NFL Offseason – The NFL has entered its fifth day of free agency. Check back in all day for the latest on signings, trades, cuts, and other headlines.
1:50 p.m. EDT: Seattle Seahawks Sign Giants S Julian Love
The Seahawks signed Love to a two-year, $12-million deal. This one is interesting because it effectively gives the Seahawks three starting safeties: Love, Quandre Diggs, and Jamal Adams. Will they run three-safety sets with Adams as more of a linebacker? Will they move Love to cornerback? Love allowed 7.7 yards per target in coverage last year, which was a little bit worse than average for safeties, but he’s a useful and versatile player.
12:00 p.m. EDT: Some cuts!
We’ve got some cuts! Some are expected, and some unexpected.
The New England Patriots have cut cornerback Jalen Mills. Mills played 10 games last year and there was some talk that he might move to safety to replace Devin McCourty but the Patriots decided to take $4.9 million in cap relief instead.
The Buffalo Bills have cut wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie. McKenzie had his first season over 50 targets in 2022 and finished the year 40th with 93 DYAR and 30th with 5.2% DVOA. He also had positive receiving DVOA in 2020 and 2021. He added 91 total rushing DYAR in 2021 and 2022.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have cut tight end Cameron Brate and running back Leonard Fournette. (Those last two were expected.) Brate had his worst season in 2022 (-69 DYAR) and his second-worst season in 2021 (-53 DYAR), so you have to figure he’s about done. Fournette was close to replacement level in rushing DYAR in 2022 (based on 189 carries for 668 yards with 3 touchdowns) but ranked third among all running backs with 152 receiving DYAR. He might have something left, but he’s not going to get a lot of money for it given the current running back market.
10:00 a.m. EDT: New England Patriots Sign Dolphins TE Mike Gesicki
We cover this signing in longer form here.
7:11 a.m. EDT: Seattle Seahawks Sign Steelers LB Devin Bush
The Seattle Seahawks have signed former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker to a one-year deal, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Bush was drafted by Pittsburgh 10th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft, starting 48 of his 52 appearances over four seasons. In 2022, Bush recorded 78 tackles, two tackles for loss, and five pressures, allowing a career-high 73.1% completion percentage on 26 targets.
1:05 a.m. EDT: Philadelphia Eagles Sign Falcons QB Marcus Mariota
Former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota has signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Mariota was a run-heavy quarterback with the Falcons; his 85 rush attempts were both a career-high and sixth-most among quarterbacks in 2022. He picked up 438 rushing yards and four touchdowns with his feet. Mariota finished ninth in rushing DYAR among quarterbacks and 15th in DVOA.
Through the air, Mariota finished 184-for-300 for 2,219 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He finished 15th among quarterbacks in passing DVOA and 20th in DYAR.
Philadelphia’s 2022 backup quarterback, Gardner Minshew, signed with the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday.
