Buccaneers.com

Free agency happens fast in the NFL. Technically, it lasts from the first day of the new league year somewhere in mid-March all the way into the summer. Practically speaking, most of the important work is done in less than a week. This year was no different, as almost all the biggest names on the list of pending free agents were snapped up during the 52-hour 'legal tampering' period before the actual opening bell of the market. And it was a wild if short ride, with the likes of Kirk Cousins, Christian Wilkins, Brian Burns and Danielle Hunter all quickly finding new homes and more robust bank accounts. That eventful week also helped define the landscape for the next big event on the NFL calendar, the 2024 draft. Take the Falcons, for instance, who might have tried to get into the QB race at the top of the draft before choosing to go the expensive veteran route with Cousins. You won't see the Falcons getting a quarterback in too many mock drafts following that signing; in fact, Atlanta may now be a prime candidate to move down if a team that didn't find a Cousins-like option wants to trade up.