The 2023 NFL free agency period is bringing a ton of rumors and news that will affect every team across the league. Some of the biggest stars we know could change teams via trade or free agency. That includes Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Arizona Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins, and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.
We’re covering the latest NFL free agency rumors and news throughout the next few weeks. Bookmark this page, as we’ll be adding everything you need to know as news and rumors unfold as the legal tampering period ends and the new league year officially begins.
Latest NFL Free Agency Rumors and News
Aaron Rodgers Decides To Play For The Jets
As we called it earlier, Rodgers announced his intention to play for the New York Jets on The Pat McAfee Show. All that is left is for the Packers and Jets to work out the trade compensation to make the deal happen. He said he was asked about which players he’d be interested in playing with but never gave a list of who he needed in order to go there.
Buccaneers Land Baker Mayfield
Instead of banking on third-year quarterback Kyle Trask to become a viable starter, which he wouldn’t be, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers added former No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield. Mayfield cost the Buccaneers only $4 million in base salary and up to $8.5 million with incentives. Turning 28 this offseason, Mayfield is likely getting his last chance to prove he’s a starter in the NFL after flaming out with the Browns and Panthers.
Eagles Release Darius Slay
One day after allowing star cornerback Darius Slay to seek a trade, the Eagles are instead releasing the 32-year-old with a June 1 designation. Philadelphia re-signed James Bradberry, but Slay’s massive cap hit was clearly a factor here. They did not want to extend his contract as his game ages.
The Eagles will save $17.5 million in cap space this year with this designation as opposed to being on the hook for his $26 million cap hit all at once.
Bills Re-Sign Jordan Poyer
The Bills have been a hot topic lately as they’ve done very little in free agency. Losing linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to Chicago is a blow considering he’s still in his prime years. Instead of looking to get younger, the Bills opted to re-sign safety Jordan Poyer.
Poyer has been excellent since signing with Buffalo in 2017. He’s a versatile playmaker who has nine interceptions over the last two years. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Poyer will be staying in Buffalo on a two-year deal, taking him through his age-34 season.
Aaron Rodgers Watch Could Be Ending
For as talented as Rodgers is, part of the headache that comes with doing business with him is he likes media attention. We’re still waiting to find out where he wants to play in 2023, or if he wants to play at all. It seems to be coming to a head on Wednesday as he’ll be joining The Pat McAfee Show at 1 p.m. ET.
McAfee’s teaser photo and announcement are fantastic publicity for his program. With the Jets already signing former Packers receiver Allen Lazard and being linked to other teammates Marcedes Lewis and Randall Cobb, it seems like a formality Rodgers will choose the Jets. If he doesn’t, he’ll go down as a massive villain for stringing along the franchise.
Lamar Jackson Becomes Eligible To Negotiate Today
Jackson stirred the pot on Tuesday when he tweeted a reaction to a report from September by ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the Ravens had offered him $200 million guaranteed. He responded to the side-eyeing reaction by saying, “133/3 years fully guaranteed,” as if to say he’s negotiated well for himself, considering he doesn’t have an agent.
It’s debatable if Jackson should bet on himself in free agency or if he should take the $44.3 million guaranteed per season, but we’ll find out soon enough what will happen. Because Jackson doesn’t have an agent and he represents himself, he hasn’t been able to establish contact with teams until the official start of the league year.
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We’ve already seen a handful of teams bow out of the sweepstakes, likely being deterred by the fact Baltimore can hold their offer for five days and tie up cap space, just to match their offer and retain Jackson in the end.
Otherwise, it’s a preposterous idea that Atlanta, Carolina, Houston, Miami, and Las Vegas wouldn’t have been interested in trading only two first-round picks for the star. But the limitations of the non-exclusive franchise tag are somewhat punishing to the player. Jackson has to be hoping that Tennessee or Detroit gets involved, or else the Ravens will hold massive leverage in negotiations.
DeAndre Hopkins Hears the Trade Rumors
The Cardinals are in a tough spot. They have a terrible roster that needs to be overhauled with more talent in the trenches, but a quarterback in Kyler Murray who is on a massive contract. Trying to balance winning when Murray returns from a torn ACL and building a deeper roster will be difficult.
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The best asset the Cardinals can trade this offseason is Hopkins. The star receiver will be 31 this year and has a massive $30 million cap hit in 2023. He told the Pat McAfee Show that he’s “been hearing a lot of trade talks,” but all he can do is keep his head down and work.
The Cardinals are looking for a second-round pick and a player or another pick, per Mike Jurecki of the Arizona Football Daily Podcast. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Hopkins is flexible when it comes to the last two years of his deal, which likely means he’d extend his contract to help lower his cap hits.