It's that time of year when NFL teams go shopping. Follow all the moves, big ones and little ones, from around the league with SB Nation's NFL free agency tracker.
The 2014 league year starts Tuesday, March 11 at 4 p.m. ET. That's the technical term for it. Most of the rest of the world knows it as the day that NFL teams start handing out big contracts to unrestricted free agents. Some teams will come to regret those deals (Mike Wallace, anyone?); others will manage to swing a return on their investment.
Judging the free agent deals comes later. For now, it's hot stove season for football fans. Many of the best players on the market will never make it there, re-signed by their teams before a rival scoops them up. Others will make it to the promised land. Our handy free agent tracker will help you keep up with the action.
Notable signings:
Moreno signs with Miami
The Miami Dolphins signed running back Knowshon Moreno on Friday. Moreno was the top running back to come out this year, but there was an overall lack of interest in the market. Moreno had an excellent year with the Broncos last season, but it's unclear if he was looking for more money than the market was willing to offer, or if running back was just not a priority. Regardless, he should be a big part of Miami's offense next season.
Blount inks deal with Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Steelers agreed to terms with running back LeGarrette Blount on Friday. Blount wasn't the top back on the market, but he was definitely the top power back. He proved his worth with the New England Patriots last season and will now likely split carries with second-year back Le'Veon Bell in Pittsburgh.
Jones-Drew finally signs
The Oakland Raiders signed veteran running back Maurice Jones-Drew to a three-year contract. Jones-Drew was definitely the biggest name to hit the market this year, but he's considered well past his prime. Still, a change of scenery to Oakland might just be what he needs to get back on track. Oakland also re-signed Darren McFadden to a one-year deal so it will be interesting to see how the carries are distributed there.
Mark Sanchez joins Eagles
Shortly after Vick joined the Jets, former Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez was released, and signed with the Eagles, Vick's former team. The Eagles are looking for a backup to compete with second-year player Matt Barkley, while providing starter Nick Foles with something of a veteran presence behind him.
Michael Vick becomes a Jet
The most prolific quarterback on the market finally made a visit, and didn't leave it without a new contract. The Jets signed Vick to a one-year, $5 million deal, bringing him in to compete with second-year pro Geno Smith. In Gotham, the fans will be hoping Vick's signing brings out the best in Smith.
More:Geno will have to earn starting role
Antonio Cromartie signs with Arizona
There is a Cromartie in Arizona once again. Four years after Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie left for the Eagles, the team has signed cousin Antonio to a one year-deal, adding to a fierce secondary unit in which he will start opposite former first-round draft pick Patrick Peterson.
Devin Hester leaves Bears for Falcons
Star return man Devin Hester will be playing for the Falcons next season, as the former Chicago Bear signed a three-year deal with the team. He is expected to continue his contributions in the kicking game that fans are familiar with from his team with Chicago, but could see some action in Atlanta's offense, as well.
Michael Vick hopes to start with Jets
The New York Jets announced the release of Mark Sanchez on Friday, and 10 minutes later they filled the spot on the roster with Michael Vick. The veteran will now compete with Geno Smith for the starting role in New York, where they will try to turn around an offense that finished 29th in the NFL in points scored.
Lance Moore ends up in Pittsburgh
The Pittsburgh Steelers may have lost Jerricho Cotchery, but the team responded on Friday by signing free agent wide receiver Lance Moore to a two-year contract. Moore is a solid receiver, and has been very effective from the slot for much of his career. He's struggled when not with the Saints, but the Steelers needed another option next to Antonio Brown and Markus Wheaton.
Jerricho Cotchery gives Panthers a much-needed WR
The signing of the 31-year-old Jerricho Cotchery probably won't be enough to get Panthers fans over their recent losses at wide receiver, but he's better than nothing -- which is pretty much what the team had before his arrival. The Panthers have lost three of their top four receivers from a year ago -- Steve Smith, Brandon LaFell and Tedd Ginn -- plus Dominik Hixon.
Henry Melton to Dallas
Former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Henry Melton agreed to terms with the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday. Melton was one of the top players remaining on the market at the time, and was reportedly swayed by the fact that the Cowboys have Rod Marinelli as their defensive coordinator. Melton has one Pro Bowl to his name, from 2012 when Marinelli was the defensive coordinator in Chicago.
James Jones to the Raiders
The Raiders continue to make solid, if not flashy moves and the latest is signing a player in that exact mold. James Jones was productive for the Packers, but rarely earned accolades as one of the top receivers. He should be at least a solid complimentary piece for the Raiders and was arguably the top free agent receiver left on the board. The two sides agreed to a three-year deal.
Giants land Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie appeared headed to New York, it was just a question of which team he would join. The Jets and Giants were both after the standout cornerback and he opted to join Big Blue, agreeing to a five-year deal worth $39 million. With Rodgers-Cromartie and Walter Thurmond now in the fold, the Giants have successfully remade their cornerback depth chart.
Big Blue View: Giants continue to revamp their secondary
Brandon Weeden heads to Dallas
Brandon Weeden's attempt to revive his career will come in Dallas after he agreed to a two-year deal with the Cowboys. The 30-year-old Weeden signed for the veteran minimum and will now compete to make the roster and possibly for backup duties. Kyle Orton is the current No. 2, but he's reportedly pondering retirement. That could leave Weeden as the top contender to backup Tony Romo next season
Blogging the Boys: Cowboys land a cheap insurance policy
Steven Hauschka re-signs with Seahawks
NFL vet Steven Hauschka has agreed to a 3-year, $9.15 million deal to return to Seattle. Hauschka was one of the top kickers in the league a season ago, nailing 33 of 35 kicks. The 28-year-old has made 86 percent of his kicks during his seven-year pro career.
Saints hold on to Zach Strief
One of the longest tenured Saints has extended his stay for another half-decade, as veteran right tackle Zach Strief has agreed to a five-year contract. With most of the top tackles off the market, Strief is a solid signing for New Orleans, who didn't have much cap room to make a big splash anyway.
Patriots bring back Julian Edelman, add Brandon LaFell
Tom Brady gets to hold on to one of his old targets while adding a new one. New England has agreed to terms with wide receiver Julian Edelman and has signed former Panthers wideout Brandon LaFell. Edelman and LaFell will likely compete for the No. 2 spot, though there's still a chance the Pats' receiving corps could continue with the potential signing of Kenny Britt, who is scheduled to meet with the team on Monday. The Panthers, who have seen LaFell, Steve Smith and Tedd Ginn. leave in free agency, have now lost three of their top four receivers from last season.
Browns finally get a RB, sign Ben Tate
Ben Tate gets to step out of the shadow of Arian Foster and the Browns get an opportunity to have an actual running game again. After a days of mixed reports, news of a two-year, $7 million contract broke on Saturday. Tate struggled a bit last season after taking over for an injured Foster down the stretch, but is a major up upgrade to a team that struggled to find a consistent runner after trading away former first-rounder Trent Richardson.
Emmanuel Sanders chooses Broncos over Chiefs
Eric Decker is off to New York, but Denver landed a solid replacement with former Steelers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, who signed a three-year $15 million deal and now slides into the No. 2 spot in Denver behind Demaryius Thomas. This comes at the expense of the Chiefs, who claim they had a verbal agreement with Sanders and are in an uproar over his agent's sneaky negotiating. Reportedly, the agent turned around and shopped the Kansas City deal to Denver in order to drive up the price, which isn't technically illegal by NFL rules, but is generally frowned upon.
Packers land Julius Peppers, re-sign B.J. Raji
Julius Peppers was too expensive for the Bears to keep around. Now they'll have to face him twice a year. Days after being released by Chicago, Peppers signed a three-year, $30 million contract to stay in the NFC North with Green Bay. The Pack's defensive line also benefited from the re-signing of B.J. Raji, who has inked a one-year, $4 million contract. Peppers will now have to make the adjustment to a 3-4 after playing his entire career in the 4-3.
Tarrell Brown switches teams, doesn't have to move
One of the top cornerbacks remaining on the market, Tarell Brown, signed a deal with the Oakland Raiders on Friday. Brown didn't have a ton of interest go his way this offseason, but he is a starting-caliber player just looking for an opportunity to earn a big deal, which is why he signed with the Raiders, a team that will virtually guarantee him a starting spot opposite D.J. Hayden.
Hakeem Nicks gets a "prove it" deal from Colts
A first-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft of the New York Giants, Hakeem Nicks never had a bad season with the team, but never quite proved that he was worth the money of a No. 1 receiver. With a one-year deal from the Indianapolis Colts, Nicks will have that type of opportunity before reaching free agency again in 2015. According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, Nicks will receive $3.5 million in 2014 with an additional $2 million available through incentives. Andrew Luck will now have Nicks, Reggie Wayne and T.Y. Hilton to work with in the re-tooled Indianapolis offense.
Michael Oher to Tennessee
The player best known for The Blind Side is leaving to join the Tennessee Titans on a four-year deal worth $20 million that the Ravens were unwilling to match. In five years with the Ravens, Oher started all 80 games possible, but struggled in his final season with the team after having a strong start to his professional career. In Tennessee, he will likely step into the starting lineup at right tackle.
Steve Smith joining the Ravens
In 13 seasons with the Panthers, Steve Smith racked up 12,197 yards receiving, 67 touchdowns and five trips to the Pro Bowl, but the team released him to clear cap space. Where Carolina was unwilling to pay, the Ravens were, dishing out a three-year deal worth $11.5 million to the receiver. While Torrey Smith had a great season in 2013, the team struggled to replace the production of Anquan Boldin, which the new addition may be able to provide.
Daryl Smith staying in Baltimore
After an admirable season replacing Ray Lewis, Daryl Smith has been rewarded with a four-year, $16.1 million deal to return to the Ravens. Baltimore faced stiff competition from Denver and New England, but ended up bagging their leading tackler from a season ago. Baltimore has been patient with it's in-house free agents, and has managed to lock down Smith, Eugene Monroe and Dennis Pitta, their top three priorities.
Raiders sign Lamarr Woodley
A day after the Raiders lost their top free agent target in Rodger Saffold, thanks to him failing a physical, the team has made another splash by signing former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley. Oakland is bringing him in on a two-year deal worth $12 million. The deal seems good for both sides, as Woodley appears to have a lot to offer at this point in his career, but has slowed down and shouldn't get more than a one- or two-year deal.
Jason Hatcher goes to division rival Redskins
Former Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Jason Hatcher ended up signing with the NFC East rival Washington Redskins on Thursday. That's a huge hit for the Cowboys, who were trying to get Hatcher re-signed to a new contract, but with limited cap space (they only recently became cap compliant), it's not surprising the Redskins were able to sway him.
Jags re-sign Jason Babin; add Chris Clemons, Ziggy Hood
The Jaguars addressed their desperate need for depth on the defensive line on Thursday by signing former Seahawk defensive end Chris Clemsons (four-years, $18 million) and ex-Steeler Ziggy Hood and re-signing Jason Babin. It's hard to imagine Jacksonville fans getting too excited about this, however. Clemons is 32 with a history of knee problems and Hood was a first-round bust in Pittsburgh. Nevertheless, the pair of veterans add solid depth up front. Babin will be 34 by the time the season starts.
Jets hope to boost offense with signing of Eric Decker
The Jets have agreed to terms with free agent Eric Decker on a five-year, $36.25 million contract. The former Broncos wide receiver thrived over the last two seasons playing with Peyton Manning and will now try to duplicate those numbers with Geno Smith. Decker amassed 3,090 yards and 33 touchdowns over four season in Denver, with a majority of those stats coming in the past two years.
Rodger Saffold signs with the Raiders staying with the Rams
The bizarre story of Rodger Saffold played out on Wednesday with reports earlier in the day claiming that the offensive linesman had agreed to a big 5-year, $42.5 million deal with Oakland. The reports were true but hours later the deal was off after the Raiders decided to cancel the deal after a physical brought up issues with Saffold's shoulder. The Rams apparently weren't concerned about the tackles shoulder and are set to give him a new five-year deal.
Revis reportedly lands with the Patriots
Cornerback Darrelle Revis will reportedly play for the New England Patriots after being released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, though his business manager says no deal has been agreed to. We'd heard that playoff teams would be fighting to get Revis, and the Patriots signing him for a season makes the likelihood of seeing Revis in January and February much more likely. He's reportedly there on a one-year, $12 million deal that would certainly lead to bigger and better things if he shows he's playing up to form.
Golden Tate taking his talents to the Motor City
After winning a Super Bowl with the Seahawks, wide receiver Golden Tate has agreed to a five-year deal worth a reported $31 million with Detroit. The Lions -- who went 7-9 in 2013 -- have now given quarterback Matthew Stafford another talented receiver to throw in Tate. He should help boost the team's passing attack, forcing defenses to worry about someone other than just Calvin Johnson, one of the league's best receivers.
Corey Graham upgrades Bills defense, special teams
The Bills were reportedly looking to upgrade their special teams units this offseason, and they did just that by signing cornerback Corey Graham to a four-year, $16 million contract. The deal could go as high as $19 million based on playing time. Graham is a Buffalo native that spent his first five seasons with Chicago, and last two with Baltimore. He made the Pro Bowl for special teams in 2011.
Jacoby Jones stays with Ravens
Baltimore shored up a position on offense and special teams by re-signing Jacoby Jones to a four-year, $14 million deal on Wednesday. Jones had 455 receiving yards in 12 games, plus he handled most of the punt and kick return duties. He has had four special teams touchdowns over the last two seasons.
Tony McDaniel sticks with Seahawks
Another Super Bowl-winning team to retain one of their own, the Sahawks re-signed defensive tackle Tony McDanies to a two-year, $6.2 million contract. McDaniel made just five starts over his first seven years in the league, but had 15 starts for the 2013 champions, providing an important role on the defensive line.
DeMarcus Ware becomes the Broncos third big signing
After nine years in Dallas, defensive end/linebacker DeMarcus Ware will be paying a mile-high for the Broncos in 2014. Ware is a seven-time Pro Bowler, led the NFL in sacks twice (2008, 2010), and is the Cowboys' all-time leader in sacks and forced fumbles. Even at the age of 31, Ware looks poised to continue to play at a high level and the idea of having him line up with Von Miller should give opposing offenses nightmares.
Everson Griffen gets paid by Vikings
Griffen isn't a household name like Jared Allen, but he sure got paid handsomely. Griffen is staying in Minnesota for the foreseeable future after inking a five-year, $42.5 million deal with $20 million guaranteed. He will be expected to pick up the slack with Allen headed elsewhere.
Jairus Byrd signs with Saints in a stunner
Strapped with very little salary cap space, not many expected the Saints to be a big player in free agency. They didn't add a lot of pieces on Monday, but did come away with the biggest piece of all, landing safety Jairus Byrd. Arguably the top overall free agent, Byrd agreed to a six-year deal with New Orleans. How the Saints will fit the deal under the cap remains to be see, but Byrd is a major addition. He will join second-year safety Kenny Vaccaro to form one of the best safety duos in the NFL.
Aqib Talib is a splurge for Broncos
Denver handed out the biggest deal of the day thus far, signing Talib to a six-year deal worth $57 million, including $26 million guaranteed. Talib has flashed greatness during his career but has been inconsistent and struggled with injury and off the field issues. The deal likely means Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will not return to Denver.
Alterraun Verner joins the Bucs
Tampa Bay may move on from Darrelle Revis, but they landed a solid replacement, agreeing to a four-year deal with Alterraun Verner. The deal is worth $26.5 million including $14 million guaranteed. The guaranteed portion of the deal is less than Revis would have made next season. Verner was arguably the top corner on the free agent market.
T.J. Ward going to Broncos
The back end of the defense has been a problem for the Broncos in recent seasons and they made a major move to resolve that by inking Ward. Most considered Ward to be the No. 2 safety in the class behind Jairus Byrd. Landing him on a reasonable deal appears to be a major coup for John Elway and the Broncos.
Jared Veldheer heads to Cardinals
Left tackle has long been a problem for the Cardinals, but they found a solution Tuesday. Arizona landed one of the free agent prizes, signing left tackle Jared Veldheer to a five-year deal. Veldheer was one of the top tackles on the market and instantly becomes the best offensive lineman the Cardinals have had in several seasons. He didn't come cheap, but reportedly took less money than he was offered to remain in Oakland.
Lamarr Houston to the Bears
Chicago missed out on one of its top targets when Michael Bennett re-signed with Seattle, but the Bears landed a very solid second option, agreeing to a five-year deal with Houston. Like Bennett, Houston is a versatile player capable of playing a number of spots along the defensive line. He'll likely play a lot of defensive end, sliding inside at times to create a matchup mismatch.
Vontae Davis returns to Indy
Although Vontae Davis reportedly drew heavy interest, the Colts were able to retain their No. 1 corner on a four-year, $39 million deal. The deal is similar to what Sam Shields signed for with the Packers. The Colts have spent heavily in free agency in recent years, so locking up Davis, even for $20 million guaranteed, didn't come as a major surprise.
Eugene Monroe stays in Baltimore
The Ravens made re-signing Monroe a top offseason priority and were able to get the deal done shortly after free agency opened. Monroe played very well after joining the Ravens in a midseason trade. The deal he signed was for less than Branden Albert, but the five-year $37.5 million matches what Jared Veldheer signed for.
Branden Albert to Miami
A year after almost acquiring him in a trade from Kansas City, the Dolphins officially inked Albert on Tuesday. The deal should be a big one for Miami as they had a desperate need along the offensive line. There is still work to do, but Albert will shore up the left tackle position.
Arthur Jones lands with the Colts
Indianapolis made a major move along the defensive line by matching Chuck Pagano with his former pupil in Baltimore. Jones was somewhat underrated with the Ravens, but is an excellent run defender and an effective pass rusher. He should have a major impact on the Colt defense next season
Dexter McCluster going to Tennessee
The Titans added another weapon, signing McCluster to a three-year deal worth $12 million. McCluster provides value both as a versatile slot receiver and as a return man. With the Titans also re-signing Leon Washington, they could have the most dangerous return unit in the NFL next season.
D'Qwell Jacksonheaded to Colts
A four-year, $22 million contract with $11 million guaranteed for a 31-year-old inside linebacker is pricey. Jackson's probably a better fit for his leadership qualities than his defense nowadays. It's fair to wonder if Jim Irsay is the new Dan Snyder.
John Carlson signs with Cardinals
It's not a huge deal for the Cardinals offense, but Carlson at least gives Carson Palmer another pass catcher to work with. His injury history has limited his production over the last three seasons. A two-year, $4.65 million deal is essentially a no-risk investment.
Red Bryantsigns with Jaguars
Released by the Seahawks, Bryant rejoined his former defensive coordinator Gus Bradley in Jacksonville. The Jaguars picked up a few former Seahawks last season, but Bryant is the best of the bunch.
Michael Bennett returns to Seahawks
After talks had begun to swirl that Bennett would join his brother Martellus is Chicago, Seattle stepped up and inked its leading pass-rusher to a four-year, $28.5 million deal. With Bennett back, Pete Carroll has his defensive front in tact for 2014.
Michael Johnson to Bucs
Tampa Bay is looking to make a splash in free agency, and started the period off with a bang. Technically not even allowed to sign their players yet, the Buccaneers have reportedly come to terms on a five-year, $43.75 million deal with $24 million guaranteed.
Sam Shields stays with Pack
One of the best cornerbacks in football, Shields decided to forgo free agency and stay with the only organization he has ever known. Shields signed a four-year, $39 million deal, the richest in Packer history for a cornerback.