NFL Free Agency Roundup: Barr Backs Out of Jets Deal, Packers Keep Adding, Mosley Gets Money, More

March 12, 2019, by Luis Medina Chicago Bears

I’m almost afraid to push publish at the risk of missing something. NFL free agency FOMO is real … and a real mouthful. NFLFOMO? GTFOH.

While the NFL Network’s insiders are spilling tea on where free agents are headed, the league’s teams are limited to posts like this until 3 p.m. CT on Wednesday:

https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears/status/1105503023793606656

A most notable reminder: The NFL’s new league year begins at 3 p.m. CT and that’s when all these reported deals can officially get signed. Until then, you’ll continue to see things like “Player X intends to sign,” “Team A is expected to sign,” and tweets of that nature. Meanwhile, teams official social media accounts have their hands tied.
I wish I had an explanation, but I don’t. Sorry. It’s just one of those things you can’t explain.
Free agency comes at you fast:

The #Jets are signing #Vikings LB Anthony Barr, source said (as @AdamSchefter reported).

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2019

LB Anthony Barr has backed out of his verbal agreement to sign with the #Jets. He’s heading back to the #Vikings, as @MikeGarafolo said.

— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) March 12, 2019

Almost every year in free agency there’s a player who fails a physical, changes his mind or winds up on another team that the one initially planned. This year it’s Anthony Barr.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2019

When you’re a Jet you’re a Jet all the way … unless you step away from an agreement before it became binding. Then things change.
Oh, sure. Now you remind us:

Remember, no UFA contracts or trades are official until 4 p.m. ET tomorrow. So we still have about 27 hours until teams can rest easy, knowing nobody can back out on any of the other agreements we've been talking about nonstop the past two days on @nflnetwork

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 12, 2019

I don’t think C.J. Mosley is walking away from this:

https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1105411658393051141

Bears GM Ryan Pace won’t get credit for jumping the market by rewarding his own team’s offensive tackles, but maybe he should after seeing this deal:

Confirming, Broncos have reached agreement with RT Ja'Wuan James, per source. (1st by @AdamSchefter.) 4 years for $50 million-plus. He will surpass Lane Johnson ($11.25 million) for highest-paid right tackle. #9sports

— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) March 12, 2019

Reminder that the Bears locked in Bobby Massie as their starting right tackle for the same number of years, but without constricting future flexibility in a deal that rewards the player and allows for wiggle room from a team perspective. It’s a win-win. One of Pace’s greatest accomplishments since becoming the Bears’ GM has been locking in the team’s two offensive tackles. Think about it. The Raiders will be paying $66 million for Trent Brown while the Bears will be shelling out $69 million between Charles Leno Jr. and Bobby Massie. Nice!
This process will look awfully familiar for Bears fans:

.@BuffaloBills signing WRs John Brown and Cole Beasley.

Brown: three-year, $27M deal (via @RapSheet)
Beasley: four-year, $29M deal (via @MikeGarafolo) pic.twitter.com/3rlsduFuR3

— NFL (@NFL) March 12, 2019

These aren’t brand-name receivers, but they’re better than what the Bills had last year. I’m not a believer in Josh Allen, other than that he has plus athleticism and an arm that can throw it over those mountains in the distance. Maybe raw talent wins out in the end, but there is clearly a ways for him to go.
The Houston Texans are expected to sign one of the more interesting free agent safeties on the market, as Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports the team will sign Tashaun Gipson. Houston just lost Tyrann Mathieu to a large deal with the Chiefs, so this is a good move for the Texans without having to dip too far into the deep end of the spending pool. Gipson received interest from the Bears and Packers before making his intent known that he would sign a free agent deal with the Texans.
Is there anyone the Packers aren’t signing?

I'm told free agent LB Preston Smith is going to Green Bay on a 4-year deal worth $52M. $16M fully guaranteed at signing. Smith choices came down to the #Colts and the #Packers, per source.

— ig: josinaanderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 12, 2019

And they’re beefing up the offensive line, too:

Packers are giving former Broncos' OL Billy Turner a four-year, $28 million deal with a max value of $29.5, including $11 million in year one, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2019

I didn’t expect Sheldon Richardson’s one-year prove it deal to lead into a multi-year pact elsewhere … but it happened. Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports the Richardson intends to sign a three-year deal worth up to $39 million with the Browns. Suddenly, that Cleveland front seven looks like it rocks with Richardson, Olivier Vernon, and Myles Garrett.
LOL:

@UniWatch @PhilHecken With ex-Patriot GM, Bob Quinn, signing several ex-Patriot players yesterday, I’ve seen this logo mashup making the rounds. pic.twitter.com/yKgWnzMS6r

— Dan Kennedy (@kennedds) March 12, 2019

There is something about Jordan Hicks and the Cardinals being a fit:

LB @JordanHicks is expected to sign a four-year, $36 million deal with the @AZCardinals. (by @SNICKERS)

(via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/1Bnz40LpLl

— NFL (@NFL) March 12, 2019