NFL free agency is in full swing.
The league’s new year began Wednesday afternoon, with several of the deals and trades from the previous 48 hours becoming official. But the day’s action wasn’t merely one of formalities. Several more notable signings materialized, with top pass rushers Von Miller (Buffalo Bills) and Chandler Jones (Las Vegas Raiders) joining new teams.
Check back with USA TODAY Sports often throughout Thursday and the entire week for all the latest news and buzz on the free-agent market and what deals could be materializing:
MORE:If Seahawks really wanted to keep Russell Wilson, he’d still be in Seattle
Eagles release six-time Pro Bowl DT Fletcher Cox
The Eagles are releasing Fletcher Cox just before he was to be guaranteed $18 million, a person familiar with the decision confirmed to the USA TODAY Network on Thursday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the move was not yet official.
NFL Network was first to report the news.
The report also said that Cox and the Eagles are working towards a new contract, presumably at a much lower salary cap hit. Cox, of course, is also free to sign with another team.
Still, it’s a surprising move considering that Cox is one of the greatest defensive tackles in Eagles history. Cox ranks fifth in team history with 58 sacks. He was drafted by the Eagles in the first round in 2012 out of Mississippi State, and he was named to six straight Pro Bowls from 2015-20.
Rams reload with top receiver Allen Robinson
After enduring shaky quarterback play throughout his eight-year NFL career, Allen Robinson will finally be part of a high-powered offense.
The wide receiver is joining the Los Angeles Rams on a three-year, $45 million contract, according to multiple reports.
Robinson, 28, is coming off a disappointing 2021 campaign with the Chicago Bears in which he recorded just 38 catches for 410 yards and one touchdown in 12 games. In 2020, however, he hauled in 102 receptions for 1,250 yards and 10 touchdowns, prompting the Bears to place the franchise tag on him.
In Los Angeles, he will join a potentially loaded corps of receivers that includes reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year Cooper Kupp and longtime Robert Woods, among others. Odell Beckham Jr. remains unsigned as a free agent. Both Woods and Beckham are coming off torn anterior cruciate ligaments.
– Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
Another NFL free agency about-face
The NFL has seen yet another change of heart this week.
Outside linebacker Za’Darius Smith will not reunite with the Baltimore Ravens as he previously planned to, according to multiple reports.
Smith follows pass rusher Randy Gregory, who reversed course to sign with the Denver Broncos rather than the Dallas Cowboys, and running back J.D. McKissic, who opted not to sign with the Buffalo Bills as he originally intended and will instead stay with the Washington Commanders.
– Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
Bills cut WR Cole Beasley
The one move that everyone expected the Buffalo Bills to make as the free agency signing period arrived this week finally went down Thursday afternoon when it was announced that wide receiver Cole Beasley has been released.
With the Bills desperate for every dollar of salary cap space, especially now in light of the massive deal they just gave star edge rusher Von Miller Wednesday night, cutting Beasley opens up $6.1 million of space.
The team also has re-worked the contract of Matt Milano which freed another $5.1 million.
Beasley came to the Bills as a free agent from the Cowboys in 2019 and there is no denying he had a big impact on the development of quarterback Josh Allen, serving as an ultra-reliable target on underneath routes.
Beasley caught 82 passes in each of the last two seasons and for this three-year tenure he had 231 catches for 2,438 yards and 11 touchdowns.
– Sal Maiorana, Democrat & Chronicle
Steelers part with linebacker after one year
One linebacker’s arrival meant another’s dismissal for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Linebacker Joe Schobert was released by the Steelers on Thursday, the team announced.
Schobert, 28, recorded 112 tackles last season for Pittsburgh, his lone season with the franchise. The Steelers acquired him last August in a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars, sending a sixth-round pick back in the deal.
But on Wednesday, the Steelers added another former Jaguars linebacker in Myles Jack.
– Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
Packers get a new punter
GREEN BAY, Wis. – A day after dropping punter Corey Bojorquez, the Green Bay Packers have replaced him by signing former Chicago Bears punter Pat O’Donnell.
According to NFL Network, the Packers are turning to O’Donnell, who has been the Bears’ punter for the last eight seasons.
O’Donnell, 31, averaged 46.2 yards per punt in 2021. He punted 62 times for 2,865 yards with a long of 72 yards.
O’Donnell was a sixth-round draft pick by the Bears in 2014 out of the University of Miami.
The Packers traded a sixth-round pick to the Los Angeles Rams before the start of last season, receiving Bojorquez and a seventh-round pick in return. Bojorquez, who almost won a position battle in L.A. against four-time All-Pro Justin Hekker, replaced former fifth-round pick JK Scott.
– PackersNews
