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ESPN staff
2023 NFL free agency officially starts March 15 at 4 p.m. ET, which coincides with the start of the new league year. Teams and free agents can begin to agree to terms on new deals before officially signing them, though. The negotiating window starts Monday at noon ET. We are tracking all of the action, including free agent signings, notable trades, cap-saving releases and more.
First, some quarterback updates: Derek Carr already has a new home, Geno Smith and Daniel Jones have re-signed with their respective teams, and Aaron Rodgers‘ status is still up in the air. Meanwhile, the free agent class is loaded with playmakers on offense (Dalton Schultz, Jakobi Meyers and Jimmy Garoppolo) and defense (Javon Hargrave, Jordan Poyer and James Bradberry).
How much excitement awaits at the deadline? Which teams will be the most active? Who will be the next star to sign with a new team? And which player on the open market will be the next to break the bank with a huge new contract? Follow it all right here throughout March, with the most recent updates on top.
See more: NFL free agency | Top 100 free agents (ESPN+)
Wednesday, March 8
The Arizona Cardinals have released wide receiver Chosen Robbie Anderson. This move will save Arizona $12 million in cap space.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have cut cornerback Shaquill Griffin in a move that will save the $13.15 million.
Sources: Cowboys are working on bringing back OT Smith
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Dallas Cowboys are working on a resolution to bring eight-time Pro Bowler Tyron Smith back for a 13th season, which could include a reworked contract. Smith is due $13.6 million in the final year of his contract.
Who represents the best match for each team? Our friends at Football Outsiders suggest one important free agent signing for all 32.
Minnesota arrived at the NFL combine on a mission, at least when it came to the media portion of the event. Beyond discussing the hiring of defensive coordinator Brian Flores and a host of impending salary cap cuts, the team’s leaders were determined to express how much they love receiver Justin Jefferson as negotiations for a contract extension loom.
More from NFL Nation:
Tuesday, March 7
The Dolphins will not be pursuing Lamar Jackson or any other starting QBs this off-season, multiple team sources tell ESPN’s Jeff Darlington. As one source said, “Mike fully believes Tua is the perfect fit for his system.”
The New York Giants have agreed to a four-year, $160 million deal with quarterback Daniel Jones, sources told ESPN, and have used their nonexclusive franchise tag on star running back Saquon Barkley.
The Giants made the moves just ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline for NFL teams to use their franchise and transition tags.
Jones will make $82 million guaranteed at signing as part of the deal, which also includes up to $35 million in incentives, sources told ESPN’s Jordan Raanan. Barkley will make make $10.091 million in 2023 under the nonexclusive franchise tender.
According to ESPN’s Dianna Russini, the Atlanta Falcons will not be pursuing QB Lamar Jackson.
Defensive end Frank Clark, third on the list of all-time NFL postseason sack leaders, was released by Kansas City on Tuesday.
The Atlanta Falcons are not franchise-tagging RT Kaleb McGary, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. One of the top offensive linemen available is set to hit free agency.
The Baltimore Ravens have placed the $32.41 million nonexclusive franchise tag on QB Lamar Jackson. He now is free to negotiate with other teams, but the Ravens have the right to match any offer sheet he signs or take two first-round picks in return for him. The Ravens and Jackson have until July 17 to work out a long-term deal.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released left tackle Donovan Smith. The Bucs will save $7.95 million against their salary cap by releasing him.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Miami Dolphins have informed cornerback Byron Jones that he will be released on March 15 and will have the opportunity to enter free agency. The Dolphins are expected to designate him a post-June 1 cut, saving Miami $13.6 million against its salary cap.
The New York Jets have had conversations with the Green Bay Packers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers this week regarding a potential trade of the four-time MVP, according to sources. The sources said some of those conversations were expected to take place Tuesday, but it was unclear as of Tuesday morning whether they will result in a trade.
Atlanta Falcons edge rusher Lorenzo Carter is expected to sign a two-year deal with the Falcons after being their most productive player at the position last season, a source confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday.
Monday, March 6
Geno Smith and the Seattle Seahawks are finalizing a three-year, $105 million contract, sources told ESPN on Monday. The deal includes $52 million in the first year, sources said.
The Las Vegas Raiders are using their franchise tag on running back Josh Jacobs. He finished the 2022 season with career highs in rushing yards (1,653) and carries (340).
The Chiefs and defensive end Frank Clark‘s agent Erik Burkhardt were unable to find common ground on a reworked deal during several conversations at the combine, and the expectation now is that Kansas City will release him. Clark is third on the list of all-time NFL postseason sack leaders.
The Jacksonville Jaguars officially placed their franchise tag on tight end Evan Engram, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Engram led the team’s tight ends in yardage (766), touchdowns (4) and receptions (73).
The Kansas City Chiefs will not be franchise-tagging left tackle Orlando Brown Jr, a source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Brown is set to be a free agent.
The former Atlanta Falcons receiver, now with the Jacksonville Jaguars, is back in the NFL a year after being suspended.
The Cowboys will use the second-round tender on restricted free agent right tackle Terence Steele ($4.3 million), as others have reported, and will not tender RB Rico Dowdle. Dallas would like to sign Steele, who is ahead of schedule on rehab from ACL/MCL injuries, per Stephen Jones, long term.
The Dallas Cowboys have placed their franchise tag on running back Tony Pollard. He is guaranteed $10.09 million for 2023 under the tag. Pollard suffered a high ankle sprain and had surgery in January but is expected to be 100 percent before training camp.
Former Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is signing with the New Orleans Saints, sources told ESPN’s Dianna Russini on Monday. The Saints, who finished 7-10 last season, were among three teams, including the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, to have pursued Carr for several weeks after the Raiders allowed the veteran quarterback to talk to teams to possibly facilitate a trade.
The Rams are expected to release outside linebacker Leonard Floyd if they cannot trade him first, league sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Floyd has a $22 million cap hit in 2023. If the Rams cut him before June 1, they’ll incur $19 million of dead money in 2023 and save just $3 million of salary-cap space.
The Minnesota Vikings released veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks on Monday as they work to get under the salary cap. Kendricks, 31, has spent all eight seasons of his NFL career with the Vikings, who selected him in the second round of the 2015 draft. Last season he started all 17 games and finished with 137 tackles to lead the team.
Sunday, March 5
We asked ESPN NFL insiders Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler to empty their notebooks from their week in Indianapolis. They hit the quarterback market — including the latest on Derek Carr, Daniel Jones, Geno Smith, Lamar Jackson and Aaron Rodgers — free agent sleepers and some draft risers.
New York Jets left tackle Duane Brown, 37, a five-time Pro Bowl selection who underwent recent surgery to repair a torn left rotator cuff, has decided to return for his 17th season, his agent, Kennard McGuire, told ESPN on Sunday.
Top news from last week
The New England Patriots informed veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer of their intention to release him before the start of free agency, league sources confirmed to ESPN on Saturday.
The Las Vegas Raiders are planning to use the franchise tag on reigning NFL rushing champion Josh Jacobs for the 2023 season, sources confirmed to ESPN on Friday. The franchise tag for running backs for the 2023 season will cost $10.09 million.
At the end of the season, Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta said “it takes two to tango” when asked about the chances of getting a deal done with quarterback Lamar Jackson this year. Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell said this week that Jackson is a willing dance partner.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are expected to place the franchise tag on tight end Evan Engram, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday. The tight end franchise tag is $11.345 million.
Los Angeles Chargers general manager Tom Telesco on Wednesday ended speculation that the organization could move on from 10-year veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen this offseason.
“Keenan Allen isn’t going anywhere,” Telesco told reporters at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.
The Cincinnati Bengals emphatically let the rest of the NFL know that wide receiver Tee Higgins isn’t on the trading block.
During his annual session at the NFL scouting combine, team executive Duke Tobin refuted any notion that the team could be interested in shopping the standout receiver this offseason. The team’s longtime director of player personnel said teams haven’t presented any offers, and if they did, trading Higgins wasn’t a thought.
The New York Giants are “cautiously optimistic” that they can reach long-term deals with quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley, who are both set to become free agents and are also candidates for the franchise tag. Barkley’s future remains more uncertain, but Giants general manager Joe Schoen reiterated Tuesday that Jones will return in some capacity — whether under a new deal or the tag.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers plan to release running back Leonard Fournette, a key contributor in their Super Bowl LV victory. The move will happen before the start of the new league year on March 15, a source told ESPN.
The Atlanta Falcons released quarterback Marcus Mariota on Tuesday in a move to free up salary cap space and move on from a player who had lost his starting position.
The Washington Commanders released quarterback Carson Wentz in a move that had been long expected. The move saves Washington $26.176 million on the salary cap this offseason. Wentz had two years remaining on his contract but had no guaranteed money.