Hindsight is always 20/20. Two years ago, the Denver Broncos were excited to get a quarterback named Russell Wilson. Even when players were successful during their previous contracts, they don't always pan out for their next contract. These moves might look like total garbage two to three years from now. For now, these are the best moves made by teams so far.
No. 3) Derrick Henry to the Baltimore Ravens
I will start with the easy one. Everybody in the NFL knew it was coming. The only surprising aspect of this move is that the Dallas Cowboys didn't even try to bring this player. The Dallas Cowboys have a glaring hole at RB, and Derrick Henry expressed interest in playing for Dallas. Hindsight is always 20/20, but Lamar Jackson with Derrick Henry seems as slam dunk as you can get—way to go being "all in" Jerry Jones.
The Baltimore ground attack was already at the top of the NFL. The only problem was that the Quarterback was the leading rusher. Now they have an RB that takes the pressure off of Lamar Jackson to where he doesn't have to run. I'm sure Jackson will still run. That's who he is. He's the greatest running QB of all time. His legs have earned him one MVP and given him another(CMC should've won this year). Now, he won't have to run as much as he did in the past.
Derrick Henry has a lot of wear and tear on him. He was the Titans' whole offense for the better part of a decade. He's the definition of an old-school workhorse running back like Jim Brown. Henry has averaged 300 touches a year since 2019. He just turned 30 on January 4th of this year. However, Derrick Henry is built differently.
Henry hasn't had less than a thousand yards in a full season since 2017. Derrick was on pace to be the first player to have back-to-back 2,000-yard seasons before a foot injury derailed that accomplishment.
The Baltimore Ravens paid top dollar for him at 8 million but kept the years low at 2. 2 years for 16 million is an excellent contract for Derrick Henry.
No. 2) Willie Gay Jr. to the Saints
Here's one that isn't getting the attention it deserves. The Saints got a great off-the-ball linebacker for one year at five million dollars. FIVE MILLION DOLLARS! That's nothing in terms of the salary cap! I mean, the Saints can make this move, and they are always in salary cap trouble.
This one didn't get the attention because Willie is not a superstar. In his best season with the Chiefs, 2022, he had 88 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and one INT. These are not gaudy numbers, but Willie was instrumental and underrated in the Chiefs' back-to-back championships. The Saints got a lot of quality from minimal investment. Since he was that cheap, as a Chiefs fan, I wonder...WHY DIDN'T THE CHIEFS MAKE HIM OFFER TO KEEP HIM?!
Willie was the ultimate hype man. Every Sunday, he would get the Chiefs and the crowd pumped up. His stats aren't eye-popping, but his ability to get the team fired up is valuable but can't be measured. The Saints got a steal!
No. 1) Geno Stone to the Bengals
The STEAL of the offseason. The type of free-agent splash that makes you say, "How in the world did they pull that off"? His critics will point out his injury history and that he has only had one "good year." That one "good year" was fantastic, though. He was one of the best safeties in the league last season. He had a breakout campaign with the Ravens. Geno had seven interceptions, which was good for second in the NFL behind Daron Bland of the Dallas Cowboys.
The Cincinnati Bengals did a superb job replacing Jessie Bates. Sure, they had to wait a year, but the Bengals also got a third-round compensatory pick because Bates signed a huge contract. Even though I can't stand Jamar Chase and the Bengals, I must say BRAVO!
This free agency frenzy has lived up to the hype. The NFL isn't done yet. Stay tuned.
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