Dont’a Hightower says goodbye to football. The 33-year-old linebacker announced his retirement on Twitter and wrote an emotional statement on theplayerstribune.com website thanking his franchise, the New England Patriots: “Today I am officially retiring from the NFL I know these announcements always feel bittersweet, but I can’t think of a better story than the one I wrote in New England.A decade, three Super Bowls, two Pro Bowls, and the birth of my son—and all of that ’cause I played for a franchise. How many people have a story like that?” The American played for the Patriots for nine seasons in the NFL and was able to celebrate three Super Bowl wins with the team. Most memorable is his strip sack once morest Matt Ryan in the 2017 Super Bowl once morest the Falcons, which started the most legendary comeback in NFL history.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Officially, NFL teams are not allowed to sign free agents until Wednesday, but the starting signal for negotiations with players was given on Monday.
So it happens that many deals are already fixed before the official start of the new league year. One of these deals includes Jimmy Garoppolo. The 31-year-old quarterback, who spent the last six years with the San Francisco 49ers, will now get his chance with the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Raiders have signed Garoppolo, who was initially only scheduled as a 49ers backup last season but then played 11 games before ending the season early with a foot injury, to a three-year contract for $72.75 million.
In Las Vegas, Garoppolo, who led San Francisco to the Super Bowl in the 2019 season, will succeed Derek Carr, who will now play for the New Orleans Saints.
Hargrave to 49ers, Chiefs step up O-Line
A few other important deals also went through on Monday. The San Francisco 49ers have signed defensive tackle Javon Hagrave (most recently the Eagles) to a four-year, $84 million ($40 million guaranteed) contract.
Cornerback Patrick Peterson (most recently Vikings) has signed a two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers for $14 million ($5.85 million guaranteed).
The Kansas City Chiefs are strengthening with offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor (last Jaguars). He will receive $80 million ($60 million guaranteed) for four years.
The Denver Broncos are also investing in the offensive line. Tackle Mike McGlinchey (last 49ers) comes on for five years and receives $87.5 million (of which $50 million is guaranteed). Guard Ben Powers (most recently Ravens) is also brought in for four years and gets $52 million (of which $28.5 is guaranteed).
The Atlanta Falcons strengthen with safety Jesse Bates (most recently Bengals). He’s signed a four-year deal for $64.02 million. The Falcons also make Chris Lindstrom one of the highest-paid guards in NFL history with a five-year extension ($105 million).
Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (formerly Bills) now plays for the Chicago Bears, who have signed him to a four-year, $72 million contract ($50 million guaranteed).
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers manage to get Jamel Dean back. The cornerback has signed a four-year contract ($52 million).
Tom Brady: Tampa Bay Buccaneers have their eye on successors
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
The job is thankless. Because you can only lose as a successor to Tom Brady.
But of course the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have to move on following the retirement of the quarterback superstar, especially in the position of playmaker. The Bucs don’t want to rely on Kyle Trask alone, even though the former second-round pick has been learning behind Brady for two years now.
Instead, a veteran is to come in the Free Agency, which will start next week. And according to the NFL Network, the Buccaneers already have a specific successor in mind: Baker Mayfield.
While there seems to be a lot of support for Trask in the Bucs, Mayfield is said to be brought to Florida as a possible number one quarterback to go head-to-head with Trask in the offseason. The teams can officially negotiate from Monday, and free agency officially begins on Wednesday.
Baker Mayfield: An eventful NFL career
At 27, Mayfield can already look back on an eventful NFL career. He was selected first overall by the Cleveland Browns in 2018 and led the previously chronically unsuccessful team to the playoffs for the first time since 2002 in the 2020 season.
Before last season, however, he was fired from court in Cleveland and switched to the Carolina Panthers. Things didn’t really go well for him there either, which is why he asked to be released. For the remaining five games of the season he represented the Los Angeles Rams for the injured Matthew Stafford, winning two games.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers have their sights set on successors
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
The job is thankless. Because you can only lose as a successor to Tom Brady.
But of course the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have to move on following the retirement of the quarterback superstar, especially in the position of playmaker. The Bucs don’t want to rely on Kyle Trask alone, even though the former second-round pick has been learning behind Brady for two years now.
Instead, a veteran is to come in the Free Agency, which will start next week. And according to the NFL Network, the Buccaneers already have a specific successor in mind: Baker Mayfield.
While there seems to be a lot of support for Trask in the Bucs, Mayfield is said to be brought to Florida as a possible number one quarterback to go head-to-head with Trask in the offseason. The teams can officially negotiate from Monday, and free agency officially begins on Wednesday.
Baker Mayfield: An eventful NFL career
At 27, Mayfield can already look back on an eventful NFL career. He was selected first overall by the Cleveland Browns in 2018 and led the previously chronically unsuccessful team to the playoffs for the first time since 2002 in the 2020 season.
Before last season, however, he was fired from court in Cleveland and switched to the Carolina Panthers. Things didn’t really go well for him there either, which is why he asked to be released. For the remaining five games of the season he represented the Los Angeles Rams for the injured Matthew Stafford, winning two games.