The Rundown
Quarterback Carousel
Running Backs
Loose Ends
NFL free agency has arrived to save us from the drudgery that is the 82-game NBA regular season. Let’s find out what’s making the mob throb.
Most Intriguing Quarterback Move?
We've had some quarterback shuffling already. Russell Wilson is joining the Pittsburgh Steelers on a 1-year deal, Kirk Cousins is signing with the Falcons on a 4-year, $180 million deal, and the Patriots traded Mac Jones to the Jaguars for a sixth-round pick.
Kirk Cousins leaving Minnesota for Atlanta is the most intriguing move. Kirk Cousins is still probably a top 10 quarterback in the league. Atlanta plays in a weak division. By adding Cousins, they immediately become the favorites to win the division by my money.
Atlanta has spent a lot of draft capital on offensive players. A fourth overall pick on tight end Kyle Pitts. An eighth overall pick on wide receiver Drake London. The eighth overall pick last year on Bijan Robinson. Atlanta has gotten nothing from their quarterback position the past two years — zero, zilch, nada. Now, they plug in Kirk Cousins. Is that not enticing? I know for a fact that fantasy owners are salivating to see what these young players can do with an actual quarterback helming the team.
The deal is not devoid of risk, by the way. They are paying $180 million over four years with $100 million guaranteed to a 35-year-old quarterback who tore his Achilles last season. There’s a lot of risk involved there, in which Atlanta has to believe that Cousins can return to form post-Achilles injury.
That seems to be an awfully flimsy basket to put your eggs in, but maybe Achilles injuries are the new ACL injuries. Perhaps modern medicine and science has reached the point where athletes can come back from Achilles injuries which used to be a death blow to careers. We used to think a torn ACL was a terminal injury; now, everyone is back to full speed in record times. Kevin Durant has come back pretty successfully from his late career Achilles injury.
What I do know is that Kirk Cousins’ agent should be put into the Hall of Fame. Do you know where Cousins’ career earnings ranks amongst active players? He’s second on the list. It is Aaron Rodgers with $342.5 million in earnings followed by Kirk Cousins with $331.7 million in earnings. We do winners and losers every year in free agency. Every year Kirk Cousins enters free agency, he is the biggest winner. Every time.
Going down the line, Russell Wilson to Pittsburgh is intriguing, but feels like fool’s gold to me. Here is what there is to like: Wilson is going to a stable organization with a great coach in Mike Tomlin, a great defense, and some interesting weapons on offense. The Steelers get an upgrade at the quarterback position, where their best quarterback this past year was Mason Rudolph because Kenny Pickett had no game last year. It is a no-brainer for both sides. Wilson gets a shot to repair his image while the Steelers get a cheap, quick upgrade at quarterback because Denver is paying Wilson $39 million.
On paper, that looks great. My pause comes from what I believe will happen when it actually plays out. Russell Wilson is not who he was — he is an older, diminished version of himself. We saw how that went for him in Denver. He takes a lot of sacks. He can’t dance around the pocket making magic happen like he used to. Pittsburgh’s offense was fundamentally bad last year. The offense gave the defense nothing last year. I don’t think you can rely on Russell Wilson to elevate and solve your offenses issues.
As for Mac Jones, well, Mac Jones is hoping he can get to where Russell Wilson is, who is trying to get where Baker Mayfield has gotten. Baker Mayfield had a comeback year and got re-signed to a 3-year, $100 million contract extension with the Buccaneers. Wilson has the opportunity to play himself into that kind of deal. Mac Jones doesn’t even have an opportunity. Mac Jones’ career has spiraled, leaving him in a position where he is now a back-up who has to be patient in hopes of getting a shot to revive his career.
I believe Parcellism is that “The most important person on your team is your quarterback. The second most important player on your team is your back-up quarterback…” yada, yada, yada. Mac Jones was once a promising young rookie QB. He could be nice insurance for Trevor Lawrence, who was a generational prospect that has been just an ordinary quarterback so far in his career if Lawrence misses time.
These moves might have intrigue, but they are not the most intriguing story. The most intriguing story is that Justin Fields is stuck in limbo right now. Nobody wants Fields, his market is nonexistent. His fate might be up in the air for a while because the Bears don’t have to rush to trade him. They can wait until the draft if they want while he is stuck worrying about if he is even going to have a starting job next year.
Running Back Resurgence?
The splashiest moves in free agency so far have come from the running back position of all places. Notably, Derrick Henry is signing with the Ravens, Josh Jacobs is signing with the Packers, Tony Pollard is leaving Dallas for Tennessee, and Saquon Barkley is an Eagle.
Derrick Henry is a big haul for the Ravens. The Ravens led the league in rushing last year by committee . Now they’re adding Derrick Henry, who is going to the Hall of Fame. They already had the best running quarterback in the league in Lamar Jackson.
But, now, Lamar Jackson does not have to run the ball as much — meaning that Lamar Jackson does not need to take as many unnecessary hits and faces less chances of getting killed out there because they now have a workhorse in Derrick Henry.
It gives Baltimore a 1-2 punch to go after Kansas City because they have the most athletic quarterback in the league with one of the best running backs in the league commanding the best rushing attack in the league. And maybe this time, if they face Kansas City, they’ll stick to running the ball instead of laying an egg in the postseason.
Tony Pollard’s leaving Dallas surprised me because last year I remember how excited everyone was to see Tony Pollard be the next fantasy league winner. It's also surprising because he’s going from a contending team to a rebuilding team. But, with running backs being devalued in the league, maybe the motivation becomes more of getting the best contract you have instead of location.
The Packers cut Aaron Jones and signed Josh Jacobs, who led the league in rushing the year before last. He had a poor year last year, but he was running behind no offensive line. The Packers were a much better offense with Aaron Jones on the field last year. Now, they have to hope it doesn’t backfire because Aaron Jones has partaken in this running theme of going to your divisional rival this free agency.
Barkley to the Eagles is juicy. When Barkley came into the league, I thought he might be the most talented running back I’ve ever seen. Injuries have caused Barkley to have his ups and downs — it’s part of the reason the Giants are fine letting him drive down I-95 to the Eagles. That offense is exciting on paper, but are they going to come together as a team? Philly imploded last year, even with how great they look on paper, I’m wary of what happened.
Here’s what I’ll say overall, we saw a lot of running backs move around to teams trying to win. I thought it was interesting to see that — multiple transactions around a position that has become so devalued in the NFL. It was nice to see running backs, which have been so historically significant (Jim Brown, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, Dickerson), valued again.
Loose Ends
We are running out of ink, let’s tie up some loose ends.
Aaron Rodgers being considered for RFK Jr.’s VP?
But, remember? He said he didn’t want any more distractions. None.
Panthers trade for Diontae Johnson, Titans sign Calvin Ridley, Colts extend Michael Pittman
They traded their only good wide receiver away in D.J. Moore to the Bears in that abysmal trade to move up to get Bryce Young. Last year was a disaster. They had to get Young some help to see if he can play the guitar.
The same goes for Will Levis on the Titans and Anthony Richardson on the Colts. The Front offices have to find out what they have in these young prospects.
Fun fact: I went to middle school with Michael Pittman. We were acquaintances. Played football together for a year.
Minnesota signs Sam Darnold
Minnesota has to draft a QB, right? Right??? I’ll personally begin tweeting out of the wide receiver diva playbook for Justin Jefferson if they don’t.
Chiefs resign Chris Jones
The most impactful signing of the entire free agency was Chris Jones extending with the Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes is the best player in the world, the most important player on the Chiefs. Chris Jones is the second most important player on the Chiefs. He’s the most disruptive interior d-lineman in football. Kansas City doesn’t win this last Superbowl without Chris Jones. San Francisco wins the Superbowl with a touchdown late in the game except Chris Jones forces a throwaway with pressure on Purdy. They had to have Chris Jones back if they were going to go for a three-peat and they got him back.
That’s all we have written for today. We’ll try to do better next time.
George Hudson, come on, man! What are we doing out here, man? Give me back my hour!