NFL free agency reaction: Safeties, Trent Brown ruled Day 1

Free agency doesn’t technically begin until Wednesday, and already some of the league’s best players have agreed to change laundry.

On Monday, the NFL’s free agency tampering period got underway at noon ET, and immediately, major money was thrown all over. The Oakland Raiders got things kicked off by signing left tackle Trent Brown to afoul-year, $66 million deal. Brown, 25, became the richest offensive lineman in NFL history per a single contract with the move. Now, he has to live up to the hype in Oakland after being part of a Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots.

Meanwhile, for those that thought the safety market was going to play out like it did a year ago, think again. Landon Collins and Earl Thomas were thought to be the two best safeties coming into free agency, and while Thomas is still waiting to sign on with another team, Collins found his new home quickly. The former Alabama Crimson Tide star inked a massive six-year, $84 million deal with $45 million guaranteed from the Washington Redskins. Collins, 25, is joining the rival of his former team in the New York Giants.

Later on in the day, the safety market continued to develop. The Tennessee Titans were able to re-sign Kenny Vaccaro to a four-year, $26 million pact that appears to be fair for both sides. Vaccaro signed with the Titans last year on a one-year deal, and played well enough for general manager Jon Robinson to bring him back.

In the evening, two more safeties signed with new clubs. Tyrann Mathieu cashed in with the Kansas City Chiefs, signing a three-year, $42 million deal. Mathieu, 26, played quite well for the Houston Texans on a one-year deal in 2018, and now has a home fo the foreseeable future on a contender. Staying in the AFC West, Lamarcus Joyner left the Los Angeles Rams for the Oakland Raiders, signing a four-year deal that is expected to come in around $42 million.

So what is there still to look forward to? Plenty.

Le’Veon Bell remains on the market, with the general consensus being that the New York Jets are the favorites for his services. New York has already been very busy over the past week, trading for guard Kelechi Osemele before signing wide receiver Jamison Crwoder and linebacker Anthony Barr on Monday. If Bell goes to New York, it would be a boon for quarterback Sam Darnold, who was without many weapons last season as a rookie. Bell, 27, would immediately upgrade the offense from middling status.