Are you ready for the NFL's legal tampering period?
NFL free agency begins in "according to report" form with the legal tampering period starting at noon ET on Monday.
During this time, teams are allowed to contact the certified agents of prospective unrestricted free agents to discuss terms and enter contract negotiations.
On Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, the new league year begins. The 2023 NFL season will officially expire and the league calendar will officially transition to 2024. Any player contracts that were due to expire at the end of the 2023 season will formally expire; trades can be officially consummated, even if the framework for one was arranged before the start of the new league year.
It should be a frantic couple of days in the NFL, so make sure to follow Paste BN Sports for all the latest updates.
Already some moves have been made:
- Defensive tackle Chris Jones, who was the top-rated free agent to hit the market this week, re-signed with the Kansas City Chiefs.
- Quarterback Russell Wilson will sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers (more on this in a bit).
- Quarterback Baker Mayfield has re-signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- Quarterback Mac Jones will be part of a trade to the Jacksonville Jaguars from the New England Patriots (that 2021 QB draft class? Oof!).
- Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy will be acquired by the Cleveland Browns, who will send two draft picks to the Denver Broncos.
- The Baltimore Ravens signed defensive tackle Justin Madubuike on a four-year contract.
- The Chicago Bears and cornerback Jaylon Johnson agreed to a four-year contract.
The trades of Jones and Jeudy will become official at the start of the new league year on Wednesday.
Here's what you need to know going into NFL free agency:
- Team needs: AFC | NFC
- List: Top 50 to-be free agents
- Free-agent player rankings: Quarterbacks | Running backs | Wide receivers
- Salary cap space: Which teams have the most to spend?
- Trade candidates: 10 big-name players who might get moved
Russell Wilson to sign with Steelers
Russell Wilson didn't take long to find his landing spot, as the quarterback agreed Sunday to a deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers as he awaits his official release from the Denver Broncos when the new league year begins on Wednesday.
Wilson will provide competition for Kenny Pickett, who the Steelers drafted in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft. Wilson and Pickett will compete for the starting quarterback job in training camp as the Steelers hope that will help improve a passing game that ranked 27th in the league last season.
But, Nate Davis writes, did the Steelers make a mistake by grabbing Wilson instead of Justin Fields?
- Worst NFL trade ever? Here's where Russell Wilson swap, other disastrous deals went wrong
If you enjoy reading 4th & Monday 📰, encourage your football fan friends to subscribe 📱.
🏈🏈🏈