Recapping Day 2 of NFL Free Agency

The unofficial start to NFL free agency kicked off at noon EST on Monday, March 13. The legal tampering window opens the negotiation window between free agents and NFL teams. While contracts will not become official until Wednesday, March 15, this is the first opportunity for deals to get announced.

As we enter our second day of unofficial free agency, be sure to check in for the latest on all things NFL free agency.

10:27 p.m. EST: Tennessee Titans Sign Former Jaguars DL Arden Key

The Tennessee Titans have signed Jaguars edge rusher Arden Key to a three-year, $21-million deal, according to a report from NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. Key’s deal includes $13 million in guaranteed money and an additional $3 million in incentives.

Key is coming off a career season with the Jaguars, posting 26 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and 38 pressures in 11 games as a rotational pass rusher. 

10:05 p.m. EST: Minnesota Vikings Land Cardinals CB Byrn Murphy on Two-Year Deal

The Minnesota Vikings are set to sign former Arizona Cardinals cornerback Byron Murphy to a two-year, $22 million deal, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Murphy was placed on the injured reserve midway through the 2022 season. He posted a career-low 54.1% completion percentage allowed on 37 targets, along with a career-low 6.3 yards per attempt. 

Minnesota’s defense finished 27th in total defensive DVOA and 26th in defensive passing DVOA. The Vikings have already lost free agent cornerback Patrick Peterson to a deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

9:41 p.m. EST: Kansas City Cheifs Sign Former 49ers DT Charles Omenihu

The Kansas City Chiefs have signed San Francisco 49ers defensive end Charles Omenihu to a two-year, $20 million deal, according to a report from The Score’s Jordan Schultz.

Omenihu appeared in all 17 games and started just three, as San Francisco primarily used him as a rotational pass rusher. Omenihu posted a career-high 4.5 sacks and 43 total pressures, according to Sports Info Solutions. Those 43 pressures would be third-highest among Chiefs defensive linemen in 2022. 

9:35 p.m. EST: Detroit Lions Sign Former Bears RB David Montgomery

The Detroit Lions are set to sign former Chicago Bears running back to a three-year deal worth $18 million, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Check out our full write-up of the Montgomery deal.

8:13 p.m. EST: Indianapolis Colts Land 49ers DE Samson Ebukam

The Indianapolis Colts have agreed to a three-year, $27 million deal with San Francisco 49ers defensive end Samson Ebukam, according to a report from The Athletic’s Zak Keefer.   

Ebukam started 15 games for the 49ers in 2022. He posted a career-high 5.0 sacks and 47 pressures with San Francisco in 2022. Ebukam has four straight seasons with at least 4.5 sacks.

5:55 p.m. EST: Carolina Panthers Sign QB Andy Dalton to Two-Year Deal

The Carolina Panthers have signed quarterback Andy Dalton to a two-year contract for $10 million with $8 million in guarantees. Dalton’s contract has a max value of $17 million.

Dalton spent the 2022 season with the New Orleans Saints, going 6-8 in 14 starts with the team. Dalton’s 15th-ranked DYAR and 13th-ranked DVOA are both the fourth-highest rankings of his career thus far.

With Carolina trading to the top overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, Dalton could either serve as a viable backup for a rookie or a serviceable starter to sit a project behind. 

5:45 p.m. EST: Indianapolis Colts To Release QB Matt Ryan

The Indianapolis Colts are set to release quarterback Matt Ryan, according to a report from WSB’s Zach Klein.

The Colts traded a third-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for the 37-year-old quarterback. Ryan started 12 games for the Colts in 2022, going 4-7-1 in those games. Ryan posted the lowest DVOA of his career, as well as his first-ever negative DYAR.

According to ESPN’s Field Yates, releasing Ryan and trading cornerback Stephon Gilmore will create $27.1 million in cap space.  

5:04 p.m. EST: Pittsburgh Steelers Re-Sign DT Larry Ogunjobi to Three-Year Deal

The Pittsburgh Steelers and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi to a three-year, $28.75 million deal, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The contract pays $21.75 in the first two years.

Ogunjobi was unable to produce at the same level in Pittsburgh after coming over from the Cincinnati Bengals. He posted 1.5 sacks and 25 for the Steelers in 2022, down from 7.0 sacks and 43 pressures the year prior. 

4:18 p.m. EST: New York Jets Sign Packers WR Allen Lazard

The New York Jets have agreed to a four-year deal with Green Bay Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard, according to a report from The Score’s Jordan Schultz. Lazard’s deal is worth $44 million over four years, with $22 million in guarantees.

Check out our full write-up of the Lazard deal.

4:01 p.m. EST: Los Angeles Chargers Sign RT Trey Pipkins III, Cut RG Matt Feiler

The Los Angeles Chargers have brought back right tackle Trey Pipkins III on a three-year deal, according to a report from ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry.

Pipkins started 14 games for the Chargers in 2022, allowing a 3.4% blown block rate and 29 blown blocks, according to Sports Info Solutions. 

In addition, the Chargers have released starting guard Matt Feiler, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Feiler started a career-high 1,133 snaps, but he also allowed a career-high 2.6% blown block rate with 29 blown blocks. He allowed five sacks, good for a 0;6% blown block rate. Feiler’s release frees up $8.5 million in cap space for Los Angeles.

3:52 p.m. EST: Tennessee Titans Sign Former 49ers LB Azeez Al-Shaair

The Tennessee Titans are signing former San Francisco 49ers linebacker, according to a report from ESPN’s Dianna Russini.

Al-Shaair started nine of his 12 appearances for San Francisco in 2022, seeing play in all three linebacker spots in the 49ers defense. He finished the 2022 seasons with 42 tackles, four tackles for loss, and six pressures. 

3:12 p.m. EST: Philadelphia Eagles Land Seahawks RB Rashaad Penny

The Philadelphia Eagles have signed former Seattle Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

The Seattle Seahawks drafted Penny 27th overall in 2018, not giving Penny his first start until 2021. The last two seasons, Penny has averaged more than six yards per attempt, leading all running backs with 6.3 yards per attempt in 2021. He posted a 38 DYAR and 14.4% DVOA in 2022. Penny missed the remainder of the 2022 season after suffering a broken fibula.

Philadelphia led the league in offensive rushing DVOA, producing three different running backs with 14.0% rushing DVOA or better.

2:54 p.m. EST: Detroit Lions Sign 49ers CB Emmanuel Moseley to One-Year Deal

The Detroit Lions have signed former San Francisco 49ers cornerback Emmanuel Moseley to a one-year deal worth $6 million, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

In the last two seasons, Moseley has recorded 14 pass breakups and two interceptions over 16 games. Moseley tore his ACL in Week 5, ruling him out for the rest of the season.

2:25 p.m. EST: New York Giants Trade For Raiders TE Darren Waller

The New York Giants have traded a conditional third-round pick for Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller, according to a report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Check out our full write-up of the Waller trade. 

1:58 p.m. EST: Pittsburgh Steelers Sign Jets G Nate Herbig

, according to a report from NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.  

Herbig was signed by the New York Jets amidst massive turnover on their offensive line. He allowed a 1.8% blown block rate in 671 snaps, giving up two sacks on a 0.5% opposing sack rate, according to Sports Info Solutions. 

1:56 p.m. EST: Minnesota Vikings Re-Sign C Garrett Bradbury to Three-Year Contract

The Minnesota Vikings will bring back center Garrett Bradbury after agreeing to a three-year, $15.75 million contract, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Bradbury played his fewest snaps in four years back in 2022, allowing 22 blown blocks on a 2.9% blown block rate. He allowed three sacks this past season, posting his second-lowest sack rate allowed.

1:42 p.m. EST: New Orleans Saints Retain WR Michael Thomas on One-Year, Incentive-Laden Deal

The New Orleans Saints have agreed to a one-year, incentive-heavy deal with wide receiver Michael Thomas, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Additional reporting from ESPN’s Adam Schefter added the deal is worth $10 million with a maximum value of $15 million.

Thomas has appeared in 10 games over the last three seasons, three of which came in 2022. Thomas finished the season with 16 receptions on 22 targets for 171 yards and three touchdowns with a 78 DYAR and 31.1% DVOA. Prior to his litany of injuries, Thomas posted four straight seasons of top-five DYAR seasons.

1:35 p.m. EST: Aaron Rodgers Provides Jets with FA Wish-List

According to ESPN’s Dianna Russini, the Jets’ association with Rodgers’ former teammates is part of a free agency wish-list Aaron Rodgers has provided to New York. 

The list includes the aforementioned Lazard, Cobb, and Lewis, along with free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who spent the 2022 season rehabbing a torn ACL. Beckham was connected to the Green Bay Packers during the 2022 offseason. However, Beckham is also reportedly still looking to be paid like a top-end wide receiver.  

1:09 p.m. EST: New York Jets Linked To Nearly Every Packers Receiver

There have been no concrete updates on Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ status for the 2023 season. In the meantime, the New York Jets are doing their best bowerbird impression, linking themselves to free-agent Green Bay pass-catchers.

The connections began Tuesday morning, when ESPN’s Adam Schefter announced that the Jets were closing in on a deal to land Green Bay Packers wide receiver Allen Lazard. In 2021, Lazard finished the 2021 season fifth among wide receivers in DVOA and 21st in DYAR. 

That story later expanded to include veteran receiver Randall Cobb in potential ties to the Jets. Cobb, entering his age 33 season, qualified for Football Outsiders’ wide receiver rankings for the first time in three years in 2022. He finished 54th among 85 qualifying receivers in DYAR and 45th in DVOA

With the Jets closing in on a deal for WR Allen Lazard, another WR expected to be on their radar in the coming days of free agency is Packers’ veteran Randall Cobb, per league sources.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2023

Most recently, the Jets have been linked to 38-year-old tight end Marcedes Lewis. Lewis played the last five seasons in Green Bay, catching 57 passes for 582 yards and six touchdowns over that stretch.

Packers’ veteran free-agent TE Marcedes Lewis, who spent the past five seasons in Green Bay, has drawn interest from, amongst others, the New York Jets and Las Vegas Raiders, per league sources

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2023

12:30 p.m. EST: Jacksonville Jaguars Retain S Andrew Wingard to Three-Year Deal

The Jacksonville Jaguars and safety Andrew Wingard have agreed to a three-year, $9.6-million deal with $6 million guaranteed and the chance to earn up to $13.8 million, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. 

Jacksonville signed Wingard as an undrafted free agent and have primarily used him as a special teamer and pinch defensive back. Wingard posted career lows in completion percentage allowed (42.9%) and yards per target (4.9). 

11:59 a.m. EST: Houston Texans Sign Cowboys WR Noah Brown to One-Year Deal

The Houston Texans ahve agreed to a one-year contract with former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Noah Brown, according to a report from KPCR’s Aaron Wilson.

Brown saw new highs in production after becoming Dallas’ third wide receiver in 2022. His 74 targets, 43 receptions, 555 receiving yards, 7.5 yards per target, and three touchdowns all stand as career highs for a season. Brown finished 45th in DYAR (80) and 41st in DVOA (0.8%), beating out teammate Michael Gallup in efficiency metrics.

11:08 a.m. EST: Miami Dolphins Re-Sign RB Raheem Mostert

The Miami Dolphins and Raheem Mostert have agreed to a two-year deal worth $5.6 million.

Mostert joined the Dolphins, reuniting with former San Francisco 49ers run game coordinator and Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. He led the Dolphins in rushing in 2022, rushing for a career-high 891 yards. Mostert finished with a seventh-best 154 rushing DYAR and ninth-best 11.5% rushing DVOA, his best season by either metric since 2019.

Mostert was one of three Dolphins running backs to hit free agency in 2023. 

10:24 p.m. EST: Dallas Cowboys Re-Sign S Donovan Wilson to Three-Year Deal

The Dallas Cowboys have retained safety Donovan Wilson on a three-year, $24-million deal, according to a report from NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.  

Wilson started all 17 games for the first time in his career, recording a career-high 98 tackles and 10 tackles fo rloss in 2022. In pass coverage, Wilson allowed 4.1 yards per target on 28 targets, recording a pass breakup and interception on the season. 

9:56 a.m. EST: Las Vegas Raiders Sign Former Patriots WR Jakobi Meyers

The Las Vegas Raiders have agreed to terms on a three-year, $33-million deal with former New England Patriots wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Check out our full write-up of the Meyers deal. 

9:50 a.m. EST: Houston Texans Acquire Buccaneers G Shaq Mason Via Trade

The Houston Texans will acquire Tampa Bay Buccaneers guard Shaq Mason in a late-round swap, according to a report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Further reporting from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport details that Tampa Bay will receive a sixth-round pick in return for Mason and a seventh-round pick.

Mason was traded to the Buccaneers at the end of the 2022 season. He was the only member of Tampa Bay’s original projected starting offensive line to play all 17 regular season games. Mason posted a career-high 2.3% blown block rate over 1,124 snaps with Tampa Bay. According to Sports Info Solutions, Mason did not allow a single sack on 763 passing snaps, the most snaps by a lineman without allowing a sack in 2022. 

Mason is owed $7.5 million in base salary for the 2023 season, with a total cap hit of $9.57 million. 

8:12 a.m. EST: Atlanta Falcons Sign Former Commanders QB Taylor Heinicke

The Atlanta Falcons have signed former Washington Commanders quarterback Taylor Heinicke to a two-year, $20 million contract, according to a report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.  

In three seasons as Washington’s plug-in quarterback, Heinicke finished 12-11-1 with a 5-3-1 record in 2022. Heinicke has never qualified for a season with a positive DVOA. He ended the 2022 season with a 42 DYAR and a minus-8.8% DVOA, both 25th among quarterbacks last year. 

Atlanta has maintained throughout the 2023 offseason that Desmond Ridder will be the Falcons starting quarterback this season, allocating top-end backup money for Heinicke.