Jaguars To Sign Roy Robertson-Harris
The Jaguars have agreed to a three-year, $24.4MM deal with Roy Robertson-Harris (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). The defensive tackle will receive $14MM in guarantees as a part of the deal. 
Robertson-Harris started six of the Bears’ eight games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. His specialty is run-stuffing, so he played on roughly 50% of Chicago’s snaps. He’s also shown glimpses as a pass-rusher too, notching 2.5 sacks in 2019 and three the year prior. An UDFA from UTEP back in 2016, he’s already carved out a nice career for himself, despite injuries. He also missed his entire rookie season, spending it on the the NFI list.
The Bears kept Robertson-Harris with a second-round tender last year, but they couldn’t keep him for anything close to that one-year, $3.2MM deal. Instead, he’ll join up with Urban Meyer & Co., potentially with safety John Johnson.
Texans To Sign Kamu Grugier-Hill
The Texans haven’t made any big splashes, so far opting for some cheaper but still quality options. Shortly after agreeing to terms with return specialist Andre Roberts, Houston has set their sights on a linebacker.
The Texans have agreed to terms with Kamu Grugier-Hill on a one-year deal worth “up to” $3.25MM, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network tweets. It’s a nice low-risk signing for a rebuilding Texans defense as Grugier-Hill is still only 26 and has excelled in coverage recently.
Grugier-Hill was used as a passing downs specialist by the Dolphins, and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets that he was looking for a more consistent role. He should be able to find that on a Texans team that needed linebacking help.
A sixth-round pick of the Patriots in 2016, Grugier-Hill didn’t make New England’s roster as a rookie and was scooped up by the Eagles. He started 10 games for Philly in 2018 and six the following year before signing a one-year deal with Miami for 2020. He played about 20 percent of the defensive snaps for the Dolphins last year.
Patriots To Sign Jalen Mills
The Patriots just won’t stop. After signing Jonnu Smith, Davon Godchaux, and Matt Judon to big deals already, New England is adding another high profile player.
The Pats are signing defensive back Jalen Mills, agent Drew Rosenhaus tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Interestingly, Rosenhaus also represents both Smith and Godchaux, so clearly he and Bill Belichick have a good relationship. It’s a four-year deal for Mills, worth $24MM with $9MM of that guaranteed. The Patriots have been the most active team so far, and it isn’t even close.
New England entered free agency with a lot of cap space, and they weren’t about to let it go to waste. A seventh-round pick of the Eagles in 2016, Mills quickly established himself as a starter and was a huge part of the team that beat the Patriots in Super Bowl LII as he started 15 games that year.
Known for his versatility, Mills has extensive experience at both cornerback and safety. Foot injuries limited him to only eight and nine games in 2018 and 2019, but he again started 15 in 2020. This past year he finished with 74 tackles, 1.5 sacks, three passes defended, and an interception.
49ers Re-Sign Jason Verrett
The 49ers are locking up another one of their high profile free agents. San Francisco has agreed to terms to re-sign cornerback Jason Verrett, Josina Anderson of ESPN.com tweets.
It’s a one-year deal with a base value of $5.5MM that has “significant upside” for more, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets. Rapoport later tweeted that it’ll be $6.5MM if he makes the Pro Bowl, and also noted that he turned down a multi-year offer from another team in order to bet on himself again. Given Verrett’s lengthy injury history, it makes sense that San Francisco was looking to do a one-year deal.
Verrett was one of the best stories in the NFL last season, as he was finally able to stay healthy after a brutal run of bad injury luck the previous handful of years. A first-round pick of the Chargers back in 2014, Verrett initially looked like a star in the making and made the Pro Bowl in 2015. Then a torn ACL limited him to four games in 2016. Then another knee injury limited him to only one game in 2017.
A torn Achilles sidelined him for the entire 2018 season, and because of an ankle injury he only played in one game with the 49ers in 2019. Despite only appearing in six games across four seasons from 2016-19, the 49ers brought him back last year and it paid off.
Verrett started 13 games last season, racking up seven passes defended and two interceptions. He played very well, and should be back as a starter in 2021. He’ll be especially important for Kyle Shanahan’s defense with Richard Sherman set to depart in free agency.
Patriots To Sign Matt Judon
UPDATE, 2:00pm: It’s official now, Judon is going to be a Patriot. The deal has been finalized, Rapoport tweets. It’s a four-year, $56MM pact with $32MM guaranteed in the first two years, a source told Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link).
1:36pm: The Patriots’ free agent spending spree might only be getting started. New England has already agreed to terms on big deals with tight end Jonnu Smith and defensive tackle Davon Godchaux on Monday, and they have a new big name player firmly in their sights.
The Patriots are making a “major push” to sign Ravens pass-rusher Matt Judon, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets. The Pats feel they are “close” to signing Judon, a source told Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Everything we’ve heard recently this offseason has indicated Baltimore would likely be letting Judon walk. The Ravens franchise tagged him last cycle, but it would’ve been prohibitively expensive to do so a second time and they never worked out a long-term deal.
A fifth-round pick out of Grand Valley State in 2016, Judon broke out in 2017 and has kept improving. He’s been a Pro Bowler in each of the past two seasons, with six sacks in 14 games in 2020 and 9.5 sacks the year before.
With Godchaux and now potentially Judon in the fold, the Patriots’ defensive front will be a lot more imposing in 2021. The Pats had only 24 sacks as a team in 2020, the sixth-fewest in the league.
Texans To Sign KR/PR Andre Roberts
We’ve seen some offensive and defensive players get some nice money so far on this first day of free agency, why not a special teamer? Return specialist Andre Roberts will be signing with the Texans, Adam Caplan of Sirius XM NFL Radio tweets.
It’s a two-year deal worth just a hair under $6MM, with $3MM of that being guaranteed, Dianna Russini of ESPN.com tweets. Not too shabby for a “receiver” who hasn’t really played on offense in years. A third-round pick of the Cardinals all the way back in 2010, Roberts had some initial success as a pass-catcher in the desert but quickly carved out a career as a returner.
He’s made three straight Pro Bowls for his special teams prowess, and was a second-team All-Pro for the Bills this past year. In 2020 for Buffalo he returned 32 kicks for 961 yards, good for an impressive 30.0 yard average which led the NFL. In 2018 he led the league in punt return average for the Jets, averaging 14.1 yards on 23 returns.
He turned 33 in January, but didn’t show any signs of slowing down this past season.
Panthers To Sign OL Cameron Erving
We’ve heard a lot this offseason about the Panthers’ bold plans to upgrade at quarterback, but so far in free agency they’ve been focused on the offensive line. They already signed Pat Elflein not even an hour ago, and now they’ve added another guy up front.
Carolina has agreed to sign Cameron Erving to a two-year deal worth $10MM with $8MM of that being guaranteed, a source told beat writer Joe Person (Twitter link). Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com was first to tweet the two sides were close. Person thinks Erving will compete for the starting job at left tackle, but as he notes he’s flexible and can play along the interior as well.
The immediate reaction from Cowboys writers was that Dallas was never going to pay nearly that much. Erving started five games at tackle for the Cowboys last year due to injuries, but with Tyron Smith and La’el Collins returning, wasn’t really needed. Erving was drafted 19th overall by the Browns in 2015, and immediately flamed out in Cleveland.
Traded for a late-round pick to the Chiefs after just two years and labeled a bust, he rehabilitated his reputation a bit in Kansas City and started 25 games across his three years there. Erving hasn’t exactly always been lights out, but he has extensive NFL experience at guard, center, and tackle, which will always have value.
Patriots To Sign DT Davon Godchaux
The Patriots stormed out of the gates by signing Jonnu Smith to a massive deal, and they didn’t stop there. Bill Belichick continue his aggressive start to free agency by agreeing to terms with defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, his agent Drew Rosenhaus told Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Rosenhaus also reps Smith, for what it’s worth. Godchaux didn’t get quite as much money to sign, but he’s still getting a sizable two-year, $16MM deal that has $9MM in guaranteed money. It’s a great payday for a player drafted 178th overall by the Dolphins back in 2017. He spent each of his first four seasons in Miami, and quickly blossomed into a full-time starter in his sophomore season.
Interior defensive line, like tight end, was a weakness for the Patriots last season. Godchaux only played in five games last year due to biceps surgery, but it was the first major injury of his career and he had played in at least 15 games in each of the three prior seasons.
In his last full campaign in 2019, Godchaux had 75 tackles, four for a loss, two sacks, and one pass defended. He should immediately upgrade the run defense in New England.
Cardinals Re-Sign Markus Golden
The Cardinals have re-upped Markus Golden. The edge rusher will return on a two-year, $9MM deal, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
Golden started out with the Cardinals as a second-round pick before moving on to the Giants in 2019. His first Cardinals run was fairly productive and included a 12.5-sack season in 2016. Then, he was hampered by injuries. In his first year with the Giants , he managed 72 tackles and ten sacks, but teams saw that as a fluke — he generated just 26 pressures, so evaluators didn’t think he’d keep it up. Midway through the year, the Cardinals brought him back via trade.
He didn’t go for double-digit sacks in 2020, but he did manage 4.5 between both stops. For his career, Golden has 33.5 total sacks across 78 games.
With Golden back in Arizona, Haason Reddick is probably packing his bags. Meanwhile, the Cardinals project to have a front seven featuring Golden, J.J. Watt, Chandler Jones, and Jordan Phillips.
Patriots Sign TE Jonnu Smith
One of the top tight ends on the market is off the board. The Patriots have agreed to terms on a deal with free agent Jonnu Smith, his agent Drew Rosenhaus told Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
It’s a big one, as Smith is getting a whopping $50MM over four years with $31.25MM guaranteed. What a way for New England to kick off free agency, and it’s one of the biggest investments Bill Belichick has made in a skill position player in years. Tight end was a clear need for the Pats this offseason, as the team got virtually nothing from the position in 2020. Ryan Izzo led the team’s tight ends with 13 catches for 199 yards and no touchdowns. They haven’t really gotten anything out of it since Rob Gronkowski walked away.
A third-round pick of the Titans in 2017, Smith never truly broke out but flashed a lot of potential during his four years in Tennessee. Stuck behind Delanie Walker for his first couple pro seasons, Smith had his best year yet in 2020.
In 15 games and 14 starts, he had 41 catches for 448 yards and an impressive eight touchdowns. He’ll now be catching passes from Cam Newton, or whoever else Belichick brings in under center. If your team is still looking for a tight end don’t worry, solid options like Hunter Henry, Kyle Rudolph, and Jared Cook are still all on the market.
As Doug Kyed of NESN.com was quick to tweet, Belichick lavished Smith in praise a little over a year ago, calling him the best tight end in the league after the catch.