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Longtime Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell is set to headline the 2019 NFL free-agent class after sitting out the 2018 season.
Although several other potential free agents received the franchise tag, including the Houston Texans’ Jadeveon Clowney and the Dallas Cowboys’ Demarcus Lawrence, there’s still a solid group of players looking for new teams before next fall.
Defensive end Trey Flowers, running back Mark Ingram, wide receiver Golden Tate, quarterbacks Nick Foles and Teddy Bridgewater as well as safeties Earl Thomas, Landon Collins, Adrian Amos and Tyrann Mathieu are among the other notable contributors set to hit the open market.
The NFL offseason became all the more interesting, meanwhile, after top trade target Antonio Brown was dealt to the Oakland Raiders for a third- and fifth-round pick, leaving free agency at the center of all the action.
NFL free agency officially gets underway March 13 at 4 p.m. ET. This article will be updated with all the major signings throughout the offseason.
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Having played for three different teams over the past three seasons, veteran defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson appears to have found himself a place to settle in.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Tuesday that Richardson is expected to sign a three-year deal with the Cleveland Browns when free agency opens Wednesday. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Richardson piled up 49 combined tackles, 4.5 sacks and 16 quarterback hits in his lone season with the Minnesota Vikings in 2018.
Last week, Cleveland reportedly agreed to acquire pass-rusher Olivier Vernon from the New York Giants.
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One day after reportedly landing former Minnesota Viking Anthony Barr, the New York Jets have reportedly continued the overhaul of their linebacking corps.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday that ex-Baltimore Ravens linebacker C.J. Mosley is expected to sign a five-year, $85 million contract with the Jets, with $51 million guaranteed.
According to the New York Post‘s Brian Costello, the $17 million average annual value is the most given to an inside linebacker.
Mosley is coming off a season in which he was named to his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl, piling up 105 combined tackles, 0.5 sacks and five pass breakups. His AFC North-clinching interception in Week 17 was the cherry on top.
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The Oakland Raiders have been spending money like it’s going out of style this offseason. Their shopping spree continued Monday with Lamarcus Joyner.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Oakland agreed to a four-year deal with the veteran safety.
Joyner finished 2018 with 78 combined tackles, one sack, one interception and three passes defended in 15 games for the Rams.
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The New York Jets finished 21st in adjusted sack rate, according to Football Outsiders, and their 39 team sacks were tied for 16th.
Many thought the Jets would add a pass-rusher either in the draft or free agency. Perhaps New York sees Anthony Barr addressing that concern. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Barr will sign with the Jets.
Barr only has 13.5 sacks in 71 career games, but the Minnesota Vikings didn’t use him as an edge-rusher for the most part. Presumably that’s the role he’ll occupy in The Big Apple.
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In general, the secondary was a giant area of weakness for the Broncos in 2018. They allowed 245.6 yards per game through the air (20th) and ranked fourth in pass defense DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average), per Football Outsiders.
Denver did need to add an experienced cornerback opposite Chris Harris Jr., and Kareem Jackson will fill that void.
The Broncos agreed with Jackson on a three-year, $33 million deal, with $23 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
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For the most part, Devin Funchess has failed to fulfill his potential since the Carolina Panthers selected him in the second round of the 2015 draft.
In that sense, taking a short-term prove-it contract makes sense for Funchess. ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported he’ll join the Indianapolis Colts on a one-year, $13 million deal.
Funchess caught 44 passes for 549 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games with the Panthers in 2018.
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The Kansas City Chiefs might have won a Super Bowl in 2018 were it not for a defense that was among the NFL’s worst.
The Chiefs ranked 26th in defensive efficiency, per Football Outsiders. They were particularly bad against the pass, allowing an average of 273.4 yards per game through the air.
Kansas City attempted to address that weakness by signing one of the top safeties on the free agent market. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, it agreed to a three-year, $42 million deal with Tyrann Mathieu.
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Buster Skrine didn’t have a noteworthy 2018, finishing with 58 combined tackles, 0.5 sacks and eight passes defended. For the first time since 2012, he failed to intercept at least one pass.
The Chicago Bears plan to sign Skrine anyway, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Peter Schrager. Garafolo speculated the move likely spells the end of Bryce Callahan in the Windy City.
Callahan is an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
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CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora reported in February the Chicago Bears were shopping veteran running back Jordan Howard to other teams.
Chicago’s business Monday will do little to quiet the speculation regarding Howard’s future with the team. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Bears will sign Mike Davis.
Davis ran for 514 yards adn four touchdowns on 112 carries with the Seattle Seahawks in 2018. While Davis doesn’t have experience as a team’s primary ball-carrier, his arrival could potentially pave the way for Howard’s departure, with Tarik Cohen then assuming a larger role in the running game.
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The Buffalo Bills ranked 30th in adjusted line yards and 23rd in adjusted sack rate in 2018, according to Football Outsiders.
Upgrading the offensive line was a top priority for the Bills, and they did just that by landing veteran center Mitch Morse. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Morse will sign with Buffalo, with the full details of his contract unclear.
Morse, a second-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2015, started 49 games over four years in Kansas City.
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The Tennessee Titans were 29th in passing offense in 2018, averaging 185.9 yards per game through the air.
They remedied that problem somewhat Monday, agreeing to a four-year, $36 million deal with Adam Humphries, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero.
Humphries had 76 receptions for 816 yards and five touchdowns in 2018, all of which were personal bests. He finished 26th among qualified wideouts in DYAR (defense-adjusted yards above replacement), per Football Outsiders.
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Terrell Suggs spent his first 16 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. He won’t make it to 17 in 2019.
CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora reported Monday that Suggs had informed the Ravens he wasn’t going to re-sign with the team. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport followed up to report the Arizona Cardinals “are expected to” sign Suggs.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter added that Suggs will sign a one-year, $7 million deal.
Suggs had 34 combined tackles and seven sacks this past year. He and Chandler Jones will form a devastating tandem off the edge for the Cardinals.
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Mike McCartney, the agent representing veteran tight end Tyler Kroft, confirmed his client will sign a three-year deal with the Buffalo Bills.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the contract is worth at least $18.75 million and could climb to $21 million if Kroft reaches all of the incentives.
It’s not a bad payout for a player who saw a foot injury end his 2018 campaign after five games.
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The New York Jets re-signed Quincy Enunwa to an extension in December, while Robby Anderson is entering the final year of his contract.
The team’s receiving corps appears to be set for 2019 after NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported the Jets agreed to terms on a three-year, $28.5 million deal.
Injuries limited Crowder to nine games this past season. He caught 29 passes for 388 yards and two touchdowns.
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Frank Gore will turn 36 in May, an age that is practically ancient for an NFL running back. That didn’t stop the Buffalo Bills from agreeing to a one-year, $2 million deal with the five-time Pro Bowler, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Gore appeared in 14 games for the Miami Dolphins in 2018, running for 722 yards—the fewest since his rookie season. He remained an effective runner, though, averaging 4.6 yards per carry.
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Last August, Kenny Vaccaro settled on a one-year, $1.5 million offer from the Tennessee Titans following his departure from the New Orleans Saints.
Vaccaro finished the 2018 season with 58 combined tackles, two sacks, one interception and four passes defended. He parlayed a strong year with the Titans into a four-year, $26 million deal to stay in Tennessee, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
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Bobby Hart started every game for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018, his first year with the team after the New York Giants waived him in February 2018.
The Bengals apparently liked what they saw from Hart because they agreed to a three-year, $21 million deal with the fourth-year tackle, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
ESPN.com’s Bill Barnwell summed up the prevailing sentiment toward the move when he gave the Bengals a D-minus grade. Barnwell noted Hart allowed 11.5 sacks and committed 14 penalties, the latter of which were fourth-highest in the NFL.
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ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported in February the Jacksonville Jaguars were leading the race to sign Nick Foles. After Monday, it’s not hard to see why Jacksonville was in pole position.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported Foles will sign a four-year deal worth $88 million. The value could climb as high as $102 million. According to Schefter, Foles will receive a little over $50.1 million guaranteed.
Not surprisingly, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the Jaguars will release Blake Bortles, who lost the starting job midway through the 2018 season. Cutting Bortles before June 1 would mean saving $4.5 million but adding $16.5 million to the salary cap in dead money, per Over the Cap.
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On Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported the Cincinnati Bengals will re-sign tight end C.J. Uzomah for three years and $18 million.
Uzomah set career-highs across the board in 2018 with 43 catches for 439 yards and three touchdowns.
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On Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported defensive end Trey Flowers will sign with the Detroit Lions.
Field Yates of ESPN noted the deal will be “massive” and around $16 to $17 million per year.
Flowers was a two-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots and will have the chance to reunite with former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, who is the head coach in Detroit.
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Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported Monday that Washington will sign safety Landon Collins to a head-turning six-year, $84 million contract.
This comes after the New York Giants didn’t give him the franchise tag and allowed him to hit free agency despite his status as one of the team’s best defenders since it selected him with a second-round pick in the 2015 draft.
Collins is a three-time Pro Bowler who surpassed 100 total tackles in three of his first four years in the league.
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On Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported the Detroit Lions were “closing in on a deal” with nickel cornerback Justin Coleman.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, the contract is for four years and $36 million, which makes him the highest-paid nickel cornerback in the league.
Coleman played the last two seasons for the Seattle Seahawks and tallied a career-best 55 total tackles in 2018.
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On Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported the San Francisco 49ers will sign linebacker Kwon Alexander to a four-year, $54 million contract.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the deal features $27 million in guaranteed money.
Alexander played just six games in 2018 due to a torn ACL, but he was a Pro Bowler in 2017 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and tallied 145 total tackles, three sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 2016.
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The Eagles announced Monday they signed offensive tackle Jason Peters to a one-year contract for the 2019 campaign.
Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk explained Peters had a cap hit of $13.2 million for 2019 on his previous deal, so “the new deal likely reduces that cap number.”
Peters is a nine-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro who has been a staple of the Eagles’ offensive front since 2009.
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On Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported offensive tackle Trent Brown plans on signing a four-year, $66 million deal with the Oakland Raiders.
Schefter noted the contract features $36.75 million in guaranteed money and will make the Florida product the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL history.
Brown was a seventh-round pick in 2015 and helped lead the New England Patriots to a Super Bowl title last season by starting all 19 combined regular-season and postseason games.
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According to Field Yates of ESPN, the New York Giants signed restricted free agent center Spencer Pulley to a three-year, $9.6 million contract extension.
Yates called it a “quality deal” for the 25-year-old, who appeared in 13 games and started nine for the Giants last season. He started all 16 games for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017.
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On Monday, Josina Anderson of ESPN reported defensive tackle Malik Jackson is “expected to sign” with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com noted the deal is for three years and $30 million.
Jackson has 32.5 sacks since he entered the league in 2012 and spent the last three seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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The Detroit Lions announced they signed wide receiver Danny Amendola on Monday.
ESPN’s Dianna Russini first reported he would sign with the team “as long as there are no complications” during his physical. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com noted the deal was for one year at $4.5 million with incentives that could make it worth $5.75 million.
Amendola played for the Miami Dolphins during the 2018 season and finished with 59 catches for 575 yards and a touchdown. However, the AFC East team released him after just one year.
He is a two-time Super Bowl champion from his time with the New England Patriots and will provide quarterback Matthew Stafford with a veteran presence over the middle.
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The Los Angeles Rams confirmed Sunday they re-signed Dante Fowler Jr. before free agency officially opens Wednesday. The team didn’t provide the full details of the deal, but NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the two sides agreed to a one-year pact.
The Rams acquired Fowler last October from the Jacksonville Jaguars ahead of the NFL trade deadline.
In eight games with Los Angeles, Fowler posted 21 combined tackles and two sacks, as well as 12 combined tackles and 1.5 sacks in the playoffs.
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The Oakland Raiders agreed to a two-year extension with free-agent defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Hankins made 15 appearances for the Raiders in 2018, finishing with 36 combined tackles. Oakland struggled to defend the run, though.
According to Football Outsiders, the Raiders were 25th in adjusted line yards and 20th in stuff rate, the latter of which measures the number of runs where the defense stops the ball-carrier at or before the line of scrimmage.
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The Kansas City Chiefs announced that they signed free-agent running back Carlos Hyde on Saturday.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Hyde signed for one year and $2.8 million, with $1.6 million guaranteed.
The five-year veteran has played for the San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars. He rushed for 3.3 yards per carry last season.
The 28-year-old will likely be asked to provide depth behind Damien Williams, who had 416 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns on just 73 touches in 2018.
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Former Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots tight end Dwayne Allen told Josina Anderson of ESPN that he will sign with the Miami Dolphins.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that Allen will sign for two years and $7 million.
The 29-year-old has played seven NFL seasons. He backed up Pats tight end Rob Gronkowski over the past two seasons, catching just 13 passes for 113 yards and one touchdown.
Allen could receive more opportunities in Miami, however. The Dolphins had little production from the tight end position last year, with four tight ends combining for just 39 receptions.
The former Clemson Tiger caught 35 passes for 406 yards and six touchdowns for the 2016 Colts in his last opportunity as a full-time starter.
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The Los Angeles Rams announced a two-year contract with safety Eric Weddle on Friday, just three days after he was released by the Baltimore Ravens.
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported the veteran defensive back briefly considered retirement before inking the deal, which carries a $12.5 million max value.
Weddle has earned six Pro Bowl appearances and two first-team All-Pro selections across his 12-year career. He racked up 68 total tackles and three passes defended for Baltimore in 2018.
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Denzel Perryman is sticking with the Los Angeles Chargers after the team announced a new two-year contract for the linebacker Friday.
Financial terms of the deal weren’t immediately released.
Perryman recorded 51 total tackles and one interception in nine games last season before being placed on injured reserve in November because of a knee injury.
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The Philadelphia Eagles announced a new three-year deal for defensive end Brandon Graham on Friday to prevent him from hitting the open market.
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported the contract is worth $40 million.
Graham has spent his entire professional career with the Eagles, who selected him with the 13th overall pick in the 2010 draft. He’s tallied 42.5 sacks in 127 regular-season games, including four in 2018.
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The Baltimore Ravens announced Thursday that tight end Nick Boyle, one of the NFL’s top blockers at the position, was signed to a new three-year contract before he could hit free agency.
“Nick is a huge piece of our offense going forward from the standpoint of how he plays, the tone he sets, the type of player he is,” head coach John Harbaugh said. “I would say he’s the best blocking tight end in the league. There’s no question in my mind about that.”
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the new deal is worth $18 million in total.
In addition to his blocking ability, Boyle has recorded 75 receptions for 613 yards across 48 games since Baltimore selected him in the fifth round of the 2015 draft.
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Versatile defensive lineman Margus Hunt signed a two-year contract extension with the Indianapolis Colts before hitting free agency, the team announced Tuesday.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reported the deal is worth $9 million, with another $1 million possible through incentives.
“So it wasn’t really a hard decision to where I was like whether or not we’re going to play the market or not,” Hunt told reporters. “I knew that if the opportunity arises for me to be back here in this kind of environment with this team and with these guys, it’s a no-brainer.”
Hunt, who posted just 2.5 sacks across his first five NFL seasons with the Colts and Cincinnati Bengals, recorded five sacks for Indy in 2018. He also had a career-high 30 total tackles.
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