The National Football League (NFL) free agency period is always a wild one and this year didn’t disappoint. From starting quarterbacks finding new homes, to running backs changing the landscapes of NFL rosters, to players suiting up for rival teams this free agency period has really had it all.
Former Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins made headlines by signing a four-year $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons to kick off free agency frenzy. While coming off an Achilles tear, the 36-year-old quarterback has proven that he’s still one of the better signal callers in the league. With playmakers at his disposal like running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts, the Falcons hope Cousins will help the team turn the corner into playoff contention.
Cousins wasn’t the only starting quarterback to land with a new team this offseason. After being traded for several high draft picks, former Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson was cut from Denver earlier this month. This ended a disappointing tenure that saw the Broncos miss the playoffs in both seasons of the Wilson era. As Wilson departs the Mile City, he now finds himself in Steel City with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he’ll don the black and gold. With a fresh start, the nine-time pro bowler is looking to turn his career back in the right direction.
The running back carousel the past few weeks is what made this free agency so unpredictable. Many running backs have left the teams they’ve long made their marks for. Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, Aaron Jones, Derrick Henry, Austin Ekeler, D’Andre Swift and Tony Pollard have all found new homes–and that’s just naming the top guys. The running back position is seen as one that’s dying out, so teams opting to move on from their franchise backs isn’t that surprising. However, these names still have plenty of talent left to make an impact in the league and on their new franchises.
Loyalty is seemingly gone in this league. Once a player is out the door, there’s no telling where they might sign. The teams they’ve once hated might be signing their next paychecks. That couldn’t be truer in this year’s free-agent cycle. Barkley is one of the most notable names. The writing was on the wall for the former New York Giants running back. Everyone knew he was on his way out, but signing with the Philadelphia Eagles may have been one of the last things Giants fans were prepared for, as he creates one of the more exciting offenses in the league.
Former Packers back Jones was cut after Green Bay signed Jacobs. The two couldn’t come to an agreement in contract negotiations so the team made the tough decision to cut the franchise cornerstone. Once he became a free agent, the rival Minnesota Vikings jumped at the opportunity, signing him to a one-year seven-million-dollar contract. It’ll be a brand-new cast of characters in the Vikings backfield, as they land a new feature back and search for their next quarterback.
Ever since the Baltimore Ravens drafted linebacker Patrick Queen back in 2020, he’s played with the passion of a Raven. That’s what made it so difficult when the team let him enter free agency. Queen signing with their heated rival has made it an even tougher pill to swallow. The 2023 second-team all-pro inked a $41 million contract with the Steelers to become the face of the team’s linebacker group. These types of signings make some of the NFL’s greatest rivalries even more heated, and eyes will be glued to screens when these players take on their former teams.
With so many players trading in their old helmets for new ones, it’s been tough to keep track of the changes around the league. There’s one thing for certain though — the impact of these signings will have a lasting effect on team’s this upcoming season, as franchises look to make the necessary changes to solidify them as Super Bowl contenders.
