The NFL backfields will look very different next season, with many free agent quarterbacks and running backs making moves during the league's two-day legal tampering period.
On Day 2, running backs continued to make progress in free agency with Derrick Henry agreeing to a two-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens.
Henry's move from the Tennessee Titans to the Baltimore Ravens was one of the biggest before the start of the new league year.
This is when free agents can officially sign contracts they agreed to during this week.
Henry's contract is worth up to $20 million with $9 million guaranteed. He joins a Baltimore team known for its strong running game.
In recent years, running backs have had difficulty earning high salaries. Henry even organized a group chat among top players at the position last summer.
Last year, Barkley, Jacobs, and Pollard were franchise tagged at $10.1 million, but none signed long-term deals with their teams. All three became free agents this year when their teams chose not to tag them again, this time at $12 million.
Henry, a four-time Pro Bowler who turned 30 in January, led the NFL in 2023 with 280 rushing attempts and ranked second in rushing yards with 1,167. His 12 rushing TDs were fourth in the AFC.
Henry leaves the Tennessee Titans as the second-highest rusher in franchise history, behind only Eddie George.
The Ravens, who had the best regular-season record in 2023, are adding another proven offensive playmaker to their team alongside quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Baltimore also reached a long-term deal with defensive tackle Justin Madubuike while losing inside linebacker Patrick Queen to rival Pittsburgh.
A total of 10 quarterbacks will sign with new teams, including Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson, Jacoby Brissett, Jameis Winston, Gardner Minshew, Tyrod Taylor, Drew Lock, Marcus Mariota, Mitchell Trubisky, and Sam Darnold.
At least a dozen veteran running backs, including Henry, Barkley, Jacobs, and Pollard, are getting deals with new teams, along with others like Aaron Jones, D'Andre Swift, Austin Ekeler, Devin Singletary, Antonio Gibson, Zack Moss, Gus Edwards, and Nyheim Hines.
The Vikings added Jones, the former Green Bay running back, and signed Darnold as a temporary replacement for Cousins, who left for Atlanta.
The big move in free agency was Cousins' departure to Atlanta, and the Vikings also added Aaron Jones and Darnold as a temporary replacement for him.
On Tuesday, the Browns agreed to pay Winston up to $8.7 million for a one-year contract to be the backup for Deshaun Watson, according to a source familiar with the negotiations.
Joe Flacco, who helped the Browns make the playoffs last season when Watson got injured, did not get a contract offer from the Browns, according to his agent, Joe Linta.
The Texans are getting running back Joe Mixon from the Bengals, according to a source familiar with the deal.
Mixon, who led Cincinnati with 1,034 rushing yards and nine TDs last season, will take over for Singletary.
Cincinnati had planned to release him after reaching a contract agreement with running back Moss, who scored seven combined TDs in ’23 for the Colts.
Mixon will be joining Dameon Pierce in the backfield for the AFC South champions.
On Tuesday, edge rusher Danielle Hunter agreed to a two-year, $49 million deal with the Texans; edge rusher Shaquil Barrett agreed to a one-year, $9 million deal with Miami after five seasons in Tampa Bay; and former Saints defensive lineman Malcolm Roach agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $8 million with Denver, according to sources familiar with the deals. The Broncos allowed a league-worst 5 yards per carry last season.
The Broncos were the big spenders last year in free agency, signing 14 players to contracts worth nearly a quarter-billion dollars. But they have had to be much more careful in their spending after their release of Wilson saddled them with a record $85 million in dead cap charges.
