NFL free agency: Live analysis for all major moves
The NFL offseason is kicking into high gear. Follow along for live analysis of all major transactions over the course of the league's free-agent negotiation period from Monday through Wednesday.
MORE: Justin Boone's fantasy takeaways, projections from the start of free agency
Day 1
✍️ Jets sign Justin Fields 🚨
2-year, $40M deal
The Jets are taking a swing at the most important position on the field. The money probably seems a little out there for a quarterback who has yet to establish himself as a long-term starter. In reality, though, $20 million per year falls directly between the bottom of the starter market and the top of the backup market. That seems like the perfect way to value Fields at this point. The former first-rounder still has to develop as a passer, but his ability as a runner provides a nice floor for the offense. And who says he's a finished product at 25 years old? Late breakouts from Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, and Geno Smith provide plenty of reason for optimism here. The Jets can look elsewhere as early as next year if it doesn't work out.
✍️ Seahawks sign Sam Darnold 🚨
3-year, $100M deal
There's the pivot. Trading Geno Smith away for a third-round pick is less than ideal, no matter the follow-up move. But it's easy enough to see the vision here. Darnold, 27, is seven years younger than the outgoing Seahawks quarterback. He should also be a nice fit for Seattle's new play-action heavy offense and he's got a connection to new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. The contract also isn't bad at all. The prevailing thought heading into the offseason was that Darnold may have put himself in position to earn upward of $40 million per year. A $33.5-million average makes him the NFL's 18th highest-paid quarterback, just narrowly ahead of Baker Mayfield.
💰 Patriots spend big on defense
DT Milton Williams: 4-year, $104M deal
CB Carlton Davis: 3-year, $60M deal
LB Robert Spillane: 3-year, $37.5M deal
It was only a matter of time before the Patriots, who entered free agency with over $120 million in cap space, started throwing some money around. Sure enough, they were on the board with three big defensive additions two hours after the negotiating window opened. Williams parlays a spectacular breakout season, and a big Super Bowl performance, into a deal that makes him the NFL's third highest-paid defensive tackle. Davis is a major upgrade opposite rising star cornerback Christian Gonzalez, even if the numbers may seem a little rich. Spillane, meanwhile, feels like the perfect thumper for the middle of a Mike Vrabel defense. The Patriots also made a the first of what could be several moves to reshape the offensive line, landing veteran tackle Morgan Moses at good value for $24 million over three years. Don't be surprised if there's more to come - Mike Vrabel wants to win right away.
✍️ Titans sign Dan Moore Jr.
4-year, $82M deal
The numbers here are pretty wild. Moore may be a starting-caliber tackle, and it's possible that his play ticks up under the guidance of offensive line coach Bill Callahan in Tennessee. But he's coming off an awful season in Pittsburgh where he gave up 41 pressures and a league-worst 12 sacks, according to PFF. Yet his $20.5-million annual average is the eighth-highest mark among all offensive tackles, ahead of established stars like Lane Johnson and Ronnie Stanley. It's tough to imagine the Titans getting a return on this investment.
✍️ Bears sign Drew Dalman
3-year, $42M deal
The Bears knew what needed to be done. Ryan Poles was only getting started with his offensive-line overhaul when he pulled off trades for starting guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson last week. Dalman, one of the league's premier run-blocking centers, is another major splash to round out the new-look interior. A trio of high-quality additions, and perhaps a fourth at left tackle in April's draft, could have the Bears' offense primed to take off in Ben Johnson's first season.
✍️ Bucs re-sign Chris Godwin
3-year, $66M deal
Godwin, arguably the top receiver available in free agency, was expected to have an extremely competitive market. Cap-rich and receiver-needy teams like the Patriots seemed like obvious candidates to throw a ridiculous amount of money his way. And it seems like that probably did happen - according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Godwin left an additional $20 million on the table to stay in Tampa Bay. Nobody keeps their own like the Bucs. This offense should remain a force in the years to come.
✍️ Chargers re-sign Khalil Mack
1-year, $18M deal
Mack briefly considered retirement before opting to play at least one more year. He could've had options elsewhere with some Super Bowl-caliber teams, but the Chargers may not be far off from that group. There's plenty of flexibility to load up the roster with over $90 million in cap space entering the week. Mack's return is crucial to ensure the pass rush doesn't drop off, and the price tag is more than fair for a borderline Hall of Fame resume.
✂️ Falcons release Grady Jarrett
Atlanta saves over $16 million in cap space by cutting Jarrett. It's always tough moving on from a franchise legend, but he'll be 32 next season and the production no longer matched the price tag. Perhaps there's an opportunity for a reunion in the coming weeks? But Jarrett will have interest elsewhere.
✍️ Panthers extend Jaycee Horn
4-year, $100M extension
The cornerback market has been reset. Horn's $25-million contract puts him clear of Jalen Ramsey and Patrick Surtain II, making him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history. (It's probably only a matter of time before Sauce Gardner tops this deal, however.) Horn has struggled with injuries at times, but the former first-rounder has been worth the money when he's on the field.
Weekend wrap-up
Sunday
🔁 Steelers trade for DK Metcalf 🚨
Trade terms: Seattle sends WR to Pittsburgh for 2nd-round pick (No. 52)
The Steelers finally got their receiver. It wasn't cheap - they also signed Metcalf to a 5-year, $150-million contract - but how can you not love the aggressiveness here? Pittsburgh desperately needed a complement for George Pickens, and Metcalf was arguably the best pass-catcher available this offseason. Now, let's see who's throwing them the ball. Re-signing Justin Fields has seemed like the most likely scenario, but the latest rumors suggest Aaron Rodgers might be in the mix, too.
✍️ Bills extend Josh Allen 🚨
6-year, $330M deal with $250M guaranteed
The recent explosion of the quarterback market had long made Josh Allen's contract one of the biggest steals in football. He still had four years remaining on an extension signed back in 2021, but the Bills knew they had to take care of their superstar. While the $55-million average falls short of Dak Prescott's QB record, Allen's $250 million in guarantees sets a new NFL record.
✍️ Rams add Davante Adams 🚨
2-year, $46M deal
This is a fascinating move. Adams got a head start on free agency after being released by the Jets last week. A reunion with the Packers would've been fun, but this will do just fine. Adams may be on the downside of his career, but a skill set predicated on route-running skills will age well. His ability to win one-on-one matchups on the outside will make him an outstanding complement for Puka Nacua. Matthew Stafford throwing to one of the best receiver tandems in football, with Sean McVay calling plays, will be a lot of fun.
✍️ Browns extend Myles Garrett 🚨
4-year, $160M deal
It turns out money talks. Garrett had previously made it known that he wanted out of Cleveland, with reports indicating that even a new deal wouldn't change his mind. But the Browns held firm that they wouldn't entertain trade offers. Once it became clear that they weren't bluffing, getting $40 million per year to stick around probably doesn't seem so bad. Garrett's new deal blows the edge rusher market out of the water, topping Maxx Crosby's non-QB record average by almost $5 million.
✍️ Patriots sign Harold Landry III
3-year, $45M deal
The Patriots got an early start on using their mountain of cap space, bringing in Landry to upgrade the pass rush. It was a predictable landing spot since he was drafted in Mike Vrabel's first season as the Titans' head coach. Landry has racked up 50.5 sacks in 98 career games, including 19.5 over the last two years. Reuniting with Vrabel should only help his chances of returning surplus value on a deal that doesn't even crack the top 15 among NFL edge rushers.
✂️ Bills release Von Miller
Add Miller's name to an interesting group of free-agent edge rushers. The future Hall of Famer got his release from the Bills over the weekend, ending his time in Buffalo after three seasons. The organization never really got the expected return on the six-year, $120-million investment made in 2022, but injuries were a big factor in the disappointment. His departure creates $8.4 million in salary-cap space while leaving behind a $15.4-million dead-money hit. Miller could be a sneaky addition for a contending team looking for pass-rush juice on money downs.
✍️ Vikings re-sign Aaron Jones
2-year, $20M deal
Running backs are so back. It wasn't too long ago that the idea of a 31-year-old ball-carrier making this kind of money, even on a short-term deal, was a non-starter. But Jones reaffirmed his value upon joining the Vikings on a one-year deal last offseason, running for a career-high 1,138 yards and adding 51 catches and 408 yards in the pass game. If J.J. McCarthy is ready to roll, he'll be surrounded with all the talent he could possibly need.
✍️ Chiefs re-sign Nick Bolton
3-year, $45M deal
Bolton was one of many impending free-agent linebackers who elected to re-up with his current team over the weekend. He got the sweetest deal of the bunch, with an annual average of $15 million making him the NFL's fourth-highest-paid player at the position. Teams are no longer hesitant about paying good linebackers. That's likely a direct result of offenses exploiting matchups over the middle of the field and trending back toward the run game.
Saturday
✍️ Ravens re-sign Ronnie Stanley
3-year, $60M deal
The Ravens weren't about to let their star left tackle leave the building. Stanley would've been one of the hottest names on the market at a time where several cap-rich teams - including the Patriots - figured to be sniffing around big splashes on the offensive line. It's fair to assume he could've done better than his $20-million average elsewhere, but a top-eight position salary for a 30-year-old who's struggled with injuries is a nice payday nonetheless. And running it back with the Ravens certainly gives him the best chance to win.
✍️ Bills extend Greg Rousseau
4-year, $80M deal
Rousseau has developed into a steady force up front for the Bills. He's coming off a season in which he posted a career-high 63 pressures, good for 10th among all edge rushers, according to PFF. It's mildly surprising that a player of this caliber, who doesn't turn 25 until April, didn't do even better on his first big contract - his $20-million average ranks 12th at the position. But it's still a solid deal, and he'll have the opportunity to cash in again before he's 30.
✍️ Chiefs re-sign Hollywood Brown
1-year deal worth up to $11M
This move makes all the sense in the world. The Chiefs, by all accounts, had big plans for him before a shoulder injury forced him to miss most of the regular season. He never got up to speed after returning for the playoff run. The new deal, which seemingly includes some incentives, is a slight tick up from last year's flyer, perhaps accounting for receiver-market inflation. Brown's speed could make him an extremely useful piece for the Chiefs' offense if he's healthy.
✍️ Bengals re-sign Mike Gesicki
3-year, $25.5M deal
The Bengals are keeping one of their own. No, not that guy. No, not him either. Bringing Gesicki back on a deal that makes him the 14th-highest-paid tight end is fair enough for all sides. But it's difficult to get too into the weeds about what this means for the Bengals, because the real questions are clear: What will the team do to settle the contract situations of Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Trey Hendrickson?
Friday
🔁 Raiders land Geno Smith 🚨
Trade terms: Seattle sends QB to Las Vegas for 3rd-round pick (No. 92)
The Raiders suddenly have a quarterback. While Seahawks leadership had maintained its commitment to Smith publicly, the two sides couldn't work out an extension. That evidently opened the door for a trade, and Pete Carroll wasn't going to let the opportunity for a reunion slip away. Smith has played like a top-12 quarterback over the last three seasons. A late third-round pick and an inevitable extension, likely in the range of $45 million per year, is a small price to pay for that kind of player. The Seahawks may well pivot to Sam Darnold, who's seven years younger, but that could be a sizeable downgrade at the most important position on the field.