This has been a colossal several days in NFL offseason moves. A slew of A-list players is looking to relocate for next season, and many teams are making luxuriant offers to pick up top talent. There are two main types of movement here: free agency and trades.
When a player’s contract with an NFL club has expired, he can either re-sign with his current team or test the waters somewhere else through free agency, which officially begins Wednesday. If a player’s contract hasn’t yet expired, he can be traded elsewhere. And in the past three days, many stars seem to have chosen (or been forced into) relocation to a new team. Here’s a quick summary of the key points, and the potential impact for 2024.
QB Russell Wilson: Denver to Pittsburgh
After a moribund two seasons in the Mile High City, the nine-time Pro Bowler apparently is headed to the Steel City. Though he may “compete” with Kenny Pickett for a starting job this summer, Wilson will almost definitely be the Steelers’ 2024 starter. The team’s season, then, will depend largely on whether Wilson can return to his championship form and knock off a tough opposing slate that includes the Chiefs and Cowboys.
RB Saquon Barkley: N.Y. Giants to Philadelphia
This is a big one. Barkley has rushed for over 5,000 yards in six seasons with the Giants, and now he seems set to move to their biggest rival. As a free agent entering 2024, Barkley would bolster a team that is losing running back D’Andre Swift to the Bears. Barkley will no doubt be RB1, and he should take some pressure off of a struggling Jalen Hurts.
QB Kirk Cousins: Minnesota to Atlanta
Cousins tentatively agreed to a four-year, $180 million deal with the Falcons this weekend, drastically damaging his former team’s playoff hopes. Cousins had a successful (though injury-shortened) season in 2023, and will surely breathe life into an Atlanta offense that already has formidable personnel. This has huge implications for the NFC South, and ensures that the Buccaneers will no longer have a monopoly on that division. In Cousins’ wake, the Vikings have signed Sam Darnold, but they could very well draft another quarterback.
RB Derrick Henry: Tennessee to Baltimore
This move would cement the Baltimore Ravens as a 2024 super team. With MVP Lamar Jackson under center, a star-studded receiving core, and a top-three defense, the Ravens enter 2024 with the strongest roster in the NFL. Henry’s addition would make the Ravens an incredible force, and could finally secure a second Lombardi for Head Coach John Harbaugh. Henry rushed for over 1,500 yards in 2023 and could become the new centerpiece of the Ravens’ offense.
RB Austin Ekeler: L.A. Chargers to Washington
Ekeler’s expected move provides another reason to believe that Washington will be the ultimate sleeper team of 2024. If the Commanders’ new quarterback – whether it’s Drake Maye or Jayden Daniels – is successful, Ekeler could round out the offense and help lead the team to a 10-win season. With a new head coach in Dan Quinn, the Commanders could take a considerable leap from where they were last year. Expect them to make noise in the NFC East, especially with the Giants and Eagles in an uncertain position.
This weekend has been chaotic, and there is still room for uncertainty. But there is no doubt that the NFL landscape will look very different next season. Expect teams to rise and fall dramatically, as a slew of new head coaches try out an amalgam of new offensive weapons. Prepare for glorious chaos – because, after all, that’s what football is all about.
