The official commencement of NFL free agency has marked a new era in the league at precisely 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday. Preliminary moves had already been set in motion during Monday and Tuesday’s legal tampering sessions, but these deals remained mostly in verbal agreement stages. Upon the start of the new league year, any trades or contracts discussed before 4 p.m. on Wednesday officially came into play, including the surprisingly severance of Aaron Rodgers from the Jets.
Despite many perceived top free agents being claimed, the market remains ripe with opportunities. This includes several prominent options in the quarterback position, including standouts such as Rodgers and Russell Wilson. Rodgers seems to be mulling over options from the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants, with rumors about pending interest from the Vikings.
In the meantime, Wilson has made strides, having already made visits to Cleveland and met with the Giants, though he didn’t leave New Jersey with a finalized contract. Another key player to observe is Kirk Cousins, who is chasing the chance to claim the starter’s position. The Falcons, however, seem resolved to retain the previously downgraded Pro Bowler.
In other news, San Francisco’s roster continues to shed players. Notably, NFL Media reveals that the 49ers have arranged a trade sending running back Jordan Mason to the Minnesota Vikings. Further, JuJu Smith-Schuster confirmed he is reuniting with the Kansas City Chiefs under a one-year agreement.
Smith-Schuster, a well-experienced wide receiver, is joining K.C. for his second term after being let go by the New England Patriots late last August. In 14 games of the previous regular season in which he started eight, Smith-Schuster managed 18 catches totalling 231 yards and marked up two touchdowns.
Transitioning to the Tennessee Titans, cornerback Chidobe Awuzie has been cut from the team as ESPN reports. The former second-round Dallas Cowboys pick had a rather injured 2024 season, participating in just eight games. During this period, Awuzie compiled 26 tackles along with one interception.
In a move bolstering their wide receiver line-up, the Dallas Cowboys have struck a one-year agreement with veteran receiver Parris Campbell as ESPN discloses. The financial details of this deal with Campbell remain undisclosed. Campbell was originally chosen by the Indianapolis Colts in the second round of the 2019 draft out of Ohio State.
Campbell, now 27 years old, had been with the New York Giants in 2023 and the Philadelphia Eagles, who were the victors of Super Bowl LIX, in the 2024 season. With this move, Campbell can now boast about another NFC East destination as he joins the ranks in Dallas.
In the midst of these movements, there’s speculative news concerning Aaron Rodgers. If the Minnesota Vikings are ruled out as an option for Rodgers, reports from The Athletic suggest that the four-time league MVP could disregard offers from both the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants, potentially opting for retirement.
In the case of Cousins, the situation seems to have turned around. Contrary to earlier speculations of a release, Atlanta reaffirmed commitment to Cousins by proceeding with a $10 million roster bonus due in 2026. Not finding a trade partner for Cousins’ contract, the Falcons have decided to make Cousins a backup to Michael Penix in 2025, despite a considerable $65 million dead cap.
On the other side, Los Angeles Chargers have worked on improving their offensive line. They secured a deal with former Eagles guard Mekhi Becton for a two-year contract. The Chargers target to use Becton at the guard position, where he proved his mettle during the previous season securing the Super Bowl.
In another crucial move, former Rams receiver Cooper Kupp is heading to Seattle as part of a three-year contract worth $45 million. The Seahawks felt a need to reinforce their receiver lineup following the trade of DK Metcalf to the Steelers and the release of Tyler Lockett. Kupp’s arrival provides quarterback Sam Darnold with additional firepower, joining the likes of Jaxson Smith-Njigba.
Kupp’s shift to Seattle can be viewed as a homecoming. The Super Bowl LVI MVP hails from Washington, having attended high school and later, Eastern Washington University in the state. Therefore, this change not only augments the team’s strength but also brings Kupp back to his roots.
Finally, there’s an interesting shuffle in terms of jersey numbers. Justin Fields, the quarterback who has worn numbers 1 and 2 in his career, is now moving to number seven in New York. With Sauce Gardner and Tyrod Taylor already occupying numbers 1 and 2 respectively, Fields seems to have found it easier to just switch rather than shaking the apple cart.