NFL free agency updates 2023: Signings, trades, rumors, news

2023 NFL free agency formally begins March 15 at 4 p.m. ET, which coincides with the beginning of the brand new league yr. Groups and free brokers can start to comply with phrases on new offers earlier than formally signing them, although. The negotiating window begins Monday at midday ET. We’re monitoring the entire motion, together with free agent signings, notable trades, cap-saving releases and extra.

First, some quarterback updates: Derek Carr already has a new home, Geno Smith and Daniel Jones have re-signed with their respective groups, and Aaron Rodgers‘ standing remains to be up within the air. In the meantime, the free agent class is loaded with playmakers on offense (Dalton Schultz, Jakobi Meyers and Jimmy Garoppolo) and protection (Javon Hargrave, Jordan Poyer and James Bradberry).

How a lot pleasure awaits on the deadline? Which groups would be the most energetic? Who would be the subsequent star to signal with a brand new workforce? And which participant on the open market would be the subsequent to interrupt the financial institution with an enormous new contract? Comply with all of it proper right here all through March, with the latest updates on high.

See extra: NFL free agency | Top 100 free agents (ESPN+)

Wednesday, March 8

The Arizona Cardinals have launched large receiver Chosen Robbie Anderson. This transfer will save Arizona $12 million in cap area.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have minimize cornerback Shaquill Griffin in a transfer that can save the $13.15 million.

Sources: Cowboys are engaged on bringing again OT Smith

In keeping with ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Dallas Cowboys are engaged on a decision to deliver eight-time Professional Bowler Tyron Smith again for a thirteenth season, which may embody a reworked contract. Smith is due $13.6 million within the last yr of his contract.

Who represents one of the best match for every workforce? Our mates at Soccer Outsiders recommend one vital free agent signing for all 32.

Minnesota arrived on the NFL mix on a mission, a minimum of when it got here to the media portion of the occasion. Past discussing the hiring of defensive coordinator Brian Flores and a bunch of impending wage cap cuts, the workforce’s leaders have been decided to specific how a lot they love receiver Justin Jefferson as negotiations for a contract extension loom.

Extra from NFL Nation:

Tuesday, March 7

The Dolphins won’t be pursuing Lamar Jackson or some other beginning QBs this low season, a number of workforce sources inform ESPN’s Jeff Darlington. As one supply stated, “Mike totally believes Tua is the right match for his system.”

The New York Giants have agreed to a four-year, $160 million cope with quarterback Daniel Jones, sources instructed ESPN, and have used their nonexclusive franchise tag on star working again Saquon Barkley.

The Giants made the strikes simply forward of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline for NFL groups to make use of their franchise and transition tags.

Jones will make $82 million assured at signing as a part of the deal, which additionally consists of as much as $35 million in incentives, sources instructed ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. Barkley will make make $10.091 million in 2023 underneath the nonexclusive franchise tender.

In keeping with ESPN’s Dianna Russini, the Atlanta Falcons won’t be pursuing QB Lamar Jackson.

Defensive finish Frank Clark, third on the checklist of all-time NFL postseason sack leaders, was launched by Kansas Metropolis on Tuesday.

The Atlanta Falcons are usually not franchise-tagging RT Kaleb McGary, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. One of many high offensive linemen obtainable is ready to hit free company.

The Baltimore Ravens have positioned the $32.41 million nonexclusive franchise tag on QB Lamar Jackson. He now could be free to barter with different groups, however the Ravens have the correct to match any provide sheet he indicators or take two first-round picks in return for him. The Ravens and Jackson have till July 17 to work out a long-term deal.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have launched left sort out Donovan Smith. The Bucs will save $7.95 million in opposition to their wage cap by releasing him.

In keeping with ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Miami Dolphins have knowledgeable cornerback Byron Jones that he shall be launched on March 15 and can have the chance to enter free company. The Dolphins are anticipated to designate him a post-June 1 minimize, saving Miami $13.6 million in opposition to its wage cap.

The New York Jets have had conversations with the Green Bay Packers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers this week relating to a possible commerce of the four-time MVP, in response to sources. The sources stated a few of these conversations have been anticipated to happen Tuesday, however it was unclear as of Tuesday morning whether or not they are going to end in a commerce.

Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Lorenzo Carter is anticipated to signal a two-year cope with the Falcons after being their best participant on the place final season, a supply confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.

Monday, March 6

Geno Smith and the Seattle Seahawks are finalizing a three-year, $105 million contract, sources instructed ESPN on Monday. The deal consists of $52 million within the first yr, sources stated.

The Las Vegas Raiders are utilizing their franchise tag on working again Josh Jacobs. He completed the 2022 season with profession highs in speeding yards (1,653) and carries (340).

The Chiefs and defensive finish Frank Clark‘s agent Erik Burkhardt have been unable to search out widespread floor on a reworked deal throughout a number of conversations on the mix, and the expectation now could be that Kansas Metropolis will launch him. Clark is third on the checklist of all-time NFL postseason sack leaders.

The Jacksonville Jaguars formally positioned their franchise tag on tight finish Evan Engram, a supply instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Engram led the workforce’s tight ends in yardage (766), touchdowns (4) and receptions (73).

The Kansas City Chiefs won’t be franchise-tagging left sort out Orlando Brown Jr, a supply instructed ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Brown is ready to be a free agent.

The previous Atlanta Falcons receiver, now with the Jacksonville Jaguars, is again within the NFL a yr after being suspended.

The Cowboys will use the second-round tender on restricted free agent proper sort out Terence Steele ($4.3 million), as others have reported, and won’t tender RB Rico Dowdle. Dallas wish to signal Steele, who’s forward of schedule on rehab from ACL/MCL accidents, per Stephen Jones, long run.

The Dallas Cowboys have positioned their franchise tag on working again Tony Pollard. He’s assured $10.09 million for 2023 underneath the tag. Pollard suffered a excessive ankle sprain and had surgery in January however is anticipated to be one hundred pc earlier than coaching camp.

Former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is signing with the New Orleans Saints, sources instructed ESPN’s Dianna Russini on Monday. The Saints, who completed 7-10 final season, have been amongst three groups, together with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, to have pursued Carr for a number of weeks after the Raiders allowed the veteran quarterback to speak to groups to presumably facilitate a commerce.

The Rams are anticipated to launch outdoors linebacker Leonard Floyd if they can not commerce him first, league sources instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Floyd has a $22 million cap hit in 2023. If the Rams minimize him earlier than June 1, they will incur $19 million of useless cash in 2023 and save simply $3 million of salary-cap area.

The Minnesota Vikings launched veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks on Monday as they work to get underneath the wage cap. Kendricks, 31, has spent all eight seasons of his NFL profession with the Vikings, who chosen him within the second spherical of the 2015 draft. Final season he began all 17 video games and completed with 137 tackles to guide the workforce.

Sunday, March 5

We requested ESPN NFL insiders Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler to empty their notebooks from their week in Indianapolis. They hit the quarterback market — together with the most recent on Derek Carr, Daniel Jones, Geno Smith, Lamar Jackson and Aaron Rodgers — free agent sleepers and a few draft risers.

New York Jets left sort out Duane Brown, 37, a five-time Professional Bowl choice who underwent current surgical procedure to restore a torn left rotator cuff, has determined to return for his seventeenth season, his agent, Kennard McGuire, instructed ESPN on Sunday.

High information from final week

The New England Patriots knowledgeable veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer of their intention to launch him earlier than the beginning of free company, league sources confirmed to ESPN on Saturday.

The Las Vegas Raiders are planning to make use of the franchise tag on reigning NFL speeding champion Josh Jacobs for the 2023 season, sources confirmed to ESPN on Friday. The franchise tag for working backs for the 2023 season will price $10.09 million.

On the finish of the season, Baltimore Ravens common supervisor Eric DeCosta stated “it takes two to tango” when requested concerning the possibilities of getting a deal achieved with quarterback Lamar Jackson this yr. Ravens defensive finish Calais Campbell stated this week that Jackson is a keen dance accomplice.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are anticipated to put the franchise tag on tight finish Evan Engram, a supply instructed ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday. The tight finish franchise tag is $11.345 million.

Los Angeles Chargers common supervisor Tom Telesco on Wednesday ended hypothesis that the group may transfer on from 10-year veteran large receiver Keenan Allen this offseason.

“Keenan Allen is not going wherever,” Telesco instructed reporters on the NFL scouting mix in Indianapolis.

The Cincinnati Bengals emphatically let the remainder of the NFL know that large receiver Tee Higgins is not on the buying and selling block.

Throughout his annual session on the NFL scouting mix, workforce government Duke Tobin refuted any notion that the workforce could possibly be all in favour of buying the standout receiver this offseason. The workforce’s longtime director of participant personnel stated groups have not introduced any affords, and in the event that they did, buying and selling Higgins wasn’t a thought.

The New York Giants are “cautiously optimistic” that they’ll attain long-term offers with quarterback Daniel Jones and working again Saquon Barkley, who’re each set to grow to be free brokers and are additionally candidates for the franchise tag. Barkley’s future stays extra unsure, however Giants common supervisor Joe Schoen reiterated Tuesday that Jones will return in some capability — whether or not underneath a brand new deal or the tag.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers plan to launch working again Leonard Fournette, a key contributor of their Tremendous Bowl LV victory. The transfer will occur earlier than the beginning of the brand new league yr on March 15, a supply instructed ESPN.

The Atlanta Falcons launched quarterback Marcus Mariota on Tuesday in a transfer to liberate wage cap area and transfer on from a participant who had misplaced his beginning place.

The Washington Commanders launched quarterback Carson Wentz in a transfer that had been lengthy anticipated. The transfer saves Washington $26.176 million on the wage cap this offseason. Wentz had two years remaining on his contract however had no assured cash.