With the start of new league year set for March 13, NFL teams have ramped up their housecleaning in preparation for the start of free agency.
Tuesday also was the final day on which teams could designate a player for a franchise or transition tag, meaning a lot of players found out if they would even have the opportunity to reach free agency.
The Ravens were busy, declining to tag inside linebacker C.J. Mosley, while also releasing free safety Eric Weddle, two key members of their defense.
Mosley, 26, was informed the Ravens wouldn't use a franchise tag on him by 4 p.m.'s deadline, allowing him to become a free agent. But the Ravens also have intent on signing him to a deal for less than the $15.44 million he would have earned if tagged.
The Steelers have an obvious need at inside linebacker, but need one more capable of playing in coverage, which is not Mosley's strong suit. They passed on Mosley in the 2014 draft to select Ryan Shazier. Mosley was selected by the Ravens two picks later.
Retaining Mosley could be critical for the Ravens after they released the 34-year-old Weddle, who was slated to earn $6.5 million in 2019.
Weddle, who turned 34 in January, had six interceptions in 2017, but failed to record a single interception in 2018. His pass defenses also declined from eight to a career-low three, showing the free safety is in obvious decline as a player.
Unlike Mosley, who cannot be signed by another team until March 13, Weddle is immediately a free agent since he was released from his contract.
Among other high-profile players who learned he would not receive the franchise tag Tuesday were Giants safety Landon Collins, Patriots edge rusher Trey Flowers and Seahawks safety Earl Thomas.
Collins, a true strong safety, will draw major interest on the open market, but it's unlikely the Steelers will be interested since they selected strong safety Terrell Edmunds in the first-round of the draft last year. Collins also isn't great in pass coverage and hasn't been big on takeaways, other than a five-interception season in 2016. He has just two interceptions the past two years, including none in 2018.
Flowers will draw major interest on the free agent market as a young edge rusher. He led the Patriots with 7.5 sacks last season and is solid against the run.
Thomas is coming off a broken leg suffered last season and made it well known he was not happy there after signing his franchise tender last season. Still just 29, Thomas had three interceptions in just four games last season before his injury. He has 28 interceptions in 125 career games.
But the market for Thomas is going to be brisk. He's already been linked to the Cowboys, 49ers and Chiefs for potential landing spots.
In terms of Kansas City, NFL.com reported the Chiefs are shopping both of their starting outside linebackers, Dee Ford and Justin Houston.
Kansas City placed the franchise tag on Ford Tuesday at a cost of $15.44 million. But according to NFL.com, Kansas City would take a second-round pick for the 27-year-old Ford, who had 13 sacks in 2018 after four mostly disappointing seasons.
The Chiefs, who are shifting to a 4-3 defense, could release Houston if they can't work out a trade. Houston, 30, is set to make $15.2 million in 2019, a lot of money for a player who had nine sacks in 12 games in 2018 but has missed 21 games the past four seasons.
One other player released Tuesday who might interest the Steelers is former Texans first-round draft pick Kevin Johnson. Johnson, was due $9 million after Houston picked up his fifth-year option.
But he's appeared in just 35 career games, including 18 starts. Johnson, who has played well when he's played, missed all but one game after suffering multiple concussions early last season, but had to be cleared medically by an independent doctor before the Texans could release him.
Like Weddle, Johnson can be signed now and does not count against a team's future compensatory picks.