Latest signings ahead of the NFL season

Ladies and gentlemen, the upcoming NFL season is just a little more than a month away. College football will arrive even sooner (August 24, to be exact), but the pros won’t be far behind (September 5). Action on the professional gridiron gets underway with Thursday Night Football between the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens. Week 1 also features the Green Bay Packers battling the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil.

For football fans, it has been another long offseason. It has been a much-needed time to rest and re-energize for players. For front offices, the last five months have presented an opportunity to stockpile rosters with talent for both the immediate and distant futures.

Let’s break down the latest developments in free agency as the 2024 NFL campaign approaches. 

Titans take a chance on Jamal Adams

Jamal Adams may be past his prime, but he can still make an impact at the safety position when healthy. A do-it-all defensive back who once had a knack for finding his way into opponents’ backfields, Adams racked up 21.5 sacks in his first four NFL seasons – including 9.5 in 2020. However, he has missed 24 of his teams’ last 39 regular-season games because of knee, quad and shoulder injuries.

The former New York Jet and Seattle Seahawk signed a one-year, $1.25 million contract with the Tennessee Titans ($925,000 guaranteed) earlier this month. If healthy, Adams figures to be a key contributor on a defense that has underwhelmed against the pass in recent seasons.

What does Calais Campbell have left in the tank?

Another veteran defender who recently exited the free-agent market is Calais Campbell. The 37-year-old tackle has showcased amazing longevity throughout his professional career and has not yet slowed down. Campbell has recorded at least five sacks in all but two seasons since 2009. During the 2023 campaign – his only one with the Atlanta Falcons – he delivered 6.5 sacks, 32 solo tackles, 12.5 stuffs and a forced fumble. 

Last month, Campbell inked a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins featuring a $1.2 million base salary and a $795,000 signing bonus. The former University of Miami standout likely could have gotten more money elsewhere but his familiarity with defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and the attractiveness of a potential Super Bowl contender swayed his decision to take his talents to South Beach.

According to the betting odds, the AFC East is expected to be the most competitive three-team race in football between the Dolphins, Jets and Buffalo Bills.

Jaguars all in on Trevor Lawrence

There was never doubt who would be under center for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024. As for the franchise's future, that may not have been quite as much of a slam dunk...until last month. That’s when the Jaguars signed Trevor Lawrence to a massive contract extension. 

Terms of the deal are five years and $275 million, with $200 in guaranteed money. It matches the league-leading contract of Cincinnati Bengals signal-caller Joe Burrow in total value and average annual salary.

Is Lawrence worth it? Well, you can make that call. The former Clemson star has restored this franchise to relevancy with two winning seasons in his first three years. Jacksonville won the AFC South in 2022 and advanced one round in the playoffs, staging an epic comeback to stun the Los Angeles Chargers before falling to the Kansas City Chiefs. 

On the downside, Lawrence has a modest 58-to-39 touchdown-to-interception ratio, has been sacked 94 times in three seasons and has lost six fumbles. Despite some success, Jacksonville is 21-30 since selecting Lawrence as No. 1 overall in the 2021 NFL Draft.

The Jaguars are the second favorites behind the Houston Texans to win the AFC South in 2024.

Super Bowl hero heading back to Kansas City

Despite their recent success, the Chiefs always seem to be starving for talent at wide receiver. This offseason is no exception, so it’s no surprise that they went out of their way to bring back Mecole Hardman. It is a one-year contract worth $1.125 million.

After beginning his career in Kansas City, Hardman did not last long with the Jets at the start of 2023. In fact, after just five games in New York, he was shipped back to K.C. The 26-year-old contributed sparingly in the regular season and during the early rounds of the playoffs.

However, he saved his best for last when the Chiefs faced the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes had been lacking pass-catching weapons outside of tight end Travis Kelce. Hardman caught all three of his targets for 57 yards and scored the Super Bowl-winning touchdown in overtime to cap off a 25-22 victory.

The Chiefs have won back-to-back Super Bowls and are favorites to make it three straight this coming season.

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