The NFL free agency tampering period is currently underway, which means pending free agents around the league are gauging their value and interest and it's all above board and not at all against the NFL rules. But there is one big-name player who technically can't take advantage of this period, and his contract situation is as murky as any: cornerback Darrelle Revis.
Darrelle Revis is a Patriot for now, but free agency and a bidding war loom
Darrelle Revis and his representatives aren’t technically allowed to engage in the NFL free agency tampering period, but he’s expected to hit the open market, where he’ll draw interest from several teams.
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Revis is still under contract with the New England Patriots and is coming off a stellar season in which he helped the team win a Super Bowl. But New England has to decide whether to exercise a $20 million option, and the Patriots only have until March 9 to do so. If they don't, Revis becomes a free agent at the start of the new league year (and free agency proper) on March 10.
Because Revis isn’t technically a pending free agent, he’s not allowed to discuss contract details with other teams and gauge his stock in the current market. Of course, it would be a big shocker if Revis’ representatives didn’t get a good idea of his value before it’s all said and done.
Despite his high level of play this past season, it's unlikely the Patriots exercise Revis' option. That's simply too much money for a team that is struggling to get under the 2015 salary cap as it stands. With Devin McCourty hitting free agency and the team using its franchise tag on kicker Stephen Gostkowski, Revis will likely get his chance to see the open market.
Once he gets to the open market, there will likely be plenty of teams interested in his services, including his former team: the New York Jets. They've got massive amounts of cap space but are just one of what is expected to be several teams going after Revis. It's unclear where New England stands with Revis or to what extent they've had discussions, but the New York Daily News reported that Revis would prefer to stay with New England over New York if the offers are the same.
Whatever happens, Revis will be getting paid next season -- possibly as the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. Revis had 47 tackles, two interceptions, 14 pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery this past season. He’ll be 30 years old when next season starts, so he’s likely looking at his last big payday. He’s totaled 23 interceptions and 123 pass breakups since being made a first-round pick in 2007.
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