Key Takeaways
- Kirk Cousins signs with Atlanta Falcons for massive four-year deal
- Derrick Henry heads to Baltimore after Titans sign Tony Pollard
- RB Aaron Jones will sign with Minnesota Vikings following Green Bay’s signing of Josh Jacobs
- Russell Wilson will sign with the Steelers while taking the veteran minimum salary– leading to Denver paying over $38 million
- Carlton Davis was traded to Detroit while CJ Gardner-Johnson heads back to Philadelphia
Keenan Allen Traded to Chicago Bears for a 2024 Fourth-Round Pick
The Los Angeles Chargers have traded longtime wide receiver Keenan Allen to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a 2024 fourth-round pick. Allen has been a premier member of the Chargers since his inception into the league in 2013.
Allen has been one of the best receivers in the league for over a decade, consistently putting up good numbers in return for a mismatched team and coaching troubles. However, the Chargers’ contract with Allen left the team set to cough up $34.7 million towards the cap. The move seemed out of the blue when the team ditched WR2 Mike Williams just a day ago, yet Los Angeles decided to release both. Allen, who will turn 32 in April, is entering the final season of a four-year, $80 million contract with a base salary of $18.1 million.
Titans Sign Calvin Ridley, Add Firepower for Will Levis
The Tennessee Titans signed former Jaguars WR Calvin Ridley to a four-year, $92 million deal. The receiver was expected to stay in Jacksonville but called a huge audible in free agency, opting instead to head to Tennessee with an uncertain quarterback situation.
Ridley, coming off a productive season and two 1,000 yard seasons on his resume, will be sure to make an impact with the Titans. Whatever quarterback the team opts to go with, Ridley will be a huge help with a Titans receiving core that includes Treylon Burks.
Chargers Release Mike Williams, Raiders Release Hunter Renfrow
The Los Angeles Chargers had until 4 PM EST today (3/13/2024) to get under the salary cap. Releasing Mike Williams, a Charger staple since 2017 has been excellent when healthy. Him and Keenan Allen made up one of the better wide receiver duos in the NFL. However, the past two seasons have been marred by injuries and his massive $20 million cap hit in 2024 made him too expensive for Los Angeles to keep around. Therefore, OLB Khalil Mack will stay a Charger this season.
The Raiders also released Hunter Renfrow. Renfrow looked to be a bright star in a Raiders’ organization that looked dim only a couple years ago. However, with the arrival of Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers, Renfrow looked like a former shell of himself– leading to his release, saving the team $13.7 million.
Danielle Hunter, Texans Agree on Deal; Two-Years, $49 Million
After not getting signed on the first day, long-time Minnesota Viking Danielle Hunter will sign with the Houston Texans. After the Vikings signed former Texans’ LB Jonathan Greenard, the Texans needed some starpower on defense. So they bring in one of the league’s most imposing forces this decade.
Coming back from injury not too long ago, the defensive end has been one of the most consistent pass rushers since his entry into the league in 2015. Hunter notched 16.5 sacks in 2023, the most of his career and was touted as one of our best free agents left in 2023 after the first day. Hunter can be used from almost anywhere on the defensive line and is a versatile tool and a veteran presence for a young Texans team looking to make another run at the postseason this year.
Steelers Sign Patrick Queen, Fill Major Linebacker Hole Alongside TJ Watt
The Pittsburgh Steelers finally get TJ Watt some help on the defense. The 24-year-old former first round pick in 2020 has reportedly agreed to terms with the Steelers on a three-year, $41 million deal. Queen has been one of the league’s best young linebackers, in a time where the position continues to evolve as a hybrid of a defensive lineman and borderline pass-coverage heavy defender.
Queen recorded career highs in both tackles (133) and solo tackles (84). Queen also ranked as the best linebacker by way of 20 quick pressures and had a 25.5% pressure rate. The signing of Roquan Smith last year paved the way for Queen’s departure, but that clearly hasn’t slowed his production. Queen will now look to be a deadly duo with All-Pro TJ Watt in what could possibly be one of the league’s best EDGE and LB tandems.
Christian Wilkins Signs with Las Vegas Raiders for 4-year, $110 M Deal
Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins will head to Las Vegas after five years in South Beach. The 28-year-old has been an impact player for the Dolphins since his inception into the league, racking up 355 tackles, 20.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles for Miami in his career. The Raiders needed a defensive staple on the line alongside EDGE rusher Maxx Crosby, and will now be new head coach Antonio Pierce’s first big splash signing.
Wilkins’ 39% run-stop win rate ranks eighth amongst active players and set an NFL record in 2022 after notching 98 tackles– the most for any defensive tackle all-time. The Dolphins failed to reach a deal with him in 2022 and will now try to become an impact player on the Raiders’ defensive line.
Kirk Cousins Reaches Deal with Atlanta Falcons, 4-years, $180 Million
Former Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has signed with the Atlanta Falcons, a team which he frequently courted during the offseason. Cousins is coming off a season-ending Achilles injury and has been with the Vikings for six seasons– since 2018. Cousins’ arrival in Atlanta will look to remedy a Falcons’ quarterback situation that hadn’t been set in stone since the Matt Ryan days.
Cousins simply got too expensive and not worthwhile for the Vikings to keep around and was expected to test out free agency. Now, the 35-year-old will step foot in a new city that has him locked up with a mid-size contract. Expect Atlanta to rally around Cousins and get him some help.
Xavier McKinney Signed by Packers, Will Fill Gaping Hole in Secondary
Safety Xavier McKinney has signed with the Green Bay Packers after the team let Darnell Savage walk in free agency to the Jacksonville Jaguars. McKinney will now fill a major piece of the Green Bay secondary as the team has had the safety position as one of their biggest priorities in the offseason.
McKinney is expected to sign a four-year, $68 million deal, one which will make him the third-highest paid safety in the league. McKinney was ranked as one of the best free-agent safeties in this free agent class– a signing which the Packers desperately needed on defense.
Joe Mixon Traded to Houston For Undisclosed Pick, Bengals Sign Zack Moss
The Bengals took a 180 on their approach to ship Joe Mixon, initially releasing him, but then trading him to Houston… why? VIEW THE FREE AGENCY TRACKER HERE: Free Agency Tracker HOUSTON, Texas– Confusion is a critical part of football. In the offseason, maybe not so much. The Cincinnati Bengals pulled a complete 180 in terms of how they got rid of their superstar running back Joe Mixon. The Bengals…
Former Giants RB Saquon Barkley Heads to Divisional Rival Eagles
One of the biggest question marks of this free agency period– the Giants could not find enough reason to retain Barkley on the roster. Instead, the former NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year will head an hour south to Philadelphia where the team just let DeAndre Swift walk to Chicago in free agency.
Philadelphia has been RB1 limbo for a couple years now, having flip-flopped backs since Miles Sanders took off for Carolina. Barkley will now bring a much-needed ground game for the Eagles who have relied on Jalen Hurts’ ability to get make an impact running the ball. Instead, Barkley will use his 2x Pro-Bowl status to see if he can keep the Eagles from collapsing again.
Russell Wilson Signs with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Following Wilson’s less than admirable fall from grace in Denver, he will be signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers. This all but means the team will move on from Kenny Pickett in 2024, and was a hard bargain for the Steelers to pass up. Pittsburgh signed him to a one-year (essentially a “prove-it”) deal in which the Steelers will pay him around the league minimum $1.21 million.
The rest of his mega contract will be paid for by the Denver Broncos who will have to scrounge up a whopping $38 million in order to get Wilson off their books. In 2023, Wilson threw for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. Pittsburgh is looking for some semblance of offense after having a plethora of weapons at their disposal but no quarterback.
Aaron Jones Picked Up By Vikings
Running back Aaron Jones will be joining the divisional rival Minnesota Vikings after being released by Green Bay after the team signed Josh Jacobs. The two have worked out a one-year, $7 million deal in which Jones will look to retain his premier self.
Drafted in 2017 out of UTEP, Jones had been the lifeblood of a young Green Bay team. Green Bay asked him to take a 50% pay cut, in which the two sides could not work out a solid deal– leading to his release. Jones fell victim to the injury bug in 2023, but when he was active he made a major impact, especially during the Packers’ late-season playoff push.
Darnell Mooney Joins Kirk Cousins in Atlanta
Darnell Mooney has signed a three-year, $39 million deal to join newly-signed quarterback Kirk Cousins in Atlanta. Mooney will be yet another weapon amongst Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson, and Drake London for Kirk Cousins to mess around with on the Falcons. Mooney started his career as one of the most productive receivers in the league, and in 2021 caught 81 passes breaking 1,000 yards with 1,055. Then, Mooney became hampered by injuries, and Atlanta was able to pick him up for a relatively low price.
When DJ Moore came to Chicago, it was tough for Mooney to find a role, but Atlanta hopes he can fill a receiver void behind London as the team continues to spend big on offense looking to build a super team reminiscent of 2016.
Derrick Henry Leaves Tennessee for Baltimore
Superstar running back Derrick Henry is part of a hodgepodge of running backs who have switched teams during this free agency period. Young talent plus low prices have driven the market demand for backs up while also keeping prices down. Henry’s departure was imminent when the team signed former Cowboys RB Tony Pollard Monday, but it wasn’t clear as to where.
Now, the 30-year-old will head to Baltimore to join a prolific offense, one that almost made the Super Bowl last year with Lamar Jackson at the helm. Henry still has plenty of tread left on his tires, with zero fumbles last season and 1,167 yards.
