timeIt’s not just football that makes the NFL America’s most powerful entertainment machine. The league’s free agency and draft seasons are actually as big a cultural treasure as anything that happens between September and February, and this year is no different.
Multiple expensive starting quarterbacks are changing teams. One of the most talented running backs in the sport decided to head south from New York to eastern Pennsylvania along Interstate 95. The Atlanta Falcons are making a push for relevancy after years in the wilderness. The 2024 season takes on a much different look. Here are five of the most notable and impactful moves the team has made so far.
Falcons sign best quarterback on the market in Kirk Cousins
Cousins will never be mistaken for one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, but he’s miles ahead of the duds that many teams pass off. Consistently in the top half of the league in various passing statistics, Cousins has proven to be adept at making money for himself. The 35-year-old left Minnesota and signed a guaranteed contract with the Falcons worth $100 million. Cousins will become the Falcons’ starter for a minimum of two years and a maximum of four years. Cousins is a huge upgrade over former starter Desmond Reed, and he should help an interesting group of skill position players — linebacker Bijan Robinson, tight end Kyle Pitts and receiver Dre K. London – Putting up numbers that better suit their talent.
The move leaves the Vikings in quarterback purgatory. Maybe they’ll draft in April, but the 11th pick might not be early enough to find Cousins’ long-term successor. Talent is scarce at the league’s most important position, which is why Cousins is still commanding such a huge salary in his mid-30s after last season was cut short by a torn Achilles tendon. In the corrupt NFC South, Atlanta is now a threat.
Falcons grade: B+
Cousin Ratings: A+ (money), B+ (destination)
Russell Wilson went to the Steelers … for next to nothing.
Lacking early picks to acquire valuable prospects in this year’s draft, Pittsburgh needs a veteran to put pressure on disappointing third-year quarterback Kenny Pickett. In Wilson, they may have hit the relative jackpot. The Denver Broncos will pay Wilson nearly $40 million after cutting him from one of the largest contracts in football history. Wilson’s new salary was always intended to reduce the Broncos’ obligation to him, so he had no incentive to earn more than the $1.2 million veteran’s minimum salary. In terms of the NFL quarterback market, the Steelers acquired Super Bowl champion Wilson for free.
How much Wilson has left in the tank is a matter of debate. He’s no longer one of the best passers in the league, and it’s no longer possible. He took a lot of sacks in the backfield, which was a flaw in his transition from the Seattle Seahawks to the Broncos and one that could be magnified with a fragile Steelers offensive line. But Wilson was better last season than he was in his first season with the Broncos in 2022, and at $1.2 million, the Steelers don’t need him to be a franchise anchor. They just need him to be better than Pickett, who is one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the NFL in 2023. Wilson should clear that hurdle by playing for a coach who has never had a losing season.
Steelers grade: B-
Wilson’s grade: A
Raiders find defensive anchor in Christian Wilkins
The biggest free agent picks this week are on offense, but Wilkins’ move to the Las Vegas Raiders should be one of the most impactful players this year. With other defensive stars receiving a one-year “franchise tag” that prevents them from hitting free agency, defensive tackles are the best defenders on the open market. Wilkins is a speedy defensive back who can also chase the quarterback down the middle, but the Miami Dolphins are a bit too cap-limited to retain Wilkins.
So Wilkins went to Las Vegas, where he seemed to be an ideal culture fit for what this team is best at, which is its ruthless physicality. A four-year, $85 million guaranteed deal makes Wilkins one of the most expensive defensive players in football and gives the Raiders hope of staying in contention next season. The team is without a long-term quarterback, playing in a division with Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert. Might as well double down on defense, and that’s exactly what Vegas did here. The deal makes a lot of sense for Wilkins, who gets more guaranteed money than most expected despite joining a team with no clear path to the playoffs.
Strategy level: B+
Wilkins Grade: B
Saquon Barkley stays in NFC East, but not in New York
The Giants drafted Barkley with the second overall pick in 2017. After six years with Big Blue, Barkley left the team for the most painful of destinations: Philadelphia. The Eagles signed him to a three-year contract that guaranteed him $26 million, depriving Giants fans of one of the few enjoyable parts of watching the team play in recent years. Speaking of fans: Barkley’s college supporters at Penn State (many of whom are also Eagles die-hards) will be happy to cheer on the local hero who became the rival.
The NFL has long tended to move away from offering big contracts to running backs, and Barkley is five years removed from his best season with the Giants. But he’s only 27 years old this season, and his superior strength and athleticism make him a good option to be effective behind a usually excellent Eagles offensive line. With future Hall of Fame center Jason Kelce retiring, the addition of Barkley is a reinforcement to ensure the Hawks continue to have one of the best games in the league. Barkley’s only complaint is that the Eagles ended last season in acrimony and he’s playing in an era where his running backs can’t command huge salaries.
Eagle’s grade: B-
Barkley’s grade: B
Eagles sign Bryce Huff, furthering New York to Philadelphia pipeline
Rusher Huff had 10 sacks last year for the Jets, a true breakout season after totaling 7.5 sacks in his first three years. The Eagles under general manager Howie Roseman love their pass rushers. Two years ago, the Eagles had 70 sacks, just two short of the NFL’s single-season sack record. Roseman and his staff believe Huff, who will be 26 this season, fits into the Eagles’ long list of edge defenders who can get after the quarterback and bring him down. Double-digit sack producers don’t typically hit the open market, and even when they do, their costs tend to be higher than the $34 million guaranteed to Huff by Philadelphia.
There’s a reason Huff will cost less in free agency than a typical young edge rusher. Huff is a former undrafted free agent who has achieved tremendous success through persistence while also being a player with a fairly limited resume. He put up strong quarterback pressure statistics in 2022 and big sack numbers in 2023, but he doesn’t feel guaranteed to continue producing 10-plus sacks per year. Huff’s ability as a run defender is also questionable, which is one of the reasons the Eagles only gave him a three-year deal. The Eagles are betting that Huff will provide them with quality production for just under a premium. He could also leave Aaron Rodgers’ sideshow.
Eagle Rating: C+
Anger Rating: A-
