Free agency is here and it produced some massive contracts. Many of these are discussed below and, as always, the rest of the transactions are down below with some of the more significant ones highlighted in red.
QB Peyton Manning retires
After 18 seasons in the NFL, Manning, 39, put an end to his illustrious career.
With the Broncos winning Super Bowl 50, he becomes one of the few NFL legends to end his career as a Super Bowl champion, joining John Elway and Ray Lewis.
The five-time MVP holds almost every passing record in the NFL, including victories, passing yards and passing touchdowns.
With his retirement, along with the retirement of Charles Woodson, no players are left from the 1998 NFL Draft.
There is no doubt that Manning is one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the game––if not the best.
Oakland Raiders sign G Kelechi Osemele
The biggest contract signed by a non-quarterback offensive player is from Osemele, 26, who signed a five-year deal worth $60 million.
This is a huge amount of money to spend on a guard and resets the market for the position.
However, Oakland had plenty of cap space to spend and they are investing it in a young offensive lineman.
The Raiders’ offense has a great young core of Derek Carr, Amari Cooper and Gabe Jackson. This signing builds upon this core and helps protect Carr.
With Osemele signed, the Raiders will have one of the best interior offensive lines in the game with Jackson and Osemele at guard and Rodney Hudson at center.
WR Calvin Johnson retires
Adding to the retirements this week, Johnson, 30, finally gave Detroit his final decision on his retirement.
He may not have played in the NFL for as long as other great receivers, but he was one of the most dominant receivers in history.
At his best, it was basically uncoverable, providing Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions with an elite playmaker.
The Lions all-time leading receiver set the NFL record for most receiving yards in a season during 2012, when he gained 1,964 yards.
As the fastest player to 10,000 receiving yards in NFL history, he truly is one of the most talented receivers in history.
Jacksonville Jaguars sign DE Malik Jackson
When free agency started, Jackson, 26, was the No. 1 defensive free agent on the market and the Jaguars quickly went out and signed him.
Jacksonville gave him a six-year contract worth a total of $86.1 million with $42 million guaranteed.
With only 14 sacks in four seasons, this may seem like a lot of money for Jackson. However, he has always gotten pressure on quarterbacks. Also, he has never been the focal point of a defense and his position as a 3-4 defensive end last year made it tougher to get sacks.
Jackson will come in and quickly impact the Jaguars’ defense.
Philadelphia Eagles trade CB Byron Maxwell, LB Kiko Alonso and a first round pick to the Miami Dolphins for a first round pick
In an effort to rid themselves of players acquired by Chip Kelly, the Eagles sent Maxwell, 28, and Alonso, 25, to Miami while swapping first round picks.
Philadelphia now selects at No. 8 and Miami now selects at No. 13.
Maxwell, 28, signed a big-time contract with the Eagles last offseason, but he struggled in his first season. He is a solid cornerback, but overpaid. Miami slightly reworked the deal, eliminating some total money in exchange for adding some guaranteed money.
Alonso had a great rookie season in 2013, but missed all of 2014 with a torn ACL and then struggled in 2015 while dealing with another knee injury.
According to the draft value chart, the Dolphins gave up the equivalent of a high third round pick for these two players.
Houston Texans sign QB Brock Osweiler
In a surprising move, the best quarterback to hit the open market left Denver and decided to join Houston.
Osweiler, 25, signed a four-year contract worth $72 million with $37 million in guaranteed money. This contract is worth an average of $18 million.
This is a lot of money to give to a quarterback with only seven career starts, but that is the quarterback market.
In 2015, he threw for 1,967 yards, 10 touchdowns, six interceptions for a quarterback rating of 86.4 while completing 61.8 percent of his passes.
He is a clear upgrade over Brian Hoyer for the Texans and with such a big need at quarterback, the team had to go out and make a big move.
New York Giants sign DE Olivier Vernon
Miami initially placed the transition tag on Vernon, 25, but after signing Mario Williams, they rescinded the tag and let Vernon become a free agent.
As a free agent, he reset the market for defensive ends. He signed a five-year contract worth $85 million with $40 million guaranteed.
He only has one season of double-digit sacks (11.5 in 2013), but he was on a complete tear to finish the 2015 season.
Combine this pass rush ability with his youth and you get a player that signs for a record breaking about of money.
With multiple free agent additions, the Giants now have one of the best defensive lines in the NFL.
Other Moves:
The Arizona Cardinals re-sign QB Drew Stanton.
The Arizona Cardinals sign S Tyvon Branch.
The Atlanta Falcons sign C Alex Mack to a five-year contract.
The Atlanta Falcons sign QB Matt Schaub.
The Atlanta Falcons sign DE Derrick Shelby to a four-year contract.
The Atlanta Falcons re-sign DL Adrian Clayborn to a two-year contract.
The Atlanta Falcons sign WR Mohamed Sanu to a five-year contract.
The Atlanta Falcons re-sign OT Bryce Harris.
The Atlanta Falcons sign LB Sean Weatherspoon.
The Baltimore Ravens re-sign CB Shareece Wright.
The Baltimore Ravens re-sign LS Morgan Cox.
The Baltimore Ravens sign TE Benjamin Watson.
The Buffalo Bills release CB Leodis McKelvin.
The Buffalo Bills re-sign G Richie Incognito to a three-year contract.
The Carolina Panthers re-sign WR Stephen Hill.
The Carolina Panthers re-sign QB Joe Webb.
The Carolina Panthers re-sign DE Charles Johnson.
The Carolina Panthers re-sign FB Mike Tolbert.
The Carolina Panthers sign C Gino Gradkowski.
The Chicago Bears sign LB Danny Trevathan to a four-year contract.
The Chicago Bears re-sign OT Bobby Massie to a three-year contract.
The Chicago Bears re-sign RB Jacquizz Rodgers.
The Chicago Bears re-sign OL Nick Becton.
The Chicago Bears re-sign CB Tracy Porter.
The Chicago Bears re-sign CB Sherrick McManis.
The Cincinnati Bengals re-sign WR Brandon Tate.
The Cincinnati Bengals re-sign C T.J. Johnson.
The Cincinnati Bengals re-sign S George Iloka to a five-year contract.
The Cincinnati Bengals re-sign OT Eric Winston.
The Cincinnati Bengals re-sign CB Adam Jones to a three-year contract.
The Cincinnati Bengals re-sign LB Vincent Rey to a three-year contract.
The Cleveland Browns re-sign LB Tank Carder.
The Dallas Cowboys re-sign LB Rolando McClain.
The Dallas Cowboys re-sign CB Josh Thomas.
The Dallas Cowboys sign DT Cedric Thornton to a four-year contract.
The Denver Broncos cut G Louis Vasquez.
The Denver Broncos cut LS Aaron Brewer.
The Denver Broncos cut TE Owen Daniels.
The Denver Broncos sign OT Donald Stephenson to a three-year contract.
The Detroit Lions sign WR Marvin Jones to a five-year contract.
The Detroit Lions re-sign DT Haloti Ngata two-year contract.
The Detroit Lions sign S Tavon Wilson.
The Detroit Lions re-sign LB Tahir Whitehead.
The Detroit Lions sign S Johnson Bademosi.
The Detroit Lions sign DT Stefan Charles.
The Green Bay Packers re-sign G Lane Taylor.
The Green Bay Packers re-sign LB Nick Perry.
The Houston Texans re-sign P Shane Lechler.
The Houston Texans re-sign CB Charles James.
The Houston Texans re-sign K Nick Novak.
The Houston Texans re-sign OL Jeff Adams.
The Houston Texans re-sign OT Chris Clark.
The Houston Texans re-sign S Eddie Pleasant.
The Houston Texans sign RB Lamar Miller to a four-year contract.
The Houston Texans sign G Jeff Allen to a four-year contract.
The Houston Texans sign C Tony Bergstrom.
The Indianapolis Colts cut QB Josh Freeman.
The Indianapolis Colts re-sign TE Dwayne Allen to a four-year contract.
The Indianapolis Colts cut LB Bjoern Werner.
The Indianapolis Colts sign LS Forrest Hill.
The Indianapolis Colts re-sign K Adam Vinatieri.
The Jacksonville Jaguars sign RB Chris Ivory to a five-year contract.
The Jacksonville Jaguars release RB Toby Gerhart.
The Jacksonville Jaguars sign P Brad Nortman.
The Jacksonville Jaguars re-sign TE Marcedes Lewis.
The Jacksonville Jaguars sign S Tashaun Gipson to a five-year contract.
The Kansas City Chiefs LB Tamba Hali to a three-year contract.
The Kansas City Chiefs sign DE Jonathan Massaquoi.
The Kansas City Chiefs sign OT Mitchell Schwartz to a five-year contract.
The Kansas City Chiefs re-sign LB Derrick Johnson to a three-year contract.
The Kansas City Chiefs re-sign LB Frank Zombo.
The Kansas City Chiefs re-sign DT Jaye Howard to two-year contract.
The Kansas City Chiefs cut G Ben Grubbs.
The Kansas City Chiefs sign DL David King.
The Kansas City Chiefs sign LB Efe Obada.
The Kansas City Chiefs cut WR Damond Powell.
The Los Angeles Rams re-sign LB Mark Barron.
The Los Angeles Rams re-sign DE William Hayes.
The Los Angeles Rams re-sign C Tim Barnes.
The Los Angeles Rams re-sign WR Brian Quick.
The Los Angeles Rams re-sign S Cody Davis.
The Miami Dolphins release WR Greg Jennings.
The Miami Dolphins cut CB Brent Grimes.
The Miami Dolphins sign DE Mario Williams to a two-year contract.
The Miami Dolphins sign WR Christion Jones.
The Miami Dolphins sign S Isa Abdul-Quddus.
The Miami Dolphins sign OT Sam Young.
The Miami Dolphins re-sign LB James-Michael Johnson.
The Miami Dolphins sign RB C.J. Anderson to a four-year offer sheet.
The Miami Dolphins sign OT Jermon Bushrod.
The Minnesota Vikings re-sign S Andrew Sendejo.
The Minnesota Vikings re-sign DT Kenrick Ellis.
The Minnesota Vikings re-sign LB Audie Cole.
The Minnesota Vikings cut WR Mike Wallace.
The Minnesota Vikings cut OL Austin Wentworth.
The Minnesota Vikings sign G Alex Boone to a four-year contract.
The Minnesota Vikings sign LB Travis Lewis.
The Minnesota Vikings sign LB Emmanuel Lamur.
The Minnesota Vikings sign S Michael Griffin.
The Minnesota Vikings re-sign G Mike Harris.
The New England Patriots cut LB Darius Fleming.
The New England Patriots re-sign FB James Develin.
The New England Patriots re-sign OT LaAdrian Waddle.
The New England Patriots sign LB Ramon Humber.
The New Orleans Saints re-sign G Senio Kelemete.
The New Orleans Saints re-sign CB Kyle Wilson.
The New Orleans Saints re-sign TE Michael Hoomanawanui.
The New Orleans Saints re-sign K Kai Forbath.
The New Orleans Saints sign TE Coby Fleener to a five-year contract.
The New Orleans Saints re-sign RB Travaris Cadet.
The New Orleans Saints re-sign QB Luke McCown.
The New York Giants re-sign DE Jason Pierre-Paul to a one-year contract.
The New York Giants sign CB Janoris Jenkins to a five-year contract.
The New York Giants sign DT Damon Harrison to a five-year contract.
The New York Giants sign LB Keenan Robinson.
The New York Jets cut TE Jeff Cumberland.
The New York Jets cut WR Jeremy Kerley.
The New York Jets sign RB Matt Forte to a three-year contract.
The New York Jets re-sign TE Zach Sudfeld.
The New York Jets re-sign RB Bilal Powell to a three-year contract.
The New York Jets sign RB Khiry Robinson.
The Oakland Raiders sign LB Bruce Irvin to a four-year contract.
The Oakland Raiders sign CB Sean Smith to a four-year contract.
Philadelphia Eagles OL David Molk has announced his retirement from the NFL.
The Philadelphia Eagles sign CB Leodis McKelvin.
The Philadelphia Eagles trade RB DeMarco Murray and a fourth round pick to the Tennessee Titans for a fourth round pick.
The Philadelphia Eagles sign QB Chase Daniel to a three-year contract.
The Philadelphia Eagles sign S Rodney McLeod to a five-year contract.
The Philadelphia Eagles re-sign G Brandon Brooks to a five-year contract.
The Philadelphia Eagles sign LB Nigel Bradham.
The Philadelphia Eagles sign CB Ron Brooks.
The Pittsburgh Steelers re-sign S Robert Golden.
The Pittsburgh Steelers re-sign WR Darrius Heyward-Bey.
The Pittsburgh Steelers re-sign CB William Gay.
The Pittsburgh Steelers re-sign G Ramon Foster.
The Pittsburgh Steelers sign TE Ladarius Green.
The San Diego Chargers re-sign OT Joe Barksdale.
The San Diego Chargers WR Travis Benjamin to a four-year contract.
The San Diego Chargers sign TE Antonio Gates to a two-year contract.
The San Diego Chargers sign DT Brandon Mebane three-year contract.
The San Diego Chargers sign S Dwight Lowery to a three-year contract.
The San Diego Chargers re-sign QB Kellen Clemens.
The San Francisco 49ers re-sign LB Ray-Ray Armstrong.
The San Francisco 49ers re-sign DT Ian Williams to a five-year contract.
The San Francisco 49ers sign QB Thad Lewis.
The Seattle Seahawks re-sign DT Ahtyba Rubin.
The Seattle Seahawks cut DT Jesse Williams.
The Seattle Seahawks re-sign CB Jeremy Lane to a four-year contract.
The Seattle Seahawks re-sign WR Jermaine Kearse to a three-year contract.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers release LB Bruce Carter.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers G Logan Mankins has announced his retirement from the NFL.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers re-sign S Keith Tandy.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers re-sign RB Doug Martin to a five-year contract.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers sign G J.R. Sweezy to a five-year contract.
The Tennessee Titans sign C Ben Jones.
The Tennessee Titans sign QB Matt Cassel.
The Tennessee Titans sign WR Rishard Matthews to a three-year contract.
The Washington Redskins cut QB Robert Griffin III.
The Washington Redskins cut DT Jason Hatcher.
The Washington Redskins cut S Jeron Johnson.
The Washington Redskins cut S Dashon Goldson.
The Washington Redskins re-sign QB Colt McCoy.
The Washington Redskins re-sign DL Kedric Golston.
The Washington Redskins re-sign LB Mason Foster.
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