The 2024 NFL league year is around the corner. That gives us one full year’s sample size to judge last year’s free agent class. Among all the teams who spent big in free agency last season, whose money made the most for them? These 2023 free agents were hugely important to their teams’ success and are proof positive of how much March can matter come December.
Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Deal: 1 year, $4 million
NFC South champions? Check. A playoff win over the reigning NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles? Check. A long-term successor to Tom Brady? Undetermined, but Baker Mayfield was about as good a quarterback as the Buccaneers could have asked for in 2023. To think there were points during the preseason where it was completely unsure whether Baker would beat out Kyle Trask for the starting spot.
Team: Tennessee Titans
Deal: 3 years, $26 million
It turns out DeAndre Hopkins has still got it. After getting jettisoned off the Arizona Cardinals, the 31-year-old wide receiver went on to put up his best yards per reception since 2017. Getting a legitimate No. 1 wide receiver for under $10 million per year is rare, but it means so much more given Tennessee’s receiving roster. Hopkins caught 75 passes for the Titans last year; no other Tennessee receiver broke 30.
Team: Buffalo Bills
Deal: 1 year, $7 million
With Von Miller playing just over 250 snaps for the Bills in 2023, Buffalo was in desperate need of a pass rusher. Enter Miller’s former teammate on the Rams Leonard Floyd. The one-year rental led the Bills with 10.5 sacks and 19 quarterback hits.
Team: Baltimore Ravens
Deal: 1 year, $2.5 million
Clowney has embraced the journeyman role since leaving the Houston Texans, appearing on four teams in five seasons. No post-Texans team has gotten more out of Clowney than the Baltimore Ravens. At age 30, Clowney tied his career-high 9.5 sacks while falling one shy of a new career high in total pressures.
Team: Atlanta Falcons
Deal: 4 years, $64 million
Bates was going to be a prize for whoever landed him in free agency, but the Atlanta Falcons desperately needed Bates’ skillset. The former Cincinnati Bengals safety finished third in the league with six interceptions and finished third on the team in pass breakups.
Team: Detroit Lions
Deal: 3 years, $18 million
Montgomery didn’t get much of a change of scenery, remaining in the NFC North hopping from the Bears to the Lions That didn’t stop him from having a career year. Montgomery set new career highs in rushing touchdowns (13), yards per game (72.5), and rushing success rate (54.8%).
Team: Las Vegas Raiders
Deal: 3 years, $33 million
The former New England Patriots receiver was a quality target while playing out his UDFA deal. With the Raiders, though, the crafty No. 2 receiver exploded. Not only did Meyers double his career receiving touchdown total in one season, he became one of the few players ever to record a receiving, rushing, and passing touchdown in the same season.
Team: Houston Texans
Deal: 1 year, $6.25 million
Just a sound, savvy move for Houston. Taking a 27-year-old tight end in free agency isn’t a sexy splash move, but it paid dividends for C.J. Stroud’s rookie development. Schultz finished second on the team with 88 targets and was a reliable veteran in an otherwise young receiving room.
Team: Baltimore Ravens
Deal: 1 year, $1 million
Protecting Lamar Jackson was of the utmost importance to the Baltimore Ravens after two years were shortened by injury. When it came to who would protect Jackson, they nailed the pick. Simpson finished sixth among guards with at least 750 snaps played in 2023, according to Sports Info Solutions.
Team: Tennessee Titans
Deal: 3 years, $21 million
With a lot of big-name pass rushers like Denico Autry. Harold Landry, and Jeffery Simmons on the roster, Arden Key ended up being a very valuable snag on the open market. Key finished third on the Titans with 6.0 sacks because of limited sample size, but he finished 13th among all edge rushers in ESPN’s pass rush win rate.
Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Deal: 1 year, $3 million
Adding talent to the second level helped Kansas City win a Super Bowl against one of the best running backs in the league. The Tranquill signing it worth it on that alone, but he also posted one of his best seasons in the league to boot.
Team: Carolina Panthers
Deal: 3 years, $25 million
Carolina had absolutely nothing going for it in the receiver department. Thielen deserves credit for just being a functional pass catcher on this roster. He doubled every other Panthers receiver’s season-long reception total and posted the first 1,000-yard receiver since D.J. Moore in 2021.
Team: Seattle Seahawks
Deal: 2 years, $9 million
In Reed’s second stint with the Seahawks, he finished 17th in pass rush win rate among defensive tackles. According to ESPN, 85% of Reed’s run tackles prevented a successful play for the offense, well above the league average for defensive linemen at 74%.
Team: Chicago Bears
Deal: 3 years, $19.5 million
The Bears’ investment in linebacker was an interesting strategy in 2023, but they nailed the Edwards pick. The former Eagle was a workhorse for Chicago, finishing eighth among all linebackers with 150 tackles.
Team: Cleveland Browns
Deal: 1 year, $3.5 million
On a stacked defense, Shelby Harris was a solid and well-rounded contributor to the Cleveland Browns. Harris’ presence on the interior helped the Browns finish fourth in defensive rushing DVOA, racking up nine tackles for loss or no gain on run plays.
