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The Falcons' Austin Hooper runs after the catch against the Steelers during a preseason game at Heinz Field on Aug. 20, 2017.
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Steelers' rivals make moves as NFL free agency heats up

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Steelers' rivals make moves as NFL free agency heats up

While the rest of the sports world stands still, NFL offseason activities have officially begun.

Today marked the beginning of the NFL’s “legal tampering” period in which teams can contact unrestricted free agents on other squads and begin negotiating deals with them. If those talks prove fruitful, the deals will become official Wednesday at 4 p.m. as NFL free agency official commences.

The Steelers had a busy Monday, as they franchise tagged linebacker Bud Dupree, released three other players (presumably for cap relief), restructured tight end Vance McDonald’s contract (per a report by SiriusXM NFL’s Adam Caplan) and also saw left tackle Ramon Foster — their starting left guard who just finished his 11th NFL season — retire via Instagram.

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They weren’t the only organization making moves today, though. Not only did all three of the Steelers’ divisional rivals make at least one noteworthy splash, but the Texans did something so baffling that it made people briefly forget that every other major sports league was on hold due to COVID-19 concerns.

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For example, the Browns reportedly reached a deal with Falcons tight end Austin Hooper that will make the 25-year-old very, very wealthy.

In addition, the Browns also shored up their offensive line by reportedly signing former Titans tackle Jack Conklin to a big contract and provided some quarterback depth behind starter Baker Mayfield by agreeing to a deal with former Washington starter Case Keenum.

As a direct result of the Browns signing Hooper, the Falcons immediately agreed in principle to a trade that would land them a new tight end: the Ravens’ Hayden Hurst.

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As ESPN’s Adam Schefter pointed out in the above tweet, that fifth-round draft pick the Ravens would pick up in the Hurst trade will go to Jacksonville in another agreed-upon deal that would reportedly send Jaguars defensive end Calais Campbell to Baltimore.

And through all this, the Ravens still haven’t had to give up the fifth-round pick they got from the Vikings for backup kicker Kaare Vedvik before the start of last season. It’s quite possible that Baltimore general manager Eric DeCosta is quite good at this.

Elsewhere, Bengals receiver A.J. Green was also reportedly franchise tagged, which probably didn’t sit well with him given that he told WLWT Cincinnati reporter Elise Jesse in January that he believes the franchise tag “is not the best thing.”

In other free agency news relevant to Pittsburghers, linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski — a Bethel Park graduate — agreed to a new deal with the Raiders, meaning he will part of the team’s first season in Las Vegas.

Former Steelers nose tackle Javon Hargrave causes Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff to fumble Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, at Heinz Field.
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There were some other trades and deals reportedly struck Monday, like the Cowboys franchising quarterback Dak Prescott and the Titans franchising running back Derrick Henry while shelling out to keep quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

But the most interesting (and questionable) move of the day was definitely the Texans reportedly trading star receiver DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals for a package that included oft-injured running back David Johnson.

The Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac summed up the reaction to that trade — and why Steelers fans should be thankful that Kevin Colbert, not Bill O’Brien, is their franchise’s GM.

There are plenty of dominoes still left to fall in free agency, particularly where quarterbacks like Teddy Bridgewater, Philip Rivers and Tom Brady end up.

Texans fans: If it makes you feel better, no one will care about the Hopkins trade the second Brady makes a decision — especially if he decides to leave New England.

Joshua Axelrod: jaxelrod@post-gazette.com and Twitter @jaxel222.

First Published: March 16, 2020, 8:44 p.m.

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