The NFL’s franchise tag deadline has come and gone, which puts the focus on free agency, which officially opens at 4 p.m. ET on March 12. Deals can be made before that though as the so-called legal tampering period begins at noon ET on March 10. But plenty of action is already underway as teams are cutting veterans, re-signing stars and shopping for potential trades.
Here’s everything you need to know as teams across the league continue to make moves this offseason.
Which players have received the franchise tag?
Kansas City Chiefs OL Trey Smith
Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins
This marks the fewest players tagged in a year since 1994, per ESPN.
Which players realistically could have received the franchise tag?
The Dallas Cowboys worked out a four-year, $80 million deal with defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa, who reportedly would have been place on the tag if a deal couldn’t be reached.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, meanwhile, seemed like a straightforward candidate for the tag, so that he and the Vikings could buy more time in trying to work out a longer-term deal. But the $40.2 million number for QBs on the tag (see below) was reportedly too high for the Vikings, and would have limited their ability to build out the rest of the roster.
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Pro Bowl Browns G Joel Bitonio returning for 12th NFL season
Joel Bitonio is returning to play for the Browns. (Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
The Cleveland Browns got some welcome good news on Wednesday.
Joel Bitonio is coming back. The five-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl guard is returning to Cleveland for his 12th NFL season. The Browns announced Bitonio’s decision.
Bitonio was unclear at the conclusion of last season if he would return in 2025.
“I really want to decompress and feel it out and give myself a chance to rest the mind and the body and see where we’re at,” Bitonio said on Jan. 5, per the Browns. “The burden of playing in this league is tough. As an offensive lineman, you have to be fully committed. You’re playing 55 to 85 snaps every game. I think I got close to almost 1,200 snaps this year on offense. And that’s a big commitment.”
Bitonio, 33, has played his entire career in Cleveland and has made the Pro Bowl after each of the past seven seasons. He’ll play next season on the last year of a three-year, $48 million contract.
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Jaguars set to release WR Christian Kirk
Christian Kirk spent the past three seasons in Jacksonville. He played eight games in 2024, making 27 catches for 379 yards and one touchdown.
He was set to make $15.5 million in 2025 with no guaranteed money left on his deal. The Jaguars will end up saving $10.37 million with Kirk’s release and will eat $13.65 million in dead money, per Over The Cap.
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – OCTOBER 27: Christian Kirk #13 of the Jacksonville Jaguars celebrates a first down catch against the Green Bay Packers during the game at EverBank Field on October 27, 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
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Maxx Crosby gets a big extension from the Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders announced on Wednesday that they have signed Pro Bowl defensive end Maxx Crosby to a multi-year extension.
Per ESPN, the extension is for three years and $106.5 million with $91.5 in guaranteed money, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history in terms of annual salary ($35.5 million). Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson was previously the highest-paid non-quarterback with a four-year, $140 million contract that pays him $35 million per year.
Read more here.
KANSAS CITY, MO – NOVEMBER 29: Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) warms up prior to the game against the Kansas City Chiefs on November 29th, 2024 at GEHA Field Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Seahawks release WR Tyler Lockett after 10 seasons
Lockett was due $17 million in salary this season, which included a $5.3 million roster bonus that was to be paid out on March 16. His salary cap hit was set to be $30 million for 2025 and the Seahawks were reportedly nearly $6 million over the cap ceiling ahead of the free agent market opening next week.
Read more here.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 8: Tyler Lockett #16 of the Seattle Seahawks during warm ups before a game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on December 8, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images)
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K Mason Crosby announces retirement
Longtime kicker Mason Crosby has announced his retirement, the Green Bay Packers announced.
Crosby spent 16 of his 17 NFL seasons in Green Bay after being a 2007 sixth-round pick out of Colorado. He played the most total games and most consecutive games in franchise history (258) and was part of their Super Bowl XLV winning team. He is also the Packers’ leader in career points (1,918), field goals (395), 50-yard field goals (43) and extra points (733).
Only two players in NFL history have played 250-plus regular-season games and scored 1,900-plus points with a single team: Crosby and Detroit Lions kicker Jason Hanson.
Crosby last played in 2023 when he appeared in three games with the New York Giants.
GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN – JANUARY 01: Mason Crosby #2 of the Green Bay Packers leaves the field after the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field on January 01, 2023 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
