2017 NFL Free Agency Rumors Tracker: Dont’a Hightower Braves the Snow

Tracking all of the 2017 NFL free agency rumors on Tuesday, March 14 as teams and players continue to move.

After another day in 2017 NFL free agency, there was frankly very little that changed on the open market. Yes, there were a few signings and a few rumblings throughout Monday as the first official week of the new league year nears its end. However, the big names still available exist only in NFL free agency rumors at this point rather than anything concrete.

One thing concrete that did happen on Monday was the Philadelphia Eagles making moves at quarterback behind Carson Wentz. The upcoming second-year pro is the unquestioned starter, but the Eagles signed Nick Foles early Monday morning. With a hefty amount of money committed to Chase Daniel, the Missouri product requested his release. By the end of the day, Philly granted him that and now an intriguing quarterback looking for a starting gig is added to the market.

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• Denver Broncos’ stud wide receiver might be out for a while
• Washington Commanders: Three takeaways from win over Ravens

Meanwhile, the NFL free agency rumors concerning the likes of Dont’a Hightower and Dontari Poe continued. Hightower is meeting with a number of teams, but they still all come away thinking that he’s re-signing with the New England Patriots. As for Poe, he’s slated to meet with the Atlanta Falcons.

Hightower and Poe highlight the main theme of free agency to this point, which is how little value non-pass-rushers, non-cornerbacks and non-receivers have in comparison to their counterparts. With that said, they’re still potentially key pieces to defenses wherever they sign. Maybe we’ll come closer to finding out what will happen there on Tuesday.

With that in mind, we’ll be keeping track of all of the 2017 NFL free agency rumors on Tuesday, March 14 below, presented in reverse chronological order:

Cook Adds To His List of Visits

Slated to meet with the Vikings, Jared Cook will visit with the Oakland Raiders next if he doesn’t get a deal done in Minnesota, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport:

Datone Jones Lands With Division Rival

Former Packers defensive end Datone Jones has signed with the Minnesota Vikings, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo:

Patriots Get Another Bruising Running Back

Continuing a big offseason, the New England Patriots have signed running back Rex Burkhead, per ESPN’s Field Yates:

Cowboys Add O-Line Depth

After losing Ronald Leary (FA) and Doug Free (retirement), the Dallas Cowboys have signed former Cardinals guard Jonathan Cooper, per ESPN’s Todd Archer:

Browns Thinking About a Game-Changing Trade?

The Cleveland Browns have already pulled off a massive trade in picking up a second-round pick (and Brock Osweiler, I guess) from the Houston Texans. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, however, there is a “growing belief in some circles” that Cleveland is eyeing another trade, this one to acquire Kirk Cousins from the Washington Redskins.

Cardinals Likely Getting Former First-Round Pick

NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport reports that the Arizona Cardinals are expected to sign former Steeler Jarvis Jones at outside linebacker:

Packers Add Cornerback

Though there are reports that he was meeting with the Steelers on Tuesday, the Packers have reportedly signed Davon House to a one-year deal, per Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

Minnesota Could Meet With Jared Cook

With reports that the Seahawks are meeting with Jared Cook from Monday, Tom Pelissero of USA Today is reporting that the Vikings would be the tight end’s next visit if no deal gets done:

Latavius Murray Meeting in Minny

With Eddie Lacy off the market, the Minnesota Vikings are moving quickly (or were already moving) as they’ll meet with former Raider Latavius Murray, per Adam Schefter. Schefter adds that Jamaal Charles will still meet with Seahawks:

More on Saints, Butler

Per Ian Rapaport, the Saints interest in Malcolm Butler is quite for real and they’ve already started contract negotiations. Their hope is to strike a deal this week, and then look to trade with Patriots—again:

Texans Also Looking at Butler

With Sean Payton saying that Malcolm Butler will meet with the Saints, Eric Edholm of Yahoo! is reporting that the Houston Texans also have interest in the restricted free agent corner. Edholm adds they’d part with second-round pick:

Seahawks Get Their Running Back, From a Familiar Foe No Less

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, free agent running back and former Green Bay Packer Eddie Lacy will sign with Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks. The deal is one year for $3 million guaranteed:

Saints Looking For Another Big Defensive Play?

Brett Martel of the Associated Press reports that New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton says that the team will welcome restricted free agent cornerback Malcolm Butler on Thursday:

Kirk Cousins ‘Trade Request’ Got Twisted

Though he’s not happy playing under the franchise tag again, Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on the latter’s podcast that the meeting was simply to discuss the direction of the team, not to request a trade as was rumored/reported.

DeMarcus Ware Not Done For Good?

DeMarcus Ware announced his retirement on Monday. However, Vic Lombardi said on PFT Live (via Pro Football Talk) that Ware could be considering a “soft retirement.” If the case, Ware could sign with any team at any time.

Saints Add More Defensive Help

After meeting with him on Monday, the New Orleans Saints have reportedly agreed to terms with linebacker Alex Okafor, per NFL Insider Rand Getlin:

Snowstorm Not Stopping Hightower Meeting

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport, Dont’a Hightower’s scheduled meeting with the Pittsburgh Steelers is still happening on Tuesday, despite the heavy snowfall in the area:

Jarvis Jones Visiting NFC West Teams

Former Steeler Jarvis Jones has already met with the Arizona Cardinals and will now meet with the Los Angeles Rams, who reportedly have “very intrigued” by the outside linebacker, per Jason La Canfora:

Rams Extend Offer to RFA Center

The Los Angeles Rams have handed out an offer sheet to center Mike Groy, according to Mike Rodak of ESPN. The Bills now have five days to match the offer:

Raiders Land Speedy Big-Name Receiver

Late on Tuesday night, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Oakland Raiders have signed wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, giving Derek Carr a speedy weapon:

The Market for Geno

Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport on GMFB, the New York Giants’ meeting with Geno Smith went well, but the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Chargers have also maintained interest in the former Jets quarterback.

Next: 2017 NFL Free Agency: Early Grades for Each Team

As always, we continue to look for resolution with guys like Hightower and Poe, but also with the likes of Adrian Peterson, Jay Cutler and other veterans with intriguing markets. Let the NFL free agency rumors and signings continue to roll.