National Football League

2024 NFL free-agency grades: Evaluating every major signing so far

Updated Mar. 20, 2024 10:53 a.m. ET

FOX Sports NFL Staff

The start of a new NFL league year is upon us, and the free-agent market has been dizzying.

[2024 NFL free-agency tracker: Signings, best players available]

Players are cashing in as teams reinforce their ranks, and a reshaped league will soon turn its attention to the April 25 NFL Draft. The FOX Sports NFL crew evaluates the biggest signings of this year's free agency class and grades each move. Players are listed according to their rank in FOX Sports' top 50 free agent list.

DT Chris Jones (Chiefs)

2023 stats: 16 games played, 10.5 sacks, 29 QB hits, 30 total tackles
Reported terms: Five years, $158.75 million ($101 million guaranteed)

Henry McKenna: Chris Jones is the type of player every team is currently seeking. He doesn't play a flashy position, but when he's at his best, he's just as essential to the Chiefs as Travis Kelce, if not more so. Jones is a disruptive interior rusher who also plays well against the run. That makes him a three-down threat perfectly designed to help defenses win in the modern era. He makes life difficult for Josh Allen, Tua Tagovailoa and Brock Purdy. Yes, Kansas City paid top-dollar for Jones. But when you have one of the NFL's best players in a system in which he thrives, why would you create a massive problem by letting him walk? The Chiefs chose a simple, expensive solution. In this case, it's the right one.

Grade: A

QB Kirk Cousins (Falcons)

2023 stats: 2,331 yards, 18 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 103.8 passer rating (eight games)
Reported terms: Four years, $180 million ($100 million guaranteed)
Previous team: Vikings

Greg Auman: The Falcons badly needed an upgrade at quarterback, and they got the best one in this year's free-agent class in Kirk Cousins. He addresses the position in the opposite way Atlanta did last summer. If there's a gripe, it's paying $100 million guaranteed over the next two years for a 35-year-old coming off an Achilles tear who only made $35 million last year. The drop-off from Cousins to other QB options was dramatic, and the Falcons paid to avoid that. It sets them up with every expectation of making the playoffs in head coach Raheem Morris' first year.

Grade: B

Dave Helman and Greg Auman break down all the QB movement

DT Christian Wilkins (Raiders)

2023 stats: 65 total tackles, nine sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries
Reported terms: Four years, $110 million ($84.75 million guaranteed)
Previous team: Dolphins

McKenna: The Raiders must be a little confused about how close they are to contention. They've thrown a bag at a defensive tackle when they are anything but settled at quarterback. Don't get me wrong, it's always good to have good players. But they were slightly surprising suitors for Wilkins with this four-year, $110 million deal. He will make Las Vegas' defense better; it's a step in the right direction. It's just that there are so many priorities on the other side of the ball that the Raiders need to address. It makes me think Vegas has big plans for the offseason.

Grade: B-

DE Danielle Hunter (Texans)

2023 stats: 16.5 sacks, 83 tackles, 23 tackles for loss
Reported terms: Two years, $49 million
Previous team: Vikings

Ben Arthur: I like this deal for the Texans because they’re giving Hunter a fair, premium deal for pass rushers of his age and production, but it’s short enough to where they’re maximizing what’s left of his prime years. They'll be able to move on in the 2026 offseason, when Hunter will be approaching his age-31 season. On paper, Houston now has a nasty edge-rushing tandem with Hunter and Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr. in a revamped defensive front. The Texans have lost edge rusher Jonathan Greenard and linebacker Blake Cashman, but they've added veteran defensive linemen Denico Autry (11.5 sacks with the Titans last season) and linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (fifth in the NFL with 163 tackles in 2023) in addition to Hunter, who made his fourth Pro Bowl last season. General manager Nick Caserio is aggressively building the defense, looking to take advantage of the Texans' contention window, which is now open thanks to quarterback C.J. Stroud. This contract for Hunter was the right one to make.

Grade: A

QB Baker Mayfield (Buccaneers)

2023 stats: 64.3 completion percentage, 4,044 passing yards, 28 passing TDs, 10 interceptions, one rushing TD, 94.6 passer rating
Reported terms: Three years, $100 million ($50 million guaranteed)

Greg Auman: The Bucs' priority this offseason was to keep their core intact, which meant bringing back three of the league's top 15 free agents. They've done that, putting the franchise tag on Antoine Winfield and getting Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield locked up on multi-year extensions. This is a well-deserved raise for Mayfield after a career year — think of it as a two-year, $60 million deal that gives Mayfield two seasons to show he's worth keeping on a $40 million salary in 2026. To get all three players back before free agency begins — without overspending — is commendable for the Bucs.

Grade: A

Why Baker Mayfield's deal is proof of maturity and growth

WR Michael Pittman Jr. (Colts)

2023 stats: 109 receptions for 1,152 yards and 4 TDs
Reported terms: Three years, $70 million ($46 million guaranteed)

Ben Arthur: This was a no-brainer for the Colts, who had franchise-tagged Pittman. The veteran wideout is Indianapolis' only proven pass-catcher (he has been the Colts' leading receiver for the past three seasons), and the team needs as many of those as possible for quarterback Anthony Richardson, who missed most of his rookie season with a shoulder injury. At $23.3 million in average annual value, Pittman's contract slots at eighth-highest among wide receivers, according to SpoTrac, representing good value for the Colts. A strong deal for both sides.

Grade: A

RB Josh Jacobs (Packers)

2023 stats: 805 rushing yards, 3.5 yards per carry, six rushing touchdowns
Reported terms: Four years, $48 million
Previous team: Raiders

Vitali: The Packers are still a young team. It's why they added the best running back on the free-agent market in Josh Jacobs on Monday. It isn't like the Pack to be aggressive in free agency, but with Aaron Jones set to be released, Jordan Love needed someone to lean on in the backfield. The team tried to trade for Jonathan Taylor last season, but that didn't materialize and he re-signed in Indianapolis. The Packers also tried to rework Jones' deal up until Monday afternoon. They'll probably pursue another, lower-cost running back or add through the draft so Matt LaFleur has a solid run game to incorporate into his versatile offense. The move also allows Green Bay to keep pace in what is becoming one of the NFL's toughest divisions.

Grade: A

LB Patrick Queen (Steelers)

2023 stats: 133 combined tackles, 3.5 sacks, one interception, one forced fumble
Reported terms: Three years, $41 million
Previous team: Ravens

Arthur: The Steelers grab Queen at good value. The reported deal is just over $13.6 million in average annual value, which leads all inside linebackers during this free-agent cycle but slots outside the top five in the league overall, according to SpoTrac. So Pittsburgh isn’t breaking the bank for a player who’s a significant upgrade to what it had previously at the position. Queen hasn’t missed a game in his career and is coming off his first Pro Bowl season. He’ll get to play the Ravens, his former team, twice a year, which is surely a win for him as well.

Grade: A-

DT Leonard Williams (Seahawks)

2023 stats: 5.5 sacks, 62 tackles, 16 QB hits, 10 TFLs
Reported terms: Three years, $64.5 million

Williams: The Seahawks keep their best interior defensive lineman with a three-year deal worth $64.5 million, according to NFL Network. Acquired for a second-round pick in a midseason trade with the Giants, Williams finished with four sacks and 41 combined tackles — including nine tackles for loss — in 10 games for the Seahawks last season. He now becomes a foundational piece moving forward for new head coach Mike Macdonald’s revamped defense.

Grade: B+

LT Tyron Smith (Jets)

2023 stats: 13 starts
Reported terms: One year, $20 million ($6.5 million guaranteed)
Previous team: Cowboys

McKenna: With Tyron Smith, left guard John Simpson and right tackle Morgan Moses, the Jets have set themselves up to have three new starters on the offensive line. But there is no higher risk and higher reward signing than Smith. The 33-year-old eight-time Pro Bowler will be a solid Hall of Fame candidate someday, but he also has an injury history. That’s why New York built his deal with heavy incentives. It’s hard to say all this O-line turnover will work for the Jets, but they now have a starting-caliber player at every position. Before knocking off their to-do list, they seemed to need to draft a tackle in the first round. And though there should be value there at No. 10 overall, New York's offensive-line acquisitions create flexibility to take the best available player.

Grade: A-

RB Saquon Barkley (Eagles)

2023 stats: 962 rushing yards, 3.9 yards per carry, 6 rushing touchdowns; 41 receptions, 280 yards, 4 receiving touchdowns
Reported terms: Three years, $37.75 million (potentially up to 46.75); $26.75 million guaranteed.
Previous team: Giants

It will hurt the Giants to see their best and most popular player in Eagles green, but this was a marriage that seemed inevitable. It's not that the Giants didn't see Barkley's value, but considering the state of their offensive line and all their needs, they knew they couldn't devote big money (and cap space) to a RB. But the Eagles could.

They've got the line, the quarterback and the offensive weapons to use Barkley like the versatile playmaker he is. He and QB Jalen Hurts will make for an incredibly dangerous rushing tandem, and it's a good bet they'll use Barkley as a receiver more than the Giants have done since he was a rookie. GM Howie Roseman has pursued big-name, expensive RBs before, but he's usually gone the bargain route at this position. Not this time, and not for a player who could help make the Eagles Super Bowl contenders again.

Grade: A

Will the Eagles regret signing Saquon Barkley?

CB Kendall Fuller (Dolphins)

2023 stats: 79 total tackles, two interceptions, nine passes defended
Reported terms: Two years, $16.5 million
Former team: Commanders

McKenna: Fuller will serve as the replacement for Xavien Howard, who was released as one of the team’s salary cap casualties. Though he was one of the top free agents on the market, Fuller comes at a reasonable price: $16.5 million over two years. That’s well worth it to help the defense get the most out of Jalen Ramsey’s versatility. It also buys another year for Cam Smith, a second-round pick last year who didn’t immediately blossom into a contributor.

Grade: A-

G Robert Hunt (Panthers)

2023 stats: 11 games played
Reported terms: Five years, $100 million
Previous team: Dolphins

Auman: Carolina had an absolute priority to improve the protection up front for Bryce Young, and signing Hunt does that in convincing fashion. The market for guards went crazy on Monday, so $20 million per year is a lot, but it's a major first step to building a solid line, and the Panthers aren't done. Now they need to find a No. 1 receiver for Young, and probably a tight end as well.

Grade: B+

WR Calvin Ridley (Titans)

2023 stats: 76 receptions, 1,016 receiving yards, eight touchdowns
Reported terms: Four years, up to $92 million ($50 million guaranteed)
Former team: Jaguars

Arthur: The Titans are overpaying Ridley, but they need to know if quarterback Will Levis is their guy long-term, so I can’t really fault them here. And anyway, if Ridley is a hit, no one in Tennessee is going to fret about the money. Drops were an issue for him in his lone season with the Jags, but putting up more than 1,000 yards receiving and eight touchdowns after missing nearly two seasons is very impressive. It makes one think about what is possible for Ridley in 2024, with the rust knocked off and playing opposite of DeAndre Hopkins. The upside is tantalizing.

Grade: B-

G Jonah Jackson (Rams)

2023 stats: 12 games started
Reported terms: Three years, $51 million ($34 million guaranteed)
Previous team: Lions

Eric D. Williams: Jackson is coming back from a season-ending knee injury, so health could be an issue. But keeping Matthew Stafford upright remains a top priority for the Rams. And with Jackson in the fold, they could move second-year pro Steven Avila from left guard to center.

DE Leonard Floyd (49ers)

2023 stats: 10.5 sacks, 19 QB hits, 9 TFLs
Reported terms: Two years, $20 million
Previous team: Bills

Williams: The 49ers find a player who can deliver a more consistent pass rush opposite Nick Bosa in Floyd, who returns to the NFC West. Floyd played three seasons for the Rams, with whom he compiled 29 sacks while playing alongside Aaron Donald. The Georgia product also reunites with former Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, who recently joined San Francisco's coaching staff.

Grade: A-

OL Kevin Zeitler (Lions)

2023 stats: 15 games, first Pro Bowl
Reported terms: One year, $6 million
Former team: Ravens

Vitali: If you thought general manager Brad Holmes was content to risk a position in the trenches, especially on the line protecting Jared Goff, you were sorely mistaken. On March 18, the Lions nabbed one of the best free-agent guards on the market in former Raven Kevin Zeitler, signing him to a one-year deal with a reported base value of $6 million. The 12-year veteran made his first Pro Bowl last season, when he ranked second in PFF's pass-blocking grades. By the way, he's also the offensive lineman who went viral for doing pass sets in his wife's delivery room. Sounds like a Dan Campbell guy to me.

Grade: A-

Edge rusher Bryce Huff (Eagles)

2023 stats: 10 sacks, 33 pressures, 29 total tackles
Reported terms: Three years, $51.1 million
Previous team: Jets

Ralph Vacchiano: The Eagles' pass rush took a big step back last season, so an upgrade at edge rusher was inevitable. And in Huff, a 25-year-old former undrafted free agent, they got a strong one who had 10 sacks last year despite playing less than half of the Jets' defensive snaps. He's more of a pass-rush specialist than a three-down player, but he still led the NFL in pressure rate each of the past two seasons, per Next Gen Stats. That could be great for Philly, though it depends on what the Eagles do next. They are open to trading Haason Reddick, Josh Sweat or both. A Huff-Reddick edge tandem looks dangerous — but only if the Eagles don't break it up.

Grade: B+

DT D.J. Reader (Lions)

2023 stats: 34 total tackles, 1.0 sack, one fumble recovery
Reported terms: Two years, $27.25 million ($9 million guaranteed)
Former team: Bengals

Vitali: The Lions’ defensive line is scary. They already had a double-digit sack guy in Aidan Hutchinson, who is also only coming off his second season. They went out in free agency and bet on a healthy Marcus Davenport to play opposite Hutch. What’s the best way to make sure you get the most out of those two? Get a bad-ass interior rotation. Mission accomplished now that Detroit signed one of the best defensive tackles on the market in Reader — and for only $9 million in guarantees. He now leads a group that already included under-the-radar people mover Alim McNeill. All of a sudden, Detroit's defense is set on every level to contend with one of the toughest divisions in the league as the Lions try to finish what they started in 2023 and get to a Super Bowl.

Grade: A

DE Chase Young (Saints)

2023 stats: 25 total tackles, 7.5 sacks, 15 QB hits
Reported terms: One year, $13 million
Former teams: 49ers, Commanders

Auman: The cap-strapped Saints had to lie low early in free agency, but this is an impact signing at a position of need. Can Young stay healthy and produce more than 7.5 sacks? The contract reportedly includes nearly $8 million in per-game roster bonuses, so the deal’s cap impact appears to be entirely contained to 2024. That's impressive for a Saints team very limited in its cap flexibility.

Grade: B-

RB Derrick Henry (Ravens)

2023 stats: 1,167 rushing yards, 4.2 yards per carry, 12 rushing touchdowns
Reported terms: Two years, $16 million ($9 million guaranteed)
Previous team: Titans

Arthur: This is a home run move for the Ravens. At age 30, Henry is not who he was just a couple years ago, but he’s still a dominant, top-five running back. And pairing him with two-time league MVP Lamar Jackson gives Baltimore the NFL’s most imposing rushing attack, and potentially one of the most fascinating in league history. This is a move that says the Ravens, after falling in the AFC title game last season, are serious about Super Bowl contention. Given Henry’s age and the tread on his tires, the reported terms are reasonable from Baltimore’s perspective. The average annual value ranks below that of Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs, who’ve agreed to terms with the Eagles and the Packers, respectively.

Grade: A

Colin Cowherd reacts to Derrick Henry deal with Ravens

OT/OG Michael Onwenu (Patriots)

2023 stats: 15 games played
Reported terms: Three years, $57 million ($38 million guaranteed)

McKenna: Bill Belichick consistently called Michael Onwenu one of the Patriots' best players. And so it came as no surprise when de-facto general manager Eliot Wolf called Onwenu a "core player." New England can’t lose its talented offensive players when the unit has so few. Onwenu appears worth the money, in large part because his protection (at guard or tackle) will play a major role in the development of the Patriots' next quarterback. He is the fifth-highest-paid guard or the ninth-highest-paid tackle. It’s a huge deal at $19 million per year. But it’s a risk they had to take.

Grade: B

RB Austin Ekeler (Commanders)

2023 stats: 628 rushing yards and five TDs on 3.5 yards per carry, 436 receiving yards
Reported terms: Two years, $11.43 million
Previous team: Chargers

Williams: Ekeler, who turns 29 in May, averaged a career-low 3.5 yards per carry and finished with just six total touchdowns in 2023. He now reunites with Washington run game coordinator Anthony Lynn, who served as Chargers head coach when the team signed Ekeler as an undrafted rookie in 2017. New Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury will work to get the most out of Ekeler in the upcoming season.

Grade: B-

WR Marquise Brown (Chiefs)

2023 stats: 51 receptions, 574 yards, 4 touchdowns
Reported terms: One-year, $11 million
Former team: Cardinals

Williams: Brown signing with the Chiefs is a great move for both the player and the team. Kansas City’s problems with receivers dropping the ball were well-documented last season, and yet Patrick Mahomes and a stingy defense still propelled the Chiefs to a second straight Super Bowl win. In the 26-year-old Brown, the Chiefs get a young, speedy receiver who can take the top off a defense. In 14 games last season, he had 51 receptions for 574 yards and four touchdowns, with just one drop. The only problem with Brown has been staying on the field, as he missed eight games over his two seasons in Arizona due to injuries.

Grade: A-

RB Tony Pollard (Titans)

2023 stats: 252 carries for 1,005 yards and 6 TDs
Reported terms: Three years, $24 million
Previous team: Cowboys

Ben Arthur: Pollard's expected signing shuts out the possibility of a Derrick Henry return to the Titans. The former Cowboy will pair with second-year running back Tyjae Spears to form new coach Brian Callahan's 1-2 punch out of the backfield. The cash flow in Pollard's deal is unknown. That will be critical for giving a succinct evaluation of the contract from the Titans' perspective. But on paper, assuming reasonable outs, I believe this is a solid deal for Tennessee. An $8 million AAV appears to be the going rate for the second class of running backs (D'Andre Swift agreed to a similar deal with the Bears). And with Spears showing last season that he can take on a bigger role, the Titans didn't need to give Henry a top-market deal. Pollard also brings pass-catching value at running back, a premium asset for Callahan.

Grade: B-

Dave Helman and Greg Auman pick winners and head-scratchers

OT Jonah Williams (Cardinals)

2023 stats: 17 starts in 17 games
Reported deal: Two-years, $30 million ($19 million guaranteed)
Former team: Bengals

Williams: The Cardinals released veteran left tackle D.J. Humphries, who suffered an ACL injury at the end of last season. Williams is his potential replacement. The former Bengal moved to right tackle in 2023 when Cincinnati brought in Orlando Brown Jr. to play left tackle. Arizona played first-round selection Paris Johnson Jr. at right tackle last season and now has the option of moving the Ohio State product to the left side or playing Williams there. The 26-year-old Williams has played both tackle positions, started all 17 regular-season games for the Bengals last season and didn't miss an offensive snap.

Grade: B+

S Kamren Curl (Rams)

2023 stats: 115 tackles, 5 passes defended, 1 forced fumble
Reported deal: Two years, $13 million
Former team: Commanders

Williams: The Rams lost starting safeties Jordan Fuller and John Johnson to free agency, so they needed a starting-caliber player with experience to help patrol the back end defensively. More of an in-the-box safety, the 24-year-old Curl has been reliable in terms of his availability, playing at least 700 snaps in each of his four seasons with Washington. Curl has only three career interceptions, but he should help improve a Los Angeles run defense that allowed 4.2 yards per carry last season, No. 17 in the NFL.

Grade: B

LB Lavonte David (Buccaneers)

2023 stats: 134 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 17 TFLs
Reported terms: One year, $9 million

Auman: The Bucs are now 5-for-5 in bringing back their top free agents, following a franchise tag for Antoine Winfield and new deals for Baker Mayfield, Mike Evans and Chase McLaughlin. GM Jason Licht joked at the combine that if he could get all of those and Tristan Wirfs (playing on his fifth-year option) done, they should throw another boat parade to celebrate. Tampa Bay has the core of its three straight division title teams back for another run in 2024, and the ageless David is rightfully at the center of that. Here's to earning a raise at age 34 at a position where most of your peers are long retired.

Grade: A

S Geno Stone (Bengals)

2023 stats: 68 total tackles and seven interceptions
Reported terms: Two years, $15 million
Previous team: Ravens

McKenna: The Bengals astonished me with this signing. Not because Geno Stone isn’t a fit. He is. He’s a plug-and-play defender. He’s 24 and he had seven interceptions for the Ravens in 2024. He’ll make an impact on their defense — and for the healthy price of $15 million over two years. That’s the reality of the safety market in 2024. But it’s a credit to Cincy that it landed one of the top safeties, a player who is much less of a projection than other options such as Alohi Gilman and Kamren Curl.

Grade: B+

Edge Josh Uche (Patriots)

2023 stats: 15 combined tackles, three sacks
Reported terms: One year, $3 million

McKenna: Uche returned to the Patriots for a one-year deal. I thought he’d want to head elsewhere, but he took less money to stay in New England, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. Uche has always spoken highly of Jerod Mayo, New England's new head coach. So this signing seems to be a testament to his appreciation for Mayo. Over the past two years, we’ve seen the good and the … mediocre from Uche. He had a terrific year when he worked opposite Matthew Judon in 2022, but when Judon went down with an injury in 2023, Uche’s production nosedived. The incentive structure in this deal reflects that volatility and is extremely team-friendly: a base of $3 million and upside upward of $8 million, per MMQB’s Albert Breer.

Grade: A

LB Frankie Luvu (Commanders)

2023 stats: 125 total tackles and 5.5 sacks
Reported terms: Three years, $36 million
Previous team: Panthers

McKenna: Frankie Luvu isn’t your average inside linebacker. On top of racking up more than 100 tackles per year, he can rush the passer, which is why his contract value is upward of $12 million per year. He'll now be getting paid to be as versatile in Washington, but there is evidence he can find production in different systems. He totaled seven sacks in 2022 under DC Phil Snow and then 5.5 sacks in 2023 under DC Ejiro Evero. I suspect that new Commanders coach Dan Quinn can figure out what to do with Luvu.

Grade: B+

Dave Helman and Ralph Vacchiano analyze the NFC East moves

OT Trent Brown (Bengals)

2023 stats: 11 games, 8 starts
Reported terms: One year
Previous team: Patriots

Auman: With Jonah Williams going to Arizona in free agency, the Bengals now have massive tackles to bookend their line, with 6-foot-8, 370-pound Trent Brown playing opposite 6-foot-8, 345-pound Orlando Brown. The question is whether Trent can stay healthy — he has played more than 11 games just once in the past five seasons and turns 31 in April. PFF had him as the No. 11 tackle in football last year, considerably higher than Williams, who ranked 59th.

Grade: B

S Xavier McKinney (Packers)

2023 stats: 116 total tackles, 3 interceptions, 11 passes defended
Reported terms: Four years, $68 million
Previous team: Giants

Vitali: The Packers have a new No. 1 safety after letting Darnell Savage walk in free agency. Green Bay signed McKinney, the top player available at the position, to a blockbuster deal worth a reported $68 million over four years, including $25 million in year one, according to NFL Network. McKinney, who at age 24 fits right in with the youngest team in the league, now leads a Green Bay secondary alongside cornerback Jaire Alexander, two of the highest-paid players at their respective positions. Diana Russini of The Athletic reported that the Eagles were also in on McKinney, but Green Bay got the deal done.

Grade: A-

Edge rusher Jonathan Greenard (Vikings)

2023 stats: 12.5 sacks, 22 QB hits, 52 total tackles
Reported terms: Four years, $76 million, $42 million guaranteed
Previous team: Texans

Vitali: Minnesota is making contingency plans for the likely departure of Danielle Hunter and maybe even DJ Wonnum. Greenard tallied 12.5 sacks last season in Houston and was top-five in the league in pressure rate from Weeks 8-16, according to Next Gen Stats. It was a major jump from the prior year, in which he had just 1.5 sacks. He'll play under yet another defensive mastermind in Minnesota, though. Brian Flores should be able to help Greenard maintain his 2023 level of production and if he does, the Vikings just signed a double-digit sack player for less than $20 million per year.

Grade: A

QB Russell Wilson (Steelers)

2023 stats: 66.4% completion percentage, 3,070 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 98.0 passer rating, 45 sacks taken
Reported terms: One year, NFL minimum (Broncos paying an additional $38 million)
Previous team: Broncos

McKenna: When a team gets a starting quarterback for the veteran minimum, that team is generally a winner in the deal. With the Broncos still on the hook to pay Wilson, Pittsburgh can get away with a tiny contract for the guy they expect to be their starting QB. And if Russ can be That Guy again, the Steelers might be Super Bowl contenders. But you can ask the Jets how badly it can go when adding a declining Super Bowl winner with hopes of plugging and playing that QB. Pittsburgh would be wise to think about the future at the quarterback position beyond Wilson (and, in my opinion, beyond Kenny Pickett).

Grade: B

Can Russell Wilson, Steelers find success together?

DT Arik Armstead (Jaguars)

2023 stats: 27 tackles, 5.0 sacks, four tackles for loss
Reported terms: Three years, $51 million
Former team: 49ers

Arthur: After fumbling on Calvin Ridley, Jaguars general manager Trent Baalke made a splash move with Armstead, whom he drafted for the 49ers in 2015. One of the league’s better defensive tackles for years, Armstead joins what’s becoming an imposing Jacksonville defensive line under new coordinator Ryan Nielsen (a defensive line specialist) with Josh Allen and Travon Walker, who combined for 27.5 sacks last season. The exact terms of Armstead’s agreement with the Jags weren't immediately known, and too much guaranteed money here could bite Jacksonville. Armstead will be 31 in November, and he has disappointed the past two seasons. He missed a total of 13 games in 2022-23 and accumulated just five sacks and six tackles for loss. Still, this was a needed move for the Jags.

Grade: B-

Gabe Davis, WR, Jaguars

2023 stats: 45 receptions for 746 yards and 7 TDs
Reported terms: Three years, $39 million ($11 million at signing)

Arthur: Assuming the Jaguars can retain Calvin Ridley, Davis slots in as Jacksonville's No. 3 receiver. If Ridley leaves, Davis becomes WR2. Whichever way you look at it, the contract represents strong value for the Jags, who need wide receiver help. With a dearth of elite talent in the receiver market this year, Davis was pegged as a player who could get a massive payday, perhaps north of $18 million per year. So the reported terms ($13M AAV) are reasonable for Jacksonville. Davis gives Doug Pederson's offense more speed and a playmaker who can take the top off of a defense. His 16.6 yards per reception was sixth-highest in the NFL last season.

Grade: B+

RB Antonio Gibson (Patriots)

2023 stats: 265 rushing yards, 4.1 yards per carry, 48 receptions for 389 yards
Reported terms: Three years
Previous team: Commanders

McKenna: The hubbub around Boston was that the Patriots had big plans for free agency. Their first move? Antonio Gibson. I mean … yeah, OK, fine, Gibson is a solid pass-catching running back. For the most part, he is a third-down role player. And he'll be a boon to whichever rookie QB the Patriots draft. I get it — free agency is just getting started. But with all that cap space, the Patriots delivered a major anticlimax with Gibson as the team's first splash in the tampering window.

Grade: C+

S Kevin Byard (Bears)

2023 stats: 16 games played, 122 tackles, 1 interception, 102.1 passer rating allowed when targeted
Reported terms: Two years, $15 million
Previous teams: Titans, Eagles

Carmen Vitali: The Bears let Pro Bowl safety Eddie Jackson go, but with a young secondary, they still needed a veteran presence. They've accomplished that by signing Byard, who at 30 is the same age as Jackson but comes at a discount. With his ability to come downhill and make tackles, Byard looks like a good scheme fit with what Matt Eberflus has done with this defense. Byard has three straight seasons with triple-digit tackles and, despite spending time with two teams last year, it doesn't seem like he's slowing down. Chicago got a fair price of $7.5 million per year in annual contract value.

Grade: B

RB D'Andre Swift (Bears)

2023 stats: 1,049 rushing yards, 4.6 yards per carry, five rushing touchdowns, 39 receptions, 214 receiving yards
Reported terms: Three years, $24.5 million with $15.3 million guaranteed
Previous team: Eagles

Vitali: The molding of Shane Waldron's offense has begun in Chicago after the Bears agreed to terms with running back D'Andre Swift. With the Eagles last season, he had his best year as a pro, rushing for 1,049 yards and five touchdowns, though his receiving output has dropped incrementally over the past three seasons. Swift will be paired with running back Khalil Herbert in Chicago's backfield as the Bears undoubtedly place more of an emphasis on play-action under new OC Waldron. But even with the tandem, Chicago still lacks diversity in the backfield and will be paying Swift more than $8 million per year.

Grade: C

WR Kendrick Bourne (Patriots)

2023 stats: 37 receptions, 406 yards, four touchdowns
Reported terms: Three years, $19.5 million (max value $33 million)

McKenna: When Kendrick Bourne said he wanted to return to the Patriots, I wasn't sure whether to believe him. What else is he supposed to say? But he put his money where his mouth is. Before Bourne could hit free agency, the two sides agreed to a three-year, $19.5 million deal with a maximum value of $33 million. When we look under the hood of that deal, I imagine we'll see performance incentives and play-time bonuses. The Patriots have likely mitigated their risk on a receiver coming off an ACL tear. Bourne has likely taken the bigger risk with a new regime in an organization that hasn't exactly treated him fairly.

Grade: B+

Edge rusher Marcus Davenport (Lions)

2023 stats: 2 sacks, 7 total tackles in four games.
Reported terms: One-year contract
Previous team: Vikings

Injuries prevented Marcus Davenport from realizing his full potential in Brian Flores' defense with the Vikings, but he should be fully healthy for 2024. At least, that's what the Detroit Lions are hoping for. Davenport inked a one-year deal with the Lions, reuniting him with Aaron Glenn, who was in New Orleans with Davenport earlier in his career.

This will give Detroit another threat opposite Aidan Hutchinson on the defensive line and help the Lions keep pace with the division rivals loading up this offseason.

Grade: B-

QB Jacoby Brissett (Patriots)

2023 stats: 224 passing yards, 19 rushing yards, three passing TDs, zero interceptions
Reported terms: One year, $8 million
Previous team: Commanders

McKenna: Brissett gets a small reduction from his $8.5 million salary in Washington last season. Even so, it’s likely the Patriots paid a bit too much for the quarterback they should have no intention of playing. Brissett will be a mentor and backup to whoever New England drafts at No. 3 overall. It’s further proof that the Patriots are going to have to pay extra to get the players they want, even one like Brissett who has connections to the organization. That said, this is the move we all saw coming. It made plenty of sense.

Grade: C+