Reviewing The 2023 Free Agent Class After One Season - Last Year's Best Free Agent Signings

As we wait for free agency to officially begin on March 13, now is the perfect time to look back at last year’s free agents. Quarterbacks like Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo headlined that 2023 class. Neither one really excelled in a new place last year.

The Saints gave Carr a four-year, $150 million contract, while the Raiders signed Garoppolo to a three-year deal worth up to $72.8 million. Those two signings were some of the worst contracts given last offseason.

However, there were plenty of great team signings from the 2023 free-agent class. So, let’s dive in and look at the five-best signings from last offseason.

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QB Baker Mayfield - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Contract: One year, $4 million
2023 Season Stats: 4,044 passing yards, 28 passing touchdowns, and 10 interceptions

Quarterback Baker Mayfield bet on himself last offseason, and it paid off in a big way. Mayfield's $4 million dollar deal was lower than what Jacoby Brissett got from the Washington Commanders ($10 million), Sam Darnold got from the San Francisco 49ers ($4.5 million), and the same that Drew Lock got from the Seattle Seahawks.

Those three quarterbacks saw limited playing time this past year, but Mayfield started for Tampa Bay and led them to the Divisional Round. The Buccaneers quarterback also went on to throw for career-highs in yards (4,044 yards), passing touchdowns (28), and completion percentage (64.3).

Mayfield showed new life in his sixth NFL season and will now enter free agency again this offseason. However, this time around, the quarterback is expected to sign a multi-year contract worth over $120 million.

League sources believe Baker Mayfield will sign a contract in the area of $40 million annually.

If the Bucs cannot sign him, it’s believed the division-rival Atlanta Falcons could have interest.

(Per @TonyPauline) pic.twitter.com/FZVApoAHFH

— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) March 1, 2024

RB Raheem Mostert - Miami Dolphins

Contract: Two years, $5.6 million
2023 Season Stats: 1,012 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns, and three receiving touchdowns

Last offseason, running back Raheem Mostert entered free agency following a strong 891-yard, three-touchdown campaign. The Dolphins expressed interest in bringing the veteran back, but little did they know how valuable he would be to their offense during the 2023-2024 season.

Mostert totaled career highs in carries (209), rush yards (1,012), rush touchdowns (18), total touchdowns (21), and rushing first downs (59). The 31-year-old back was electric for the Dolphins all season, which also led to his first Pro Bowl appearance at age 31.

Raheem Mostert set a new @MiamiDolphins franchise record with 21 touchdowns this season.#NFL | #FinsUp pic.twitter.com/XL05l2j1ae

— Pro Football Reference (@pfref) February 28, 2024

It will surely be hard for Mostert to top that career year, but he showed last season that he can still contribute at a high level. Even though he'll turn 32 years old in April, the veteran should remain a key part of Miami's offense in 2024.

WR Adam Thielen- Carolina Panthers

Contract: Three years, $25 million
2023 Season Stats: 103 catches, 1,014 receiving yards, four touchdowns

The Adam Thielen signing to the Panthers might not have been as much of a bargain as the first two on this list. However, Thielen was the best offensive player in Carolina this past year. He showed that he still has plenty left in the tank, so getting him at just over $8.3 million per year was a great deal.

The veteran totaled 1,000 receiving yards for just the third time in his career and the first time since 2018. He also caught 103 passes last season, which was the second most of his career. Despite the inconsistent quarterback play from Bryce Young, Thielen established himself as the clear top wideout in Carolina.

The 33-year-old will now enter the second year of his contract this upcoming season. In 2024, Thielen's cap hit will only sit at $8.4 million. That seems like a great price, especially when wideouts like Allen Lazard ($12.2 million) and JuJu Smith-Schuster ($10.2 million) will have larger cap hits for their respective teams.

S Jessie Bates III - Atlanta Falcons

Contract: Four years, $64 million
2023 Season Stats: six interceptions, 11 passes deflected, three forced fumbles, 132 tackles (89 solo).

There was a lot of offseason chatter as to whether the Atlanta Falcons overpaid for safety Jessie Bates III. Well, it's safe to say that after one year with the team, the Falcons did the right thing by paying him. Bates had easily his best season as a professional in 2023.

After Bates played on the franchise tag in 2022 with the Cincinnati Bengals, he tested out free agency and landed big money in Atlanta. The safety then went on to total career highs in interceptions (six), forced fumbles (three), tackles (132), and solo tackles (89). For his efforts last year, he was named to his first Pro Bowl and was selected to the All-Pro second team.

Happy 27th birthday, Jessie Bates III!

His stats in 2023:

• 132 tackles
• 11 passes defended, 6 INTs
• 3 forced fumbles
• 3 tackles for loss, 1 QB hit
• 1 TD
• 67.1 passer rating allowed when targeted
• 2nd-team all-pro and pro bowler pic.twitter.com/HzEUogzXFc

— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) February 26, 2024

Now, entering the second year of his contract, Bates gives the Falcons a talented safety in the secondary. He'll look to build off that strong 2023 campaign.

S Julian Love - Seattle Seahawks

Contract: Two years, $12 million 
2023 Season Stats: four interceptions, 10 passes deflected, two forced fumbles, 123 tackles (85 solo)

When free safety Julian Love entered free agency in 2023, teams were likely hesitant to give him a large multi-year deal. Despite playing well in a contract year in 2022, that was his only season as a full-time starter. As a result, Love accepted a two-year, $12 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks during the offseason.

However, after a strong 2023 season, it's evident that Love is worth more than just $6 million per year. The 25-year-old totaled career highs in interceptions (four), forced fumbles (two), and passes deflected (10) last season. His 123 tackles -- which were surprisingly not a career high -- were the fourth most by a safety in 2023.

Love will play one more season under his current contract in Seattle, where he has a base salary of $5.4 million in 2024. After that, he will enter free agency once again. He should be able to get a larger contract next time around, considering his market value on Spotrac currently sits at $10.7 million per year.

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