NFL

5:27 PM ET New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has announced his retirement on the 15th anniversary of his signing with the team. The star quarterback was one of the most terrifying offensive weapons in NFL history across his 20-season career with the Saints and Chargers. He holds the all-time record for passing yards with

7:00 AM ET FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — A look at what’s happening around the New York Jets: 1. Days numbered? Sam Darnold‘s chances of returning in 2021 seemed to improve with the hiring of coach Robert Saleh, who spoke of the quarterback in glowing terms (even privately to friends). Now, 46 days to the 2021

4:40 PM ET ESPN staff Who’s ready for 2021 NFL free agency? With Super Bowl LV in the rearview mirror, one of the strangest NFL offseasons ever is just getting started. We’ve already seen quarterback trades and other drama around star signal-callers, and the franchise tag window has come and gone with 10 players getting

5:05 PM ET Offensive tackle Nate Solder is expected to return to the New York Giants on a reworked deal, a source told ESPN, with financial details still to be finalized. Solder, who opted out of the 2020 season because of COVID-19 concerns for his family, was scheduled to make $10 million in 2021 while

8:00 AM ET FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Two NFL draft prospects gleefully gallop to the computer desk at the start of the 40-yard dash line looking for confirmation that they just witnessed something special. Turns out, they did. The computer reads: Georgia cornerback Eric Stokes, 4.246. It was a 40-yard dash that was blazing fast

10:32 AM ET TAMPA, Fla. — Quarterback Tom Brady has signed a contract extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team announced Friday. While the Bucs did not reveal any details, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that it is a four-year contract extension that voids to a one-year extension. The deal ties Brady to Tampa

2:21 PM ET The Kansas City Chiefs are expected to restructure quarterback Patrick Mahomes‘ contract to provide some cap relief, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The team is expected to convert Mahomes’ $21.7 million roster bonus to a signing bonus in the coming days, which would save the Chiefs $17 million against the cap, sources

7:00 AM ET NFL NationESPN NFL free agency kicks off next week and teams will be working with a salary cap of $182.5 million for the 2021 season, an 8% decrease from the $198.2 million cap in 2020. The cap has risen every year since 2011, but the reduced revenue due to the coronavirus pandemic

5:00 PM ET Marcel Louis-JacquesESPN BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills have agreed to a four-year contract extension with linebacker Matt Milano, the team announced on Thursday. The deal is worth $44 million with $24 million guaranteed, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. In the days leading up to free agency, Buffalo made several moves

4:05 PM ET Former Baltimore Ravens running back Mark Ingram has reached agreement on a one-year deal worth up to $3 million with the Houston Texans, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Ingram will join a Texans backfield led by starter David Johnson, who agreed to a restructured contract to remain with the team. The

7:15 AM ET NFL Nation Dan Graziano Close ESPN Staff Writer Joined ESPN in 2011 New Jersey native and author of two published novels The franchise tag window has closed, which means 2021 NFL free agency is just around the corner. How will it all play out, and who will sign where? We mocked how

6:26 PM ET FRISCO, Texas — Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is rehabilitating from a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle that he sustained last October, but he is already thinking about next February and Super Bowl LVI. “That’s my plan, get a parade in Dallas,” Prescott said on the day he officially

1:17 PM ET ASHBURN, VA. — When Washington Football Team coach Ron Rivera had a chance to talk with quarterback Alex Smith, who questioned the team’s desire in August to have him around, Rivera used one phrase in particular: You were right. He didn’t say Smith was right about everything, but Rivera admitted that he

9:43 AM ET The NFL and NFL Players Association agreed Wednesday to a salary cap of $182.5 million per team for 2021, a long-anticipated 8% decrease from last season, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The drop-off will force teams to make difficult roster decisions in the coming days and weeks. Cap limits had risen in

6:04 PM ET Turron DavenportESPN Close Covered Eagles for USA Today Covered the Ravens for Baltimore Times Played college football at Cheyney University NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee Titans are releasing veteran cornerback Malcolm Butler, a source told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Tuesday. The seventh-year veteran would have held a $14.2 million cap number for

4:21 PM ET GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Packers did not use the franchise tag to retain Pro Bowl running back Aaron Jones, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter, but they still have one more shot to retain him before he hits free agency. The source told Schefter that the Packers are still attempting to

6:38 AM ET FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots will be acquiring offensive tackle Trent Brown from the Las Vegas Raiders in a trade after agreeing to a restructured one-year contract worth up to $11 million with him, sources tell ESPN’s Field Yates. Brown, 27, previously played for the Patriots in 2018, starting every

7:19 PM ET FRISCO, Texas — Gone are the days of Dak Prescott, fourth-round pick success story. Now that the quarterback has signed a multi-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys, he will be defined by the $160 million contract, which includes $126 million guaranteed, a source tells ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Prescott’s signing bonus is $66