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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