The free agency for the National Football League begins at 4 p.m. The start of the new league year coincides with Wednesday. After two days of legal negotiations, teams and free agents can agree to terms on new deals. There is a flurry of activity that includes the franchise tag period, trade agreements, extensions and the start of contract agreements. Some teams unloaded unhappy veterans and unfriendly contracts in order to get under the salary cap. The quarterback market is where some teams made bold moves. The deals will start rolling in. Is there more excitement in free agency? Which teams will be active in free agency? This week, what are we hearing about the trade front? Will there be more movement of signal-callers? We track every notable NFL free-agent agreement, trade, cut and retirement, with the most recent moves at the top. More coverage:
Ranking the top 100 free agents
Trade and free-agency grades
Franchise tag tracker
NFL free agency landing page Smith's deal adds four years and $52.5 million, per a source. He will make $25M over the next two seasons and could make up to $31 million in those two years. https://t.co/F9WcptGDkLMARCH 14
Packers extend LB Smith
The Bills have released offensive lineman Daryl Williams. Another cap-saving move that clears up over $6 million and leaves $3.6 million in dead cap.
— Alaina Getzenberg (@agetzenberg) March 14, 2022
An agreement has been reached on a two-year contract for Brian Hoyer, his agent confirmed. According to a source, the deal is worth $4 million with $3 million guaranteed and incentives.
Mike McCartney, Ryan Jensen's agent, announced Sunday night that his client had agreed to a three-year deal with the Buccaneers. According to a source, the deal is worth $39 million and includes $23 million guaranteed.
How did the team do?
Tom Brady retired for 40 days. Brady said he will be playing for the same team for the 23rd time in the NFL. The seven-time Super Bowl champion announced his decision on social media.
The Minnesota Vikings agreed to terms on a new contract with quarterback Kirk Cousins on Sunday, giving him an immediate raise and guaranteeing an additional season in 2023 to help alleviate their tight salary cap. As the Vikings begin a new era with a new general manager and a new coach, the deal ensures that Kirkconnell will remain their quarterback.
The team announced Sunday night that Ertz had agreed to terms on a three-year contract to stay with the team. According to a source, the deal is worth $31.65 million. Ertz wanted to stay in Arizona and he got his wish at $10.55 million per year.
According to sources, the Dallas Cowboys have finalized a five-year, $62.5 million deal with wide receiver Michael Gallup. The signing bonus is $10 million.
How did the Cowboys do?
The analysis of every Cowboys signing is done by archer.
The Buffalo Bills agreed to terms on a new two-year deal with wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie, who was set to become an unrestricted free agent this week.
The analysis of every Bills signing is done by Getzenberg.
In a unique way, safety Devin McCourty announced his return to the New England Pats for his 13th season on Sunday. According to a source, the deal is for one year and will pay McCourty $9 million.
How did the team do?
According to sources, the Dallas Cowboys agreed to trade wide receiver Amari Cooper and a sixth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for two fifth-round picks and a sixth-round pick.
How did the Cowboys do?
The Atlanta Falcons are restructuring quarterback Matt Ryan's contract, lowering his cap hit by $12 million. The Falcons will have more room to play with after the team converted his base salary and roster bonus into a signing bonus. Ryan has a new cap number of $36,662,500 and a new base salary of $8.25 million.
According to a source, the New York Giants will have a starting middle linebacker return in 2022.
A grand jury on Friday declined to indict Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, who was accused of harassment and sexual assault by 22 women.
Maxx Crosby has an extension with the Raiders. It is a four-year, $98.98 million deal with 95 million in new money and 53 million in guaranteed, according to a source.
The Dallas Cowboys have released kicker Greg Zuerlein and tight end Blake Jarwin, freeing up around $5 million and putting them under the salary cap before the start of the league year next week.
A source confirmed that the Eagles and Kelce have agreed to a new contract that will make him the highest-paid center in the league. Kelce decided to return for his 12th season in the NFL.
How did the Eagles do?
According to a source, the Chicago Bears are releasing running back Tarik Cohen with an injury designation.
A source told Jeremy Fowler on Friday that the Houston Texans are signing Christian Kirksey to a two-year extension.
According to sources, the Chicago Bears are working on a trade that will send six-time Pro-Bowl defensive end Khalil Mack to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Bears are expected to get the second- and sixth-round picks from the Bolts in exchange for Mack, a source said.
How did the Bears do?
According to a source, New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard is returning on a reworked one-year deal. The longest tenured player wanted to come back. He was signed through the year 2023. Shepard was set to make $8.5 million in the next season, but he tore his left leg. He was trying to make a cut in the December loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
According to a source, the Washington Commanders are expected to release veteran safety Landon Collins in order to create more salary-cap space, but it will cost them a valuable defender. Collins had three years left on his contract and was scheduled to count $16.2 million against the salary cap this season. His release will save Washington $6 million against the cap, but he will still have $9 million in dead money. Washington tried to work out a deal to lower his cap number, according to a source.
The release of a Pro Bowl guard was announced by the TennesseeTitans. The four-year, $44 million contract was signed in 2019. He was going to get a $1 million roster bonus this week. The salary-cap space for the TITANS will be saved by the release of Saffold. If he was not released, he was going to hold a $12.8 million cap number.
According to a source, the Detroit Lions will release outside linebacker Trey Flowers next week when the league year starts. The Lions made the two-time Super Bowl champion one of the richest defensive players in football with a $90 million deal over five years with $56 million guaranteed.
According to sources, the Indianapolis Colts are going to swap quarterbacks with the Washington Commanders for a package of picks. The Commanders will give the Colts their third-round picks in the next two years. If Washington plays 70% of its snaps, the third-rounder can become a second-round pick. The Colts traded a second-round pick in 2022, moving up from No. 47 overall to No. 42. Washington will pay the entire $28 million due to Wentz for the next two seasons, including a $5 million roster bonus due next week, according to sources.
Jordan Hicks was released by the Arizona Cardinals. The move to give Zaven Collins more playing time is being made by the Cards because of the high level of play of inside linebackers like Hicks.
Alejandro Villanueva decided to retire after seven seasons in the National Football League. Ben Roethlisberger was blind-sided for six years while left tackle for the PittsburghSteelers, which is why Alejandro Villanueva reached two Pro Bowls. After a disappointing season in Baltimore, Villanueva decided to call it quits. He was unable to replace injured All-Pro left tackleRonnie Stanley.
According to sources, the Broncos agreed to send a significant package of players and draft picks to the Seahawks in exchange for Super Bowl-winning quarterback Russell Wilson. The Broncos agreed to trade quarterback Drew Lock, tight end Noah Fant, defensive lineman Shelby Harris, two first-round picks, two second-round picks, and a fifth-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for quarterback Russell Wilson and a fourth-round pick, sources said.
A source told Adam Schefter that the team informed Bobby Wagner that he was being released. The news came hours after the report that Russell Wilson would be going to the Broncos. The two cornerstones who were drafted on the same day in 2012 are no longer in Seattle. The release of the long-time defensive captain and another player who was one of the most important in the history of the franchise is a move the team is making. The move will save the team $16.6 million in cash and salary-cap space, while leaving a huge hole in the middle of their defense.
TheTennesseeTitans announced that they have agreed to terms on a multiyear contract with Harold Landry, the outside linebacker. The team did not reveal financial terms, but a source told Adam that it was a five-year, $87.5 million contract that included $52.5 million guaranteed. The deadline to place the franchise tag on potential free agents was hours after the deal. He had his best season with theTitans.
How did the TITANS do?
There is a chance that Rodgers will finish his career in the same place he started, as he is not done with the Green Bay Packers just yet. Rodgers will return to the Packers in the year 2022. The sides are working on a new contract that would lower his salary-cap figure for the 2022, while giving Rodgers, 38, contractual clarity well into his 40s. Rodgers said a deal hadn't been signed or agreed upon.
The Los Angeles Clippers and wide receiver Mike Williams have reached an agreement. The contract is worth $60 million over three years and includes a guaranteed amount of $38 million in the first year, according to a source. Williams made a base salary of $15.68 million last season after the Chargers picked up his fifth-year option.
How did the team do?
The Cowboys created more than $22 million in cap room by restructuring the contracts of quarterback and guard. When he signed his big deal last year, the move to Prescott was already planned. The Cowboys were able to get more space this year because of the two voidable years added to Martin's contract. The salary-cap figure was $34.45 million for Prescott and $20.191 million for Martin.
Calvin Ridley, a wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons, has been suspended for at least the next two seasons for gambling. The league said in a statement that he gambled on football games over a five-day period in November to address his mental health. On Halloween, Ridley took a break from football to get his life in order.
Ali Marpet, a Pro Bowl left guard for the Buccaneers, is retiring. Marpet played in the Pro Bowl for the first time. He is considered one of the top offensive linemen. Marpet made the decision because of his health concerns, according to a source.
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