Russell Wilson signing with Steelers on eve of NFL free agency leaves Kirk Cousins and Justin Fields as the remaining quarterback dominos
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The NFL's free agency dominoes are already falling with days to spare before players can officially begin signing new deals.
On Sunday, Russell Wilson agreed to join the Pittsburgh Steelers for the veteran's minimum of $1.2 million as the Denver Broncos remain on the hook for the $38 million left on his previous contract.
Meanwhile fellow quarterback Baker Mayfield has agreed to a reported three-year, $100 million deal to stay with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, whom he guided to the playoffs in his first season with the team.
Next month's draft offers young talent at the position in USC's Caleb Williams and North Carolina's Drake Maye, but for quarterback-hungry teams looking for more experience, free agent Kirk Cousins and Chicago Bears signal caller Justin Fields now stand as the best two available options.
Fields has been up and down for three seasons in Chicago and he became expendable by virtue of last year's trade with the Carolina Panthers. As a result of the deal, the Bears are left with the first pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, where they're expected to take a quarterback, thereby making Fields available via trade.
![Kirk Cousins served as the NFL's top-paid cheerleader after going down with an Achilles injury](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/11/14/82321261-13183103-image-a-19_1710167974806.jpg)
Kirk Cousins served as the NFL's top-paid cheerleader after going down with an Achilles injury
![Chicago Bears signal caller Justin Fields is likely available via trade ahead of next month's draft](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/11/14/82321255-13183103-image-a-17_1710167939516.jpg)
Chicago Bears signal caller Justin Fields is likely available via trade ahead of next month's draft
![Russell Wilson agreed to join the Pittsburgh Steelers for the veteran's minimum of $1.2 million](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/11/14/82321401-13183103-image-a-18_1710167971267.jpg)
Russell Wilson agreed to join the Pittsburgh Steelers for the veteran's minimum of $1.2 million
Cousins has been more productive during his time with the Minnesota Vikings and could remain in Minneapolis, although his future has been clouded by his season-ending Achilles injury in October.
The four-time Pro Bowl selection could also be on the radar of the Atlanta Falcons, who have the eighth pick in next month's draft and could miss out on Williams, Maye or LSU's Jayden Daniels.
As The Athletic's Diana Russini reported Monday, Cousins is expected to speak with the Falcons when the NFL's free agency frenzy kicks off Monday with a 52-hour legal tampering period.
At 12pm EST on Monday, teams can start negotiating with players who will become unrestricted free agents when their contracts expire at the start of the new league year on 4pm EST on Wednesday.
Players can't sign with new teams until the league year officially begins. The two-day negotiating period applies only to players who will be unrestricted free agents.
Other offensive players to watch entering free agency include running backs Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs and D'Andre Swift, offensive tackles Tyron Smith, Jonah Williams and Trent Brown, wide receivers Calvin Ridley, Marquise Brown and Odell Beckham Jr.
![USC's Caleb Williams, a former Heisman Trophy winner, is among the top prospects this year](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/11/14/82321509-13183103-image-a-28_1710168305656.jpg)
USC's Caleb Williams, a former Heisman Trophy winner, is among the top prospects this year
![LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/11/14/82321549-13183103-image-m-25_1710168290794.jpg)
![Drake Maye of North Carolina](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/11/14/82321521-13183103-image-m-27_1710168298666.jpg)
Another Heisman winner, LSU's Jayden Daniels (left), and UNC's Drake Maye are top prospects
![Baker Mayfield has committed his long-term future to the Bucs' instead of eyeing a new team](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/11/14/82285643-13183103-Baker_Mayfield_has_committed_his_long_term_future_to_the_Bucs_in-a-20_1710168147397.jpg)
Baker Mayfield has committed his long-term future to the Bucs' instead of eyeing a new team
Eight players received the non-exclusive franchise tag, including wide receivers Tee Higgins and Michael Pittman, edge rusher Josh Allen and All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield. They can still test the open market, but teams would have to give up a pair of first-round picks to sign them.
Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones, perhaps the best defensive free agent, was taken off the market before the signing period even began when he agreed to a reported $95 million deal last week. The Chiefs also tagged cornerback L'Jarius Sneed instead of placing it on Jones for the second straight season, although the Pro Bowl defensive back could now become available via trade if Kansas City hopes to clear some cap space.
Half of the NFL's teams have more than $30 million available in salary cap, making it a player-friendly market to a certain degree.
There's much interest in how the running backs will fare.
Barkley, Jacobs and Tony Pollard received franchise tags last season but no team wanted to commit $11.9 million to its running back. Austin Ekeler rounds out the top six.
![Giants running back Saquon Barkley is expected to draw interest in free agency this week](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/11/14/82321485-13183103-image-a-21_1710168194618.jpg)
Giants running back Saquon Barkley is expected to draw interest in free agency this week
The Giants seem ready to move on from Barkley, who should get interest from plenty of teams, including a pair of New York's NFC East rivals. The Eagles will be looking for a running back at the right price, of course, if they don't retain Swift, who is coming off his first 1,000-yard season. Barkley would be an upgrade for the Cowboys over Pollard.
Henry is 30 but he ran for 1,167 yards and scored 12 touchdowns in 2023 and has had five 1,000-yard seasons in the last six years. He'd be a better fit for a Super Bowl contender than Tennessee.
NFL teams have undervalued the running back position to the point where they have the lowest franchise tag number among the skill players. Wide receivers are now nearly $10 million higher at $21.8 million.
'I think that, at the end of the day, talented players end up getting paid,' Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said. 'So, I think everyone will kind of have value on players just like any other position. Obviously, those guys handle the ball a lot, and they're important players.'