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After two days of the absurdly titled legal tampering period, NFL free agency officially opens on Wednesday. The new league years begin at 1 PM PST, meaning all options and tenders must be exercised prior to then. Moves can become official as of then, so we should expect a flurry of transactions over the course of the next several days.
Former Husky Danny Shelton, previously of the Browns and Patriots, signed a two-year deal with the Lions.
Former Pats’ defensive lineman Danny Shelton is signing with the Lions on a 2-year deal for $8mil, per @RosenhausSports.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 18, 2020
Speaking of the Lions, Alex Karras’ great nephew Ted signed with the Dolphins, a year after being forced into starting action with the Patriots.
Ted Karras to Miami on a one-year, $4-million deal, per source. Another Patriots connection.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 18, 2020
The Panthers released Eric Reid, 13 months after signing him to a three-year extension.
Slight surprise in Charlotte: The Panthers will be releasing safety Eric Reid, source says. Team saw him as a great culture fit, ownership/management really liked him, all seemed well. But team decided to instead go a different way at safety in free agency.
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) March 18, 2020
Minshew Mania is on in Jacksonville, as the Jaguars traded Nick Foles to the Bears in exchange for a fourth-round pick.
QB trade: Jacksonville is trading QB Nick Foles to Chicago for the Bears’ compensatory fourth-round pick, sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 18, 2020
Bears’ coaches such as Matt Nagy have worked with Foles in past and know him well.
Patriots mid-west continues, as the Lions have acquired ex-New England safety Duron Harmon.
Source: The #Lions traded for #Patriots DB Duron Harmon.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 18, 2020
The Titans traded Jerrell Casey to the Broncos in exchange for a seventh-round pick. Tennessee, who has previously been connected to Jadeveon Clowney, saved over $10 million in cap space in the trade.
Broncos acquiring five time Pro Bowler DL Jerrell Casey from Tennessee for Day 3 draft pick. #9sports
— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) March 18, 2020
The Chargers signed former Vikings nose tackle Linval Joseph to a two-year deal.
#Chargers have agreed with former #Vikings DT Linval Joseph on a two-year, $17 million deal with another $2 million in incentives, sources say.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 18, 2020
Los Angeles is reportedly out of the Cam Newton/Andy Dalton/Jameis Winston sweepstakes, and will move forward with Tyrod Taylor (and perhaps a rookie) in 2020.
With Tom Brady headed to the #Bucs, the #Chargers are not expected to sign or trade for a veteran QB, I’m told. They are moving forward with Tyrod Taylor for 2020.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 18, 2020
One of the best pass rushers left on the market is no longer available. Dante Fowler Jr. will reunite with Dan Quinn in Atlanta and sign with the Falcons.
#Rams free agent pass-rusher Dante Fowler is expected to sign with the #Falcons, sources tell me and @TomPelissero. A high-end pass-rusher lands in Atlanta. Coach Dan Quinn actually coached Fowler while at Florida.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 18, 2020
The Rams were quick to replace Dante Fowler Jr., adding the recently released Leonard Floyd on a one-year deal.
Former Bears' pass rusher Leonard Floyd is signing a one-year, $10 million worth up to $13 with the Rams, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 18, 2020
Another one of the top defenders left on the market has been signed, as Josina Anderson reports Chris Harris and the Chargers have come to an agreement.
CB Chris Harris tells me he is picking the Chargers.
— ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 18, 2020
The Rams are bringing back 38-year-old left tackle Andrew Whitworth on a three-year deal.
3 more years in LA. Congrats, Whit! #LegendsLiveHere pic.twitter.com/RJDYAL5fDh
— SportsTrust Advisors (@_SportsTrust) March 18, 2020
After his release from the Falcons, Desmond Trufant has a new home. The former Husky signed a deal with the Lions.
Now that the Lions have signed former Falcons’ CB Desmond Trufant, it allows them to continue shopping CB Darius Slay.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 19, 2020
Former Seahawk J.D. McKissic, who was not tendered by Detroit earlier Wednesday, signed a deal with Washington.
The #Redskins are signing RB J.D. McKissic to a two-year deal, source said.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 19, 2020
Finally, the Eagles have found the number-one cornerback they have long sought. In a trade with the Lions, Philadelphia acquired Darius Slay in exchange for third- and fifth-round picks.
A splash for Philly: The #Eagles are trading for #Lions star CB Darius Slay, sources say, finishing off talks that first began around the trade deadline. As part of the deal, Slay receives a new contract that puts him among the highest-paid at his position.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 19, 2020
Cincinnati has continued adding pieces. This time it’s nickelback Mackensie Alexander, who signs on a one-year deal.
The #Bengals are signing former #Vikings CB Mackensie Alexander to a one-year, $4 million deal, source said.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 19, 2020
We should expect a ton of official signings on Thursday, according to this tweet from the Jaguars’ director of P.R.
The NFL just alerted teams that we're able to announce transactions if:
— Tad Dickman (@TDickman89) March 19, 2020
1) club & player have reached an agreement on the terms of the contract.
2) the written contract has been sent to the player & agent.
Buckle up. https://t.co/z4YNoyqYt4
The Broncos made it official on Thursday, waiving Joe Flacco with a failed physical designation.
Broncos just informed former Super-Bowl MVP Joe Flacco that he is being waived with a failed physical designation, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 19, 2020
Flacco now joins a group of free-agent QBs looking for work.
Three Super Bowl MVPs in headlines this week: Flacco waived, Foles traded, TB to TB.
The 49ers released a member of their Super Bowl team from 2019, with guard Mike Person getting cut. Person was previously on the Seahawks.
49ers just informed starting guard Mike Person that he is being released, per source. A veteran guard now available.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 19, 2020
Shortly after Person’s release, San Francisco landed his replacement in Tom Compton.
The #49ers have agreed to terms with former Jets guard Tom Compton on a one-year, $3 million deal, per a league source.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) March 19, 2020
The Browns continued their savvy business, landing former Bengal Andrew Billings on a one-year deal worth $3.5 million.
The #Browns are giving DT Andrew Billings a 1-year deal worth $3.5M fully guaranteed, source said. Some heft on their defensive line from someone they’ve played against twice a year.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 19, 2020
Arizona continued to bolster their defense, signing former Falcons linebacker De’Vondre Campbell to a one-year deal.
The #AZCardinals are adding former #Falcons LB De’Vondre Campbell on a 1-year worth up to $8.5M, per @RosenhausSports.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 19, 2020
The Rams released a pair of well known players on Thursday, cutting ties with Todd Gurley and Clay Matthews.
The #Rams are releasing face of the franchise RB Todd Gurley, source says, before $10.5M becomes fully guaranteed on his contract.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 19, 2020
#Rams are also releasing LB Clay Matthews, source says
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 19, 2020
Todd Gurley did not need much time to find a new home, however, as the Atlanta Falcons have announced they called dibs.
WE GOT HIM. pic.twitter.com/N5aGYeYoFJ
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) March 20, 2020
Melvin Gordon has a new home. The former Wisconsin tailback is staying in the AFC West, heading to the Broncos on a two-year deal.
Source: The #Broncos and RB Melvin Gordon have agreed to terms on a 2-year deal worth $16M with $13.5M guaranteed. The former #Chargers star stays in the division, creating a strong 1-2 punch with Phillip Lindsay.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 20, 2020
Eric Ebron is on the move again, this time to Pittsburgh as the former first-round pick signed a two-year deal with the Steelers.
Source: The #Steelers are signing TE Eric Ebron to a 2-year deal worth $12M. Another target for Big Ben.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 20, 2020