On March 11 at noon ET, the NFL opened its legal tampering period for free agency. During this time, teams can sign their own free agents but only agree in principle with ones from other clubs.
The tampering period gives way to the new league year, which begins at 4 p.m. ET Wednesday. At that point, any free agent can officially sign with any team.
Steve Roberts/USA TODAY Sports (left); Jamie Sabau/USA TODAY Sports (center); Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports (right)
We also have a handy top 50 NFL free agents list you can check out with salary projections for each player. As free agency unfolds, we’ll have grades for each signing as it happens.
Here are the grades we've already handed out.
[ 2024 NFL Free Agency: Latest News & Analysis ]
March 11
WR Michael Pittman Jr. re-signs with Colts
Mark Konezny/USA TODAY Sports
After placing the franchise tag on Pittman, the Colts were able to retain him on a long-term deal Monday morning. Pittman was given $70 million over three years, putting him in the upper tier of receiver contracts.
Pittman, 25, is certainly deserving. Despite playing with underwhelming quarterbacks throughout his four seasons in Indianapolis, the USC product twice went over the 1,000-yard barrier, including a career-high 1,152 yards in 2023.
With the Colts trying to build up their offense around second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson, keeping Pittman was a necessity. Alongside Josh Downs and Alec Pierce, Indianapolis has a nice core of weapons on the outside, with Jonathan Taylor holding down the backfield.
Grade: A-
Edge Jonathan Greenard to sign with Vikings
With Danielle Hunter likely leaving in free agency, the Minnesota Vikings didn’t wait long to find his replacement.
On Monday, Minnesota agreed to terms on a four-year, $76 million contract with Greenard, including $42 million guaranteed. It’s a massive haul for Greenard, who is coming off his rookie deal with the Houston Texans.
For Minnesota, it’s a big gamble. Greenard was excellent in 2023, leading Houston with 12.5 sacks. However, he only had 11 sacks in the previous three seasons combined. And it’s not only the sack number which saw a huge uptick. Greenard had 19 quarterback hits over his first three seasons, before posting 22 last year.
If the Vikings get the 2023 version of Greenard, it’s excellent. If not, it could be a two-year deal with a decision to make in 2026.
Grade: C
RB Tony Pollard to sign with the Titans
The running backs are coming off the board. Less than an hour after D’Andre Swift agreed to terms with the Chicago Bears, Tony Pollard is now headed to Nashville.
The Tennessee Titans have agreed in principle to a three-year, $24 million deal with Pollard, the same numbers Swift received. Pollard will replace Derrick Henry, who is headed to free agency for the first time in his career.
Pollard has rushed for 1,000 yards each of the past two seasons, both with the Dallas Cowboys. And at 27 years old (later this offseason), he figures to have a few good years left.
However, the Titans drafted Tyjae Spears last year and have myriad needs. Does it make sense for general manager Ran Carthon to spend early on a back? Perhaps it does, as Spears had knee issues at Tulane.
Regardless, it’s clear the Titans wanted to add a playmaker quickly, and they’ve done so in Pollard.
Grade: C+
RB D’Andre Swift to sign with the Bears
Chicago has money to spend, and just found a running back happy to take it.
The Bears agreed to a three-year, $24 million deal with the 25-year-old Swift, who played his first three seasons with the Detroit Lions before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles before the 2023 season. Last year, Swift rushed for 1,049 yards and five touchdowns.
In Chicago, Swift will be the lead back for a team that struggled to find consistency out of the backfield last year. Justin Fields led the Bears with 657 rushing yards, while Khalil Herbert was the top back with just 611 yards on 4.6 yards per carry.
Still, the Bears have won just 10 games over the past two seasons. Making a running back the top priority is a questionable call.
Grade: C
C Mitch Morse to sign with Jaguars
Free agency hasn’t officially begun, and the Jacksonville Jaguars have already agreed to one of the best deals we’ll see all week.
With the Buffalo Bills facing a cap crunch, Morse was released with one year remaining on his deal. He now reunites with coach Doug Pederson, who served as his offensive coordinator while the two were with the Kansas City Chiefs, on a two-year deal worth $10.5 million.
Morse has been one of the league’s best centers over the past decade, coming into the league as a second-round pick in 2015 and playing four seasons with the Chiefs. Over the past five years, Morse has anchored Buffalo’s front for quarterback Josh Allen, and now provides a valuable pivot for Trevor Lawrence.
After struggling to block on the interior last year, the Jaguars should find a much-improved situation in 2024.
Grade: A+
G Graham Glasgow re-signs with Lions
Detroit is flush with cap space, and used a bit of it Monday morning to retain one of its own in star guard Graham Glasgow.
Glasgow, 31, was given a three-year deal worth $20 million, including $9.5 million in guaranteed money. For the Lions, he’s part of one of the league’s best offensive lines headed by tackles Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker, and center Frank Ragnow.
After reaching the NFC championship game for the first time since 1991, the Lions will largely be looking to make additions to the defense, particularly in the secondary. However, losing Glasgow would have created a void on the line, arguably the best unit on the team.
Grade: B
LB Zaire Franklin re-signs with Colts
The Indianapolis Colts did a bit of business, retaining linebacker Zaire Franklin for three years and $31 million.
A seventh-round pick in 2018, Franklin worked his way up from being a special-teamer into one of the league’s better off-ball linebackers. Finally given a starting role in ’22, Franklin posted 167 tackles, three sacks and three fumble recoveries. He proved the breakout season was no fluke, amassing 179 tackles with 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles a year ago.
With the departure last season of Shaq Leonard, Indianapolis has now shored up the second level.
Grade: A-
K Greg Zuerlein re-signs with Jets
The Jets have plenty of needs to fill, but checked off one with only a few hours to spare before the legal tampering period. New York came to terms with Zuerlein on a two-year deal worth $8.4 million, keeping one of the biggest legs in the league around.
Zuerlein was excellent in 2023, making 35 of his 38 field-goal attempts while only missing one extra point. At 36 years old, the former All-Pro hasn’t lost much of his distance, going 13-of-14 on field goals from 40–49 yards, and then 5-of-6 on kicks of more than 50 yards.
Zuerlein’s power is significant, especially kicking in the windy conditions of the Meadowlands.
Grade: B+
March 10
Russell Wilson lands with the Steelers
Troy Taormina/USA Today sports
After a disastrous stint in Denver, Russell Wilson will get a fresh start with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Wilson, a nine-time Pro Bowler, reportedly plans to sign with the Steelers after meeting with the team the past two days. Pittsburgh likely landed the former Super Bowl-winning quarterback on a team-friendly deal because the Broncos will pay Wilson $39 million for the 2024 season. The Broncos cut Wilson and gave him an early start to meet with teams, including the New York Giants, per reports.
The 35-year-old Wilson might no longer be the star signal-caller he was for the Seattle Seahawks, but his experience and ability to run an offense could help him win the starting gig over Kenny Pickett, the 2022 first-round pick who has struggled to find his footing in Pittsburgh.
Last season, Wilson had somewhat of a bounce-back season under the guidance of Sean Payton—the bar wasn’t set high after how poorly it went for Wilson during Year 1 in Denver. Wilson developed a productive connection with wide receiver Courtland Sutton. He’ll now have many weapons with the Steelers, who are led by wide receiver George Pickens, tight end Pat Freiermuth and running back Najee Harris.
With the Steelers having a standout defense, perhaps Wilson just needs to run an efficient offense to guide his new team to the postseason. But first he’ll need to beat out Pickett during offseason workouts and training camp.
Grade: B
QB Baker Mayfield re-signs with Buccaneers
Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA Today sports
After keeping Mike Evans around for the next two seasons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht inked another veteran before the start of Monday’s legal tampering period.
On Sunday, Mayfield agreed to a three-year deal worth $100 million, including $50 million guaranteed. All told, the Bucs essentially gave Mayfield a two-year contract with a team option on the back end, allowing flexibility past 2025.
As for Mayfield, the extension was well-earned. After playing for the Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams over the 2021 and ’22 seasons, the ’18 No. 1 pick in the draft looked like a journeyman. However, Mayfield bounced back with 4,044 passing yards and 28 touchdowns last year, helping Tampa Bay win the NFC South and a playoff game.
Mayfield may not be the long-term answer for the Bucs, but he deserves the opportunity after a standout campaign.
Grade: B
Kendrick Bourne stays in New England
The New England Patriots aren’t letting go of one of their most reliable pass catchers of the past few seasons.
Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne agreed to re-sign with the Patriots on a three-year deal worth up to $33 million, according to his agents. Bourne missed nine games last season because of a torn ACL, but he was well on his way to another productive year, recording 37 catches for 407 yards and four touchdowns.
The return of Bourne, 28, will help the pending rookie quarterback that the Patriots will likely draft with the No. 3 pick next month. Earlier Sunday, the Patriots traded 2021 first-round pick Mac Jones to the Jaguars. Bourne has played the past three seasons in New England, with his biggest year coming in 2021, with 55 catches for 800 yards and five touchdowns.
Grade: B-
S Kevin Byard signs with Bears
The Chicago Bears made their first notable addition from the outside, bringing in another secondary piece to complement Jaylon Johnson and Jaquan Brisker.
Byard, released by the Philadelphia Eagles after the season, signed a two-year deal worth up to $15 million with Chicago. The 31-year-old safety spent his entire career with the Tennessee Titans before a midseason trade landed him in Philadelphia.
Byard looks to give veteran leadership to a Bears team in need of some older, more experienced players. Chicago went 7–10 last year, a four-game improvement over the 2022 campaign.
Armed with loads of cap space, along with the first and ninth picks, the Bears have a chance to make a massive leap this fall.
Grade: B-
QB Mac Jones traded to Jaguars
This isn’t technically a free agency move, but the Jaguars agreed in principle to a trade with the New England Patriots, sending a 2024 sixth-round pick in exchange for Jones.
Jones appeared to be the future in New England as a rookie, throwing for 3,801 yards and 22 touchdowns, leading the Patriots to the playoffs. Since then, he's been a disaster. Jones has tossed 24 touchdowns against 23 interceptions, posting an 8–17 record.
In Jacksonville, Jones will back up Trevor Lawrence, who was forced to miss a game last year due to a high-ankle sprain. While Jones isn’t a quality starter, he’s a solid No. 2 and an upgrade over C.J. Beathard.
Grade: C+
March 9
DT Chris Jones re-signs with Chiefs
Stephen R. Sylvanie/USA TODAY Sports
The Chiefs retained their best defensive player, and paid a steep price. Kansas City gave Jones a five-year, $160 million deal, including a whopping $95 million in guarantees. The contract is essentially what Aaron Donald signed after the 2021 season with the Los Angeles Rams.
While all the details haven’t emerged, it appears the pact is more accurately a three-year deal with a pair of team options on the back end, save for having to pay any prorated bonus money. If that’s the case, the Chiefs signed Jones through his age-32 season.
A five-time All-Pro and three-time Super Bowl champion, Jones has shown no signs of slowing down. Last year, he posted 10.5 sacks to tie for the team lead after notching a career-best 15.5 sacks in 2022.
The Chiefs are clearly all in for a three-peat, and signing Jones was a necessary part of that goal.
Grade: B+
WR Jerry Jeudy traded to Browns
On Saturday, the Cleveland Browns made a splash, agreeing in principle to acquire Jeudy from the cap-strapped Denver Broncos for 2024 fifth- and sixth-round draft picks.
For Denver, it's a cost-cutting move with a player who never lived up to his first-round pedigree. Jeudy has yet to post a 1,000-yard season, and had had issues with drops. He’s also slated to be a free agent after the year.
As for Cleveland, the Browns aren’t overly investing, having only sent over a pair of Day-3 choices. If Jeudy doesn’t play well this season, Browns general manager Andrew Berry can move on or apply the franchise tag.
Jeudy now becomes the No. 2 receiver in Cleveland with Amari Cooper taking the majority of double coverage. With a lesser role, perhaps Jeudy steps up.
Grade: C+
March 8
CB Jaylon Johnson re-signs with Bears
The Bears have ample cap space to spend this offseason, originally giving Johnson the franchise tag at $19.8 million. However, the two sides agreed to a four-year, $76 million deal with $54 million guaranteed, keeping the 25-year-old in Chicago.
Johnson has been a productive player throughout his rookie deal but broke out in 2023. The fourth-year corner became a second-team All-Pro, becoming a pillar of Chicago’s rebuilding effort.
Even after paying Johnson, Bears general manager Ryan Poles has $62.7 million in cap space, the fifth-most in the NFL. He also got a solid deal with Johnson.
Often, a tagged player starts negotiations at the average annual cost of two tags, which would have been $22 million in this case. Instead, Johnson signed for long-term security at $19 million annually.
Grade: A-
March 4
WR Mike Evans re-signs with Buccaneers
Jeremy Reper/USA TODAY Sports
After avoiding the franchise tag, it seemed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers might let Evans reach free agency for the first time in his storied career.
Instead, GM Jason Licht found common ground with Evans, agreeing to a two-year, $52 million deal to keep Evans on the only NFL team he’s ever played for. The contract signed Evans through his age-32 season, at which point he could either retire or see a string of one-year deals.
Digging into the details, Tampa Bay also tacked three void years onto the end of the contract, which eases the cap numbers in 2024 and ‘25 while adding dead money the following year.
In 2023, Evans helped the Buccaneers surprise with an NFC South title. He caught 79 passes for 1,255 yards, including a league-high 13 touchdowns.
