Spring Football Players Earn New Contracts in First Week of NFL Free Agency

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The first week of NFL free agency, including the “legal tampering” period that began on Monday, is often a time for overpaying and breaking the bank. Smaller deals are also made, however, and former spring football players saw the fruits of those deals. Several who were set to become free agents re-signed with their former teams. Here is a look at the players, where they ended up, and their new contracts (details per OverTheCap.com)

DE Jalen Redmond, Minnesota Vikings (Arlington Renegades, UFL)

The Vikings didn’t wait for free agency to lock up Redmond, who was set to be an exclusive rights free agent (defined as a player with less than three accrued seasons who cannot negotiate with other teams unless his original team does not offer him a contract). Right after Minnesota’s season ended in mid-January, Redmond was tendered as an ERFA. He’ll make $960,000 next season on his current one-year deal. He’ll be an ERFA once again at the conclusion of the 2025 season. Any other spring football players tendered at the ERFA minimum for their second season, like DE Dondrea Tillman, will be in a similar situation: $960,000 on a one-year contract.

S Elijah Campbell, Miami Dolphins (D.C. Defenders, XFL 2020)

A key special teams contributor the last few seasons, Campbell will return to Miami in 2025. Negotiated by super-agent Drew Rosenhaus, Campbell will make $1.9 million on a one-year deal, setting him up for unrestricted free agency again in 2026. As a backup and special teamer, this doesn’t guarantee Campbell a roster spot as he’ll likely still have to fend off younger players to retain his job.

QB Taylor Heinicke, Los Angeles Chargers (St. Louis Battlehawks, XFL 2020)

Plenty of players have made successful careers out of being journeyman backup quarterbacks, and Heinicke may be the latest. After being traded by the Atlanta Falcons to the Chargers last August, Heinicke worked his way into the #2 role in L.A. behind Justin Herbert. Heinicke was only an unrestricted free agent for a few hours, as he re-signed with the Chargers Thursday night on a one-year deal worth up to $6.2 million. It is likely a contract heavily incentivized based on playing time, with the term “up to” doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence. We’ll know more about how it’s structured in the coming days.

LS Scott Daly, Chicago Bears (New York Guardians, XFL 2020)

Discarded by the Detroit Lions prior to last season, Daly latched on with their division rivals, the Chicago Bears, as an early season injury replacement. Chicago liked enough of what they saw from Daly to re-sign him to a one-year, $1.337 million contract. His contract puts him in the middle of the pack for long snappers across the league and was one of many signings during this free agency period by the busy Bears.

LS Mitchell Fraboni, Denver Broncos (Pittsburgh Maulers, USFL)

Fraboni joined Daly as spring league long snappers earning new deals with their teams. Unlike Daly, however, Fraboni got a little security, signing a three-year pact worth $4.175 million. Of that $4.175 million, $1.7 million is guaranteed, with a signing bonus of $600,000. Fraboni was set to become an unrestricted free agent but instead opted against testing the open market.

DE LaBryan Ray, Carolina Panthers (Philadelphia Stars, USFL)

Carolina’s defensive line was in shambles last year, resulting in Ray playing more snaps than the Panthers’ would’ve liked. Nevertheless, Ray was offered an ERFA tender by the Panthers, which he signed at $1.03 million. It’s a low-risk gamble by Carolina, keeping around someone who knows the defense and can at least offer depth support even as the team will likely restock the position this off-season, making Ray far from a guarantee to make next year’s 53-man roster.

DE Jeremiah Pharms, Jr., New England Patriots (Pittsburgh Maulers, USFL)

Pharms got his contract taken care of a month ago, re-signing with New England on a two-year deal. It was the richest of the spring football ERFA signings, as his price tag was $2.475 million over that span. It came with a $100,000 signing bonus but like Ray, does not preclude the Patriots from moving on from Pharms prior to the 2025 season. Yet, it’s more than just the standard ERFA tender, indicating some real interest from the Patriots brass in keeping him around.

WR KaVontae Turpin, Dallas Cowboys (New Jersey Generals, USFL)

Saving the best for last, Turpin cashed in on his special teams prowess, agreeing to a three-year, $13.5 million contract (some sources had it at $18 million, but both OverTheCap.com and Spotrac.com have it at $13.5 million). Included in that deal is a $3.6 million signing bonus and $5 million in guaranteed money. Turpin’s electric return skills have yet to fully translate to the offensive side of the ball, but as a restricted free agent, he had limited options. In any event, it’s a nice payday for Turpin and a contract that UFL management should be holding up as the example of what could happen to spring football players who walk through their doors in Arlington.