Agent’s Take: These veteran acquisitions have paid off in a big way during the early part of the 2024 season

Ideally, veterans acquired via free agency or trade will help improve a team’s fortunes. Typically, it’s helping a team go from mediocrity to the playoffs or playoff participant to Super Bowl contender.

Quarterback Baker Mayfield was last season’s best veteran acquisition. 2023 was supposed to be a transition season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with Tom Brady retiring. A fourth straight playoff berth wasn’t expected with Mayfield taking over for Brady on a fully-guaranteed one-year, $4 million deal worth up to $8.5 million through incentives. 

Mayfield was up to the task of replacing the future first-ballot Hall of Famer. He had the best season of his six-year NFL career. Mayfield connected on 64.3% of his passes for 4,044 yards with 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions to post a 94.6 passer rating. 

The Buccaneers won a third consecutive NFC South title with a 9-8 record. Tampa Bay then advanced to the divisional playoffs for just the third time in 21 years with a 32-9 wild-card game win over the Philadelphia Eagles before losing 31-23 to Detroit Lions. 

Here’s a look at several veteran newcomers living up to or exceeding expectations as the quarter mark of the 2024 NFL season arrives.

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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/agents-take-these-veteran-acquisitions-have-paid-off-in-a-big-way-during-the-early-part-of-the-2024-season/

Author : Joel Corry

Publish date : 2024-10-02 19:31:08

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