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The NFL offseason always delivers some of the most shocking moves every year. While there might not be any games on, the news never stops. Some would call the offseason very unpredictable. That was no different in 2024, as several star players signed with new teams or were traded.
Saquon Barkley signed with the rival Philadelphia Eagles after spending the first six years of his career with the New York Giants. Josh Jacobs agreed to a multiyear deal with the Green Bay Packers, and veterans Joe Mixon and Stefon Diggs were traded to the Houston Texans.
Those big moves have plenty of fantasy implications for next season. But, there were also a handful of other moves that went under the radar this offseason. So, let's dive in and look at which quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end were sneaky winners from 2024 NFL free agency.
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QB: Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings
When veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins signed a four-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons this offseason, the Minnesota Vikings desperately needed to find a replacement. Cousins started 88 games for the Vikings over the past six years, but his departure left a big hole on Minnesota's roster.
That's when the Vikings went out and signed Sam Darnold to a one-year, $10 million deal. Darnold -- who spent last season backing up Brock Purdy -- will now have a prime opportunity to start for Minnesota in 2024. That makes him a sneaky winner this offseason.
Which QB is the best fit for the @Vikings? @DCarr8 thinks Sam Darnold could be a good addition 👀 pic.twitter.com/Awy04KBaKk
— NFL Total Access (@NFLTotalAccess) April 15, 2024
Despite Minnesota likely being in the market for a quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft, there's no guarantee they move up to select one. If that's the case, Darnold should be the Vikings' starting signal-caller this upcoming season. The 26-year-old doesn't exactly have a great track record over his short career, but with a supporting cast of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and Aaron Jones, he could find himself in a nice spot to succeed in 2024.
RB: Zack Moss, Cincinnati Bengals
Former Indianapolis Colts running back Zack Moss showed what he can do in a starting role last season. In four games as the Colts starter, Moss rushed 89 times for 445 yards and three touchdowns. He also caught eight passes for 72 yards and one touchdown through the air in those contests.
Moss was fantastic to start the year, but with Jonathan Taylor coming back from injury, he was pushed back to the bench. However, that four-game span was enough for teams to show interest in the 26-year-old this offseason. That led to him signing a two-year, $8 million deal with the Cincinnati Bengals in March, which winded up being the perfect landing spot for him.
Zack Moss squatting 495 with ease 😮💨🦵
🎥: @Bengals pic.twitter.com/lbAJ8nJ5Bt
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) April 9, 2024
With the Bengals trading away Mixon, Moss should now be in line to lead Cincinnati's backfield in 2024. He'll have to compete with young running back Chase Brown for touches, but the four-year vet should have the edge to get the starting job. While the 26-year-old isn't the biggest free-agent running back signing this offseason, he is an underrated fantasy winner based on his situation.
WR: Curtis Samuel, Buffalo Bills
When the Buffalo Bills signed wide receiver Curtis Samuel to a three-year, $24 million deal, it was a nice landing spot for the versatile playmaker. Then, the Bills traded away Stefon Diggs, making Samuel easily the biggest winner of any free-agent wideout. With Gabe Davis also leaving this offseason, the 27-year-old is now in line for a huge role in Buffalo's offense.
Samuel might not have the same name recognition as Calvin Ridley, Marquise Brown, or even Davis. However, he is sneakily a huge winner in free agency. He is attached to quarterback Josh Allen for the next three years and is currently the Bills' top wide receiver option. Even if Buffalo takes a wideout in the first round, the speedy playmaker should still find himself with plenty of opportunities in that offense.
I think we are grossly underestimating the impact that Curtis Samuel is going to have on this offense and for Josh Allen.
He has succeeded in the past with wide receivers who create separation and there are few better than Samuel in that department (ranked 13th in the #NFL with… pic.twitter.com/iBgDqM9dOC
— Thomas DeLaus (@TheThomasDeLaus) April 13, 2024
He has totaled at least 600 receiving yards in four of the past five years while also rushing for at least 130 yards in three of the last five seasons. The Bills should be able to move Samuel all around the field in 2024, which should lead to a high target share. Now in one of the best offenses in football, the seven-year veteran has a chance to be a weekly fantasy contributor.
TE: Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals
The talent has always been there for tight end Mike Gesicki, but he needed to land in the right spot in 2024 to see solid production again. That exactly happened when Gesicki signed a one-year, $3.25 million deal with the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason. The landing spot in Cincinnati not only guarantees him a starting job in 2024, but he will be fantasy relevant again with Joe Burrow as his quarterback.
Gesicki didn't have the best 2023 campaign with the New England Patriots, only totaling 244 yards on 29 catches. However, his seasons in 2020 and 2021 with the Miami Dolphins show exactly what he can bring to this Bengals offense this upcoming year. In 2020, he caught 53 passes for 703 yards and six touchdowns, and then followed that up by catching 73 passes for 780 yards and two touchdowns in 2021.
With Gesicki attached to Burrow in 2024, look for the 28-year-old to have a solid year. He has multiple 700-yard seasons in his career, and that range of outcome certainly isn't out of the question for him this upcoming season. He was a sneaky winner this offseason.
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