Outside linebacker Pernell McPhee hasn't started a game in either of the past two seasons, but that didn't stop the Chicago Bears from paying him like an elite pass rusher.
The Bears are gambling on McPhee taking off in a bigger role, and they better be right. McPhee will sign a five-year, $40 million deal with $16 million guaranteed with the Bears, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Not bad for a player with five career starts over his four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. McPhee has shown a lot of potential in a reserve role and will be a centerpiece for the Bears in their new 3-4 defense.
McPhee wasn't the only pass rusher taken off the market. The Buffalo Bills, who have been very active as they try to snap a playoff drought that dates back to the 1999 season, re-signed defensive end Jerry Hughes to a five-year, $45 million deal. Hughes has 10 sacks in back-to-back years and will be a key part of new coach Rex Ryan's defense.
There was also a run on defensive tackles, according to multiple reports. Former Miami Dolphins tackle Jared Odrick agreed to sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Stephen Paea agreed to leave the Chicago Bears and join the Washington Redskins. Vic Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle said the Oakland Raiders were close on a deal to land Terrance Knighton, who would leave the Denver Broncos.
Players can't officially sign contracts until Tuesday, but that hasn't stopped a flood of agreed-upon deals from being leaked to the media since the negotiating period started on Saturday.
Sunday saw a number of players taken off the market, either by re-signing with their old team or agreeing to a deal with a new team. That continued on Monday. Quarterback Brian Hoyer, the Cleveland Browns' starter last year, reportedly was close to going to the Houston Texans, although reports say the New York Jets are still in play for Hoyer. The Oakland Raiders agreed to a deal with former Kansas City Chiefs center Rodney Hudson. The Kansas City Chiefs will sign receiver Jeremy Maclin, who was with the Philadelphia Eagles. Linebacker Sean Weatherspoon will go from the Atlanta Falcons to the Arizona Cardinals on a one-year deal, as Yahoo Sports' Rand Getlin reported.
Receiver Ted Ginn has reunited with the Carolina Panthers after a season in Arizona, the team announced (Ginn was cut by the Cardinals so he was free to sign before unrestricted free agency begins). The Jacksonville Jaguars reportedly will sign Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Jermey Parnell for five years and $32 million, ESPN reported. The Jets are pushing hard to sign San Francisco 49ers guard Mike Iupati, considered the top offensive lineman in free agency, according to the New York Daily News. That and the Parnell signing would thin out the offensive line position a bit.
All of the early news makes it seem like when free agency actually starts on Tuesday, it will be pretty anticlimactic.
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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab
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