Over the next couple of weeks, things will get hot and heavy in the NFL. That will include big-name signings, releases and other moves as the league starts its 2020 season.
We'll keep you up to date on everything that's happening right here. Check back often:
TEXANS ADD COBB
Monday, 3/16: After trading DeAndre Hopkins earlier in the day, the Texans had a hole at wide receiver.
They filled the spot by signing former Cowboys and Packers receiver Randall Cobb to a three-year, $27-million deal. That's a lot of money for a 30-year-old slot receiver. -- Lolley
FULLER BACK TO REDSKINS
Monday, 3/16: Former Chiefs cornerback Kendall Fuller is on the move. He's signing with the Redskins.
Fuller was previously with Washington, which traded him to Kansas City two years ago. -- Lolley
SEAHAWKS KEEP REED
Monday, 3/16: Defensive tackle Jarran Reed is staying with the Seahawks on a two-year, $23 million deal according to ESPN.
COLLINS TO LIONS
Monday, 3/16: Jamie Collins is back with Matt Patricia on a three-year, $30 million deal, with $18 million guaranteed, a source told ESPN's Field Yates.
The two were previously together when Collins was with the Patriots, where Patricia was his defensive coordinator. -- Lolley
RAIDERS SIGN MARIOTA
Monday 3/16: Jon Gruden likes to stack quarterbacks. He's got another one now. The Raiders have signed former Titans starter Marcus Mariota to a deal. Terms of the contract were not revealed, which usually means the agent didn't want to make it public because it was less than expected. -- Lolley
BILLS LAND DIGGS
Monday, 3/16: Texans take notice. This is how you trade a star player. The Vikings shipped WR Stefan Diggs and a 2020 seventh-round pick to the Bills for Buffalo's first-round selection (22 overall), fifth and sixth-round picks in 2020 and a fourth-round pick in 2021.
That's quite the haul for the Vikings. Diggs, however, gives the Bills another weapon on offense -- even if they gave up a lot to get him. -- Lolley
COWBOYS KEEP COOPER
Monday, 3/16: After placing the franchise tag on quarterback Dak Prescott earlier in the day, the Cowboys kept WR Amari Cooper around, signing him to a five-year, $100-million deal.
Cooper gets $60 million in guaranteed money. -- Lolley
RAVENS SNAG BROCKERS
Monday, 3/16: The Ravens continue to work on their defensive line, signing Michael Brockers to a three-year, $30 million deal with $21 million guaranteed:
Ravens are giving former Rams’ DL Michael Brockers a 3-year, $30 million deal that includes $21m guaranteed, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2020
Brockers posted a career-high 63 tackles (34 solo) in 2019 alongside Aaron Donald on the Rams' defensive front. His career-high in sacks, 5.5, came back in 2013, and he hasn't posted more than five in a single season since. -- Hunter
GRAHAM STILL CASHIN' CHECKS
Monday, 3/16: He may not be what he once was, but Jimmy Graham is still getting paid:
Jimmy Graham to the Bears on a two-year, $16 million deal, including $9 million guaranteed, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2020
Not bad for a pass-catching tight end who hasn't caught 60 passes or eclipsed 650 yards in the past three years. -- Hunter
DOLPHINS PAY FORMER COWBOY
Monday, 3/16: Former Cowboys first-round pick Byron Jones is headed to Miami:
Byron Jones’ new contract with the Dolphins will be a five-year, $82.5 million deal, including $57 million guaranteed, per source. It includes $40 million in first two years.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2020
That's a lotta dough. Jones was named second-team All-Pro and to the Pro Bowl in 2018. -- Hunter
BROWNS GONNA BROWN
Monday, 3/16: The Browns weren't content simply making Austin Hooper the game's highest-paid tight end. Per Adam Schefter, Cleveland also signed Case Keenum to a three-year, $18 million deal with $10 million guaranteed and offensive tackle Jack Conklin to a three-year, $42 million deal with $30 million guaranteed.
Jack Conklin agreed to a 3-year deal with the Browns for $42M with $30M fully guarantee, per @RosenhausSports. He earns $20mil in the first year. Wanted to keep it short due to the projected increases in the salary cap. Conklin will only be 28 when this deal expires.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2020
Will these be the moves the Raiders need to crack .500? -- Hunter
BUCKNER TO COLTS
Monday, 3/16: The Colts really wanted All-Pro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner ... so they gave up their first-round pick (13th overall) to get him, per Adam Schefter:
Trade AND deal: Colts trade first-round pick (13th overall) to 49ers for All-Pro DT DeForest Buckner, who already has agreed to a massive contract that pays him $21 million a year and makes him the second-highest paid DT in NFL history behind only Aaron Donald, sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2020
Making things sweeter for Buckner, the Colts also agreed to give him a new deal worth $21 million per year, the second-highest payout for a defensive tackle in NFL history, just behind Aaron Donald, who is on a six-year, $135 million contract through 2024 with the Rams, averaging $22.5 million per year. -- Hunter
RAVENS TRADE HURST
Monday, 3/16: It didn't take long for the Falcons to fill the void left by Austin Hooper, who was signed by the Browns on a big-money deal Monday:
And another trade! pic.twitter.com/asFJlHLfjM
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2020
In two years with the Ravens, Hayden Hurst caught 43 passes for 512 yards and three touchdowns, posting career highs in all categories (30 receptions, 349 yards, two touchdowns) in 2019 alongside Lamar Jackson and company. While the numbers don't dazzle, Hurst was buried behind Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews, who caught 64 passes for 852 yards and 10 touchdowns. The fresh start just might benefit Hurst down in Atlanta. -- Hunter
CARDINALS, TEXANS AGREE TO HIGH-PROFILE TRADE
Monday, 3/16: Fantasy football players of the past four years know David Johnson well. The 28-year-old running back broke onto the scene in 2016, posting 1,239 rushing yards, 879 receiving yards and 20 total touchdowns with the Cardinals, becoming one of the most highly touted players at his position in the NFL.
After an injury-riddled 2017, when he played less than one full game, Johnson returned somewhat to form in 2018, making all 16 starts and posting over 1,300 total yards and 10 touchdowns. In 2019, however, Johnson fell off the map, seeing his playing time reduced across 13 games for the Cardinals. The offense changed with the arrival of Kyler Murray, and his production was never the same.
Per Adam Schefter, Johnson will get another chance to shine, this time with the Texans.
Trade: Cardinals and Texans are agreeing to a trade that will send David Johnson to Houston, sources tell ESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2020
Here's the crazy part: The Texans gave up DeAndre Hopkins to get him. For real.
DeAndre Hopkins and a fourth round pick go to Cards for David Johnson and a second round pick this year and a fourth round pick next year.
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) March 16, 2020
The Texans obviously won with the picks here, but giving up a top-three receiver in the process? I don't understand this one. Cardinals got the better end of this deal by far — and uhh ... I think they know it:
ITS 50 OUTSIDE AND WE RIDIN’ W THE TOP DOWN! WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY... ???
— Kyler Murray (@K1) March 16, 2020
BEST NEWS IN 2020!!! ? https://t.co/DavHtDokli
— ♛Chandler Jones (@chanjones55) March 16, 2020
Yooooo finally. We got a whole ass armed robbery??????
— Chase Edmonds (@ChaseEdmonds22) March 16, 2020
Baffling from Bill O'Brien and company. -- Hunter
JARWIN STAYING WITH COWBOYS
Monday, 3/16: Tight end Blake Jarwin is staying in Dallas on a three-year extension worth up to $24.25 million, per Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo. The contract comes with $9.25 million guaranteed for the 25-year-old Jarwin, who caught 31 passes for 365 yards and three touchdowns in 2019. -- Hunter
RAIDERS GET FORMER MOUNTAINEER, PITTSBURGH NATIVE
Monday, 3/16: Former Bethel Park High School, West Virginia Mountaineer and Chicago Bear Nick Kwiatkoski is heading to the Raiders. The 26-year-old linebacker posted the following teaser to Twitter, and the move was later confirmed by multiple reports:
— Nick Kwiatkoski (@nkwiatkoski27) March 16, 2020
DOLPHINS SIGN FLOWERS
Monday, 3/16: Now-former Giants, Jaguars and Redskins offensive lineman Ereck Flowers is onto his fourth team in six years:
Miami Dolphins agree to terms with Ereck Flowers $30M over 3 years with $19.95M fully guaranteed, per @RosenhausSports
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16, 2020
Flowers was the ninth overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft but has struggled to piece it together at the NFL level, a point evidenced by his always-on-the-move trajectory. The Dolphins, however, feel there's something there, and Flowers will get the chance to prove doubters wrong in South Florida. -- Hunter
BROWNS GET HOOPER
Monday, 3/16: The Browns made a splash Monday, inking Austin Hooper to a mega-money deal. Per multiple reports, Hooper will become the league's highest-paid tight end, although terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed. That's one more target for Baker Mayfield heading into the 2020 NFL season, and it also puts a question mark on the future of tight end David Njoku, who is pegged for a cap hit just over $3 million in 2020.
Update: Per Ian Rapoport, Hooper and the Browns agreed to a four-year deal that will see him make $23 million — all guaranteed — over the first two seasons then $10.5 million per year for years three and four. -- Hunter
TITANS SIGN TANNEHILL
Sunday, 3/15: The Titans are out of the Tom Brady market. They've signed quarterback Ryan Tannehill to a four-year extension worth $118 million. A large portion of the deal, $90 million, is guaranteed.
With the new CBA ratified on Sunday morning, Tennessee acted quickly. There had been some rumors they might use the transition tag on Tannehill and the franchise tag on running back Derrick Henry since both would have been available had the CBA not been approved. But with that off the table, they wanted to assure they wouldn't be left in the offseason musical chairs market without a quarterback. -- Lolley
