Keep pace with offseason’s major moves

The NFL’s free agency period for the 2021 offseason officially begins at 4 p.m. ET on March 17 – the point when players with expiring contracts can sign with new teams and also the juncture at which all 32 of the league’s teams must comply with this year’s $182.5 million salary cap.

Prior to March 17, only players who had been released from their previous contracts were eligible to join new clubs, new Arizona Cardinal J.J. Watt and Baltimore Raven Kevin Zeitler being examples.

Other pending free agents could begin negotiating (and agreeing to) new deals Monday, like the mega-pact outgoing Patriots guard Joe Thuney is getting from the Chiefs or Yannick Ngakoue’s agreement with Las Vegas. Players were also eligible to re-sign with their current club, as Buccaneers Shaq Barrett and Rob Gronkowski did Monday.

TE Rob Gronkowski will spend a second season with the Buccaneers.

Meanwhile, in a year when the cap falls by nearly $16 million due to revenue losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, several name players suddenly find themselves looking for work as teams slash salaries to get under the cap – Casey Hayward and Emmanuel Sanders among that group.

Below is a list of the most prominent players on the move in 2021 … and a few who will not be going anywhere.

AFC

Baltimore Ravens

Released: RB Mark Ingram

Re-signed: OLB Tyus Bowser (4 years, $22M), NT Justin Ellis, OLB Pernell McPhee, TE Eric Tomlinson, DE Derek Wolfe (3 years, $12M)

Signed: G Kevin Zeitler (3 years, $22M)

Buffalo Bills

Released: WR John Brown, DT Quinton Jefferson

Re-signed: G Jon Feliciano (3 years, $17M), LB Tyler Matakevich (1 year), LB Matt Milano (4 years, $44M, $24M guaranteed), OT Daryl Williams (3 years, $28.2M, per NFL Network)

Signed: P Matt Haack

TUESDAY IN FREE AGENCY: Patriots strike again, sign TE Hunter Henry; Jaguars add Pro Bowl CB

MONDAY IN FREE AGENCY: Buccaneers re-sign Shaq Barrett, Patriots make big moves

Cincinnati Bengals

Released: C B.J. Finney

Re-signed: QB Brandon Allen, S Brandon Wilson (2 years)

Signed: CB Chidobe Awuzie (3 years, official March 17), DE Trey Hendrickson, 4 years, $60M, official March 17), CB Mike Hilton (4 years, official March 17)

Cleveland Browns

Released: DE Adrian Clayborn

Signed: S John Johnson (3 years, $33.75M, $24M guaranteed, per NFL Network, official March 17), DE Takk McKinley (1 year, max $4M)

Denver Broncos

Club option activated: OLB Von Miller

Club option declined: FS Kareem Jackson (free agent)

Franchise tag: S Justin Simmons

Released: CB A.J. Bouye, DT Jurrell Casey, NT Kyle Peko

Re-signed: DL Shelby Harris (3 years, $27M)

Signed: CB Ronald Darby (3 years, $30M, official March 17)

Houston Texans

Released: RB Duke Johnson, G Senio Kelemete, C Nick Martin, QB Josh McCown, DE J.J. Watt

Re-signed: CB Vernon Hargreaves

Signed: OL Justin Britt (1 year, $3.2M), S Terrence Brooks (1 year, $2M, official March 17), DL Maliek Collins (1 year, $6M, official March 17), LB Kamu Grugier-Hill (1 year, $3.25M, official March 17), RB Mark Ingram (1 year, max $3M, per ESPN), LB Christian Kirksey (1 year, max $4.5M), G Justin McCray (2 years, $4M, official March 17), WR Chris Moore (1 year, $2M, official March 17), LB Kevin Pierre-Louis (2 years, official March 17), DE Derek Rivers (official March 17), KR/WR Andre Roberts (2 years, $6M, official March 17), QB Tyrod Taylor, (1 year, official March 17), DT Vincent Taylor (1 year, $2M, official March 17), LB Joe Thomas (1 year, $2M, official March 17)

Traded: LB Benardrick McKinney (to Dolphins, official March 17)

Traded for: OT Marcus Cannon (from Patriots, official March 17), DE Shaq Lawson (from Dolphins, official March 17)

Indianapolis Colts

Traded for: QB Carson Wentz (from Eagles, official March 17)

Jacksonville Jaguars

Franchise tag: OT Cam Robinson

Released: OLB Kamalei Correa, TE Tyler Eifert

Re-signed: CB Sidney Jones, G Tyler Shatley, DE Dawuane Smoot (2 years, $14M)

Signed: WR/KR Jamal Agnew (3 years, official March 17), DT Tyson Alualu (2 years, $6M, official March 17), WR Phillip Dorsett (official March 17), S Rudy Ford (2 years, $4.2M, official March 17), RB Carlos Hyde (2 years, $6M, official March 17), CB Shaquill Griffin (3 years, max $45M, per NFL Network, official March 17), S Rayshawn Jenkins (4 years, official March 17), WR Marvin Jones (2 years, $14.5M, official March 17), TE Chris Manhertz (2 years, $7.25M, official March 17), DT Roy Robertson-Harris (3 years, $24.4M, official March 17), DL Jihad Ward (official March 17)

Traded for: DL Malcom Brown (from Saints, official March 17)

Kansas City Chiefs

Released: OT Eric Fisher, OT Mitchell Schwartz, RB Damien Williams

Re-signed: DE Taco Charlton, RB Darrel Williams (1 year)

Retired: FB Anthony Sherman

Signed: G Joe Thuney (5 years, $80M, official March 17)

Las Vegas Raiders

Released: C Rodney Hudson, G Richie Incognito, G Gabe Jackson, DB Lamarcus Joyner, WR Tyrell Williams

Re-signed: DL David Irving

Signed: DE Yannick Ngakoue (2 years, $26M, official March 17)

Traded: OT Trent Brown (to Patriots, official March 17)

Los Angeles Chargers

Released: CB Casey Hayward, G Trai Turner

Re-signed: K Mike Badgley (1 year), CB Michael Davis (3 years)

Retired: C Mike Pouncey

Signed: OL Matt Feiler (3 years, $21M, per ESPN, official March 17), C Corey Linsley (5 years, $62.5M, official March 17)

Miami Dolphins

Released: OLB Kyle Van Noy

Re-signed: LB Vince Biegel (1 year)

Signed: RB RB Malcolm Brown (official March 17), QB Jacoby Brissett (1 year, official March 17), TE Cethan Carter (3 years, $7.8M, official March 17), P Michael Palardy

Traded: DE Shaq Lawson (to Texans, official March 17)

Traded for: LB Benardrick McKinney (from Texans, official March 17), OT Isaiah Wilson (from Titans, official March 17)

New England Patriots

Re-signed: DB/ST Justin Bethel (3 years, $6M), DL Carl Davis, QB Cam Newton (1 year, approximately $14M, per reports), DL Deatrich Wise (4 years, $30 million)

Signed: WR Nelson Agholor (official March 17), DL Henry Anderson (2 years, official March 17), WR Kendrick Bourne (3 years, $22.5M, official March 17), DT Davon Godchaux (2 year, official March 17), TE Hunter Henry (3 years, $37.5M, per ESPN, official March 17), OLB Matt Judon (4 years, $56M, official March 17), DB Jalen Mills (4 years, $24M, official March 17), TE Jonnu Smith (4 years, $50M, $31.3M guaranteed, official March 17)

Traded: OT Marcus Cannon (to Texans, official March 17)

Traded for: OT Trent Brown (from Raiders, official March 17)

JARRETT BELL: Patriots spending big, and Bill Belichick’s competitive juice is still hot

New York Jets

Franchise tag: S Marcus Maye

Released: DL Henry Anderson

Signed: WR Corey Davis (3 years, $37.5M, per ESPN, official March 17), LB Jarrad Davis (1 year, $7M, official March 17), DE Carl Lawson (3 years, $45M, per NFL Network, official March 17)

Pittsburgh Steelers

Released: LB Vince Williams

Re-signed: CB Cameron Sutton (2 years, $9M), OT Zach Banner

Retired: C Maurkice Pouncey

Signed: C B.J. Finney

Tennessee Titans

Released: CB Malcolm Butler, WR Adam Humphries, CB Adoree’ Jackson, OT Dennis Kelly, S Kenny Vaccaro

Re-signed: WR Marcus Johnson, TE Geoff Swaim (1 year)

Signed: DL Denico Autry (3 years, $21.5M, official March 17), LB Bud Dupree (5 years, max $85M, official March 17), CB Janoris Jenkins, OT Kendall Lamm (2 years, $8.5M, per NFL Network, official March 17)

Traded: OT Isaiah Wilson (to Dolphins, official March 17)

WINNERS AND LOSERS: From NFL’s 2021 franchise tag deadline

MIKE JONES: Salary cap crunch means teams must get creative as free agency looms

WINNERS AND LOSERS: From Dak Prescott’s new contract with Dallas

NFC

Atlanta Falcons

Released: CB Ricardo Allen, DE Allen Bailey, G James Carpenter

Re-signed: K Younghoe Koo

Arizona Cardinals

Released: K Zane Gonzalez

Re-signed: CB Robert Alford, OT Kelvin Beachum (2 years), OLB Markus Golden (2 years, $9M), P Andy Lee, LB Tanner Vallejo (2 years, $4.1M)

Signed: DE J.J. Watt (2 years, $28M, $23M guaranteed)

Carolina Panthers

Franchise tag: OT Taylor Moton (signed tender)

Released: S Tre Boston, DT Zach Kerr, P Michael Palardy, DT Kawann Short, DL Stephen Weatherly

Re-signed: LS J.J. Jansen

Signed: G Pat Elfelin (3 years, $13.5M, official March 17), OL Cameron Erving (2 years, $10M, official March 17), WR Keith Kirkwood

Chicago Bears

Franchise tag: WR Allen Robinson

Released: CB Buster Skrine

Re-signed: DE Mario Edwards (3 years, $11.55M), P Pat O’Donnell, K Cairo Santos (5 years, $16M)

Signed: QB Andy Dalton (1 year, $10 million, official March 17)

Dallas Cowboys

Franchise tag/re-signed: QB Dak Prescott (4 years, $160M, $126M guaranteed)

Released: FB Jamize Olawale

Re-signed: WR Noah Brown (1 year), CB C.J. Goodwin (2 years, $3.5M)

Signed: LS Jake McQuaide (1 year, official March 17), OT Ty Nsekhe (1 year, official March 17)

Detroit Lions

Released: C Russell Bodine, CB Justin Coleman, G Joe Dahl, QB Chase Daniel, TE Jesse James, LB Christian Jones, DT Danny Shelton, CB Desmond Trufant

Re-signed: DE Romeo Okwara (3 years, $39M)

Signed: TE Josh Hill, WR Tyrell Williams (1 year, $4M)

Traded: QB Matthew Stafford (to Rams, official March 17)

Traded for: QB Jared Goff (from Rams, official March 17)

Green Bay Packers

Released: LB Christian Kirksey, FB John Lovett, RT Rick Wagner

Re-signed: RB Aaron Jones (4 years, $48M, $13M signing bonus)

Retired: CB Tramon Williams

Los Angeles Rams

Re-signed: OLB Leonard Floyd (4 years, $64M, per NFL Network)

Traded: QB Jared Goff (to Lions, official March 17)

Traded for: QB Matthew Stafford (from Lions, official March 17)

Minnesota Vikings

Released: K Dan Bailey, CB Tae Hayes, OT Riley Reiff, TE Kyle Rudolph, DT Shamar Stephen, CB Cordrea Tankersley

Re-signed: OT Rashod Hill (1 year)

Signed: K Greg Joseph, DT Dalvin Tomlinson (2 years, $22M, official March 17), DL Stephen Weatherly (1 year, $2.5M), LB Nick Vigil (1 year, $1.35M, official March 17)

New Orleans Saints

Franchise tag: S Marcus Williams

Released: LB Kwon Alexander, TE Jared Cook, OL Nick Easton, TE Josh Hill, CB Janoris Jenkins, P Thomas Morstead, WR Emmanuel Sanders

Re-signed: OL James Hurst (3 years, $9M), DL Noah Spence, RB Dwayne Washington, QB Jameis Winston (1 year, max $12M)

Retired: QB Drew Brees

Signed: FB Alex Armah (official March 17)

Traded: DL Malcom Brown (to Jaguars, official March 17)

New York Giants

Franchise tag/re-signed: DL Leonard Williams (3 years, $63M, $45M guaranteed, per reports)

Released: WR Cody Core, G Kevin Zeitler, LB David Mayo, WR Golden Tate

Re-signed: DT Austin Johnson

Signed: RB Devontae Booker (2 years, $6M, official March 17), WR John Ross (1 year, $2.5M, per NFL Network, official March 17)

Philadelphia Eagles

Released: WR DeSean Jackson

Reverted trade: WR Marquise Goodwin (to 49ers)

Traded: QB Carson Wentz (to Colts, official March 17)

San Francisco 49ers

Released: DL Ronald Blair, LB Mark Nzeocha

Re-signed: FB Kyle Juszczyk (5 years, $27M, per NFL Network), CB Emmanuel Moseley (2 years, $10.1M, per ESPN), CB Jason Verrett (1 year, $5.5M)

Reverted trade: WR Marquise Goodwin (from Eagles)

Signed: OLB Samson Ebukam (2 years, $12M, official March 17)

Seattle Seahawks

Released: DE Carlos Dunlap, WR Josh Gordon, G Chance Warmack

Retired: G Mike Iupati, TE Greg Olsen

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Extended: QB Tom Brady

Franchise tag: WR Chris Godwin

Re-signed: OLB Shaq Barrett (4 years, max $72M, $36M guaranteed, per NFL Network), LB Lavonte David (2 years, $25M), TE Rob Gronkowski (1 year, max $10M, per reports), LB Kevin Minter

Washington Football Team

Franchise tag: G Brandon Scherff

Released: QB Alex Smith

Re-signed: K Dustin Hopkins

Retired: OLB Thomas Davis

Signed: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (1 year, $10M, per reports, official March 17)

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL free agency tracker 2021: Updates on offseason’s major moves