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

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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.

Kansas City Chiefs OL Trey Smith

Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins

This marks the fewest players tagged in a year since 1994, per ESPN.

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.

Live59 updates

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Lavonte David returns to the Bucs

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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Texans, Dolphins, Chargers, Colts free up more salary cap space

  • Lions LB Derrick Barnes gets $25.5M extension over three years

    Barnes, 25, played only three games last season after suffering a knee injury in September. He has 194 total tackles and four interceptions in four seasons with the Lions.

  • Bills sign LB Terrel Bernard to 4-year, $50M deal

    The 25-year-old Bernard has 247 tackles, 7.5 sacks and 5 interceptions over the past two seasons with the Bills.

  • Myles Garrett denied meeting with Browns’ owner to discuss trade request

    The Cleveland Browns pass rusher requested a trade last month and has rejected advances by the team to talk about a contract extension.

    The Browns, as of now, have no plans to trade Garrett.

  • Jaguars releasing TE Evan Engram: Reports

    Shortly after the Jaguars traded receiver Christian Kirk to the Texans and letting wideouts Josh Reynolds and Devin Duvernay go, the team is reportedly releasing tight end Evan Engram.

    Releasing Engram will save Jacksonville $5.98 million in salary cap space, according to ESPN’s Michael DiRocco.

    Engram, 30, was limited to nine games last season due to hamstring and shoulder injuries. He caught 47 passes (on 64 targets) for 365 yards and one touchdown. The 2024-25 campaign was his third with the Jaguars after playing his first five NFL seasons with the Giants.

    Additionally, the Jaguars released cornerback Ronald Darby on Thursday. Jacksonville now has $60 million in salary cap space, according to Spotrac.

  • Commanders, LB Bobby Wagner agree to 1-year deal

    The Commanders are bringing back leading tackler Bobby Wagner on a one-year contract, according to several reports. The deal could be worth up to $9.5 million with $8 million guaranteed, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

    Wagner, 34, led Washington with 132 tackles last season, a performance that earned him second-team All-Pro honors and his 10th Pro Bowl selection. The Commanders had the fourth-ranked defense in the NFC, allowing an average of 327.9 yards per game.

    The 2024-25 season was Wagner’s first with the Commanders after 11 with the Seahawks (who drafted him in the second round in 2012) and one with the Rams. He’s averaged 155 tackles during his 13-year NFL career with 2.9 sacks and eight tackles for loss.

  • Texans are trading for WR Christian Kirk from Jaguars

    A day after reports that the Jaguars planned to release Christian Kirk, they end up striking a deal to trade him to Houston for a reported 2026 7th-round draft pick.

  • QB Tommy DeVito set to return to Giants

    DeVito, 26, has played 12 games in two seasons with the New York Giants. He has 1,358 passing yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions in his NFL career.

  • Star Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson has permission to look for a trade

    Hendrickson led the NFL with 17.5 sacks in 2024 and he’s entering the final year of his contract.

    He’s a potentially huge trade chip for Cincinnati.

  • 49ers releasing DT Javon Hargrave

    Hargrave, 32, has played nine NFL seasons with the Steelers, Eagles and 49ers. He has 380 career tackles and 45.5 sacks.

    He played only three games during the 2024 season after suffering a partially torn right triceps, which required season-ending surgery.

  • Rams, Tutu Atwell agree to 1-year, $10 million deal

    Atwell played in all 17 games last season, recording 42 catches for 562 yards..

  • Veteran C Mitch Morse announces retirement

    Morse, 32, was a second-round pick in 2015 by the Kansas City Chiefs. He moved to the Buffalo Bills in 2023 and played his final season with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He played 143 career NFL games and was a Pro Bowler in 2022.

  • Browns restructure Deshaun Watson’s contract, open up nearly $36 million in salary cap space

    The Cleveland Browns were nearly $22 million over the salary cap before this move.

    Watson has two years left on his five-year, $230 million contract signed in 2022. He is owed $46 million in 2025 and 2026.

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