The vast majority of the top 2024 NFL free agents have found new homes, meaning report card season is now in session.
There’s still plenty of big-named talents available that will sign in the coming months. But with most of the majority of big names off the board, it’s the perfect time to hand out our grades for the 20 biggest free agent signings of the 2024 NFL offseason thus far.
Kirk Cousins: B+
The Atlanta Falcons signed Cousins to a four-year contract worth $180 million — with $100 million of it coming in guaranteed money.
For the most part, we love this signing by the Falcons. All they need is a QB to contend, and they have one in Cousins. The sky’s the limit for an offense with Cousins, Kyle Pitts, Drake London, Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier and Darnell Mooney.
Our only concern? It’s a LOT of money for a 36-year-old who’s coming off a season-ending Achilles tear. But sometimes you gotta swing for the fences, and the occasion called for it.
Christian Wilkins: B
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After the Miami Dolphins curiously decided not to franchise tag Wilkins, the star defensive tackle went to the open market and quickly inked a four-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders worth a shiny $110 million.
On one hand, a Wilkins-Maxx Crosby duo has the potential to be a top-five pass-rushing tandem. If he comes as advertised, Wilkins will go a long way in helping the Raiders get after Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and the other top QBs in the AFC.
BUT…he’s also never been a Pro Bowler. Yes, he had a career-high nine sacks in his final year with the Dolphins, but he had 11.5 total sacks over his previous four seasons.
It’s too much money for Wilkins, but he unquestionably makes their defense that much better.
Calvin Ridley: C+
Make no mistake, the Tennessee Titans’ offense is that much better with the arrival of Ridley. The two-time 1,000-yard receiver and DeAndre Hopkins should be an explosive tandem for second-year QB Will Levis, who’s in a glorious position to succeed in year two.
But $92 million over four years is a little too rich for a wide receiver with durability issues and inconsistent production. Ridley will be 30 in December and has only two 1,000-yard seasons on his resume. He has only hit the 80-catch mark in one season, too.
So this is a lot of money for a non-superstar wide receiver. Ridley is being paid like a top-10 wideout, which he isn’t.
But we also understand Tennessee had to overpay to win the Ridley sweepstakes. If Ridley stays healthy over the duration of the deal, this could easily be an A+.
Danielle Hunter: A+
Hunter turned in a career-high 16.5 sacks for the Vikings in 2023 and cashed out nicely, landing a two-year deal with the Houston Texans worth $49 million.
We simply can’t find anything to dislike about this contract. The up-and-coming Texans won the AFC South last season and reached the Divisional Round, thanks largely to a stingy defense led by rookie edge rusher Will Anderson Jr.
Anderson has a new running mate in Hunter, a four-time Pro Bowler with five double-digit sack seasons on his resume. The Texans just might take that next step forward with this pass-rushing tandem.
Robert Hunt: C
Bryce Young took 62 sacks in his rookie year, so Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper said “no more” by…overpaying massively for a good-not-great ex-Dolphins guard?
Hunt signed a five-year deal with the Panthers worth a whopping $100 million. His $20 million average annual value ranks third among guards now, behind Landon Dickerson and Chris Lindstrom. Trust us, though, Hunt is not the third-best guard in football.
Though Hunt has been stellar in pass protection throughout his career, he’s committed 29 penalties, Per Pro Football Focus. He also hasn’t graded higher than 77.1 at PFF in a single season, meaning he’s “good” but nothing close to great.
He makes Carolina’s o-line better, no doubt. But why are they paying a C+-level player superstar-level money?
Saquon Barkley: B
Barkley went from hero to zero in New York Giants land by signing with the archrival Philadelphia Eagles on a three-year deal worth $37.75 million — giving Jalen Hurts another mega weapon in the high-flying Philly offense.
Barkley is a top-three RB in the game when healthy, but durability is a concern here. He has missed at least three games in four of the last five years — including all but two games in the 2020 season.
The Eagles’ stout o-line turned Miles Sanders and D’Andre Swift into 1,000-yard rushers. Did GM Howie Roseman really need to throw this much money at Barkley when he could have picked up a capable RB1 off the street?
Time will tell. If healthy, Barkley might be the final piece needed to get Philly back to the Super Bowl. If the injury bug strikes again? This deal can instantly become regrettable.
Derrick Henry: A+
The best running back of the last five years signing with the league’s best rushing offense — a team that just so happens to be a Super Bowl contender as well.
Henry signed a two-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens worth a modest $16 million after an eight-year run in Tennessee. We know all about the “Running backs hitting a wall before 30” thing, but Henry’s 1,167 rushing yards last season placed him second league-wide behind only Christian McCaffrey.
Henry and two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson are a downright terrifying duo in the backfield. And Henry’s bruising style of play is NOT what opposing teams want to deal with in the postseason.
Baltimore feels like they’re just one piece away from winning a Super Bowl. We very much believe Henry may be the solution in helping Baltimore get over the hump once and for all.
Two years and $16 million is nothing for a two-time rushing champ and likely future Hall of Famer.
Jonathan Greenard: B-
After losing Danielle Hunter in free agency, the Vikings quickly pivoted and signed the ex-Texans star to a four-year deal worth $76 million.
Greenard turned in a career year in 2023, posting 12.5 sacks and 15 tackles for a loss. On paper, why wouldn’t Minny pay him that much to replace Danielle Hunter?
Well, we’re still of the belief that Minnesota would have been better off just paying Hunter to stay. There’s always the risk of the newbie failing to live up to the hefty contract and finding his game in a different defensive scheme.
And before 2023, Greenard had just 10.5 sacks in his previous three seasons. If Minnesota gets 2023 Greenard throughout the duration of this deal, it’ll be an A. But the term and dollars are a little too rich for us to give it that high of a grade right now.
Tyron Smith: A+
In a surprise decision, the Dallas Cowboys decided not to re-sign eight-time Pro Bowler and future Hall of Famer Tyron Smith.
So the two-time First-team All-Pro hit the open market and joined the New York Jets on a one-year deal worth only $6.5 million guaranteed with a max value of $20 million.
This is just the perfect move all around. The Jets HAD to upgrade the offensive line for Aaron Rodgers after last year’s season-opening disaster.
Smith will be 34 in December and has battled the injury bug aplenty over the years. But it’s only a one-year deal. If he’s healthy, it’s a grand slam signing. If it doesn’t pan out, it was worth a shot. A one-year pact carries no risk for a team in win-now mode.
Bryce Huff: A
After a career year with the Jets, Huff signed a three-year deal with the Eagles worth $51.1 million.
This might feel like an overpay for a guy with one GREAT statistical season on his resume, but the stat sheet doesn’t tell the entire story. Huff ranked eighth among edge rushers in ESPN’s pass-rush win rate last year, and he actually had an excellent 90.2 PFF grade as a rotational player in the 2022 campaign.
Huff should have no issue continuing his elite play on a Philly front seven led by Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham. Another savvy move by Howie!
Chase Young: B
The 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year took a one-year “prove it” deal from the New Orleans Saints, albeit with a generous price tag of $13 million.
Again, one-year deals carry no risk. But Young has appeared in just 43 games over his four-year career, never once hitting double-digit sacks. It’s a hefty salary for the maddeningly inconsistent pass-rusher, but we do like Young’s chances of resetting his value working alongside Cameron Jordan.
Xavier McKinney: B+
The Green Bay Packers don’t usually spend crazy in free agency, but they stunned everybody by handing ex-Giants safety Xavier McKinney a massive four-year deal worth $67 million.
The Packers’ pass D was a mega problem last year, often gashed against top-flight offenses. McKinney’s arrival should help fix that, and it largely makes up for the departure of Darnell Savage.
McKinney had three picks and 11 pass defenses last year and yielded only a 69.8 passer rating when targeted, per Pro Football Reference. If the transition to Jeff Hafley’s defensive scheme goes smoothly, McKinney could be the ultimate difference-maker in Green Bay’s secondary.
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson: A
After a one-year stop with the Detroit Lions, Gardner-Johnson returned to the Eagles on a three-year pact worth $27 million. That pact carries a maximum value of $33 million, which still feels like a bargain.
Gardner-Johnson’s absence was a key reason why the Eagles’ once-stingy secondary unraveled mightily last year. As an Eagle in 2022, he had a career year with six interceptions and eight INTS.
He’s right back at home where he belongs. CJ’s return should help Philly’s secondary bounce back after a horrible all-around showing last year.
Gabe Davis: C-
After bidding farewell to Calvin Ridley, the Jaguars gave“Big Game Gabe” a hefty $39 million deal over three years.
It’s just way too much money for a guy who hasn’t hit the 50-catch or 900-yard marks in a single season. Davis is a boom-or-bust guy who will rip off a couple of big plays one game, then disappear the next. It’s a vicious cycle.
Why didn’t the Jags just give a one-year deal to a cheaper and more productive weapon like Hollywood Brown or Mike Williams?
D.J. Reader: A
Reader is another case of “stats don’t tell the story.” 9.5 career sacks and eight pass defenses isn’t eye-popping, but he’s one of the game’s elite run-stoppers which means facing a TON of double teams.
Reader, who signed a two-year deal with the Detroit Lions worth $27.5 million, has graded at 80 or better in each of the last three years at PFF. He was their No. 11-ranked interior defensive lineman last season at 82.2.
Mike Williams: A
Following his release from the Los Angeles Chargers, Williams signed a one-year deal with the Jets worth $10 million.
We know injuries have largely affected his career up to this point. But the contested catch specialist is a complete game-wrecker when healthy, with a pair of 1,000-yard seasons under his belt.
Williams should step in and flourish as Aaron Rodgers’ No. 2 receiver behind Garrett Wilson. A one-year deal carries no risk, just like the aforementioned Tyron Smith deal.
Patrick Queen: B-
After a career year with Baltimore in 2023, Queen signed a three-year deal with the archrival Pittsburgh Steelers worth $41 million.
Queen earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2023, tallying six pass defenses, 3.5 sacks and 133 combined tackles. Thing is, Queen remains a giant liability in coverage, and his highest single-season PFF grade to date was the 73.1 mark he garnered last year.
With TJ Watt, Alex Highsmith and Cam Heyward in the fold, this feels like a bit of an overpay and an unneeded luxury for Pittsburgh. But hey, Queen is still a quality starter, and there’s nothing wrong with signing a Pro Bowler away from your archrivals.
Arik Armstead: C+
After his release from the San Francisco 49ers, Armstead signed a three-year deal with the Jaguars worth $43.5 million.
Yes, he makes this pass rush that much better with Josh Allen and Travon Walker leading the way. But it’s a lot of money for an injury-prone veteran who has topped seven sacks in a season once.
Armstead makes his living as a pass-rusher. He’s always been a mediocre run stopper, according to PFF’s metrics. So the man has to be a double-digit sack threat for this deal to be worthwhile.
Marquise Brown: A
After a forgettable 2023 season, “Hollywood” signed a one-year “prove it” deal with the Kansas City Chiefs worth $7 million.
It’s hard to complain about a cheap one-year deal for a speedy deep threap who put up a career-high 1,008 yards back in 2021. The injury bug has affected Brown up to this point, but he’s a capable No. 1 WR if he can stay healthy.
What better place for him to reset his value than the defending champs with the game’s best QB in Patrick Mahomes?
Josh Jacobs: A
In another surprise move by the Packers, they signed the former rushing champion to a four-year deal worth $48 million.
BUT here’s the catch: It’s basically a one-year deal with three options. So can the critics please tell us the issue with the Pack bringing in Jacobs to help rising star QB Jordan Love?
This man has three seasons of 1K rushing, folks. Hard to hate this move for a team that’s just entering its next window of championship contention.
