Manic Monday as NFL free agency hits

Needless to say, the news came fast and furious on Monday. Pictured: Bills guard David Edwards. Photo Credit: Matt Durisko/AP. 

While many in these parts are familiar with NHL (National Hockey League) Free Agent Frenzy, the National Football League (NFL) stole the show Monday. 

First things first. Even though the legal contract negotiating window for NFL clubs to contact prospective free agent players opened Monday at 12 noon, those deals cannot be made official until the start of free agency – March 13 at 4 p.m.

Needless to say, the news came fast and furious on Monday. 

The first major move actually hit late Sunday night when quarterback Russell Wilson took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce he was signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Wilson reportedly agreed to a one-year $1.2-million contract, but is still owed $38 million by the Denver Broncos. 

Sticking with the quarterback position, Kirk Cousins signed with Atlanta and promptly inked a four-year $180-million deal with the Falcons. 

The Running Back position also proved to be one of massive moves. 

Saquon Barkley is staying in the NFC after leaving the New York Football Giants to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles at three-years and $37.5 million. 

Tony Pollard left Dallas for Tennessee and three years at $24 million. 

Same contract details for D’Andre Swift who left Philadelphia for Chicago.

Former Buffalo Bill Devin Singletary has been reunited with Welland native, and former Bills offensive coordinator, now head coach of the Giants Brian Daboll, agreeing to a three-year $16.5-million deal. 

At wide receiver, another now former Bill Gabe Davis signed on the dotted line with Jacksonville at three years and $33 million.

Michael Pittman re-signed with the Indianapolis Colts for $70 million over three years, while the Cincinnati Bengals put their franchise tag on Tee Higgins signing the receiver to a one-year $21.82-million contract. Higgins immediately requested a trade.

A franchise tag is a one-year contract that every NFL team is allowed to issue once per offseason. It allows a franchise to strategically retain a player on a guaranteed deal with a non-negotiated salary. It can only be used on players set to become unrestricted free agents.

Here’s a look at the top free-agent signings from each position as of press time: 

 

TIGHT END: 

Dalton Schultz: Re-signed with Houston Texans (three years, $36M)

OFFENSIVE TACKLE:

Chukwuma Okorafor: Signed with New England Patriots (one year, $4M)

CENTER:

Tyler Biadasz: Signed with Washington Commanders (three years, $30M)

GUARD:

Robert Hunt: Signed with Carolina Panthers (five years, $100M)

INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINE:

Chris Jones: Re-signed with Kansas City Chiefs (five years, $158.75M)

EDGE DEFENDER:

Josh Allen: Franchise-tagged by Jacksonville Jaguars (one year, $24.01M)

Brian Burns: Franchise-tagged by Carolina Panthers (one year, $24.01M)

LINEBACKER:

Drue Tranquill: Re-signed with Kansas City Chiefs (three years, $19M)

CORNERBACK:

L’Jarius Sneed: Franchise-tagged by Kansas City Chiefs (one year, $19.8M)

SAFETY:

Antoine Winfield Jr.: Franchise-tagged by Tampa Bay Buccaneers (one year, $17.12M)

And again as of press time, here’s a look at the Buffalo Bills free agent moves:

 

BUFFALO BILLS

Re-signed: G David Edwards (two years, $6M)

Re-signed: P Matt Haack (one year, TBD)

Released: S Jordan Poyer

Released: CB Siran Neal

Released: C Mitch Morse

Released: RB Nyheim Hines

Released: WR Deonte Harty

Released: CB Tre’Davious White (post-June 1)

Signed: QB Mitch Trubisky (two years, $5.25M)

Re-signed: S Taylor Rapp (three years, $10.625M)

Extended: T Dion Dawkins (three years, $60.5M)

Re-signed: CB Cam Lewis (two years $4M)

 

All NFL teams must report their free-agent transactions to the league by 12 midnight on Wednesday of this week.