The 2024 National Football League (NFL) calendar year officially began on March 13. However, teams were able to agree to contracts with free agents two days prior during the legal tampering period that marks the unofficial start to free agency. Several notable players, including the four listed below, agreed to join new teams on March 11.
1. Kirk Cousins (Atlanta Falcons)
The Atlanta Falcons have been weak at the quarterback position since Matt Ryan left the team after the 2021 season. However, they addressed that need in free agency, signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180-million contract. While there are questions regarding Cousins—he'll turn 36 next year and missed time last year due to a torn Achilles—he was considered one of the top free agents on the market for any position and has proven himself as a quality quarterback in the NFL.
Cousins, selected by the Washington Commanders in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, has a career record of 76-67-2 to go along with 270 touchdowns, 110 interceptions, and 39,471 passing yards. He led all quarterbacks with eight game-winning drives in the 2022 season and earned his fourth Pro Bowl selection. Atlanta should be the favorites in the NFC South next season with Cousins throwing to the team's group of former first-round picks, including Drake London and Kyle Pitts.
2. Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles)
Running back Saquon Barkley left the New York Giants to sign with its NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles on a three-year, $37.75-million contract. D'Andre Swift, the Eagles lead back in 2023, signed with the Chicago Bears earlier in the day.
Barkley has been a consistent performer during the last two seasons, recording at least 1,200 rushing and receiving yards and scoring 10 touchdowns. The two-time Pro Bowl back just turned 27. He has 5,211 rushing yards and 35 rushing touchdowns in 74 career regular season games.
3. Josh Jacobs (Green Bay Packers)
After releasing veteran running back Aaron Jones, the Green Bay Packers signed former Las Vegas Raiders back Josh Jacobs to a four-year, $48-million contract. The Packers split carries between Jones and A.J. Dillon in 2023 but, with both players likely moving on (Dillon is a free agent), Jacobs could easily garner more than 300 carries in 2024. The 26-year-old native of Tulsa, Oklahoma had 805 rushing yards through 13 games last season, but he led all backs with 1,653 rushing yards on 340 attempts in 2022.
4. Christian Wilkins (Las Vegas Raiders)
Christian Wilkins was one of the best defensive players off the board on the first day of the legal tampering period. The 6-foot-4, 310-pound defensive lineman signed a four-year, $110-million contract with the Raiders after posting a career-best nine sacks and 23 quarterback hits last season with the Miami Dolphins.