Garoppolo Heads Long List of QBs on Move in Free Agency

Jimmy Garoppolo is finally out of San Francisco, ready to start the next phase of his career wearing the Raiders’ silver and black. Sam Darnold is heading out West, where he’ll replace Garoppolo and join Trey Lance and Brock Purdy with the 49ers. Mike White, Case Keenum and Jarrett Stidham have new teams, too.

Deshaun Watson is staying in Cleveland, but with a restructured deal with the Browns.

As for Aaron Rodgers, who is not a free agent but whose name has been widely circulated in trade rumors, his future remains unclear because, well, he’s Aaron Rodgers.

Quarterbacks took center stage on Monday as NFL free agency began with teams allowed to negotiate — and agree to deals — with unrestricted free agents. The deals cannot be announced until Wednesday and therefore were confirmed to The Associated Press by people speaking on condition of anonymity.

Garoppolo was the highest-profile QB to change teams.

He agreed to a three-year, $67.5 million contract with Las Vegas, where he’ll replace David Carr, who signed with the New Orleans Saints earlier this offseason after being cut by the Raiders. Garoppolo’s contract includes $34 million in guaranteed money.

But the day wasn’t just about quarterbacks. Several other big-name players have agreed to join new franchises.

The Broncos were among the big spenders on monday, addressing their offensive line by agreeing on a five-year, $87.5 million deal with tackle Mike McGlinchey from the 49ers and a four-year, $52 million deal with guard Ben Powers from the Baltimore Ravens. Denver later agreed with former Arizona Cardinals defensive end Zach Allen on a $45.75 million, three-year deal.

But the Broncos couldn’t keep everyone.

As usual, the first day of free agency negotiations meant some players cashed in.

The Chicago Bears made two big additions at linebacker, agreeing to contracts with two-time Buffalo Bills Pro Bowler Tremaine Edmunds and former Philadelphia Eagle TJ Edwards. Edmunds’ deal is worth $72 million over four years with $50 million guaranteed.

The New York Giants agreed on a four-year, $40 million contract with linebacker Bobby Okereke. Okereke spent his first four seasons in Indianapolis, where he started 49 games and had a career-high 151 tackles with six tackles for loss, five pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries last season.

Plenty of quality unrestricted free agents remain unsigned, including wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr., Jakobi Meyers and JuJu Smith-Schuster, offensive tackle Orlando Brown, cornerback James Bradberry and linebackers Bobby Wagner and Lavonte David.

AP Pro Football Writers Rob Maaddi, Josh Dubow and Dennis Waszak Jr., and AP Sports Writers Mark Anderson, Alanis Thames, Tom Withers, Dave Skretta and Andrew Seligman contributed to this report.

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