The new NFL league year begins on March 15 – free agency as of March 13. 224.8 million dollars are available for the teams in 2023 for player salaries.
We keep you up to date on the most important transactions during the free agency here in the live ticker.
Officially, no contracts can be signed yet, but things are already happening before the deadline.
+++ March 13, 2023, 7:35 a.m .: Jets tie service provider Quincy Williams +++
While the New York Jets await a decision from Aaron Rodgers, they continue to tinker with the rest of their roster for the upcoming season. According to ESPN, the franchise has signed linebacker Quincy Williams to a three-year, $18 million deal. Nine million are therefore guaranteed, and the contract can increase to up to 21 million with bonuses.
Williams, who would have gone free agent, was one of the top priorities in the Big Apple. So the team did a lot to ensure that the top performer did not even come onto the open market. The brother of Jets star tackle Quinnen Williams joined the team in 2021 following failing to make the Jaguars’ roster cut during the preseason. During two seasons, he started 28 games, averaging more than 100 tackles each year.
According to defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, he has “pro-bowl potential.”
+++ March 12, 2023, 6:17 p.m.: Matt Milano extends the Bills +++
The Buffalo Bills have signed Matt Milano for a two-year extension, the team announced. The linebacker was named to the All-Pro team for the first time last season.
The 28-year-old was drafted in the fifth round by the Bills in 2017 and has spent his entire career in Buffalo. The extension will save the Bills $6 million next season.
+++ March 11, 2023, 4:05 p.m .: Texans grab Robert Woods +++
New wide receiver for the Houston Texans: The franchise, which gets the second pick in the NFL draft, has secured the services of free agent Robert Woods. According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, the pass recipient is signing for two years and $15.25 million, of which $10 million is fully guaranteed. With bonuses, the value of the contract can even increase up to 17 million.
Last season, Woods caught 53 passes for 527 yards and two touchdowns for the Tennessee Titans before being released by the franchise at the end of February.
Drafted in the second round in 2013, Woods played for the Buffalo Bills for four years before signing and showing strong performances with the Los Angeles Rams. A cruciate ligament rupture in November 2021 put a real damper on his career.
+++ March 11, 2023, 11:35 a.m.: Four months following trade! Steelers release veterans +++
Around four months ago, just before last year’s trade deadline expired, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed cornerback William Jackson III – now he has already been released from the team.
The Steelers got the 30-year-old and a seventh-round pick from the Washington Commanders, giving up a sixth-round pick in return. The draft picks included in the trade were canceled following Jackson did not play a single game for the Steelers. He had sustained a back injury before he was traded.
The dismissal will generate approximately $12.18 million in cap space for the Steelers.
+++ March 10, 2023, 5:30 p.m.: Titans: Center Jones has to go +++
The Tennessee Titans continue to clean up their roster, and the franchise continues to embrace prominent (and fan-favorite) names as well.
Titans center Ben Jones is sacked, A to Z Sports reports. The 33-year-old has played for the Titans since 2016 and most recently attended his first Pro Bowl. The Titans save $3.7 million in cap space.
Jones is the fifth player to go following left tackle Taylor Lewan, receiver Robert Woods, linebacker Zach Cunningham and kicker Randy Bullock. Linebacker Bud Dupree is also said to be regarding to be fired.
+++ March 10, 2023, 4:30 p.m.: Minnesota Vikings separate from Adam Thielen +++
The Minnesota Vikings have fired top receiver Adam Thielen. This was officially announced by the franchise on Friday.
According to media reports, both sides have tried unsuccessfully in the past few days to agree on a restructuring of the 32-year-old’s contract. This makes the two-time Pro Bowler a free agent and certainly an automatic target in the offseason.
Thielen joined Minnesota in 2013 as an undrafted rookie and played nine seasons with the Vikings. He breaks the 1,000-yard mark twice.
+++ March 10, 2023, 6:30 a.m.: Signs of Jalen Ramsey leaving are increasing +++
There are many rumors surrounding the Los Angeles Rams’ personnel planning. General Manager Les Snead therefore used Thursday’s press conference to make it clear that Matthew Stafford will remain in Los Angeles and that the team will “definitely be relying on the quarterback” this year. He also described Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald as “supporting pillars”.
What is striking, however, is that he did not include Jalen Ramsey in his speech. There are also persistent rumors surrounding the cornerback. The Detroit Lions, who are probably actively looking for a new pass defender, are considered a possible candidate.
Ramsey joined the Rams in 2019 for two first-round picks and one fourth-round pick from the Jacksonville Jaguars. His five-year, $100 million contract actually lasts through the 2025 season.
+++ March 09, 2023, 6:55 p.m .: Lavonte David will probably become a free agent +++
A big name in the NFL is likely to become a free agency contender this offseason. Lavonte David, longtime linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, will soon be available to negotiate for all teams, according to Ian Rapoport.
As Rapoport reports, it is not entirely out of the question that David will return to the Bucs – but their cap space might become a problem.
David was a second-round pick in 2012, made the Pro Bowl in 2015, and won Super Bowl LV with the Buccaneers. During his career, he had 29 sacks and three defensive touchdowns.
