Who Left in NFL Free Agency?

It’s that time of year again where NFL teams are scrambling to sign the best free agents on the market. Keep up with all the latest news and rumors right here.

Quarterbacks

Tom Brady is the biggest name in NFL free agency this offseason. After 20 years with the New England Patriots, Brady will be playing for a new team in 2020. The other big names at quarterback who are free agents are Drew Brees, Philip Rivers, and Teddy Bridgewater.

Tom Brady

Tom Brady, 42, is leaving the New England Patriots after 20 seasons and will join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a two-year deal worth $50 million, according to multiple reports Tuesday.

The six-time Super Bowl champion quarterback is the most decorated player in NFL history, winning league MVP honors three times and being selected to 14 Pro Bowls. He has led the Patriots to nine Super Bowl appearances, winning seven of them.

Philip Rivers

After 16 seasons with the Chargers, Philip Rivers will be playing elsewhere in 2020. The team announced Monday that it will not re-sign the 38-year-old quarterback, making him a free agent.

Rivers spent the first 12 years of his career with the Chargers, making eight Pro Bowls and leading the team to six division titles. He started all 16 games in 13 of those seasons, including each of the past 12. But he never led the Chargers to a Super Bowl berth, and they missed the playoffs each of the past two years.

The Chargers drafted Rivers in 2004 with the fourth overall pick, then traded him to the Giants for Eli Manning. Rivers sat behind Drew Brees for two seasons before taking over as the Chargers’ starter in 2006.

He holds several franchise records, including passing yards (59,271), touchdown passes ( 397) and completions (4,781). He is also one of only seven quarterbacks to throw for more than 50,000 yards and 400 touchdowns in NFL history.

Teddy Bridgewater

Bridgewater was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He became the starting quarterback midway through his rookie season and helped lead the team to the playoffs. He suffered a serious knee injury in 2016, but made a comeback in 2017. He signed with the New York Jets in 2018 and started several games for them before signing with the New Orleans Saints in 2019.

Running Backs

The NFL Free Agency has come to an end and some running backs have left for other teams. This list will go over the top five running backs who have left and where they signed.

Devonta Freeman

The Atlanta Falcons placed the franchise tag on running back Devonta Freeman, which means he will make $8.25 million in 2017. Freeman, who is only 25 years old, had a breakout year in 2015, rushing for 1,634 yards and 14 touchdowns while adding 73 catches for 578 yards and three more scores. He was not quite as productive in 2016, but still managed to run for 1,079 yards and 11 touchdowns while catching 54 passes for 462 yards and two scores.

Melvin Gordon

Melvin Gordon III (born April 13, 1993) is an American football running back for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Wisconsin, and was drafted by the Chargers in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

Gordon was considered one of the best running backs in his class, and was selected by the Chargers with the 15th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he appeared in all 16 games and rushed for over one thousand yards, becoming just the fourth player in team history to do so. He also scored 12 rushing touchdowns, tied for second among all rookies that year. In his second season, Gordon again appeared in all 16 games and rushed for 997 yards and 10 touchdowns. In 2017, he was limited to 12 games due to injury but still managed to rush for over 800 yards and eight touchdowns.

Carlos Hyde

RB Carlos Hyde signed a two-year, $6 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The Seahawks also are signing former Jaguars RB Chris Carson to a one-year deal, a source told Schefter.

Wide Receivers

The wide receiver position has been one of the most active in free agency so far. Several big-name wideouts have already found new homes, including Golden Tate, Devin Funchess, and Cole Beasley. Here’s a look at some of the other notable wide receivers who have left their teams in free agency.

Amari Cooper

The Dallas Cowboys have placed the franchise tag on wide receiver Amari Cooper. The one-year tender is worth $20.72 million.

Cooper, 26, was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on March 18. He was acquired by the Cowboys from the Oakland Raiders in October for a first-round draft pick.

In nine games with the Cowboys, Cooper had 53 catches for 725 yards and six touchdowns. His best game came in Week 14 against the Philadelphia Eagles when he had 10 catches for 217 yards and three touchdowns.

Cooper has 243 catches for 3,183 yards and 19 touchdowns in five NFL seasons.

Robby Anderson

Robby Anderson (born May 9, 1993) is an American football wide receiver for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Temple, and was signed by the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2016.

In his rookie year, he started one game and played in all 16, catching 42 passes for 587 yards and two touchdowns. In 2017, he started 14 games and caught 63 passes for 941 yards and seven touchdowns. In 2018, he started all 16 games and caught 50 passes for 752 yards and six touchdowns.

Emmanuel Sanders

Emmanuel Sanders (born March 16, 1987) is an American football wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU, and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Sanders has also played for the Denver Broncos

Tight Ends

The tight end position has been a bit of a revolving door in the NFL this offseason, with a number of big-name players changing teams. The biggest move was probably Jimmy Graham leaving the Saints to join the Seahawks, but there have been a number of other notable tight ends who have found new homes in free agency.

Austin Hooper

Austin Hooper is an American football tight end for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Stanford University, and was drafted by the Falcons in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

In his rookie season, he started seven games and caught 19 passes for 271 yards and three touchdowns. In 2017, he started all 16 games and had 49 catches for 526 yards and three touchdowns. In 2018, Hooper was selected to his first Pro Bowl after catching 71 passes for 660 yards and four touchdowns.

Eric Ebron

Eric Ebron was one of the tight ends who left in NFL free agency. He played for the Detroit Lions from 2014 to 2017. In 2018, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts. He was released by the Colts after one season.

Jordan Reed

The Washington Redskins released veteran tight end Jordan Reed on Thursday, the team announced.

Reed, 29, had been with the Redskins since he was drafted in the third round in 2013. He had 45 catches for546 yards and two touchdowns last season, but he has dealt with numerous injuries throughout his career and has not played a full 16-game season since his rookie year.

The Redskins also released veteran wide receiver Brian Quick and defensive back Fabian Moreau on Thursday.

Defensive Players

The NFL free agency period is always an exciting time as fans wait to see which players their team will sign. This year, there were a number of big-name defensive players who left their teams in free agency. Here are some of the most notable departures.

Jadeveon Clowney

Jadeveon Clowney is a 26-year-old defensive end who was drafted by the Houston Texans with the first overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He has been selected to three Pro Bowls and was named a First-Team All-Pro in 2016.

Clowney became a free agent in 2019 after the Texans declined to exercise their option for the 2020 season. He then signed a one-year, $13 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks.

Chris Harris Jr.

Chris Harris Jr. is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Kansas, and was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He has also played for the Carolina Panthers.

Harris was born in Bixby, Oklahoma. He attended Bixby High School, where he played quarterback, running back, wide receiver, defensive back, and return specialist for the Bixby Spartans football team. As a senior in 2006, he compiled 1,560 all-purpose yards and 20 touchdowns on offense, and had four interceptions on defense, as he helped lead Bixby to an undefeated season and the Oklahoma Class 6A state championship.

Everson Griffen

Everson Griffen is a professional American football player who is currently a free agent. He played college football at the University of Southern California, and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Griffen has also played for the Detroit Lions.