Expert Analysis

3/11/24

4 min read

Free Agency Frenzy: 33rd Team Expert Takes, Analysis Of Latest Moves

RB Joe Mixon: Traded to Houston Texans (previous team: Cincinnati Bengals)

The 2024 NFL free agency period kicked off on Monday with a flurry of moves as teams looked to improve their rosters. Monday's action saw several big names sign long-term deals, including Kirk Cousins, Christian Wilkins and Saquon Barkley.

The guard market also saw a solid increase in earnings after Robert Hunt and Jonah Jackson's new contracts were announced. That doesn't even get into the resurgent running back market.

The 33rd Team's experts were plugged into every signing to break down which acquisitions would make teams better and which would make teams regret handing out so much money.

Expert Reactions to Free Agency Day 2

Baltimore Ravens Sign RB Derrick Henry

Chase Daniel: There’s no bigger running back than Derrick Henry; he fits what Baltimore wants to do. I just can’t get over it. I would rather have Henry back in Tennessee than Tony Pollard. Henry, out of the backfield, can catch the football. I just can’t wait to see him in that black and purple with two-time MVP Lamar Jackson. The Ravens just want to run the football. He’s probably going to get a career-high in carries next year. He looks healthy, super excited, and has decent money for the next two years. The running back market, for the first time in a long time, has actually moved.

Jay Gruden: I love Derrick Henry to the Ravens. They're a smash-mouth team that relies on physicality. The playoff loss was a wake-up call.


Houston Texans Trade for RB Joe Mixon

Chase Daniel: I love Joe Mixon to the Texans and what he brings as a scat back. He can catch the ball out of the backfield from C.J. Stroud. He’s an excellent blocker; that’s not talked about enough as a running back. So I love that move.

Jay Gruden: Joe Mixon is a good add in Houston after the Singletary departure. He's bigger, but still a weapon in the pass game.


Pittsburgh Steelers Sign LB Patrick Queen

Chuck Pagano: After giving massive contracts to Roquan Smith and Justin Madubuike, you kind of figured that Patrick Queen was going to be gone in free agency this year. But to the Pittsburgh Steelers? Your rival of all spots! This was a massive get for Mike Tomlin and Steeler Nation, and they got Patrick Queen, an All-Pro player in 2023 from the Baltimore Ravens. He had 133 tackles and six pass breakups. He's a three-down linebacker who is unbelievable against the run. He plays downhill. He can match up in coverage and cover tight ends, run with running backs down the sideline. The guy can do it all, and he’s young. Queen is a great get for the Pittsburgh Steelers.


Minnesota Vikings Sign QB Sam Darnold

Jay Gruden: Sam Darnold is interesting. He's a good guy to take a swing on. He's talented and athletic, but Minnesota has to get better in the draft.


Expert Reactions to Free Agency Day 1

Philadelphia Eagles Sign RB Saquon Barkley

Chase Daniel: Saquon Barkley getting paid by a division rival is everything and more. And also… Howie Season!

Jay Gruden: I said a lot last year Philly's backs were too small.  Now they get another guy who squats 600 pounds.  As for the Giants, adding Singletary eases the pain because of his versatility, but please, add a wide receiver.


Atlanta Falcons Sign QB Kirk Cousins

Trey Wingo: Kirk Cousins will never make it to Canton, Ohio, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but I’m not sure anyone is better at the business of football. He’s an absolute first-balloter in that category


Las Vegas Raiders Sign DT Christian Wilkins

Dave Wannstedt: I’ll tell you of all the moves that excite me from a coach’s perspective, forget about the money. Right now, I’m talking coaching. What helps a team? Christian Wilkins to the Raiders will help Maxx Crosby. And let me tell you why. In my opinion, the best thing that you can do to help a great edge rusher like Crosby is to get him a pass rusher, a guy who can make plays and keep the quarterback from stepping up and getting off of blocks. From a defensive tackle standpoint, that’s Christian Wilkins. He’s a playmaker that can push the pile inside. You watch how it helps Crosby and his rush and his pressures next year for the Raiders

Chuck Pagano: In an effort to keep pace with the Kansas City Chiefs and a very competitive AFC West division, the Las Vegas Raiders go out and sign former defensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins Christian Wilkins to a massive contract - only behind Aaron Donald, Chris Jones. Coming off his best season as far as sacking the passer with nine last year, this is a scary proposition for not only the Kansas City Chiefs but everybody who goes up against this combination of Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins. Now, oh yeah, don’t forget former first-round pick Tyree Wilson who’s only gonna get better. That third down pass rush should be absolutely sick, and I’m sure Raider Nation can’t wait to watch this duo.

Andy Benoit: Wilkins got monstrous money (nearly $85M guaranteed) because a.) he's a great player (simple enough) and b.) his style of play fits any scheme, giving him a (theoretical) market of 32 teams. He has the get-off quickness to shoot gaps, the strength and power to clog gaps, and the athleticism and sound mechanics to shed blocks. Raiders DC Patrick Graham is a diverse and creative schemer. Adding Wilkins gives Graham more flexibility on his early down fronts and firepower on passing down rush designs. 


Minnesota Vikings Sign DE Jonathan Greenard

Andy Benoit: We can't say for sure without knowing how much of Greenard's 4-year, $72-76 million deal is guaranteed, but most likely the Vikings signed the 26-year-old hoping they could get 80 percent of Danielle Hunter's production but for, say, 65 percent of Hunter's price. Greenard's quiet, steady ascension turned him into one of the league's better edge rushers in 2023. He has explosive initial quickness (with fast hands to match). From there, he plays with enough athletic leverage to consistently bend the edge or move offensive tackles with the bull rush. 


Pittsburgh Steelers Sign QB Russell Wilson

Andy Benoit: Pittsburgh is perhaps the best possible landing spot for Wilson. His skillset has always been best suited for a run-first offense, where the pass game centers around slower-developing designs that come off play action. Arthur Smith is as good as any architect with schemes like these. He’ll call fewer timing-and-rhythm in-breaking play actions than he did with Ryan Tannehill and more designed pocket movement.


Chicago Bears Sign RB D'Andre Swift

Andy Benoit: It's simple: running backs who can create their own space and contribute to the passing game still have value. Those who can only run are replaceable (even if they run really well). The Bears have verified what the film already showed: Swift is in that first group of backs.


Buffalo Bills Extend OT Dion Dawkins

Andy Benoit: You often forget about Dawkins in pass protection (which is good). Lately, you can't help but notice him in the run game (also good). While most teams feature gap scheme runs with pulling guards, the Bills last year made a living pulling the tackle. They often did it to create better angles on weakside runs against 4-down fronts. Dawkins was usually the puller. On these snaps, Buffalo averaged more than 5 yards per tote. Paying Dawkins around $20 million per year (which is around the fourth highest of all left tackles) to maintain this approach made perfect sense. 


Green Bay Packers Sign RB Josh Jacobs

Jay Gruden: The Josh Jacobs signing is a sensational move for Green Bay. He will be the bell cow. He fits perfectly with LaFleur’s offense and will take pressure off Jordan Love. Great move.


Jacksonville Jaguars Sign WR Gabe Davis

Jay Gruden: Gabe Davis is a head scratcher. You have to assume Calvin Ridley will be gone. They can’t pay Ridley, Kirk, Davis and Jones. But Davis is a downgrade from Ridley for sure.


Los Angeles Chargers Sign RB Gus Edwards

Jay Gruden: Gus Edwards makes sense to reunite with Greg Roman. Austin Ekeler is probably not in their plans. Harbaugh and Roman like to pound the ball between tackles with physicality. Edwards is that guy.  Expect them to draft another big fella if they lose Ekeler and then add a third down back, but this move makes sense. The AFC West better buckle up.




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