NFL free agency: The latest on what we know
Pending NFL free agents cannot begin switching teams until 4 p.m. ET Wednesday, when their 2015 contracts officially expire as the new league year begins.
However agents for those players have been negotiating with other clubs since the NFL's legal tampering period began Monday. And while such talks begin to materialize, a lot of other players will continue to be released or have their deals restructured as clubs either try to create extra salary cap space or merely come into compliance with the $155.27 million cap.
Here is what we know Tuesday. Come back for updates throughout the day:
Hello
— The Oakland Raiders might have found the pass-rushing complement to DE Khalil Mack in LB Bruce Irvin, who plans to sign with the team Wednesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported.
— DE Mario Williams plans to sign a two-year contract with the Miami Dolphins.
— DE Malik Jackson cashed in on his big season with the Denver Broncos by agreeing to a six-year, $90 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
— The Philadelphia Eagles and former Buffalo Bills CB Leodis McKelvin agreed to terms on a two-year contract, the team announced.
— The Baltimore Ravens are getting some much-needed help at tight end after reaching an agreement with former New Orleans Saints TE Ben Watson, according to multiple reports.
There's no place like home
— The Carolina Panthers are retaining a key leader in DE Charles Johnson on a one-year contract worth $3 million, Paste BN Sports' Tom Pelissero reports.
— The New York Giants are keeping DE Jason Pierre-Paul on a one-year deal, he confirmed on Instagram.
— The Indianapolis Colts announced a contract extension for K Adam Vinatieri on Tuesday evening but did not release terms.
— QB Drew Stanton has agreed to re-sign with the Arizona Cardinals, meaning he should be backing up Carson Palmer for two more seasons.
— Buffalo Bills G Richie Incognito announced on Twitter he had agreed to a three-year deal to return to the team.
— Tamba Hali reached an agreement to return to the Kansas City Chiefs on a three-year contract, Paste BN Sports' Tom Pelissero reports. The Chiefs previously voided the OLB's contract.
— Chicago Bears WR Alshon Jeffery signed his franchise tender, meaning he will have a one-year salary of $14.599 million in 2016.
— Pittsburgh Steelers CB William Gay wrote on Twitter that he would be returning to the team next season. Gay, who was one of the Steelers' captains last year, was set to become a free agent.
— Miami Dolphins TE Jordan Cameron has restructured his contract with Miami Dolphins, reports Paste BN Sports' Tom Pelissero. He took a pay cut to remain with team.
— Indianapolis Colts OLB Trent Cole got his $1M roster bonus guaranteed as part of pay cut. The Colts saved ~$1.5M in cap space, according to Tom Pelissero.
— Colts TE Dwayne Allen re-signed for four years. Paste BN Sports' Tom Pelissero reports Allen's four-year, $29.4 million deal, first reported by ProFootballTalk, pays $12 million in the first year and $17 million over the first two seasons if Allen earns $500,000 each year in per-game roster bonuses. (Allen, who's frequently dealt with injuries over the course of his career, will make $31,250 for every week he is on the active game day roster throughout the deal.) A $2 million roster bonus, due a year from now, serves as a trigger for the second year of the deal. The deal means fellow TE Coby Fleener, who is unsigned, could be done in Indy.
Goodbye
— Paste BN Sports' Tom Pelissero was the first to report the Minnesota Vikings have released WR Mike Wallace. He was due $11.5 million and refused to take a pay cut. Wallace was the big free-agent prize three ears ago to the Miami Dolphins on a 5-year, $60M deal.
— Calvin Johnson is calling it quits after all. The Detroit Lions WR announced his retirement Tuesday after nine seasons.
— The Denver Broncos released G Louis Vasquez and TE Owen Daniels.
— The Colts waived OLB Bjoern Werner. The 2013 first-round pick managed just 6½ sacks in three seasons.
— Retiring QB Peyton Manning opened up $19 million in cap space for the Broncos, who are still trying to re-sign Manning's presumed successor, Brock Osweiler, and other key members of their championship defense, including LB Danny Trevathan.
— Four years after being hailed as their savior, Robert Griffin III was informed of his release by the Washington Redskins, who picked up more than $16 million in cap space (which can now be applied toward successor Kirk Cousins' $20 million franchise tag).
— The Redskins also cut S Dashon Goldson, DL Jason Hatcher and S Jeron Johnson. Combined with RG3's departure, GM Scot McCloughan created nearly $30 million in cap space.
— Perennial Pro Bowl G Logan Mankins is retiring from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, giving the team an additional $7 million in cap space.
— The Dolphins will release four-time Pro Bowl CB Brent Grimes, according to multiple reports, which will free up $6.5 million in cap space.
Goodbye?
— Paste BN' Sports' Tom Pelissero reports that the Broncos have put the low tender ($1.671M) on restricted free agent RB C.J. Anderson. That means the Broncos would receive no compensation if another team signs him to an offer sheet they don't match.
— Oakland Raiders have reached an agreement with free agent G Kelechi Osemele, according to NFL Network. Osemele previously was a standout on the Baltimore Ravens.
— The Philadelphia Eagles are finalizing a deal that sends RB DeMarco Murray to the Tennesssee Titans, according to Murray's representatives. He has reportedly expressed a desire to leave following a disastrous 2015 season under former coach Chip Kelly.
— NFL Network reports Eagles RB Ryan Mathews is also available.
— The Eagles will trade CB Byron Maxwell, who signed a six-year deal worth up to $63 million last year, and LB Kiko Alonso to the Miami Dolphins, according to Paste BN Sports' Tom Pelissero. That goes hand-in-hand with reports the Dolphins will release Grimes after he refused pay cut.
— The Buccaneers are in competition with at least a half-dozen other teams for the services of all-pro RB Doug Martin, per NFL Network. Martin is a three-down back, and his 1,402 rushing yards in 2015 trailed only Adrian Peterson.
— NFL Network reports that the Arizona Cardinals are making a strong push to sign OLB Bruce Irvin, which would theoretically strengthen their defense while simultaneously weakening the NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks. The Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars, who are coached by former Seattle defensive coordinators Dan Quinn and Gus Bradley, respectively, are also reportedly interested in Irvin.
— New York Giants WR Victor Cruz will have to take a pay cut in order to remain with his hometown team, according to ESPN. Cruz, who is owed nearly $8 million next season, has not played since 2014 after dealing with knee and calf injuries.
— New York Jets QBRyan Fitzpatrick will hit the open market on the heels of a career season, according to NFL Network. Two of his former teams, the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Rams, could use a quarterback.
— Despite adding cap space with some recent cuts and restructures, the Dolphins won't be able to prevent RB Lamar Miller from testing the market, per The Miami Herald.
Hello?
— Players who have already been released — RB Arian Foster, DE Chris Long and LB James Laurinaitis among them — are not required to adhere to the free agent moratorium and can sign a new deal immediately.
PHOTOS: Potential NFL free agents