NFL Free Agency 2022: Live Updates, Rumors and Signings from Day 3

On the third day of the new NFL league year, one position has taken over free agency.

Actually, one player has.

That part is over. After eliminating two teams from consideration Thursday, Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson reversed course Friday. He has a new team. A new contract. And the dominoes at quarterback will likely start falling in rapid succession now.

That's not the only position on the field, though. The quarterbacks may hog the headlines, but free agency rolls on. So do the earth-shifting trades in the AFC West. And the big contracts and extensions. And the speculation about where some players may land.

As it does, here's a look at the latest speculation and updates from across the league.

Deshaun Watson Reverses Course, Joins Browns, Gets Record Deal

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Deshaun Watson Reverses Course, Joins Browns, Gets Record Deal

The Deshaun Watson saga has taken over free agency this week, as a handful of teams cleared cap space and waited for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson to decide where he wants to continue his career.

That decision has been made.

After reportedly eliminating the Cleveland Browns from consideration on Thursday, Watson reversed course on Friday. Per NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, the Browns have dealt three first-round picks, a third-round pick in 2023 and a Day 3 pick in 2024 to Houston for the 26-year-old Watson and a Day 3 pick.in 2024.

That's not all.

As ESPN's Adam Schefter reported, the Browns have also agreed to terms with Watson on a new five-year, $230 million contract, the most guaranteed money in NFL history.

With Watson now in Cleveland, Baker Mayfield's trade request will no doubt be granted. Soon.

Yet there's still the matter of 22 civil lawsuits accusing Watson of sexual assault and misconduct. The NFL could potentially discipline the QB for them under its personal conduct policy.

However, the question of his next team has been answered.

Baker Mayfield Headed out of Cleveland After Deshaun Watson Trade

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With Watson joining the Browns, Baker Mayfield's days with the team are numbered. But things were heading toward a divorce even before the deal went down.

On Tuesday, Baker Mayfield sent a cryptic tweet all but saying goodbye to fans in Cleveland. One day later, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported that the relationship between Mayfield and the Browns has seemingly passed the point of no return (h/t Brian Wacker of the New York Post):

"They're breaking up, regardless of whether or not Deshaun Watson ends up in Cleveland. The one thing that I was told is that it's just not a match emotionally, whereas Baker Mayfield's passion and emotional leadership were embraced in Oklahoma and even in the beginning with the Browns, things have changed and they want what they consider an adult at the position."

Mortensen went on to mention the Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks as potential fits for Mayfield.

However, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network said Thursday that the Browns still viewed Mayfield "as their quarterback going forward. They told Mayfield's agents at the combine they’d only explore top-tier QBs such as Watson."

Yet NFL Network's Tom Pelissero said Mayfield would want no part of any reconciliation.

"Cleveland has been hoping to move forward after its Deshaun Watson pursuit and offered to fly to Texas to meet with Mayfield," Pelissero tweeted. "But from (Mayfield's) perspective, the bridge is burned and it's time to move on now."

Cleveland will undoubtedly grant that request now. The only question is whether Mayfield will, per Jeff Howe of The Athletic, get his wish and be traded to the Colts.

Chiefs Add Offensive Firepower, Sign WR JuJu Smith-Schuster

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While the rest of the AFC West has been absolutely bonkers in free agency and on the trade market, the Kansas City Chiefs have been mostly quiet—in part because of a relative lack of salary-cap space.

But the Chiefs were able to make an addition Friday that could pay big dividends in 2022—by filling a need that existed on the offense for some time now.

As Joe Rutter reported for TribLive.com, Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster will be catching passes from Patrick Mahomes after inking a one-year, $10.75 million contract.

The 25-year-old took to social media to bid goodbye to fans in the Steel City.

"These have been the best five years in my life," Smith-Schuster wrote. "I owe so much to the fans who embraced me and who made playing on Sundays in Pittsburgh so special. It was an honor to wear the black and gold for you all! I love you!”

Smith-Schuster caught just 15 passes for 129 yards in five games during an injury-marred 2021 season. But two years ago, he caught 97 passes for 831 yards, and back in 2018, he caught 111 passes for over 1,400 yards.

The Chiefs have one of the NFL's most dangerous wideouts in Tyreek Hill and arguably the league's best tight end in Travis Kelce.

Now Kansas City hopes it finally has a reliable No. 2 wideout.

Panthers Get Badly Needed Good News, Re-Up WR D.J. Moore

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It hasn't been a great week for the Carolina Panthers, who came up short in their pursuit of Deshaun Watson. However, the Panthers finally have something to be happy about after retaining one of their offensive cornerstones on Friday.

As reported by Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network, the Panthers agreed to terms on a three-year, $61.9 million extension with wide receiver D.J. Moore. The deal, which will keep the 24-year-old Moore under contract through 2025, contains $41.6 million in guarantees.

Despite playing with less-than-stellar quarterbacks over his first four professional seasons, Moore has been one of the most consistently productive pass-catchers in the league. In each of the past three years, the 2018 first-round pick has caught at least 65 passes and eclipsed 1,100 receiving yards, including a career-high 93 grabs a season ago.

The Panthers may not have solved their issues at quarterback yet. But whether it's Sam Darnold or someone else taking snaps for the team in 2022, with Moore locked up and Robby Anderson back on a restructured deal, whomever the Panthers roll out will have a solid one-two punch at wideout at their disposal.

Seahawks Initiated Russell Wilson Trade Talks with Broncos

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With Baker Mayfield's spat with the Browns dominating the news cycle and the team's insistence that it has no intention of trading the young signal-caller, it's worth bearing in mind that not too long ago, the Seattle Seahawks were saying the same thing about Russell Wilson.

Not only did Seattle wind up flipping Wilson to the Denver Broncos for a package of picks, but per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, it was the Seahawks who initiated the conversation.

What followed was a month of negotiations that, unlike the Mayfield fiasco, were kept under wraps by both teams. Broncos general manager George Paton gave due credit to all parties involved for preventing the potential move from becoming a circus.

“The fact that this did not leak—we had a month of negotiations between [GM] John [Schneider] and I and it didn’t leak. It’s a credit to John and a credit to the Seahawks, the Broncos, and Russ and his team,” Paton said.

This is how trades are supposed to be executed. The Broncos desperately wanted to upgrade under center. The Seahawks were ready to press the button on a rebuild and knew that a year from now, Wilson was going to want to open talks on another massive contract.

So the two sides quietly sat down and got something done.

Seahawks Kicking Tires on Veteran QB Options

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With Russell Wilson now under center in the Mile High City, it's the dawn of a new era in Seattle. And from what recent reports indicate, the Seattle Seahawks aren't especially comfortable with that era dawning with Drew Lock leading the offense.

According to CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson, the Seahawks would "prefer to add an experienced veteran starting quarterback." The report goes on to state that the Seahawks have reached out to the Atlanta Falcons about Matt Ryan and to the Cleveland Browns about Baker Mayfield.

This, just one day after Seahawks general manager John Schneider told Adam Jude of the Seattle Timesthat the team is confident in Lock.

“We’ll continue to explore options, but we have a ton of faith in Drew,” Schneider said. “We’re excited about a change of scenery for him. … He’s a guy, in my opinion, the media beat down a little bit. So we’re excited to get him into our culture with our coaching staff, and we’ll continue to look for guys to compete with him."

Ryan would be a somewhat peculiar addition. The Seahawks are more in rebuild mode than reload after trading Wilson and releasing linebacker Bobby Wagner, and at 36 years old, Ryan is a lot closer to the end of his career than the beginning.  Mayfield, on the other hand, is just 26 and looking for a fresh start.

Robert Woods on Trade Block After Rams Sign Allen Robinson

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The Los Angeles Rams made an impact signing on Thursday with the acquisition of veteran wide receiver Allen Robinson. But the fallout from that signing could be the departure of another big name at the position.

Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Rams have already received calls about the availability of 10th-year veteran Robert Woods, whom sources called a "prime" trade candidate.

Woods, 29, caught 45 passes for 556 yards and four scores last year in nine games before tearing his ACL. Schefter reported that he's believed to be on track to be ready for the start of training camp.

Signed through 2025, if the Rams trade Woods before June 1, the team would actually eat more in dead money ($8.6 million) than it would save against the cap ($7.1 million). But with the Rams short on cap space and reportedly interested in re-signing Odell Beckham Jr., it’s a move that would make sense for Los Angeles.

It would also make sense for WR-needy teams like the Green Bay Packers or Cleveland Browns to at least kick the tires on a deal. Woods is coming off an injury, but prior to last year, he had posted three straight seasons with at least 900 receiving yards. 

Buccaneers Bolster Back End, Bring in Versatile Veteran Logan Ryan

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Highlighted by the unretirement (or maybe non-retirement, since it barely happened) of quarterback Tom Brady, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have had another excellent offseason. But the departure of safety Jordan Whitehead left a hole at the back of the Tampa defense.

The Buccaneers filled that hole Friday with an old teammate of Brady's.

According to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times, the Buccaneers agreed to terms with veteran safety Logan Ryan, who spent the past two seasons with the New York Giants. The 31-year-old was released Thursday in a cost-cutting move.

Ryan spent the first four seasons of his career with Brady in New England playing cornerback. In recent years, he has transitioned to safety, topping 100 total tackles in two of the last three seasons.

From all indications, it's another shrewd signing by Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht. A capable veteran who can play all over the secondary. Ryan's arrival should more than offset the loss of Whitehead.

New Jets CB D.J. Reed Felt "Disrespected" by Offer from Seahawks

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Over the past few seasons, cornerback D.J. Reed has gone from afterthought in San Francisco to the No. 1 cornerback for the Seattle Seahawks. Last year, the 25-year-old allowed less than 48 percent of the passes thrown in his direction to be completed with an excellent passer rating against of just 67.8.

When Reed next takes the field, it will be with a new team in the New York Jets. And as Dennis Waszak Jr. reported for the Associated Press, that move was spurred in part by an offer to remain in Seattle that didn't sit well with Reed.

“In my opinion and my agent’s opinion, it was disrespectful for my level of play and the player that I am,” Reed said. “I’m not going to get into specifics because I don’t want to bash anybody or do anything like that, but I definitely know my worth and I feel like my worth should’ve been more. That’s just how I feel about myself. But I’m grateful to be a Jet.”

Reed's new deal with the Jets is worth $33 million over three seasons.

Raiders Pull off Blockbuster Trade for Packers WR Davante Adams

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While most of the NFL was fixated on Deshaun Watson's next landing spot and the quarterback drama in Cleveland, the Las Vegas Raiders and Green Bay Packers were negotiating a blockbuster deal behind the scenes.

The Packers have agreed to trade superstar wide receiver Davante Adams to the Raiders for a package including the Raiders first two picks in the 2022 draft., according to ESPN's Adam Schefter The Raiders are also signing Adams to a five-year, $141.25 million contract, shattering the previous record for a wide receiver.

Just like the rest of the AFC West, the Raiders have shoved all of their chips into the middle of the table. Meanwhile, the Packers now have no wide receivers of note and a recently re-signed quarterback in Aaron Rodgers who might need a wellness check.

Rams Add to Loaded WR Corps by Signing Allen Robinson

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There are many reasons why some franchises have more success than others. Competent management is one of them.

While the Browns and Baker Mayfield are locked in a battle to see who can best impersonate a toddler, Les Snead and the Los Angeles Rams are adding weapons to make another Super Bowl run.

The Rams added a whopper on Thursday.

As reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Rams have agreed to terms on a three-year, $45 million contract that includes $30 million in guarantees. Robinson had a miserable 2021 season with the Chicago Bears, but the 28-year-old had 102 receptions for 1,250 yards as recently as two years ago.

Furthermore, the signing (per Schefter) does not preclude the Rams from bringing back Odell Beckham Jr., who is a free agent after joining the Rams in a mid-season trade in 2021.

Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Robinson and Beckham would be a ridiculously formidable foursome of receivers.

Matthew Stafford approves.

What's Next for Panthers After Whiffing on Watson?

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It's no secret that the Carolina Panthers have been desperate to upgrade the quarterback position—and have been for some time. The Panthers courted Deshaun Watson for over a year, only to be informed late Thursday that the team was no longer in the running.

That decision leaves the Panthers back at square one…again.

There are a few directions Carolina can go in from here. The Panthers could take another swing at the trade market by trying to make a deal. Regardless of what the Browns say about Mayfield, the team has to at least be entertaining offers. ESPN's David Newton mentioned Gardner Minshew of the Philadelphia Eagles as low-cost competition for incumbent Sam Darnold.

There's free agency, and players like Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston. That market appears stuck until Watson picks a new home, but once that domino falls more will follow, likely in rapid fashion.

Then there's the 2022 NFL draft and a rookie like Pitt's Kenny Pickett and Liberty's Malik Willis. That's the route Jonathan M. Alexander of the Charlotte Observer believes is wisest given Carolina's lack of success landing a veteran.

"At this point," he said, "their best course of action is to draft one, either this year or next. Franchise quarterbacks, who can control their destination, have had no desire to come here. Russell Wilson declined to waive his no-trade clause to come to Carolina."

Matt Ryan Knew About Atlanta's Pursuit of Deshaun Watson…Maybe

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The Atlanta Falcons are one of the four reported finalists for Deshaun Watson. That creates a potentially awkward situation given that Atlanta already has a long-time starter under center in Matt Ryan.

On Wednesday, ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted that the Falcons had "informed Matt Ryan last weekend that they were pursuing Deshaun Watson. The lines of communication have been kept open between Ryan and the Falcons."

However, Ryan's sister-in-law promptly replied that Schefter's colleague, Chris Mortensen, who originally reported that Ryan was made aware of Atlanta's interest in Watson, had "reported wrong."

Between this situation and the fallout in Cleveland with Baker Mayfield, there seems to be no easy way to tell the old guy that you're looking toward a new one.

And once that pursuit begins, there may be no going back.

49ers Hoping for Expanded Market for Jimmy Garoppolo

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For teams that missed out on Deshaun Watson, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo could be a plan B for them.

"Jimmy Garoppolo is one I would not ignore," ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported Wednesday (h/t Will Brinson of CBS Sports).

With so many teams vying for Watson the past few days, there hasn't been much interest in Garoppolo as of yet, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic.

"Since the Colts traded their starter, Carson Wentz, to the Commanders eight days ago," Barrows said, "the market for Garoppolo has been Indianapolis and … Indianapolis."

After restructuring the contracts of several players Wednesday to get under the salary cap, the 49ers don't have to flip Garoppolo right away. Say what you will about Jimmy G's ceiling (or lack thereof), but he's 31-14 as the starter in San Francisco and has led the team to the NFC Championship Game twice in the last three years.

If another team gets into the bidding for Garoppolo, the Niners may be able to increase their asking price. And with Trey Lance waiting in the wings, they'll likely move on from Garoppolo if that's the case.

What's Next for Julio Jones?

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One year ago, the Tennessee Titans' acquisition of veteran wide receiver Julio Jones in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons was considered one of the biggest splash moves of the offseason.

That splash wound up a splat. After Jones set career lows in receptions (31), yardage (434) and touchdowns (one), the Titans released him with a post June-1 designation on Wednesday, per ESPN's Adam Schefter and Dianna Russini.

That move set off a flurry of speculation regarding where Jones might wind up. Buffalo Bills wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie already made a recruiting pitch to Jones on Twitter, telling him: "You don't have to practice with us during the week, because it's cold. Just show up on Sundays."

Jones has missed seven games in each of the last two seasons, but he has six 1,000-yard seasons and three 100-catch campaigns under his belt. His best days may be behind him, but there should be plenty of interest from contenders who need a secondary receiver and red-zone threat.

Looking at you, Dallas Cowboys. And you, Kansas City Chiefs. And you, Green Bay Packers.

Just because Jones and A,J. Brown didn't work doesn't mean that Jones and Davante Adams wouldn't.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Continue Effort to Keep the Band Together

Mark LoMoglio/Associated Press

As soon as Tom Brady decided that retirement wasn't his thing, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' entire offseason focus changed.

Rebuilding? That's for suckers. It was time for Tampa Bay to reload. And it has been doing so ever since.

The latest move came late Wednesday night. After originally franchise-tagging wide receiver Chris Godwin, the Buccaneers agreed to terms with him on a three-year, $60 million contract that includes $40 million in guarantees, per ESPN's Adam Schefter and Jenna Laine, 

With a few voidable years tacked onto the end of the contract, the deal gives the Buccaneers some badly needed salary-cap space. It also means Godwin could hit free agency again before his 30th birthday.

The Buccaneers may already have a target in mind for some of that cap space. Tampa radio host Zac Blohner tweeted footage of veteran tight end Rob Gronkowski telling patrons at a Tampa barber shop there's a "good chance" he'll be back with the team in 2022.

Like there was ever any real doubt.

Buffalo Bills All-in on Winning Super Bowl After Von Miller Signing

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

The Buffalo Bills were already widely regarded as one of the favorites to represent the AFC in Super Bowl LVII. They have an explosive offense led by one of the NFL's best young quarterbacks in Josh Allen and a loaded defense that paced the league in yards allowed last season.

That defense is now even more stacked, and there's no doubt that it's Super Bowl or bust in western New York in 2022.

The Bills agreed to terms Wednesday night with edge-rusher Von Miller on a six-year, $120 million pact, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The deal averages $17.5 million over the first four years and contains $51 million in guarantees.

The Bills weren't one of the teams widely mentioned as one of the suitors for the 32-year-old, who won the Super Bowl last season after joining the Rams in a midseason trade. Buffalo already sported one of the most stacked rosters in the league and arguably the best defense. 

Thanks to Miller, life just got evenharder for quarterbacks in the AFC.

Russell Wilson Plans to Play Forever

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

There have been plenty of introductory announcements and press conferences this week. The biggest of the lot came Wednesday in Denver, when Russell Wilson was introduced as the new starting quarterback for the Broncos.

While he's already a decade into his NFL career, the 33-year-old Wilson said that as far as he's concerned, he's only just getting started.

"My goal is to play 10 or 12 more years and hopefully win three, four more Super Bowls, that's the plan,'' Wilson told reporters. "That's the mindset. That's why I came here, to finish my career here and hopefully finish on top as a champion. And do it multiple times.''

It was a bittersweet day for the Seattle Seahawks. They gained a boatload of draft capital but lost the best quarterback in franchise history. Still, head coach Pete Carroll insisted there are no hard feelings.

"We wish him the freakin' very best," Carroll said. "He did awesome stuff for us here in Seattle. He was a great player for us. But now, his second opportunity, look what he's going to do with it. He's going to fly. He's going to do great stuff. We support him and wish him well in all of that."

Whether Wilson wins multiple Super Bowls and plays a decade in the Mile High City remains to be seen. But one thing is for sure: The AFC West has become must-see TV.

Carson Wentz Was Terrible…Just Ask Carson Wentz

Manuel Balce Ceneta/Associated Press

After one disappointing year in Indianapolis, Carson Wentz is now the starting quarterback for the Washington Commanders.

When reporters asked him Wednesday what went wrong during Indy's failed playoff run last year, Wentz said he wasn't entirely sure. But he also admitted that his play down the stretch left something to be desired.

“I think it was a year that had highs and lows, ups and downs," Wentz said. "But the way we finished, the way I finished, was horrible. It was horrible. It was tough to swallow.”

For the season as a whole, Wentz's numbers weren't bad. He finished with 3,563 passing yards, 27 scores, only seven interceptions and a passer rating of 94.6.

But in back-to-back losses to the Raiders and Jaguars to close out the regular season, Wentz failed to complete 60 percent of his passes or hit 200 passing yards in either game.

That caused the Colts to ship Wentz off to the nation's capital. And it leaves Wentz again trying to get his once-promising career back on track—this time back in the NFC East.

The AFC West Is Just…Wow

Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

Although the Deshaun Watson saga (and the fallout around it) has stolen the thunder from free agency, the AFC West has been going bonkers in the background.

The Denver Broncos not only traded for star quarterback Russell Wilson, but they alsosigned one of this year's most sought-after edge-rushers in Randy Gregory and inked a quality defensive tackle in D.J. Jones.

The Los Angeles Chargers made a blockbuster trade of their own, acquiring edge-rusher Khalil Mack from the Chicago Bears to pair with Joey Bosa. The Bolts also re-upped wideout Mike Williams and brought in one of the league's best young corners in J.C. Jackson.

Not to be undone, the Las Vegas Raiders signed Chandler Jones, one of the NFL's most prolific pass-rushers in recent years. They also re-upped fellow edge-rusher Maxx Crosby and bolstered the secondary by acquiring cornerback Rock Ya-Sin in a trade.

Oh. And that little trade with the Green Bay Packers we discussed a little ways back.

The only team in the AFC West that hasn't made multiple impact moves this week was the Kansas City Chiefs, the host of the last four AFC Championship Games.

Jameis Winston Has Spoken to Saints, Colts

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Once Deshaun Watson decides upon his next team, the squads that strike out will have to pivot to alternative options. That could include James Winston, the first overall pick in 2015. 

"I just spoke (with) Jameis Winston who told me he's had conversations with both the Colts and the Saints," CBS Sports' Josina Anderson reported Thursday. "Saints already made an offer earlier this offseason. Winston in very good spirits told me, 'I still view myself as a starter in this league and that's what I'm looking for.'"

Winston had a quietly solid year with the Saints last season before tearing his ACL. He completed only 59 percent of his passes, but he threw 14 touchdown passes in seven games, posted a career-high passer rating of 102.8 and threw only three interceptions.

Once the bigger names are off the board at quarterback, some NFL team will have to settle for Winston as its consolation prize.

Dallas Cowboys Release RT La'el Collins

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Salary-cap issues are an annual plight for the Dallas Cowboys. They generally do an above-average job of maneuvering around them, but this year's money troubles have necessitated at least one move that could come back to bite them.

After they were unable to find a trade partner for veteran tackle La'el Collins, the Cowboys have designated him a post-June 1 release, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. The move saves them $10 million this year, but they'll have an $8.7 million dead cap hit in 2023.

Collins allowed only two sacks in671 snaps with the Cowboys last season, according to Pro Football Focus. The depth that has been key for them up front in recent years will now be tested, with Terence Steele likely moving into the starting lineup.

Collins isn't likely to be out of work for long. The Cincinnati Bengals have long been linked to the seventh-year veteran, and ESPN's Todd Archer mentioned the New England Patriots, New York Jets and Miami Dolphins as potential suitors as well.

Edge-Rusher Za'Darius Smith Backs out of Deal with Ravens

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It happens every year. Some player accepts an offer from a team during the legal tampering period, only to later back out of that deal before signing on the bottom line.

It's already happened with edge-rusher Randy Gregory and running back J.D. McKissic. You can now add edge-rusher Za'Darius Smith to that list, too.

Smith, who had reportedly agreed to terms on a four-year, $35 million deal to re-join the Baltimore Ravens after three years with the Green Bay Packers, has instead opted to remain a free agent, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. 

It's unclear why Smith had a change of heart, but it shouldn't take long for his agent to start getting calls. He missed almost the entire 2021 season with a back injury, but the 29-year-old had 26 sacks across the 2019 and 2020 campaigns with the Packers. 

Maybe he's developed an allergy to crab cakes? Just a theory.