The slow cook that is NFL free agency continued to bubble softly on Thursday. Two of the 12 best remaining free agents found a new team, a top pass rusher unexpectedly returned to the open market, and the quarterback waiting game continued to drag on.
Latest NFL free agency news
The Cleveland Browns began the day planning on having either Baker Mayfield or Deshaun Watson as their starting quarterback in 2022. When the day ended, they faced the very real possibility of having neither.
Watson informed the Browns Thursday that he would not waive the no-trade clause of his contract to go there. But by then, the damage had been done. Mayfield had already said goodbye to Browns fans and informed the team that drafted him No. 1 overall he wanted a trade.
“No dice,” they responded, but that is probably just a negotiating ploy. It’s hard to envision the two sides coexisting for much longer. In fact, PFN Insider Aaron Wilson reported late in the day that the Browns would be open to trading Mayfield if they found a replacement.
Meanwhile, Watson spent the day deciding between the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and New Orleans Saints. But even when he picks a team, the Texans still have to be OK with the trade terms before he’s freed from Houston.
Other big stories of the day
The Packers traded star wide receiver Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders for a first- and second-round draft pick in 2022, adding to the insane talent infusion into the AFC West.
Wide receiver Allen Robinson agreed to a three-year, $45 million contract to join Matthew Stafford and the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams.
Cornerback Casey Hayward Jr. left the Las Vegas Raiders for the Atlanta Falcons, agreeing to a two-year, $11 million contract.
And edge defender Za’Darius Smith backed out of a contract agreement with the Baltimore Ravens and opened his recruitment up again. Smith’s decision had an impact on the list of top remaining free agents.
Top remaining NFL free agents after Day 4 of free agency
- Tyrann Mathieu, S, Kansas City Chiefs
- Terron Armstead, LT, New Orleans Saints
- Jadeveon Clowney, EDGE, Cleveland Browns
- Bobby Wagner, LB, Seattle Seahawks
- Za’Darius Smith, EDGE, Green Bay Packers
- Stephon Gilmore, CB, Carolina Panthers
- Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Los Angeles Rams
- Duane Brown, OT, Seattle Seahawks
- Rob Gronkowski, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Justin Houston, EDGE, Baltimore Ravens
- Jerry Hughes, EDGE, Buffalo Bills
- Akiem Hicks, DL, Chicago Bears
- Jameis Winston, QB, New Orleans Saints
