2024 NFL Free Agency Tracker: Updates on the Biggest Signings and News
Josh Frey
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NFL free agency has officially arrived.
The legal tampering period began on Monday morning at 11 AM Central, and now, teams and players have begun negotiating new contracts that will have lasting ramifications across the league. Here is a look at all the NFL free agency news as it happens.
NFL Free Agency Tracker
QB Russell Wilson Heads to Pittsburgh
After being cut by the Denver Broncos, Russell Wilson is now headed to the Pittsburgh Steelers on a one-year contract worth the veteran league minimum of $1.28 million. He will compete with former first-round pick Kenny Pickett for the starting job. Adam Schefter of ESPN had the news.
WR Tee Higgins Requests Trade
Tee Higgins was placed on the franchise tag by the Cincinnati Bengals last week, but it appears that the wide receiver does not want to play in Cincinnati under those conditions. The star receiver requested a trade on Monday morning after putting together 257 receptions for 3684 yards and 24 touchdowns over his first four NFL seasons. Adam Schefter of ESPN had the scoop.
G Landon Dickerson Remains with Eagles
It appears that the guard market is going to be very lucrative in free agency, which could spell trouble for the Vikings as they attempt to fill in their starting left guard spot. The first of the signings involves Landon Dickerson, who has inked a new four-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles worth $84 million, including $50 million in guaranteed money. The deal makes Dickerson the highest-paid guard in NFL history. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network first reported the news.
WR Michael Pittman Signs with Colts
After being placed on the franchise tag last week, WR Michael Pittman has signed a new three-year deal with the Indianapolis Colts worth $71.5 million with $46 million in guarantees. Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report had the news. Pittman caught 109 passes for 1152 yards and four touchdowns last season and will be a long-term plan for the Colts at receiver.
Pair of Kickers Go off the Market
The kicker position is certainly not the most glamorous in the NFL, but the Minnesota Vikings have a need at that spot with Greg Joseph heading to free agency. Right away, a pair of veteran kickers have gone of the market as Chase McLaughlin inked a new three-year deal to remain with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Meanwhile, Greg Zuerlein has a new two-year deal with the New York Jets. Ian Rapoport had both scoops.
RB D’Andre Swift Heads to the Bears
The first running back deal of Monday came when D’Andre Swift agreed to a three-year deal with the Chicago Bears. After spending the 2023 season with the Philadelphia Eagles, Swift now heads to Chicago, which boasted one of the best rushing offenses in the NFL last season, ranking second in total rushing yards (2399), trailing only the Baltimore Ravens.
Vikings Get Their Danielle Hunter Replacement
The Vikings needed to find some pass rushing help this offseason, and they have begun to do so by signing Jonathan Greenard, who spent his first four seasons with the Houston Texans. Greenard gets a four-year deal worth $76 million to come to Minnesota after a 2023 season where he recorded 12.5 sacks in 15 games. Unfortunately, this could also spell the end of Danielle Hunter’s tenure with the Vikings.
DT Christian Wilkins Lands Massive Deal with Raiders
Christian Wilkins, one of the top DTs on the market, is headed to the Las Vegas Raiders on a four-year deal worth $110 million. Ian Rapoport had the scoop. Wilkins appeared to be a player that the Minnesota Vikings were very interested in heading into free agency, but ultimately, his price tag proved to be far too high.
RB Tony Pollard Goes to Tennessee
Tony Pollard was another running back who landed a new deal on Monday, signing a three-year contract with the Tennessee Titans, which matches Swift’s contract with the Bears at $24 million. Pollard began his career with the Dallas Cowboys, and now, he looks to be Derrick Henry’s replacement in Tennessee. Ian Rapoport was first on the news.
WR Gabe Davis Joins Jaguars
With Calvin Ridley headed to free agency, the Jacksonville Jaguars may need to find some new WR depth. They’ve begun to do so by signing Gabe Davis to a three-year contract worth $39 million. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported the deal.
Jaguars Sign Former Packers Safety Darnell Savage
Darnell Savage spent his first five NFL seasons playing safety for the Green Bay Packers, he is now headed down to Duval after signing a new three-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The former first-round pick joins Andre Cisco and Antonio Johnson in Jacksonville’s defensive backfield. Ian Rapoport was first on the news.
RB Josh Jacobs Heads to Green Bay
In a stunning move, the Green Bay Packers have agreed to a contract with a former league-leading rusher in Josh Jacobs. The former Raiders RB heads to Green Bay after putting together 5545 rushing yards and 46 rushing TDs over his first five seasons. Ian Rapoport had the scoop.
Vikings Land Two More LBs
The Vikings have loaded up on the defensive side of the ball on Monday, signing both Andrew Van Ginkel and Blake Cashman to the team. Both signings are reunions of sorts as well. Van Ginkel was drafted by Brian Flores back in 2019 when he was head coach for the Miami Dolphins while Cashman spent his collegiate years at the University of Minnesota.
QB Kirk Cousins Signs with Falcons
Kirk Cousins’ tenure with the Minnesota Vikings has come to an end. The veteran QB signed a new four-year contract worth $180 million with the Atlanta Falcons on Monday, and he will join a promising offense hoping to grab the reins in the NFC South.
RB Saquon Barkley Leaves Giants, Devin Singletary Replaces Him
Saquon Barkley is set to leave the Giants after being unable to secure a long-term deal, but he won’t be traveling far. The star running back is headed to the Philadelphia Eagles on a three-year deal worth $37.75 million. Adam Schefter had the scoop. However, the Giants had a backup plan in place by signing Devin Singletary to a three-year deal of his own worth $16.5 million. It was Schefter again to report the news.
S Xavier McKinney Signs with Packers
The Packers lost Darnell Savage earlier on Monday, but they quickly found a replacement by bringing in Xavier McKinney from the New York Giants. According to Adam Schefter, McKinney’s deal is a four-year contract worth $68 million.
DE Denico Autry Heads to Houston
Despite being an older player, Denico Autry was another intriguing option for the Vikings to pursue at defensive end. However, that is no longer an option for Minnesota as Autry has signed with the Houston Texans on a two-year deal worth $20 million as reported by Tom Pelissero.
RB Gus Edwards Goes from One Harbaugh to Another
Gus Edwards has spent his first five NFL seasons being coached by John Harbaugh with the Baltimore Ravens. Now, the veteran running back is set to join Jim Harbaugh with the Los Angeles Chargers after inking a two-year deal, per Adam Schefter.
QB Gardner Minshew Heads to Vegas
After Anthony Richardson suffered his shoulder injury in 2023, it was Gardner Minshew to take over the starting QB role in Indianapolis for the remainder of the 2023 season. Now, the veteran journeyman is going to head to Las Vegas on a two-year deal worth $25 million, per Tom Pelissero. He will be competing with Aidan O’Connell for the starting job.
OLB Marcus Davenport Leaves Vikings for Lions
After spending one season with the Minnesota Vikings and playing only four games, Marcus Davenport is on the move again. However, he stays in the NFC North and simply hops a few states over to the Detroit Lions, signing a one-year contract.
DE A.J. Epenesa Stays in Buffalo
A.J. Epenesa has been a strong rotational pass rusher for the Buffalo Bills over the past couple seasons, and instead of searching for a larger role elsewhere, he has opted to remain in Buffalo for the next two years, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
RB Austin Ekeler Heads to the Nation’s Capital
Austin Ekeler has been a workhorse for the Los Angeles Chargers throughout his career, but now, the star running back is headed elsewhere after signing a two-year contract with the Washington Commanders, per Adam Schefter.
Vikings Add Two Offensive Pieces
After spending much of Monday’s focus on their defense, the Vikings flipped their plans over to the offense on Tuesday by signing QB Sam Darnold and RB Aaron Jones. Darnold will get a one-year deal worth $10 million while Jones signed a one-year deal worth $7 million.
RB Joe Mixon Traded to Texans, Zack Moss Signs with Cincinnati
For awhile, it seemed like RB Joe Mixon would be released after the Cincinnati Bengals agreed to a two-year contract worth $8 million with free agent RB Zack Moss. However, as of Tuesday morning, the Texans are now set to acquire Mixon via a trade with the Bengals as reported by Ian Rapoport.
QB Jacoby Brissett Signs with Patriots
Days after the Patriots traded Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars, New England has a new deal with QB Jacoby Brissett. The contract is a one-year deal worth a total of $8 million, per Ian Rapoport.
WR Darnell Mooney Joins Kirk Cousins in Atlanta
After making a big splash in the QB market by bringing in Kirk Cousins, the Atlanta Falcons also dove into the WR market on Tuesday by agreeing to terms on a three-year deal with Darnell Mooney worth a total of $39 million with $26 million in guarantees. Ian Rapoport had the scoop.
LB Shaq Barrett Heads to Miami
Shaq Barrett has been a strong pass rusher for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but now, the linebacker is headed elsewhere. He won’t have to travel too far though as Barrett has signed a one-year deal worth $9 million, per Adam Schefter.
RB Derrick Henry Signs with the Ravens
The latest RB domino has fallen as Derrick Henry is officially leaving the Tennessee Titans after eight seasons with the team that drafted him. He is joining the best rushing offense from a year ago, signing a two-year contract worth $16 million and $9 million in guarantees. Ian Rapoport reported the news.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference.
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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.