2024 QB deals: Russell Wilson, Baker Mayfield or Mac Jones? - ESPN

The quarterback market couldn't even wait for the legal tampering period to open in NFL free agency. On Sunday, we saw three moves involving players who weren't subject to that window.

Baker Mayfield re-signed with the Bucs. Mac Jones was traded to the Jaguars. And while you were probably sleeping, Russell Wilson announced he was joining the Steelers after being released by the Broncos. That's three quarterbacks who are going in three different directions involved in three very different sorts of deals.

Which deal will look best a year from now? Let's take a closer look at Sunday's QB moves to get a sense of how they'll land on the field this fall. I'll start with the move I liked the most, which is heavily influenced by how much it cost:

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Jones | Mayfield | Wilson

Part of the job for any NFL team is to land players who are more productive than their salary. That idea of surplus value underpins why draft picks are so valuable: When a team lands a starter in the draft, it's almost invariably paying that player less than the market would command for a veteran at the same position. Stacking a few of those victories across a roster frees up a franchise to handle the inevitable injuries or roster-building mistakes that are inevitable.

The Chiefs drafted running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, traded for receiver Kadarius Toney and lost guard Joe Thuney to an injury in the playoffs, but when they have a superhero at quarterback taking home less money than Daniel Jones, they can get by in spite of those mistakes.

I don't believe the Steelers are naive enough to believe they're about to land the Russell Wilson from 2019. His star has faded, and after kicking Nathaniel Hackett