The Chaos of Free Agency

Justin White writes about NFL Free Agency and how some unexpected trades will shake up the upcoming season.

Courtesy National Football League/Kiplinger Illustration

With the end of the NFL season comes many players looking for new opportunities, and teams looking to move players for monetary reasons, to fix team morale, etc. While some players are being signed to new contracts (like Saquon Barkley, who became the first RB to secure a contract worth $20+ million per year), traded, or released, others will have to wait to agree to deals starting on March 10th. Important candidates like Josh Sweat (Eagles), Jevon Holland (Dolphins), and Charvarius Ward (49ers) will be frequently discussed during this free agency period.

On the first day of free agency, chaos has already ensued. Many players have already moved teams, including big names like DK Metcalf to the Steelers, Sam Darnold to the Seahawks, and Laremy Tunsil to the Commanders. Some teams have been making a lot of moves to fill holes, such as the Bears upgrading their offensive line with Drew Dalman (from the Falcons) and Joe Thuney (from the Chiefs). First-year head coach Ben Johnson and the Bears will be looking to improve after Caleb Williams’ first season, in which he was sacked 68 times, the most in the NFL last season and the third-most in NFL history.

Some players have also returned to their previous teams, such as Chris Godwin (who will bring edge rusher Haason Reddick along with him), Myles Garrett (who signed a record-setting $40 million per year contract), and Maxx Crosby (who signed a 3-year extension worth $106.5 million).

As free agency continues, player movement will not be as dramatic, but important players will still earn big contracts, either with their current team or with others looking to acquire them.