NFL Offseason Analysis
Experts Rank 14 Top NFL Offseason Moves, From Blockbuster Trades to Key Signings
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The 2024 NFL offseason was supposed to be quiet. It was anything but. A record salary cap of $255.4 million per team — a $30.6 million jump from the prior year — unleashed a spending spree that moved star quarterbacks, elite pass rushers, and top running backs across the league in a matter of weeks, according to NFL Network.
In the first 10 days of free agency alone, teams handed out more than $2.5 billion in total contract value, according to Spotrac. Eight Pro Bowl players changed teams in March. The result: a reshuffled league with new contenders, a few big gambles, and one very surprising draft pick.
Kirk Cousins and a QB Shuffle Reshapes the NFC
The biggest move of the offseason sent Kirk Cousins to the Atlanta Falcons on a 4-year, $180 million deal with $100 million guaranteed — the highest guaranteed money ever given to a player coming off a torn Achilles, according to NFL.com. Atlanta had not had a stable franchise QB since trading Matt Ryan. "I wanted to be somewhere where the expectations are high," Cousins said at his introductory press conference.
Then the Falcons shocked everyone by drafting Michael Penix Jr. in the first round of the April draft — just weeks after handing Cousins $100 million guaranteed. The Bears, meanwhile, traded a 4th-round pick to the Chargers for veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen, giving new franchise QB Caleb Williams a reliable target from day one. The Athletic praised Chicago for "building the infrastructure before the QB arrived."
Houston Builds a Contender with Two Big Splashes
The Houston Texans made the boldest win-now moves of any team. On April 3, Buffalo traded All-Pro wide receiver Stefon Diggs to Houston for a 2025 second-round pick. Pairing Diggs with second-year QB CJ Stroud gave Houston one of the most dangerous young offenses in the AFC, according to The Athletic.
Houston also signed pass rusher Danielle Hunter to a 2-year, $49 million deal. Hunter recorded 16.5 sacks in 2023. He now lines up alongside Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr., according to NFL.com. ESPN analyst Mina Kimes called Houston "the first team in the modern era to successfully execute a rebuild-to-contender pivot in a single 12-month window."
Running Backs Stage a Surprise Financial Comeback
For years, teams refused to pay running backs big money. That changed fast in 2024. Saquon Barkley signed with the Philadelphia Eagles for 3 years and $37.75 million, leaving his former team — the New York Giants — and joining their division rival. The Eagles broke their own internal rule against paying RBs to give Jalen Hurts a top-tier partner, according to CBS Sports.
Derrick Henry signed with the Baltimore Ravens for 2 years and $16 million. CBS Sports called it a "nightmare scenario" for defenses — the league's most physical runner now lines up beside MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson. Josh Jacobs also landed a 4-year, $48 million deal with the Green Bay Packers. According to Pro Football Focus, the influx of elite backs signals a league-wide shift back toward run-heavy offenses to counter two-safety defensive shells.
Pittsburgh Steelers Reload on Both Sides of the Ball
The Steelers pulled off the offseason's best value play. They signed quarterback Russell Wilson for just $1.21 million — the league minimum — because Denver still owed Wilson $38 million from his old deal and paid it, according to ESPN. Pittsburgh then traded for Justin Fields, a former first-round pick, giving up only a conditional 6th-round pick.
Pittsburgh did not stop there. The Steelers poached linebacker Patrick Queen directly from their arch-rival Baltimore Ravens on a 3-year, $41 million deal. Queen is considered one of the best inside linebackers in football. Pittsburgh also signed Christian Wilkins on a 4-year, $110 million deal to anchor the defensive line alongside star Maxx Crosby, according to PFF, creating one of the most disruptive defensive fronts in the AFC.
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