NFL Free Agency LIVE BLOG: Steelers Get Busy; Except at LB
The NFL is open for business after a busy first day of the free agency contact period on Monday, that saw a whole bunch of players changing teams, but relatively few skill position players.
Of the all the deals made in the first 12 hours of NFL free agency, only four quarterbacks, no wide receivers and not many notable running backs or tight ends were among the movers and shakers. That will probably change for day two.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will still likely be looking for defensive help, though that side of the ball is getting picked over in some places. More in the Day Two Big Board.
UPDATE, 7:40 p.m:
An old friend just hit the unemployment line. Might the Steelers be interested?
UPDATE, 6:45 p.m:
Yet another potential inside linebacker signing has come off the board, as the Dallas Cowboys are retaining oft-injured former top draft pick Leighton Vander Esch.
Vander Esch will stay in Dallas on a two-year deal worth $11 million. The Steelers and Houston Texans were also interested.
The #Cowboys are signing back LB Leighton Vander Esch, source said, giving him a 2-year deal worth $11M. They get back one of their top defenders.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 14, 2023
Houston Texans made a last minute push and the Steelers were also in play
— Jane Slater (@SlaterNFL) March 14, 2023
UPDATE, 6:30 p.m:
The Steelers not getting a free agent linebacker so far take on a little more meaning now, as reliable co-starter Robert Spillane has found a deal elsewhere, making a deal with the Las Vegas Raiders on a two-year contract.
UPDATE, 4:30 p.m.:
Another big-name wide receiver has a home, as Allen Lazard has agreed to a four-year deal with the New York Jets.
Can confirm four-year deal for Allen Lazard to #Jets, as @Schultz_Report said. Jets zeroed in on him early, and now two of the top receivers in free agency (Lazard and Jakobi Meyers) have agreed to terms at more than $10M per year.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 14, 2023
UPDATE, 4 p.m.:
No linebackers all day, and now three in 15 minutes. First, the Tennessee Titans have landed former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. Al-Shaair, who had been a rotational player for San Fran, will slide right into a starting role in Tennessee, which plays a defense very similar to Pittsburgh’s. It’s certainly likely that he could have been a Steelers candidate. No word on the compensation just yet.
The Titans are expected to sign former 49er Azeez Al-Shaair, per source
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 14, 2023
Secondly, the Cleveland Browns are also re-signing Sione Takitaki on a one-year deal. He’s coming off a late-season ACL injury and was not on our big board, but will bolster Cleveland’s group of off-ball backers.
#Browns signing linebacker Sione Takitaki to one-year deal worth nearly $2.6 million, according to a league source
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 14, 2023
UPDATE, 3:45 p.m:
After a big run on Monday, the linebackers had been mostly quiet this morning, but one of the top remaining names has found a landing spot as the Arizona Cardinals have reached an agreement with former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Kyzir White.
It was thought that the Steelers might be interested in White due to his history with Steelers assistant general manager Andy Weidl, who previously held the same role with the Eagles.
The Steelers have three inside linebackers that are set to hit free agency and the position remains one of their largest overall needs.
Breaking: FA LB Kyzir White is signing a two-year, $11M max deal with the #AZCardinals, sources tell @theScore.
White played a crucial role in the #Eagles’ defense last season, totaling 110 tackles, 7 PBUs and 3 TFLs.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) March 14, 2023
UPDATE, 3:15 p.m:
It’s been a quiet two days on the defensive line. The Detroit Lions made some news by re-signing John Cominsky.
The #Lions have agreed to terms to bring back DL John Cominsky, source says. Two-year deal for $8.5 million with another $1 million in attainable incentives.
Cominsky gets $4 million fully guaranteed after a breakout season in which he played through a broken thumb.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 14, 2023
UPDATE, 2:30 p.m:
One of the best tight ends is leaving the AFC — and the Steelers’ 2023 schedule — as the Las Vegas Raiders are trading Pro Bowler Darrin Waller to the New York Giants for a third-round draft pick.
UPDATED TERMS: Giants are sending the Raiders a 2023 3rd round pick in exchange for Darren Waller. (via @RapSheet, @TomPelissero)
— NFL (@NFL) March 14, 2023
UPDATE, 2:15 p.m:
It’s a huge signing for the Steelers. Perhaps not in terms of import or salary exchanging hands, but it doesn’t get much bigger than 330-pound guard Nate Herbig.
UPDATE: 2 p.m:
The Steelers’ first move of the day is a retention, with safety Damontae Kazee back in the fold for two more years.
UPDATE: 1:45 p.m:
One of the top slot wide receivers is off the board as Michael Thomas is returning to the New Orleans Saints. Thomas agreed to an incentive-laden, one-year deal to stay in New Orleans. The Uber-talented receiver has battled significant injuries and has played just 10 games since the start of the 2020 season.
Thomas is just the second of the slot wide receiver options to come off the board, but it is not a particularly deep group. Former Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster is now alone at the top of the class.
Sources: The #Saints are expected to retain star WR Michael Thomas on an incentive-laden one-year deal to keep him in New Orleans for the 2023 season. One of the NFL’s best when healthy, Thomas sticks with his new QB Derek Carr. pic.twitter.com/lMm6dS8HZ6
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 14, 2023
Breaking: The Saints restructured Michael Thomas’ contract, reaching an agreement on a one-year, $10 million deal that has a max value of $15 million, a source tells @AdamSchefter. pic.twitter.com/kVMEX64HbM
— ESPN (@espn) March 14, 2023
UPDATE, 12:30 p.m:
Teams retaining their own safeties is starting to become a trend. The Jacksonville Jaguars are brining back Andrew Wingard on a very team-friendly three-year deal. That’s a trend the Steelers could jump on with Terrell Edmunds.
The #Jaguars are giving Wingard a 3-year deal worth $9.6M base value with a chance to make $13.8M. He's guaranteed $6M. https://t.co/FGDGhdGbgL
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 14, 2023
UPDATE, noon:
Woodland Hills alum, defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson is being released by the Seattle Seahawks.
Seahawks are releasing DT Quinton Jefferson, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2023
UPDATE, 11 a.m:
Someone finally signed a running back. It was the Dolphins keeping their own.
The #Dolphins are re-signing RB Raheem Mostert to a two-year, $5.6 million deal with $2.2M guaranteed, per sources. pic.twitter.com/EGK9pn7Xal
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 14, 2023
The safeties were slow to move on Monday, as Jesse Bates III’s big deal took until late in the afternoon to develop. They’re getting off to a faster start in day two, with the Dallas Cowboys locking up Donovan Wilson on a three-year contract worth $24 million.
The #Cowboys have agreed to terms to re-sign S Donovan Wilson to a three-year deal worth up to $24 million with the first two years fully guaranteed ($13.5 million), sources say. The deal was confirmed by Wilson’s agents Kevin Conner and Robert Brown of @UniSportsMgmt. pic.twitter.com/8EhQa17b5m
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 14, 2023
UPDATE, 10 a.m:
The Las Vegas Raiders got a target for Jimmy Garoppolo, snagging New England Patriots receiver Jacob Meyers on a three-year deal worth $21 million.
Sources: The #Raiders are signing #Patriots FA WR Jakobi Meyers to a 3-year deal with $33M with $21M guaranteed. Another NE-Las Vegas tie-in, and a weapon for Jimmy Garoppolo. The deal was negotiated by Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey. pic.twitter.com/tOUDNVrDUF
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 14, 2023
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are trading veteran guard Shaq Mason to the Houston Texans. The Texans will take on his $7.5 million salary, but give up only a swap of late-round draft picks.
It's a late-round pick swap, a 6th rounder for a 7th rounder, in the trade of Shaq Mason. https://t.co/MHlxteQhE9
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 14, 2023
The #Bucs are trading OG Shaq Mason to the #Texans in a deal that will include teams flipping late-round draft picks, per source. Tampa will save cap space that they need, and Houston gets a good player up front.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 14, 2023
Cornerback Jalen Ramsey got a new deal with the Miami Dolphins after his trade, increasing his guaranteed money and giving the Fins some cap space.
One day after announcing his return, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce has a new deal for $14.25 million this season.
Still the highest-paid center. He gets a 1-year deal worth $14.25M with a max value of $14.75M. https://t.co/j6UtnQh8h5
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 14, 2023
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