NFL 2024: Top 5 familiar faces in new places, which players were the most notable acquisitions ahead of the upcoming season

We kick off our list with a popular question among the NFL community: Is Baltimore Ravens star Derrick Henry still one of the league's best running backs?

Generally, running backs begin to see a slump in production once they hit 30 years age bracket, especially when they have over 2,000 career carries. However, Henry, a four-time Pro Bowler is no standard running back.

The longtime Tennessee Titans standout, who just signed with the Ravens this offseason, has been arguably the league's best running back over the past half decade. He has rushed for 9,502 yards and 90 touchdowns in eight seasons, and his relentless style of play has captured the imagination of fans across the league.

At Tennessee, he built up a Hall of Fame-worthy career. He will join fellow Heisman Trophy recipient and MVP Award winner Lamar Jackson at Baltimore. Can he continue a high-end output in the next chapter of his NFL journey?

Edge rusher Brian Burns was the New York Giants' biggest addition of the offseason, having been acquired from the Carolina Panthers for a 2024 second-round pick, an exchange of 2024 fifth-round picks, and a 2025 fifth-round pick.

Most analysts praised the Giants' acquisition of the edge rusher, whom they signed to a five-year, $141 million contract after the deal was completed. New York expects Burns to team up with fellow outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence to improve the front-seven pass rush.

Brian wore Panthers jersey for five seasons. The Panthers picked him in the first round of the 2019 NFL draft as the 16th overall pick. Since his arrival, he has been one of the better pass rushers in the league, getting better than 7.5 sacks per season since his debut, one of three players (Myles Garrett and Chris Jones) to achieve the feat.

The 26-year-old has recorded 46 sacks and 95 quarterback hits. He forced eight fumbles and made two fumble recoveries. The NFL star also completed 59 tackles in his stay with the Panthers.

Barkley rushed for 5,211 yards and 35 touchdowns in six regular seasons with the Giants. He also gained 2,100 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns through the air.

The second pick of the 2018 NFL Draft was named Offensive Rookie of the Year during his Pro Bowl rookie season. It has been more struggle than salvation ever since.

He bounced back from a torn ACL in 2020 to earn a second Pro Bowl nomination with a career-high 1,312 rushing yards in 2022. Last season, he recorded 962 rushing yards and six touchdowns amid contract tensions with the Giants.

The franchise tagged Barkley prior to the 2023 season, which resulted in a holdout and a revised contract, but allowed the veteran to hit free agency this spring. He ended up signing a three-year with divisional rivals Philadelphia Eagles, $37.75 million deal to become one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL.

Patrick Queen got the largest free-agent contract of any linebacker who is not predominantly an edge rusher this summer. He inked a three-year, $41 million contract to leave the Baltimore Ravens and join the division foe Pittsburgh Steelers, with $13.84 million guaranteed. And Queen is a Steelers-type signing at linebacker.

In 2023, Queen played in all 17 games with the Baltimore Ravens, racking up 133 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, six quarterback hits, six passes defended, one interception and one forced fumble. He was named a second-team All-Pro and was called up to the AFC Pro Bowl squad, his first career honor in each category.

T.J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Queen should form a rock-solid trio at linebacker. Another Pro Bowl or even first-team All-Pro should be the expectations for Queen in 2024.

The reigning defending Super Bowl champions replaced Marquez Valdes-Scantling with Marquise 'Hollywood' Brown in what has been touted as a massive upgrade.

Brown is a speedy receiver who put up at least 50 receptions in four straight seasons. He will most likely add verticality to Kansas City's attack, which has been missing since Tyreek Hill was traded to Miami.

He was usually asked to be a No. 1 wide receiver previously, but he will most likely be the second wide receiver option in Kansas City behind Rashee Rice.

In terms of style, Brown is more than just a speed merchant who can spread the field. He is a proven deep threat who should pair well with rookie receiver Xavier Worthy and quarterback Patrick Mahomes. His addition to Kansas City's roster should be a boost for the team as they vie for a Super Bowl three-peat in 2024.