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Monitoring transactions, reductions, exchanges | Important milestones
The top available players who have not yet signed with a team (available on ESPN+).
• Grading the biggest moves (ESPN+)
• Every coach hiring | Franchise tags• Reorder of NFL draft selections | Best candidates for the draft
Mar 20, 2024, 06:00 AM ET
According to Bowen, the Green Bay Packers have agreed to a four-year contract worth million with safety Xavier McKinney. McKinney is a versatile player known for his ability to track and cover receivers, making him a perfect fit for the team’s more aggressive defensive strategy under new coordinator Jeff Hafley. With nine interceptions and 14 pass breakups in his four years in the league, the 25-year-old McKinney brings valuable experience to the Packers’ secondary.Jump to:
Top plays | Puzzling plays
What are the top acquisitions and the most questionable decisions up to this point? Our NFL analysts are providing their opinions on what has transpired in this year’s free agency, and we will consistently add to this document over the week, offering analysis on favorable deals, teams that excelled in free agency, and those that did not.NFL experts
What was the most puzzling decision of free agency?
The pace of NFL free agency has decreased a week after it began. Various teams have signed noteworthy players to strengthen their rosters, but there are still available free agents like Xavien Howard and Mike Williams. Stars like Kirk Cousins, Saquon Barkley, Calvin Ridley, Danielle Hunter, Arik Armstead, Robert Hunt, and Russell Wilson have all found new teams. Some teams made big splashes by spending top dollar on players, while others prioritized signing players at a good value.
The Ravens have signed 30-year-old Derrick Henry to a two-year contract worth million. Despite his age, Henry’s impressive size and strength make him a force to be reckoned with on the field. He has also proven to be durable, with only one season in his eight-year career where he played less than 15 games. Henry’s presence on the team will create difficulties for opposing defenses, especially when paired with other talented offensive players, such as quarterback Lamar Jackson who is known for his agility as a runner.
According to Jordan Reid, the Chiefs have signed Brown. It is widely known that, except for Rashee Rice, the Chiefs had mediocre receivers last season. One of the major flaws in their strategy was the lack of consistency in downfield plays. Brown’s addition to the team adds a new dynamic and he is expected to be the top target for quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Jason Reid, a senior writer for Andscape, reported that the Bears have signed safety Byard. This signing goes against the recent trend of teams letting go of veteran safeties. Byard, who will be 31 in August, was released by the Eagles and quickly picked up by the Bears. The Eagles had hoped he would be an important player in their push for another Super Bowl, acquiring him at last season’s trade deadline. However, the secondary struggled during the last stretch of the season. While Byard cannot be held solely responsible for the team’s coverage issues, it cannot be ignored that he did not perform well and still received a significant contract from the Bears.
According to Eric Moody, a writer for fantasy football, Gabe Davis has officially joined the Jaguars. Davis experienced success as a receiver for the Bills while playing alongside Stefon Diggs, earning a total of 746 receiving yards in the previous season. However, the Jaguars’ original intention of pairing Davis with Calvin Ridley will not come to pass as Ridley has decided to sign a more profitable deal with the Titans. As a result, Davis may encounter difficulties as the Jaguars’ top receiver in the upcoming 2024 season due to the increased focus from opposing defenses.
The Eagles have signed Saquon Barkley to a three-year contract worth .7 million. This addition will greatly improve Jalen Hurts’ chances of staying healthy throughout the season. In the last three years, Hurts has rushed the ball 491 times, the highest number for any quarterback in that time period. This has taken a toll on his body and he struggled towards the end of last season. With a top-tier running back like Barkley on the team, there will be less pressure on Hurts to run, reducing the risk of injury as the season progresses.
According to NFL analyst Aaron Schatz, the Panthers have added guard Robert Hunt to their team. Hunt’s performance as a guard last season was not very impressive, with a pass block win rate of 89.6% and a run block win rate of 68.6%. In the previous season, he ranked 20th in pass block win rate but still fell below average in run block win rate. This may not justify his new title as the second-highest paid right guard in the NFL.
What was the top free agent acquisition overall?
The Panthers have signed G Robert Hunt to a 0 million contract for five years. This move ensures they have a top player on their offensive line in free agency, providing important protection for quarterback Bryce Young. Hunt will bolster an offensive line that had a low pass block win rate last season, ranking 23rd in the league at 54.3%.
According to fantasy football analyst Stephania Bell, running back Josh Jacobs will be joining the Packers. While Aaron Jones had a subpar season due to a hamstring injury in Week 1, he was still considered a vital part of the team and their running game. However, there were concerns that Jones, an aging player, would be too expensive to re-sign. Despite this, the Packers signed a different running back, Jacobs, to a pricier four-year contract worth million. While Jacobs is undeniably talented, the decision to bring him in seems to contradict the reasoning behind letting go of Jones.
The Kansas City Chiefs have signed wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown for one year at a maximum of million. This addresses the team’s biggest concern heading into the offseason, as they had the most dropped passes in the league (38) last year. General Manager Brett Veach recognized the need for a game-changing player at the receiver position, and Brown fits the bill with his exceptional speed and ability to make plays after catching the ball. In his five years in the NFL, Brown has recorded 3,644 receiving yards and 28 touchdowns. This acquisition gives the Chiefs their top deep threat since Tyreek Hill was traded to the Dolphins.
Matt Bowen, a football expert, suggests that the Titans should consider adding running back Tony Pollard to their team. Pollard’s strengths lie in his ability to both run and receive, making him a valuable rotational player. However, Bowen was surprised by Tennessee’s interest in Pollard since they already drafted Tyjae Spears in the third round last year. He speculates that the Titans may target a running back with strong running and goal line abilities in the upcoming draft to complement the skills of both Pollard and Spears.
Kevin Byard signing with the Bears was a surprise move, considering the strong performance he has had throughout his career. However, the decision to offer him a two-year contract worth million before free agency even began seemed rash, especially with the availability of other notable safeties like Justin Simmons and Quandre Diggs, in a market that is already saturated with options. As a comparison, Kamren Curl, who is significantly younger, signed for a two-year deal worth .75 million, with a potential increase to .75 million.
Jordan Reid, an expert on the NFL draft, believes that the Chicago Bears should have looked elsewhere for a safety during free agency. Despite having a significant amount of cap space, the team chose to sign the older Byard instead of exploring younger and potentially better options.
NFL insider Mike Tannenbaum believes the Titans made a costly move by signing wide receiver Calvin Ridley. Despite his impressive stats of two 1,000-yard seasons and 36 career touchdowns at 29 years old, Tannenbaum doubts that Ridley is a true number one wideout. In his opinion, the Titans paid too much at million annually for someone who may not fulfill their expectations as a top receiver.
The Atlanta Falcons have signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to a four-year contract worth 0 million. As the most crucial position in football, any new additions to the quarterback role will have a significant impact on the team’s performance. Cousins is a substantial improvement over Desmond Ridder and while he may not guarantee a Super Bowl win for the Falcons, he does make them the favorites in their division. This gives Atlanta fans a reason to be hopeful for the upcoming seasons.
According to Fowler, the Steelers have entered into a three-year deal worth million with linebacker Patrick Queen. This signing is significant as it fills a gap in their defense that has been lacking for some time. With Queen joining T.J. Watt, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Cameron Heyward as a defensive star, it is expected to benefit Pittsburgh in the AFC North. Additionally, the Steelers deserve praise for acquiring Queen from their rival Ravens. While his contract allows for flexibility, given that it can be terminated after the first year and .84 million, it is unlikely that the Steelers will opt for that option.
