The NFL offseason has already gotten cooking in recent days, with a flurry of deals involving some of the league's biggest names. Deebo Samuel is now Jayden Daniels' newest weapon with the Washington Commanders. The Chicago Bears have overhauled their offensive line as Ben Johnson looks to help Caleb Williams make the leap. Davante Adams appears set to replace Cooper Kupp for the Los Angeles Rams. And the Seattle Seahawks turned football world on its head over the weekend, sending receiver DK Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers just days after shipping QB Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders.
But for as hectic as the last week or so has been, we're just getting started. While NFL free agency doesn't technically begin until the start of the new league year on Wednesday, the madness unofficially gets going on Monday afternoon thanks to a peculiarity in the CBA: the legal tampering period.
What is the NFL's legal tampering period?
Noon ET on Monday, March 10, marks the opening of what's known as the legal tampering period. Essentially, it's the soft launch of free agency, in which teams and players are allowed to come to an agreement without actually finalizing terms.
It's important to note that this isn't a total free-for-all. There are still rules to follow in this two-day window, as teams are only allowed to contact a player's representation. (The Atlanta Falcons learned this the hard way during the Kirk Cousins saga last offseason.) But as long as you color within the lines, you're allowed to do just about everything but dot the I's and cross the T's, so expect to see a flurry of activity as soon as the window opens on Monday afternoon.
With that in mind, here are grades for every major signing during the legal tampering window.
Grades for every major NFL free-agency signing during legal tampering period
Haason Reddick signs one-year deal with Buccaneers
Haason Reddick has signed a one-year prove it deal with Tampa Bay. Reddick held out prior to last season with the New York Jets, and previously thrived with the Philadelphia Eagles. Reddick had just 2.5 sacks in 10 games this season in New York, but made the Pro Bowl the two years prior with Philadelphia. For Tampa Bay, Reddick comes at a steal of a contract and an easy way to improve their defensive line on the fly.
Haason Reddick contract grade: B+
Chris Godwin signs with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
While Chris Godwin has his own injury concerns, the Buccaneers have faith in their veteran wideout heading into next season. Godwin was connected to the New England Patriots, among other teams, but elected to stay in Tampa Bay where he is most comfortable. Godwin pairs best with Mike Evans, as the duo have been teammates throughout his eight-year career. Godwin got $44 million in guarantees, and the potential to make as much as $66 million.
Chris Godwin contract grade: B-
Chiefs add help on the offensive line
The Kansas City Chiefs need help at left tackle specifically, and have signed Jaylon Moore, previously of the San Francisco 49ers. Moore comes with some red flags and serious 'I can fix him' vibes that Brett Veach and the Chiefs love. Moore did play fairly well when Trent Williams was hurt, but $30 million over two seasons is a lot for a player of his caliber. The Chiefs are desperate, though, given what happened to them in the Super Bowl.
Jaylon Moore contract grade: C+
Commanders sign DT Javon Kinlaw
The reviews for former New York Jets DT Javon Kinlaw are not high, which makes it all the more surprising the Washington Commanders gave him at least $30 million guaranteed. Washington is in an arms race with the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC East, which feature the best defensive line in the NFL by a country mile. Kinlaw had just 4.5 sacks last season, but perhaps another change of scenery could do him some good as he reunites with GM Adam Peters.
Javon Kinlaw contract grade: C-
Giants sign CB Paulson Adebo
Adebo loomed as one of the sleepers of this free-agent class, an aggressive press corner who was likely on his way to a larger payday before a broken femur in Week 7 cut his contract year short. With the New Orleans Saints stuck in cap hell, re-signing Adebo was always a long shot, and now he lands with a New York Giants team that desperately needed help at corner opposite Deonte Banks. Health is a question mark, but Adebo does expect to be ready to go for training camp, and if he hits the ground running he could drastically overperform this three-year, $30 million deal. It won't solve New York's secondary issues on its own, but it's a good bit of business for an ascending player who's still just 25.
Paulson Adebo contract grade: A-
Patriots sign CB Carlton Davis III
Davis ended his lone season with the Detroit Lions on injured reserve after suffering a broken jaw in Week 13, but he still got a healthy three-year, $60 million pact from the New England Patriots in free agency. The Pats were looking for a player who could hold up in their man-heavy scheme opposite Christian Gonzalez, and Davis has a ton of experience doing just that after starring in Aaron Glenn's defense last season. But health is a question here (Davis has never made it through a full season in his seven-year NFL career) and he did seem a little overmatched at times playing as much man as Detroit asked of him. Still, this is a good player at a position of need.
Carlton Davis III contract grade: B
Titans sign OT Dan Moore Jr.
The Tennessee Titans still don't have a quarterback, but whoever does take snaps under center in 2025 will need some help from their offensive line. So it makes sense that the Titans prioritized landing a tackle, and they paid a premium to get one of the best available in what's a very thin market this year. Moore Jr. will be just 26 at the start of next season, and his 92.5% pass block win rate ranked 11th among tackles in 2024. But struggled a bit down the stretch, as any Steelers fan will tell you, and four years and $82 million with $50 million in guarantees feels like a lot.
Dan Moore Jr. contract grade: C
Lions sign CB DJ Reed
DJ Reed is an immediate replacement for Carlton Davis, who spent last season with Detroit before signing with the New England Patriots. Reed is capable on the outside or inside, depending on where new Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard wants to play him. Reed spent the last three seasons with the New York Jets, so he is surely eager to play for a winner this time around. Before that, he was a vital member of the Seattle Seahawks secondary. Here are the contract details.
DJ Reed contract grade: B
Milton Williams signs with the New England Patriots
Milton Williams had been heavily linked to the Carolina Panthers, but the Eagles Super Bowl champion quickly pivoted when the New England Patriots when they met his asking price. The Patriots have a lot of holes to fill – and they signed CB Carlton Davis early in the tampering period – but adding Williams along their defensive line should do wonders for a pass rush which lacked a punch last season. Williams signed for $26 million per season on a multiyear deal. Per PFF, Williams had a 17.6 percent win percentage, which was fourth among all interior defenders.
Milton Williams contract grade: B+
Sam Darnold signs with the Seattle Seahawks
It looks like Seattle had its sights set on Darnold from the moment it brought in Klint Kubiak earlier this offseason, as the OC is now reunited with the quarterback he worked with previously in San Francisco. The Seahawks more or less gave Darnold the exact same contract the Tampa Bay Bucs gave Baker Mayfield last year, three years and $110.5 million with $55 million guaranteed — not an overwhelming commitment considering how the salary cap has spiked. At the same time, it's hard not to wonder why they wouldn't have just given Geno Smith this same deal; sure, Smith is older, but he's also the far more proven player, and it remains to be seen how Darnold will hold up away from the friendly confines of Minnesota.