2024 NFL free-agency grades: Evaluating every major signing so far

National Football League

Updated Mar. 11, 2024 6:23 p.m. ET

FOX Sports NFL Staff

The start of a new NFL league year is upon us, and free-agency deals will surely come quickly.

[2024 NFL free-agency tracker: Signings, best players available]

Players are cashing in as teams reinforce their ranks, and a reshaped league will soon turn its attention to the April 25 NFL Draft. The FOX Sports NFL crew evaluates the biggest signings of this year’s free agency class and grades each move. Players are listed according to their rank in FOX Sports’ top 50 free agent list.

DT Chris Jones (Chiefs)

2023 stats: 16 games played, 10.5 sacks, 29 QB hits, 30 total tackles

Reported terms:Five years, $158.75 million ($101 million guaranteed)

Henry McKenna: Chris Jones is the type of player every team is currently seeking. He doesn’t play a flashy position, but when he’s at his best, he’s just as essential to the Chiefs as Travis Kelce, if not more so. Jones is a disruptive interior rusher who also plays well against the run. That makes him a three-down threat perfectly designed to help defenses win in the modern era. He makes life difficult for Josh Allen, Tua Tagovailoa and Brock Purdy. Yes, Kansas City paid top-dollar for Jones. But when you have one of the NFL’s best players in a system in which he thrives, why would you create a massive problem by letting him walk? The Chiefs chose a simple, expensive solution. In this case, it’s the right one.

Grade: A

QB Kirk Cousins (Falcons)

2023 stats: 2,331 yards, 18 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 103.8 passer rating (eight games)

Reported terms: Four years, $180 million ($100 million guaranteed)

Previous team: Vikings

Greg Auman: The Falcons badly needed an upgrade at quarterback, and they got the best one in this year’s free-agent class in Kirk Cousins. He addresses the position in the opposite way Atlanta did last summer. If there’s a gripe, it’s paying $100 million guaranteed over the next two years for a 35-year-old coming off an Achilles tear who only made $35 million last year. The drop-off from Cousins to other QB options was dramatic, and the Falcons paid to avoid that. It sets them up with every expectation of making the playoffs in head coach Raheem Morris’ first year.

Grade: B

DT Christian Wilkins (Raiders)

2023 stats: 65 total tackles, nine sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries

Reported terms: Four years, $110 million ($84.75 million guaranteed)

Previous team: Dolphins

McKenna: The Raiders must be a little confused about how close they are to contention. They’ve thrown a bag at a defensive tackle when they are anything but settled at quarterback. Don’t get me wrong, it’s always good to have good players. But they were slightly surprising suitors for Wilkins with this four-year, $110 million deal. He will make Las Vegas’ defense better; it’s a step in the right direction. It’s just that there are so many priorities on the other side of the ball that the Raiders need to address. It makes me think Vegas has big plans for the offseason.

Grade: B-

QB Baker Mayfield (Buccaneers)

2023 stats: 64.3 completion percentage, 4,044 passing yards, 28 passing TDs, 10 interceptions, one rushing TD, 94.6 passer rating

Reported terms:Three years, $100 million ($50 million guaranteed)

Greg Auman: The Bucs’ priority this offseason was to keep their core intact, which meant bringing back three of the league’s top 15 free agents. They’ve done that, putting the franchise tag on Antoine Winfield and getting Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield locked up on multi-year extensions. This is a well-deserved raise for Mayfield after a career year — think of it as a two-year, $60 million deal that gives Mayfield two seasons to show he’s worth keeping on a $40 million salary in 2026. To get all three players back before free agency begins — without overspending — is commendable for the Bucs.

Grade: A

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WR Michael Pittman Jr. (Colts)

2023 stats: 109 receptions for 1,152 yards and 4 TDs

Reported terms:Three years, $70 million ($46 million guaranteed)

Ben Arthur: This was a no-brainer for the Colts, who had franchise-tagged Pittman. The veteran wideout is Indianapolis’ only proven pass-catcher (he has been the Colts’ leading receiver for the past three seasons), and the team needs as many of those as possible for quarterback Anthony Richardson, who missed most of his rookie season with a shoulder injury. At $23.3 million in average annual value, Pittman’s contract slots at eighth-highest among wide receivers, according to SpoTrac, representing good value for the Colts. A strong deal for both sides.

Grade: A

RB Josh Jacobs (Packers)

2023 stats: 805 rushing yards, 3.5 yards per carry, six rushing touchdowns

Reported terms: Four years, $48 million

Previous team:Raiders

Vitali: The Packers are still a young team. It’s why they added the best running back on the free-agent market in Josh Jacobs on Monday. It isn’t like the Pack to be aggressive in free agency, but with Aaron Jones set to be released, Jordan Love needed someone to lean on in the backfield. The team tried to trade for Jonathan Taylor last season, but that didn’t materialize and he re-signed in Indianapolis. The Packers also tried to rework Jones’ deal up until Monday afternoon. They’ll probably pursue another, lower-cost running back or add through the draft so Matt LaFleur has a solid run game to incorporate into his versatile offense. The move also allows Green Bay to keep pace in what is becoming one of the NFL’s toughest divisions.

Grade: A

RB Saquon Barkley (Eagles)

2023 stats: 962 rushing yards, 3.9 yards per carry, 6 rushing touchdowns; 41 receptions, 280 yards, 4 receiving touchdowns

Reported terms: Three years, $37.75 million (potentially up to 46.75); $26.75 million guaranteed.

Previous team:Giants

It will hurt the Giants to see their best and most popular player in Eagles green, but this was a marriage that seemed inevitable. It’s not that the Giants didn’t see Barkley’s value, but considering the state of their offensive line and all their needs, they knew they couldn’t devote big money (and cap space) to a RB. But the Eagles could.

They’ve got the line, the quarterback and the offensive weapons to use Barkley like the versatile playmaker he is. He and QB Jalen Hurts will make for an incredibly dangerous rushing tandem, and it’s a good bet they’ll use Barkley as a receiver more than the Giants have done since he was a rookie. GM Howie Roseman has pursued big-name, expensive RBs before, but he’s usually gone the bargain route at this position. Not this time, and not for a player who could help make the Eagles Super Bowl contenders again.

Grade: A

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G Robert Hunt (Panthers)

2023 stats: 11 games played

Reported terms: Five years, $100 million

Previous team:Dolphins

Auman: Carolina had an absolute priority to improve the protection up front for Bryce Young, and signing Hunt does that in convincing fashion. The market for guards went crazy on Monday, so $20 million per year is a lot, but it’s a major first step to building a solid line, and the Panthers aren’t done. Now they need to find a No. 1 receiver for Young, and probably a tight end as well.

Grade: B+

G Jonah Jackson (Rams)

2023 stats: 12 games started

Reported terms: Three years, $51 million ($34 million guaranteed)

Previous team: Lions

Eric D. Williams: Jackson is coming back from a season-ending knee injury, so health could be an issue. But keeping Matthew Stafford upright remains a top priority for the Rams. And with Jackson in the fold, they could move second-year pro Steven Avila from left guard to center.

DE Leonard Floyd (49ers)

2023 stats: 10.5 sacks, 19 QB hits, 9 TFLs

Reported terms: Two years, $20 million

Previous team: Bills

Williams: The 49ers find a player who can deliver a more consistent pass rush opposite Nick Bosa in Floyd, who returns to the NFC West. Floyd played three seasons for the Rams, with whom he compiled 29 sacks while playing alongside Aaron Donald. The Georgia product also reunites with former Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, who recently joined San Francisco’s coaching staff.

Grade: A-

Edge rusher Bryce Huff (Eagles)

2023 stats: 10 sacks, 33 pressures, 29 total tackles

Reported terms:Three years, $51.1 million

Previous team:Jets

Ralph Vacchiano: The Eagles’ pass rush took a big step back last season, so an upgrade at edge rusher was inevitable. And in Huff, a 25-year-old former undrafted free agent, they got a strong one who had 10 sacks last year despite playing less than half of the Jets‘ defensive snaps. He’s more of a pass-rush specialist than a three-down player, but he still led the NFL in pressure rate each of the past two seasons, per Next Gen Stats. That could be great for Philly, though it depends on what the Eagles do next. They are open to trading Haason Reddick, Josh Sweat or both. A Huff-Reddick edge tandem looks dangerous — but only if the Eagles don’t break it up.

Grade: B+

Tony Pollard, RB, Titans

2023 stats: 252 carries for 1,005 yards and 6 TDs

Reported terms: Three years, $24 million

Previous team: Cowboys

Ben Arthur: Pollard’s expected signing shuts out the possibility of a Derrick Henry return to the Titans. The former Cowboy will pair with second-year running back Tyjae Spears to form new coach Brian Callahan’s 1-2 punch out of the backfield. The cash flow in Pollard’s deal is unknown. That will be critical for giving a succinct evaluation of the contract from the Titans’ perspective. But on paper, assuming reasonable outs, I believe this is a solid deal for Tennessee. An $8 million AAV appears to be the going rate for the second class of running backs (D’Andre Swift agreed to a similar deal with the Bears). And with Spears showing last season that he can take on a bigger role, the Titans didn’t need to give Henry a top-market deal. Pollard also brings pass-catching value at running back, a premium asset for Callahan.

Grade: B-

S Xavier McKinney (Packers)

2023 stats: 116 total tackles, 3 interceptions, 11 passes defended

Reported terms: Four years, $68 million

Previous team: Giants

The Packers have a new No. 1 safety after letting Darnell Savage walk in free agency. Green Bay signed McKinney, the top player available at the position, to a blockbuster deal worth a reported $68 million over four years, including $25 million in year one, according to NFL Network. McKinney, who at age 24 fits right in with the youngest team in the league, now leads a Green Bay secondary alongside cornerback Jaire Alexander, two of the highest-paid players at their respective positions. Diana Russini of The Athletic reported that the Eagles were also in on McKinney, but Green Bay got the deal done.

Grade: A-

Edge rusher Jonathan Greenard (Vikings)

2023 stats: 12.5 sacks, 22 QB hits, 52 total tackles

Reported terms: Four years, $76 million, $42 million guaranteed

Previous team:Texans

Vitali: Minnesota is making contingency plans for the likely departure of Danielle Hunter and maybe even DJ Wonnum. Greenard tallied 12.5 sacks last season in Houston and was top-five in the league in pressure rate from Weeks 8-16, according to Next Gen Stats. It was a major jump from the prior year, in which he had just 1.5 sacks. He’ll play under yet another defensive mastermind in Minnesota, though. Brian Flores should be able to help Greenard maintain his 2023 level of production and if he does, the Vikings just signed a double-digit sack player for less than $20 million per year.

Grade: A

QB Russell Wilson (Steelers)

2023 stats: 66.4% completion percentage, 3,070 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 98.0 passer rating, 45 sacks taken

Reported terms: One year, NFL minimum (Broncos paying an additional $38 million)

Previous team: Broncos

McKenna: When a team gets a starting quarterback for the veteran minimum, that team is generally a winner in the deal. With the Broncos still on the hook to pay Wilson, Pittsburgh can get away with a tiny contract for the guy they expect to be their starting QB. And if Russ can be That Guy again, the Steelers might be Super Bowl contenders. But you can ask the Jets how badly it can go when adding a declining Super Bowl winner with hopes of plugging and playing that QB. Pittsburgh would be wise to think about the future at the quarterback position beyond Wilson (and, in my opinion, beyond Kenny Pickett).

Grade: B

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Gabe Davis, WR, Jaguars

2023 stats: 45 receptions for 746 yards and 7 TDs

Reported terms: Three years, $39 million ($11 million at signing)

Arthur: Assuming the Jaguars can retain Calvin Ridley, Davis slots in as Jacksonville’s No. 3 receiver. If Ridley leaves, Davis becomes WR2. Whichever way you look at it, the contract represents strong value for the Jags, who need wide receiver help. With a dearth of elite talent in the receiver market this year, Davis was pegged as a player who could get a massive payday, perhaps north of $18 million per year. So the reported terms ($13M AAV) are reasonable for Jacksonville. Davis gives Doug Pederson’s offense more speed and a playmaker who can take the top off of a defense. His 16.6 yards per reception was sixth-highest in the NFL last season.

Grade: B+

RB Antonio Gibson (Patriots)

2023 stats: 265 rushing yards, 4.1 yards per carry, 48 receptions for 389 yards

Reported terms: Three years

Previous team:Commanders

McKenna: The hubbub around Boston was that the Patriots had big plans for free agency. Their first move? Antonio Gibson. I mean … yeah, OK, fine, Gibson is a solid pass-catching running back. For the most part, he is a third-down role player. And he’ll be a boon to whichever rookie QB the Patriots draft. I get it — free agency is just getting started. But with all that cap space, the Patriots delivered a major anticlimax with Gibson as the team’s first splash in the tampering window.

Grade: C+

S Kevin Byard (Bears)

2023 stats: 16 games played, 122 tackles, 1 interception, 102.1 passer rating allowed when targeted

Reported terms:Two years, $15 million

Previous teams:Titans, Eagles

Carmen Vitali: The Bears let Pro Bowl safety Eddie Jackson go, but with a young secondary, they still needed a veteran presence. They’ve accomplished that by signing Byard, who at 30 is the same age as Jackson but comes at a discount. With his ability to come downhill and make tackles, Byard looks like a good scheme fit with what Matt Eberflus has done with this defense. Byard has three straight seasons with triple-digit tackles and, despite spending time with two teams last year, it doesn’t seem like he’s slowing down. Chicago got a fair price of $7.5 million per year in annual contract value.

Grade: B

RB D’Andre Swift (Bears)

2023 stats: 1,049 rushing yards, 4.6 yards per carry, five rushing touchdowns, 39 receptions, 214 receiving yards

Reported terms: Three years, $24.5 million with $15.3 million guaranteed

Previous team: Eagles

Vitali: The molding of Shane Waldron’s offense has begun in Chicago after the Bears agreed to terms with running back D’Andre Swift. With the Eagles last season, he had his best year as a pro, rushing for 1,049 yards and five touchdowns, though his receiving output has dropped incrementally over the past three seasons. Swift will be paired with running back Khalil Herbert in Chicago’s backfield as the Bears undoubtedly place more of an emphasis on play-action under new OC Waldron. But even with the tandem, Chicago still lacks diversity in the backfield and will be paying Swift more than $8 million per year.

Grade: C

WR Kendrick Bourne (Patriots)

2023 stats: 37 receptions, 406 yards, four touchdowns

Reported terms: Three years, $19.5 million (max value $33 million)

McKenna: When Kendrick Bourne said he wanted to return to the Patriots, I wasn’t sure whether to believe him. What else is he supposed to say? But he put his money where his mouth is. Before Bourne could hit free agency, the two sides agreed to a three-year, $19.5 million deal with a maximum value of $33 million. When we look under the hood of that deal, I imagine we’ll see performance incentives and play-time bonuses. The Patriots have likely mitigated their risk on a receiver coming off an ACL tear. Bourne has likely taken the bigger risk with a new regime in an organization that hasn’t exactly treated him fairly.

Grade: B+

Edge rusher Marcus Davenport (Lions)

2023 stats: 2 sacks, 7 total tackles in four games.

Reported terms: One-year contract

Previous team: Vikings

Injuries prevented Marcus Davenport from realizing his full potential in Brian Flores’ defense with the Vikings, but he should be fully healthy for 2024. At least, that’s what the Detroit Lions are hoping for. Davenport inked a one-year deal with the Lions, reuniting him with Aaron Glenn, who was in New Orleans with Davenport earlier in his career.

This will give Detroit another threat opposite Aidan Hutchinson on the defensive line and help the Lions keep pace with the division rivals loading up this offseason.

Grade: B-