Commanders land quarterback Marcus Mariota

No team has been more active in free agency than the Washington Commanders.

New general manager Adam Peters has agreed to deals with 12 free agents this offseason, with most of those additions hired to help the team get tougher and faster in the trenches. Other teams, including the Baltimore Ravens, have made much splashier moves — like bringing in running back Derrick Henry.

The NFL’s legal tampering period opened at noon on Monday, allowing free agents to negotiate with teams, though deals can’t be signed until the new league year begins at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Henry plans to sign a 2-year contract worth up to $20 million to join the Ravens. The deal includes $9 million guaranteed in the first year, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.

The 2020 Offensive Player of the Year joins a Baltimore offense that has prioritized running the football since adding dual-threat quarterback Lamar Jackson in 2018. Over the last six seasons, no team has rushed for more yards than the Ravens. The Titans, led by Henry, ranked second in the NFL over that span. 

“Flock Nation! I swear it’s up,” Henry wrote on X, with an added flexing emoji for emphasis.

The move immediately drew the attention of NFL media members, as two of the most dynamic runners in the league will occupy the same backfield.

“This should terrify every team in the NFL,” former running back Maurice Jones-Drew said on NFL Network. “[The Ravens] get a guy that’s durable, that’s tough to tackle later in the year … I love this move. I love it for Baltimore, I love it for Derrick Henry.”

Here’s a look at other NFL free agency news:

Washington Commanders: Quarterback Marcus Mariota agreed to a 1-year deal worth up to $10 million with the Commanders, ESPN reported. The 2014 Heisman Trophy winner out of Oregon and second overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft has bounced around the league, most recently playing backup on the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. Mariota’s contract has a base value of $6 million, but the 30-year-old could earn up to $10 million based on performance.

Sam Howell, who started all 17 games for the Commanders in 2023, is still on the roster. Former backup Jacoby Brissett left the team in free agency, agreeing to a deal with the New England Patriots on Monday.

Washington holds the No. 2 pick in April’s draft and is widely expected to select a quarterback to lead the team into the future.

The addition of Mariota and a rookie passer could leave Howell as the odd man out in the quarterback room. The 23-year-old could add value in a trade if Washington does not keep him on the active roster. 

The Commanders continued focusing on the trenches, agreeing to contracts with former Kansas City Chiefs guard Nick Allegretti, former San Francisco 49ers defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell and former Dallas Cowboys pass rusher Dante Fowler. Washington’s front office entered the negotiating period with a league-leading $91.5 million in cap space, allowing the team plenty of flexibility as they rebuild the roster. 

Washington’s front office also agreed to a 1-year, $5.1 million contract with safety Jeremy Chinn on Tuesday, according to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz. The versatile 26-year-old joins coach Dan Quinn, who regularly deployed safeties at linebacker as Dallas’ defensive coordinator.

Allegretti started in Super Bowl 58 for the Chiefs and played through injury after suffering a torn UCL in the second quarter. His contract would pay him $16 million over 3 years. The Super Bowl champion joins fellow free-agency addition Tyler Biadasz on an offensive line that ranked among the worst in the NFL in 2023, allowing a league-high 65 sacks.

Ferrell follows Peters and defensive line coach Darryl Tapp from San Francisco to Washington on a one-year deal. Last season, the fourth pick in the 2019 NFL draft started every regular season game and recorded 3.5 sacks for the 49ers.

Washington looked to free agency to revitalize its defensive line, agreeing to deals with Ferrell and former Cowboys defensive ends Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler. The Commanders entered the offseason with holes on the defensive line, especially on the ends. The organization traded away two edge rushers — Montez Sweat and Chase Young — before the 2023 trade deadline.

Pittsburgh Steelers: The Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to a contract with linebacker Patrick Queen, poaching the LSU product from their division rivals in Baltimore. The 2020 first-round pick’s deal would pay him up to $41 million over 3 years. Queen confirmed the deal on social media on Tuesday. 

Cleveland Browns: Deshaun Watson will have new company in Cleveland’s quarterback room — the team plans to sign Jameis Winston to a 1-year deal. The 2013 Heisman Trophy winner confirmed the move with CBS Sports. 

Minnesota Vikings: Running back Aaron Jones plans to join the Minnesota Vikings, the former Green Bay Packer confirmed on X on Tuesday. The Vikings also expect to sign quarterback Sam Darnold to a one-year contract worth $10 million, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport said. Minnesota was left in the cold after Kirk Cousins agreed to a deal with the Atlanta Falcons on Monday.