat quarterbacks, and yes, he remains a player worth building around.

When healthy and at his best, Burrow is quite possibly the top true franchise player in the NFL not named Patrick Mahomes. In his two full seasons as the Cincinnati Bengals' starter, he's reached the AFC title game twice and appeared in the Super Bowl once. He has all the arm talent a team could want and a football I.Q. to match.

To date, Burrow and a guy named Tom Brady are the only quarterbacks who have beaten Mahomes head-to-head in the playoffs.

However, availability is an important trait. It's also been an issue for Burrow, who has finished his other two campaigns on injured reserve. It's not fair to say that the 27-year-old is injury-prone, but the fact that he takes far more punishment than he should is concerning.

Burrow has been sacked an alarming 148 times in just 52 regular-season games. Cincinnati's inability to field a functional offensive line must bear some of the blame, but Burrow does play his way into sacks at times.

None of that is to say that the Bengals were unwise to give Burrow a league-leading contract extension last September. From both mental and traits standpoints, there are no weaknesses in his game, and Burrow is worth building a team around.

When Burrow is at 100 percent, there are few players a team could hope to have under center instead of him.

While Burrow and the Bengals have had more recent playoff success against the Kansas City Chiefs than Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen has experienced, Allen has the more impressive statistical resume.

That's due, in part, to Allen's durability. It's also due to a 6'5" frame and a skill set that feels like a lab creation. He's big, physical, has a high-setting Jugs machine for an arm and can demoralize defenses on the run.

The 28-year-old dealt with his fair share of growing pains in his first couple of seasons, but since his third year, Allen has regularly been among the league's top signal-callers. Buffalo last missed the playoffs during Allen's rookie season, and Allen has been busy racking up stats along the way.

In 94 career games, Allen has racked up 22,703 passing yards, 167 passing touchdowns, 3,611 rushing yards and 53 rushing scores. He's also made two Pro Bowls and delivered at least one playoff win in each of the past four seasons.

The only real knock on Allen is that his yearning for the big play can lead to miscues and turnovers. His boom-or-bust style of play is likely to keep him in a constant battle with Burrow and the next player on our list to be the second-best quarterback in football.

Burrow, Allen and Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson can each make a strong argument for being the second-best quarterback in the NFL. Those arguments often shift on a year-to-year—and, at times, even a week-to-week—basis.

Entering 2024, Jackson has reestablished himself as the No. 2 QB and the second-ranked player on our list. He was healthy again in 2023 and went on to win his second regular-season MVP award.

Perhaps more importantly, Jackson showed what he can accomplish when the Ravens provide him with a legitimately good receiving corps. Baltimore added the likes of Nelson Agholor, Odell Beckham Jr. and Zay Flowers, and Jackson responded with a career-best 3,678 passing yards and a 102.7 passer rating.

Jackson is perhaps the best dual-threat quarterback the NFL has ever seen, as evidenced by his 5,258 rushing yards in six seasons. However, he's proven time and time again that he can beat defenses with his arm as well as his legs.

"There wasn't any doubt who the best player in the league was last year," one NFC executive said, per Fowler. "So, it's long been time to put that to rest."

The three-time Pro Bowler has also repeatedly shown that he can put an offense on his back and run with it. Jackson may have a unique skill set, but the Ravens—who have missed the playoffs only once since he was drafted—have proved that they can build a contender around him, specifically.

Quarterback remains the single most important position in football, if not in all of team sports, and Mahomes is the best of the best.

Mahomes already topped 28,000 passing yards during the regular season, made six Pro Bowls, won three Super Bowls, reached six AFC title games, won two regular-season MVP awards and been named the Super Bowl MVP three times. He'll only turn 29 in September.

Like many of the players on this list, Mahomes has benefited from a strong supporting cast—not to mention a Hall of Fame coach in Andy Reid. However, he's been the catalyst behind Kansas City's dynasty and the biggest constant during its run.

If Mahomes continues on his current path, Brady's record of seven Super Bowl wins—a seemingly unbreakable NFL mark if ever there was one—could be in real jeopardy.

Mahomes has been that dominant since he became a full-time starter in 2018, he has a trophy case that could make some entire teams envious, and he may only improve with more experience. The 28-year-old could retire today and be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

And if an expansion team franchise entered the NFL today and could build its team around any one player, there would be no question. It would be Mahomes.

*Contract information via Spotrac. Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference unless otherwise noted.