NFL Free Agency has hit like a truck in 2024. Superstar players are shooting across the country to new places, and teams are setting up their squads for a chance at the Lombardi Trophy. Big names like Kirk Cousins, Derrick Henry, and Saquon Barkley will be suiting up for new teams in 2024. With that in mind, here are some teams that have done well for themselves in free agency, and some that have completely dropped the ball.
Crushed: Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs come off of a Superbowl win and are hungry for more. Their biggest free agency win is the re-signing of Chris Jones, their star defensive tackle. Many thought Jones would be headed out of town after he and the Chiefs were unable to make a long-term deal before the 2023 season. However, Jones inked a five-year $159MM deal with Kansas City, to make another run at the Super Bowl. The Chiefs also covered a major gap with Marquise Brown. His one-year $11MM deal gives Mahomes some much-needed relief in the WR room. A deep ball threat and playmaker, Brown will also take some heat off of Kelce, and open up the offense in general. Keeping linebacker Drue Tranquill on a team-friendly, three-year $19MM deal is also huge for the Chiefs. Overall, they have put themselves in an excellent position for a three-peat.
Choked: Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings have essentially given up on competing in the near future. They allowed two of their three best players to walk. Kirk Cousins is gone, no longer the Vikings QB. That means Nick Mullens or Sam Darnold will run out to lead the Vikings, a frightening thought. Danielle Hunter is also out, which means that the Vikings no longer have their best defensive player and one of the best pass rushers in football. Losing two top-tier players like that is almost impossible to make up for, and of course, the Vikings have not made up for it in any way, with their biggest signings coming in the form of Aaron Jones and Andrew Van Ginkel. One wonders what will happen to Justin Jefferson as well. Tough time to be a fan of the purple and gold.
Crushed: Atlanta Falcons
Speaking of Kirk Cousins… The Falcons brought him to town for a massive $180MM. However, the team has been on the brink of competing with a rotating clown carousel of quarterbacks the past few seasons. With a legitimate QB under center and great skill players like Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts and Drake London, the Falcons find themselves the favorites to win the admittedly weak NFC South. Darnell Mooney makes that WR room that much stronger. I believe this calls for a “You like that?!”.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
Choked: Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys followed up a disappointing first-round exit in the 2023/24 playoffs by being the only team to sign zero players on the first day of free agency. They then allowed breakout star running back Tony Pollard to walk to the Titans, elite tackle Tyron Smith to head to the Jets and strong center Tyler Biadasz to go to the division rival Commanders. Dem Boys now sit with a weakened offense, and a dwindling stock of players to make up for their losses. Not exactly sure what Jerry and the company were thinking on this one.
Crushed: Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers have hit free agency hard, tuning up a team that has figured out how to simultaneously never miss the playoffs but also somehow under-perform. They brought in Russel Wilson to lead the offense, on a league minimum deal, which could be the bargain of the century. They also acquired Justin Fields in case Russ can’t handle the heat in the Steel City. Van Jefferson joins the WR room, essentially replacing Diontae Johnson who was traded to the Panthers. They improved on defense as well, bringing in Patrick Queen, which now gives them arguably the best LB core in the sport. Donte Jackson, a solid veteran corner, was the return for Johnson (along with some late-round picks) and will improve the secondary too. Fans in Pittsburgh are jazzed about the new roster, and rightfully so.
Choked: Denver Broncos
The Broncos are rebuilding, just two short years after telling the nation “Let’s ride”. They are going to pay Russel Wilson $85MM in dead cap, and he won’t ever wear a Broncos uniform again. They cut four-time all-pro Justin Simmons just to save $14.5MM. If there’s anything that says rebuild, it’s getting rid of an elite safety and defensive captain to save a couple of bucks for the future. The Broncos will need to have some serious draft success, which is always tough when you don’t have a second-round pick. It’s grim in the Mile High City.
Crushed: San Francisco 49ers
The Niners come off back-to-back NFC Championships eager to actually taste the sweetness of a Super Bowl victory. To do that, they are prepared to destroy all quarterbacks in their path with an even stronger pass rush. The 49ers brought in start rusher Leonard Floyd on a two-year $20MM deal, and then also signed Yetur Gross-Matos, hoping to tap into his former prospect potential. They also filled in depth at the D-Line with Jordan Elliott and Maliek Collins. With the offense set to be as good as it was in years previous, the Niners are re-tooled and ready to go deep in the playoffs again.
Choked: Los Angeles Chargers
The off-season started off nicely for the Chargers. They brought in a Jim Harbaugh who was fleeing NCAA sanctions, a nice windfall for the Bolts. However, their salary cap was a bit of a mess, which meant they had to blow up their offensive core. Austin Eckler walked to Washington, Keenan Allen was traded to the Bears and Mike Williams was cut. What is Justin Herbert going to do now? In the difficult AFC West, losing three marquee skill players without replacement will be a killer.
Crushed: Washington Commanders
The Commanders are seemingly ready to actually be good. With the number two pick in the draft, they will pick a QB and hope their future will become a lot brighter. They’ve begun to prep for the new hope of the franchise, adding Austin Eckler to beef up the offense, Tyler Biadasz and Nick Allegreti to protect him on the line, and Bobby Wagner to lead his defense. While we don’t know who the pick will be, they should be lucky the team is already working to set him up for success.
Choked: New Orleans Saints
The Saints have essentially just signed and re-signed some linebackers and nickelbacks. They extended Tyrann Mathieu and added stud LB Willie Gay. However, Michael Thomas and Cedrick Wilson are out the door, depleting the WR room. Without a strong QB option either, the Saints look a little lost. If a full rebuild is ordered, why pay Gay and Mathieu? We’re not sure what’s going on in New Orleans, but it’s possible that the front office has been spending a bit too much time on Bourbon Street.
