Legal tampering — or the “negotiation period” as the NFL calls it — is officially here.
From now through the start of the new league year at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, teams are allowed to negotiate with representatives of free agents and work out new contracts.
Tampa Bay opened the negotiation period with a bang, reportedly agreeing to re-sign wide receiver Chris Godwin to a three-year, $66 million deal and adding pass rusher Haason Reddick on a one-year, $14 million deal.
Report: QB Jimmy Garoppolo staying with Rams on 1-year deal
Jimmy Garoppolo will remain Matthew Stafford’s backup with the Los Angeles Rams, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. It’s reportedly a one-year deal.
Report: Former 49ers RB Elijah Mitchell signing with Chiefs
Kansas City is adding Elijah Mitchell to its backfield, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Report: Commanders beefing up DL with Javon Kinlaw
The Washington Commanders made a surprise run to the NFC championship game on the back of their offense. Now they’re setting about improving their defense.
The Commanders are signing defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw to a three-year, $45 million deal with $30 million guaranteed, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Kinlaw cashes in after signing a one-year deal with the New York Jets last season following a four-year stint with the San Francisco 49ers, who drafted him in the first round in 2020 out of South Carolina.
Report: Chiefs add left tackle Jaylon Moore
Kansas City is signing offensive tackle Jaylon Moore to a two-year, $30 million deal, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
Moore has been a rotational lineman since being drafted in the fifth round by the San Francisco 49ers in 2021. But Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and offensive line coach Andy Heck clearly see potential there.
#Chiefs agreed to a 2-year, $30-million deal with former #49ers OT Jaylon Moore, sources say. New blindside protector for Patrick Mahomes. Big deal done by Jon Perzley and Brian Mackler of @sportstarsnyc despite not being a full-time starter to this point.
While Trey Hendrickson seems to be the odd star out in Cincinnati contract-wise and dangles in the trade winds, the Bengals are keeping one of their defensive linemen: tackle B.J. Hill, who agreed to a three-year, $33 million deal per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
This comes after Houston sent a seventh-round pick to the Jaguars for wide receiver Christian Kirk last week. The Texans seem determined to fill out their wide receiver room.
Report: Bears continue OL spending spree with Drew Dalman
Chicago is hellbent on protecting Caleb Williams under new head coach Ben Johnson.
The Bears are signing former Falcons center Drew Dalman to a three-year, $42 million deal that includes $28 million guaranteed, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. It makes Dalman the NFL’s second highest-paid center.
This comes after trades last week for Rams guard Jonah Jackson, who played for Johnson in Detroit, and Chiefs guard/tackle Joe Thuney, who has won four Super Bowls in his career with the Chiefs and Patriots.
If the Bears’ offensive line struggles again next season, it won’t be for lack of trying.
Drew Dalman is the Bears’ latest offensive line acquisition. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Report: WR Chris Godwin back to Bucs on a 3-year deal
Godwin dislocated his ankle on Monday Night Football midway through this past season, but he’s been an integral part of the Bucs since they drafted him in 2017.
Godwin has joined Mike Evans, Baker Mayfield and others in helping the Bucs stay atop the NFC South after Tom Brady’s retirement, and Tampa Bay is keeping the band together for at least another season.
Reddick held out until mid-October last season after being traded to the Jets, and had just one sack and 14 total tackles in 10 games, two of them starts.
But Reddick made back-to-back Pro Bowls in 2022 and 2023 with the Eagles, and if he can produce on what amounts to a prove-it deal, the 30-year-old might have one more big contract ahead.
Happy legal tampering!
Or the “negotiation period” as the NFL formally likes to call it.
Either way, free agents are now able to negotiate with teams and work out contracts. Even though we’ve already seen a flurry of big moves over the weekend, plenty more are still out there.
How do you think your team will do?
It’s officially legal tampering time in NFL free agency. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Cardinals re-sign G Evan Brown to a two-year, $11.5 million deal
The Arizona Cardinals are re-signing guard Evan Brown to a two-year deal worth $11.5 million after joining the team last season, per multiple reports. Since joining the league in 2018, Brown has bounced between several teams, but has seemingly found a home in Arizona.
(Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images)
LB Khalil Mack returning to Chargers on one-year deal
After beginning his career with the Raiders and Bears, Mack joined the Chargers in 2022. He’s a four-time First-team All-Pro, nine-time Pro Bowler and the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2016.
Steelers tender RB Jaylen Warren
Warren, 26, is entering his fourth NFL season with the Steelers. He rushed for 511 yards and one touchdown, while catched 38 passes for 310 yards in 2024.
Panthers, CB Jaycee Horn reach 4-year, $100 million extension
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, cornerback Jaycee Horn has agreed to a four-year, $100 million extension with the Carolina Panthers. The deal could reach $108 million and makes the 25-year-old the highest-paid defensive back in league history.
Horn was the eighth overall pick by the Panthers in 2021 and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2024.
Falcons releasing DT Grady Jarrett
DT Grady Jarrett is set to his the NFL free agent market this week after being released by the Atlanta Falcons.
Jarrett, 31, was a fifth-round pick out of Clemson in 2015. He has played all 10 of his NFL seasons in Atlanta and was a Second-team All-Pro in 2019, two-time Pro Bowler and a 2024 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee.
Aaron Rodgers emerges as contender in Steelers’ QB search
While the Pittsburgh Steelers continue talks with both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, Aaron Rodgers has reportedly emerged as an option, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Steelers continue talking to Justin Fields and Russell Wilson, but…Aaron Rodgers has emerged as a quarterback option in Pittsburgh, per league sources.
Rodgers and the Steelers are expected to talk and explore a union. The idea of Rodgers playing for Mike Tomlin is in play. pic.twitter.com/xxv0cbxDff
Sheldon Rankins is returning to the Houston Texans after one season in Cincinnati. Rankins has reportedly agreed to a one-year, $7 million to join the Texans where he spent the 2023 season, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.
Rankins signed a two-year deal to join the Bengals last March. He missed 10 games during the 2024 season due to a hamstring injury and illness.
Patriots trading DT Davon Godchaux to Saints
The New Orleans Saints are acquiring DT Davon Godchaux from the New England Patriots for a seventh-round draft pick, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Godchaux reportedly wanted to move on from New England and the trade will cause the Patriots a $6 million dead cap hit and free up $1.6 million in cap savings.
The 30-year-old Godchaux had 67 total tackles last season in 17 games with the Patriots.
Broncos eyeing deal with DT D.J. Jones
The Broncos are close to retaining defensive lineman D.J. Jones. Specifics of that deal are not yet known, though ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that it will be close to $13 million per year.
Jones had 42 total tackles last season, his third with the Broncos. He’d be a great get for their defensive front next season as they look to build off of their first playoff appearance in nearly a decade.
Commanders, TE John Bates reportedly agree to 3-year deal
The Commanders and backup tight end John Bates have agreed on a three-year contract, NFL Network reports.
Terms of the deal were not reported. Bates joins starting tight end Zach Ertz in reaching a deal this offseason to return to a Commanders team that advanced to the NFC championship game last season behind Rookie of the Year quarterback Jayden Daniels.
A block-first tight end, Bates tallied eight catches for 84 yards last season.
The #Commanders have agreed to terms with TE John Bates on a three-year deal, sources say.
A terrific blocker who has added 61 catches for 592 yards in four seasons in Washington, Bates returns alongside TE Zach Ertz, who re-upped with the team over the weekend. pic.twitter.com/qJbePugyES
