NFL

7:30 AM ET In this most unusual NFL offseason, a familiar sight awaits. The 2020 free-agent market is set to open Monday with a three-day negotiating period for players with expiring contracts. Deals can be formalized beginning Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET. To be clear, however, 2020 is no ordinary year for the free-agent market.

6:48 PM ET The Green Bay Packers will release tight end Jimmy Graham on Thursday, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday. Graham will become an immediate free agent. Graham, who turned 33 in November, ranked as the highest-paid tight end in the NFL with an average salary of $10 million and was scheduled

1:01 PM ET The Houston Texans and Johnathan Joseph have mutually agreed that the veteran cornerback will enter free agency, the team announced Wednesday. Joseph, 35, has spent the past nine seasons with the Texans. He had 51 tackles, 13 pass breakups and one interception in 14 games last season. “Johnathan has been a consummate

6:00 AM ET FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The perfect New England Patriots free-agent scenario could be summed up in five words: “Hunter Henry, come on down!” Henry, the Los Angeles Chargers‘ top tight end, would help fill the Patriots’ most notable void. The problem with that scenario, however, is the Chargers are expected to make a

4:04 PM ET Two NFL teams have proposed the addition of a booth umpire to each officiating crew for the 2020 season, one of seven team-based rule changes that league owners will consider this offseason. None of the proposals have been vetted or endorsed yet by the competition committee, which will meet later this month

6:45 AM ET NFL NationESPN With 2020 NFL free agency getting underway next week, many teams will be looking for the veteran impact players to put their franchise over the top, or to contribute to culture change. But it doesn’t always work like that. While many free agents have a positive impact upon signing with

3:49 PM ET KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. — Soon-to-be Carolina Panthers offensive tackle Russell Okung has accused the NFLPA of negotiating the proposed CBA in bad faith taking the step of filing an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board Monday. In the filing, Okung is accusing NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith of

6:40 AM ET NFL free agency kicks off in less than a week — the deadline for teams to franchise tag players is now Monday, and teams can begin negotiating with free agents also on Monday — which means it’s time to start our annual analysis of the notable deals. Each year in this space,

7:00 AM ET FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL: 1. Open-minded approach: When receiver Phillip Dorsett entered unrestricted free agency last offseason, his first choice was to return to the Patriots and that contributed to him not visiting with other teams. As for this year? “I would

7:00 AM ET A look at what’s happening around the New York Jets: 1. Corner market: It happens every two or three years; the Jets, desperate for a CB1, pay a premium price for a big-name free agent. It was Darrelle Revis in 2015 ($39 million guaranteed) and Trumaine Johnson ($34 million) in 2018. To

10:24 AM ET A number of NFL owners are hoping the proposed collective bargaining agreement doesn’t pass next week because they believe they can negotiate a better deal with eyes on an 18-game season in the future, a league source told ESPN. “They think they can get a better deal next year,” the source said.

5:59 PM ET METAIRIE, La. — The New Orleans Saints offered a first-round tender to restricted free-agent quarterback Taysom Hill on Friday, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter, meaning another team would have to cough up a first-round draft pick to sign him away. The Saints also will have the right to match any offer

2:08 PM ET The Los Angeles ‪Chargers and restricted free-agent running back Austin Ekeler have agreed to a four-year, $24.5 million deal that includes $15 million guaranteed, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Friday. The source said Ekeler, 24, could make up to $26 million over the course of the deal through incentives. Ekeler

Feb 14, 2020 Anthony Gulizia In the 24 years that Bill Polian was an NFL general manager, he developed a four-factor system that would help guide an organization’s philosophy on free-agent acquisitions. Whether he was guiding the Bills, Panthers or Colts, the system was generally the same. Polian and his personnel staff would consider the

5:15 PM ET The Washington Redskins have given seven-time Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams permission to seek a trade, multiple sources told ESPN’s Dianna Russini. “I’m just happy this situation seems to be heading towards an end,” Williams wrote in a text to ESPN. Williams has been at odds with the organization for most

12:56 PM ET Marcel Louis-JacquesESPN As NFL players prepare to cast their votes on whether to ratify the proposed collective bargaining agreement, several took to social media to voice their concerns or support — shedding light on how polarizing such a pact can be. Several of the NFL’s stars vociferously stated their plans to vote

7:00 AM ET GREEN BAY, Wis. — In a city that enjoyed more elite quarterback play than any other in the NFL over the past three decades, guys like James Morgan should be more than a once-every-32-years occurrence. It’s been that long, however, since a quarterback who played high school football in Green Bay, Wisconsin,

6:40 AM ET NFL NationESPN Tom Brady has two regular-season MVPs, three first-team All-Pro appearances, four Super Bowl MVPs and six championship rings. One thing he has never done? Test NFL free agency. That changes next week, as the greatest quarterback of all time’s contract with the New England Patriots voids, allowing his agents to