Jude Magnotti ‘26
EE Sports Columnist
Not even a week into NFL free agency and the world is already on fire. Fans are crying, players are rejoicing, and GMs are lamenting over the 100 million dollar contract they just gave to a mediocre player.
With that being said, there is a certain beauty to the controlled chaos that is the NFL off-season. A player that was once considered an iconic symbol of a franchise could switch teams just like that. A decent player can swindle their way to a massive contract on a bad franchise. Every move made throughout free agency ends with someone scratching their head at the end of it one way or another.
This year in particular has proved to be no exception. Within an hour of the March 13th 4:00 PM start time, fans had already gone from enjoying a nice day outside, to screaming at the tops of their lungs (whether that be for joy or for anger).
The Packers stole Xavier McKinney from decimated Giants fans, the Raiders stole Christian Wilkins from depraved Dolphins fans, and Kirk Cousins agent struck once again by swindling the Atlanta Falcons into giving Kirk a 100 million dollar contract. As if this was not already enough chaos for day 1, the Ravens followed it up by signing Derrick Henry to create possibly the greatest rushing attack in all of football.
While these are not even close to as many signings that have taken place so far, I am going to go through and evaluate each of these signings and grade them based on my opinion:
First off, we have the aforementioned Kirk Cousins signing with the Atlanta Falcons which will be receiving a solid B. At first glance, this signing looks like an A. Atlanta found an experienced veteran quarterback that could potentially lead the Falcons to an NFC South title under new head coach Raheem Morris.
However, you then look at the fine print and any and all optimism you had fades away. The Falcons signed Kirk for over 4 years –180 million dollars!! Not only is 180 million a ludicrous amount of money, you then realize that the Falcons are signing a 35 year old quarterback who just came off the worst injury of his career.
I am hoping that Atlanta can get a few good years out of Kirk but frankly, this was not a move for the future. This was a move to get Atlanta into contendership right now, and the way that their team looks around Kirk, just does not sell me on them being Super Bowl material.
Next up we have the previously mentioned Derrick Henry signing to the Ravens. I am giving this move an absolute A++. Not only is the contract great at two years, 16 million, but the Ravens have now formed the best rushing attack in football by pairing him with Lamar Jackson. Riddle me this: How do you stop a quarterback that runs at light speed paired with a running back that runs like an Amtrak passenger train? SPOILER ALERT: YOU CAN’T!
The Ravens are now officially back in business. However, the next signing that we will be taking a look at will have Ravens fans groaning their hearts out.
Shortly into free agency, 1st team all pro linebacker Patrick Queen signed a 3 year, 41 million dollar contract with the Ravens arch-enemy (besides the playoffs): The Steelers. With a decent contract on the Steelers part combined with how mad Ravens fans were when this deal broke, I am giving this move an A.
The Steelers may not necessarily be in the best position right now with Russel Wilson as their Quarterback, but Pittsburgh’s front office did what they do best, which is building around the defense. With Queen now added to a fearsome defense composed of guys like Minkah Fitzpatrick and T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh now officially has a championship-level team on one side of the ball.
Now, if they only figure out what the heck is happening on the offensive side of the ball, the Steelers will be in GREAT shape.
Finally, the last major move that I will be talking about is not signing, but a trade. A trade that I dare say may go down as one of the most one sided trades in NFL history. Coming into the 2023-2024 NFL season Keenan Allen did not have high expectations. He was a 31 year old receiver coming off a season where it was almost impossible for him to stay healthy. To say that he exceeded his expectations in 2023 would be an understatement. With his back against the wall, Allen had arguably the best season of his career. He had over 1,200 yards with 7 touchdowns all while not having Justin Herbert for most of the season.
So, what do the absolute garbage can of an organization that is the Los Angeles Chargers do to reward their star? They trade him to the Chicago Bears for a fourth-round pick. Yes, you heard me right, a fourth-round pick. Allen may have his concerns, but to get such little value for a player coming off the best season of his career is highway robbery by the Bears.
On top of this, the Chargers released Mike Williams, so once Justin Herbert comes back he will have absolutely no one to help him out. Who is he going to throw to? Quentin Johnson???
On the Bears side of things this was an absolute master class of a fleece. Not only did they get whatever quarterback they picked at number 1, some serious help to go along with D.J. Moore, but once again they got him for a fourth-round pick!! On the Bears side, it’s an A (it would be an A+ if not for Allen’s injury concerns) but on the Chargers side, I think you already know: IT’S AN F!
And with that my brain has had me through enough numbers to last me a lifetime. Free Agency may not be over quite yet, but the amount of significant moves that we have seen take place before the season even started has been unprecedented. It only adds more fuel to the fire of anticipation that is the 2024 NFL season and I have no doubt that this one will be just as much of a chaotic disaster as the last.
Photo courtesy New York Post