Darnold, Smith, Fields start quarterback carousel in NFL free agency
Sam Darnold, Geno Smith and Justin Fields among the early quarterback moves in NFL free agency. Tyler Dragon breaks down which team stands to gain the most.
It may be March 12, but it’s a perfect day to wish your fellow NFL fans a Happy New Year.
The league’s new league year begins at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, which will bring a flurry of free-agent signings, trades and more in the coming days. Already, handshake deals have been made thanks to the NFL’s legal tampering period, but until pen is put to paper, nothing is official.
Several big names are still expected to sign or be traded within coming days. Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson are the two foremost passers to watch on the market, with both likely landing with new teams in the coming days or weeks.
Other quarterbacks have already found new homes, including Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones, while Amari Cooper and Stefon Diggs look to bolster depth charts across the NFL.
On the defensive side of the ball, Joey Bosa is reportedly set to join the Bills on a one-year deal, while Justin Reid is joining the Saints, leaving a relatively thin pool of top-tier defenders left.
USA TODAY Sports will provide the latest updates, signings, releases, rumors and more from NFL free agency below. All times are Eastern.
LB Troy Dye stays with Chargers
Dye signed a one-year deal with the Chargers last year, and he recorded career-high numbers in tackles (57) and sacks (1.5). The linebacker, who split time between defense and special teams, is returning to Los Angeles on a two-year, $5.5 million deal.
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling signing with Seahawks
After releasing Tyler Lockett and trading DK Metcalf, the Seahawks have brought in reinforcement at the wide receiver position. Valdes-Scantling is signing a one-year, $5.5 million deal with Seattle after a year split between Buffalo and New Orleans.
S Darrick Forrest, Bills agree to terms
Buffalo is signing former Commanders safety Darrick Forrest to a one-year deal. The 25-year-old spent most of the 2024 season playing on special teams. He hit free agency this year after four years with Washington, which drafted him in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL draft.
Will the Jets trade Aaron Rodgers?
Though New York announced earlier in the offseason that it planned to part ways with their veteran quarterback, the team still hasn’t made any move official. With hours to go before the new league year officially begins, the Jets still have not released Rodgers. Perhaps a trade is on the way to allow Gang Green to recoup some value from the 41-year-old gunslinger in the form of draft picks.
Rodgers is set to enter the final season of the three-year, $112.5 million contract he signed with the Jets in 2023. New York would take on a $23.5 million cap hit into June should it designate the quarterback a post-June 1 release. After that, Rodgers would be responsible for a $14 million cap hit in 2025 and $35 million cap hit in 2026.
Holding the Jets back from a potential trade is the fact that Rodgers has a no-trade clause in his contract, which would allow the quarterback to nix any potential deal.
CB Mike Ford signing with Falcons on short-term deal
Ford and the Falcons have agreed to terms on a two-year, $4 million deal. The defensive back is returning to Atlanta after two years in Cleveland. He has played primarily on special teams over the last five years.
DT Greg Gaines re-signing with Buccaneers
For a third year in a row, Gaines is signing a one-year deal with Tampa Bay. Also for a third year in a row, that contract is worth $3.5 million. The defensive tackle has been a rotational piece in the Buccaneers‘ defensive front over the last two years and has recorded two sacks in that span.
Bills extend S Damar Hamlin
Hamlin, 26, is coming off of one of the best seasons of his career in 2024. He had 89 tackles (two for a loss), five passes defensed, two interceptions and a fumble recovery in 14 starts. The Bills are extending Hamlin with a one-year deal, the value of which is still to be announced.
Titans set to sign WR Van Jefferson on one-year deal
Coming off of a season with 24 catches for 276 yards and two touchdowns for the Steelers, the Brentwood, Tennessee native is heading home on a one-year, $2.5 million deal with the Titans.
G Saahdiq Charles to come out of retirement
Charles signed a one-year deal to be the Titans’ starting right guard last year before suddenly retiring before the season began. Now the former fourth-round pick will attempt to return from retirement and hit the market as a free agent when the Titans release him to start the new league year.
LB Tyrel Dodson returns to Miami on two-year deal
Four months to the day after the Dolphins claimed Dodson off of waivers from the Seahawks, the two sides have agreed to terms on a two-year, $8.25 million deal. The linebacker tallied career-high marks in tackles (107), passes defensed (6) and interceptions (3) last season.
DT Larry Ogunjobi reaches contract agreement with Bills
After three seasons with the Steelers, the 30-year-old defensive tackle will join the fourth team of his career on a one-year, $8.3 million contract. The deal includes $8 million in guarantees and incentives that could push the value to $10 million.
Chiefs restructure Patrick Mahomes’, Chris Jones’ contracts
The Chiefs created nearly $50 million in cap space by restructuring the contracts of their star quarterback and defensive tackle. Yates points out the extra room is even more than Kansas City needed to officially sign free agents Kristian Fulton, Elijah Mitchell and Jaylon Moore when the new league year starts later on Wednesday.
DE Joey Bosa, Bills agree to terms on short-term deal
Rumors had floated around throughout the day on Tuesday that Bosa would join his brother, Nick, in San Francisco. Instead, he’ll fill in the Von Miller-sized hole in the Bills’ pass-rush attack after agreeing to join Buffalo on a one-year, $12.6 million deal.
Here are the top-10 remaining free agents according to USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon:
- Stefon Diggs, WR
- Amari Cooper, WR
- Aaron Rodgers, QB
- Cam Robinson, T
- DeAndre Hopkins, WR
- Keenan Allen, WR
- Joey Bosa, edge
- Russell Wilson, QB
- J.K. Dobbins, RB
- Justin Blackmon, S
