Old news becomes official as NFL free agency period begins

Russell Wilson to Denver, Carson Wentz to Washington, Amari Cooper to Cleveland.

Chandler Jones to Las Vegas, Khalil Mack and J.C. Jackson to the LA Chargers, Brandon Scherff to Jacksonville.

So what if it is previous information? On Wednesday, groups may come clear after all of the latest leaks made these strikes — and dozens of others — frequent information all through the NFL.

Sure, the 2022 enterprise 12 months has begun, and with it come the official bulletins of who’s going the place for what and the way a lot.

By far the most important blockbuster — not less than till Houston finds a group for quarterback Deshaun Watson — is Wilson shifting from the Seahawks to the Broncos. Seattle will get, maintain your breath, two first-round draft picks, two second-rounders, a fifth-rounder, and three gamers: quarterback Drew Lock, tight finish Noah Fant and defensive deal with Shelby Harris. All may very well be starters, although the Seahawks probably choose a distinct No. 1 QB.

“Russell has been an amazing participant, chief, and member of our group for the reason that day we drafted him within the third spherical in 2012,” mentioned Seattle normal supervisor John Schneider. “His tireless work ethic has helped make him one of the profitable QBs in NFL historical past and we thank him for his many contributions on the sphere and locally.

“When it grew to become evident that Russell was fascinated by taking part in elsewhere, we used that chance to discover the market, permitting us to amass three high quality gamers, large draft capital, and create wage cap flexibility. Now we have a transparent imaginative and prescient concerning the route of this group, and that is an thrilling time for our group.”

Whereas Denver stuffed its want behind middle, as did Tampa Bay when Tom Brady ended his 40-day retirement — sure, actually he did — and Aaron Rodgers stayed put in Inexperienced Bay with a three-year megadeal, a number of different groups are scrambling to seek out their passer. A few of these, together with Carolina, New Orleans and Cleveland, have been in discussions with Watson, who won’t be criminally charged after 22 girls accused him of sexual assault or harassment. Watson sat out final season and nonetheless faces civil lawsuits and maybe an NFL suspension.

Pittsburgh, which hasn’t had a QB opening since Ben Roethlisberger was drafted in 2004, signed Mitchell Trubisky away from Buffalo, the place he backed up Josh Allen, to compete for that spot.