The restricted free agent and exclusive rights free agent tender decision deadline is a little more than a week away. Some teams are already making their calls in advance of March 17. We’ll keep tabs on the latest here:
Non-tendered:
Tendered:
Non-tendered:
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
Las Vegas Raiders
New York Giants
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Continuing to make progress in their pursuit of cap compliance, the Saints have identified two higher-profile moves they would like to make. The team wants to extend Marshon Lattimore and/or Ryan Ramczyk, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (video link).
After trimming more than $20MM in cap space over the past week, the Saints are still nearly $50MM over the $180MM mark that doubles as the floor for the 2021 cap. Extensions for their 2017 first-round picks would help on this front, as they would reduce the 2017 draftees’ cap numbers. Each is set to play next season on a fifth-year option salary.
But it will be interesting to see if the Saints can hammer out a top-market extension amid this time crunch. Two extensions in this span would be highly unlikely. Both players are extension targets, but the franchise might be targeting just one in the coming days and potentially completing the other’s deal later. The Saints are not believed to be close with either Lattimore or Ramczyk, Rapoport adds.
The Saints completed top-market extensions for Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara late in the past two summers. Lattimore and Ramczyk qualify as players who will also push to secure their respective position’s top salary. Ramczyk is set to earn just more than $11MM this season; Lattimore is attached to a $10.2MM fifth-year option salary. The Saints have until March 17 to move under the cap.
Extensions for Tre’Davious White, Marlon Humphrey and Jalen Ramsey transformed a stagnant cornerback market last year; each earns at least $17MM annually. White and Ramsey pushed the corner ceiling north of $19MM per year. Ramczyk’s talks may be more complicated. Deals for Laremy Tunsil and David Bakhtiari — each now attached to deals worth at least $22MM annually — have left tackles holding a big lead on right tackles financially. Lane Johnson ($18MM AAV) and Trent Brown ($16.5MM) are the only right tackles making more than $14MM per year, and the Raiders are shopping Brown. New Orleans’ right tackle starter since his 2017 rookie season, Ramczyk has been one of the NFL’s best tackles since his rookie year.
Rather than the Eagles using their No. 6 overall pick to bring in a potential future franchise quarterback, Jeffrey Lurie wants his team to operate with a Jalen Hurts-centric mindset this offseason.
The longtime Eagles owner would prefer the front office build around Hurts, per Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com, rather than bring in true competition for their 2020 second-round pick. The Eagles were expected to attempt to add competition for Hurts; the franchise’s focus may be shifting.
Following last month’s Carson Wentz trade, the Eagles were linked to potentially adding a first-round quarterback. Hurts started four games as a rookie, and while the ex-Alabama and Oklahoma standout provided a bit of a boost for a slumping offense late in the season, he completed 52% of his passes and struggled in his final two outings. Hurts does provide a rushing component that the Eagles did not have with Wentz, however.
Philadelphia’s quarterback situation has changed dramatically in recent weeks. The Eagles’ hiring process is believed to have taken on a Wentz-centric tone, with team brass then prioritizing a coach who could revive their since-traded passer’s career. After dealing the quarterback they once traded up for and then extended in 2019, the Eagles may well make a legitimate attempt to determine if Hurts is the answer.
Adding a quarterback at No. 6 would create true competition, but the Eagles may now be in the market for a later-round backup or veteran insurance behind Hurts. Philly could opt to add a wide receiver in Round 1 for the second straight year or auction off its pick to a QB-seeking team.
The Raiders will clear a sizable chunk of cap space Monday. They plan to release Lamarcus Joyner, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).
Previously rumored, this move will save Las Vegas $8.7MM. That would bump the Raiders to north of $10MM in cap space. Joyner marks the third key contributor the Raiders have parted ways with over the past few days, with starting guards Gabe Jackson and Richie Incognito out the door as well. This news also comes after a report indicated the Raiders are shopping another of their big-ticket 2019 additions (Trent Brown). They have already cut fellow 2019 signee Tyrell Williams.
Signed to a lucrative deal two years ago, Joyner did not work out as a Raider. After excelling at safety with the Rams, Joyner moved to the slot primarily with the Raiders. Pro Football Focus graded him outside its top 80 corners in each of his two seasons with the Raiders, who will again enter a free agency period needing some coverage help.
Joyner has done well for himself financially over the past three seasons, playing on the franchise tag in 2018 and having signed a four-year, $42MM deal in the spring of ’19. Now 30, Joyner will have to settle for a less enticing salary in 2021 in order to continue his career.
Despite speculation to the contrary, Ryan Fitzpatrick intends to play in 2021 (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Fitzpatrick is days away from free agency and figures to draw a good amount of interest. 
Over the weekend, we heard that the 38-year-old could hang up the cleats. But, publicly, Fitzpatrick has been fairly consistent about his plans. In February, he told Pat McAfee that he still had plenty of gas in the tank.
“For me, personally, I have to take every offseason and reassess,” Fitzpatrick said. “These last two years have really re-lit that fire under me. I still want to play, and I enjoy being out there playing.”
Fitzpatrick opened the year as the Dolphins’ starter before ceding the role to Tua Tagovailoa. However, he was used in relief throughout the year, including his game against the Raiders to secure the win. At this stage of his career, Fitzpatrick might not be able to secure a starting role, but he profiles as one of the best available backup options. If Fitzpatrick is willing to mentor a young QB, he should be able to land a contract as one of the league’s highest-paid QB2s.
After turns with the Rams, Bengals, Bills, Titans, Texans, Jets, Bucs, and Dolphins, the Harvard alum could be on his way to the ninth team of his NFL career.
The Lions have released center Russell Bodine and linebacker Christian Jones, per a club announcement. In a related move, the Lions have also re-signed defensive back Mike Ford. 
The Lions will save just over $3.5MM between the two moves. Jones, the more expensive of the two, was set to earn $3.17MM this year — instead, Detroit will gain $2.55MM in additional flexibility. Jones hooked on with the Lions before the 2018 season and wound up starting all 16 games in Matt Patricia’s first year as coach. Then, midway through the 2019 season, he was re-upped on a two-year extension. He now exits with 177 tackles and three sacks across three seasons as a Lion.
Bodine, 29, opted out of the 2020 season at a time when he could have competed for a reserve spot behind interior linemen Joe Dahl, Frank Ragnow, and Jonah Jackson. A 2014 fourth-round pick by the Bengals, Bodine started 64 consecutive games for Cincinnati . He went on to appear in ten games for the Bills in 2018, but didn’t play an NFL snap in 2019, so he’s two years removed from live action.
A.J. Bouye‘s free agency tour is underway. On Monday, the veteran cornerback traveled to Las Vegas to meet with the Raiders, as Mike Klis of 9News tweets. 
Between his shoulder injury and PED suspension, Bouye was limited to just seven games last year after coming over from the Jaguars. The cornerback has two games to go on his ban, so he won’t be able to suit up for his next team until Week 3.
Bouye went from a UDFA in 2013 to one of the league’s highest paid defensive backs. After some solid seasons with the Texans, he scored a five-year, $67.5MM deal from the Jaguars in 2017. Unfortunately, Bouye didn’t live up to expectations in the long run — to be fair, most of the Jaguars’ defensive players were lackluster during that stretch. The Broncos agreed to take him on last year, in exchange for a fourth-round pick.
Bouye did impress in his first Jacksonville season, earning second-team All-Pro honors with six interceptions. There’s reason to believe that Bouye could pan out on a low-cost deal, especially since he’s still only 29, but he won’t get that chance in Denver.
Kalif Raymond will be a free agent in a matter of days. The Titans have opted against tendering an offer to the wide receiver/kick returner, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
[RELATED: Titans’ Clowney Expects To Be Cleared In April]
Raymond, 27 in August, could have been cuffed as a restricted free agent. He’s one of the league’s stronger punt returners, so most expected him to be back for 2021. The Titans didn’t want to tie up any funds on the verge of free agency, however, so they’ll let Raymond test the open waters.
Raymond returned 23 punts for 208 yards last year, good for a 9.0 yard average per attempt. He also returned 15 kickoffs for 275 yards. After previous stints with the Broncos, Jets, and Giants (twice), he’ll look for employment elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the Titans are looking to remodel their offensive line, starting with a potential trade of 2020 first-round pick Isaiah Wilson. On the other side of the ball, they’ll weigh a new contract for Jadeveon Clowney, who says he would be open to staying in Nashville. Clowney is on the verge of being cleared and expects to get the green light in April.
The Seahawks are cutting Carlos Dunlap, as ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. The move will save the Seahawks roughly $14MM in cap room and put the edge rusher on the open market. 
Dunlap, 32, was due a $3MM bonus on the fifth day of the league year with a total cap hit of $14.1MM in 2021. Pressed for flexibility, the Seahawks opted against keeping the three-time Pro Bowler.
The Seahawks swung a deal for Dunlap at last year’s deadline, sending offensive lineman B.J. Finney and a draft pick to the Bengals in exchange. Oddly enough, the Bengals released Finney just a few days ago. Dunlap managed five sacks, 14 tackles, and six TFL in his half season, but the numbers crunch forced the Seahawks to go in another direction.
Dunlap, an 11-year vet, has 87.5 career sacks to his credit. He may have to take a pay cut with his next deal, but there should still be a decent market for his services.