NFL news

Did the Raiders make the right call in signing veteran QB Jimmy Garoppolo? How will the Bengals move forward after losing a pair of safeties?

Yes, the Bengals still have [Joe Burrow](https://www.nfl.com/players/joe-burrow/), [Ja'Marr Chase](https://www.nfl.com/players/ja-marr-chase/), [Tee Higgins](https://www.nfl.com/players/tee-higgins/) and a lot of reasons to feel good about their team. Now the Bengals have to deal with that as well as the reality that cornerback [Eli Apple](https://www.nfl.com/players/eli-apple/), another starter in the secondary, is a free agent. The [signing](https://www.nfl.com/news/niners-signing-dt-javon-hargrave-to-four-year-84-million-contract) of former Eagles defensive tackle [Javon Hargrave](https://www.nfl.com/players/javon-hargrave/) gives San Francisco another dynamic interior pass rusher to aide Bosa. As great as the 49ers were on defense in 2022 -- and you're talking about a front seven that included defensive tackle [Arik Armstead](https://www.nfl.com/players/arik-armstead/) and linebackers [Fred Warner](https://www.nfl.com/players/fred-warner/) and [Dre Greenlaw](https://www.nfl.com/players/dre-greenlaw/) -- Bosa accounted for 18.5 of the team's 44 sacks. The offense has [Tyreek Hill](https://www.nfl.com/players/tyreek-hill/) and [Jaylen Waddle](https://www.nfl.com/players/jaylen-waddle/) while the defense has improved with the trades for Chubb and Ramsey. The lesson learned from all that ugliness is that Wilson needs more help around him, and the Broncos acquired plenty on Monday by [agreeing to terms](https://www.nfl.com/news/2023-nfl-free-agency-tracker-latest-signings-trades-contract-info) with right tackle [Mike McGlinchey](https://www.nfl.com/players/mike-mcglinchey/) and guard [Ben Powers](https://www.nfl.com/players/ben-powers/). [Aaron Rodgers](https://www.nfl.com/players/aaron-rodgers/) and a [possible trade](https://www.nfl.com/videos/pioli-two-reasons-why-rodgers-to-jets-deal-hasn-t-fully-materialized-yet) from Green Bay to the New York Jets. [Jessie Bates III](https://www.nfl.com/players/jessie-bates/) after failing to work out a long-term deal with him over the past two years (as well as Bates playing on the franchise tag last season). Now we'll see what the market has to bear for less accomplished signal-callers looking for fresh starts, a group that includes [Baker Mayfield](https://www.nfl.com/players/baker-mayfield/) and [Jacoby Brissett](https://www.nfl.com/players/jacoby-brissett/). [trade](https://www.nfl.com/news/rams-in-talks-to-trade-cb-jalen-ramsey-to-dolphins) for an All-Pro cornerback (former Rams cornerback [Jalen Ramsey](https://www.nfl.com/players/jalen-ramsey/) is heading to Miami), a [reunion](https://www.nfl.com/news/raiders-sign-quarterback-jimmy-garoppolo) for a couple ex-Pats in Las Vegas (quarterback [Jimmy Garoppolo](https://www.nfl.com/players/jimmy-garoppolo/) and head coach Josh McDaniels worked together in New England), and plenty of defensive players and offensive linemen in heavy demand. [huge trade](https://www.nfl.com/news/broncos-acquiring-seahawks-qb-russell-wilson-in-trade-for-multiple-first-round-p) to acquire former Seattle quarterback [Russell Wilson](https://www.nfl.com/players/russell-wilson/). [three-year, $72.75 million deal](https://www.nfl.com/news/raiders-sign-quarterback-jimmy-garoppolo) with $34 million guaranteed.

Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers, left, and Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens, right. Patrick McDermott/Scott Taetsch/Getty Images.

3 receiver and JuJu Smith-Schuster, coming off a Super Bowl ring, was quiet in the playoffs. The non-exclusive tag comes with a salary-cap cost of $32.4 million for the upcoming season. While Rodgers’ decision appears to be remain in Green Bay or sign with the Jets, Jackson’s options seem wide open. That means that 26-year-old is free to negotiate with other franchises, but should he sign an offer sheet with another team, the Ravens will have five days to either match the deal or receive two first-round picks in return. Both Rodgers and Jackson could transform franchises from outsiders to title challengers. Elsewhere, firepower is in high demand and short supply.

Our 2023 NFL free agency tracker is officially here! We'll be keeping tabs on all the rumors, reports, trades, news, signings, etc. that are relevant to the ...

[RSS](http://feeds.feedburner.com/Bleeding-Green-Nation) [Apple Podcasts](https://go.redirectingat.com?xcust=___sb__p_22740651__t_w__d_D&id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/bleeding-green-nation/id1424518763?mt=2) Darius Slay’s agent was given permission to seek a trade as the veteran cornerback and the Eagles try to figure out reasonable terms on a possible extension ... The 3-year deal is reportedly worth $19.5 million with $12 million guaranteed. The 4-year deal is reportedly worth $84 million with $40 million guaranteed. [Stitcher](https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=221730&refid=stpr) The 3-year deal is reportedly worth $29 million. [6:00 PM ET] - Andre Dillard is signing with the Tennessee Titans. [Google Podcasts](https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cDovL2ZlZWRzLmZlZWRidXJuZXIuY29tL0JsZWVkaW5nLUdyZWVuLU5hdGlvbg%3D%3D) [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/6kLubboUPSinfnMesa8xhj?si=Kb5jawQxT_KZ41yRCwCy5g) This year’s free agency period should be quite eventful for the Birds since they have a number of notable players set to hit the open market. that are relevant to the

Jakobi Meyers, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and Lavonte David are among the options still available in free agency.

In his only season with the Los Angeles Rams, Bobby Wagner added a new club to his bag: That of a pass rusher. He has slowly been improving as a pass blocker as well, and if the Falcons cannot come to an agreement with the right tackle, expect some teams with a need up front to swoop in. But he can set the edge, is solid against the run, and can still pressure the passer, as he notched 11 sacks back in 2021. For a team looking to add at receiver — perhaps the Carolina Panthers — he could be a perfect fit. [San Francisco 49ers](https://www.ninersnation.com/), Charles Omenihu has put together solid production as a pass rusher, and he is coming off perhaps the best season of his career. He logged the bulk of his snaps as a deep safety, but the played on the outside and then in the slot down the stretch for Philadelphia. [Atlanta Falcons](https://www.thefalcoholic.com/) on a big five-year contract extension, Ben Powers agreed to a big free agency contract with the [Denver Broncos](https://www.milehighreport.com), and Nate Davis reached an agreement of his own with the Chicago Bears. He is as solid as it gets in pass protection for an offensive guard, and was also a big part of what the Eagles did in the run game. There were expectations that the time would find a way to bring him back — and they still might — but given the market we saw for safeties such as Jesse Bates III and Vonn Bell, he might find a very lucrative offer on the open market. He is a solid receiving option and holds his own as a blocker, whether in line or on the wing. The tandem of Poyer and Micah Hyde is perhaps the best safety duo in the league, and given the high-powered offenses the Bills face in the AFC, bringing him back should now be a priority. He battled injuries this past season, which might be the reason that he remains unsigned after the first day, but he has a lot of good football in his future.

The first day of 2023 NFL free agency is nearly in the books. Technically, signings and trades can't be finalized until the official start of the new league ...

And the additions of both the [Bills](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/BUF/buffalo-bills/)' [Tremaine Edmunds](/nfl/players/2186270/tremaine-edmunds/) (4 years, $72M) and Eagles' [T.J. Still, they also added to the offensive trenches with [Titans](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/TEN/tennessee-titans/) OG [Nate Davis](/nfl/players/2183687/nate-davis/) (3 years, $30M), which is another win for QB [Justin Fields](/nfl/players/1273205/justin-fields/). [Raiders](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/LV/las-vegas-raiders/) for another stopgap QB in [Jimmy Garoppolo](/nfl/players/1760229/jimmy-garoppolo/). Moore](/nfl/players/2179328/d-j-moore/). Edwards](/nfl/players/2139322/t-j-edwards/) ($19.5M) will surely shore up the middle of Matt Eberflus' defense. And then [Patrick Peterson](/nfl/players/1632296/patrick-peterson/), who enjoyed somewhat of a renaissance in his second season with the Vikings, landed in a perfect spot at age 32, replacing Sutton in Pittsburgh, where he'll be able to lean on the rangy assistance of [Minkah Fitzpatrick](/nfl/players/2186316/minkah-fitzpatrick/). And locking up All-Pro guard [Chris Lindstrom](/nfl/players/2179380/chris-lindstrom/) is smart, but he's shattered the RG market with a $105M extension that'll pay him $21M per year, more than any inside O-lineman in the NFL. A day after [locking up All-Pro defender Daron Payne](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2023-nfl-free-agency-commanders-sign-star-defender-daron-payne-to-four-year-90m-extension/), they secured an underrated offensive bookend, [Chiefs](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/KC/kansas-city-chiefs/) [Super Bowl](/nfl/superbowl/) starter [Andrew Wylie](/nfl/players/2820513/andrew-wylie/), for borderline top-10 right tackle money (3 years, $24M). Hockenson](/nfl/players/2251097/t-j-hockenson/), who proved in his half-season Vikings debut that he's worthy of a big-money extension -- for which he's currently eligible. [NFL](/nfl/)'s most sluggish offenses. [Josh Oliver](/nfl/players/2184618/josh-oliver/), who boasts all of 26 career catches, is a bit of a head-scratcher considering they just acquired ex-Lions star [T.J. And if Wilson still falters, adding ex-Raiders prospect [Jarrett Stidham](/nfl/players/2180697/jarrett-stidham/) (2 years, $10M) gives Payton a relatively cheap but high-upside backup plan under center.

NFL free agency has begun. Kind of. The league's legal tampering window is open, which means starting at noon on Monday teams can begin negotiating with ...

[per Schefter, Russini](https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1635337743294398464)and [Garafolo](https://twitter.com/MikeGarafolo/status/1635336567157059585?s=20). [per Garafolo](https://twitter.com/MikeGarafolo/status/1635323988707614723?s=20). It is a two-year deal worth up to $6.75 million, with $4 million guaranteed, [per Rapoport](https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1635324374839611392). It is a three-year deal worth up to $67.5 million, with $34 million guaranteed, [per Schefter](https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1635338177635586049). The deal is for four years, and worth up to $52M with $28.5M guaranteed, [per Rapoport](https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1635322892354473987). The deal is worth up to $19.5 million, with $12 million guaranteed, [per Rapoport](https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1635314673196363776). The deal is a two-year deal that voids to one, [per Rapoport](https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1635295421689114626). Edwards to a three-year deal, [per Rapoport](https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1635313692974923779). This might have implications for the status of safety Jesse Bates III in Cincinnati. [per Rapoport](https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1635312812577931264). But we digress. The league’s legal tampering window is open, which means starting at noon on Monday teams can begin negotiating with free agents.

How is anyone supposed to block the 49ers this upcoming season? Teams have to gameplan on how to keep Nick Bosa and Arik Armstead at bay, but now the 49ers ...