Recapping a busy NFL weekend, plus the history of free agency

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A good reminder to bet on yourself: Before the end of his time in Charlotte, Baker Mayfield was seen lining up as a scout team lineman.

Yesterday, he landed a $100 million contract to stay in Tampa Bay. You love to see it. Today:

💰 Chris Jones paid, weekend moves
👋 Saquon Barkley to move on
👁 Fletcher Cox retires, other news
📚 Free agency’s long history

Weekend Headlines: Jones returns, Mayfield stays and Wilson in Pittsburgh

At the Chiefs parade, Chris Jones said, “Kansas City… I ain’t going nowhere baby! I will be here this year, next year and the year after.” He was right.

On Saturday, Jones agreed to a five-year, $158 million deal that will make him the highest paid DT in league history. The cornerstone of the Chiefs’ defense, Jones, 29, has made five All-Pro teams and ranked No. 10 in the 2023 NFL Top 100.

With an average annual value of $31.7 million, Jones sits behind only Nick Bosa’s $34 million among all defensive players. Yet his cap hit is a manageable $7.3 million in 2024, giving the Chiefs flexibility on their three-peat quest and making Nate Taylor’s Chiefs free-agency shopping list achievable.

We saw plenty of movement this weekend. Four other impactful moves:

QB Baker Mayfield’s $100 million deal is for three years in Tampa Bay. Mayfield, 28, set career highs in completion percentage, passing yards and touchdowns in his first season with the Buccaneers. He also led the team to the divisional round.
QB Russell Wilson agreed to a one-year contract with the Steelers worth the veteran minimum $1.2 million. While the Broncos pay him $37.8 million, the 35-year-old will return to a run-heavy scheme under OC Arthur Smith. It’s the best-case scenario for Wilson, who could set the team back years.
DT Justin Madubuike agreed to a four-year, $98 million contract extension with the Ravens. Christian Wilkins is the top DT remaining in the updated top-150 free agent rankings.
WR Jerry Jeudy and his fully guaranteed $12.99 million 2024 salary were traded to the Browns in exchange for fifth- and sixth-round picks this year. It’s a reminder that (A) Jeudy, 24, has been “just a guy” since being drafted ahead of CeeDee Lamb and Justin Jefferson in 2020 and (B) the Broncos are rebuilding.

One takeaway: Draft Marvin Mims on your fantasy team next year. Jake Ciely has the fantasy implications of other FA signings.

With the negotiation period for free agency starting at noon today, stay on our live blog. Now, over to Dianna for a Saquon Barkley update.

What Dianna’s Hearing: Saquon moving on?

Blizzard is the word I’d use to describe this week. Yesterday was the day before a big snowstorm. Today, it hits.

One thing on the forecast (sorry, Giants fans): Saquon Barkley is most likely leaving New York, despite his consistent love for Big Blue. Multiple teams with rookie-contract quarterbacks are hoping to land the 27-year-old. Teams in the NFC East are also lurking.

Watch for: The Texans, Commanders and Patriots have cap space, and all are expected to make some big moves when the tampering window opens.

As for Kirk Cousins, it’s a two-horse race between the Vikings and Falcons. As Jacob mentioned, we’ll have updates on our live blog.

Back to you, Jacob.

The history of free agency in the NFL

At first, players were bound to a team for life. Thankfully — for players, fans, agents and newsletter writers — a lot has changed since. The long, winding road before today’s version of free agency was officially introduced in 1993:

1920-1947: The Reserve Rule, copied from baseball, gave each team the right to re-sign a player for a one-year contract on the same terms as the prior season. Players could either accept the contract or sit out, theoretically bound to a team for perpetuity unless moved via trade.

1948-1962: The “One-Year Option” Rule was added after players pushed back against teams using the reserve rule to indefinitely renew contracts. The new rule appeared to give each team the option of renewing a player’s contract for one season before the player would enter unrestricted free agency. But for 14 years, not a single player took advantage of it.

Why not? Any player who exercised the one-year option only received 90% of their salary, so players refused to take a pay cut.

It wasn’t until R.C. Owens, a talented 49ers receiver who introduced the sports world to the term “alley-oop,” played out his option year in 1961 and became the NFL’s first free agent. Ever the pioneer, Owens was also the first NFL WR to wear gloves.

When the Colts signed him, the 49ers owner was livid. The owners quickly worked to ensure this was never repeated, implementing a rule that was later struck down as illegal.

1963-1976: The “Rozelle Rule” was that rule. Named after then-Commissioner Pete Rozelle, it converted free agency to a form of trading: Before a player in could sign with a new team, both teams would have to agree on compensation. If they couldn’t agree, Rozelle would set a price that often included multiple first-round picks.

During this period, it was so expensive that only two or three free agents changed teams per season. The NFLPA, then-led by Hall of Fame TE John Mackey, eventually challenged the legality of the Rozelle Rule in court. The players won and the rule was struck down. But the owners countered.

1977-1988: The Compensation was created. Yes, the NFLPA won the case, but — despite objections of many players — the reviewing court approved a settlement plan that maintained a similar system.

A free agent’s original team was still compensated. The difference? Compensation was calculated using a formula, rather than Rozelle’s sole authority. But the formula (below) was still too expensive, especially when the average salary was $230,000 in the late eighties.

1989-1992: Plan B was imposed in 1989, allowing teams to use the compensation formula to protect 37 of 47 players from becoming free agents. The other 10 players, typically the team’s worst, were free to sign anywhere.

1993-Present: In late February 1993, Hall of Fame DE Reggie White’s class action lawsuit led to a settlement producing the free agency we know (and love?) today. While the 1993 CBA included unrestricted free agency for players, the owners negotiated a salary cap, franchise tags and other concessions.

This was still a huge win for the players. By the end of the first signing period, 121 players had switched teams. The NFLPA reported that the average salaries of unrestricted free agents rose 109 percent, from $500,000 to over $1 million.

This path led to Derek Carr’s $150 million deal from New Orleans. So yes, free agency was a win for the players. Now, more news.

Around the NFL

DT Fletcher Cox retired on Sunday, ending a 12-year career as one of the Eagles’ franchise players. Once caught trash-talking President Bush, he will be missed in Philly. After the Eagles re-signed DE Brandon Graham to a one-year deal, there are just four players left from their Super Bowl-winning roster.

DT Arik Armstead, the 49ers’ longest-tenured player, is expected to be released. The team saves around $18 million if he is designated as a post-June 1 cut. More from our 49ers team here.

QB Mac Jones was dealt for the Jaguars’ sixth-round pick. In 2021, Jones’ 78.5 PFF pass grade was the third-highest awarded to a rookie QB since 2013. It went downhill from there. Steve Buckley has more on w hat went wrong. Jeff Howe graded it a B- for the Jags.

S Kevin Byard agreed to a two-year contract with the Bears. The 30-year-old adds a veteran presence to a young, talented Chicago defense. He was was an All-Pro in 2021.

LB Bobby Wagner is expected to hit free agency prior to his age-34 season. Incredibly, Wagner has made an All-Pro team in each of the last 10 years. Could the 49ers be a possibility?

C Andre James re-signed with the Raiders on a three-year, $24 million deal. An under-the-radar but good move, James’ 2023 PFF blocking grade of 74.6 was a career high and ranked ninth among centers.

WR Tyler Lockett re-signed with Seattle on a restructured two-year, $34 million contract. As for what to expect from the team in free agency, team reporter Michael-Shawn Dugar shared his thoughts on whom the Seahawks should target.

Jacob’s Picks

📕 Remember Alan Page? Page and Lawrence Taylor are the only two defensive players to win MVP. While playing pro football, Page became a lawyer specializing in employee labor issues. Read Dan Pompei’s story on the NFL great.

📺 The first big move. A 1993 TV story on Reggie White’s $17 million deal with Green Bay, which marked the first premier free agent signing. (YouTube)

🎙 Set your calendar. At 4 p.m. ET, Robert Mays and Nate Tice will live stream their reactions to all the moves and news from day one of free agency. (YouTube)

Now, what did you think? Share your feedback on the newsletter in the comments.

The Bounce 🏀 | The Windup ⚾ | Full Time ⚽ | Prime Tire 🏁 | Until Saturday 🏈

(Photo: Al Bello/Allsport/Getty Images)