2021 NFL free agent tracker: Keep pace with offseason’s major moves
The NFL's free agency period for the 2021 offseason officially begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 17 – the point when players with expiring contracts can sign with new teams and also the juncture at which all 32 of the league's teams must comply with this year's $182.5 million salary cap.
Prior to March 17, only players who had been released from their previous contracts were eligible to join new clubs, new Arizona Cardinal J.J. Watt being one example.
Meanwhile, in a year when the cap falls by nearly $16 million due to revenue losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, several name players suddenly find themselves looking for work as teams slash salaries to get under the cap – Eric Fisher and Emmanuel Sanders among recent examples.
WR Emmanuel Sanders is no longer a member of the Saints. (Photo: Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press)
Below is a list of the most prominent players on the move in 2021 … and a few others who will not be going anywhere.
AFC
Baltimore Ravens
Re-signed: NT Justin Ellis, TE Eric Tomlinson
Buffalo Bills
Released: WR John Brown, DT Quinton Jefferson
Cincinnati Bengals
Re-signed: QB Brandon Allen
Cleveland Browns
Released: DE Adrian Clayborn
Denver Broncos
Franchise tag: S Justin Simmons
Released: CB A.J. Bouye, DT Jurrell Casey, NT Kyle Peko
Houston Texans
Released: RB Duke Johnson, G Senio Kelemete, C Nick Martin, QB Josh McCown, DE J.J. Watt
Signed: OL Justin Britt (1 year, $3.2M)
Indianapolis Colts
Traded for: QB Carson Wentz (official March 17)
Jacksonville Jaguars
Franchise tag: OT Cam Robinson
Released: OLB Kamalei Correa, TE Tyler Eifert
Kansas City Chiefs
Released: OT Eric Fisher, OT Mitchell Schwartz
Retired: FB Anthony Sherman
Las Vegas Raiders
Released: G Richie Incognito, G Gabe Jackson, DB Lamarcus Joyner, WR Tyrell Williams
Re-signed: DL David Irving
Traded: OT Trent Brown (official March 17)
Los Angeles Chargers
Retired: C Mike Pouncey
Miami Dolphins
Released: OLB Kyle Van Noy
Traded for: OT Isaiah Wilson (official March 17)
New England Patriots
Traded for: OT Trent Brown (official March 17)
New York Jets
Franchise tag: S Marcus Maye
Released: DL Henry Anderson
Pittsburgh Steelers
Retired: C Maurkice Pouncey
Tennessee Titans
Released: CB Malcolm Butler, WR Adam Humphries, S Kenny Vaccaro
Re-signed: WR Marcus Johnson
Traded: OT Isaiah Wilson (official March 17)
WINNERS AND LOSERS: From NFL's 2021 franchise tag deadline
MIKE JONES: Salary cap crunch means teams must get creative as free agency looms
WINNERS AND LOSERS: From Dak Prescott's new contract with Dallas
NFC
Atlanta Falcons
Released: CB Ricardo Allen, DE Allen Bailey, G James Carpenter
Arizona Cardinals
Released: CB Robert Alford, K Zane Gonzalez
Re-signed: LB Tanner Vallejo (2 years, $4.1M)
Signed: DE J.J. Watt (2 years, $28M, $23M guaranteed)
Carolina Panthers
Franchise tag: OT Taylor Moton
Released: S Tre Boston, P Michael Palardy, DT Kawann Short, DL Stephen Weatherly
Re-signed: LS J.J. Jansen
Signed: WR Keith Kirkwood
Chicago Bears
Franchise tag: WR Allen Robinson
Released: CB Buster Skrine
Dallas Cowboys
Franchise tag/re-signed: QB Dak Prescott
Released: FB Jamize Olawale
Detroit Lions
Released: C Russell Bodine, LB Christian Jones, CB Desmond Trufant
Signed: WR Tyrell Williams
Traded: QB Matthew Stafford (official March 17)
Traded for: QB Jared Goff (official March 17)
Green Bay Packers
Released: LB Christian Kirksey, RT Rick Wagner
Los Angeles Rams
Traded: QB Jared Goff (official March 17)
Traded for: QB Matthew Stafford (official March 17)
Minnesota Vikings
Released: K Dan Bailey, CB Tae Hayes, OT Riley Reiff, TE Kyle Rudolph, CB Cordrea Tankersley
Signed: K Greg Joseph, DL Stephen Weatherly (1 year, $2.5M)
New Orleans Saints
Franchise tag: S Marcus Williams
Released: LB Kwon Alexander, TE Jared Cook, OL Nick Easton, TE Josh Hill, CB Janoris Jenkins, P Thomas Morstead, WR Emmanuel Sanders
Re-signed: DL Noah Spence, RB Dwayne Washington
New York Giants
Franchise tag: DL Leonard Williams
Released: WR Cody Core, G Kevin Zeitler, LB David Mayo, WR Golden Tate
Philadelphia Eagles
Released: WR DeSean Jackson
Traded: QB Carson Wentz (official March 17)
San Francisco 49ers
Released: LB Mark Nzeocha
Seattle Seahawks
Released: DE Carlos Dunlap, WR Josh Gordon, G Chance Warmack
Retired: G Mike Iupati, TE Greg Olsen
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Franchise tag: WR Chris Godwin
Re-signed: LB Lavonte David
Washington Football Team
Franchise tag: G Brandon Scherff
Released: QB Alex Smith
Retired: OLB Thomas Davis
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