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Rich Cimini
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — One month after saying goodbye to Aaron Rodgers, the New York Jets addressed the quarterback position on the first day of free agent negotiating period, agreeing to terms Monday with former Pittsburgh Steelers backup Justin Fields, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Fields, 26, will sign a two-year, $40 million contract that includes $30 million in guarantees, the sources said. The former Chicago Bears first-round pick is expected to be the Jets’ opening-day starter, ahead of holdover backup Tyrod Taylor, but this isn’t a long-term commitment. The Jets, who also could add a quarterback in the draft, can reevaluate the position after the 2025 season.
Rodgers has emerged as a quarterback option for the Steelers, league sources told Schefter on Monday.
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This is a major move for the Jets’ new regime, headed by general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn, who lured him away from the Steelers. They identified Fields as the player they want to lead the franchise into a new era.
The Jets landed Fields after losing four major contributors on Monday — right tackle
The Denver Broncos and Talanoa Hufanga on Monday agreed to a three-year contract worth up to $45 million, including $20 million guaranteed at signing, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal was negotiated by Chris Cabott, CEO of EquitySports.
Hufanga, 26, enjoyed a breakout 2022 season with the San Francisco 49ers in which he earned first-team All-Pro honors and appeared poised to cement himself as one of the league’s top safeties. That year, Hufanga had 97 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 interceptions and 2 forced fumbles as he garnered a Pro Bowl nod.
His ascent, however, has been slowed by injuries over the past two seasons, as he has played in just 17 games combined.
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He tore his ACL in Week 11 of the 2023 season after posting three interceptions and 52 tackles in 10 games. He then was slowed by a wrist ailment in 2024 that kept him to seven games and 38 tackles.
Hufanga was originally a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft out of USC who carved out a role on special teams as a rookie before becoming a starter in 2022.
ESPN staff writer Nick Wagoner contributed to this report.
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Josh Weinfuss
TEMPE, Ariz. — The Cardinals began rebuilding their pass rush by agreeing to re-sign outside linebacker Baron Browning to a two-year contract Sunday, a day before the free agency negotiating window begins.
Financial terms were not disclosed but Browning’s deal is worth $15 million, a source confirmed to ESPN.
Browning, 26, was traded to the Cardinals from the Denver Broncos in early November, providing an instant boost to their pass rush.
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In eight games with the Cardinals, Browning had two sacks, 14 tackles (11 solo) and three quarterback hits. He provided depth for Arizona at a position where it severely needed it. The Cardinals lost projected starting outside linebacker B.J. Ojulari to an ACL injury during training camp in August and then lost starting outside linebacker Dennis Gardeck to an ACL injury in October, leaving the Cardinals thin off the edge.
Browning, a 2021 third-round pick out of Ohio State, made $1.5 million last season.
In four seasons with the Broncos and Cardinals, Browning has 11.5 career sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, an interception and six passes defended.
The news of Browning’s deal was first reported by NFL Network.
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Ryan McFadden
The Las Vegas Raiders have traded for Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith, reuniting him with coach Pete Carroll, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler on Friday.
Las Vegas gave up a 2025 third-round pick (92nd overall) for Smith, sources said. The deal ends his six-year stint in Seattle, where he revived his career and became a two-time Pro Bowl selection.
Smith has one year and $31 million left on his contract. The Raiders are taking on all $31 million, a source told ESPN’s Brady Henderson. The Seahawks will save that $31 million in cash and cap space while taking on $13.5 million in dead money.
In 2024, Smith, 34, completed 70.4% of his passes while throwing for 4,320 yards with 21 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. He helped the Seahawks finish 10-7, but they didn’t make the playoffs in their first season under coach Mike Macdonald.
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While starting all 17 games, Smith broke his franchise record for passing yards and completion rate, carrying an offense with an overmatched line and no consistent run game. He led four game-winning drives, giving him nine over the past two seasons to tie Breaking News from Adam Schefter
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The Seahawks re-signed Smith to a three-year, $75 million contract in March 2023. That deal gave him the opportunity to make an additional $30 million via contract escalators. Smith hit $6 million of those escalators with his performance last season. That $6 million was added to the $10 million roster bonus Smith is set to earn March 16.
Smith unsuccessfully argued for a new deal last offseason after seeing several quarterbacks cash in with big-money extensions, and he was upset that the Seahawks would not give him one, sources said. It was a nonstarter for the organization given its policy of not renegotiating contracts with more than one season left.
The $25 million average of Smith’s last deal ranked 19th among quarterbacks (it was 20th before the New York Giants released Daniel Jones) and last among full-time starters not on their rookie contract.
The Seahawks were working to extend Smith’s contract over the past week, but when progress was not being made, the Raiders stepped in and showed interest in acquiring him. With the Seahawks struggling to get a new deal done, they opted for a third-round pick instead.
News of Smith’s trade to the Raiders comes two days after Pro Bowl wide receiver DK Metcalf requested to be dealt from Seattle. The Seahawks also released another star receiver, Tyler Lockett, earlier this week along with four veteran players. The Raiders are among the teams the Seahawks have talked to about a potential Metcalf trade, according to a source.
The trade, which can’t become official until the new league year begins Wednesday, leaves the Seahawks with Sam Howell and Jaren Hall at quarterback. The team is expected to pursue a veteran quarterback when free agency begins.
After becoming Raiders coach in February, Carroll said he wants to start winning immediately. During the NFL scouting combine, Carroll said the team’s “win now” approach should factor into every decision the team makes in shaping the roster for the 2025 season.
“We are trying to take it as far as we can as soon as we possibly can,” said Carroll, 73. “I’m not looking for a grace period. … I don’t think that way at all.”
Carroll has long had an affinity for Smith, at one point in 2023 calling him “one of my all-time favorite guys.”
Smith is expected to be the seventh Raiders quarterback to start in a game since the team moved on from Derek Carr after the 2022 season.
During the combine, Raiders general manager John Spytek said the team would explore every avenue in adding a quarterback after Las Vegas finished 4-13 under Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell and Desmond Ridder, who started one game. Minshew is expected to be released at the start of the new league year, a source told ESPN.
Carroll and Spytek mentioned O’Connell and Carter Bradley would have a chance to compete for the job. At the same time, Spytek said, “We’ve got to win more games too.”
Though Smith is an upgrade from the Raiders’ previous starters, they have plenty of work to do to surround their new quarterback with offensive talent. Las Vegas has players to work with such as Brock Bowers, who led all tight ends in receiving yards (1,194) during his rookie campaign. Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers recorded his first career 1,000-yard season after three straight years with at least 800.
ESPN’s Brady Henderson contributed to this report.