The NFL’s free agency dominoes are falling days before players can officially sign new deals.
On Sunday, Russell Wilson agreed to join the Pittsburgh Steelers for the veteran’s minimum $1.2 million, while the Denver Broncos remain on the hook for the $38 million remaining on his previous contract.
Meanwhile, fellow quarterback Baker Mayfield has agreed to a three-year deal worth $100 million to remain with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, whom he guided to the playoffs in his first season with the team.
Next month’s draft features young talent at the position of USC’s Caleb Williams and North Carolina’s Drake Maye, but for quarterback-hungry teams looking for more experience, free agent Kirk Cousins and Chicago Bears signal caller Justin Fields are now the best two options available.
Fields was an on-and-off three seasons in Chicago, and he became expendable thanks to last year’s trade with the Carolina Panthers. As a result of the deal, the Bears are left with the first pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, where they are expected to take a quarterback, making Fields available via trade.
Kirk Cousins was the NFL’s highest-paid cheerleader after going down with an Achilles tendon injury
Chicago Bears signal caller Justin Fields is likely available via trade ahead of next month’s draft
Russell Wilson agreed to join the Pittsburgh Steelers for the veteran’s minimum $1.2 million
Cousins has been more productive during his time with the Minnesota Vikings and could remain in Minneapolis, although his future is clouded by his season-ending Achilles injury in October.
The four-time Pro Bowl selection could also be on the radar of the Atlanta Falcons, who have the eighth pick in next month’s draft and could miss out on Williams, Maye or LSU’s Jayden Daniels.
Diana Russini of The Athletic reported this on MondayCousins is expected to speak with the Falcons when the NFL’s free agency frenzy begins Monday with a 52-hour legal tampering period.
Monday at noon EST, teams can begin negotiating with players who will become unrestricted free agents when their contracts expire at the start of the new league year at 4 p.m. EST on Wednesday.
Players cannot sign with new teams until the league year officially begins. The two-day negotiation period only applies to players who are unrestricted free agents.
Other offensive players we could see in free agency include running backs Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs and D’Andre Swift, offensive tackles Tyron Smith, Jonah Williams and Trent Brown, wide receivers Calvin Ridley, Marquise Brown and Odell Beckham Jr. .
USC’s Caleb Williams, a former Heisman Trophy winner, is among this year’s top prospects
Another Heisman winner, LSU’s Jayden Daniels (left) and UNC’s Drake Maye are top candidates
Baker Mayfield has committed his long-term future to the Bucs instead of looking at a new team
Eight players received the non-exclusive franchise tag, including wide receivers Tee Higgins and Michael Pittman, edge rusher Josh Allen and All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield. They can still test the open market, but teams would have to give up a few first-round picks to sign them.
Chris Jones, arguably the top defensive free agent, was taken off the market before the signing period even began when he agreed to a reported $95 million deal last week. The Chiefs also tapped cornerback L’Jarius Sneed instead of drafting him over Jones for the second straight season, although the Pro Bowl defensive back could now become available via trade if Kansas City hopes to free up some cap space .
Half of the NFL teams have a salary cap cap of over $30 million available, making it a player-friendly market to some extent.
There is a lot of interest in how the running backs will fare.
Barkley, Jacobs and Tony Pollard received franchise tags last season, but no team wanted to commit $11.9 million to the running back. Austin Ekeler rounds out the top six.
Giants running back Saquon Barkley is expected to generate interest in free agency this week
The Giants appear ready to move on from Barkley, who should draw interest from many teams, including a pair of New York’s NFC East rivals. The Eagles will obviously be looking for a running back at the right price if they don’t retain Swift, who is coming off his first 1,000-yard season. Barkley would be an upgrade for the Cowboys over Pollard.
Henry is 30, but he ran for 1,167 yards and scored 12 touchdowns in 2023 and has had five 1,000-yard seasons in the last six years. He would be a better fit for a Super Bowl contender than Tennessee.
NFL teams have undervalued the running back position to the point where they have the lowest franchise tag number among skill players. Wide receivers are now almost $10 million higher at $21.8 million.
“I think talented players ultimately get paid,” Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said. ‘So I think everyone will value players, just like in any other position. Obviously those guys handle the ball a lot, and they’re important players.”