Kirk Cousins. Christian Wilkins. Stefon Diggs. L’Jarius Sneed. Russell Wilson. Calvin Ridley. Caleb Williams. Jayden Daniels. These are just many of the big-named NFL players who swapped jerseys this offseason and promise to bring immediate results to their respective teams.
But each team also made one sneaky-good move that isn’t getting enough love or attention. With training camp inching closer, let’s dive into every NFL club’s most underrated move of the 2024 NFL offseason.
Which underrated moves in the 2024 offseason will pay off for each NFL team?
Arizona Cardinals: Signing Mack Wilson Sr.
Arizona signed the former New England Patriots to a three-year deal worth $12.75 million, and boy, does it have the chance to be the steal of 2024 free agency.
Mack had 3.5 sacks in New England last year and garnered a superb Pro Football Focus grade of 81.5…despite only playing 27 percent of the Patriots’ defensive snaps. With more playing time coming in The Desert, Wilson could assert himself as a Pro Bowl talent.
Atlanta Falcons: Drafting Bralen Trice
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The Falcons’ first two selections – Michael Penix Jr. and Ruke Orhorhoro — were mega reaches and understandably scrutinized. But GM Terry Fontenot kinda made up for it by snagging Washington edge-rusher Bralen Trice in round 3 at No. 74 overall.
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Trice racked up 16 total sacks over his last two seasons of college ball and could easily emerge as the next star pass-rusher on an Atlanta team that looks poised to win its first NFC South division crown in eight years.
Baltimore Ravens: Drafting T.J. Tampa
Mock draft enthusiasts will recall that Tampa was a trendy pick to be gone by the mid-portion of the second round. Instead, the Iowa State corner fell to Baltimore in round four at No. 130 overall.
At 6-foot-1 and 194 pounds, Tampa has the ideal combination of size and speed to give Baltimore a third superstar defensive back to complement Kyle Hamilton and Marlon Humphrey.
Buffalo Bills: Signing Marquez Valdes-Scantling
After winning his second Super Bowl ring with the Kansas City Chiefs, MVS signed a one-year deal with the Bills worth up to $4.5 million.
Keon Coleman and Curtis Samuel headline the Bills’ new-look receiving corps but don’t sleep on Valdes-Scantling here. He can change the game at any point with his ability to stretch the field, and MVS’ speed will go hand-in-hand with Josh Allen’s rocket arm and ability to extend plays.
Don’t be shocked if MVS turns in a career year with the Bills.
Carolina Panthers: Drafting Jonathan Brooks
The Panthers traded for Diontae Johnson and moved up to take South Carolina wideout Xavier Legette with the No. 32 pick. We absolutely loved both those moves, but GM Dan Morgan’s sneaky-good transaction was getting Texas running back Jonathan Brooks with the No. 46 pick.
Chuba Hubbard was the RB1 last season, but Brooks has the potential to emerge as a workhorse 1,000-yard back, which would take plenty of pressure off of Bryce Young.
Chicago Bears: Signing D’Andre Swift
Newcomers Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, and Keenan Allen are getting all the love, but let’s not overlook the addition of D’Andre Swift.
Swift had a career-high 1,049 rushing yards and five rushing TDs in Windy City last year. Don’t underestimate the impact he can make as a running back in Chicago’s rush-heavy offense, especially with opposing defenses needing to focus mostly on stopping the Bears’ aerial attack.
Also Read: 10 Biggest NFL Names That Are Most Likely Still To Get Cut This 2024 Offseason
Cincinnati Bengals: Signing Zack Moss
After trading Joe Mixon to the Houston Texans, Cincinnati signed Moss to a bargain two-year deal worth $8 million.
Moss had a career year in Indianapolis with Jonathan Taylor missing time, racking up 794 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Now that he’s the undisputed RB1 in Cincy, Moss should have another career year in 2024. At a bargain $4 million, too.
Cleveland Browns: Trading For Jerry Jeudy
After a lackluster four-year stint with the Denver Broncos, Jeudy was traded to Cleveland in exchange for 2025 fifth and sixth-round picks. Jeudy was then handed a three-year extension worth $58 million.
This move was a major coup for the Browns, who desperately needed a No. 2 receiver to take some of the load off Amari Cooper. Jeudy was stuck with awful QB play during most of his tenure in Denver, but he should finally go off and emerge as a consistent 1,000-yard receiver with his new team.
Dallas Cowboys: Drafting Cooper Beebe
The Cowboys bolstered their o-line depth by landing Kansas State guard Cooper Beebe with the No. 73 pick.
Per Pro Football Focus, Beebe allowed only two total sacks in 1,259 pass-blocking snaps over the last three seasons. This has the chance to be a massive steal for a Dallas team that knows better than anyone how to draft and develop offensive linemen.
Denver Broncos: Signing Josh Reynolds
The Broncos handed the ex-Detroit Lion a modest two-year deal worth $9 million, but the veteran wideout could easily outperform that contract in Sean Payton’s offense.
Reynolds had 608 receiving yards and five TDS in his final season with the Lions even though Amon-Ra St. Brown, Sam LaPorta, Jahmy Gibbs, and David Montgomery got far more touches with the football.
Reynolds could replace Courtland Sutton as the new No. 1 receiver in Denver or, at the very least, step in as the WR2.
Detroit Lions: Trading For Carlton Davis III
The Lions’ pass D was their weak link last year, but GM Brad Holmes fixed that by acquiring cornerback Carlton Davis from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a third-round pick.
Davis is a stud ball-hawker with nine career interceptions and 73 pass breakups. He should perfectly complement rising star Brian Branch and rookie Terrion Arnold.
Green Bay Packers: Drafting Javon Bullard
The Packers’ biggest move on defense was signing ex-New York Giant Xavier McKinney. But don’t overlook the addition of the Georgia safety, who somehow fell down to Green Bay at No. 58 overall.
Bullard does it all as a ball-hawking safety who can also bring the heat as a pass-rusher. He can single-handedly turn this secondary back into a top-10 defense.
Houston Texans: Drafting Calen Bullock
Having added Stefon Diggs, Joe Mixon, and Danielle Hunter, the Texans had perhaps the best 2024 NFL offseason.
One under-the-radar move was snagging USC safety Calen Bullock with the No. 78 pick. A renowned takeaway specialist, Bullock, and Jalen Pitre have the skill set to soon become the NFL’s No. 1 safety tandem.
Indianapolis Colts: Drafting Adonai Mitchell
The Texas product was supposed to be a first-round pick, yet the Colts landed him in round two with the No. 52 pick.
The 6-foot-4, 196-pound Mitchell will be a difference-maker for Anthony Richardson. Consider Mitchell a dark horse for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Signing Mitch Morse
The cap-strapped Bills had to release Pro Bowl center Mitch Morse in a cap-saving move. The Jaguars pounced on the opportunity and signed him to a bargain two-year pact worth $10.5 million.
Morse allowed just one sack in 1,128 offensive snaps last season, per PFF. He immediately upgrades the middle of an already-solid Jacksonville o-line, giving Trevor Lawrence yet another special luxury.
Kansas City Chiefs: Drafting Jared Wiley
The Chiefs selected the hulking 6-foot-7, 260-pound tight end in round four with the No. 131 pick.
This selection is especially intriguing, with Travis Kelce about to enter his age-35 season, giving Wiley ample time to learn and develop from one of the all-time best before he gets the chance to flourish with Patrick Mahomes.
Las Vegas Raiders: Drafting Jackson Powers-Johnson
The Oregon offensive lineman was expected to be a late first to early second-round pick. Yet Powers-Johnson fell all the way down to Las Vegas in the No. 44 spot.
That’s ridiculously good value who didn’t allow a single sack in 2022 or 2023, per PFF.
Los Angeles Chargers: Signing JK Dobbins
The Bolts’ big move at RB was signing ex-Raven Gus Edwards. But Jim Harbaugh wanted another one of brother John’s former weapons, so the Bolts also brought in Dobbins to a one-year deal.
Sadly, injuries have limited Dobbins to 24 games since his 2020 rookie year. He had 805 rushing yards and nine TDs in his rookie campaign. In 2022, he had 520 rushing yards in just eight games.
So yes, a healthy Dobbins is capable of rushing for 1,000 yards. Dobbins and Edwards should be a wonderful duo to watch with the younger Harbaugh brother.
Los Angeles Rams: Signing Tre’Davious White
Following his release from Buffalo, White signed a one-year deal with the Rams worth up to $10 million.
Injuries have limited White to 21 games over the last three years. But if he can stay healthy? The Rams may be rewarded with vintage Tre’Davious White, who just might regain his Pro Bowl form on a stacked LA defense.
Miami Dolphins: Signing Kendall Fuller
The Dolphins released Pro Bowler Xavien Howard in a cap-saving move and found a cheap replacement in Kendall Fuller, who signed a two-year pact worth up to $16.5 million.
Fuller was rock-solid on a terrible Washington Commanders team last year, earning a PFF grade of 83.1. With 16 career interceptions and 75 pass breakups, he will easily slot in as Miami’s new takeaway specialist with Howard gone.
Minnesota Vikings: Signing Andrew Van Ginkel
Van Ginkel turned in a career year for Miami in 2023, posting eight pass defenses, six sacks, and 19 quarterback hits.
Van Ginkel turned that into a two-year deal with Minnesota worth a modest $20 million in this NFL offseason. If he can build off that career year, the Vikings will have found the perfect running mate for rising star linebacker Ivan Pace — one of the top rookies of 2023.
New England Patriots: Signing K.J. Osborn
The new-look Patriots signed Osborn to a one-year deal worth $4 million following a four-year run with Minnesota.
Osborn caught 48-plus passes and went over 500 yards receiving in each of the last three years despite watching most targets go to the likes of Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, and TJ Hockenson.
Now that he’s going to New England? Osborn has the potential to set career numbers, with no clear-cut No. 1 receiver in place there.
New Orleans Saints: Drafting Kool-Aid McKinstry
The big-bodied Alabama corner was supposed to be a day-one pick, but he fell to the Saints in round two at No. 41 overall.
McKinstry’s physicality, football IQ, and ball-hawking skills will make him the ideal sidekick for Pro Bowler Marshon Lattimore. This could seriously be football’s best cornerback duo in a short time.
New York Giants: Signing Drew Lock
One reason the Giants have been stuck using Daniel Joens all these years is that they’ve often ignored the need for quality backup quarterbacks.
Drew Lock looked good in the two games he had to start in Seattle last year, leading them to an improbable late win over the Philadelphia Eagles. With 24 NFL games under his belt, Lock has enough experience to push Jones and threaten his starting QB job if the 2019 first-round pick can’t put it together in year six.
New York Jets: Signing Mike Williams
Most of the Jets’ offseason work went towards rebuilding the offensive line, but getting ex-Chargers star Mike Williams on a one-year deal was an act of grand larceny by NFL GM Joe Douglas.
Williams was cut by the Bolts in a cap-saving move, but the two-time 1K receiver should easily slot in as the new No. 2 guy behind Garrett Wilson. With two Pro Bowl-caliber receivers at his disposal, Aaron Rodgers should go off in his first full year with the Jets.
Philadelphia Eagles: Drafting Cooper DeJean
It’s unfair that the Eagles got both Quinyon Mitchell and DeJean — two of the top-three corners in this year’s draft.
DeJean is being overlooked on a Philly secondary with Mitchell, Darius Slay, and CJ Gardner-Johnson. But if he gets ample playing time, the No. 40 overall pick could emerge as an elite shutdown corner in year one.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Drafting Roman Wilson
The Steelers have a ridiculous history of drafting stud wide receivers after round one, so pardon us for being awfully excited about the Roman Wilson pick.
The Michigan product had 789 receiving yards and 12 TDs in a rush-first Michigan offense last season. Now he should get every chance to become Pittsburgh’s No. 2 receiver behind George Pickens with Diontae Johnson gone.
San Francisco 49ers: Signing De’Vondre Campbell
After being released by the Packers in a cap-saving move, Campbell joined the rival 49ers on a one-year contract in the NFL offseason.
The do-it-all veteran linebacker should form a nightmare of a linebacker tandem with superstar Fred Warner. Campbell’s leadership and clutch performances could make him the final piece of the 49ers’ Super Bowl championship puzzle.
Real good chance Green Bay regrets letting Campbell walk to San Fran.
Seattle Seahawks: Trading For Sam Howell
Howell showed promise in Washington last year despite taking a league-high 65 sacks. He threw for 3,946 yards and 21 touchdowns against as many interceptions, which is pretty good when you consider how lousy the Commanders were last year.
We like Howell as a reclamation project in Seattle. If Geno Smith isn’t the long-term guy, the Hawks can see if Howell has what it takes to be a starting QB. And with DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Kenneth Walker as his main weapons, why can’t Howell shine if the opportunity presents itself?
Tennessee Titans: Signing Tyler Boyd
While people are gushing over Calvin Ridley’s arrival, we advise you not to sleep on Tyler Boyd’s signing.
A two-time 1,000-yard receiver in Cincy, Boyd’s production only dropped because Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins emerged as the new super wideout duo.
Boyd’s shiftiness and reliable hands will make life a lot easier for second-year quarterback Will Levis, who could help the longtime Bengal regain his 1,000-yard form.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Reuniting With Jordan Whitehead
The Bucs brought back Whitehead on a two-year pact worth $9 million following a two-year stint with the New York Jets.
Whitehead was a beast in his last season for the Jets, recording nine pass breakups and four interceptions while yielding just a 78.8 passer rating when targeted. Whitehead and Antoine Winfield Jr. just might form the NFC’s best safety duo in 2024, assuming the former picks up where he left off in Tampa.
Washington Commanders: Signing Bobby Wagner
The future Hall of Famer signed a one-year deal with Washington worth up to $8.5 million, a surprisingly low price for one of the top defensive players to hit free agency.
Wagner had 3.5 sacks and a career-high 183 tackles in 2023 while garnering a phenomenal PFF grade of 82.4. Not only will his presence help improve football’s worst scoring D a year ago, but this renowned locker room leader and former Super Bowl champion will greatly boost morale for a new-look Commanders team.
Also Read: 10 Blockbuster NFL Trades That Could Still Happen This Offseason
