Major 2024 NFL free-agency deals are aging very poorly

Several of the high-profile names of the 2024 free-agent class are really struggling to justify the massive contacts they received through the early stages of the 2025 season. 

Despite the generous contracts, some players have been very underwhelming after getting the big payday.

In particular, these players who signed major deals are now playing on new teams or in new roles:

• Christian Wilkins — four-years, $110M with Raiders, now a free agent

• Kirk Cousins — four-years, $180M with Falcons, now a backup

• Bryce Huff — three-years, $51.1M with Eagles, now with 49ers

• Jonah Jackson — three-years, $51M with Rams, now with Bears

• Gabe Davis — three-years, $39M with Jaguars, now a free agent

• Gardner Minshew — two-years, $25M with Raiders, now with Chiefs

• Chidobe Awuzie — three-years, $36M with Titans, now with Ravens

While certain free agents such as Saquon Barkley and Danielle Hunter have delivered massive returns on their contracts to the Eagles and Texans, respectively, these other big signings have taken a completely different trajectory. 

Whether it is due to injuries, underperformance or not fitting the schemes, these players have not lived up to their deals. 

Wilkins is a case in point. The Raiders decided to cut him after signing him to a four-year, $110M deal. He struggled with injuries that held him out in 2024, leading to the team and Wilkins disagreeing on how the injury has been handled. Because of this, the two split ways only one year into his contract.

Huff only played in 12 games and had a total of 2.5 sacks for Philadelphia after inking a three-year, $51.1M deal. He was traded to the 49ers in June for a 2026 mid-round pick. 

Cousins might be the most egregious of these deals. The former Vikings QB signed a four-year, $180M, with $100M fully guaranteed. Yet, he only started 14 games in 2024, and now is the backup to Michael Penix Jr. The Falcons now are essentially stuck paying their backup quarterback an annual average of $45M. 

These signings highlight the risk of free agency. Paying top dollar for past performance runs the risk of overlooking team fit and future value of contracts. Too often, these high-profile veterans who get massive paydays decline very fast or simply fail to mesh with new systems. 

So far, these investments in 2024 appear to have aged very poorly. Unless these players turn their performances around in 2025, many of the teams will view these moves as a cautionary tale of overspending in free agency.