Tag: free agency

Aug 24, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Oren Burks (42) walks off the field after the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Caean Couto-Imagn Images

NFL transactions roundup: Bengals sign LB Oren Burks

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Bengals signed linebacker Oren Burks to a two-year contract on Monday. Financial terms were not revealed.

A third-round draft pick by Green Bay in 2018, he spent four seasons with the Packers, two with the 49ers and one with the Super Bowl champion Eagles.

Burks, who turns 30 on Friday, has appeared in 108 games (17 starts) and has 217 tackles (eight for loss), two sacks, three passes defensed, one interception, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

–The Buccaneers signed veteran offensive tackle Charlie Heck. Terms were not disclosed.

Heck, 28, split last season with Arizona and San Francisco following four seasons with Houston.

He has played in 50 games (23 starts) with the Texans, Cardinals and 49ers since Houston drafted him in the fourth round in 2020.

–Field Level Media

Detroit Lions wide receiver Tim Patrick (17) dives for a touchdown against Buffalo Bills cornerback Christian Benford (47) during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024.

NFL transactions roundup: Lions, WR Tim Patrick stick together

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Wide receiver Tim Patrick re-signed with the Detroit Lions on Friday, one day after the veteran literally left the writing on his wall.

Patrick posted a picture of a shirt on Instagram on Thursday inscribed with the words: “I only want to work with the Lions.”

NFL Network and the Detroit Free Press reported the one-year contract for 2025 is worth a maximum value of $4 million.

Patrick, 31, had 33 receptions, 394 yards and three touchdowns with the Lions in 2024, his first game action since 2021 with the Denver Broncos.

He played 16 games last season after overcoming consecutive season-ending injuries. He tore the ACL in his right knee in 2022 training camp and almost exactly one year later, he tore his left Achilles in training camp in July 2023.

He signed with the Lions’ practice squad in August 2024 and signed to the active roster in September.

Patrick caught 143 passes for 2,009 yards and 12 TDs in 55 games (37 starts) with the Broncos from 2018-21.

–Field Level Media

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) runs for a first down against Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker K.J. Britt (52) during the second half of the NFC divisional round at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024.

NFL transactions roundup: Dolphins, Bucs LBs swap spots

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Linebacker K.J. Britt and Anthony Walker are trading places.

ESPN reported Thursday that the Buccaneers have agreed to a one-year deal with Walker, formerly of the Dolphins. And Britt, selected by Tampa Bay in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, now is heading to Miami on a one-year contract of his own.

Walker, a fifth-round draft pick by the Colts in 2017, is joining his fourth team; he also played for the Cleveland Browns. In one season with Miami in 2024, he played in 14 games (eight starts) and had 68 tackles, a sack, an interception and two pass break-ups.

Britt played in 59 games (15 starts) over four seasons with the Bucs, with his best season coming in 2024. He started 11 games and made a career-high 72 tackles.

–The Eagles are adding linebacker Josh Uche on a one-year contract. Philadelphia lost Josh Sweat in free agency.

Uche, a second-round draft pick in 2020 by the New England Patriots, has played in 64 career games (four starts). Six of those games came last season in Kansas City, who traded for him in October.

He has 86 career tackles (19 for loss) and 20.5 sacks with two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

–The Tennessee Titans signed four-time All-Pro punter Johnny Hekker.

He spent 10 seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, followed by three with the Carolina Panthers. He was a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 2010s.

Last season in Carolina, he averaged 45.7 yards on 73 punts with a 41.5-yard net average.

In 212 career games, he has punted 963 times for 45,052 yards — the NFL’s active leader in both categories — and a 42.8-yard net.

–Field Level Media

Dec 15, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell (14) is tackled by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Patrick Queen (6) during the third quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

NFL transactions roundup: Steelers to sign RB Kenneth Gainwell

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Kenneth Gainwell is set to join the Pittsburgh Steelers in a reshaped backfield without Najee Harris and no defined answer at quarterback.

Gainwell agreed to a one-year deal, according to multiple reports Wednesday, and gives the Steelers some insurance behind restricted free agent Jaylen Warren. Warren was given a second-round tender offer by the Steelers this week and is projected to be Pittsburgh’s starter in the absence of Harris. Harris, a 2021 first-round pick, agreed to a one-year deal with the Chargers in free agency.

Gainwell, who turns 26 on Friday, was a fifth-round pick in 2021 and averaged 4.2 yards per carry in four seasons with the Eagles. He’s capable of being a third-down back and averaged 7.1 yards per catch with 102 receptions for 721 yards. He had a total of 1,906 yards and 13 touchdowns with Philadelphia.

Warren, 26, averaged 4.8 yards per carry with 127 receptions in his first three seasons. He was expected to start the 2024 season in a co-No. 1 role with Harris until a hamstring injury slowed him down.

–Defensive tackle Greg Gaines re-signed with the Buccaneers.

Gaines reportedly will receive $3.5 million for the 2025 season, his third with the team. A backup nose tackle, he played in 15 games (three starts) in 2024 and had 17 tackles with one sack.

Gaines, 28, is entering his seventh season after four years with the Los Angeles Rams. He has 163 tackles and 12.5 sacks in 91 career games (30 starts).

–Field Level Media

Houston Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs (1) walks towards the sideline before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Best free agents left? Stefon Diggs, Amari Cooper among open targets

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Two days into the free agency frenzy of 2025, there are plenty of marketable talents left on the board as the sun rises on the first day of the NFL league year.

Defensive backs and linemen were the belles of the ball over the first day of the open market with those contracts set to become official on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET.

A few surprises? Sure, we didn’t see guard Will Fries receiving a contract worth $88 million, the third-highest total value of any agreement made in the open negotiating period that began at noon ET on Monday.

Some overspends? Yes, there always are. But if we can take anything away from the construction of the Super Bowl champion Eagles, it’s that the NFL calls it a salary cap for a reason. Spend wisely, or find yourself in Giants general manager Joe Schoen’s shoes (cough, cough, Saquon Barkley) wishing you would have.

With fluid negotiations in progress and likely to reset the list below, here are the best free agents still available as the workday begins Wednesday morning.

WR Stefon Diggs (Texans): Until the Rams make it official and release Cooper Kupp, Diggs is the best receiver on the market because of his ability to adapt as an inside or outside receiver. The pause in paying Diggs could have a lot to do with health. He turns 32 in November and is coming back from a torn ACL.

WR Amari Cooper (Bills): Acquired from the Browns at the trade deadline, Cooper was a bust in Buffalo. He had bumps and bruises that limited his production with the Bills, but WR1 is no longer a likely role for Cooper. He’s 31 in June and likely no more than a third receiver.

OT Cam Robinson (Vikings): Robinson showed well in a half-season with the Vikings, who were forced to pick up a replacement for Christian Darrisaw (ACL) on the fly.

OG Mekhi Becton (Eagles): A power tackle who didn’t take with the Jets, Becton isn’t the best fit for every scheme but he turns 26 next month and is a plow horse as a run blocker.

S Julian Blackmon (Colts): He doesn’t turn 27 until training camp and started 16 games with the Colts last season. A former third-round pick with 10 career interceptions.

OT Jedrick Wills (Browns): A reboot with a new team and perhaps position might be in the offing for Wills. He wasn’t the answer at left tackle in Cleveland but could see a career rebound similar to Becton with a relocation.

OG Teven Jenkins (Bears): A second-round pick in 2021 with a shaky reputation for paid time off, Jenkins started a career-best 14 games and played a career-high 738 offensive snaps last season and still missed almost one-third of the Bears’ plays (right tackle Darnell Wright played 1,020). He’s been solid to very good when available, and given the cash doled out to guards in free agency, he has 38 career starts and enough good film to be worth a knock at the right price.

WR Elijah Moore (Browns): Cursed with horrific QB play since he entered the NFL with the Jets, Moore is only 25 and caught 200 passes in his first four seasons. He thrives as a slot receiver and would be a great addition for a team with a young quarterback or overhauled WR room.

–Field Level Media

East Rutherford, NJ -- October 14, 2024 -- Josh Allen of Buffalo gets out of the grasp of Solomon Thomas of the Jets in the first half. The Buffalo Bills came to MetLife Stadium to play the NY Jets. The Jets played their first game under new interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich.

NFL signing roundup: Cowboys add DT Solomon Thomas

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Defensive tackle Solomon Thomas agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday.

Thomas, 29, spent the past three seasons with the New York Jets. He had nine total sacks as a 3-4 defensive end in New York playing for defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton, a new addition to the Cowboys’ coaching staff.

The third overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, he suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Week 2 of his fourth season (2020) and joined the Jets as a free agent in 2022. He spent the 2021 season with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Thomas went to high school in Coppell, Texas, which is less than 30 minutes from the Cowboys’ training facility in Frisco. He has 18.5 career sacks over 115 games (34 starts).

–Safety Richie Grant is signing a one-year deal with the 49ers, ESPN reported.

Grant, 27, was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft and appeared in 67 games (33 starts). All but one of those starts came in the 2022-23 seasons, and most of his action in 2024 came on special teams.

He has 275 career tackles to go with three sacks, three interceptions, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries during his time with the Falcons.

–Punter Riley Dixon is signing a two-year, $6 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, NFL Network reported.

Dixon, entering his ninth season, spent the past two with the Denver Broncos. In 2024, he averaged 46.7 yards over 77 punts.

In 148 games, the 31-year-old has averaged 45.9 yards per punt over 668 punts.

–Field Level Media

Cornerback DJ Reed being interviewed as players arrived today to participate in the NY Jets 2023 Training Camp at their practice facility in Florham Park, NJ.

Reports: Lions, DJ Reed agree to $48M deal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Free agent cornerback DJ Reed agreed to a three-year, $48 million contract with the Detroit Lions, according to multiple reports Monday.

Reed spent the past three seasons with the New York Jets and details of his deal with the Lions came soon after news of the Patriots signing away Carlton Davis, who played with Detroit in 2024.

Reed, 28, was a fifth-round pick of the 49ers in 2018 and was claimed off waivers by the Seahawks in 2020 before signing a three-year, $33 million contract with the Jets as an unrestricted free agent in 2022.

Reed has six career interceptions and 51 passes defensed.

The 5-9, 195-pound corner can play inside for the Lions, who employ a significant number of nickel packages to maximize the versatility of their safety tandem of Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch.

The cornerback room in Detroit is green behind Reed and Amik Robertson, 26, who emerged as the top cover corner after Davis broke his jaw in December.

A pair of 2024 draft picks, Terrion Arnold (first round) and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (second), are also on the current CB depth chart. Arnold is projected as a starter again after making 15 starts in 16 games as a rookie. Rakestraw was never fully healthy because of a hamstring injury.

–Field Level Media

Nov 10, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Detroit Lions cornerback Carlton Davis III (23) intercepts a pass interned for Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (3) during the third quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Reports: Patriots, CB Carlton Davis agree to $60M contract

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Free agent cornerback Carlton Davis agreed to join the New England Patriots on a three-year contract worth up to $60 million, according to multiple reports.

New England also picked up linebacker Robert Spillane (Las Vegas Raiders) on a reported three-year, $37.5 million agreement, according to multiple reports.

Adding Davis addresses the secondary and a focus of the new defense being implemented by head coach Mike Vrabel, who can pair the physical and aggressive Davis with left cornerback Christian Gonzalez in 2025.

Davis, 28, was acquired by the Detroit Lions before the 2024 season but finished his lone season in Detroit on injured reserve with a broken jaw.

A self-described lockdown corner, Davis is a top-end competitor with the size to line up at multiple positions in New England’s scheme.

Spillane is a former Titans linebacker under Vrabel and an ex-teammate of outside linebacker Harold Landry, who agreed to join the Patriots after being released by Tennessee last week.

He led the Raiders with a career-high 158 tackles and had two sacks and two interceptions in 2024.

–Field Level Media

Oct 18, 2020; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) warms up before the game against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons owner denies tampering in acquisition of Kirk Cousins

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank does not believe his team is guilty of tampering with then-free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins before officially signing him earlier this month.

Blank said the Falcons will “deal with” the outcome of the NFL’s investigation into potential tampering, whatever it may be.

“The tampering deal, we obviously don’t believe we tampered, and we shared all the information with the league,” Blank told reporters Monday at the league meeting in Orlando. “And they’ll review the process and the facts and they are in the middle of doing that, and whatever the result is, we’ll deal with it.”

Cousins signed with Atlanta on a four-year contract worth up to $180 million on March 13, the first official day of free agency. The team and Cousins’ agent had agreed to terms during the so-called legal tampering period, the two days before the start of the new league year.

During an introductory press conference in Atlanta, Cousins said he had spoken to the Falcons’ head athletic trainer and head of PR on the phone before the legal negotiating window, which is against the rules for pending free agents.

The league is also investigating potential tampering by the Philadelphia Eagles with running back Saquon Barkley.

As for on the field, the Falcons believe Cousins will be the answer to the quarterback inconsistency they’ve experienced since parting with Matt Ryan. Cousins was averaging 291.4 passing yards per game last season with the Minnesota Vikings before tearing an Achilles tendon.

“Obviously our football folks felt strongly,” Blank said of Cousins. “Our fans I definitely think would concur with that. He’s a very high-quality quarterback, he’s performed at a high level for 12 years in the league and feel pretty fortunate having him as a quarterback and look forward to seeing the results with him.”

Cousins has thrown for 39,471 yards, 270 touchdowns and 110 interceptions over in his NFL career, six seasons with Washington and six seasons with Minnesota.

–Field Level Media

Oct 22, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Robert Hunt (68) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Winners, losers in free agency: Cheers to Commanders, ode to OGs

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Two short years ago when the confetti flew at the start of the 2022 NFL league year, lines formed to congratulate the biggest winners of the early transaction period.

And who could blame them, what with the Denver Broncos solving a years-old quarterback quandary by trading away multiple players, draft picks and ultimately committing hundreds of millions for the magic elixir.

Well, Russell Wilson stands to count a record $85 million against the salary cap for the Broncos in 2024 while suiting up for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Wilson won 11 of his 30 starts but takes with him a parting gift of the $161 million guaranteed from Denver for two years of service and a grand total of zero postseason snaps.

We’re going to avoid the obvious — 35-year-old, physically limited quarterback Kirk Cousins ($180 million with Falcons) and pass rusher Brian Burns (traded to Giants, deal includes $76 million guaranteed) are definitely lucky ducks, but you don’t need us to point that out.

It’s with this caveat we present the early reaction to the trades, signings and expected deals two days into the 2024 NFL league year. Please, hold the confetti.

Contract numbers are as reported by multiple outlets and listed by Spotrac.com.

–Free Agency Winners
Offensive guards
If you haven’t seen new Panthers guard Robert Hunt moving in the open field, we recommend checking out the 6-foot-6, 327-pounder making a TD catch in the Dolphins-Ravens “Thursday Night Football” game that was called back because of a penalty. Hunt can play guard, tackle and probably salsa for his new salary of $20 million per year. He signed a five-year, $100 million deal to become a paver in front of the Panthers’ new-look offense and quarterback Bryce Young.

Hunt wasn’t the only big man to cash in.

The Eagles signed Landon Dickerson to an $84 million contract and is currently third in the NFL in total contract value at the position behind Hunt and Chris Lindstrom (Falcons), whose five-year deal is worth $102.5 million.

Patriots guard Michael Onwenu ranked No. 2 in total cash in his contract for 2024 at $26 million in 2024.

Running backs
Two of the top five contracts in terms of total value were handed out within minutes of the negotiating window opening Tuesday.

Saquan Barkley jumped from the Eagles to the Giants for $37.75 million and Josh Jacobs was welcomed to the Green Bay Packers on a four-year, $48 million agreement. His $14.8 million in total cash is more than Barkley will make this season — $13.25 million — and the 2023 franchise-tagged backs are 1-2 in total cash this season.

Washington Commanders
We knew they were planning to shop free agency, but Washington shuffled in 13 players in the first 48 hours of free agency without signing an individual that consumes more than 4.2 percent of the team’s total cap space.

Defensive end Dorance Armstrong received the largest guarantee at a total of $22.125 million over the course of his contract.

The Commanders still have a few highlight moments ahead in the offseason. Washington holds the No. 2 overall pick and six of the top 100 selections in the 2024 draft.

–Free Agency Losers
Jacksonville Jaguars
Not signing franchise-tagged pass rusher Josh Allen to a long-term extension before March 13 meant Jacksonville would roll the dice on a deal with wide receiver Calvin Ridley, who convinced two teams — the New England Patriots and Tennessee Titans — to bring better bids to the ball.

Ridley wound up with $50 million guaranteed and signed a four-year, $92 million deal and then celebrated with a keyboard TD dance of a signoff in Jacksonville, posting the statement: Chess not checkers.

Jacksonville didn’t come up entirely empty-handed, luring Bills free agent Gabe Davis. That’s what we call a downgrade.

But the Jaguars also lost superior players at other positions, namely safety. Jacksonville signed Darnell Savage (Packers) and lost Rayshawn Jenkins to the Seahawks.

Chicago Bears
By now, it’s not clear to the outside world what the plan is at quarterback.

If the Bears held the line on Justin Fields because they believe he’s the quarterback to build around — spoiler alert, they didn’t — kudos to general manager Ryan Poles.

But not finding a landing spot for Fields creates doubt about the big picture.

Poles isn’t out of shots by any stretch. There’s the matter of the NFL draft, No. 1 and No. 9 overall picks, and plenty of free agency left.

Credit for re-signing cornerback Jaylon Johnson and landing an every-down running back in D’Andre Swift. Will he hold up in a regular role?

As for needs, can Poles still find proper solutions in bargain pass rushers and wide receivers and further repair an offensive line we’d rate as mediocre before picking his prize at quarterback?

–Field Level Media