2021 NFL Free Agency legal tampering period news & discussion thread

The Green Bay Packers have probably already made their big free agent splash for 2021. The re-signing of Aaron Jones likely represents the team’s biggest move for this offseason, but there are still some potential acquisitions to be made around the margins of the roster.

Around the rest of the NFL, however, that is a very different story. While the Packers are working hard to get and stay under the salary cap, many other teams have substantial money to spend this offseason. The Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, and New York Jets each have more than $68 million in cap space, while 15 different teams have $20 million or more to work with apiece.

Thus, there should still be money flowing starting at Noon Eastern on Monday, when the NFL’s negotiation period — also known as the legal tampering period — kicks off. Teams can begin talking to agents of unrestricted free agents now, and although no contracts may be formally signed before 4:00 PM on Wednesday, plenty of deals will be agreed to in principle in the next 52 hours.

We will keep a running list of particularly notable contract reports below, but keep the free agency discussion flowing in the comments throughout the next few days.

Big Free Agency News from Tuesday, March 16

• Patriots will sign TE Hunter Henry (Chargers) to 3-year, $37.5M deal
• Raiders will sign EDGE Yannick Ngakoue to 2-year, $26M deal
• Jaguars will sign CB Shaquill Griffin (Seahawks) to 3-year deal
• 49ers re-sign OT Trent Williams to 6-year, $138M deal
• Bears will sign QB Andy Dalton to 1-year, $10M deal

Big Free Agency News from Monday, March 15

• Buccaneers will re-sign EDGE Shaq Barrett to 4-year, $72M deal
• Lions will re-sign EDGE Romeo Okwara to 3-year, $39M deal
• Patriots to sign TE Jonnu Smith (formerly of Titans) to 4-year, $50M deal with $31M guaranteed
• Texans will sign LB Kamu Grugier Hill (Dolphins) to a 1-year, $3.25M deal
• Patriots to sign EDGE Matt Judon (Ravens) to 4-year, $56M deal
• Patriots to sign CB Jalen Mills (Eagles) to 4-year, $24M deal
• Jaguars to sign DL Roy Robertson-Harris (Bears) to 3-year, $24.4M deal
• Jaguars to sign WR/KR Jamal Agnew (Lions) to 3-year deal with $21M max
• Jets to sign LB Jarrad Davis (Lions) to 1-year, $7M deal
• Chiefs to sign G Joe Thuney (Patriots) to 5-year, $80M deal
• Browns to sign S John Johnson (Rams) to 3-year, $33.75M deal
• Titans to sign EDGE Bud Dupree (Steelers) to 5-year, $85 million deal
• Titans to sign DL Denico Autry (Colts) to 3-year, $21.5 million deal
• Jets to sign EDGE Carl Lawson (Bengals) to 3-year, $45M deal
• Jets to sign WR Corey Davis (Titans) to 3-year, $37.5M deal
• Bengals to sign EDGE Trey Hendrickson (Saints) to 4-year, $60M deal
• Saints re-sign QB Jameis Winston to 1-year, $12M deal
• Vikings sign DL Dalvin Tomlinson (Giants) to 2-year, $22M deal
• Washington signs QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (Dolphins) to 1-year, $10M deal

Packers Free Agency News

• Green Bay reportedly among teams interested in former Vikings C/G Brett Jones
• Packers place tenders on all four ERFAs: OT Yosh Nijman, WR Malik Taylor, EDGE Randy Ramsey, & WR Allen Lazard
• Corey Linsley will sign 5-year, $62.5M contract with Chargers
• Packers use second-round RFA tender on TE Robert Tonyan
• Packers issue low RFA tender to CB Chandon Sullivan
• Lions will sign RB Jamaal Williams to 2-year deal worth up to $7.5M
• Packers reportedly interested in former Patriots C David Andrews
• Packers restructured Za’Darius Smith’s contract, freeing up as much as $7.375M in cap space for 2021