This year’s NFL free agency began with a bang late Sunday night, when quarterback Russell Wilson announced on social media he would join the Pittsburgh Steelers. League sources said it’s a one-year deal.
Wilson was allowed to negotiate early with teams after the Denver Broncos told Wilson last week they would be releasing him from his mammoth contract. The legal tampering window for everyone else began Monday at noon ET. Players and teams could officially sign deals when the new league year began Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET.
We’re grading all the noteworthy deals, many of which will include players from our list of the top 150 free agents, so keep checking back to see how your favorite teams and players are faring. (Players are listed below in order of their free-agent ranking.)
Live updates: Free-agent news from across the NFL
FA tracker: New teams and contract details for the top 150 free agents
Best available players: Who’s still on the market?
Texans land edge rusher Danielle Hunter
Grade: A
Randy Mueller’s Top 150 ranking: No. 1
Already boasting a talented young pass rusher in Will Anderson Jr., the Texans pull off a move to make their defense that much more formidable, adding Hunter — the top edge rusher on the free agent market.
Hunter, who agreed to a two-year, $49-million deal, is coming off a career year, recording 16 1/2 sacks to go with 83 tackles (a league-best 23 for a loss). It was his fifth double-digit sack season for the eight-year veteran.
GO DEEPER
Texans, Danielle Hunter agree to 2-year deal
Eagles add RB Saquon Barkley
Grade: B-plus
Randy Mueller’s Top 150 ranking: No. 2
Another running back comes off the market as the former Giants star heads to NFC East neighbor Philadelphia. Barkley, who played on the franchise tag last season, lands a three-year deal that could pay him up to $46.75 million and includes $26 million guaranteed. Barkley will not reset the running market with this deal, but if he meets incentives, he could draw an average salary of $15.83 million, which would be the second-most for running backs in NFL history.
The Eagles wanted to upgrade their rushing attack despite receiving a 1,000-yard season from newcomer D’Andre Swift last season. Philadelphia let Swift depart via free agency to the Bears, however, and zeroed in on Barkley, who has recorded three 1,000-yard seasons in the last six years, and came close last season (962 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 247 carries). Barkley just turned 27, but the Eagles expect him to continue to produce like one of the top backs in the league, which would add a welcome element to an offense that features dual-threat quarterback Jalen Hurts and the dynamic wide receiver tandem of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.
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Howe: A peek behind the scenes of the Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson, Baker Mayfield deals
Falcons add QB Kirk Cousins
Grade: A
Randy Mueller’s Top 150 ranking: No. 3
Kicking off a new era under recently hired head coach Raheem Morris, the Falcons also are starting over at quarterback after landing the four-time Pro Bowl passer on a four-year, $180 million contract that comes with a $50 million signing bonus and $100 million guaranteed.
Cousins had spent the last six seasons in Minnesota. He now heads South, where he reunites with Morris, who was an assistant during Cousins’ early years in Washington.
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How to sum up Kirk Cousins’ six prolific seasons in Minnesota? It’s complicated
Cousins is coming off a season shortened by a torn Achilles, but has looked good in recent workouts and is expected to be ready to go by the start of the season. Cousins not only has familiarity with Morris, but he will also recognize elements of Atlanta’s offensive scheme because Falcons coordinator Zac Robinson learned under Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell when both were assistants with the Rams in 2020 and 2021.
The NFC South is wide open, so Cousins and the Falcons, who boast a roster full of young, up-and-coming talent, could make some…
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