There Will Be Some New Faces In New Places During NFL Free Agency
The 48-hour legal tampering period in the NFL is officially open. It is a time where front office executives and the agents that represent players across the league can negotiate and agree in principle on new deals that can be made official until the new league officially starts on Wednesday. During the early going in this year’s negotiating window, there have already been some record-breaking deals reported and there are some big-name free agents that have already agreed to terms to play with new teams. Here’s a list of the headlining deals that were announced on day one of the legal tampering period:
S Landon Collins: Like I predicted in a previous column the safeties are going to cash in big time this offseason and Collins was the first to get paid. The fourth-year defensive back and three-time Pro Bowler will remain in the NFC East, but it won’t be with the New York Giants. He will have the opportunity to make the team that drafted him rue the day they didn’t deem him worthy of retention as a member of the Washington Redskins. He set the new market for the safety position with his six-year deal worth $84 million and $45 million guaranteed.
QB Nick Foles: The MVP of Superbowl LII (52), who led the Philadelphia Eagles to their first championship in franchise history in which he outdueled future Hall of Famer Tom Brady is finally going to be the full-time starter after coming into the lineup in relief of an injured Carson Wentz. He will replace Black Bortles as the starting quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars after agreeing to sign with the team on a four-year deal that is worth $88 million but can be upped to as much as $102 million if he meets some incentives.
OT Trent Brown: The heaviest player in the NFL just became the highest paid left tackle in the league as the 6-foot-8 and 380-pound dancing bear signed the richest deal for an offensive tackle in league history when he agreed to terms to protect Derek Carr’s blindside for the next four year for $66 million and $36.75 million guaranteed.
DL Malik Jackson: After losing his starting job midway through last season and getting released last week the former Pro Bowl interior lineman who cashed in with the Jacksonville Jaguars after winning Superbowl L (50) with the Broncos will get a chance to prove he is still among the NFL’s elite with the Philadelphia Eagles. He signed a three-year deal worth $30 million.
WR DeSean Jackson: Another Jackson will be headed to Philly in DeSean, who will be back with the Eagles for the second time in his career after he was traded from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a pair of late-round picks in this and next year’s draft.
S Tryann Mathieu: The “Honey Badger” was pried away from Houston with a deal that made him one of the highest paid players at his position. He joined his fellow safety in Collins in the $14 million range after agreeing to a three-year deal worth $42 million with the Kansas City Chiefs.
LB Kwon Alexander: One of the rising up and coming young inside linebackers in the league is headed to the golden coast as Alexander will fill in the hole in the middle of the 49ers defense that was left after Ruben Foster was released. He agreed to a four-year deal worth $54 million.
DE Trey Flowers: The young Patriots pass rusher will follow his former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, who is now the Head Coach of the Detroit Lions, to Motown after agreeing to a five-year contract that will pay the edge rusher $90 million over five years that includes $56 million in guarantees.
OLB Terrell Suggs: The ageless wonder and NFL active sack leader with 132.5 in 16 years will look to add on to his already loft Hall of Fame resume in the state be both grew up and attended college by agreeing to sign with the Arizona Cardinals. The deal is for one year and worth $7 million.
RB Frank Gore: The future Hall of Famer will continue to climb the all-time rushing leader board for another year after agreeing to sign with the Buffalo Bills on a deal worth $2 million.
LB Anthony Barr: The versatile linebacker that can cover, make plays on the ball and rush the passer will be moving on from Minnesota to the Meadowlands after agreeing to sign with the New York Jets. Details of the deal have yet to be disclosed.
C Mitch Morse: The former Kansas City Chief will become the highest paid center in the league after agreeing to terms with the Buffalo Bills on a four-year contract worth $44.3 million and $26.5 million guaranteed.
CB Justin Coleman: The Detroit Lions will make Coleman the highest paid slot corner in the league when his deal for four years and $36 million becomes official.
