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    NFL free agency, offseason updates: Raiders deal for Seahawks QB Geno Smith
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    NFL free agency, offseason updates: Raiders deal for Seahawks QB Geno Smith

    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.

    The Las Vegas Raiders made one of the loudest moves of the week, reportedly trading for Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith. That’s a move that will have significance for Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold.

    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.

    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.

    Live71 updates

    • Sun, March 9, 2025 at 12:33 PM PDT
      Lions to release DE Za’Darius Smith: Report

      The Lions will release defensive end Za’Darius Smith to cut future salary cap costs, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports.

      Unfortunately for Smith, the decision comes six weeks after he posted a photo on social media of a Super Bowl-type ring he had made in anticipation of next season. However, the Lions could bring Smith back on a reworked contract which would salvage the ring.

      Smith was acquired by Detroit from the Browns before the trade deadline, bringing in pass-rushing help after Aidan Hutchinson’s season ended with a broken leg. He had four sacks, 12 combined tackles and three tackles for loss with the Lions. For the season, Smith notched nine sacks and 63 total pressures.

      By releasing Smith, the Lions will save $5.7 million on their cap for 2025 and $5.2 million for 2026.

    • Sun, March 9, 2025 at 11:33 AM PDT
      Nick Bolton returning to Chiefs on 3-year, $45 million deal

      The Kansas City Chiefs and linebacker Nick Bolton have agreed to a three-year, $45 million deal with $30 million in guaranteed money, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

      The 2021 second-round draft pick has been a key defender on Chiefs teams that have played in three consecutive Super Bowls and won two. He tallied 106 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and three sacks last season.

    • Sun, March 9, 2025 at 11:14 AM PDT
      Seahawks, DT Jarran Reed agree to three-year deal ahead of free agency

      The Seahawks and defensive tackle Jarran Reed have agreed to a three-year deal contract up to $25 million, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The contract will keep Reed from hitting free agency.

      Reed, 32, tallied 4.5 sacks, 15 quarterback hits, 45 tackles and five tackles for loss in 17 games last season.

    • Sun, March 9, 2025 at 7:56 AM PDT
      Bills to release LB Von Miller in salary cap move: Report

      The Bills are releasing edge rusher Von Miller, NFL Network reports.

      Miller, 36, played 13 games for Buffalo last season, registering six sacks with 17 total tackles, seven tackles for loss and 32 total pressures.

      Cutting him will save the Bills $8.5 million on their salary cap. Miller and the Bills are open to him rejoining the team, according to Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport.

    • Sat, March 8, 2025 at 7:23 PM PST
      Zach Ertz rejoins Commanders on $6.25 million deal

      Zach Ertz apparently liked the Commanders’ offense. The veteran tight end is re-signing with Washington on a one-year, $6.25 million deal after one season with the team. After rough end to his career with the Arizona Cardinals, he ranked second on D.C. in receiving yards with 654 catching passes from Jayden Daniels.

    • Sat, March 8, 2025 at 4:52 PM PST
      Saints reportedly restructure Derek Carr’s deal

      The Saints cap maneuvering continues.

      According to ESPN, New Orleans is restructuring Derek Carr’s contract to free up nearly $31 million in cap space.

      The Saints have been heavily leveraged against the cap in recent seasons and have needed to make moves like this simply to get under the cap in recent seasons. The move also means that Carr will now carry a cap number of $69 million in 2026. Unless, of course, the Saints make more cap moves.

      Per Spotrac, New Orleans was over $38 million over the cap as of Saturday before Carr’s deal was redone. That means the franchise needs to make more moves simply to be cap compliant.

    • Sat, March 8, 2025 at 4:36 PM PST
      TE Tommy Tremble returning to Panthers

      Take another tight end off the board.

    • Sat, March 8, 2025 at 3:39 PM PST
      The New York Giants are bringing their blocking TE back

      11 NFL seasons for a journeyman tight end, when your only football experience before graduating college was Madden, is a decent achievement for Chris Manhertz.

    • Sat, March 8, 2025 at 2:59 PM PST
      Ravens retains LT Ronnie Stanley on new 3-year deal

      One of the biggest potential free agents of the offseason is staying put in Baltimore after the teams agreed to a new deal reported at 3 years, $60 million.

      Stanley was No. 3 on Yahoo Sports’ list of top 25 free agents.

    • Sat, March 8, 2025 at 10:15 AM PST
      Chiefs, WR Hollywood Brown agree to 1-year deal: Report

      Marquis “Hollywood” Brown is returning to the Chiefs for another season. The six-year veteran receiver has agreed to a one-year contract with Kansas City, according to several reports. The deal could earn him up to $11 million.

      Last season with the Chiefs, Brown was limited to two games (starting one) after dislocating his shoulder during the preseason and eventually undergoing surgery. He returned during Week 16 and notched nine receptions for 91 yards in total. In the postseason, he caught five passes (on 13 targets) for 50 yards.

      Brown, 27, had his best season in 2021 with the Ravens, tallying 91 receptions for 1,008 yards and six TDs. For his career, he’s totaled 322 catches for 3,735 yards and 28 scores with Baltimore, the Cardinals and Chiefs.

    • Sat, March 8, 2025 at 9:03 AM PST
      TE Mike Gesicki signs 3-year, $25.5M extension with Bengals

      Gesicki, 29, caught 65 passes for 665 yards and two touchdowns last season, his first with the Cincinnati Bengals. He spent the 2023 season with the New England Patriots and his first five NFL seasons with the Miami Dolphins.

    • Sat, March 8, 2025 at 8:53 AM PST
      Bills, DE Greg Rousseau agree to 4-year, $80M extension

      Rousseau, 24, just completed his fourth NFL season. He had 53 total tackles and eight sacks in 16 games last season.

      Rousseau’s signing comes after LB Terrell Bernard and WR Khalil Shakir both signed extensions to stay in Buffalo.

    • Fri, March 7, 2025 at 4:16 PM PST
      Gus Edwards to become free agent after one season with Chargers

      After one season and 365 rushing yard with the Los Angeles Chargers, Gus Edwards is becoming a free agent.

    • Fri, March 7, 2025 at 4:15 PM PST
      Seahawks trading Geno Smith, planning to pursue Sam Darnold

      The Seahawks executed part 1 of a plan on Friday by trading Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders, where he’ll reunite with head coach Pete Carroll. The next step: pursue Sam Darnold in free agency.

    • Fri, March 7, 2025 at 3:43 PM PST
      Lavonte David returns to the Bucs

      It’s one year and $10 million for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ longest-tenured player.

    • Fri, March 7, 2025 at 2:19 PM PST
      Michael Gallup unretiring after a year

      Michael Gallup surprisingly retired at 28 years old last year after leaving the Dallas Cowboys for the Las Vegas in free agency. He now apparently wants to start playing again.

    • Fri, March 7, 2025 at 2:17 PM PST
      Kirk Cousins wants out of the Atlanta Falcons

      With Michael Penix positioned as the Falcons’ starting quarterback, Kirk Cousins has asked team owner Arthur Blank for a trade face-to-face.

    • Fri, March 7, 2025 at 10:49 AM PST
      Titans releasing OLB Harold Landry III after six seasons

      Landry, 28, played 98 games in Tennessee, recording 393 tackles, 50.5 sacks and two interceptions.

    • Fri, March 7, 2025 at 9:02 AM PST
      Commanders set to release DT Jonathan Allen

      After failing to find a trade, Allen will hit the free agent market next week. The 30-year-old, a two-time Pro Bowler, partially tore his left pectoral muscle in Week 6 and missed most of the 2024 season.

    • Fri, March 7, 2025 at 9:00 AM PST
      Texans, Dolphins, Chargers, Colts free up more salary cap space

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