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NFL Free Agents About To Make Way More Than You Think

Dec 15, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston (5) calls signals against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first quarter at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn ImagesDec 15, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston (5) calls signals against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first quarter at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

As a former No. 1 overall pick with a cannon for an arm and 10 seasons under your belt as an NFL quarterback, free agency can be a funky experience.

How much would you expect to be paid for beating the division-winning Baltimore Ravens and playoff-qualifier Pittsburgh Steelers (in a snow globe Thursday night game) in a stretch of four weeks?

That’s where Jameis Winston’s mind is going before Tuesday, when teams can officially use the franchise tag and the NFL’s seemingly half-day offseason comes to a close.

Winston is not the top free agent or veteran quarterback on the market, of course. But while others might make a serious play for Aaron Rodgers, Kirk Cousins, Sam Darnold and Russell Wilson, could Winston be a surprise moneymaker while shopping for a place to throw his 155th career TD pass?

With career earnings over $76 million after signing for $1.2 million to back up Deshaun Watson with the Cleveland Browns in 2024, Winston is a possible placeholder for teams such as the Tennessee Titans or Las Vegas Raiders while they develop a younger option.

Backups are cost-effective in terms of their potential significance and overall importance. A former No. 2 overall draft pick, Carson Wentz was No. 2 for the Chiefs in 2024 with a guaranteed take of only $2.2 million, a modest figure for the one-snap-away circumstance he walked into behind Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City.

Winston could approach the $8 million range the New England Patriots paid Jacoby Brissett to be the temporary frontman before handing the keys to Drake Maye in 2024. Marcus Mariota, yet another former No. 2 overall pick selected one spot behind Winston in 2015, was paid $6 million to help teach and peer-coach Jayden Daniels for the Washington Commanders.

Which other NFL free agents might get more money than expected in March?

Vikings CB Byron Murphy

Estimated Value: $16 million per season

Nov 27, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; A Minnesota Vikings helmet sits idle on the field before the game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn ImagesNov 27, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; A Minnesota Vikings helmet sits idle on the field before the game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

Murphy picked off a team-leading six passes in 2024, and the Vikings are stressed on salaries, including legendary sidekick Harrison Smith—a free agent with 13 seasons in Minnesota—at safety. If Charvarius Ward leaves the San Francisco 49ers as expected, he is in the running with Murphy as the best cover man on the market. However, teams at the top of the draft might already have their eye on Colorado’s Travis Hunter or Michigan’s Will Johnson, who can be had at a fraction of the price of a top free agent corner.

Murphy is only 27 and could command more than $15 million per year after joining the Vikings in 2023 on a two-year deal at $8.75 million annually.

49ers LB Dre Greenlaw

Value: $10 million per season

Feb 8, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw (57) during a press conference before Super Bowl LVIII at Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort and Spa. credits: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY SportsFeb 8, 2024; Las Vegas, NV, USA; San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw (57) during a press conference before Super Bowl LVIII at Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort and Spa. credits: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

He’s 27 and didn’t erase doubts about his ability to return to the junkyard dog style of play that made him a perennial Pro Bowl candidate alongside Fred Warner. The positives? His age and well-known work ethic. 

He also mastered the 3-4 defense and can be used in multiple ways depending on the scheme. The negatives? Just now over the one-year mark since rupturing his left Achilles, Greenlaw lasted 30 snaps in his first game back in December, then tried to play through Achilles and knee discomfort a week later, only to be shut down after four plays. Greenlaw retains a high value because of his rep and the proliferation of former 49ers staffers throughout the league, namely DeMeco Ryans with the Houston Texans and former assistant GM Adam Peters, who now calls the shots for the Commanders.

Cardinals LG Will Hernandez

Value: $11 million per season

Sep 29, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals guard Will Hernandez (76) against the Washington Commanders at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesSep 29, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals guard Will Hernandez (76) against the Washington Commanders at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Given a choice between Hernandez and Chiefs RG Trey Smith, another unrestricted free agent, most teams are going to lean into Smith. 

If the Chiefs do tag Smith, considering left guard and part-time left tackle Joe Thuney also is up for a new deal, Hernandez represents a stellar fallback option. He wrapped up a two-year, $9 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals but played just five games in 2024 due to a torn ACL. Because the injury occurred in October, he is likely to be ready for training camp but celebrates his 30th birthday on Sept. 2. A team with a hole to fill and a power-run scheme could easily offer $9 million to $12 million annually on a three-year deal.

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Tyrone Taylor cracks 3-run shot to spark Mets over Dodgers

Jul 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets center fielder Tyrone Taylor (28) reacts after hitting a three-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn ImagesJul 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets center fielder Tyrone Taylor (28) reacts after hitting a three-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

Tyrone Taylor’s go-ahead three-run homer in the sixth inning propelled the New York Mets to an 8-3 victory on Sunday over the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers.

The veteran outfielder greeted reliever Evan Phillips with a 405-foot blast into the left field seats for his eighth homer of the season and fifth since July 4. It doubled as the Mets’ first hit since the first.

Marcus Semien, a defensive replacement in the seventh, added another three-run shot to cap a four-run seventh for the Mets as they snapped a three-game skid.

Four relievers combined to limit the Dodgers to three singles and one hit by pitch over the final five innings. Cionel Perez (4-3) pitched two perfect innings and struck out three.

Los Angeles’ bullpen did not match the Mets. Jack Dreyer walked two batters in the sixth and got only one out before being replaced by Phillips (0-2), who allowed a homer for the fourth time in his last five appearances. Will Klein gave up four runs in the seventh on two hits and two walks.

The first three Mets batters got hits off Dodgers starter Emmet Sheehan, with leadoff hitter A.J. Green doubling and scoring on Francisco Lindor’s single. Bo Bichette (2-for-4) followed with another base hit. After that, Sheehan allowed just two walks and one hit batsman while fanning five over five innings.

Los Angeles scored twice in the third off Mets starter Freddy Peralta. Eliezer Alfonzo hit a leadoff double. After an out and an Andy Pages walk, Freddy Freeman doubled home Alfonzo. Max Muncy’s groundout made it 2-1.

Freeman finished 2-for-4 for his fourth straight multi-hit game. Tommy Edman and Teoscar Hernandez also went 2-for-4.

Peralta needed 93 pitches to get through four innings. He gave up six hits, three runs (two earned) and two walks while striking out three.

The Dodgers, who saw their four-game winning streak end, loaded the bases off Luke Weaver with two out in the eighth. However, Weaver made a great play on a Hernandez dribbler between the mound and third base to end the threat.

–Field Level Media

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Michael Massey's blast lifts Royals over Tigers

Jul 26, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA;  Kansas City Royals center fielder Lane Thomas (15) hits a home run in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn ImagesJul 26, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Kansas City Royals center fielder Lane Thomas (15) hits a home run in the first inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Michael Massey hit a two-out, two-run homer in the eighth inning and the visiting Kansas City Royals hung on for a 5-4 win over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday.

Massey’s eighth homer made a winner of Nate Pearson (2-0), who was making his Royals debut after being acquired in a trade with Houston. Steven Cruz survived a ninth-inning jam to record his second save.

Lane Thomas had a solo homer and Luke Maile added an RBI double as the Royals salvaged a split of the four-game series.

Dillon Dingler had two hits and drove in two runs for Detroit.

Kansas City took a 2-0 lead in the first. Leadoff hitter Thomas hit a 3-2 pitch to the opposite field that just cleared the wall. The Royals then scratched out an unearned run. Nick Loftin singled and Salvador Perez was hit by a pitch. Valdez retired the next two batters before walking Isaac Collins to load the bases.

Second baseman Hao-Yu Lee then bobbled Tyler Tolbert’s grounder, allowing Loftin to score.

The Royals made it 3-0 in the fourth. Tolbert drew a one-out walk and Maile followed with a double down the left field line to knock him in.

Detroit took a 4-3 lead in the fifth. Lee led off with a double and Colt Keith walked. Kevin McGonigle singled to load the bases. After Gleyber Torres struck out, Avila was removed for Matt Strahm. Riley Greene hit a bouncer up the middle that got by second baseman Andrew Velazquez for an error. Two runs scored and Greene raced all the way to second. Dingler then knocked in McGonigle and Greene with a single up the middle.

Collins had a bloop single off Drew Sommers with one out in the eighth. Sommers (0-1) struck out the next batter but Massey took advantage of a hanging slider and deposited over the right field wall to give his club a 5-4 advantage.

Detroit had two runners on with no one out in the ninth as Lee walked and Keith singled. Cruz then recorded two strikeouts, sandwiching a popout, to end the contest.

–Field Level Media

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Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers pound Rockies 11-2

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (32) throws during the first inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies Sunday, July 26, 2026 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski (32) throws during the first inning of their game against the Colorado Rockies Sunday, July 26, 2026 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Jacob Misiorowski retired the first 14 batters he faced and finished with 12 strikeouts, Andrew Vaughn homered and the host Milwaukee Brewers beat the Colorado Rockies 11-2 on Sunday.

Jackson Chourio, Joey Ortiz, Luis Lara, Cooper Pratt and Jake Bauers had two hits apiece for Milwaukee, which broke open a close game in the sixth inning to win the series.

Misiorowski struck out seven in a row to start the game and 12 of the first 13 batters he faced with pitches consistently above 100 mph. Cole Carrigg ended the bid for a perfect game with an opposite-field homer to left.

Willi Castro was hit by a pitch before Misiorowski got Troy Johnston to ground out to end the inning — and his afternoon. Misiorowski (11-4) allowed one run on one hit and didn’t walk a batter in his five innings.

Carrigg’s home run was his fifth of the season and Castro hit a solo home run in the seventh for the Rockies, who finished with five hits and fanned 15 times.

Chourio led off the bottom of the first with the first of his two doubles and scored on Brice Turang’s single. One out later, William Contreras doubled to put runners on second and third, Turang scored on a Freeland wild pitch and Contreras came home on a groundout.

Freeland (2-10) settled in, giving up just two hits over the next four innings before Vaughn led off the sixth with his fourth home run. Freeland left after a one-out walk to Bauers, having allowed five runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

The Brewers added on against Colorado’s bullpen.

Bauers stole second and Jimmy Herget walked Gary Sanchez ahead of three straight doubles. Lara brought home Bauers with the first two-bagger, Pratt made it 7-1 with a two-run double and Ortiz put runners on second and third with the next double.

Pratt capped the inning when he scored on a groundout.

After Castro’s 10th home run, Sanchez and Lara had RBI doubles in the bottom of the seventh and Vaughn a sacrifice fly in the eighth.

–Field Level Media

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