LOS ANGELES — In March, the National Football League has its own “madness” filled with mystery and excitement. While no actual football is played this month, free agency in the NFL is always a highly anticipated time for fans and general managers. It is an opportunity for every team to improve their roster, all in an effort to hoist the Lombardi trophy next season.
This year, the league surprised teams before the free agency period opened last week. In late February, the NFL announced a record-breaking salary cap raise, boosting every team’s cap room by $30 million. The new cap in 2024 is $255 million, a 13.6% raise from 2023′s cap of $224.8 million. The salary cap was around $133 million just ten years ago, showcasing the league’s exponential growth over the last decade.
As the clock struck midnight on Monday, March 11, teams were officially allowed to begin negotiations, and the madness began. Big-name free agents like Kirk Cousins, Christian Wilkins and Patrick Queen didn’t take long to find their new homes.
Former Viking quarterback Cousins said goodbye to Skol Nation and headed south on a hefty four-year $180 million deal with the Falcons. Former Dolphins defensive tackle Wilkins chose a big payday with the Las Vegas Raiders, becoming the anchor in the middle for defensive coordinator Patrick Graham. And in a bizarre turn of events, former Ravens linebacker Queen signed with division rival Pittsburgh Steelers on a three-year $41 million deal.
Beyond those three big signings that kicked off free agency, here are three takeaways from the first week of free agency frenzy:
Running Back Carousel
The running back position value has fallen off a cliff over the last few seasons as offenses transitioned to more of an air-raid passing system. The decreased position usage has caused teams to value backs less and look for a replacement-level player every two years or so.
Last offseason, a handful of talented and proven running backs struggled to negotiate long-term deals. Saquan Barkley and Josh Jacobs took one-year deals to stay with their teams—the Giants and Raiders—while Tony Pollard played under the franchise tag in Dallas. The 2021 rushing leader, Johnathan Taylor, sat out the first four games this season, attempting to work a long-term deal.
The consensus around the league is that the position is currently replaceable unless your name is Christian McCaffery. However, the 2024 Free Agency reignited the position’s value, as running backs became a top priority this go-around.
The Bears opened the door by signing former Eagles running back D’Andre Swift to a three-year $24 million deal. Swift’s deal ignited other teams to take a stab at the position. After playing under the tag in Dallas last season, Pollard left for a new home and a bigger payday with the Tennessee Titans for three years, $21 million.
Veteran running backs Derrick Henry and Aaron Jones also found new homes. Henry landed in the AFC North with the Baltimore Ravens adding to a prolific rushing attack led by two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson. Now-former Green Bay packer Jones decided to take the Brett Farve route, signing with division rival Minnesota Vikings.
However, the biggest surprise came with former Giants running back Saquan Barkley joining the Philadelphia Eagles on a three-year $27 million deal.
Sure, these deals aren’t record-breaking contracts, but NFL teams made it clear they haven’t given up on the position as a whole.
Bears End the Madness
Everybody around the league had been waiting to see what the Bears would do with their former No. 11 overall pick, Justin Fields. Two weeks ago, the Bears finally pulled the trigger, trading the third-year quarterback to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a 6th-round pick – changes to 4th round pick depending on playtime next season.
The question for Fields heading into free agency wasn’t as much whether he would be traded but when. Poles did “do right by Justin,” as the Bears had four other offers. The Bears listened to the request of Field’s team, sending him to the quarterback’s preferred destination.
With Fields officially out, the Bears are lined up to take presumptive number one overall pick Caleb Williams out of USC. And in preparation for William’s arrival, the Bears got busy in free agency.
In addition to Swift, the Bears signed tight-end Gerald Everett and traded for veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen. Allen, a long-time Chargers receiver, is coming off the best season of his career, recording 108 receptions, 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Bear’s offensive talent around Williams should give fans optimism heading into the 2024 season. Howver there will be growing pains for the USC standout, but Williams brings a rare skillset to the quarterback position the Bears haven’t had in a while.
Williams can play and in out the pocket, creating many of his money-making plays off the script. He delivers the ball with great accuracy and zip, throwing with anticipation. And inside the pocket, Williams has excellent awareness, eluding to any incoming defenders. By adding Williams to a revamped offense, the Bears are setting themselves up to return to winning ways.
Are the Houston Texans Contenders?
Leading up to the 2023 season, the Houston Texans had very low expectations, with a first-year coach and rookie quarterback leading the charge. However, in preseason, all the experts were clearly wrong about this Texans team. Quarterback C.J. Stroud took the league by storm, leading an explosive Texans offensive to their first playoff berth and 10-win season since 2019.
The Texans entered free agency looking to improve the holes in their roster, adding playmakers on both sides of the ball. In a wild last-minute trade, the Bengals traded Joe Mixon to the Texans for a 2024 seventh-rounder. The move gives Stroud a bell cow running back that will massively improve a Texans rushing offense that ranked 28th in YPG last season.
Conversely, the Texans have formed a dangerous one-two punch of edge rushers with their reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson and former Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter. The Texans lured the 29-year-old Hunter with a two-year, $49 million deal. Hunter is coming off a career season in which he finished with 16.5 sacks and 23 tackles for loss. The duo of Anderson and Hunter should wreak havoc across the league.
The roster improvements this offseason make the Texans genuine contenders in the AFC alongside the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens.
Notable Free Agents Available
Ryan Tannehill, Quarterback, 35 Years Old
David Bakhtirai, Left Tackle, 32 Years Old
Xavien Howard, Cornerback, 30 Years Old
Jamal Adams, Safety, 28 Years Old