Tuesday March 11th at 4 pm EST will be the official beginning of free agency in the NFL. But for players who have already been cut, free agency has already started. Not to mention this three day tampering window the NFL has where players and agents can talk to teams and have deals worked out, but those deals can’t be actual offers yet. This makes the days before free agency incredibly interesting as well. And if Monday was any indication as to how it will go once free agency starts, it’s going to be crazy with money flying everywhere.
Some of the bigger signings before free agency officially started were Michael Bennett (DE) staying with the Seahawks, Jay Feely (K) staying with the Cardinals, Louis Delmas (S) signing with the Dolphins, Sam Shields (CB) staying with the Packers, Everson Griffen (DE) re-signing with the Vikings, and Fili Moala (DE) staying with the Colts. However, most of the big news came in the form of cuts and teasers for Tuesday when the real show begins.
Some of the cuts that happened that could impact free agency significantly are Carlos Rogers (CB) getting the axe in San Francisco due to his cap number and his unwillingness to take a pay cut, the Bears releasing Michael Bush (RB), Antonio Cromartie (CB) being cut on Sunday by the Jets, Santonio Holmes (WR) also being cut by the Jets, the Steelers announcing they will cut LaMarr Woodley (OLB) on Tuesday, and Jason Babin (DE) voiding the final two years on his contract with the Jaguars to become a free agent.
A few players that are being shopped around or cut if there are no viable suitors are Steve Smith (WR) in Carolina, Julius Peppers (DE) in Chicago, Darrelle Revis (CB) in Tampa Bay, and Chris Johnson (RB) in Tennessee. These are all pretty major names because at one time or another they all were signed to pretty significant deals. Now those deals just don’t hold the same value for the teams.
Some big signings to be looking for Tuesday once free agency starts are Jon Asamoah (OG) signing with the Falcons, Branden Albert (OT) signing with the Dolphins, Donte Whitner (S) signing with the Browns if him and the 49ers can’t get a last minute deal done, and Vontae Davis (CB) to sign with someone other than the Colts. Take the Vontae Davis news with a grain of salt though. On Sunday reports came out that a deal was close to finished between him and the Colts but on Monday a different report came out that Davis had an agreement reached with a team besides the Colts and we would all find out who on Tuesday.
All of this is just a very small taste of what Tuesday is going to be like. Every year there are a lot of signings early and then it tapers off a great deal. To stay abreast of all NFL news and free agent signings, make sure to keep checking on eDraft.