– The beginning of so-called free agency in the NFL is always a wild time with many changes and new contracts. Right from the start things went well – with good news for a man from Stuttgart.
The signatures are still missing, but Jakob Johnson can plan for another season in the NFL. On the first day of the transfer period, the league still had the 28-year-old from Stuttgart on the list of so-called “free agents”, but Johnson’s future with the Las Vegas Raiders has been negotiated.
“Nothing has been signed yet, so far we have only reached an agreement,” said the 28-year-old of the German Press Agency. “From what I’ve heard from my agent, it’s just a formality now. The team will be in touch when all the paperwork is ready.”
After three years with the New England Patriots and last season with the Raiders, Johnson faces a fifth season in the National Football League if he makes the 53-man roster later this summer. “Year five – that’s awesome. I didn’t expect that at the beginning of this journey,” he said of his development, which began as a participant in a support program for international talent.
The Swabian, who plays fullback, not only thinks it’s good that he has a future with the Raiders, but also that the team has agreed on Jimmy Garoppolo as quarterback Derek Carr’s successor. “Free agency is crazy in general,” Johnson said. “I’m glad it’s now clear who the Raiders are going to get as quarterback because I was really tired from all the questions. Everyone wanted to know who’s coming and I always had to say: I don’t know any more than you do.”
Here’s what else happened at the start of the NFL transfer window:
- Nothing is fixed yet, but: Aaron Rodgers wants to play for the New York Jets in the future. The quarterback made that clear when he appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show”. The Jets must now agree the terms of a swap deal with the Green Bay Packers.
- The Dallas Cowboys and Ezekiel Elliott are splitting after seven years. The contract will be terminated – so the Cowboys will have more flexibility on the salary cap for other players and the running back can sign with a team without the need for a trade. Elliott was a sensation in the NFL early in his career and was twice the yardsman with the most yards, but has lost his explosiveness and speed with injuries.
- JuJu Smith-Schuster will play for the New England Patriots. The pass recipient won the Super Bowl in his only year for the Kansas City Chiefs, before that he was active for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Also not yet official, but according to ESPN information, a change from quarterback Baker Mayfield to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as successor to Tom Brady has been agreed. The most successful NFL professional in history has ended his career and has so far shown no signs of a comeback like a year ago. Mayfield played briefly for the Los Angeles Rams at the end of last season and was a playmaker for the Cleveland Browns before his equally short stint with the Carolina Panthers.
