Plenty of NFL players find themselves in football limbo, contractually and/or otherwise.

Some are on rosters, some are not. Many aren't going to make a difference in 2024 or beyond, but some will.

The following five players likely will be difference-makers in 2024, but their long-term futures are up in the air at this stage of the offseason. Here, we've come up with go-forward plans for each of them.

Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott

Fresh off a second-place finish MVP voting, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is slated to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason. But the Cowboys don't appear to be in any rush to sign him to a new deal.

The Cowboys might want to make Prescott prove he can get them over the top in a walk year, and who could blame them? They've won only two playoff games during Prescott's eight-year tenure as a starter.

Prescott might not be the primary root of the problem in Dallas, but he's thrown two interceptions in back-to-back playoff losses and is now on the wrong side of 30. That's why the Cowboys might just bit the bullet on his $55.5 million salary-cap hit in 2024.

With free agency largely over, the Cowboys don't have much incentive to cave at this point. The short-term savings associated with a Prescott extension wouldn't be overly useful right now, and it would limit the team's options if Prescott doesn't come through in 2024.

It's best just to make this a do-or-die season for the quarterback, coach and core in Dallas.

Solution: The Cowboys force Prescott to put up or shut up in a contract year and either walk away or cough up the dough in 2025.

Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins

Several standout wide receivers have been the subject of speculation and/or actual action this offseason. Stefon Diggs was the latest to move via a trade between the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans on Wednesday.

Next up could be Tee Higgins, who requested a trade last month after the Cincinnati Bengals used the franchise tag on him.

The 25-year-old has two 1,000-yard seasons under his belt and is a key weapon for quarterback Joe Burrow in Cincinnati's high-powered offense. The AFC has become a weapons race, so the Bengals might feel pressure to keep him around and happy.

That could be a mistake, as Higgins will cost $21.8 million this season if he plays on the franchise tag. Signing him to an extension could save the Bengals some short-term money, but it would be a big commitment beyond 2024.

Is that worth it for a player who has never gone over 1,100 yards or seven touchdowns in a season? With Ja'Marr Chase already on the roster, it's hard to make that case.

Solution: Dig in and either let him play on the tag or get something back in a trade. Use a first- or second-round pick on a wideout in this receiver-deep draft.

San Francisco 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk

Now that Stefon Diggs is off the trade market, receiver-needy teams like the New York Giants, New York Jets, Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans will have to turn their attention elsewhere. Those in pursuit of a veteran option could see if the San Francisco 49ers are willing to move Brandon Aiyuk ahead of the final year of his rookie contract.

Aiyuk has been the focus of plenty of trade buzz this offseason, mainly because he and the Niners are reportedly nowhere close on an extension. Quarterback Brock Purdy will become eligible for an extension after this season, which means the Niners' loaded offense is about to become far more expensive.

Aiyuk seems frustrated by the impasse in negotiations, but the team appears intent on keeping him around. With rosters largely solidified around the league, the Niners might feel as though they don't need to commit to Aiyuk beyond next season as of yet.

Solution: This draft is loaded with intriguing receivers. The Niners should take one early and see how both he and Aiyuk perform in 2024.

Free-Agent CB Stephon Gilmore

Five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore might not be the player he once was, but he only surrendered an 82.7 passer rating and a 55.8 completion percentage with the Dallas Cowboys last season.

He's still hanging out on the free-agent market for now, though.

A contender with enough cap space to afford a short-term deal should pursue the 33-year-old, who can still make an impact for a win-now team.

Solution: Gilmore makes a ton of sense for the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions in particular. Both have the cap room, the need and the win-now window. But the Lions are a little shorter on experience in the secondary, so we'll roll with Gilmore to the Motor City.

Free-Agent S Justin Simmons

Justin Simmons is in a similar spot to Stephon Gilmore, but he's coming off a second-team All-Pro campaign and is 30 rather than 33. The two-time Pro Bowl safety could easily start in plenty of NFL secondaries right now.

But just like Gilmore, he's also still lingering as an unrestricted free agent.

A contender with enough cap space to afford a short-term deal would make sense for Simmons, although his age and All-Pro status from 2023 could make him a candidate for a longer-term deal than Gilmore.

Solution: The Green Bay Packers are an ideal fit for Simmons, who would bring veteran leadership and would team up with Xavier McKinney to form an incredible safety duo.