cdn.vox-cdn.com
WELL, this year's offseason was awesome. A lot of things have transpired, and if you weren’t glued to your phone for the last week, you most likely missed something. Let's recap some of the major moves that have shifted the league recently.
Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings to Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons signed Quarterback Kirk Cousins to a 4-year, $180 million contract that may finally give the Falcons’ offense the jolt it needs to put its talent over the hump. In his Vikings tenure, Cousins had a passer rating of 101.2 and finished in Minnesota with 23,265 yards, 171 touchdowns, and 55 interceptions in 88 games. Running back Bijan Robinson, the number eight pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, showed us exactly what we expected, knowing he is incredibly hard to tackle in the open field, easily resulting in a touchdown.
Both Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts have both been expected to have breakout seasons, hence the fact that Pitts had 1,000 yards in his rookie year but not being quite as dominant with knee injury. With that being stated, Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke aren’t exactly the quarterbacks that give you much of a shot, but wide receiver Drake London, standing at 6’4”, finally has someone to push the ball down the field and take the top off the defense.
Calvin Ridley, Jacksonville Jaguars to Tennessee Titans
This was the one that shocked the league. Not necessarily because it pushes the Titans over the top or even into the middle, but all weekend, we have been hearing the decision was between the New England Patriots and the Jacksonville Jaguars, and coming out of left field, the decision concluded to be the Tennessee Titans.
The Titans signed Ridley to a 4-year, $92 million contract that also included a $47 million bonus. He finished last year with 1,016 yards and 9 touchdowns, showing that after two years away from football, he could still contribute to an NFL offense. The new Titans front office signed running back Tony Pollard, and Ridley also joined veteran receiver DeAndre Hopkins catching passes from Will Levis.
Saquon Barkley, New York Giants to Philadelphia Eagles
Someone please check on Tiki Barber.
Saquon Barkley finally bids farewell to the New York Giants in what felt like a move that was a long time coming. However, Barkley did not go far. The Philadelphia Eagles signed Barkley to a 3-year, $38 million deal that will have him facing his former team twice a year in one of the NFL’s most storied rivalries. The Eagles are working on reloading after a disappointing year following their Super Bowl run, and although their line may not be as fearsome as before, having an offense of Jalen Hurts, Barkley, AJ Brown, Devonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert is not something teams will be able to take lightly.
Hollywood Brown, Arizona Cardinals to Kansas City Chiefs
The whole league lands a collective signing as the Chiefs end up with the perfect wide receiver for their offense. Marquise “Hollywood” Brown is a dynamic receiver who has incredible top-end speed. Now, Brown is not Tyreek Hill, but his 4.2 speed has flashed everywhere he has been. Injuries and drops have been some obstacles that Brown has battled through, but I am willing to ignore that when Patrick Mahomes is throwing the ball. If Hollywood can stay healthy, he might find himself having a breakout season with the Chiefs.
Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos to Pittsburgh Steelers
Entering his 13th season, quarterback Russell Wilson is once again in a new home. This time, he lands in Pittsburgh with Mike Tomlin and company. The Steelers taking a flier on Wilson had allegedly left a bad taste in quarterback Kenny Pickett’s mouth, and he voiced his opinion that immediately got him traded. Welcome to the business kid. Now the Steelers will still have to make a couple of moves considering they shipped off Diontae Johnson in return for cornerback Donte Jackson, but George Pickens is officially the top dog we have been waiting for (in fantasy at least). If Pickens and Wilson can form a connection similar to the Wilson and Doug Baldwin back in the day, that might be enough to push the Steelers into championship contention.
Other Notable Signings
Josh Jacobs to Green Bay Packers
Gabe Davis to Jacksonville Jaguars
D’andre Swift to Chicago Bears
Austin Ekeler to Washington Commanders
Derrick Henry to Baltimore Ravens
