2022 NFC South free agency handed the Buccaneers a retirement from one of its veteran offensive lineman. The Falcons lost a key linebacker but picked up an All-Pro corner. Then they traded away a former league MVP. The Panthers lost one of its top pass rushers but picked up a four-time All-Pro punter to help its Top Five defense. It has been a busy couple of weeks in the NFC South.
NFC South
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Offensive free agents
- RB Giovani Bernard (re-signed)
- G Alex Cappa (Agreed to terms with the Bengals)
- RB Leonard Fournette (re-signed)
- QB Blaine Gabbert (re-signed)
- QB Ryan Griffin (re-signed)
- WR Chris Godwin (re-signed)
- TE Rob Gronkowski
- TE O.J. Howard (Agreed to terms with the Bills)
- C Ryan Jensen (re-signed)
- C Donell Stanley (released)
- RB Ronald Jones II
- RB Le’Veon Bell
- WR Breshad Perriman (re-signed)
- G Aaron Stinnie (re-signed)
- T Josh Wells (re-signed)
Defensive free agents
2022 Free Agency report/Other Notes:
- S Andrew Adams
- CB Carlton Davis (re-signed)
- CB Pierre Desir
- DL Will Gholston (re-signed)
- DL Steve McLendon
- LB Kevin Minter
- OLB Jason Pierre-Paul
- DE Pat O’Connor (re-signed)
- S Curtis Riley
- CB Richard Sherman
- DL Ndamukong Suh
- S Jordan Whitehead (Agreed to terms with the Jets)
- LS Zach Triner (re-signed)
- Head coach Bruce Arians retired and former DC Todd Bowles signed a five-year contract to be the team’s next head coach
- Agreed to terms with WR Russell Gage (Falcons), DB Logan Ryan (Giants), OL Fred Johnson (Bengals), S Keanu Neal (Cowboys)
- Re-signed WR Chris Godwin to a three-year deal (after originally placing the franchise tag on him), RB Leonard Fournette to a three-year deal, CB Carlton Davis to a three-year deal, OL Ryan Jensen to a three-year deal, OL Aaron Stinnie to a one-year deal, OL Josh Wells to a one-year deal, WR Breshad Perriman to a one-year deal, DE Will Gholston to a one-year deal, LS Zach Triner to a two-year deal, RB Giovani Bernard, QB Ryan Griffin, DE Pat O’Connor, QB Blaine Gabbert
- Lost TE O.J. Howard (Bills), OL A.J. Cappa (Bengals), S Jordan Whitehead (Jets)
- QB Tom Brady retired and then decided to come back for another season in 2022
- OL Ali Marpet retired after seven seasons
- Traded a fifth-round pick to the New England Patriots for OG Shaq Mason
Atlanta Falcons
Offensive free agents
- QB Josh Rosen
- QB A.J. McCarron
- RB Cordarrelle Patterson (re-signed)
- WR Russell Gage (Agreed to terms with the Buccaneers)
- WR Tajae Sharpe
- TE Hayden Hurst (Agreed to terms with the Bengals)
- TE Lee Smith
- OL Josh Andrews
- OL Jason Spriggs
- OL Matt Gono
- OL Colby Gossett (re-signed)
Defensive free agents
- DL Jonathan Bullard
- DL Mike Pennel
- DL Tyeler Davison (released)
- OLB Brandon Copeland
- OLB Dante Fowler (released)
- OLB Steven Means
- ILB Foye Oluokun (Agreed to terms with the Jaguars)
- ILB Daren Bates
- ILB Emmanuel Ellerbee
- CB Fabian Moreau
- CB Isaiah Oliver (re-signed)
- S Erik Harris (re-signed)
- S Duron Harmon
- S Shawn Williams
- P Thomas Morstead
- LS Josh Harris (Agreed to terms with the Chargers)
2022 Free Agency report/Other Notes:
- Traded QB Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts for a 2022 third-round draft pick (82nd overall)
- Agreed to terms with QB Marcus Mariota (Raiders) on a two-year deal, CB Casey Hayward (Raiders) on a two-year deal, RB Damien Williams (Bears), OL Elijah Wilkinson (Bears), DE Lorenzo Carter (Giants), WR KhaDarel Hodge (Lions), WR Auden Tate (Bengals), WR Damiere Byrd (Bears), S Dean Marlowe (Lions), LS Beau Brinkley (Bears), LB Rashaan Evans (Titans), OT Germain Ifedi (Bears), TE Anthony Firkser (Titans), DT Vincent Taylor (Texans)
- Re-signed OL Colby Gossett, CB Isaiah Oliver, S Erik Harris, WR Cordarrelle Patterson
- Signed DT Anthony Rush on an original round tender
- Released OLB Dante Fowler, DL Tyeler Davison
- Lost ILB Foyesade Oluokun (Jaguars), WR Russell Gage (Buccaneers), LS Josh Harris (Chargers), TE Hayden Hurst (Bengals)
Carolina Panthers
Offensive free agents
- TE Ian Thomas (re-signed)
- C Matt Paradis
- QB Cam Newton
- OT Trenton Scott
- OL John Miller
- WR-KR Alex Erickson
- WR Brandon Zylstra (re-signed)
- LS J.J. Jansen
- K Zane Gonzalez
Defensive free agents
- CB Stephon Gilmore (Agreed to terms with the Colts)
- CB Donte Jackson (re-signed)
- OLB Haason Reddick (Agreed to terms with the Eagles)
- DE-OLB Marquis Haynes (re-signed)
- LB Jermaine Carter (Agreed to terms with the Chiefs)
- DT DaQuan Jones (Agreed to terms with the Bills)
- S Juston Burris (re-signed)
- S Sean Chandler (re-signed)
- OLB Frankie Luvu
- OLB Julian Stanford
- CB Rashaan Melvin (re-signed)
- P Lachlan Edwards
2022 Free Agency report/Other Notes:
- Re-signed TE Ian Thomas on a three-year deal, OLB Frankie Luvu to a two-year deal, CB Rashaan Melvin, WR Brandon Zylstra, S Sean Chandler, S Juston Burris
- Agreed to terms with OL Austin Corbett (Rams) on a three-year deal, S Xavier Woods (Vikings) on a three-year deal, P Johnny Hekker (Rams) on a three-year deal, LB Damien Wilson (Jaguars) on a two-year deal, WR Rashard Higgins (Browns) on a one-year deal, DT Matt Ioannidis (Commanders) on a one-year deal, LB Cory Littleton, OC Bradley Bozeman (Ravens) on a one-year deal, CB Chris Westry (Ravens)
- Signed WR D.J. Moore to a four-year extension and re-signed CB Donte Jackson to a three-year extension, CB Rashaan Melvin, DE Marquis Haynes
- Exercised an option on OLB Brian Burns
- Lost OLB Haason Reddick (Eagles), DT DaQuan Jones (Bills), LB Jermaine Carter (Chiefs), CB Stephon Gilmore (Colts)
New Orleans Saints
Offensive free agents
- OT Terron Armstead (Agreed to terms with the Dolphins)
- QB Jameis Winston (re-signed)
- WR-RB Ty Montgomery (Agreed to terms with the Patriots)
- QB Trevor Siemian
- WR Tre’Quan Smith (re-signed)
- TE Garrett Griffin
- WR Kenny Stills
- OT Kyle Murphy
Defensive free agents
- S Marcus Williams (Agreed to terms with the Ravens)
- DB P.J. Williams (re-signed)
- LB Kwon Alexander
- S Jeff Heath
- DT Jalyn Holmes
- DE Christian Ringo
- CB Kenneth Crawley
2022 Free Agency report/Other Notes:
- Agreed to terms S Marcus Maye (Jets) on a three-year deal, S Daniel Sorensen (Chiefs) on a one-year deal, QB Andy Dalton (Bears) on a one-year deal, OG Forrest Lamp (Bills) on a one-year deal, DT Jaleel Johnson (Texans), DE Taco Charlton (Steelers), S Justin Evans, TE JP Holtz (Bears)
- Lost S Marcus Williams (Ravens), RB Ty Montgomery (Patriots), OT Terron Armstead (Dolphins)
- Re-signed QB Jameis Winston to a two-year deal, CB Bradley Roby, WR Tre’quan Smith, CB P.J. Williams, RB Dwayne Washington
- Placed RFA tenders on DT Shy Tuttle, WR Deonte Harris
- S Malcolm Jenkins retired
- Released QB Blake Bortles
