Free Agency Notes: Baker Mayfield, Kirk Cousins, Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers, Saints

Buccaneers

• Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield was particularly keen on getting large guaranteed numbers in year two of a new contract to secure some job continuity.
• Mayfield’s deal is for three years, $100 million with $50 million in guarantees and a $40 million signing bonus. (Over The Cap)
• The guarantees on the deal come from his signing bonus, his 2024 base salary and $10 million of his 2025 salary. If Mayfield is on the roster on the fifth day of the 2025 league year, the rest of his 2025 salary will be guaranteed. 
• Mayfield can earn another $15 million in incentives, raising the maximum value of the deal to $115 million. 
• Buccaneers K Chase McLaughlin signed for three years at $12.3 million with $6.5 million guaranteed. It includes salaries of $1.5 million guaranteed, $3.5 million with $1.5 million guaranteed for injury at signing, and $3.5 million. (Aaron Wilson)
• Buccaneers DT Greg Gaines signed for one year at $3.5 million with $3 million guaranteed. He has a salary of 2.5 million with $2 million guaranteed and $1 million on the fifth day of the 2024 league year as a roster bonus. There’s also up to $500,000 for a sack incentive. (Aaron Wilson)
• estern Michigan DE Marshawn Kneeland had a top-30 visit with the Buccaneers, according to Ryan Fowler.

Falcons

• Falcons QB Kirk Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million deal that included a $50 million signing bonus and base salaries of $12.5 million, $27.5 million, $35 million and $35 million. There are also $10 million roster bonuses in 2026 and 2027. (Over The Cap)
• Cousins’ 2024 and 2025 salaries are guaranteed at signing. His $10 million roster bonus in 2026 becomes guaranteed in 2025. 
• The deal includes up to $2 million in annual incentives for playing times, wins and the Super Bowl. (Aaron Wilson)
• Falcons TE Charlie Woerner signed for three years at $12 million, and the deal includes $6.57 million guaranteed with a $3 million signing bonus. The salaries are for $1.16 million guaranteed, $2.41 million (guaranteed for injury at signing, fully guaranteed in 2025) and $2.41 million. It also includes $20,000 per game active roster bonuses annually. (Aaron Wilson)
• Falcons WR Darnell Mooney signed for three years at $39 million. It includes $26 million guaranteed and a $15 million signing bonus. The contract carries salaries of $2 million guaranteed, $9 million guaranteed and $10.97 million, plus a $500,000 roster bonus on the fifth day of the 2027 league year. There are also per game active roster bonuses of $30,000 annually for a maximum value of up to $500,000. (Aaron Wilson)

Panthers

• NFL Media’s Cameron Wolfe said trading OLB Brian Burns was about freeing up assets to rebuild the offense around QB Bryce Young, saving the Panthers $24 million in cap space and adding a high second-round pick. He notes Carolina understands it’s not ready to compete in 2024. 
• According to JP Finlay, the Panthers made a “late push” to keep new Commanders LB Frankie Luvu, but he wanted to play for new Washington HC Dan Quinn because of how he allows LBs to rush the passer.
• Panthers G Robert Hunt‘s five-year, $100 million deal includes a $26.5 million signing bonus and base salaries of $1.125 million, $15.85 million, $18.5 million, $18.5 million and $17 million. (Over The Cap)
• His 2024 and 2025 salaries are fully guaranteed and $10 million of his 2026 salary guarantees in 2025. The remainder becomes guaranteed the following league year. 
• Hunt has a $25,000 workout bonus in 2024, then $500,000 annual workout bonuses for the remaining four years. 
• Panthers G Damien Lewis signed a four-year, $53 million deal that included a $15 million signing bonus and base salaries of $1.125 million, $10.09 million, $12.24 million and $12.24 million. His 2024 and 2025 salaries are guaranteed at signing. (Over The Cap)
• The deal also includes a $25,000 workout bonus in 2024, then $250,000 annually from 2025-2027. Up to $510,000 in per-game roster bonuses are also available in the last three years.
• Panthers DT A’Shawn Robinson signed for three years at $22.5 million with $10.375 million guaranteed. His salaries are for $1.125 million guaranteed, $5.735 million with $3 million guaranteed for injury at signing, $45,000 per game in active roster bonuses annually, a $6.25 million signing bonus and a $2 million incentive for playtime and playoffs annually. (Aaron Wilson)
• Buccaneers WR Mike Evans had good things to say about former OC and new Panthers HC Dave Canales: “He’s the most positive coach I’ve ever been around, and he loves fixing the problem. He’s excited about fixing the problem, so I feel like that’s what they saw in him and what we saw in him.” (Greg Auman)

Saints

The Saints re-signed S Tyrann Mathieu through 2025 and kept him in his hometown amidst other veteran safeties being released. Mathieu talked about his desire to end his professional career in New Orleans.

“I hope so,” Mathieu said about retiring a Saint, via John DeShazier of the team’s website. “But I would probably say more than that, I’ve got another chance to help these guys win. I’d say the last couple of years have kind of been underwhelming, to say the least. So to have another opportunity to suit back up with these guys, help this whole city win, that means a lot to me. So I’m excited about that opportunity.”

• Mathieu’s new deal with the team has a base salary of $7,750,000, a signing bonus of $15,368,000, a roster bonus of $1,000,000, a guaranteed salary of $2,500,000, and carries a cap number of $24,118,000.  (Over the Cap)
• Western Michigan DE Marshawn Kneeland had a top-30 visit with the Saints, according to Ryan Fowler.