Devonta Freeman Current Contract Status and Team
Devonta Freeman is a running back in the National Football League, currently listed as a free agent following his release from the Houston Texans in 2024. His most recent contract was a one-year deal with the Texans signed in March 2024, which included a base salary of $1.5 million with a full guarantee on the signing bonus. The contract was structured to provide Houston with a veteran depth option at a low risk, with no long-term financial commitment beyond the current season. Freeman's cap hit for the 2024 season was reported at $1.05 million, making him one of the lowest-cost running backs on the Texans' roster. He was released on August 27, 2024, as part of Houston's final roster cuts ahead of the NFL regular season. His current status means he is now an unrestricted free agent, able to sign with any team. For more details on NFL free agency rules, see the NFL's official transactions page.
The Texans' decision to release Freeman came after he appeared in 13 games during the 2023 season, rushing for 431 yards and 3 touchdowns while also contributing as a receiver out of the backfield. His role was primarily as a change-of-pace back behind starter Devin Singletary and second-year player Alontae Taylor. Houston's front office, led by general manager Nick Caserio, prioritized younger and more versatile options at the running back position. Freeman's release was part of a broader salary-cap management strategy, as the team needed to create room for draft picks and rookie signings. The move also reflected the NFL's trend toward using running backs on short-term, incentive-laden deals. For analysis on Houston's cap situation, see Forbes' NFL salary cap breakdown.
Devonta Freeman Career Earnings and Contract History
Over his NFL career, Devonta Freeman has earned a cumulative total of approximately $33 million in guaranteed money from his contracts. His largest deal came in 2020 when he signed a four-year, $42 million extension with the Atlanta Falcons, which included $22 million guaranteed at signing. The contract made him one of the highest-paid running backs in the league at the time, with an average annual salary of $10.5 million. Freeman's career earnings also include his initial rookie contract with the Falcons, which spanned 2014 to 2017 and paid him a total of $4.8 million in base salary. He has played for the Atlanta Falcons, Houston Texans, and briefly the New England Patriots, accumulating 4,495 rushing yards and 31 rushing touchdowns over 94 career games. His total contract value across all teams reflects the premium placed on proven NFL running backs in their prime years. For more on NFL player compensation trends, see the NFL Players Association resources.
Freeman's contract history shows a pattern of high-value deals early in his career, followed by shorter, lower-cost agreements as he aged and faced increased competition at the running back position. After his 2020 extension, he suffered a torn Achilles tendon in Week 4 of the 2021 season, which limited him to 4 games and led to a decline in his on-field production. The Falcons released him in March 2022, and he subsequently signed a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Houston Texans. That contract included a $500,000 signing bonus and a base salary of $1.5 million, with additional incentives tied to rushing yards and receptions. In 2023, he re-signed with Houston on a similar one-year deal worth $1.75 million. His career trajectory illustrates the typical financial arc of an NFL running back, with peak earnings occurring in the mid-to-late twenties. For details on the Falcons' historical