Teams Press Hold on NFL Free Agency

Here's why NFL free agency news has slowed to a dribble and players like Adrian Amos remain unsigned.

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Apr 12, 2023 5:20 PM EDT

In this story:

Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – NFL free agency is on an unofficial hold.

While there will be exceptions – Odell Beckham to the Baltimore Ravens an obvious one – free agency is on a hiatus that will continue through the draft.

There are two reasons why. One, teams are ready to fill holes on their roster with younger, cheaper talent via the 2023 NFL Draft, then will revisit their rosters afterward to bolster any deficiencies.

Second – and most importantly – is the compensatory pick formula.

Compensatory draft picks are given to teams that incurred a net loss of compensatory free agents. CFAs are determined by a formula that is weighted heavily toward average annual salary. Teams that lose more or better CFAs than they signed are eligible to be awarded a compensatory pick or picks the following draft.

For instance, the Packers are set to gain three compensatory free agents in the 2024 draft. They lost three CFAs – Allen Lazard to the Jets, Jarran Reed to the Seahawks and Dean Lowry to the Vikings – and did not sign any.

However, the compensatory window closes on the Monday after the draft. This year, that means May 1. At that point, teams can start signing free agents without messing with their compensatory-pick bounty.

For the Packers, that means an opportunity to sign a veteran without impacting their comp-pick scoreboard.

For the rest of the league, that could mean a new interest in Green Bay’s remaining free agents: safety Adrian Amos, receiver Randall Cobb, tight end Marcedes Lewis and kicker Mason Crosby.

Amos, in particular, should merit a contract substantial enough that it could impact the comp-pick ledger. Amos, who will turn 30 in two weeks, is arguably the best available safety on the market, having started all 71 games in four seasons in Green Bay. However, by waiting until after the comp-pick window closes, a team can add him without losing a compensatory pick.

Amos had a free-agent visit with the Baltimore Ravens a few weeks ago. The Ravens – Amos’ hometown team – are the longtime masters of the comp-pick system. Since compensatory picks were introduced in 1994, the Ravens have been awarded a league-high 55. At the moment, the Ravens are plus-1 on comp picks.

The Packers might have interest in bringing back Cobb – general manager Brian Gutekunst and coach Matt LaFleur have talked about their desire to add a veteran to a receiver room filled with four 2022 draft picks and one first-year player. Cobb, on the other hand, might be waiting for Aaron Rodgers and the Jets or for an opportunity to play for a team better positioned to contend.

It could be the same story for Lewis, who is the NFL’s oldest tight end but has not played in a Super Bowl. Though perhaps not to the extent of Cobb, he is close with Rodgers. However, Lewis has enjoyed his time in Green Bay and the team - especially coach Matt LaFleur - would like to have him back.

Meanwhile, the team might be looking to go younger and cheaper at kicker rather than bringing back Crosby for a 17th season.

“We’ll never close the door,” Gutekunst said at the NFL meetings last month. “We’ll kind of see where that goes. Mason is the all-time leading scorer in this franchise’s history. He had a good year this past year. We’re limited a little bit financially but we’d never say never.”