The official start of the 2024 NFL free agency‘s legal tampering period was filled with twists, turns, winners, and losers. We’re going to focus on the latter for this one.
While teams scored big on Legal Tampering Day through their massive agreements with Pro Bowl players, others endured a rather quiet day — but one that got their fan bases riled up over their team’s failure to offer a mega deal.
Who were the teams taking the biggest loss at the start of free agency week?
NFL Free Agency Losers
Miami Dolphins and Their Quiet 2024 Offseason Start
A wind breeze blowing at a South Beach palm tree was likely louder than the Dolphins’ free agency start on Monday.
It all began with losing interior defensive lineman Christian Wilkins. PFN’s top free-agent interior defensive lineman is off to the Las Vegas Raiders with a four-year, $84.75 million deal that was offered and accepted. His deal officially clears and gets finalized on Wednesday for the start of the 2024 league year.
Yet, while Wilkins was going to be hard to keep as noted by PFN Dolphins reporter Adam Beasley, Miami also appeared to start clearing room to lure back key pass rusher Andrew Van Ginkel — especially with Emmanuel Ogbah getting released.
Welp, the EDGE defender Van Ginkel is soon to accept a two-year, $20 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings per ESPN.
Already, Miami is without Ogbah and Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard. While Miami has been dealing with salary cap restrictions, this team still lost two pivotal defenders in one day … including one that the Dolphins looked like they were trying to lure back.
Dallas Cowboys and Their Failure To Land a RB
Tony Pollard was open to returning to Dallas “on a hometown discount” just five days ago. Turns out the Tennessee Titans offered more than that with their three-year, $24 million deal that can pay him $8 million annually once it’s officially signed.
But Dallas had other options, from Saquon Barkley to Austin Ekeler to Derrick Henry to even less expensive but appealing ones like Devin Singletary and Gus Edwards. Not one of them is heading to Dallas with Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles), Ekeler (Washington Commanders), Singletary (New York Giants), and Edwards (Los Angeles Chargers) finding new homes.
The Cowboys had the start of free agency week to immediately address the position. While Henry is yet to accept any new deals from any team, Dallas still ends up watching Pollard accept a larger deal, while the Cowboys remain with questions about their backfield room.
This also potentially paints the picture of Jerry Jones, Mike McCarthy, and Company turning to April’s draft to fill some RB help. Still, one would think Dallas would offer a deal to talented options like Henry — who had a quiet legal tampering period day on his end.
Los Angeles Chargers Find Odd Future Austin Ekeler Replacement
Perhaps it’s a sign of the style of football Jim Harbaugh wants to play with the Los Angeles Chargers, but Ekeler is soon to be oddly replaced by Gus Edwards.
The same Edwards who has never rushed for more than 810 yards in a season and is going from John Harbaugh to Jim. But also the same Edwards who, while scoring 13 touchdowns for the Baltimore Ravens in 2023, has nowhere near the receiving skill set Ekeler possesses or the production.
Many fans would’ve thought Harbaugh would attempt to take a swing at Pollard or even Aaron Jones, who was released on Monday by the Green Bay Packers. They instead go with a cheap bargain in Edwards.
Could this mean Harbaugh wants to attempt to draft his prized RB at Michigan, Blake Corum? Perhaps the Edwards signing points to that. But still, it was a rather puzzling start for Harbaugh, who also signed longtime reserve tight end Will Dissly to address their tight end need.
Patriots Don’t ‘Open the Wallet’
New head coach Jerod Mayo declared that the Patriots will “open their wallet.” That signified the Pats will make a run at big-name free agents.
Their top free agent move on Monday? Agreeing to terms on a running back with a combined 811 rushing yards in his last two seasons, Antonio Gibson. While Gibson did rush for more than 1,000 yards in 2021, it’s not exactly an earthquake move the Pats made.
KEEP READING: NFL Free Agency Tracker 2024
Worse, there were NFL Combine rumors of New England looking into Baker Mayfield which would have immediately addressed the Pats’ QB room. Mayfield pivoted back to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, agreeing to a $100 million deal on Sunday.
Every move. Every team. Don’t miss a thing with PFN’s NFL Free Agency Tracker.