2024 NFL Free Agency News/Moves/Signings thread

And fuck the Chefs. No need for the rich to get richer. I am glad Evans is staying away from that team:

Mike Evans was projected to be one of top, if not the top free-agent wide receiver available. The Chiefs, amongst others, were expected to be interested. Now the top free-agent WRs include Tee Higgins, Michael Pittman, Calvin Ridley, Odell Beckham Jr. and Michael Thomas. https://t.co/OPWOVf02KO

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 4, 2024

Pretty moronic tag line - "Evans now has a real chance to start and finish his career in Tampa as a Buc.  He'll be 32 at the end of this deal that pays him $26m per year. Zero chance he retires if he plays out both years. 

@packerboi posted:

And fuck the Chefs. No need for the rich to get richer. I am glad Evans is staying away from that team:

Mike Evans was projected to be one of top, if not the top free-agent wide receiver available. The Chiefs, amongst others, were expected to be interested. Now the top free-agent WRs include Tee Higgins, Michael Pittman, Calvin Ridley, Odell Beckham Jr. and Michael Thomas. https://t.co/OPWOVf02KO

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 4, 2024

OBJ a top free agent WR?  He hasn't even been relevant since 2019 and he's 31 now.  

@Pakrz posted:

OBJ a top free agent WR?  He hasn't even been relevant since 2019 and he's 31 now.  

LOL agree. I honestly forgot he was even in the league last year.

This is also the week where we can be assured that some teams (*cough*cough*Vikings*) are NOT 'tampering" with any players...

@Timmy! posted:

This is also the week where we can be assured that some teams (*cough*cough*Vikings*) are NOT 'tampering" with any players...

Always love the "3 day  Tampering window"  It's amazing these big complicated contracts get "worked out" 2 hours into the window!

@RapSheet:  The #Broncos are moving on from QB Russell Wilson, closing a tough chapter for the team and allowing coach Sean Payton and Wilson to start fresh.

Wilson is available for a team needing a starter. Denver avoids an extra $37M fully guaranteed now.

@broncos: We’ve notified QB Russell Wilson that he will be released after the league year begins March 13.

To update everyone, my phone hasn't rung. At 65, I still have plenty in the tank.

@AndrewBrandt:  Broncos officially releasing Russell Wilson.
They were as all-in on him, between trade assets given up and contract, as any team was all-in on any player.
Now they're all-out.
$39M left over in cash.
$85M left over in Cap.
Will go down as one of worst contracts in NFL history.

@AlbertBreer: The cost to the @Broncos of Russell Wilson's two years.

• Draft picks: 9th, 40th, 145h picks in 2022; 5th, 37th picks in 2023.

• Players: Drew Lock, Noah Fant, Shelby Harris.

• Cash: $124.02 million.

Wilson went 11-19 as Denver's starter, with a 90.8 passer rating.

@ilcuqui posted:

@RapSheet:  The #Broncos are moving on from QB Russell Wilson, closing a tough chapter for the team and allowing coach Sean Payton and Wilson to start fresh.

Wilson is available for a team needing a starter. Denver avoids an extra $37M fully guaranteed now.

@broncos: We’ve notified QB Russell Wilson that he will be released after the league year begins March 13.

I can’t even imagine what that cap hit will look like. It has to be just brutal. It will have to go down as one of the biggest bust trades/deals  in NFL history.

Prediction: Cousins to the Falcons and Wilson to the purple

Edit: Thanks Ilq for posting those numbers. Holy shit that’s bad.

@packerboi posted:

I can’t even imagine what that cap hit will look like. It has to be just brutal. It will have to go down as one of the biggest bust trades/deals  in NFL history.

Wait until Rodgers gets hurt in the 3rd play of the 2024 season.

@Packiderm posted:

Prediction: Cousins to the Falcons and Wilson to the purple

So no Cousins to GB like Cowherd was floating end of season? Damn, what a missed opportunity.

@artis posted:

So no Cousins to GB like Cowherd was floating end of season? Damn, what a missed opportunity.

Link?  I missed that one. Would love to hear it.

@ilcuqui posted:

@AndrewBrandt:  Broncos officially releasing Russell Wilson.
They were as all-in on him, between trade assets given up and contract, as any team was all-in on any player.
Now they're all-out.
$39M left over in cash.
$85M left over in Cap.
Will go down as one of worst contracts in NFL history.

@AlbertBreer: The cost to the @Broncos of Russell Wilson's two years.

• Draft picks: 9th, 40th, 145h picks in 2022; 5th, 37th picks in 2023.

• Players: Drew Lock, Noah Fant, Shelby Harris.

• Cash: $124.02 million.

Wilson went 11-19 as Denver's starter, with a 90.8 passer rating.

Largest dead cap hits in NFL history:
Russell Wilson ($85M)
Matt Ryan ($40.53M)
Aaron Rodgers ($40.31M)
Carson Wentz ($33.8M)
Russell Wilson, again ($26M)

To call this historic is an understatement. https://t.co/BeQztvGEin

— Anand Nanduri (@NanduriNFL) March 4, 2024

Wilson was terrible in 2022 - but part of that was probably Nathaniel Hackett (who the Jets are stuck with for at least another year as the OC).

Wilson didn't play at a Pro Bowl level in 2023, but it's not like he was terrible. He threw 26 TDs against 8 interceptions. He had a QB rating of 98.0 and a total QBR of 50.7.

I see why you'd want to eventually improve, but why not hold onto him for another year? The Broncos were 7-8 in his starts last year but Wilson played fairly well in several losses. They lost Game 1 against the Raiders with Wilson having a QB rating of 108. They lost Game 2 to the Commanders when the defense gave up 35 points. In Game 3, Miami hung 70 on them. Wilson had to be exceptional for them to beat the Bears 31-28. And then in Week 5, the Broncos gave up 31 points the Jets (obviously without Rodgers) in a loss.

Wilson had two poor games all year - against the Chiefs in Arrowhead and at the Texans. If you take out those two games, he had 25 TDs and 3 interceptions for the year in the other 13 games. In the other 6 losses he had 11 TDs and 2 interceptions.

The Broncos have no first round pick and are in salary cap hell. It would have cost them 50 million less against the cap to keep Wilson this year than release. Who are they going to find that is anywhere near as competent? I get that he's not worth 50 million a year, but you've already paid him and now you probably have no chance of being competitive this year when he was probably good enough to get you to the playoffs.

I would love to see Sean Payton go about 4-13 this year.

I think it was the injury guarantee that caused the Broncos to release him. If he had waived the injury  guarantee and turned it into a smaller signing bonus he very well may be a Bronco when the new league started.

@Pikes Peak posted:

Link?  I missed that one. Would love to hear it.

He threw it out there in a segment with James Jones. I'd say probably sometime around the loss to Tommy Cutlets. Tried making it sound like a win for all parties concerned. It was noteworthy because he mentioned nothing about Cousins injury or whether he'd even be able to come back at the same level. "Love sucks, you can rent Cousins for a year while you draft another guy" type pitch.

It's a good bet Tit posted it somewhere as thorough as he is.

@MichiganPacker posted:

Wilson was terrible in 2022 - but part of that was probably Nathaniel Hackett (who the Jets are stuck with for at least another year as the OC).

Wilson didn't play at a Pro Bowl level in 2023, but it's not like he was terrible. He threw 26 TDs against 8 interceptions. He had a QB rating of 98.0 and a total QBR of 50.7.

I see why you'd want to eventually improve, but why not hold onto him for another year? The Broncos were 7-8 in his starts last year but Wilson played fairly well in several losses. They lost Game 1 against the Raiders with Wilson having a QB rating of 108. They lost Game 2 to the Commanders when the defense gave up 35 points. In Game 3, Miami hung 70 on them. Wilson had to be exceptional for them to beat the Bears 31-28. And then in Week 5, the Broncos gave up 31 points the Jets (obviously without Rodgers) in a loss.

Wilson had two poor games all year - against the Chiefs in Arrowhead and at the Texans. If you take out those two games, he had 25 TDs and 3 interceptions for the year in the other 13 games. In the other 6 losses he had 11 TDs and 2 interceptions.

The Broncos have no first round pick and are in salary cap hell. It would have cost them 50 million less against the cap to keep Wilson this year than release. Who are they going to find that is anywhere near as competent? I get that he's not worth 50 million a year, but you've already paid him and now you probably have no chance of being competitive this year when he was probably good enough to get you to the playoffs.

I would love to see Sean Payton go about 4-13 this year.

They are currently scheduled to have the #12 pick

@artis posted:

He threw it out there in a segment with James Jones. I'd say probably sometime around the loss to Tommy Cutlets. Tried making it sound like a win for all parties concerned. It was noteworthy because he mentioned nothing about Cousins injury or whether he'd even be able to come back at the same level. "Love sucks, you can rent Cousins for a year while you draft another guy" type pitch.

It's a good bet Tit posted it somewhere as thorough as he is.

I certainly not a fan of CC but do tune in a bit here and there, as I recall he pretty much dismissed Love mid season (as did some here) and after the renaissance later in the season he went all in on Love (as did most here). I missed the Cousins talk but it could have been  before CC boarded the Love Boat.

@MichiganPacker

I would love to see Sean Payton go about 4-13 this year.

0-17 would not cause a tear to shed over here bro. Loved seeing the Jets beat the Broncos last year. More of that Broncos losing please

$85M in dead cap this year?  Do they have to replace half their roster with minimum salary guys?

  I see what you did there.

Are the Broncos are on the hook for Wilsons 39 million this coming season ?

Happy Birthday Dude  at At 7:19 a.m, the Jaguars wished DT, Foley Fatukasi happy birthday. The six-season NFL veteran turned 29 on Monday.  Roughly 4 1/2 hours later, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported the Jags were releasing him.

@Pikes Peak posted:

They are currently scheduled to have the #12 pick

Didn't realize that.

Still probably too far back to get one of the top 4 QBs (Williams, Maye, Daniels, or McCarthy) and probably too high in the first to justify drafting someone like Penix.

broncos might have to trade vet players for draft picks during this garage sale if you know anybody who might be interested and has a lot of picks

@skully posted:

Happy Birthday Dude  at At 7:19 a.m, the Jaguars wished DT, Foley Fatukasi happy birthday. The six-season NFL veteran turned 29 on Monday.  Roughly 4 1/2 hours later, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported the Jags were releasing him.

Sounds familiar!

@Pikes Peak posted:

I certainly not a fan of CC but do tune in a bit here and there, as I recall he pretty much dismissed Love mid season (as did some here) and after the renaissance later in the season he went all in on Love (as did most here). I missed the Cousins talk but it could have been  before CC boarded the Love Boat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...dkDZlqv3g&t=607s

My bad, it was just prior to the Rams game. Starts at 7:15.

Would you write the check ?

MLF coached him in 2018. Henry missed some time that year, but still managed 1000 yds. He's closing in on 10,000 for his career and wants a shot at a Title

Derrick Henry

Derrick Lamar Henry Jr.  (Tractorcito or The King)
6-3, 247lb

Born:  January 4, 1994 in Yulee, FL   Age: 30-060d

Spotrac says his market value is $10.3 M per year, he will have many suitors

https://www.pro-football-refer...ayers/H/HenrDe00.htm

Kick the tires

@skully posted:

Are the Broncos are on the hook for Wilsons 39 million this coming season ?

His dead cap hit will be 85 million. 🤣🤣🤣  That’s more than double the second or third place for dead cap money.

Russ is gone because his play didn't match the guarantees that were coming in his contract. If he's on the roster on the 5th day of the 2024 league year, then his 2025 salary is fully guaranteed ($37m). So deciding to go with him in 2024 means he's your QB in 2025. That couldn't happen so Broncos had to cut him.

I watched him pay enough in 2023 to know he's just an average QB now. Just like Payton made Jameis Winston, Teddy Bridgewater, and Taysom Hill look like competent QBs, he made Russ look ok.  But it was smoke and mirrors - dump offs combined with jump balls to Cortland Sutton. Nothing over the middle of the field, running into sacks, and an inability to go through his progressions.  No rhythm to the offense at all. And his athleticism is fading so he can't just run out of the pocket and make plays like he did in Seattle. He could occasionally but it's not enough anymore.

Russ drank his own Kool-Aid, surrounded himself with "yes men", and didn't let any criticism into his life. Could have stayed in Seattle and punched his ticket to Canton but instead pushed his way out and tanked his legacy. He's got more of a Donovan McNabb or Cam Newton career now. Russ just happened to have an all-time great defense that got him a Super Bowl.

Russell Wilson is John Hadl 2.0. ⬇️https://t.co/DXhWKr1Egg

— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) March 5, 2024

@packerboi posted:

LOL agree. I honestly forgot he was even in the league last year.

Honestly I also forgot about him.  I looked up his stats and he has not been anything since 2018 and 2019.  Good receiver who made a lot of money with that insane catch with the Giants on MNF.

85M dead money cap hit for Wilson?  I would hate to be the Broncos cap manager.

@Satori posted:

Would you write the check ?

MLF coached him in 2018. Henry missed some time that year, but still managed 1000 yds. He's closing in on 10,000 for his career and wants a shot at a Title

Derrick Henry

Derrick Lamar Henry Jr.  (Tractorcito or The King)
6-3, 247lb

Born:  January 4, 1994 in Yulee, FL   Age: 30-060d

Spotrac says his market value is $10.3 M per year, he will have many suitors

https://www.pro-football-refer...ayers/H/HenrDe00.htm

I will defer my opinion until I hear from Slowline

@Iowacheese posted:

I will defer my opinion until I hear from Slowline

Never say never! But, Henry's cap hit may be an impediment to him becoming a Packer--and I don't even know what his cap hit is. Why not keep AJ Dillon, instead? Dillon knows the system. Who knows what Gute will do? He has said he is looking at every option to improve this team. So, maybe???