The 4 Largest Contracts Signed in the 2024 NFL Offseason

Many National Football League (NFL) teams will have drastically different offenses in 2024, particularly at the running back position. Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles), Josh Jacobs (Green Bay Packers), and D'Andre Swift (Chicago Bears) were among the many free agent running backs that signed with new teams in the 2024 off-season. Jacobs signed a four-year, $48 million contract with the Packers. While that is a considerable amount of money, it wasn't even among the top 10 largest contracts signed during the off-season. Here's a look at the four players who inked the largest contracts.

Kirk Cousins (4 years, $180 million)

A four-time Pro Bowl quarterback from Barrington, Illinois, Kirk Cousins is a 12-year NFL veteran who has spent six seasons each with the Washington Commanders and Minnesota Vikings. He signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons on March 11, giving the team a capable quarterback to complement talented playmakers like wide receiver Drake London, tight end Kyle Pitts, and running back Bijan Robinson.

Cousins, 35, was limited to just eight starts with the Vikings in 2023 due to injury and had 18 touchdowns, five interceptions, and 2,331 passing yards. He has 270 touchdowns and 39,471 passing yards in 150 career regular season games.

Christian Wilkins (4 years, $110 million)

A 6-foot-4, 310-pound defensive lineman selected 13th overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 2019 NFL Draft, Christian Wilkins spent five seasons with the team and recorded 355 tackles, 20.5 quarterback sacks, and four forced fumbles. He registered a career-best nine sacks in 17 games last season.

Wilkins signed a four-year, $110 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. He provides Vegas with another dominant pass rusher on the defensive line alongside Maxx Crosby, who had 14.5 sacks in 2023.

Robert Hunt (5 years, $100 million)

Looking to provide more protection for quarterback Bryce Young, the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Carolina Panthers signed offensive lineman Robert Hunt to a five-year, $100 million contract on March 11. The former Dolphin, selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, will average $20 million per year on his new contract, making him the second-highest paid guard in the league behind the Falcons' Chris Lindstrom ($20.5 million).

Calvin Ridley (4 years, $92 million)

The Tennessee Titans improved their offense in free agency, signing wide receiver Calvin Ridley to a four-year, $92 million contract with $50 million in guaranteed salary. No other free agent wide receiver signed for more than $40 million.

A first-round pick of the Falcons in the 2018 NFL Draft, Ridley spent four seasons with the team before he was dealt to the Jacksonville Jaguars in November 2022. He had 76 receptions for 1,016 yards and scored eight touchdowns last season.

2024 NFL Draft: What You Need to Know about the Top 3 Picks

The 2024 National Football League (NFL) Draft concluded on April 27. As expected, the Chicago Bears selected University of Southern California (USC) quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick. Quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye were drafted with the second and third picks, respectively, marking only the fourth time the top three picks were quarterbacks since the 1971 NFL Draft.

Below is a breakdown of each player and what they bring to their respective teams.

1. Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears)

It was widely accepted for some time that the Bears would select Williams, a 6-foot-1, 214-pound quarterback with elite arm strength and above average speed, with the first overall pick in the draft. Chicago traded Justin Fields, their starting quarterback last year and the 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, to the Pittsburgh Steelers in March to make room for Williams.

Ranked as the best prospect in the draft by multiple outlets, including ESPN and CBS Sports, Williams won the Heisman Trophy in 2022 after throwing for 4,537 yards and recording 42 passing touchdowns compared to just five interceptions in 14 games. He played two fewer games in 2023, but posted similar per-game averages and had an even better passing efficiency rating, 170.1 compared to 168.5 in 2022.

2. Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders)

The Washington Commanders selected dynamic quarterback Jayden Daniels with the second pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Daniels, who played two seasons at Louisiana State University (LSU) and three at Arizona State, is a big (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) and mobile quarterback who had a career year at LSU in 2023, throwing for 3,812 yards, rushing for 1,134 yards, and scoring a combined 50 passing and rushing touchdowns.

Daniels won the Heisman in 2023 and became the first player in Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) history to exceed 12,000 career passing and 3,000 rushing yards. Like Chicago, Washington traded its starting quarterback from last season - Sam Howell - prior to the draft.

"[Washington is] a great situation for a rookie," said CBS Sports analyst Pete Prisco, adding that he would have selected Daniels over Williams with the first pick. "The team has a new owner, coach and now quarterback. They can grow together. He will be the best QB in this draft class."

3. Drake Maye (New England Patriots)

The New England Patriots also desperately needed a quarterback. They haven't had a reliable option under center since Tom Brady left for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020. They used their first pick, third overall, on 6-foot-5, 220-pound University of North Carolina (UNC) quarterback Drake Maye.

Ranked by ESPN as the sixth-best prospect in the draft, Maye spent three seasons at UNC and was ACC Player of the Year in 2022. He finished last season with 3,608 passing yards, 24 touchdowns, and nine interceptions.

4 of the Biggest Trades in the NFL Offseason

The 2024 National Football League (NFL) offseason featured plenty of player movement, with more than 10 high-profile free agents signing contracts worth at least $50 million. Quarterback Kirk Cousins received the largest contract in the offseason, signing a four-year, $180 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons. Including players selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, teams awarded $9.4 billion worth of contracts, including $4.6 billion in guaranteed salary, to players in the offseason.

Teams also addressed positional needs through trades. Here's a look at four of the most notable trades this offseason.

1. Bears Add Keenan Allen

The Chicago Bears made arguably the most significant move in the trade market in the offseason, acquiring six-time Pro Bowl receiver Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers for a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. A third-round pick in 2013, Allen recorded 10,530 receiving yards and 59 touchdowns in 139 games through 11 seasons with the Chargers. He is coming off a career-best season, catching 108 passes for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns. Allen is a great fit for the Bears, which needed a veteran receiver to play with quarterback Caleb Williams, the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

"I don't think there's a better receiver in the league that can be better for a young quarterback in terms of understanding the NFL, timing, space, reading defenses," said Bears GM Ryan Poles of Allen.

2. Jerry Jeudy to Cleveland

The Cleveland Browns also improved its depth at wide receiver, acquiring Jerry Jeudy from the Denver Broncos in exchange for fifth- and sixth-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. The 15th overall pick in 2020, Jeudy had 3,053 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in 57 games through four seasons in Denver. He had his best year in 2022, hitting career-best marks in receptions (67), receiving yards (972), and touchdowns (6).

3. Pittsburgh Acquires Justin Fields

The Pittsburgh Steelers made considerable changes at the quarter-back position in the offseason. The team traded last year's starting quarterback, Kenny Pickett, to the Philadelphia Eagles, and then signed veteran Russell Wilson to start in 2024. The Steelers then acquired Justin Fields, 11th overall pick in 2021, from the Bears for a conditional sixth-round pick in 2025.

Fields was 10-28 in 38 starts through three seasons in Chicago, but he will get a fresh start in Pittsburgh with the opportunity to learn under Wilson, a Super Bowl champion.

4. Mixon in Houston

After signing free agent running back Zack Moss, the Cincinnati Bengals planned to release Joe Mixon, but instead found a trading partner with the Houston Texans. The Bengals dealt Mixon to Houston for a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. A Pro Bowl back, Mixon had four 1,000-yard seasons through seven years in Cincinnati. He had 1,034 rushing yards and nine touchdowns in 2023.

Top 4 Candidates for 2024 NFL Rookie of the Year

The transition from college football to the National Football League (NFL) is difficult, but many standout players have excelled in their first professional season and gone on to have great careers. Marcus Allen, Eric Dickerson, Barry Sanders, and Randy Moss are among the many Hall of Famers to win NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, which is awarded by the Associated Press (AP). Below are four first-year players with some of the best odds to be named 2024 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.

1. Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears)

The Chicago Bears drafted University of Southern California (USC) quarterback Caleb Williams with the first overall pick in the 2024 Draft and made subsequent moves to ensure he has plenty of weapons at his disposal in his first season as the face of the franchise. Chicago also drafted University of Washington receiver Rome Oduze, who had a record-breaking year in 2023 with 1,640 receiving yards, breaking the school record for most yards in a season by almost 200.

Before the draft, the Bears acquired six-time Pro Bowl receiver Keenan Allen from the Los Angeles Chargers. They also have D.J. Moore, who led the team with a career-high 1,364 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in 2023.

Williams, meanwhile, won the Heisman Trophy as the top player in college football in 2022 and finished the 2023 season with 30 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He has the shortest betting odds to win Offensive Rookie of the Year.

2. Jayden Daniels (Washington Commanders)

Selected second overall in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders, Jayden Daniels is a dual-threat quarterback with five seasons of college experience, split between Arizona State and Louisiana State University (LSU).

He won the Heisman Trophy in 2023 after recording 3,812 passing yards, 1,134 rushing yards, and 50 combined passing and rushing touchdowns. Daniels rushed for at least 10 yards on more than 40 snaps last season and could give NFL defenses fits with his elite athleticism.

3. Marvin Harrison, Jr. (Arizona Cardinals)

Considered the best wide receiver in the 2023 NFL Draft, Marvin Harrison, Jr., was a dominant force at Ohio State, recording at least 1,200 yards receiving and 14 touchdowns in each of his last two seasons. He also has family pedigree: his father, Marvin Harrison, is a Hall of Famer and eight-time Pro Bowl receiver who played 13 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.

4. Malik Nabers (New York Giants)

Selected sixth overall by the New York Giants, Malik Nabers was an All-American wide receiver at LSU in 2023. He finished the season with 1,569 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns and has a good chance to lead the Giants in targets in 2024.

3 Standout NFL Stars Who Retired after the 2023 Season

There's typically a flurry of activity during the National Football League (NFL) offseason as teams look to improve their rosters via the draft, trades, and free agency. This offseason was no different, as several marquee players changed teams, including Kirk Cousins signing with the Atlanta Falcons and Stefon Diggs joining the Houston Texans in a trade from the Buffalo Bills.

Several players, including three likely future Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees, also announced their retirement.

Jason Kelce

While his brother Travis might be known more outside of football, Jason Kelce is a well-respected center who will be remembered as one of the best players at his position. The 36-year-old native of Ohio announced his retirement in March 2024 after 13 seasons, all of which were with the Philadelphia Eagles. He ranks seventh all-time among centers in ProFootballReference.com's Approximate Value metric and is one of only three centers with at least six All-Pro selections. Moreover, Kelce was among the best at his position up until the end of his career, earning three consecutive All-Pro selections in his final three years.

Kelce was an unheralded sixth-round pick of the University of Cincinnati in the 2011 NFL Draft, but started all 16 games in his rookie season and was a beacon of consistency for the Eagles, starting all 193 games in which he played over 13 seasons. He won the Super Bowl with the Eagles in 2017.

Aaron Donald

Kelce's retirement was somewhat expected, but few people anticipated that Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald would call it quits during the offseason. Donald, a three-time Associated Press (AP) Defensive Player of the Year, was just 32 years old when he announced his retirement in March, stating he was "burnt out" and "satisfied with what [he] was able to do in 10 years." Donald was the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history in 2018 when he signed a six-year, $135 million contract extension with the Rams.

Selected 13th overall by the Rams, Donald finished his career with 111 quarterback sacks, 543 tackles, and 24 forced fumbles in 154 games. He won the Super Bowl with Los Angeles in 2021 and, like Kelce, is a future Hall of Famer.

Fletcher Cox

Another all-time great Eagle, defensive tackle Fletcher Cox announced his retirement on March 10. Like Kelce, he spent his entire career in Philadelphia, recording 70 sacks, 519 tackles, and 16 forced fumbles in 188 games. Only Donald, Cameron Heyward, and Chris Jones recorded more sacks than Cox from 2012 to 2023. Cox was first-team All-Pro in 2018, played in six Pro Bowls, and was included on the Hall of Fame All-2010s Team.

A Look at Some of the Best NFL Players in September 2024

The first month of the 2024 National Football League (NFL) season featured a few notable surprises, including impressive starts by the Washington Commanders and Minnesota Vikings and a 0-3 start for the Cincinnati Bengals. Here's a look at the best NFL players in September.

Josh Allen (AFC Offensive Player of the Month)

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen won his third AFC Player of the Month award in September and first since the 2020 season. Playing in his seventh season, Allen led Buffalo to a 3-1 record and was first among AFC quarterbacks in passing touchdowns (7) and passer rating (116.5). He also scored a pair of rushing touchdowns.

Allen completed 69.3 percent of his pass attempts for 814 yards and rushed for 106 yards in four games during September. He had his best game in Buffalo's 47-10 Week 3 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, completing 23 of 30 passes for 263 yards and four touchdowns.

Sam Darnold (NFC Offensive Player of the Month)

The Vikings faced uncertainty at quarterback, the most important position in football, prior to the 2024 season. Last year's starting quarterback, Kirk Cousins, signed with the Atlanta Falcons in the offseason, and 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy suffered a season-ending knee injury in his first preseason game. Veteran Sam Darnold, signed by Minnesota in March, has stepped up and is having a career renaissance.

Selected third overall by the New York Jets in the 2018 NFL Draft, Darnold was just 21-35 with three teams as a starting quarterback during his first six years in the league. He led the Vikings to a perfect 4-0 record in September and threw a league-best 11 touchdowns while completing 68.9 percent of his pass attempts to 932 yards.

Kyle Van Noy (AFC Defensive Player of the Month)

An 11-year NFL veteran, linebacker Kyle Van Noy won AFC Defensive Player of the Month in September after recording a conference-best six sacks, eight tackles, and a forced fumble. Van Noy, in his second season with the Baltimore Ravens, had two sacks in three consecutive games, including a 35-10 win over the Bills in Week 4. This was his first Player of the Month honor, although he is a two-time AFC Defensive Player of the Week winner.

Aidan Hutchinson (NFC Defensive Player of the Month)

The second overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Aidan Hutchinson is building upon his impressive sophomore season in 2023. The Detroit Lions defensive end earned his first Pro Bowl nod last year after recording 11.5 sacks and 51 tackles. He had a league-best 6.5 tackles through the first three games of the season, including 4.5 in the Lions' 20-16 Week 2 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

4 Players with the Best Odds to Win 2024 NFL MVP

Football is a team game, but in the NFL, quarterbacks receive the bulk of the credit for their team's success and, in some cases, undeserved criticism for their failures. Quarterbacks have won the Associated Press (AP) NFL MVP in all but one season since Tom Brady won in 2007. That QB dominance isn't likely to end in 2024, judging by the odds to win the award at most major sportsbooks.

Here's a look at the four quarterbacks who have the shortest odds to win AP NFL MVP in 2024.

Patrick Mahomes (+400)

A two-time MVP, Patrick Mahomes opened the 2024 season as the favorite to win the award, with +400 odds at BetMGM. The 28-year-old former first-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs first won the award in 2018 after leading all quarterbacks in touchdowns (50) and leading the Chiefs to a 12-4 record in the regular season. He won again in 2022, when he finished first in touchdowns (41), passing yards (5,250), and yards per game (308.8).

Mahomes is already the most decorated current quarterback in the NFL and has drawn comparisons to all-time great Tom Brady since winning his third Super Bowl with the Chiefs in 2023. He is also a three-time Super Bowl MVP and has a much better receiving corps this season than he did in 2023.

Josh Allen (+550)

Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, and Lamar Jackson have each won two MVPs since Josh Allen made his debut in 2018. The Buffalo Bills quarterback has been in the same conversation as those players, but has yet to win the award. He finished second in MVP voting in 2020 and has thrown for at least 29 touchdowns and 4,283 yards in each of the last four seasons.

A two-time Pro Bowl quarterback, Allen is also a threat to run every time he touches the ball. He scored a career-best 15 rushing touchdowns in 2023 and had two in the Bills' Week 1 victory over the Arizona Cardinals. He opened the year with +550 odds to win MVP.

C.J. Stroud (+900)

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has third-shortest odds to win MVP at +900 on BetMGM. The second overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Stroud won AP Offensive Rookie of the Year last year after leading Houston to a 9-6 record under center while throwing for 23 touchdowns and 4,108 passing yards. He also had just five interceptions, leading all quarterbacks in interception percentage (1.0).

Jalen Hurts (+1,000)

Also a two-time Pro Bowl quarterback, Jalen Hurts of the Philadelphia Eagles has the fourth-shortest MVP odds at +1,000 on BetMGM. The 26-year-old native of Houston, Texas, selected by the Eagles in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, was MVP runner-up in 2022 and finished last season with 38 combined passing and rushing touchdowns.

A Look at 4 Standout NFL Players in October

Every month, the National Football League (NFL) honors players who have had the best offensive and defensive performance in both the AFC and NFC. It also gives monthly awards to the top offensive and defensive rookies. Here's a look at some of the winners for October 2024.

1. Lamar Jackson (AFC Offensive Player)

A candidate to win NFL MVP for the second consecutive season, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson had a standout month in October, leading his team to a 3-1 record with wins over the Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Commanders, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had a completion percentage above 60 in each of Baltimore's four games in the month and threw for 1,241 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also rushed for 193 yards.

Jackson had his best game of the month against the Buccaneers, throwing for a season-high five touchdowns with 281 passing yards and 52 rushing yards. This was his fourth AFC Offensive Player of the Month honor. He also won in December 2023, September 2022, and November 2019.

2. Jared Goff (NFC Offensive Player)

The Detroit Lions finished October with a perfect 3-0 record due in part to the impressive play of quarterback Jared Goff. The first overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft threw for a season-high 315 passing yards and three touchdowns in a 47-9 win over the Dallas Cowboys on October 13 and finished the month with 680 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and no interceptions. He had just 13 pass incompletions.

3. Bo Nix (Offensive Rookie)

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, selected 12th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, completed 66.7 percent of his passes in four games and had 870 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and only one interception. He also rushed for 149 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Nix is only the third Bronco to win Offensive Rookie of the Month and first since Clinton Portis in 2002. His performance in October was much better than during September, when he had just one touchdown and four interceptions.

4. Chris Boswell (AFC Special Teams)

Chris Boswell, the kicker for the Pittsburgh Steelers, won his second consecutive AFC Special Teams Player of the Month award in October. Boswell won the award following a perfect month in regard to field goal attempts. He made all 12 attempts, including one from beyond 50 yards and converted all 10 of his extra points. Through the end of October, the 33-year-old Pro Bowl kicker had missed just one field goal and was a perfect 16-for-16 in extra point attempts.