Agent's Take: These veteran acquisitions have paid off in a giant manner through the early a part of the 2024 season

Ideally, veterans acquired by way of free company or commerce will assist enhance a staff’s fortunes. Usually, it is serving to a staff go from mediocrity to the playoffs or playoff participant to Super Bowl contender.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield was final season’s finest veteran acquisition. 2023 was speculated to be a transition season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Tom Brady retiring. A fourth straight playoff berth wasn’t anticipated with Mayfield taking on for Brady on a fully-guaranteed one-year, $4 million deal price as much as $8.5 million by means of incentives. 

Mayfield was as much as the duty of changing the longer term first-ballot Corridor of Famer. He had the perfect season of his six-year NFL profession. Mayfield linked on 64.3% of his passes for 4,044 yards with 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions to put up a 94.6 passer score. 

The Buccaneers received a 3rd consecutive NFC South title with a 9-8 document. Tampa Bay then superior to the divisional playoffs for simply the third time in 21 years with a 32-9 wild-card sport win over the Philadelphia Eagles earlier than shedding 31-23 to Detroit Lions. 

Here is a take a look at a number of veteran newcomers residing as much as or exceeding expectations because the quarter mark of the 2024 NFL season arrives.

The Vikings signed Darnold to a one-year, $10 million deal to be a bridge quarterback after spending the 2023 season with the San Francisco 49ers backing up Brock Purdy. The unique plan was for a transition to 2024’s Tenth-overall choose, J.J. McCarthy, to happen sooner or later this season. That went out of the window as a result of McCarthy is out for 12 months after tearing the meniscus in his proper knee through the preseason opener towards the Las Vegas Raiders.

Darnold is resurrecting his profession after failed makes an attempt beginning at quarterback with the New York Jets as 2018’s third-overall choose and the Carolina Panthers in 2021. By means of 4 video games, the Vikings are the NFC’s solely undefeated staff whereas Darnold is finishing 68.9% of his passes (73 of 106 makes an attempt) for 932 yards with 11 touchdowns and three interceptions for a 118.9 passer score. Darnold is main the NFL in each landing passes and passer score.

There have been some issues about whether or not Henry may very well be a case of diminishing returns as a result of he turned 30 years outdated in January and crossed the two,000 profession carry mark through the 2023 season. The Ravens felt signing Henry to a two-year, $16 million contract price as much as $20 million by means of incentives with solely $9 million assured was definitely worth the danger.

Henry is demonstrating he has loads of fuel left within the tank. He’s main the NFL with 480 speeding yards whereas averaging 6.0 yards per carry. He’s tied for the league lead with 5 speeding touchdowns and 6 complete touchdowns. In line with the NFL’s Subsequent Gen Stats, Henry’s 185 speeding yards over expectation are the NFL’s finest mark.

The Chicago Bears securing the No. 1 general choose within the 2024 NFL Draft, which was used to pick out USC quarterback Caleb Williams — because of commerce with the Carolina Panthers final 12 months — made Fields expendable. The commerce marketplace for Fields, who was 2021’s Eleventh-overall choose, was softer than the Bears have been anticipating. Fields was dealt in the course of March to the Steelers for a conditional 2025 sixth-round choose that converts to a fourth-round choose if he takes 51% of Pittsburgh’s offensive snaps through the 2024 season.

The expectation was that Russell Wilson, who signed a completely assured one-year deal for under his league minimal $1.21 million wage in March proper after the Denver Broncos launched him, would start the season as Pittsburgh’s beginning quarterback. An aggravation of a proper calf damage Wilson suffered firstly of coaching camp has saved him out of motion. Fields has taken benefit of Wilson being damage. He is thrown for 830 yards with three touchdowns and one interception whereas connecting on 70.6% of his passes (77 of 109 makes an attempt) for a 98.0 passer score. Fields has additionally used his legs by gaining 145 yards on the bottom and scoring 3 times. The three-1 Steelers are atop the AFC North with Fields underneath heart.

Head coach Mike Tomlin has constantly deflected questions on who begins as soon as Wilson is wholesome. Fields may make it a moot level by persevering with to indicate enchancment whereas Wilson is sidelined.

The Eagles gave Barkley the kind of long-term deal he had been in search of from the New York Giants earlier than enjoying the 2023 season underneath a $10.091 million franchise tag. Barkley signed a three-year, $37.75 million contract averaging $12,583,333 per 12 months. The deal is price as a lot as $46.75 million by means of incentives and wage escalators. There are $26 million in ensures, of which $24.5 million was totally assured at signing.

Barkley is Philadelphia’s finest offensive weapon up to now this season. His 435 speeding yards are third within the NFL. Barkley is averaging 6.0 yards per carry. He has been one of many NFL’s finest twin risk operating backs since getting into the NFL in 2018. That hasn’t modified. Barkley additionally ranks third within the league with 520 yards from scrimmage. His 5 touchdowns (4 speeding and one receiving) are the NFL’s fourth most for 2024.

McKinney bought the highest security contract in free company from the Packers. He signed a four-year, $67 million deal price up $68 million by means of incentives and wage escalators. At $16.75 million per 12 months, McKinney is the NFL’s fourth-highest-paid security. McKinney has a league-leading 4 interceptions. He has picked off a move in every sport this season.

Greenard had a 2023 breakout season for the Houston Texans with 12.5 sacks within the 15 video games he performed. The Vikings rewarded him with a four-year, $76 million contract averaging $19 million per 12 months in free company. Out of the $42 million in ensures, $38 million was totally assured at signing. Greenard has picked up the place he left off final season. His 4 sacks are tied for fifth within the NFL. Greenard’s 22 quarterback pressures (mixed sacks, quarterback hurries and quarterback hits) are tied for the NFL’s third most, based on Professional Soccer Focus.

Seibert has had a tough time solidifying himself as an NFL kicker ever for the reason that Cleveland Browns launched him early within the 2020 season. The 2019 fifth-round choose had been with 5 different NFL teams when the Commanders signed him after the common season opener for $1,062,500, his league minimal wage for the remaining 16 video games, to exchange Cade York. Seibert shortly rewarded the Commanders for switching kickers by making a franchise-record seven area objectives in his debut to account for each level of a 21-18 Week 2 win over the Giants. He was named NFC Particular Groups Participant of the Week for his efforts. Seifert has been good in his three video games with the Commanders, going 10-for-10 on area objectives and 9-for-9 on further factors.