NFL Free Agency Tracker 2024: Signings, Rumors & News

NFL free agency is upon us. As deals roll in, the Sharp Football staff will break them down with analysis for every major move.

This page will be updated throughout the first wave of free agency, so be sure to check back often.

Statistics from TruMedia unless noted otherwise. Salary information from Over The Cap.

Click here for a full list of available free agents and signings

Jump to:

Titans keep adding, trade for L’Jarius Sneed | Jets add Mike Williams | Steelers trade for Justin Fields | Steelers send Kenny Pickett to Eagles | Aaron Donald calls it a career | Keenan Allen traded to Bears | Marquise Brown lands with Chiefs | Curtis Samuel signs with Bills | Sam Howell dealt to Seahawks | Calvin Ridley jumps to division-rival Titans | Diontae Johnson traded to Panthers | Danielle Hunter signs with Texans | Patrick Queen joins division-rival Steelers | Derrick Henry lands with Ravens | Darnell Mooney gets $39 million from Falcons | Joe Mixon traded to Texans | Aaron Jones jumps to the Vikings | Zack Moss signs with Bengals | Sam Darnold the answer in Minnesota? | Austin Ekeler joins Commanders | Giants trade for Brian Burns | Saquon Barkley jumps to the Eagles | Josh Jacobs joins Packers | Justin Jefferson’s outlook without Cousins | Kirk Cousins signs massive deal with Falcons | Gardner Minshew gets $15 million guaranteed | Gabe Davis lands with the Jaguars | Gus Edwards signs with Chargers | Patriots bring in Antonio Gibson | Devin Singletary replaces Saquon in New York | Rams spend big on offensive line | Christian Wilkins lands with Raiders | Eagles give $51 million to Bryce Huff | Tony Pollard signs with Titans | Vikings sign EDGE Jonathan Greenard | D’Andre Swift lands with the Bears | Russell Wilson signs with Steelers | Tee Higgins requests trade | Baker Mayfield re-signs with the Bucs | Mac Jones traded to Jaguars | Notable pre free agency signings

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Titans keep adding, trade for L’Jarius Sneed

Tennessee continued their offseason overhaul, trading a 2025 third and swapping 2024 sevenths with the Chiefs for L’Jarius Sneed.

The move cost the Titans very little in draft compensation, but they gave Sneed a four-year, $76 million contract similar to the deal Jaylon Johnson got from the Bears ahead of free agency.

Tennesee had already added Chidobe Awuzie to their secondary, turning what had been a weakness into what appears to be a strength.

The Titans also spent big on offense this offseason including the contract for Calvin Ridley, showing their commitment to building a legitimate team around sophomore Will Levis.

Now Levis will have to prove he is worth this investment.

Jets add Mike Williams

The Chargers had some tough decisions to get under the allegedly fake salary cap, and Mike Williams ended up being the one to take the fall.

That was good news for the Jets, who needed receiver help after Aaron Rodgers‘ friends and family plan went belly up last season. They added Williams on a one-year deal worth “up to $15 million.”

Williams spent seven seasons with the Chargers, racking up 4,806 yards and 31 touchdowns, but that production understates how good he was when on the field.

Among players with at least 100 targets over the last three seasons, Williams ranks 19th in yards per route run and 14th in yards per target.

He is an older receiver coming off a serious knee injury, but assuming his health cooperates, Williams will be a much better No. 2 option than Allen Lazard.

Steelers trade for Justin Fields

With the Bears seemingly locked in on Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick, the only thing left for them to do was move Justin Fields.

That happened over the weekend, with Fields being traded to the Steelers for a conditional sixth-round pick.

It is a bargain basement price for a quarterback who started 13 games last season and helped the Bears finish the year strong.

For the Steelers, they have now completely remade their quarterback room.

The trio of Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, and Mitchell Trubisky is gone. Russell Wilson and Fields now stand in their place.

Mike Tomlin reportedly assured Wilson that he would remain the starter even with Fields in the fold, but even with his limitations, Fields is a more threatening backup for the long-struggling Wilson than Pickett would have been.

With the quarterback situation figured out, the Steelers’ next order of business has to be reinforcing the receiver room.

Steelers send Kenny Pickett to Eagles

With Russell Wilson now the starting quarterback in Pittsburgh, Kenny Pickett is on the move to Philadelphia.

The Steelers traded Pickett and a fourth-round pick in exchange for a third-round pick this year and two sevenths in 2025.

The 20th overall pick in 2022, Pickett started 24 games over two seasons for the Steelers, throwing 13 touchdowns against 13 interceptions and averaging an anemic 179 passing yards per game.

Not all of that was Pickett’s fault given the offensive coaching staff during much of that run, but he also did not show anything to suggest he could elevate a bad situation.

The good news is he is headed into a better offensive environment and will get to work as the backup to Jalen Hurts.

As for the Steelers, they currently only have Wilson on the roster, so they will be on the hunt for a backup.

Aaron Donald calls it a career

One of the best to ever do it has decided to hang up his cleats.

Aaron Donald announced the Friday of free agency week that he will retire.

There have been rumors about Donald retiring for a few years, so it is not a major surprise he decided to walk away, but he is coming off yet another dominant season and will not be 33 until May.

All told in his 10 seasons, Donald went to 10 Pro Bowls, was an All-Pro eight times, won THREE Defensive Player of the Year awards, and won a Super Bowl with the Rams in 2021.

Donald is the definition of a first ballot Hall of Famer, and he is in the discussion for the greatest defensive player of all time.

Keenan Allen traded to Bears

The fake cap strikes again.

Facing a massive cap number for an aging receiver, the Chargers shipped off Keenan Allen to the Bears in exchange for a fourth-round pick.

The trade ends an 11-year run with the organization for Allen, who amassed 904 catches, 10,530 yards, and 59 touchdowns during his time with the team.

Rich Hribar broke down the fantasy implication of this move for Allen, D.J. Moore, Justin Herbert, Quentin Johnston, and Josh Palmer.

Marquise Brown lands with Chiefs

The Chiefs won their second Super Bowl in a row despite having a clear weakness at receiver.

They took their first step in addressing that issue, signing Marquise Brown to a one-year, $7 million contract.

For Brown, joining the Chiefs could be something of a culture shock.

Brown should also benefit from much better quarterback play with the Chiefs.

21.6% of his targets were deemed inaccurate during his two seasons with the Cardinals. Patrick Mahomes has been under a 10% inaccurate rate in each of the last three seasons.

While Brown is not exclusively a downfield threat, 21.7% of his career targets have been 20 air yards or more. The NFL average last season among qualifying receivers was 17.3%.

26% of Marquez Valdes–Scantling‘s targets, whom Brown is essentially replacing, were 20 or more air yards during his time with the Chiefs including a third of his targets last season.

Brown has only caught 27.2% of his deep targets over his career, but again quarterback play, especially in Arizona, has left a lot to be desired.

The fantasy concern for Brown will be target share, especially with Rashee Rice moving into his second season.

From the Week 10 bye on, including the playoffs but excluding when the starters sat in the season finale, Rice and Travis Kelce combined for 47.7% of Kansas City’s targets.

No other pass catcher had a target share over 10% during that stretch.

That was obviously at least in part because of circumstance, but it is fair to expect Brown to slot in as the third option in this passing game.

That said, Brown has been targeted on 22.5% of his routes in his career, a number that would have been 32nd among qualifying receivers last season, and has averaged 7.3 targets per game.

Even with Rice and Kelce dominating targets in the run of games mentioned above, there were nearly 18 throws to other pass catchers per game.

While he likely will take a volume hit with everyone healthy, it might not be that big given Kansas City’s pass rate, and the targets will be more efficient coming from Mahomes.

Overall, this is a good fantasy outcome for Brown.

Curtis Samuel signs with Bills

Curtis Samuel found a new home in free agency, but he will be around some familiar faces.

Samuel signed a three-year, $24 million contract with the Bills, who lost Gabe Davis to the Jaguars earlier in the week.

Samuel spent the last three seasons with the Commanders, working out of the slot on nearly 70% of his snaps and sporting one of the lower air yards per target among wide receivers.

That is very similar to the way now Bills OC Joe Brady used Samuel when the pair was together with the Panthers in 2020.

That was the most productive season of Samuel’s career with the receiver posting a 77-851-3 line in 15 games.

That usage history means Samuel is not a like-for-like replacement for Davis, and Khalil Shakir has been used more around the line of scrimmage throughout his career as well.

The Bills may be looking for that Davis type in the draft, or they could try to get by with new addition Mack Hollins outside. They could also give fifth-round sophomore Justin Shorter a chance to earn that role.

Whatever happens, this receiver corps is less threatening down the field than it was at the start of the month.

Sam Howell dealt to Seahawks

With a new quarterback almost certain to join the team via the No. 2 overall pick, the Commanders sent Sam Howell to the Seahawks in exchange for what amounted to two pick swaps.

The Seahawks lost Drew Lock in free agency, meaning they needed a new backup for Geno Smith.

John Schneider confirmed that is all Howell is after the trade, saying, “Geno is the guy, and Sam will be backing him up.”

Howell had some good moments last year, but the wheels completely fell off down the stretch.

Over his final seven games, Howell completed just 55.6% of his passes with four touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Calvin Ridley jumps to division-rival Titans

The buzz heading into the new league year was Calvin Ridley was being chased by both the Jaguars and Patriots.

Little did they know it was the Titans who would win the race.

Tennessee made the biggest splash of Wednesday by signing Ridley to a four-year, $92 million contract.

They add Ridley to a free agent haul that includes Tony Pollard (three years, $24 million), Lloyd Cushenberry (four years, $50 million), and Chidobe Awuzie (three years, $36 million).

The Titans had the cap to spend, but those are big investments given the outstanding questions about Will Levis — Tennessee did also add Mason Rudolph on Wednesday.

Does that mean they will be making a move to grab a quarterback? Are they a Justin Fields landing spot? Moving up in the draft?

Time will answer those questions, but right now they have at least bolstered several key areas early in free agency if they want to give Levis a real shot.

Diontae Johnson traded to Panthers

It turns out there was truth to rumors the Steelers were shopping Diontae Johnson.

Pittsburgh traded the receiver along with the No. 240 pick in the draft to the Panthers for Donte Jackson and the No. 178 pick on the eve of the new league year.

Even without the rumors, this would not have been a surprising move.

Johnson is heading into the final year of his contract, and he is not a great fit with Russell Wilson, who avoided the intermediate parts of the field like the plague last season.

Johnson also had a down year in 2022, but he bounced back somewhat despite continued lackluster quarterback play in 2023, setting a career-high with 1.97 yards per route run (29th among qualifying receivers) and in downfield usage.

From the Panthers’ perspective, they just needed someone who could get open for Bryce Young as he attempts to put his awful rookie season in the rearview.

Johnson can do that and should immediately slot in as the No. 1 receiver.

Given the state of the Pittsburgh passing attack over the last several seasons, being the No. 1 option in what profiles as a bad passing game should be natural for Johnson.

Danielle Hunter signs with Texans

The Vikings and Texans have traded edge rushers, just no officially.

A day after ex-Texans EDGE Jonathan Greenard joined the Vikings, ex-Vikings EDGE Danielle Hunter is headed to Houston on a two-year, $49 million deal.

Hunter has been one of the more consistent pass rushers since joining the league back in 2015.

He has averaged just under 11 sacks over his eight seasons including 16.5 last year, although his pressure rate was more middling than that sack total indicates.

Even so, Hunter is a proven, veteran pass rusher joining a defensive front with Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr. and the newly signed Denico Autry.

That trio should be able to create havoc for opposing quarterbacks.

Patrick Queen joins division-rival Steelers

The Ravens had to expect Patrick Queen would be playing elsewhere in 2024, but it has to hurt a little that elsewhere will be with a division rival.

Queen signed a three-year, $41 million contract with the Steelers following an All-Pro season in 2023.

The Steelers are getting an every-down linebacker who recorded 12 run stuff last season (34th among linebackers) while receiving a solid coverage grade from PFF.

It is a big price to pay, but Queen definitely makes Pittsburgh’s defense better.

Derrick Henry lands with Ravens

With the rest of the running back puzzle mostly filled, Derrick Henry was the last major piece to fall.

Long linked with the Ravens, Henry signed a two-year, $16 million contract in Baltimore.

This move make a lot of sense for both sides.

Baltimore tried to trade for Henry last season, Gus Edwards has already left in free agency with J.K. Dobbins unlikely to return, and Keaton Mitchell is recovering from a serious knee injury.

The move also makes sense for Henry. He would be moving to a contending team that finished fifth in ESPN’s run block win rate last season and sixth in yards before contact created per RB rush.

Warren Sharp outlined Henry’s fit in Baltimore and how he will help Lamar Jackson.

Rich Hribar breaks down the fantasy implication of Henry joining the Ravens.

Darnell Mooney gets $39 million from Falcons

The Falcons continued their offensive upgrades by signing Darnell Mooney to a three-year, $39 million contract.

Mooney broke out with an 81-1,055-4 line back in 2021, but he has struggled to replicate that over the last two seasons.

Of course, the quarterback play in Chicago left something to be desired over that span, and he was playing second-fiddle to D.J. Moore in 2023.

It is unlikely he is any higher on the target pecking order in Atlanta with Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson all expected to command targets, but Mooney does theoretically offer more down the field than everyone on that list besides Pitts.

It is theoretical because only 20% of his career targets have been at least 20 air yards downfield (would have ranked outside the top 30 of qualifying receivers last year), and he has caught just 17 of his 72 career targets in that range.

Nearly 40% of those have been inaccurate, to be fair to him, and he certainly profiles like a receiver who can take the top off a defense.

Now, he gets to play with Kirk Cousins, who ranks No. 1 in accuracy on 20-plus yard passes over the last four seasons.

With better quarterback play from Cousins, that could result in some big outings for Mooney this season, but it is an open question if he can command enough targets to be a weekly fantasy option.

Joe Mixon traded to Texans

The Bengals reportedly planned to cut Joe Mixon after adding Zack Moss to the backfield in free agency, but the Texans jumped in at the last second to acquire the veteran back via trade, sending a seventh-round pick.

As mentioned in the Moss blurb below, Mixon has not been an elite running back over the last couple of seasons.

Although he did have more long runs last year, Mixon ranked 37th in EPA per rush, 46th in explosive run rate, and 28th in negative run rate among 72 qualifying running backs the last two seasons.

He actually finished just below ex-Texans back Devin Singletary in explosive run rate last season despite the Bengals ranking 9th in ESPN’s run block win rate. The Texans ranked 25th.

Mixon was given 1.51 yards before contact per carry last season. Singletary was given 1.31.

There are not many reasons to believe Mixon is a significantly better runner than Singletary at this point in his career.

That said, Singletary was the RB17 in per-game, half-PPR scoring after he took over the starting job in Week 9, and Mixon has a much stronger track record as a receiver than Singletary.

C.J. Stroud targeted running backs on 13.4% of his throws last season, 30th among 32 qualifying quarterbacks, but personnel certainly could have played a role in that rate.

In the immediate aftermath of this trade, things do not look much different for Mixon from a fantasy perspective.

The Texans have a good offense. Mixon should be able to dominate most of the work given how last season went for Dameon Pierce. And he can offer a better option in the passing game for Stroud.

All in all, this is a decent fantasy outcome for Mixon and a cheap solution to Houston’s running back vacancy.

Aaron Jones jumps to the Vikings

Just a day after Green Bay decided to replace Aaron Jones with Josh Jacobs, the former Packers back landed with the division-rival Vikings, signing a one-year, $7 million contract.

Jones struggled with injuries last season, playing in just 11 games and being limited in several of those.

He showed his class late in the year, though, rushing for 5.7 yards per carry over his final five games including the playoffs.

He recorded an explosive run on 15.4% of his carries in those playoffs and scored three touchdowns in Green Bay’s win against the Cowboys.

Before his injury in Week 1, Jones put up 127 total yards and two touchdowns.

So while his age (29) and injury issues last year are a concern, Jones is still one of the top backs in the league when healthy.

That will be a big upgrade for Minnesota.

Over the last two seasons, the Vikings are 23rd in yards per carry and 29th in negative run rate on running back runs.

Kevin O’Connell talked up Ty Chandler at the Combine, and he almost certainly will have a role, but this looks like Jones’ backfield with Alexander Mattison no longer in the picture.

That could change if the Vikings add someone else in the draft, but this is also a weak rookie running back class.

As it stands, Jones looks like the clear No. 1 back with receiving upside in an offense that finished middle of the pack in points per drive last year despite missing Justin Jefferson and Kirk Cousins for a large chunk of the season.

It would be easier to invest in Minnesota’s offense for fantasy if they were able to improve the quarterback situation somehow, but even if Sam Darnold ends up as the starter, this is a pretty good landing spot for Jones.

Zack Moss signs with Bengals

Despite a host of rumors last offseason, the Bengals decided to hold onto Joe Mixon. The same will not be true this year.

Cincy traded Mixon to the Texans after signing Zack Moss to a two-year, $8 million contract.

Moss is coming off a solid season with the Colts in which he gained 986 yards from scrimmage and scored seven touchdowns filling in for an injured Jonathan Taylor.

His efficiency was up and down throughout the year, however, and overall his final numbers were mostly average.

Among 68 running backs with at least 50 carries last season, Moss finished 27th in EPA per rush, 27th in explosive run rate, and 42nd in negative run rate.

Next Gen Stats did rank him fifth in yards over expected per attempt, so it is possible he was getting more than what was blocked for him most of the season, although it has to be noted he was 16th among those 68 backs in yards before contact per run.

Ultimately, Moss is probably just an average back, but Mixon has been no better than that for a couple of seasons.

Mixon finished below Moss in EPA per rush and was only slightly better in explosive run rate and negative run rate last year.

The most interesting part of this signing is what it means for second-year player Chase Brown, who got a look late in his rookie season.

Brown profiles as a more explosive back than Moss and would be much more interesting from a fantasy perspective if he earns the starting job, but this looks likely to be a timeshare as it stands.

Sam Darnold the answer in Minnesota?

With Kirk Cousins making the move to the Falcons, the Vikings are suddenly in need of a starting quarterback.

Sam Darnold will be part of that conversation after he signed a one-year, $10 million contract with Minnesota.

Darnold only threw 46 passes with the 49ers last season, but he did throw for 8.2 yards per attempt with 7 touchdowns and 3 interceptions over six starts with the Panthers the year before.

His 0.17 EPA per play over those six starts would have ranked 4th among quarterbacks if he had played enough snaps to qualify.

That said, there is a much longer history of Darnold not being good, as noted by Warren Sharp.

Is it likely Darnold will have a late-career resurgence and become even a Cousins-level quarterback?

No.

But at least there are some positive markers in his limited sample over the last two seasons. Those positive signs were certainly worth a dice roll given the Vikings’ current situation.

Austin Ekeler joins Commanders

A big day for running backs continues with Austin Ekeler joining the Commanders on a two-year, $11.4 million contract.

That yearly value comes in significantly lower than even Tony Pollard and D’Andre Swift and close to where Devin Singletary ended up.

Ekeler will be 29 in May and is coming off a down season, but that is still a surprisingly team-friendly deal for a player who scored 38 touchdowns combined in 2021 and 2022.

Rich Hribar analyzed Austin Ekeler’s fantasy value with Washington and the effect on Brian Robinson’s fantasy value. 

Giants trade for Brian Burns

Less than a year and a half after turning down an offer that included two first-round picks for Brian Burns, the Panthers are trading the edge rusher for significantly less.

The Panthers received a 2024 second-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick from the Giants in exchange for Burns, who agreed to a five-year, $150 million contract with New York.

For the Giants, they are getting a soon-to-be 26-year-old pass rusher who has averaged over nine sacks per season thus far in his career.

Burns finished 11th among all edge rushers in ESPN’s pass rush win rate last season, although his pressure rate has not been elite to this point in his career.

The Giants will add Burns to a defensive front that already has Dexter Lawrence and Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Saquon Barkley jumps to the Eagles

A busy day of running back signings continues.

Saquon Barkley is jumping to another team in the NFC East, agreeing to a three-year, $37.8 million contract with the Eagles.

As Warren Sharp notes, Barkley should find more running room in Philly.

Rich Hribar looks at Saquon Barkley’s fantasy value after joining the Eagles.

Josh Jacobs joins Packers

Unsurprisingly, Josh Jacobs‘ time with the Raiders is officially over.

Jacobs will reportedly join the Packers on a massive four-year, $48 million contract.

Rich Hribar broke down the fantasy football ramification for Josh Jacobs as well as what Zamir White’s role could look like with Jacobs no longer in Las Vegas. 

Justin Jefferson’s outlook without Cousins

With Kirk Cousins gone, Minnesota currently sits with only Jaren Hall, Nick Mullens, and Joshua Dobbs at quarterback.

That will certainly not be where things settle, but there is no clear upgrade to Cousins on the horizon, either.

That includes the draft capital Minnesota has access to at No. 11 overall.

Justin Jefferson has 585 career targets in the regular and postseason. 527 of them have come with Cousins on the field.

Jefferson splits with and without Cousins:

The good news is that Jefferson has found a way to production and spike weeks without Cousins.

That said, the loss of Cousins may be enough to split hairs between selecting Jefferson versus taking Tyreek Hill, CeeDee Lamb, or Ja’Marr Chase at the front of drafts at the position if we do not get a strong addition.

When Jefferson returned to a Cousins-less lineup last season, he ended those weeks as the WR63, WR22, WR7, WR34, and WR1 in overall scoring.

Without a strong addition, Jefferson will carry more weekly volatility and a lower weekly floor than at any point in his career.

The 2023 fantasy season was filled with elite talent who struggled to overcome subpar quarterback situations.

Ask fantasy gamers who rostered Davante Adams last season what that weekly life was like.

Kirk Cousins signs massive deal with Falcons

The Falcons have been in quarterback purgatory since the departure of Matt Ryan. They will hope they put an end to that this spring.

As had been rumored, Kirk Cousins signed with the Falcons on a four-year, $180 million contract, ending his tenure with the Vikings.

Warren Sharp broke down what the Cousins signing means for the Falcons moving forward.

Rich Hirbar dove deep on the fantasy implications for Cousins as well as Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts. 

Gardner Minshew gets $15 million guaranteed

There were short-lived rumors about the Raiders trading for Justin Fields, but they decided to sign Gardner Minshew to a two-year, $25 million contract.

That deal includes $15 million guaranteed, a good chunk of change that suggests Minshew has a strong chance to earn the starting job in Las Vegas.

As it stands, the Raiders have just Aidan O’Connell and Anthony Brown on the quarterback depth chart with Minshew.

While Minshew is not a high-end starter, he finished a solid enough 19th among 32 qualifying quarterbacks in EPA per play last season and had the Colts within striking distance of the playoffs.

He should be able to keep this offense afloat, but the Raiders should be looking to do better if possible.

Davante Adams fantasy managers would certainly appreciate it.

Gabe Davis lands with the Jaguars

With Calvin Ridley still unsigned, the Jaguars made a move to bolster their receiver room, signing Gabe Davis away from the Bills on a three-year, $39 million contract.

Davis was a complementary deep threat to Stefon Diggs in Buffalo, averaging nearly 15 air yards per target throughout his career.

That usage limited both his volume and efficiency.

Davis never saw more than 17% of the Bills targets in any season, and he averaged 1.41 yards per route run in Buffalo.

That average would have ranked 59th among qualifying WRs last season. Davis actually ranked 63rd in yards per route run in 2023 among that same group.

Nothing in Davis’ profile suggests he is a true No. 1 receiving option capable of earning a large target share, suggesting there is still a chance Ridley is brought back.

If not, the Jaguars will head into 2024 with a fairly high-priced duo of Davis and Christian Kirk that still leaves a lot to be desired.

Gus Edwards signs with Chargers

This just makes too much sense.

Jim Harbaugh‘s first official signing is the big, bruising running back Gus Edwards, who will reunite with former Ravens OC Greg Roman.

Even with current free agent Austin Ekeler leading the backfield, the Chargers have been desperate for a back like Edwards for several seasons.

Edwards was not as efficient last year, but he has averaged 4.9 yards per carry throughout his career.

He will not offer much in the passing game, but Edwards can be the early-down workhorse that Harbaugh and Roman almost certainly want.

That lack of receiving work will keep Edwards more of a touchdown-dependent fantasy option, especially if the Chargers bring back Ekeler or spend early draft capital on a running back.

Still, there is a path here for weekly fantasy value.

Patriots bring in Antonio Gibson

Antonio Gibson joining the Patriots will get lost among the bigger running back moves on the first day of free agency, but it is an interesting signing.

Gibson never lived up to the fantasy hype in Washington, but he quietly averaged nearly 1,100 yards from scrimmage over his four seasons with the Commanders.

He was also a solid enough receiver, averaging 1.3 yards per route run on nearly 1,000 routes in four seasons.

That receiving ability could be his calling card with the Patriots.

While Rhamondre Stevenson is still there and has caught 107 passes in 29 games over the last two seasons, he has been more of a check-down, emergency option than a true receiving threat.

Stevenson’s 4.7 yards per target ranks 47th among 66 qualified backs over the last two seasons.

Gibson ranks 15th among that group with 6.3 yards per target in a similarly difficult offensive situation.

It makes sense for Gibson to take on a bigger role in the passing game, something that is more likely to tank Stevenson’s fantasy value rather than give Gibson real standalone appeal in what is likely to be a lackluster Patriots offense.

Devin Singletary replaces Saquon in New York

With Saquon Barkley jumping to the division-rival Eagles, the Giants brought in Devin Singletary on a three-year, $16.5 million contract.

It is a reunion for Singletary, who played for Brian Daboll in Buffalo.

Singletary did not set the world on fire for the Texans last season, but he was clearly better than Dameon Pierce and gave the team some semblance of a running game later in the season.

Unfortunately, the Giants finished 31st in ESPN’s run block win rate last season, creating just 0.88 yards before contact on running back runs (29th).

The Giants did make a big move in signing OG Jon Runyan early in free agency, but Singletary does not appear to be headed to a better offensive situation than the one in Houston last year.

Rams spend big on offensive line

The Rams have spent big to upgrade their offensive line.

After re-signing Kevin Dotson to a three-year, $48 million extension, the Rams splashed more cash on Jonah Jackson, getting him from the Lions on a three-year, $51 million contract.

The Rams struggled in pass protection last season and were at best average as a run blocking unit.

Jackson comes with some injury concerns, but he should be an upgrade. Signing Jackson could also allow the Rams to move second-year player Steve Avila to center.

With Tyler Higbee recovering from a serious injury, the Rams also gave out a three-year, $22.5 million contract to Colby Parkinson.

After nailing nearly everything in their reset year in 2023, the Rams are building up for another run with Matthew Stafford.

Christian Wilkins lands with Raiders

One of the highest profile free agents available this spring, it is not a surprise Christian Wilkins landed a monster deal.

Wilkins signed a four-year, $110 million contract with the Raiders, setting up a great one-two punch with Maxx Crosby on the outside.

Even with Crosby, the Raiders were 18th in pressure rate last season.

Wilkins was 13th in ESPN’s pass rush win rate in 2023 and recorded nine sacks.

Especially if Tyree Wilson can take a step forward in his second season, the Raiders should create a lot more pressure in 2024.

Eagles give $51 million to Bryce Huff

The Eagles bolstered their pass rush with a three-year, $51 million deal with ex-Jets EDGE Bryce Huff.

Huff broke out in 2023, recording 10 sacks after just 7.5 combined over his first three years in the league.

That production was attached to an excellent 21.3% pressure rate, second among all players with at least 200 pass rush snaps, but Huff was still just a part-time player.

Will the Eagles ask him to be more given the investment? Can Huff keep up that production in a bigger role?

Those are still open questions, but Huff at least flashed high-end disruption in 2023.

Tony Pollard signs with Titans

In one of the more surprising moves of the early free agent period, Tony Pollard signed a three-year, $24 million contract with the Titans.

Rich Hribar breaks down the fantasy football implications for Pollard and Tyjae Spears as part of our fantasy football draft kit. 

Vikings sign EDGE Jonathan Greenard

With Danielle Hunter seemingly on his way out the door, the Vikings bolstered their pass rushing group by signing former Texans EDGE Jonathan Greenard to a four-year, $76 million deal.

Greenard did not quite match Hunter’s 16.5 sacks last season, but he pitched in 12.5 of his own in the final year of his rookie deal.

Greenard actually beat out Hunter in ESPN’s pass rush win rate, finishing sixth among all EDGE players in 2023.

Those 12.5 sacks last season represent more than half of his career total, and the 15 games he managed last year were a career-high.

Those are certainly concerns, but Greenard appears to be trending the right way heading into what should be the prime of his career.

D’Andre Swift lands with the Bears

The first running back domino has fallen in the 2024 free agent class.

D’Andre Swift is heading back to the NFC North after agreeing to a three-year, $24.5 million contract with the Bears.

Swift finally saw extended usage with the Eagles last season, and he delivered with 1,263 yards from scrimmage and six total touchdowns.

From a fantasy perspective, Swift was just the RB24 in half-PPR per-game scoring thanks in large part to his lack of touchdown equity playing with Jalen Hurts.

That was something of an issue for the Bears last season with Justin Fields finishing sixth in goal-to-go rushes (8) among quarterbacks despite playing in just 13 games.

Of course, Fields is not expected to be back with the Bears next season, but expected No. 1 pick Caleb Williams had seven rushing touchdowns from inside of the five-yard line at USC last year.

While touchdowns could remain a concern for Swift, he is headed into what was a good situation for running backs in 2023.

The Bears finished seventh in yards before contact per rush on RB runs last season and second in ESPN’s run block win rate despite facing a lot of loaded boxes.

That success does raise questions about how much the Bears really needed Swift, but at worst he should be a plus in the passing game.

Last year, the Bears ranked 31st when targeting RBs in both yards per attempt (4.4) and success rate (31%).

Swift’s yards per target did fall back to 4.4 with the Eagles last season, but he averaged 5.8 yards per target in 40 games with the Lions.

Russell Wilson signs with Steelers

It has not been a strong run for Russell Wilson over the last two seasons.

Even so, there was never any doubt he would find a new home in free agency, and it turns out that home will be in Pittsburgh.

Wilson signed a one-year, team-friendly deal with the Steelers, highlighting how far his star has fallen, but he is still the strong favorite to start over Kenny Pickett in 2024.

Is that a good thing for the Steelers?

It could be a great thing for George Pickens given where Wilson was willing to throw the ball last season, but Russ comes with serious questions.

Stuck in quarterback purgatory for several seasons, the Steelers needed to try something. Unlike the Broncos, bringing in Wilson will not destroy the Steelers’ salary cap and draft capital for years to come.

Still, it is more than fair to be skeptical about Wilson’s ability to elevate this team.

Tee Higgins requests trade

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that franchise-tagged Bengals WR Tee Higgins has requested a trade.

According to Schefter, Higgins is “disappointed” the Bengals have not discussed a long-term extension with him “since March 2023.”

What was once a strong receiver class looks thinner with Higgins and Michael Pittman Jr. franchise tagged and Mike Evans back in Tampa.

That would suggest a strong market for Higgins, but the incoming rookie class is loaded with talent.

As Warren Sharp noted, keeping Higgins may not be that big a concern for Joe Burrow.

Baker Mayfield re-signs with the Bucs

As was expected all offseason, Baker Mayfield will be staying in Tampa Bay.

The quarterback signed a three-year, $100 million extension on the eve of free agency. The deal includes $50 million in guaranteed money.

Warren Sharp outlined why Mayfield’s 2023 season might not have been as good as it looked on the surface.

Click here for his in-depth reaction to Baker Mayfield re-signing with the Bucs.

Mac Jones traded to Jaguars

The writing has been on the wall for Mac Jones in New England for several months, and he is now officially out the door.

The Jaguars traded a sixth-round pick in this year’s NFL Draft for the former No. 15 overall pick, reuniting him with 2021 classmate Trevor Lawrence.

Jacksonville almost certainly views Jones as a capable backup for Lawrence rather than competition, something that is needed given how much time quarterbacks missed around the league last year, but it is notable Lawrence did not make any major strides himself last season.

And as Warren Sharp noted, Lawrence has a lackluster record when not receiving any help from his defense.

Notable pre free agency signings

The franchise tag was receiver and defense-heavy this season.

Here is the full list of franchise-tagged players for the 2024 NFL season:

• Tee Higgins, WR, Bengals
• Michael Pittman Jr, WR, Colts
• Josh Allen, EDGE, Jaguars
• Brian Burns, EDGE, Panthers
• Justin Madubuike, DT, Ravens
• Jaylon Johnson, CB, Bears
• L’Jarius Sneed, CB, Chiefs
• Antoine Winfield Jr, S, Bucs
• Kyle Dugger, S, Patriots (transition tag)

A few of those franchise players have already signed long-term deals.

The Colts made it clear they planned to keep Michael Pittman Jr. around, and they did just that with a three-year, $70 million extension just before the open of free agency.

Pittman easily paced the Colts with 156 targets a season ago, the ninth-most in the league last year.

Now re-signed, Pittman will be the No. 1 target for Anthony Richardson, which could help him unlock a fantasy ceiling we have not seen to this point in his career.

Pittman was less efficient with the rookie quarterback last year, but he averaged two full air yards more per target with Richardson under center.

If Richardson continues to develop as a passer, Pittman could become less reliant on volume for fantasy points.

Coming off a second-team All-Pro season, Jaylon Johnson earned a four-year, $76 million contract extension from the Bears including $54 million guaranteed.

He was a major part of an underrated Bears defense that finished 12th in yards per attempt allowed and 15th in defensive EPA per dropback.

That Bears secondary also added Kevin Byard on a two-year, $15 million contract. The 30-year-old might not be the same All-Pro he was at times in Tennessee, but he is another strong addition to a blossoming Bears roster.

Justin Madubuike also earned a massive deal with his play last season, signing a four-year, $98 million contract that includes $75.5 million guaranteed.

Madubuike broke out for 13 sacks in 2023 on his way to second-team All-Pro honors.

The top of the defensive line market took another hit when the Chiefs re-signed Chris Jones to a five-year, $160 million contract that includes $95 million guaranteed.

An All-Pro in five of the last six seasons, Jones is a major factor in the Chiefs’ recent run of excellence. He has 26 sacks over the last two seasons.

The Chiefs also re-signed Drue Tranquill to a three-year, $19 million contract as they look to keep their excellent 2023 defense together for another year.

On the offensive side of the ball, Mike Evans did not draw a franchise tag like Higgins and Pittman, but he will be staying in Tampa Bay with a two-year, $41 million contract.

Perhaps the most underrated receiver in the league over the last decade, Evans has topped 1,000 yards receiving in each of his 10 seasons in the league, and he bounced back with 13 touchdowns last year.

Baker Mayfield has also re-signed in Tampa, as noted above.

With Mayfield throwing all but two of the Bucs’ passes last season, Evans had a team-high 24.7% target share and averaged 0.4 EPA per target, which was the 17th-best mark among 80 receivers with at least 50 targets.

Kendrick Bourne will remain in New England after signing a three-year, $19.5 million contract on the eve of free agency.

Bourne was on his way to a career-best season with a 37-406-4 line through eight games, but a torn ACL cut his season short.

Bourne is not the No. 1 receiver option the Patriots desperately need, but he can play a supporting role for whoever lines up under center in New England in 2024.

An already thin tight end market got even thinner before free agency opened.

Dalton Schultz re-signed with the Texans for three years and $36 million, and Hunter Henry re-signed with the Patriots for three years and $30 million.