The 2024 NFL offseason has already gotten off to a hot start. We have seen a number of teams, both contenders and pretenders from last season alike make some big time moves either signing NFL free agents or trading for them.
Let’s take a look around the NFL at the action and see if we can pin down the five worst and five best deals this 2024 NFL Offseason.
The 2024 NFL Offseason = NFL Free Agents + Trades
Worst: Seattle Seahawks overpaying Leonard Williams
While the Seahawks came out as obvious winners of the Russell Wilson deal a couple of offseasons ago, their “big splash” this 2024 NFL offseason has the potential to go in the opposite direction. With Williams heading into his age-30 season, giving him a three-year deal that is reportedly worth $21.5 million per year is a huge risk.
Teams do this here and there and don’t get me wrong, sometimes it works, but it really has to be for the right player. In Seattle’s case, it seems like a big overreaction to Williams having a strong second half of the season in 2023.
Best: Green Bay Packers acquiring Xavier McKinney
The Green Bay Packers were a big surprise down the stretch last season and with the acquisition of safety, Xavier McKinney this offseason, they look like legitimate contenders heading into 2024. McKinney’s skill set fits particularly well with the Packers’ defensive philosophy too, as he fulfills multiple roles with his ability to play deep, cover tight ends and slot receivers, and step up in run support. This should allow Green Bay to deploy a more dynamic and flexible defense, which will complement what they are building on the offensive side of the ball around Jordan Love.
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Worst: Pittsburgh Steelers giving away Diontae Johnson
The Steelers did a great job this offseason bringing in depth at quarterback to try and rectify the situation on the offensive side of the ball, but they have severely hamstrung either Russell Wilson or Justin Fields, whoever wins the job, with their decision to part ways with Diontae Johnson. Over the years, Johnson has emerged as a very reliable option in the passing game, particularly underneath, which is a large emphasis in Pittsburgh’s offense—and they received a rather low-value package with a low draft pick and a mediocre cornerback in Donte Jackson for the veteran wide receiver.
Best: Kansas City Chiefs signing Marquise Brown
The 2024 NFL offseason for the Chiefs has been a good one. After turning the game onto expert mode for Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes in 2023 by trying to get that offense to hum with no real experienced talent at the wide receiver position, the Chiefs have decided to pivot their strategy by bringing Marquise “Hollywood” Brown to town.
Brown, known for his speed and ability to stretch the field, brings a dimension to the Chiefs that was undeniably lacking for most of last season and should be a scary option, particularly in conjunction with Travis Kelce and his ability to draw attention from the defense.
Also Read: Grading The 20 Biggest Free Agent Signings Of The 2024 NFL Offseason So Far
Worst: Jacksonville Jaguars' handling of Calvin Ridley
Honestly, I am not sure what the Jacksonville Jaguars were thinking with the way that they have utterly mismanaged the Calvin Ridley negotiations. Obviously, Ridley wasn’t perfect last year. But who would’ve been after essentially missing two years of action? And he the 29-year-old receiver still managed to put up the second-best season of his career in 2023, posting a line of 76 receptions for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns.
Again this is a guy who sat out the entire 2022 campaign, after being slapped with a suspension from the league for violating its gambling policy after he bet on NFL games and 2021 with a mental health crisis. Imagine what he would’ve looked like next year getting his reps up? Now, the Jags have lost Ridley to an AFC South rival, in the Tennessee Titans and are putting their already struggling quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, into an even more challenging situation with their wide receiver room being headlined by Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, and recent acquisition Gabe Davis.
It is fair to suggest that the Titans might’ve slightly overpaid for Ridley by inking him to a four-year, $92 million dollar deal with $50 million guaranteed, which might’ve been a slight overpay for the talented but at times troubled wide receiver, but allowing their most talented skill position player to walk may ultimately end up being a huge mistake.
Best: Pittsburgh Steelers getting Justin Fields and Russell Wilson at a bargain
The Steelers 2024 NFL offseason was an interesting one. They are not an organization that messes around… They have long been one of the top franchises in the NFL in terms of how they run their operations—and a huge part of that, particularly now, is making sure that you have a quarterback capable of running the show.
Pittsburgh may have cast a wide net with their acquisition of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, but it was a heck of a swing to try and make something happen at the most important position in sports. And they did so at an extremely low cost relative to the potential upside of these two quarterbacks and the market for the position. Fields they got for a conditional sixth-round pick from the Bears, who were in a low-leverage position and they were able to sign Russell Wilson for $1.21 million because the Denver Broncos still owe him so much money.
This allows the Steelers to bring in two guys, who are at a minimum starting-caliber and have won games in the NFL, to compete for the starting gig.
Worst: Minnesota Vikings signing Aaron Jones
This has been a tough offseason for the Minnesota Vikings across the board. Not only did they part ways with quarterback Kirk Cousins, they also made the rather questionable decision to sign 29-year-old running back Aaron Jones.
The deal was announced just one day after his release from the Green Bay Packers and was worth around $7 million, which isn’t an insane cap hit, but it is still a pretty sizable check considering his age, the nature of the running back position, and the height of the Vikings ceiling in 2024.
It looks like Minnesota was trying to channel that same energy it did when they stole one of the Packers’ previous franchise players out from under them with the Brett Favre acquisition (albeit with a pitstop in New York for Favre…
Best: Baltimore Ravens landing Derrick Henry
After watching the Ravens flame out in the postseason yet again in 2023—largely due to them abandoning their run game in pressure situations—it looks like Baltimore is ready to go all in on the ground attack, as signaled by the arrival of King Henry in the Queen City. There is reason for Ravens fans to be excited here. Pairing Henry with Lamar Jackson should create an extremely dynamic rushing attack and significantly enhance the Ravens’ offense as a whole).
Worst: New York Jets signing Tyronn Smith
Despite promises of being “all-in” for a Super Bowl run, the Cowboys made minimal moves, continuing a trend of draft-and-develop without any substantial free agency investments. One of the by-products of this decision from Dallas was it opened the door for the New York Jets to acquire longtime Cowboys’ o-line stalwart, Tyronn Smith.
This could be seen as a strategic move to solidify their offensive line, but we aren’t sold that a wily veteran, even one of Smith’s caliber, is what New York needs. The Jets are already injury-prone and skewed to the older side. Smith will likely be too much of the same for a Jets team and offense that needs to be injected with some youthful playmakers.
Best: Atlanta Falcons signing Kirk Cousins
The Atlanta Falcons were one of the most frustrating teams to follow along with in 2023. Despite having explosive playmakers all over the field with the likes of wide receiver, Drake London, tight end, Kyle Pitts, and 2023 first-round draft pick, Bijan Robinson at running back, Atlanta really struggled to put together any sort of consistency on the offensive side of the ball.
Part of this was due to schematic issues, which will likely be mitigated thanks to the coaching change, but all of the blame can’t be put on Arthur Smith’s regime. The reality is that they were coaching with one hand tied behind their backs thanks to the quarterback play. Atlanta should be a whole lot more fun to watch this season with a seasoned pro like Kirk Cousins under center instead of the two-headed monster of Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke.
Also Read: All 32 NFL Teams’ BEST And WORST Moves Of The 2024 Offseason
