The 2024 NFL Offseason has been a good one and their is still more to come.
Even though the games may be played on Sundays in the fall, but many of those are impacted if not decided by the moves that are made around the league during the offseason.
Let’s take a look around the league at the best and worst moves of 2024 NFL Offseason.
Arizona Cardinals – Best: Committing to Kyler Murray
Having a quarterback in the NFL is quintessential to a team’s success. When you have a guy who is capable of leading a franchise, you have to keep him around… And though things have gotten weird with Kyler Murray over the past couple of seasons—the dual-threat QB is miles ahead of the other options the Cardinals have rolled out since Kurt Warner and they needed to mend fences and try to make it work.
Arizona Cardinals – Worst: $20m Guaranteed to Justin Jones
The Cardinals 2024 NFL offseason bringing in Justin Jones to a three-year deal worth $30.1 million with $19.75 million guaranteed was a highly questionable choice. Yes, Jones has a high motor and was a great piece in the Bears’ locker room, but it is hard to imagine him producing enough to justify this deal.
Atlanta Falcons – Best: Signing Kirk Cousins
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The Falcons were one of those teams last year that looked like they were a competent quarterback away from really contending and that, my friends, is Kirk Cousins to a tee! Hopefully they made the right move this 2024 NFL offseason.
Atlanta Falcons – Worst: Signing Darnell Mooney
Atlanta’s offense should look much improved with Kirk Cousins under center instead of Desmond Ridder or Taylor Heinicke, but I would’ve loved to see them go a different route than signing Darnell Mooney. His skillset doesn’t complement their offense particularly well and it feels like an overpay.
Baltimore Ravens – Best: Signing Derrick Henry
After countless rumors that the Ravens would trade for King Henry midseason, they’ve finally cut out the middleman and inked him to a modest two-year deal worth $16 million with $9 million of it fully guaranteed. Paring Henry with Lamar Jackson is a low-risk, high-reward deal that could pay off in spades.
Baltimore Ravens – Worst: Re-sign Justin Madubuike
A four-year $98 million contract extension with $53.5 million at signing and a total of $75.5 million in guarantees is a lot for Justin Madubuike. He had a heck of a year in 2023 with career bests across the board, but unlike his contract, there is no guarantee that he can replicate that success.
Buffalo Bills – Best: Re-signing A.J. Epenesa
A.J. Epenesa has now put up two straight seasons with impressive pass-rushing performances. His playstyle as a burly edge with a surprising amount of speed fits well into the Bills system and he is only turning 25 this year—a lot of upside here.
Buffalo Bills – Worst: Letting Jordan Poyer go
Jordan Poyer was quietly one of the cornerstones of the Bills defense over the last couple of seasons and you have to wonder what the Bills are thinking by letting him walk.
Carolina Panthers – Best: Signing Robert Hunt
After the beating that rookie quarterback, Bryce Young, took in 2023, signing Robert Hunt was a no-brainer for the Panthers—even if they don’t look to be a serious contender this season. If they don’t find a way to keep Young upright, they’ll never know what they have with Young.
Carolina Panthers – Worst: Trading Brian Burns
Before the 2022 trade deadline, the Panthers reportedly had a massive offer from the Los Angeles Rams for the star pass-rusher, including multiple first-rounders, but because they are the Panthers they decided to wait and sell off Burns at a massive discount to the Giants.
Chicago Bears – Best: Signing Jaylon Johnson
Rather than lean on the franchise tag, the Bears have signed Jaylon Johnson to a four-year deal worth $76 million with $54.4 million of that deal guaranteed. This is a hefty price to pay but a great move for one of the best corners in the league.
Chicago Bears – Worst: Signing D’Andre Swift for $15.3M
Chicago has made some strong moves this offseason, but signing D’Andre Swift for the price tag they got him at was a head-scratcher. He went for 1000 yards in 2023, but that is a lot of money for a running back.
Cincinnati Bengals – Best: Signing Sheldon Rankins
Sheldon Rankins is an interesting fit on this Bengals defense, as he should help in the pass rush by drawing some attention from opposing lines, which should in turn help their primary pass rushers like Trey Hendrickson get after opposing quarterbacks.
Cincinnati Bengals – Worst: Releasing Joe Mixon
The Bengals made a big decision this offseason parting ways with Joe Mixon, a seven-year starter at running back. It very much remains to be seen if Zack Moss will be able to fill that kind of void.
Also Read: Grading The 20 Biggest Free Agent Signings Of The 2024 NFL Offseason So Far
Cleveland Browns – Best: Signing Jameis Winston
Signing Jameis Winston to be Deshaun Watson’s backup in 2024 was a great decision for the Browns, as they will need a viable option for when Watson inevitably gets hurt or is forced out of action due to poor performance.
Cleveland Browns – Worst: Signing Jordan Hicks
Not sure what the Browns were thinking with the Jordan Hicks deal. He is talented, but will be 32 this summer and comes at a high cost.
Dallas Cowboys – Best: Letting go of Tony Pollard
The Tony Pollard RB1 experiment was a complete failure. Credit to Dallas for recognizing this and going with a low-cost option in Rico Dowdle instead.
Dallas Cowboys – Worst: No Help in the Defensive Secondary
While the Dallas defense looked explosive in spurts last year, they could have benefited from adding depth to the defensive secondary this offseason.
Denver Broncos – Best: Moving on from Russell Wilson
Sometimes you have to accept that you made a mistake and move on. This was the case with Russell Wilson in Denver—credit to the Broncos staff for ripping the Band-Aid off.
Denver Broncos – Worst: Replacing Jerry Jeudy with Marvin Mims and Josh Reynolds
While his tenure in Denver wasn’t what Broncos fans hoped it would be, Jerry Jeudy was undeniably better than Marvin Mims and Josh Reynolds, who the team is looking to replace him with.
Detroit Lions – Best: Signing DJ Reader at DT
Lions general manager Brad Holmes has done well to bolster Detroit’s defense this offseason. There may have been no better move than snaking defensive tackle, DJ Reader, from the Bengals. The run-stuffing veteran should be a game-changer for a Detroit defense that allowed 23.2 points per game in 2023.
Detroit Lions – Worst: Not Adding another Wide Receiver
As explosive as the Lions offense looked last season, they could use another option at wide receiver to pair with Amon-Ra St. Brown. Maybe they will look to find one in the draft.
Green Bay Packers – Best: Signing Xavier McKinney
Considering the role the safety position is hugely important to new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley’s system, the Packers’ signing of Xavier McKinney was a huge move.
Green Bay Packers – Worst: Bringing in Josh Jacobs
While Josh Jacobs, 26, is more than three years younger than his predecessor, Aaron Jones, his offensive skillset doesn’t fit into the Packers’ offense system as well. Not to mention that Jones was a huge presence in that Green Bay locker room.
Houston Texans – Best: Signing Danelle Hunter
The Texans gave Danelle Hunter a near-fully-guaranteed contract with $48 million of his two-year, $49 million contract being guaranteed—and he should be worth every last penny. Pairing him with Defensive Rookie of the Year, Will Anderson should terrify other AFC South teams.
Houston Texans – Worst: Re-signing Denico Autry
Denico Autry looked good last year, but let’s face it—he is getting up there and investing a multi-year deal in a 33-year-old defensive end is a risky proposition.
Indianapolis Colts – Best: Re-signing Michael Pittman
Pittman was, by far, the Colts’ most accomplished pass-catcher, averaging 99 receptions and 1,053 receiving yards over the past three seasons. Indy absolutely had to keep him in town to give Anthony Richardson a friendly target down field.
Indianapolis Colts – Worst: Re-signing Grover Stewart for three years $39m
Grover Stewart will be 33 if he plays this three-year extension to its completion and it is highly unlikely that he’ll be able to justify a contract that pays him roughly $13 million per season.
Jacksonville Jaguars – Best: Signing Arik Armstead
The interior defensive line was one of the Jaguars’ biggest weaknesses in ’23 and adding Arik Armstead should do wonders to address that issue.
Jacksonville Jaguars – Worst: Letting Calvin Ridley go to Tennessee
The Jags may not have been able to pay him, but letting Calvin Ridley go—especially to another AFC South team was a bigtime error.
Kansas City Chiefs – Best: Acquiring Marquise Brown
The Marquise Brown’s contract is a fantastic deal for the Chiefs: $7 million for getting Mahomes a proven, albeit low-end, number one type of receiver is a no-brainer.
Kansas City Chiefs – Worst: Trading L'Jarius Sneed
Sneed originally arrived in Kansas City as a fourth-round pick in the 2020 NFL draft and developed into a huge contributor. Tough to see him leave town if you are a Chiefs fan.
Las Vegas Raiders – Best: Signing Christian Wilkins
There is little doubt that Christian Wilkins is going to be a game-changer for Las Vegas, as he joins Maxx Crosby on what could be one of the best defensive lines in football next season.
Las Vegas Raiders – Worst: Signing Gardner Minshew
Not sure what the Raiders are doing with this Gardner Minshew signing. He is essentially a back-country version of Jimmy Garoppolo and we saw how that went for the Raiders.
Los Angeles Chargers – Best: Trading Keenan Allen
As painful as it is, sometimes it is better to get out a year early than a year late—and that looks like the point that the Chargers got to with long-time star, Keenan Allen.
Los Angeles Chargers – Worst: Releasing Mike Williams
It is obvious that the Chargers are looking to change the story in Los Angeles, but releasing Mike Williams was a strange choice. They’ve now done away with two of Justin Herbert’s favorite targets this offseason.
Los Angeles Rams – Best: Signing Jimmy Garoppolo
When Matt Stafford is healthy the Rams are legit contenders. Bringing in a pro like Jimmy G who is capable of winning games when the vet is tired or banged up is a much-needed insurance policy.
Los Angeles Rams – Worst: Re-signing Kevin Dotson to three-year $48m
The Rams 2024 NFL offseason has been an interesting one for the Rams. They have never been shy about spending money, but giving $32 million guaranteed to Kevin Dotson after a relatively small sample size feels like a big risk.
Miami Dolphins – Best: Bringing in Kyle Fuller
Two years and $16.5 million for Kyle Fuller is a great value play for the Dolphins. Considering the ninth-year pro has played more than 1,000 snaps in three straight seasons and has the versatility to play all over the defensive secondary.
Miami Dolphins – Worst: Letting Christian Wilkins Walk
Christian Wilkins was far and away the most important player on the Dolphins defense last year. It would’ve been expensive, but Miami needed to keep him in teal.
Minnesota Vikings – Best: Sign Jonathan Greenard to Pass rush
With the Vikings losing two key pieces in Danielle Hunter and D.J. Wonnum on the edge, getting younger with the talented Jonathan Greenard was a savvy move.
Minnesota Vikings – Worst: Letting Kirk Cousins Walk for Sam Darnold
While the idea of Sam Darnold reuniting with former teammate Josh McCown, who is now the quarterbacks coach for the Minnesota Vikings under Kevin O’Connell is enticing, I don’t think that he’ll be a viable replacement for Kirk Cousins.
New England Patriots – Best: Moving on from Mac Jones
After a promising rookie season, things got ugly for Mac Jones fast. The Patriots were wise to cut their losses and move on.
New England Patriots – Worst: Parting Ways with Bill Belichick
Things may have gotten ugly over the past few seasons in New England, but the messy divorce with Bill Belichick will ultimately prove to be a mistake.
New Orleans Saints – Best: Extending Tyrann Mathieu
Tyrann Mathieu has always been one of those players that transcends the stat sheet. His impact on a team starts in the locker room and sends ripples throughout. Extending him in NOLA was a great move.
New Orleans Saints – Worst: Signing Chase Young
The Saints have fielded one of the least productive defensive lines from a pure pass-rush standpoint over the past few seasons and I don’t think an injury-prone and inconsistent Chase Young is the solution there.
New York Giants – Best: Sign-and-Trade Brian Burns
Considering the price tag that Brian Burns was expected to generate, this sign-and-trade looks like one of the best moves in the entire league this offseason.
New York Giants – Worst: Signing Jon Runyan Jr.
Runyan is a solid player and, yes, the Giants desperately needed to improve their interior offensive line, but he only played 50% of the snaps for most of the year in Green Bay last season. He’s not the magic bullet that the unit needs.
New York Jets – Best: Trading for Haason Reddick
Getting a player like Haason Reddick for a conditional third-round pick is a great move. Reddick posted impressive numbers in 2023, recording 11 sacks and 38 tackles—13 for loss, snagging a second-straight trip to the Pro Bowl.
New York Jets – Worst: Signing Javon Kinlaw
While Javon Kinlaw is a flashy name, there is reason to doubt that he is the right fit for an aging New York Jets team.
Philadelphia Eagles – Best: Signing Bryce Huff
Huff is as good at getting at the quarterback as any edge in the league, and the Eagles platoon-style pass-rushing scheme should fit his play style well. Another great acquisition by Howie Roseman.
Philadelphia Eagles – Worst: Signing Saquon Barkley
The Eagles 2024 NFL offseason and Saquon Barkley signing has the potential to be like the DeMarco Murray experience 2.0. The upside is there pairing him with Jalen Hurts, but I’m not sure this was the right move for the Eagles.
Pittsburgh Steelers – Best: Trading for Justin Fields
Securing Justin Fields for only a sixth-round pick was a masterclass by the Steelers even if they have to decide on his fifth-year option. Fields has the potential to be a legitimate franchise QB.
Pittsburgh Steelers – Worst: Signing Russell Wilson
Not sure what the Steelers have been watching for the past two years that inspired them to roll the dice on Russell Wilson. The veteran QB looks as washed as it gets.
San Francisco 49ers – Best: Add Leonard Floyd
Adding a player like Leonard Floyd to an already scary Niners defense was a heck of a move. This unit will be special again this year.
San Francisco 49ers – Worst: Lost Arik Armstead
While San Francisco should still be on everyone’s shortlist for Super Bowl favorites, there is no denying that the loss of Arik Armstead really hurts.
Seattle Seahawks – Best: Extending Noah Fant
Noah Fant should take on an even bigger role in Seattle’s offense with Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson departing this offseason. Good move for the Seahawks to extend the tight end.
Seattle Seahawks – Worst: Re-Signing Leonard Williams
Don’t love this deal by the Seahawks to sign defensive lineman Williams for a three-year, $64.5 million contract, he looked good in 10 games for Seattle last year, but that is a small sample size.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Best: Re-signing Mike Evans
Mike Evans did what he did in 2023 and kept catching passes and scoring touchdowns at an elite clip. Tampa Bay had to break the bank to keep him in town, but at least they did it—because that offense would look completely different without him.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Worst: Franchise Tag on Antoine Winfield Jr.
There were a lot of mouths to feed this offseason, but the franchise tagging a player like Antoine Winfield Jr. rather than finding a way to get a long-term deal done was a bad move by the Bucs.
Tennessee Titans – Best: Stealing Calvin Ridley
What a move by the Titans to snag Calvin Ridley away from the Jaguars! If they can keep him on the field, he should do wonders for that offense and the development of Will Levis.
Tennessee Titans – Worst: Signing Kenneth Murray Jr.
Murray hasn’t exactly been the most productive linebacker since the Chargers traded up to take him in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He has all the athleticism in the world, but considering the production hasn’t been there it makes the deal rather puzzling.
Washington Commanders – Best: Signing Frankie Luvu
Bringing in Frankie Luvu on a relatively low-risk deal was a great move. He is a natural pass rusher and should help bolster the D.
Also Read: 5 Teams That Are Winning The 2024 NFL Offseason So Far…And 5 That Are Badly Losing It
Washington Commanders – Worst: Signing Marcus Mariota
With Jacoby Brissett already on the roster and a young QB likely in the pipeline via the draft, Marcus Mariota seems like a fairly redundant signing.
