With NFL free agency just kicking off, there has already been a lot of action. Between unexpected trades and massive signings, NFL fans have already had a lot of excitement. Here are some of the craziest moves so far:
Tyler Linderbaum
The long-time Baltimore center just entered free agency for the first time in his career as an unrestricted free agent. After playing for the Ravens for 4 long years, he decided to leave. Linderbaum thrived in Baltimore, as he reached the Pro Bowl three times. He also managed to finish seventh in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting.
After Baltimore declined his fifth-year option, Linderbaum went to free agency looking for a new contract. Many expected him to reset the center position with his deal. At the time, Kansas City Chiefs center Creed Humphrey was leading the position with an $18 million-a-year salary. But that is no longer the case.
Adam Schefter broke the news that the Raiders were signing Linderbaum, which initially elated their fans. What caused them to panic, though, was that Las Vegas agreed to a 3-year, $81 million contract. This makes him the highest-paid center in the league.
Not only is he now the highest-paid player at his position, but he will also be making $27 million a year. That marks a 50 percent increase over the next closest player in his position.
Mike Evans
The San Francisco 49ers surprised the league by signing long-time Tampa Bay Buccaneers star wide receiver Mike Evans to a three-year, $60 million contract.
Evans’ accolades precede him, as he is tied with Hall of Famer Jerry Rice for most 1,000-yard receiving seasons in a row. Additionally, in his 12 years with Tampa Bay, he made 6 Pro Bowls and helped lead the team to a Super Bowl 55 win.
This signing is shocking for several reasons. Firstly, it will be incredibly odd seeing the longtime Buccaneer in a different jersey. Secondly, the 49ers’ roster is already aging and injury-plagued, yet they decided to bring in an older star who missed significant time this year.
Jordan Stout
Ravens punter Jordan Stout was a very unexpected departure, as he had just finished his fourth year with the team. The former Pro Bowler is coming off the best season of his career, where he had a net punt average of 44.9 yards. Stout’s career year even landed him a spot on the All-Pro First Team.
That career-best season earned him a record-setting three-year deal of $12.3 million, courtesy of the New York Giants. His new deal makes him the highest-paid punter in the league, as he is set to reunite with coach John Harbaugh.
Many Ravens fans expected the team to re-sign their All-Pro punter. But now the team goes back to the drawing board as they look to draft a rookie special teamer for the second straight year.
Tua Tagovailoa
After six seasons in Miami, the Dolphins decided to release quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. In doing so, though, they will be eating a massive amount of dead. Then, a few hours after being released, Tua signed a one-year contract with the Falcons.
What makes this move so surprising is not that he signed with Atlanta, as they needed to sign another QB after releasing Kirk Cousins. It’s the fact that, by cutting him, Miami will take a $99.2 million dead cap hit, which is a new NFL record. The Dolphins now surpass the Denver Broncos, who had a dead cap of $85 million after cutting Russell Wilson.
Miami will have a dead cap hit of $67.4 million in 2026 and $31.8 million in 2027. Now, Miami has no choice but to enter a rebuild with Tua’s contract eating a good chunk of the cap space.
Jaelan Phillips
Last, but certainly not least, is Jaelan Phillips, the former Eagles linebacker. Phillips signed a four-year, $120 million contract to join the Carolina Panthers. Phillips was expected to sign a four-year, $98 million contract, but the Panthers decided to overpay the young star to ensure he didn’t go elsewhere. Carolina is giving him $30 million per year, paying him superstar money.
Philips has 28 career sacks in five years in the NFL and has yet to break the double-digit sack mark. He’s still an incredible talent, but it makes the huge contract seem a bit questionable.
Final Thoughts
With free agency off to a crazy start, the message from many teams is clear: get your players early or else they will be poached. There are still many great players that did not make the list, and many more that have not yet been signed. Thus, only time will tell how free agency shapes up. But one thing is for certain: there’s still plenty of room for chaos this summer.
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