NFL free agency started this week and there was no delay in teams looking to make deals.  As hopes rise that the upcoming season will be normal, including with fans attending games, a number of teams are shifting things around to be able to put on a good show.  There’s still a lot of work to do, but progress is being made.

Patriots Score In Free Agency

The New England Patriots have picked up two free agent tight ends this week.  The first was former Tennessee Titans tight end Jonnu Smith.  Now, the Pats picked up former Las Angeles Chargers tight end Hunter Henry, who was brought in on a three-year contract.  According to Pro Football Talk, these two are the top-ranked tight ends in the league.

The Denver Broncos are going to hang onto Von Miller a little longer.  The team picked up his option for the upcoming season, keeping him around for the last year of his contract.  Miller has repeatedly stated that he wants to remain in Denver for his entire career, which made the decision a little easier.  The Broncos would have had to spend around $12 million if they had let him go.

Another three-year deal was secured by cornerback Chidobe Awuzie.  He’s going to be part of the Cincinnati Bengals squad now after having spent the past four years with the Dallas Cowboys and is ready to make a difference.  He showed off well enough in the Combine a few years ago, but has only had intermittent success since then.

Fitzpatrick Moves To Washington

Ryan Fitzpatrick is headed to the Washington Football Team as it still tries to figure out what the future holds.  The quarterback was signed to a one-year contract worth $10 million, according to ESPN, giving up the sun and beaches of Miami.  This will be the ninth team Fitzpatrick has played for in his 17th season in the league.

The Minnesota Vikings want former New York Giants defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson.  The team has reportedly been negotiating a deal with him that is now worth $22 million over two years and the Giants are going to miss their former team captain.  The Vikings, however, will be in a much better spot in the upcoming season.

The Vikings are also picking up Nick Vigil.  The linebacker comes in on a three-year deal after a year with the Chargers (and three years with the Cincinnati Bengals).  He hasn’t been a stand-out, but still gives the Vikings a chance to fill out their roster.

The Bengals have secured former New Orleans Saints defensive end Trey Hendrickson.  He comes in after having impressed the Saints’ coaching staff last year, but finding himself in a bad position.  The Saints were dealing with salary cap problems and had to find places to make cuts, and Hendrickson became one of the targets.  The Bengals now have a chance to improve with him on their side.

Some Players Still In The Hunt

James White was there when the Patriots beat the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI, picking up 139 yards from scrimmage and scoring the touchdown that won the game in overtime.  The running back is now looking for a new home, though, and interest is increasing.  It’s possible that White could be back with the other reason the Pats won that Super Bowl, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, now led by Tom Brady, are said to be talking to him about a potential deal.

The Bucs are also possibly interested in keeping Leonard Fournette around.  The running back is a free agent and can go anywhere, but he might be looking for a new home.  If Brady can’t convince him to hang around, Fournette could go to the Seattle Seahawks or the Pats, two other teams that have reportedly shown interest.

By now, it’s no secret that the Saints are going to face the upcoming season without Drew Brees.  The quarterback officially retired after 20 years on the field, but he isn’t done with football.  He’s going to be an announcer with NBC Sports, participating in several coverage options for the broadcaster.