Tag: nfl free agency

Saquon Barkley opens up about his ‘whirlwind’ Giants exit

Saquon Barkley said his final goodbyes to Giants fans on Thursday night in a lengthy post on social media. 

Hours after the running back’s introductory press conference took place in Philadelphia, where he’ll be playing with the Eagles for the next three years, Barkley expressed his gratitude to Giants fans in New York and New Jersey who “will forever hold a place in my heart.” 

Barkley signed a three-year, $37.5 million deal with the Eagles on the first day of free agency and ended his six-year run with the Giants. 

“The last three days have been a whirlwind of emotions, but I wanted to take a minute and acknowledge all the Giant fans that have supported me and my family over the last six years,” Barkley posted. 


Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley speaks during a press conference after signing with the Eagles. Kyle Ross-USA TODAY Sports

The former first-round pick and the team that drafted him were never able to come to terms on an extension and the Giants opted not to use the franchise tag on him like they had done last year, letting him hit the open market. 

“When I was drafted here I wanted my impact off the field to rival the accomplishments we had on it, and I can only hope that I came close to doing that. I’m forever grateful to the Mara and Tisch family and the wonderful people working in the Giants organization. The fans in New York and New Jersey will forever hold a place in my heart. 

“Ultimately the NFL is a business, and I hope that everyone can respect my decision.” 

Barkley amassed 7,200 all-purpose yards and was named to two Pro Bowls during his time with the Giants, but the Giants had just one winning season during his tenure in the Big Apple. 


New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) is greeted by his teammates after he scores a touchdown during the first half when the New York Giants played the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, January 7, 2024 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
Saquon Barkley left the Giants after this past season. Robert Sabo for NY Post

Barkley had expressed regret over the way he left and that he never gave Giants fans a proper goodbye when he signed with the Eagles earlier this week. 

“I don’t think I really handled it the right way on social media. I think I could’ve gave a proper goodbye,” he said during his introductory press conference.

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New York Giants re-signing LS Casey Kreiter, per report

The New York Giants are reportedly keeping long snapper Casey Kreiter for at least another season.

According to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, Kreiter has re-upped with the Giants right before he was scheduled to hit free agency — and that’s despite the expectation that he’d have outside interest on the open market.

Kreiter was signed by the Giants in 2020 and has spent the last four seasons with the team.

“Casey’s the glue. He is, he’s the glue to our special teams unit. He is the quarterback of our punt team,” former special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey told reporters last December. “I couldn’t sit here and tell you how much he means to our special teams unit.”

“He’s a great leader, he’s insightful, he thinks like a coach on the field, he’s a real leader in our room, he gets the guys together every week.”

Prior to his stint in New York, Kreiter was an undrafted free-agent signing of the Dallas Cowboys out of Iowa before spending four seasons with the Denver Broncos, where he earned one Pro Bowl nod.



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‘Legal tampering’ window begins Monday at noon

The wait for NFL free agency is over.

The “legal tampering” window will begin at noon on Monday and last until 4 p.m. on Wednesday, when the new league year officially begins.

Here’s a quick summary of the legal tampering period, also known as the open negotiating period:

From 12:00 p.m. ET on Monday, March 11 until 3:59:59 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 13, clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents upon expiration of their 2023 player contracts at 4:00 p.m. ET on March 13.

The two-day negotiating period applies only to prospective unrestricted free agents. It does not apply to players who have received, or who may receive, a required tender applicable to the 2024 League Year (e.g., exclusive rights players, restricted free agents, franchise players or transition players).

Let the rumors fly.

The New York Giants have approximately $41 million in available salary cap space this year and are expected to attack the offensive line early in free agency.

Players to keep an eye out for include the New England Patriots’ Mike Onwenu, Jermaine Eluemunor of the Las Vegas Raiders, the Miami Dolphins’ Robert Hunt and Jonah Jackson of the Detroit Lions.

The Giants stand to lose two captains — running back Saquon Barkley and safety Xavier McKinney — as they chose not to use the franchise or transition tags on them last week.

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New York Giants hosting CB Darious Williams for visit, per report

The New York Giants are reportedly set to meet with former Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback, Darious Williams.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Giants are bringing Williams in for a visit on Sunday. Williams was recently cut by the Jaguars in a cap-saving move.

The 30-year-old cornerback was originally an undrafted free-agent signing of the Baltimore Ravens in 2018. He has also appeared in games with the Los Angeles Rams and Jaguars.

In 2023, Williams tallied four interceptions and 19 passes defensed. He was targeted 100 times in coverage and gave up a completion rate of 55.0% and surrendered a career-low passer rating of 63.9.

The Giants are in the market for cornerback help this offseason, with three of their secondary members from 2023 hitting free agency, a group that includes Adoree’ Jackson, Darnay Holmes and Keion Crossen.

Spotrac estimates that Williams will receive a two-year deal worth $25.6 million, which works out to an annual average salary of $12.8 million.



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Giants actively gauging guard, edge rusher markets

The 2023 NFL season was not fun for the New York Giants. They had the worst offensive line in the league, which is evidenced by the use of three different quarterbacks throughout the season because of injuries.

They also missed the playoffs after making the postseason in 2022 under head coach Brian Daboll, which is a huge disappointment and fall from expectations.

Then there was the off-field drama, which is a whole different story.

But the Giants know the season was a dumpster fire, they know that adjustments have to be made and are actively looking for solutions.

According to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, the Giants are “most actively gauging” the guard and edge rusher markets in free agency.

Raanan adds that the offensive line is a priority, as it should be. Money will have to be spent there, especially if general manager Joe Schoen is dead-set on standing behind Daniel Jones, who has already endured several injuries.

Not only will Jones be put at further risk if he is not protected, but the Giants will have no hope of improving. This needs to be the Giants’ top priority this offseason, whether that be through the draft, free agency, or both.

While not great, the Giants’ defense was better than the offense last year. But there is still plenty of room for improvement, especially on the edge.

Kayvon Thibodeaux is young, and while he’s improving, he can’t do it alone. As Raanan mentioned, Azeez Ojulari is coming off of a down year, but it’s a contract year so he will need to play well if he wants to re-sign with the Giants or land a significant deal somewhere else.

There are several areas of opportunity for the Giants to work on this offseason, but the offensive line has to be at the top. Having a good quarterback means nothing if he’s not protected.



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ESPN ranks 2 New York Giants among top 50 pending free agents

The new league year and the official start of free agency are just around the corner, and that will mark a busy time for NFL teams.

Free agency is always a frenzy, and the New York Giants will likely be quite active this year. They have multiple in-house free agents they must make decisions on and then determine what positional needs to address prior to the 2024 NFL draft.

ESPN recently took a look at the free agent pool and determined the 50 best players available. Among them were two Giants.

First up is running back Saquon Barkley, whom ESPN had ranked No. 27 overall.

Barkley has the traits to produce in any pro system, thanks to his ability to hit home runs. He’s a true lead back: a volume player who has amassed 288 receptions and 47 total touchdowns over his six pro seasons, and he tied for ninth this season in runs for 10-plus yards (26). But while he is averaging 98.8 scrimmage yards per game over his career, he has played only two full seasons since being draft No. 2 in 2018.

Barkley was the most obvious choice, and next up isn’t much of a surprise, either: safety Xavier McKinney at No. 34 overall.

Here’s a versatile safety with the ability to cover down, the post range that NFL teams covet and the ball skills to produce takeaways. McKinney had three interceptions this season, and he has nine picks and 14 pass breakups in his four pro seasons.

Former Giants defensive lineman Leonard Williams, who was traded to the Seattle Seahawks midseason, also made the list. He was ranked higher than both Barkley and McKinney at No. 16 overall.

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Odell Beckham, Jets have ‘informal’ chat at NFL meetings

PHOENIX — The NFL meetings had a surprise guest Tuesday: free agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. 

Beckham, who lives in Arizona, dropped into the Arizona Biltmore — where most of the NFL owners, general managers and coaches are this week — and chatted up several GMs and coaches, including Jets head coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas. 

A source said the meeting was “very informal” and they just chatted in a courtyard at the hotel.

Beckham also spent time talking to Rams GM Les Snead and Browns coach Kevin Stefanski.

CBS Sports reported that Beckham has had a formal meeting with the Ravens. 

The Jets have admitted they are interested in Beckham.

“I’ve had some productive conversations with Odell’s agent, Zeke Sandhu,” Douglas said Monday. “Odell is obviously a really talented player. He worked out for several teams a few weeks ago.

“We’ll see how that process plays out, but we have had conversations.”

Aaron Rodgers has said he would like to play with Beckham, and it is possible the two sides will end up making a deal at some point this offseason.


Joe Douglas and the Jets continue to stay in contact with Odell Beckham.
USA TODAY Sports

Beckham’s price may have to come down, however, before the Jets can do a deal with him. 

Team owner Woody Johnson said the fact Beckham is even considering the Jets shows how improved they are as a team. 

“The fact that Odell Beckham, a man of his character and the quality and his ability, would consider us and want to be with us if that’s what he wants is pretty much a compliment,” Johnson said. 

Beckham was at the hotel for about an hour and was accompanied by his agent, Zeke Sandhu. 

Douglas said on Monday that there was nothing scheduled with Beckham so his drop-in to the Biltmore may have been unexpected.

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Baker Mayfield lands with Buccaneers in NFL free agency

Baker Mayfield has a new home.

The 27-year-old quarterback is signing a one-year, $8.5 million deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in NFL free agency, according to multiple reports.

Mayfield now figures to be in the catbird seat to be Tom Brady’s successor after the future Hall of Famer retired for good this offseason.

The move also likely eliminates any possibility that Brady returns to Tampa Bay, as he did last year after announcing his retirement – slim as those chances may have been.

Mayfield, a former No. 1 overall pick with the Browns, has bounced around the league after four underwhelming seasons in Cleveland.

He was traded to the Carolina Panthers last offseason after the Browns landed Deshaun Watson, then was cut halfway through the season and resurfaced with the Los Angeles Rams.


Baker Mayfield
Getty Images

Mayfield went 1-3 with the Rams, but head coach Sean McVay expressed interest in retaining him, either as a backup or a possible security blanket in case injured quarterback Matthew Stafford doesn’t recover properly ahead of the 2023 season.

Instead, Mayfield took a job with the Buccaneers, where he has a much greater chance of starting.

He will likely compete with Kyle Trask, whom Tampa Bay selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

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Mike White leaves Jets for Dolphins

Mike White is effin’ gone.

White, who started seven games at quarterback over the last two years for the Jets, agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $16 million with the Dolphins, a source confirmed.

White will back up Tua Tagovailoa in Miami.


Quarterback Mike White following a Jets win in November 2022.
Robert Sabo for the NY POST

For White, 27, this is a homecoming.

He grew up in Pembroke Pines, Fla., and attended South Florida University before transferring to Western Kentucky.

The Jets felt White was a quality backup and expressed some interest in bringing him back, but it did not make sense for them as they pursued a veteran quarterback that was going to cost a lot of money.

The team also has Zach Wilson on the roster.


Quarterback Mike White throws the ball during Jets practice in November 2022.
Bill Kostroun for the NY Post

White’s most memorable moment with the Jets came in 2021 when he started in place of an injured Wilson against the Bengals.

He threw for 405 yards and led the Jets to a stunning 34-31 upset of Cincinnati, which would go on to win the AFC.

The Hall of Fame asked for some pieces of his uniform to display from that game.

After the game, he was referred to as Mike “Effin” White by his teammates and became a folk hero.


Mike White speaks to the media following the Jets’ loss to the Seahawks in January 2023.
AP

White injured his arm in the Jets’ next game against the Colts and things fizzled out for him.

White became a starter again in late November after Wilson was benched.

Follow the Post’s NFL Free Agency live coverage

White led the Jets to a win over the Bears but suffered broken ribs two weeks later in a loss to the Bills.

He missed two games before returning against the Seahawks in a game in which he never looked like himself.

The Jets liked White and he had a shot at grabbing the long-term starting job if he had not been injured.

Now, he will be on a rival.

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Baltimore ice cream shop makes him a flavor

Here’s your new scoop on Lamar Jackson.

No, it’s not about his potential new contract, possible new team, or anything related to his play on the field or negotiations off of it.

It’s an actual scoop of ice cream, made to support him in search of a long-awaited new deal with the Ravens.

The Charmery, a Baltimore-based ice cream shop, has debuted a new flavor on their menu called “Pay Lamar,” which is essentially peanut butter and caramel ice cream with chocolate chips and roasted peanuts.

Think PAYDAY the candy bar — but with more of a confrontational connotation.


Charmery ice cream shop in Baltimore, who debuted a new flavor, PAY LAMAR, in support of Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson returning to the team on a new contract.
@TheCharmery on Instagram

The Ravens placed a $32.416 million non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson earlier this week.

As a result, they’ll have until July 17 to reach a multi-year extension before that number becomes permanent for the 2023 season.

Under league rules, Jackson is free to negotiate with other teams, but his options could be thinning as the Carolina Panthers have traded up for the No. 1 overall pick and the Miami Dolphins exercised oft-injured signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa’s fifth-year option, which will pay him a fully guaranteed $23.4 million in 2024.

The Jets are looking for a quarterback, but they appear to be zeroed in on Aaron Rodgers.

The Charmery’s owner, and longtime Ravens fan, David Alima said that he and his friends “love Lamar [Jackson] and want to see him stay in Baltimore,” according to The Baltimore Banner.


The Ravens placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Lamar Jackson.
Tribune News Service via Getty Images

Lamar Jackson (8) was the NFL’s MVP award winner in 2019.
Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

“[Jackson] deserves every bit of money that he feels he deserves. Whatever he thinks he’s worth, I’m in agreement with him,” Alima added.

“I don’t proclaim to know the inside workings of the business,” continued Alima, who has owned The Charmery for over 10 years with his wife, Laura, according to the report.

“All I know is that Lamar is worth every single penny that he feels he’s deserved. That’s why I want to pay him.”

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