NFL Offseason 2021 - Trades and Free Agency NFL

[Tom]

The Saints have brought back Jameis Winston to compete for their starting quarterback job in 2021, agreeing to terms on a one-year deal Monday night.

Winston, 27, threw only 11 passes for New Orleans in 2020, adding a 56-yard touchdown pass on a trick play in the playoffs. He'll compete with Taysom Hill, who stepped in for an injured Drew Brees this past season and also is back under contract.

Winston is only a year removed from leading the NFL with 5,109 passing yards in 2019, finishing a five-year run as the Bucs' starter. He threw a then team-record 33 touchdowns as well, but also led the NFL with 30 interceptions. He signed with the Saints and now will have a chance to replace a legend in the retired Brees.

 

[Tom]

The Bucs have brought back another key piece from their Super Bowl championship roster, re-signing tight end Rob Gronkowski on Monday afternoon on a one-year, $8 million contract.

Gronkowski, who turns 32 in May, came out of retirement last year and helped Tom Brady win another ring, the two connecting on two touchdowns in Tampa Bay's Super Bowl win over the Chiefs. He made it clear he wanted to return for another year, so this was just about the Bucs finding a way to fit him under the salary cap. This contract will take advantage of voidable years, so there are four voidable years, spreading out the cap impact of a $4 million signing bonus and lowering his cap number for 2021 to just $4.8 million.

 

[Tom]

After their banged-up offensive line struggled in the Super Bowl, the Chiefs signed the top interior lineman on the open market, guard Joe Thuney. According to multiple reports, it's a five-year deal worth $80 million.

Thuney received the franchise tag from the Patriots last year. After starting 80 consecutive games for New England, he now joins a remade Kansas City offensive line that recently lost right tackle Mitchell Schwartz and left tackle Eric Fisher, who were both cap casualties.

 

[Tom]

After having arguably the NFL's worst group of pass-catchers a season ago, the Patriots are signing receiver Nelson Agholor to a reported two-year deal worth $26 million.

Agholor, a 2015 first-round pick of the Eagles, struggled in Philadelphia and had to settle for a one-year deal with the Raiders last year. He then enjoyed the best season of his career, catching 48 of 82 targets for 896 yards and eight touchdowns.

 

[Tom]

The Patriots' spending spree continued with the signing of edge rusher Matt Judon, who agreed to a four-year, $56 million deal, according to multiple reports.

Judon, who will be 29 by Week 1, recorded six sacks on 21 QB hits while playing under the franchise tag for the Ravens. In five seasons with Baltimore, He'll bolster a New England defense that ranked 18th in pressure rate and 26th in sacks.

 

[Tom]

The Patriots' wild free-agent spending spree continued Monday afternoon by agreeing to terms with former Eagles defensive back Jalen Mills to a four-year deal reportedly worth $24 million.

Mills, 26, has played all five seasons in Philadelphia, resetting his career-high with 74 tackles. He has started as both a cornerback and safety. He is the fourth major signing by the Patriots on the first day of free agency, following tight end Jonnu Smith, defensive end Matt Judon and defensive tackle Davon Godcheaux.

 

[Tom]

The Patriots have found a missing piece in free-agent tight end Jonnu Smith, who will leave the Titans on a four-year, $50 million contract.

Smith, 25, had a breakout year in 2020 with eight touchdown catches, as many as in his first three seasons combined. Smith had 41 catches for 448 yards last year and has never had 500 yards in any season since he was drafted in the third round out of Florida International.

 

[Tom]

In two days, the Patriots have gone from perhaps the worst tight ends room in the NFL to one of the best.

A day after signing the Titans' Jonnu Smith to a four-year, $50 million deal, the Patriots made another big signing, landing the Chargers' Hunter Henry on a three-year deal worth $37.5 million, giving them two of the league's highest-paid players at the position.

Henry, 26, had a career-best 60 catches last year on the way to 613 yards and four touchdowns, giving him 21 touchdowns in the four seasons he's played. He came to the Chargers as a second-round pick in 2016 and joins a reloaded Patriots offense that has added receivers Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne.

 

[Tom]

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and free-agent outside linebacker Shaq Barrett have agreed to a four-year deal worth up to $72 million.

Barrett, 28, was set to hit free agency and was the Bucs' top remaining target to re-sign after re-signing Lavonte David and applying the franchise tag to Chris Godwin. He had four sacks during Tampa Bay's playoff run last season.

 

[Tom]

The Broncos are bringing back Pro Bowl pass-rusher Von Miller for the final year of his six-year contract, reportedly agreeing to an option Tuesday that guarantees $7 million of the $18 million he'll earn this season.

Miller, who turns 32 next week, is coming off a down year with eight sacks, the fewest he's had in a healthy season. He made the Pro Bowl for the eighth time in his nine years in Denver, reaching 100 career sacks.

At $18 million, Miller will earn more this season than any of this year's free-agent signees, topped by the Bucs' Shaq Barrett earning $17 million per year on a four-year deal to stay in Tampa.