NFL Free-Agent Signings: Examining Effect of Biggest Deals Before Official Start

The NFL's free-agency period doesn't officially being until Thursday at 4 p.m. ET, but teams were allowed to start negotiating contracts from Tuesday. And, in an effort to lock up the top free agents as soon as possible, many teams have already reached handshake agreements with their top targets.

None of these deals can become official until Thursday afternoon, but the market is already starting to take shape.

Here's a look at some of the most high-profile players who have already come off the market and what their deals mean for their new teams and the rest of the free-agent market.  

Brandon Marshall Lands with New York Giants

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The New York Jets released veteran wide receiver Brandon Marshall earlier this offseason, making him eligible to sign with anyone before the league year officially begins on Thursday. 

On Wednesday morning, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Marshall had reached an agreement with the New York Giants on a two-year contract. 

The addition of Marshall gives Eli Manning a dangerous trio of receivers with which to work, as Marshall joins Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard. 

Marshall effectively replaces Victor Cruz, who had 39 receptions on 72 targets for the Giants in 2016. 

While the Giants have been deep at the receiver position for a number of years, the addition of Marshall could help elevate their passing game to a new level. According to ESPN Stats & Information, over the past three seasons Manning has a 31-26 touchdown-to-interception ratio when throwing to all receivers other than Beckham. When targeting Beckham, however, Manning's ratio is an impressive 35-7. 

With another potentially dominant receiver starting opposite Beckham, the Giants could have one of the most potent passing attacks in the league in 2017. 

Pierre Garcon Headed to San Francisco

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Pierre Garcon spent the past five seasons with the Washington Redskins, but, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, he'll be headed out west for the 2017 season:

The San Francisco 49ers needed to add a receiver to replace the recently released Torrey Smith, so their interest in Garcon isn't a shock. The contract value, however, is definitely a surprise. 

Depending on how Garcon's contract is structured, the $16 million for the 2017 season could make him the highest-paid receiver in the NFL. According to Spotrac, Dez Bryant's $13 million contract is currently the highest base salary among receivers for the 2017 season. 

Garcon's arrival in San Francisco is likely due to his familiarity with new 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan. The two worked together in Washington during the 2012 and 2013 seasons. In 2013, Garcon led the NFL with 113 receptions and set a career high with 1,346 yards. 

Jaguars sign Calais Campbell

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In a shocking move, the Jacksonville Jaguars have reportedly signed former Arizona Cardinals defensive linemen Calais Campbell, according to ESPN's Dianna Russini. 

From the Jaguars standpoint, this is a brilliant acquisition. The rebuilding franchise has struggled to restructure their defense in recent years, and the veteran Campbell brings a proven commodity to a talented but young and unproven unit. 

It's a surprising move for the 31-year-old Campbell, however, who clearly chose to chase the money rather than sign with a legitimate contender. Campbell spent the previous nine seasons in Arizona and is still in search of a Super Bowl ring, which he likely won't find in the near future in Jacksonville. 

With Campbell off the market, other contending teams in search of a top defensive lineman may be forced to up their offers to the next tier of free agents, including players such as Bennie Logan and Brandon Williams.