NFL free agency tracker: Every signing and trade in 2021

The NFL free agency period is in full swing, and while the salary cap is lower in 2021, it hasn’t meant things have slowed down. If anything, the added pressure of a lower cap has forced teams to make a lot of tough decisions and that’s led to a ton of activity. We’re also seeing a lot more short-term deals than in past years, with players and agents accepting one year contracts, betting on their potential and a higher future cap to cash in later.

Here’s every free agent signing and player trade made so far. We’re focusing solely on players who have moved teams, rather than players re-signing with their prior organizations.

Markus Golden, OLB — 2 years, $5M (previously with New York Giants)

A.J. Green WR — 1 year (previously with Cincinnati Bengals)

Rodney Hudson, C — Traded with 2021 7th round pick from Las Vegas Raiders for 2021 third round pick.

Matt Prater, K — 2 years, $7M (previously with Detroit Lions)

JJ Watt, DE — 2 years, $28M (previously with Houston Texans)
The Cardinals were already one of the better pass rushing teams in the NFL in 2020, and adding JJ Watt is a case of the rich getting richer. The move will help the Cardinals balance out their offense-heavy system and help stop some Russell Wilson in the NFC West.
Grade: B+

Brian Winters, G — (previously with Buffalo Bills)

Brandon Copeland, OLB — 1 year, $1.04M (previously with New England Patriots)

Erik Harris, S — 1 year, $1.35M (previously with Las Vegas Raiders)

Lee Smith, TE — Traded from Buffalo for a 2022 late round pick.

Kevin Zeitler, G — 3 years, $22.5M (previously with New York Giants)

Matt Haack, P — 3 years (previously with Miami Dolphins)

Jacob Hollister, TE — 1 year, $1.27M (previously with Seattle Seahawks)

Mitchell Trubisky, QB — 1 year, $2.5M (previously with Chicago Bears)

Emmanuel Sanders, WR — 1 year, 6M (previously with New Orleans Saints)

Dan Arnold, TE — 2 years, $6M (previously with New Orleans Saints)

Pat Elflein, G — 3 years, $13.5M (previously with Minnesota Vikings)

Cameron Erving, OT — 2 years, $10M (previously with Indianapolis Colts)

Morgan Fox, DE — 2 years, $8.5M (previously with Los Angeles Rams)

David Moore, WR — 2 years, $4.75M (previously with Seattle Seahawks)

Denzel Perryman, ILB — 2 years (previously with Los Angeles Chargers)

Hasson Reddick, DE — 1 years, $8M (previously with Arizona Cardinals)

Jeremiah Attaochu, LB — 2 years, $5.5M (previously with Denver Broncos)

Angelo Blackson, DE — 2 years, $5.5M (previously with Arizona Cardinals)

Andy Dalton, QB — 1 years, $10M (previously with Dallas Cowboys)
A curious choice, the Bears missed out on trading for Russell Wilson and this was their backup plan. It’s expected Dalton will compete for the starting job with Nick Foles at least, but two mediocre quarterbacks doesn’t equate to one good passer.
Grade: D

Kyle Fuller, CB — 1 year, $9.5M (previously with Denver Broncos)

Desmond Trufant, CB — 1 year (previously with Atlanta Falcons)

Chidobe Awuzie, CB — 3 years, $21.75M (previously with Dallas Cowboys)

Trey Hendrickson, DE — 4 years, $60M (previously with New Orleans Saints)
The Bengals too advantage of the Saints’ tight cap to poach a 13.5 sack defensive end from a year ago. The contract is high considering this market, but a steal when the cap increases in future years.
Grade: A+

Mike Hilton, CB — 4 years, $24M (previously with Pittsburgh Steelers)

Larry Ogunjobi, DT — 1 year, $6.2M (previously with Cleveland Browns)

Samaje Perine, RB — 1 year (previously with Miami Dolphins)

Troy Hill, CB — 4 years, $24M (previously with Los Angeles Rams)

Malik Jackson, DE — 1 year (previously with Philadelphia Eagles)

John Johnson, SS — 3 years, $33.75M (previously with Los Angeles Rams)
The Browns landing standout safety John Johnson is an great signing to solidify their secondary. Johnson broke out in 2020, and still in his mid-twenties he has plenty of room to grow in the resurgent Browns.
Grade: A

Tarell Basham, OLB — 2 years, $6.5M (previously with Indianapolis Colts)

Jake McQuaide, LS — 1 year (previously with Los Angeles Rams)

Ty Nsekhe, OT — 1 year (previously with Buffalo Bills)

Brent Urban, DE — 1 year, $1.75M (previously with Chicago Bears)

Carlos Watkins, DE — 1 year, $1.75M (previously with Houston Texans)

Ronald Darby, CB — 3 years, $30M (previously with Washington Football Team)

Michael Brockers, DT — 3 years, $24M (previously with Los Angeles Rams)

Randy Bullock, K — 1 years (previously with Cincinnati Bengals)

Charles Harris, DE — 1 year (previously with Miami Dolphins)

Josh Hill, TE — 1 year (previously with New Orleans Saints)

Keanu Neal, SS — 1 year, $4M (previously with Dallas Cowboys)

Breshad Perriman, WR — 1 year, $3M (previously with New York Jets)

Justin Britt, C — 1 year, $3.2M (previously with Seattle Seahawks)

Terrance Brooks, FS — 1 year, $2M (previously with New England Patriots)

Marcus Cannon, OT — Traded from New England for 4th, 5th, and 6th round pick swaps

Maliek Collins, DT — 1 year, $5M (previously with Las Vegas Raiders)

Chris Conley, WR — 1 year (previously with Jacksonville Jaguars)

Alex Erickson, WR — 1 year (previously with Cincinnati Bengals)

Kamu Grugier-Hill, OLB — 1 year, $2.5M (previously with Miami Dolphins)

Mark Ingram, RB — 1 year, $2.5M (previously with Baltimore Ravens)

Jordan Jenkins, LB — 2 years, $6M (previously with New York Jets)

Desmond King, CB — 1 year (previously with Los Angeles Chargers)

Christian Kirksey, ILB — 1 year, $5.4M (previously with Green Bay Packers)

Shaq Lawson, DE — Traded from Miami for Benardrick McKinney

Phillip Lindsay, RB — 1 year, $3.25M (previously with Denver Broncos)

Terrance Mitchell, CB — 2 years, $7.5M (previously with Cleveland Browns)

Donte Moncrief, WR — 1 year (previously with New England Patriots)

Justin McCray, G — 2 years, $4M (previously with Atlanta Falcons)

Chris Moore, WR — 1 year, $2M (previously with Baltimore Ravens)

Hardy Nickerson Jr, LB — 1 year (previously with Minnesota Vikings)

Kevin Pierre-Louis, OLB — 2 years, $7M (previously with Washington Football Team)

Derek Rivers, OLB — 1 year, $3M (previously with New England Patriots)

Andre Roberts, WR — 2 years, $5.5M (previously with Buffalo Bills)

Tremon Smith, CB — 1 year, $1.13M (previously with Indianapolis Colts)

Tyrod Taylor, QB — 1 year, $12.5M (previously with Los Angeles Chargers)
One of the more bizarre signings this offseason, it’s not that Taylor doesn’t deserve to be signed, and everything to do with the money involved. This is not money paid to a backup quarterback, and could signal movement on the Deshaun Watson trade front. If this is a potential caretaker starter it’s a great signing, if Houston doesn’t move Watson it’s an atrocious deal.
Grade: B+ as a starter/ D as a backup

Vincent Taylor, DT — 1 year, $2M (previously with Miami Dolphins)

Tavierre Thomas, CB — 2 years, $4M (previously with Arizona Cardinals)

Joe Thomas, ILB — 1 year, $1.5M (previously with Dallas Cowboys)

Jamal Agnew, WR — 3 years, $14.25M (previously with Detroit Lions)

Tyson Alualu, DE — 2 years, $6M (previously with Pittsburgh Steelers)

Malcolm Brown, DT — Traded from New Orleans

Philip Dorsett, WR — (previously with Seattle Seahawks)

Jonathan Ford, S — 2 years, $4.2M (previously with Arizona Cardinals)

Shaquil Griffin, CB — 3 years, $40M (previously with Seattle Seahawks)
The Jaguars know that it’s time to put the pedal down. Eager to start the Trevor Lawrence era off to a good start, Jacksonville landed arguably the best defensive back in free agency. Griffin will solidify the defense, and will really help Lawrence get some wins in his first season.
Grade: A+

Carlos Hyde, RB — 2 years, $4.5M (previously with Seattle Seahawks)

Rayshawn Jenkins, S — 4 years, $35M (previous with Los Angeles Chargers)

Marvin Jones, WR — 2 years, $14.5M (previously with Detroit Lions)

Chris Manhertz, TE — 2 years, $6.65M (previously with Carolina Panthers)

Roy Robertson-Harris, 3 years, $23.4M (previously with Chicago Bears)

Aldrick Rosas, K — 1 year (previously with New York Giants)

Jihad Ward, DE — 1 year, $2.5M (previously with Baltimore Ravens)

Blake Bell, TE 11 - year, $1.12M (previously with Dallas Cowboys)

John Brown, WR — 1 year, $3.75M (previously with Buffalo Bills)

Matt Dickerson, DE — (previously with Tennessee Titans)

Quinton Jefferson, DT — 1 year, $3.25M (previously with Buffalo Bills)

Nick Martin, C — 1 year (previously with Houston Texans)

Yannick Ngakoue, DE — 2 years, $26M (previously with Baltimore Ravens)
Ngakoue may not have made the impact either the Vikings or Ravens hoped for in 2020, but if he’s able to recapture his lightning this could be one of the best signings of the year. There is a little risk involved, and this is a lot of money if Nagakoue doesn’t return to being a 10+ sack defender.
Grade: B

Darius Philon, DT — (previously with Arizona Cardinals)

Oday Aboushi, OT — 1 year, $1.75M (previously with Detroit Lions)

Matt Feiler, OT — 3 years, $25.3M (previously with Pittsburgh Steelers)

Corey Linsley, C — 5 years, $62.5M (previously with Green Bay Packers)
The Chargers have their quarterback in Justin Herbert and know they need to fix the line. Getting an All-Pro center like Corey Linsley does a lot to help that situation. A great signing by a team in need of help, there’s little to dislike about this deal, aside from its length — which is pretty drastic considering he’s already 29.
Grade: A-

DeSean Jackson, WR — 1 year (previously with Philadelphia Eagles)

Jacoby Brissett, QB — 1 year, $7.5M (previously with Indianapolis Colts)

Malcolm Brown, RB — 1 year, $1.75M (previously with Los Angeles Rams)

Adam Butler, DT — 2 years, 9.5M (previously with New England Patriots)

Cethan Carter, TE — 3 years, $7.8M (previously with Cincinnati Bengals)

Justin Coleman, CB — 1 year, $2.75M (previously with Detroit Lions)

Will Fuller, WR — 1 year, $10.6M (previously with Houston Texans)
The Miami Dolphins were in need of more weapons on offense to let Tua Tagovailoa shine, and Fuller is an incredible short-term signing. It’s a win-win for both teams, with the Dolphins getting a deep threat to stretch the field, and Fuller getting a stage where he can be feature more outside of the disastrous Texans.
Grade: A

Benardrick McKinney, ILB — Traded from Texans for Shaq Lawson

Michael Palardy, P — 1 year (previously with Carolina Panthers)

Adam Pankey, OT — 1 year, $2.13M (previously with Green Bay Packers)

Brennan Scarlet, OLB — 1 year, $1.13M (previously with Houston Texans)

Matt Skura, C — 1 year, $1.75M (previously with Baltimore Ravens)

Patrick Peterson, CB — 1 year, $10M (previously with Arizona Cardinals)
Peterson is a stellar pickup for the secondary-needy Vikings. While he may be entering the back-end of his career, Minnesota didn’t overpay, or extend this deal too long to where they might regret it in the future.
Grade: A

Dalvin Tomlinson, DT — 2 years, $21M (previously with New York Giants)
The Vikings needed help in the trenches on both sides of the ball, so spending a large amount of their available cap on a nose tackle is curious at best. It’s not that Tomlinson is bad, or that this is a bad signing, it’s more than with limited resources I don’t love going so far in on one player like this.
Grade: C

Nick Virgil, OLB — 1 year, $1.75M (previously with Los Angeles Chargers)

Montravius Adams, DE — 1 year, $2.5M (previously with Green Bay Packers)

Nelson Agholor, WR — 2 years, $22M (previously with Las Vegas Raiders)

Henry Anderson — 2 years, $7M (previously with New York Jets)

David Andrews,

Kendrick Bourne, WR — 3 years, $15M (previously with San Francisco 49ers)

Davon Godchaux, DT — 2 years, $15M (previously with Miami Dolphins)

Hunter Henry, TE — 3 years, $37.5M (previously with Los Angeles Chargers)

Matt Judon, OLB — 4 years, $54.5M (previously with Baltimore Ravens)
The Patriots loosened their purse strings with numerous major signings including Judon, a defensive standout. Bill Belichick knows there’s a lot needed to overhaul the team, and Judon is a great choice to add leadership on defense.
Grade: B+

Jalen Mills, S — 4 years, $24M (previously with Philadelphia Eagles)

Jonnu Smith, TE — 4 years, $50M (previously with Tennessee Titans)
This seems like a lot of money, but it’s a sneaky good signing. Smith is the kind of goal-line receiver the Patriots need, and will offer a safety net for Cam Newton who has loved pass catching tight ends over the course of his career. At 25, Smith has plenty left in the tank and could fill a role similar to that of Rob Gronkowski when he was in New England.
Grade: A-

Kyle Van Noy, ILB — 2 years, $13.2M (previously with Miami Dolphins)

Alex Armah, FB — 1 year (previously with Carolina Panthers

C.J. Board, WR — 1 year, $850K (previously with Jacksonville Jaguars)

Devontae Booker, RB — 2 years, $5.5M (previously with Las Vegas Raiders)

Cullen Gillaspia, FB — (previously with Houston Texans)

Mike Glennon, QB — 1 year, $1.35M (previously with Jacksonville Jaguars)

Kenny Golladay, WR — 4 years, $72M (previously with Detroit Lions)
This signals the start of the Daniel Jones’ litmus test. It’s time for the Giants to determine if he’s the QB of the future, or a draft mistake — and with a receiver the caliber of Golladay there’s no excuse. This is a brilliant signing that gives New York a true elite receiver for the first time since Odell Beckham Jr.
Grade: A+

Adoree Jackson, CB — 3 years, $39M (previously with Tennessee Titans)
The Giants get the top-tier corner to anchor their secondary the team has been dying for, and at an astonishingly reasonable price. One of the better signings in free agency, Jackson will immediately make New York better, and is young enough to have a long future with the team, should things work out.
Grade: A

Ifeadi Odenigbo, DE — 1 year, $2.5M (previously with Minnesota Vikings)

Reggie Ragland, LB — 1 year (previously with Detroit Lions)

John Ross, WR — 1 year, $2.25M (previously with Cincinnati Bengals)

Keelan Cole, WR — 1 year, $5.5M (previously with Jacksonville Jaguars)

Corey Davis, WR — 3 years, $37.5M (previously with Tennessee Titans)
In a similar move to Jacksonville, the Jets realize they need weapons and got a good one. It’s unclear who will be throwing the ball for the Jets next season, but finally the team has a legitimate No. 1 receiver to offer whoever is given the ball.
Grade: A

Jarrad Davis, ILB — 1 year, $5.5M (previously with Detroit Lions)

Dan Feeney, G — 1 year, $3.5M (previously with Los Angeles Chargers)

Justin Hardee, CB — 3 years, $6.75M (previously with New Orleans Saints)

LaMarcus Joyner, FS — 1 year, $4.5M (previously with Las Vegas Raiders)

Carl Lawson, DE — 3 years, $45M (previously with Cincinnati Bengals)
Lawson is a solid defensive end, but this feels like a bit of an overpay. That said, if there’s anyone who can unlock Lawson’s full potential it’s Robert Salah, and he’ll have fun moving the versatile pass rusher around.
Grade: B-

Sheldon Richardson, DT — 2 years, $17M (previously with New Orleans Saints)

Antony Harris, FS — 1 year, $5M (previously with Minnesota Vikings)

B.J. Finney, C — 1 year (previously with Seattle Seahawks)

Joe Haeg, OT — 2 years, $4.6M (previously with Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Miles Killebrew, S — 1 year (previously with Detroit Lions)

Chris Wormley, DT — 2 years, $4.5M (previously with Baltimore Ravens)

Samson Ebukam, OLB — 2 years, $12M (previously with Los Angeles Rams)

Alex Mack, C — (previously with Atlanta Falcons)

Trent Sherfield, WR — 1 year, $920K (previously with Arizona Cardinals)

Trent Williams, OT — 6 years, $138M (previously with Washington Football Team)
The 49ers aren’t playing around with their need to help their quarterback and splashed big on getting one of the best offensive linemen in the NFL. The only problem is that it’s unclear who will be playing QB for San Francisco next year. Either way, this is a good signing, assuming the team can get a passer to take full advantage of the protection.
Grade: A

Tavon Wilson, SS — (previously with Indianapolis Colts)

Gerald Everett, TE — 1 year, $6M (previously with Los Angeles Rams)

Gabe Jackson, OG — Traded from Las Vegas Raiders for a 2021 5th round pick.

Ahkello Witherspoon, CB — 1 year, $4M (previously with San Francisco 49ers)

Aaron Stinnie, G — 1 years (previously with Tennessee Titans)

Olasunkanmi Adeniyi, LB — 1 year (previously with Pittsburgh Steelers)

Denico Autry, DE — 3 years, $21.5M (previously with Indianapolis Colts)

Bud Dupree, OLB — 5 years, $82.5M (previously with Pittsbugh Steelers)
Dupree is a curious case. On the one hand he’s an excellent defender who make the Titans better, but I’m not sure he’s the kind of player who really changes the team’s fortune. It’s a little puzzling to me right now, but could make more sense as time goes on.
Grade: B-

Janoris Jenkins, CB — (previously with New Orleans Saints)

Kevin Johnson, WR — 1 year (previously with Cleveland Browns)

Kendall Lamm, DE — 2 years, $6.8M (previously with Cleveland Browns)

Josh Reynolds, WR — (previously with Los Angeles Rams)

Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB — 1 year, $10M (previously with Dallas Cowboys)

William Jackson, CB — 3 years, $40.5M (previously with Cincinnati Bengals)
The bulk of Washington’s free agency money went to landing a prized cornerback, but I have questions. The issue wasn’t WFT’s defense last year, it was offense — and I think it would have been far more beneficial to beef up that side of the ball. That said, overwhelming with defense is a viable strategy, assuming the team can do just enough on offense to make it all work.
Grade: B+

Tyler Larsen, C — 1 year, $1.04M (previously with Carolina Panthers)

David Mayo, LB — 1 year (previously with New York Giants)

Lamar Miller, RB — 1 year (previously with New England Patriots)

Curtis Samuel, WR — 3 years, $34.5M (previously with Carolina Panthers)
One of my favorite pickups this offseason. The move reunites Samuel with Ron Rivera, who reportedly wanted to trade for the receiver last season, and now gets him without giving up a pick. A deep threat, do-everything weapon, Samuel is on the verge of breaking out for a 1,000 yard season
Grade: A+

David Sharpe, OT — 1 year (previously with Las Vegas Raiders)