The dominoes of NFL free agency are already falling with days to spare before players can officially begin signing new deals.
On Sunday, Russell Wilson agreed to join the Pittsburgh Steelers for the veteran’s minimum of $1.2 million while the Denver Broncos remain on the hook for the remaining $38 million on his previous contract.
Meanwhile, fellow quarterback Baker Mayfield agreed to a three-year, $100 million contract to remain with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, whom he guided to the playoffs in his first season with the team.
Next month’s draft offers young talent at the position in USC’s Caleb Williams and North Carolina’s Drake Maye, but for quarterback-hungry teams looking for more experience, free agent Kirk Cousins and signal-caller Chicago Bears’ Justin Fields are now the top two options available.
Fields has been up and down through three seasons in Chicago and became expendable by virtue of last year’s trade with the Carolina Panthers. As a result of the deal, the Bears are left with the top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, where they are expected to select a quarterback, thus leaving Fields available via trade.
Kirk Cousins was the highest-paid entertainer in the NFL after suffering an Achilles injury.
Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields will likely be available via trade before next month’s draft.
Russell Wilson has agreed to join the Pittsburgh Steelers for the veteran’s minimum of $1.2 million.
Cousins has been more productive during his time with the Minnesota Vikings and could remain in Minneapolis, although his future has been 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 lose Williams, Maye or LSU’s Jayden Daniels.
As Diana Russini of The Athletic reported on MondayCousins is expected to speak with the Falcons when the NFL free agency frenzy begins Monday with a 52-hour legal tampering period.
At 12 p.m. EST on Monday, 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 applies only to players who will be unrestricted free agents.
Other offensive players to watch entering 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, 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 prospects.
Baker Mayfield has committed his long-term future to the Bucs rather than looking to a new team.
Eight players received the non-exclusive franchise tag, including wide receivers Tee Higgins and Michael Pittman, running back Josh Allen and All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield. They can still test the open market, but teams would have to give up a couple of first-round picks to sign them.
Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones, perhaps the best defensive free agent, was taken off the market before the signing period even began when he agreed to a $95 million contract last week. The Chiefs also tagged cornerback L’Jarius Sneed instead of moving him over Jones for the second straight season, although the Pro Bowl defensive back could now be available via trade if Kansas City hopes to free up some cap space.
Half of the NFL teams have more than $30 million available in salary cap space, making it a favorable market for players to some extent.
There is a lot of interest in how the runners will fare.
Barkley, Jacobs and Tony Pollard received franchise tags last season, but no team was willing to commit $11.9 million to their running back. Austin Ekeler rounds out the top six.
Giants running back Saquon Barkley expected to draw 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 be looking for a running back at the right price, of course, 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 years old, 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 candidate for a Super Bowl contender than Tennessee.
NFL teams have underrated the running back position to the point of having the lowest franchise tag number among skill players. Wide receivers are now almost $10 million higher at $21.8 million.
“I think at the end of the day, talented players end up getting paid,” Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said. “So, I think everyone will value the players like any other position. Obviously, those guys handle the ball a lot and are important players.”