Steelers To Sign Mitch Trubisky
As expected, the Steelers have dipped into the free agent pool to address the quarterback position. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the team has reached an agreement with Mitch Trubisky on a two-year deal (Twitter link). 
Trubisky’s contract comes in at $14.25MM base value, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets, but substantial incentive money is available. Unspecified incentives can take the deal up to $27MM. This could be contingent on Trubisky sticking as Pittsburgh’s starter.
The former second overall pick spent last season with the Bills, serving as Josh Allen‘s backup. That came after a four-year stint in Chicago, which included a Pro Bowl campaign in 2018. His 11-3 record that season didn’t end up as the taking-off point for a successful career as the Bears’ franchise QB, however. Struggling to find success despite the team’s strong defense and running game, he found himself holding a clipboard in Buffalo while Chicago invested a first round pick in Justin Fields last April.
Given the relationship that developed between the 27-year-old and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, many expected the Giants to be his destination with the latter being hired as the new head coach. “He’s a great leader of men. He’s just real and authentic with all the guys, and I think that is why so many people respected him in our building. So I’m excited to see what he’s going to do”, Trubisky recently said of Daboll.
With that said, the Steelers were also reported to be targeting the former Tar Heel last month. Trubisky was one of three signal-callers Pittsburgh was eyeing, the others being Teddy Bridgewater and Jameis Winston. Despite the hole at the position, it became known rather quickly that the Steelers were not going to acquire Deshaun Watson, who remains by far the biggest name remaining in the QB market.
Trubisky will now compete with Mason Rudolph and Dwayne Haskins for the starting role in Pittsburgh. Head coach Mike Tomlin has stressed the need for mobility in the team’s next QB, which could give him a leg up on the competition. This news also further points to Daniel Jones being the undisputed No. 1 in New York, something which, of course, wouldn’t have been as assured had Trubisky signed with the Giants as many had figured he would.
Meanwhile, another team can be scratched off the list of those interested in trading for Jimmy Garoppolo. The Colts have been named as a potential landing spot for the veteran, along with, presumably, each team which loses out on acquiring Watson.
Panthers Release A.J. Bouye
The Panthers have released cornerback A.J. Bouye, per an official club announcement. This comes on the heels of defensive lineman Morgan Fox‘s release, which has also been confirmed by the team.
Bouye had a couple of really solid years with the Texans, grading out as one of the league’s best CBs. He parlayed into a five-year, $67.5MM deal from the Jaguars in 2017 and things went well initially. In his first Jags season, he was a second-team All-Pro with six interceptions. Then, his play slipped year by year — he had just one interception in each of the next two seasons, enabling the Broncos to acquire him in 2020 for nothing more than a fourth-round pick.
Once the Broncos cut in February 2021, the Panthers picked him up for cheap. Now, he’s out of the picture in Carolina as the Panthers look to remodel their defense. The 30-year-old (31 in August) could still be a worthwhile veteran pickup for a team in need, though the ceiling is much lower than it was just a few years ago. The Panthers, meanwhile, will save a good chunk of change as they cancel the rest of his two-year, $7MM pact.
Due to injuries, Bouye was limited to just ten games and seven starts last year. He finished his lone Panthers season with 28 tackles, three passes defensed, and one forced fumble.
Cardinals, James Conner Reach Agreement On Extension
With Chase Edmonds headed to Miami, the Cardinals faced an increased need to retain James Conner. They have done just that, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The sides have reportedly come to an agreement on aa three-year deal worth $21MM, including $16MM over the first two seasons (Twitter link). 
[RELATED: Dolphins To Sign Chase Edmonds]
Conner formed an impressive duo with Edmonds in Arizona, where he landed the chance to be a No. 1 back after leaving Pittsburgh. The former third rounder earned a second Pro Bowl appearance in his debut campaign in the desert, recording 1,127 scrimmage yards and 18 total touchdowns.
That production gave the Cardinals reason to keep both Conner and Edmonds if it was possible. Conner was always the more likely to be the team’s priority, though, and they have secured him throughout the remainder of his prime. Eno Benjamin – who is a more natural replacement for Edmonds, based on his skillset – is now in line to become the backup tailback.
The $7MM-per-year average is quite a raise compared to the $1.75MM he played for in 2021. Before the deal was announced, Arizona had roughly 11MM in cap space; while they can therefore afford this new contract, it eats up a portion of the space available for keeping Chandler Jones. Nevertheless, the team’s RB situation has been resolved before the new league year officially begins on Wednesday.
Browns Release Jarvis Landry
The Browns have released Jarvis Landry (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The wide receiver had been given permission to seek a trade, but that did not result in a suitable offer for Cleveland. 
[RELATED: Browns Trade For Cowboys’ Cooper]
The Browns have already remodeled their wide receiver group by trading for Amari Cooper. By cutting Landry, they’ll gain the cap room they needed to get under the limit and escape Landry’s $14.3MM base salary for 2022. Previously, the Pro Bowler had just one year left on that contract.
The Browns were reportedly willing to keep Landry at a lower rate and there was some mutual interest on that front. However, after the arrival of Cooper, there was no real avenue to Landry staying put.
Landry, 30 in November, agreed to a five-year, $75.5MM extension with the Browns after they traded for him in 2018. He delivered two Pro Bowl seasons in Cleveland and served as Baker Mayfield‘s most consistent target. Things have been up-and-down during that span, but the Browns got a much better return on the Landry trade than the Odell Beckham Jr. deal.
Landry, a five-time Pro Bowler, should have no shortage of suitors on the open market. However, he’ll have to settle for a cheaper contract than his last one. Landry averaged just 47.5 receiving yards per game last season and missed five weeks of action.
The Bills, Chiefs, and Packers are expected to be among the clubs with interest, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo (Twitter link).
Dolphins To Sign Chase Edmonds
Minutes after it was announced they were keeping their top pass rusher, the Dolphins also added to their rushing attack. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the team has reached an agreement on a two-year, $12.6MM deal with Chase Edmonds (Twitter link). The contract includes $6.1MM in guaranteed money. 
[RELATED: Dolphins Re-Sign Emmanuel Ogbah]
Edmonds, who will be 26 at the start of the 2022 season, was part of a highly effective tandem in Arizona. Paired with James Conner, he posted 592 rushing yards at a clip of 5.1 per carry, scoring two touchdowns. He also added 311 receiving yards, making 2021 a career year.
The effectiveness of the Conner-Edmonds duo led the Cardinals to express their desire to keep both in the fold. However, the former fourth rounder will now be suiting up for a different team for the first time in his NFL career.
Edmonds will represent a significant upgrade over the incumbent RBs in Miami. Myles Gaskin averaged an underwhelming 3.5 yards per carry in 2021, which cost him his spot as the No.1 back and forced the team to add Duke Johnson midseason. The latter performed much better, posting 330 yards on the ground in five games with the Dolphins. Still, Edmonds will add an efficient piece to Miami’s ground game, which ranked 30th in the league at just over 92 yards per game last year.
Meanwhile for the Cardinals, it has been announced the team has re-signed Conner to a three-year deal. He was always the more likely to be retained, as Eno Benjamin represents a more natural replacement for Edmonds.
Bengals To Sign Alex Cappa
The Bengals have agreed to sign Alex Cappa (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). The former Buccaneers guard scores a four-year deal, helping to solidify Cincinnati’s offensive line.
Cappa’s contract maxes out at $40MM, but Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets it is actually a four-year, $35MM pact. The ex-Bucs blocker will collect $20MM over the deal’s first two years, with $1MM in Pro Bowl incentives being the escalators that would drive the pact toward its max value.
The Bengals have long been searching for solutions on their front five. Now, they’ve got a proven veteran that can stop the interior rush and open up rushing lanes. They’ll likely continue to target offensive line help over the next few weeks, however, taking extra steps to protect quarterback Joe Burrow.
Some had speculated that Tom Brady‘s un-retirement would help sway Cappa to stay. That wasn’t the case, and it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to tug at the heartstrings of fellow lineman Ali Marpet. Between Cappa and Marpet — who still intends to retire at the age of 28 — the Bucs have some serious holes to fill in free agency. On the plus side, they have successfully retained center Ryan Jensen with a three-year, $39MM deal.
A third-round pick in 2018, Cappa did not miss a regular-season game during Brady’s two Tampa seasons, but he did miss Super Bowl LV after suffering a fractured ankle. Cappa rebounded to play all 19 Bucs games last season. For his career, Cappa has suited up for 52 games (46 starts) across the last four years.
Dolphins To Re-Sign Emmanuel Ogbah
The top pending free agent for the Dolphins will be staying in Miami. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the pass rusher is signing a four-year, $65.4MM deal (Twitter link). The deal includes $32.7MM in guarantees, Pelissero adds (via Twitter).
What the team would do with Ogbah, 28, was one of the biggest remaining questions for the Dolphins. As expected, they placed the franchise tag on tight end Mike Gesicki rather than Ogbah – something which was far less expensive.
That led many to believe the former second rounder would test the open market, where he would have landed a similarly lucrative deal. Instead, the Dolphins have secured their top pass rusher for less than what the franchise tag would have cost ($16.25MM annual average as opposed to $17.859MM on the tag).
Ogbah has proven his worth during his time with the Dolphins. With nine sacks in each of the previous two campaigns, he established himself as the team’s top pass rusher and an integral part of the defensive unit as a whole. It also earned him a significant raise from the $15MM he made in total after signing in Miami.
While this deal will eat up a significant portion of the Dolphins’ cap space, the team will still comfortably be under the limit. That flexibility will give them the option to make at least one significant signing when free agency opens later this week, as many expect them to.
Panthers To Cut Morgan Fox
The Panthers are set to release defensive lineman Morgan Fox (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Fox was previously set to play on the backend of his two-year, $8.1MM deal.
Fox, 27, joined the Rams as a UDFA in 2016. His entire 2018 campaign was wiped out by an ACL tear, but in 2017, 2019, and 2020, he worked as a situational pass rusher and performed reasonably well in that role. The Panthers picked him up last year with the intention of putting him opposite of fellow newcomer Haason Reddick. Fox went on to appear in all 17 regular season games with nine starts, recording 1.5 sacks and 34 total tackles along the way.
Ultimately, he wasn’t able to repeat his finest work from 2020. That year, he appeared in 39% of the Rams’ defensive snaps and notched six sacks, both career highs.
The Panthers finished in the bottom fourth of the league in 2020 with just 29 team sacks. In 2021, they improved slightly with 39 total sacks — albeit with an extra game — to place in the middle of the NFL’s pack.
Rams To Re-Sign Joe Noteboom
The Rams have agreed to re-sign offensive lineman Joe Noteboom (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The new three-year deal carries a base value of $40MM with $25MM guaranteed. Plus, through incentives, Noteboom could earn up to $47.5MM over the life of the contract.
[RELATED: Whitworth Leaning Towards Retirement]
Noteboom has served as Andrew Whitworth‘s backup for the past two seasons. He stepped in for the 40-year-old left tackle starter against the Bucs, but did not play in the NFC championship game due to a chest injury. Fortunately, he’s healthy now and ready to pick up where he left off.
The 2018 third-round pick was set to be a free agent this week, but the Rams didn’t want to let him get away. His presence could be extra critical in 2022, as Whitworth continues to contemplate retirement. Some have wondered whether Tom Brady‘s recent flip-flop could inspire the 40-year-old (41 in December) to come back for at least one more dance, but that remains to be seen.
Noteboom also offers experience at right tackle and on the interior, so he’ll be a key contributor regardless of what Whitworth decides. We should know where Whitworth stands sometime in the next couple of days as the Rams prepare for the official start of free agency.
Bills Extend C Mitch Morse
The Bills continue to make moves along their offensive line. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the team is extending center Mitch Morse on a two-year, $19.5MM deal (Twitter link). Of that figure, $12MM is guaranteed. 
[RELATED: Bills To Release Daryl Williams]
As a result of the new pact, Morse is now under contract for three more seasons. Garafolo adds that his 2022 compensation will increase from $8.5MM to $11.25MM, though the deal will also lower his cap number (which was also slated to be $11.25MM prior to this news) to $9MM.
Morse, who will be 30 at the start of next season, signed with the Bills in 2019. With the four-year deal being worth over $11MM per year on average, it made him the league’s highest-paid center. However, he took a pay cut two years later to remain with the team.
2021 saw the former second rounder play 1,167 snaps as he played in all 17 games. That continues a career-long trend of durability for him, as he has played (and started) in 96 of a possible 113 contests. According to PFF, the veteran earned an overall grade of 63.4, with five penalties committed and two sacks allowed. That is on par with his metrics in recent years.
With a consistent piece of their offensive line in place for the foreseeable future, the Bills have another important piece of business done in the build-up to free agency.