Skip to main content

NFL rumors: Latest news on teams and players before free agency

Check out the latest news and rumors around the NFL before free agency begins on Wednesday.
  • Author:
  • Publish date:

NFL free agency officially begins at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, but there is plenty of news to catch up on before players are allowed to start signing contracts.

The Philadelphia Eagles have already made a splash with a pair of trades and Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler is drawing interest in the wake of Peyton Manning's retirement. But what about the rest of the league? Keep up with the latest buzz on which players could be headed where.

Check out the latest rumors and news from around the league below.

• NFL roster cut tracker | NFL signings tracker|Top 100 free agents

Tuesday, March 8

6:30 p.m. ET

The Cardinals are interested in linebacker Bruce Irwin, reports AZCentral Sports’s Kent Somers. Irvin had 5.5 sacks for the Seahawks last season.

4:35 p.m. ET

• NFL.com's Ian Rapoport expects the Dolphins to finalize their deal with Mario Williams some time today. The deal is expected to be worth about $8 million per year.

3:15 p.m. ET

• Left tackle Donald Penn has not ruled out a return to the Oakland Raiders after the Kelechi Osmele signing, according to Jerry McDonald of the Oakland Tribune/Bay Area Newspaper Group.

2:55 p.m. ET

• The New Orleans Saints are under the impression that tight end Ben Watson will head to the Baltimore Ravens, according to Rapoport.

2:30 p.m. ET

• The Chicago Bears are showing strong interest in Broncos free agent linebacker Danny Trevathan and are the “clear favorite” to land him, reports Troy Renck of the Denver Post.

• Renck also reports that Denver Broncos free agent defensive end Malik Jackson is close to signing a six-year, $90 million offer from the Jaguars.

• After re-signing guard Richie Incognito, the Buffalo Bills will not re-sign guard Jahri Evans, according to Peter Schrager of Fox Sports.

• The Eagles could still retain quarterback Chase Daniel after re-signing Sam Bradford, reports Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports.

• Four teams have expressed interest in New York Jets linebacker Demario Davis, reports Seth Walder of the New York Daily News. Defensive tackle Damon Harrison has also attracted interest.

The Green Bay Packers are interested in tight end Martellus Bennett but would need a trade to acquire him at the moment, according to Luke Rodgers of 247sports.

1:55 p.m. ET

• The Houston Texans look to lock up running back Lamar Miller on a contract extension before the league year begins on Wednesday. Negotiations are underway, according to Rapoport.

1:30 p.m. ET

• The Packers are interested in running back Matt Forte, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. He was released by the Chicago Bears after eight seasons with the team, where he rushed for 8,602 yards, gained 4,116 yards as a receiver and scored 64 total touchdowns.

• The New York Giants are expected to keep Jason Pierre-Paul on a one-year deal, according to Rapoport. The defensive end reportedly turned down offers from other teams to remain with New York.

• The Saints are looking into tight end Ben Watson, according to ESPN's Dianna Marie Russini.

1:15 p.m. ET

• The Kansas City Chiefs and linebacker Tamba Hali have reached an agreement on a three-year deal, according to Schefter. He has played for Kansas City since 2006. 

1 p.m. ET

• Broncos defensive end Malik Jackson is finalizing a lucrative long-term contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, reports Mike Kilis of KUSA. Jackson was a key member of Denver’s Super Bowl-winning defense. He is expected to sign on Wednesday.

• The Cincinnati Bengals are prioritizing re-signing safety George Iloka and receiver Marvin Jones, reports NFL Network’s Albert Breer. The team has reportedly budgeted around $15 million to add unrestricted free agents.

• Free agent cornerback Leodis McKelvin is visiting with the Eagles, reports Rapoport. He will also reportedly visit the Dallas Cowboys.

12:30 p.m. ET

•​ The Oakland Raiders are working to re-sign receiver Andre Holmes, but he is likely to have interest from other teams, reports Mike Garofalo of Fox Sports.

11:30 p.m. ET

• The Saints have agreed to a three-year contract with tight end Michael Hoomanawanui, reports Alex Marvez of FOX Sports.

11:10 a.m. ET

• The Oakland Raiders are not finished after their latest signings. NFL Network's Rand Getlin reports the team is entering the sweepstakes for running back Doug Martin. 

10:40 a.m. ET

• The Denver Broncos and the Houston Texans are shaping up as the favorites to land Osweiler, according to Schefter.

10:30 a.m. ET

• The Miami Dolphins could reach a deal with defensive lineman Mario Williams on Tuesday, according to ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio. Williams previously had two years remaining on a six-year, $96 million deal he signed with the Bills in 2012.

•  The Raiders reached an agreement with guard Kelechi Osemele, which is estimated to be worth more than $11 million per year, according toRapoport. 

10 a.m. ET

• The Tampa Bay Buccaneers confirmed defensive end Charles Johnson visited the team. 

6 a.m. ET

• The market for running backs Doug Martin, Chris Ivory and Lamar Miller is heating up, reports Rapoport. The Texans and other teams have reportedly expressed strong interest in those players, according to Rapoport, with at least six teams courting Martin. The Buccaneers would like to re-sign Martin, but the Dolphins are not expected to bring back Miller, reports Omar Kelly of the Sun-Sentinel. Seven teams have talked to Ivory, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chroniclereports.

5:55 a.m. ET

• The Dolphins have restructured tight end Jordan Cameron’s contract, reports Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald.

• The Dolphins are expected to release cornerback Brent Grimes after acquiring cornerback Byron Maxwell and linebacker Kiko Alonso in a trade with the Eaglesreports Kelly.

Monday, March 7

• Running back Lamar Miller will not return to the Dolphins next season, according to Kelly.

• Five teams have expressed interest in free agent safety George Iloka, who has spent all of his four-year career with the Bengals. The interested teams include the Bengals, Falcons, Lions, Giants and Vikings, reports Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

• After six seasons with the Bengals, cornerback and kick returner Adam Jones is a free agent. Fox Sports’ Mike Garafolo lists the Dolphins, Vikings and Cowboys as possible landing spots. Pro Football Talk reports that the Ravens and Jets are also interested. Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reports that the Browns are another potential suitor.

• The Browns are interested in Bengals receiver Marvin Jones, Cabot reports.

• The Kansas City Chiefs are interested in former Raiders receiver Rod Streater, reports Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star.

• Chiefs defensive end Mike DeVito told Paylor he wants to continue play and would like to return to Kansas City. The Chiefs are reportedly interested in brining him back, but the 31-year-old will test free agency first. Chiefs cornerback Sean Smith is also drawing interest as a free agent, Paylor reports.

• The Seahawks have signed defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin to a three-year, $12 million contract extension, reports Rapoport.

• Defensive tackle Nick Fairley, who played last season on a one-year deal with the Rams, is drawing interest from the Jets, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily Newsreports.

• Pro Bowl center Alex Mack is being pursued by the Falcons and, to a lesser degree, the Jaguars, Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole reports.

• Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports that the Raiders have been unable to work out a deal with left tackle Donald Penn and could pursue Ravens tackle Osemele as a replacement. The Raiders are the “favorites” to land Osemele, Garafolo reports, and would pay him over $10 million annually. 

• Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, whether Brandon Marshall likes it or not, could be an option for the Rams, Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

• The Cardinals are “shopping” defensive end Calais Campbell, Kelly reports.

• Bears linebacker Shea McClellin and Buccaneers safety Chris Conte are both drawing interest from several teams, Getlinreports.

• The Texans want to re-sign cornerback A.J. Bouye, Wilson reports.