NFL Analysis
3/15/24
8 min read
2024 NFL Free Agency: Ranking 9 Best Early Moves
The first few days of free agency in the NFL have concluded, and most of the top players have found new homes.
But which transactions stand out among the rest? And which teams got significantly better? Here are the nine best early moves so far in free agency:
>>READ: 9 Worst Free Agent Moves
Best Free Agency Moves
9. RT Morgan Moses To Jets 
One of the offseason's sneaky best was the New York Jets acquiring Morgan Moses in a trade from the Baltimore Ravens. Moses is still one of the NFL's best right tackles and has been incredibly durable throughout his career. Moses has started 143 games since 2014, and, despite turning 33 in March, his play hasn’t dropped off.
The Jets needed to upgrade their offensive line this offseason to protect Aaron Rodgers, and they just stole a quality player for a late Day 3 pick. Moses isn't the long-term solution in New York, but he is a considerable upgrade compared to what they had last year at right tackle.
8. RB Tony Pollard To Titans 
Did the Tennessee Titans overpay for Tony Pollard? Probably. They are giving him $8 million a year, which makes him one of the league's most expensive running backs. But the Titans had the cap room and desperately needed to add another playmaker to their offense.
Pollard played all 17 games in 2023 despite recovering from a major foot injury he suffered in the Divisional Round of the previous season's playoffs. While his overall numbers were a bit disappointing, he finally started to look like himself in the second half of the season.
Pollard is a fantastic back on passing downs and has improved as a pass blocker. With a young quarterback like Will Levis entering Year 2, having a reliable pass-blocker in the backfield makes a huge difference. Pollard has proven to be one of the most dynamic runners in the league when he's healthy.
The Titans needed to add some more firepower to their offense, and they accomplished that with Pollard's signing and the addition of Calvin Ridley. Pollard should prove to be an excellent fit in Brian Callahan's offense.
>> READ MORE: The RB Market Will Crash Again
7. C Lloyd Cushenberry to Titans
One of the first goals for Brian Callahan and his dad, Bill, was to upgrade the offensive line. Tennessee might have had the worst offensive line in the league last year, and it has already taken measures to address it.
On the first day of free agency, the Titans agreed to a deal with Lloyd Cushenberry, the top center on the market. He’s started 57 games in the past four seasons and is only 26. Signing him to a four-year deal and putting him next to 2023 first-round pick Peter Skoronski should help beef up the Titans' interior offensive line.
6. RB Derrick Henry To Ravens 
This is a match made in Heaven. It's too bad it didn't happen earlier, as Derrick Henry just turned 30, and it's fair to wonder how much tread is left on the tires.
However, the move from Tennessee to Baltimore should help extend Henry's career. After all, he's still one of the league's most physical running backs. Defenses won't be able to key on Henry alone, and the fact that Lamar Jackson carries the ball a lot should help limit his workload.
This move will be even better if Keaton Mitchell returns from his knee injury and becomes a complementary back. Henry doesn't have to be a workhorse anymore in Baltimore. They need him to move the chains in short yardage and help them score when they get into the red zone. If he can do that, the Baltimore Ravens will have hit a home run with the Henry signing.
5. RB Saquon Barkley To Eagles 
Paying top-end dollars to a running back going into Year 7 is usually not a great idea, especially when he has as many touches and injuries as Saquon Barkley. But the Philadelphia Eagles are in a Super Bowl window, and that window might be closed after the 2024 season.
In Philadelphia’s offense, Barkley can do what Christian McCaffrey did for the 49ers. He can make it even more dynamic and difficult to defend.
The Eagles have gotten incredible production out of Miles Sanders and D’Andre Swift in the last two seasons, but Barkley is a different type of talent. This move involves a lot of risk, but Barkley could be the missing piece to take the Eagles over the top this season.
4. EDGE Brian Burns To Giants 
The New York Giants did something this offseason that most NFL teams will never do. They gave up draft capital (three draft choices, including pick No. 39) for the right to pay Brian Burns. The Giants gave Burns a five-year contract worth up to $150 million with $87.5 million guaranteed. Usually, teams avoid surrendering draft capital to acquire a player who immediately needs a new deal.
However, this move makes a ton of sense for the Giants. New York had multiple second-round picks from the Leonard Williams trade and had the cap space after letting Barkley and Xavier McKinney walk in free agency. Rather than pay two players at less important positions, the Giants used those resources to upgrade their pass rush.
Burns is one of the NFL's best pass rushers, and the Giants will now team him with Dexter Lawrence and Kayvon Thibodeaux. A lot of work still needs to be done on offense, but their defensive line should win games by itself in 2024.
All three of those players are 26 or younger, giving New York a fantastic start on its rebuild. This was a fantastic move by Joe Schoen and the front office as they look towards the future.
3. EDGE Danielle Hunter To Texans 
The Houston Texans had money to spend, but rather than just building up the depth of the roster, they decided to add a superstar. On Tuesday, they agreed to a monster deal with Pro Bowl pass rusher Danielle Hunter.
Coming off a 16.5-sack season, Hunter will now be paired with Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson, giving the Texans one of the best pass-rush duos in the entire league.
The only reason this deal isn't higher is the amount the Texans will pay Hunter over the next two seasons. Hunter will earn $48 million guaranteed from the Texans, which doesn't give Houston much wiggle room in case the deal doesn't work out. But don't expect that to be an issue, as he is an incredible fit in DeMeco Ryan’s defense.
>> READ MORE: Texans Among Biggest Free Agency Winners
2. WR Diontae Johnson To Panthers 
It was no secret the Carolina Panthers would address their wide receiver corps this offseason. With Bryce Young entering a pivotal Year 2, Carolina needed to get him more weapons that could get open and win on the outside. However, accomplishing that goal would be challenging without a first-round pick and a weak wide receiver market in free agency.
The Panthers acquired Diontae Johnson from the Steelers in a trade that still doesn't make sense for Pittsburgh. Carolina traded away CB Donte Jackson (who they were likely to cut) and made a late-round pick swap for Johnson's services. Johnson wanted out in Pittsburgh, and Carolina was the perfect landing spot.
Now, Young has a proven receiver who can play multiple spots in their offense. The Panthers need to add more weapons along with Johnson, but this is a fantastic starting point for a team that was depleted at the position. Getting Johnson for basically free is a massive win for the Panthers and Young.
1. Kirk Cousins To Falcons
For the past several seasons, the Atlanta Falcons have been plagued by bad quarterback play. They've been somewhat competitive during that time, which speaks to their roster's overall talent and the division's lack of talent. This offseason, they finally acquired a veteran quarterback who can elevate the players around him.
The Falcons landed Kirk Cousins on a four-year deal that is pretty team-friendly. He gets to play behind a rock-solid offensive line and will have playmakers galore in Atlanta. The offensive system should be familiar to him, with former Rams QB coach Zac Robinson installed as the offensive coordinator. The Falcons even added weapons this offseason to help Cousins, signing Darnell Mooney to a three-year deal.
Cousins makes the Falcons a threat in the NFC South, and now they have one of the top-five quarterbacks in the conference. The Falcons are finally relevant again, which is why this move is ranked at No. 1.
>>READ: Cousins Is The Falcons Missing Ingredient
