The Denver Broncos led the way on the second day of NFL free agency on Wednesday.
Just over 12 hours after signing cornerback Aqib Talib for $57 million, the Broncos made another splash by signing defensive end DeMarcus Ware to a three-year, $30 million deal.
Ware will earn $20 million guaranteed over the lifetime of the deal, including $13 million next season, matching what he would have made in Dallas.
Ware signed less than 24 hours after being released by the Cowboys. He had a franchise-record 117 sacks for the Cowboys since being drafted in the first round in 2005. He had a career-low six sacks last season and missed games for the first time in his career because of a thigh injury.
“I feel like what they’re bringing to the table, what they’re doing with this organization, it’s a perfect fit for me,” Ware said Wednesday at a press conference. “Playing with a guy like Von Miller — they like to rush the passer. Some of the things that they have missing, and it was a main thing, was having a pass rush and being able to hold teams to low points so Peyton (Manning) can do his thing. I feel like it’s perfect for me to come here, and that’s why I feel like it was a perfect fit.”
Ware was released Tuesday afternoon by the Cowboys. He was contacted by a dozen teams, according to his agent, and made his first visit Wednesday to Englewood, Colo., at the Broncos team facility. Vice president and general manager John Elway improved his sparkling record of sealing the deal with marquee free agents.
In other news around the league on Wednesday:
—The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released cornerback Darrelle Revis, freeing the former All-Pro to choose his own free agent path after discussing a trade one year after sending draft picks to the New York Jets to acquire him.
Revis joined Tampa Bay in 2013 for a first-round pick and a conditional draft choice. In his first season with the Buccaneers, Revis started all 16 games, recording 50 tackles, 11 passes defensed, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one sack.
—Wide receiver Steve Smith announced that he will not be returning to the Carolina Panthers. Smith confirmed earlier reports that the Panthers would not re-sign him at age 34.
Smith was due to make $7 million under the salary cap next season. The Panthers still owe the 13-year veteran $3 million in 2014 as part of a three-year extension he signed in 2012.
Smith finished the 2013 season with 64 receptions for 746 yards and four touchdowns.
—Outside linebacker Mike Neal said via Twitter that he will be staying in Green Bay. The Packers did not confirm signing the unrestricted free agent.
“Hi Green Bay!!! I’ll enjoy your winters for two more years!!,” Neal wrote Wednesday afternoon.
—Suitors lining up for a chance to sign Matt Schaub will be left waiting for the first shoe to drop for some time. The Houston Texans plan to hold onto the quarterback, likely to gauge trade interest from quarterback-needy teams who still view him as a starter.
Schaub lost his starting spot with the Texans in the midst of a 14-game losing streak that led to Houston earning the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft. It was widely presumed he would be cut before the start of free agency, but with no deadlines for bonuses in his contract structure ahead, Schaub isn’t going anywhere in the immediate term.
—The San Diego Chargers signed former Pittsburgh Steelers tight end David Johnson to a two-year deal.
Johnson (6-foot-2, 260 pounds) played in five games last season, making four catches for 70 yards, before going on injured reserve with a wrist injury.
—Wide receiver Jacoby Jones re-signed with the Ravens, shunning outside interest to remain in Baltimore. Jones was a target of the New York Jets, New York Giants and reportedly had interest from four teams.
A deep threat and return specialist, Jones caught 37 passes for 455 yards with two touchdowns last season.
—Former Tampa Buccaneers linebacker Dekoda Watson agreed to terms with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Watson, 26, a seventh-round selection by the Buccaneers in the 2010 NFL Draft, has spent four seasons in Tampa Bay. He has played in 60 of 64 games for the Bucs, starting six games. He has three sacks and four passes defensed.
The Jaguars also signed cornerback Will Blackmon to a two-year deal and released running back Justin Forsett.
—Defensive tackle Linval Joseph signed a five-year, $31.5 million deal with the Minnesota Vikings.
Cornerback Captain Munnerlyn was visiting the team and considered likely to sign the seventh-round pick in 2009 who has played his entire NFL career with the Carolina Panthers. Munnerlyn also met with the Washington Redskins.
Joseph, 25, leaves the New York Giants having missed just one game in the past three seasons.
—The Miami Dolphins re-signed defensive tackle Randy Starks, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, with a two-year, $12 million deal.
Starks had 49 tackles and four sacks while playing all 16 games last year.
The Dolphins also signed former Houston Texans defensive tackle Earl Mitchell to a four-year, $16 million contract.
—Wide receiver-returner Jacoby Jones agreed to a four-year, $14 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens.
The team confirmed the agreement. Financial terms of the contract include $4.5 million in guarantees, according to a report.
—Free agent wide receiver Golden Tate is leaving the Seattle Seahawks for the Detroit Lions, agreeing to a five-year contract. ESPN.com reports the deal is for $31 million with $13.25 million in guarantees.
Tate (5-foot-10, 202 pounds) was among the top available receivers in free agency and the Lions’ top target after catching 64 passes for 898 yards and five touchdowns as the Super Bowl champion Seahawks’ top receiver for most of the season.
—The Dallas Cowboys reached a two-year deal with defensive end Jeremy Mincey. The Cowboys also agreed to a three-year contract with nose tackle Terrell McClain, who was with the Houston Texans last year.
Both deals are pending physicals.
—The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed former Chicago Bears quarterback Josh McCown to a two-year, $10 million contract. Head coach Lovie Smith said Wednesday that McCown would enter training camp as the No. 1 quarterback ahead of rookie Mike Glennon.
Last season, the 34-year-old McCown replaced injured Jay Cutler in Chicago and played well until Cutler returned. In eight games, including five starts, McCown passed for 1,829 yards with 13 touchdowns and one interception while completing 66.5 percent of his throws.
—Middle linebacker Jon Beason will be back with the New York Giants in 2014. Beason, 29, tested free agency but returned to negotiate a deal with the Giants, who acquired the veteran linebacker via trade in October 2013 from the Carolina Panthers.
The Giants also re-signed safety Stevie Brown and kicker Josh Brown.
—The Pittsburgh Steelers re-signed veteran safety Will Allen and long-snapper Greg Warren to one-year contracts.
Allen started the 2013 season with Dallas before returning to the Steelers during Week 6 after he was released by the Cowboys. He ended up playing in 17 games between the two teams and finished with 42 tackles, two interceptions, four passed defenses, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
The Steelers also re-signed veteran offensive lineman Cody Wallace to a three-year contract.
—Free safety M.D. Jennings agreed to a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears. Jennings started all 16 games for the Green Bay Packers last season.
Jennings will join a secondary that added former Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Giants safety Ryan Mundy in free agency.
—The Cleveland Browns released much-maligned quarterback Brandon Weeden and veteran Jason Campbell.
The team also reached a contract agreement with free-agent cornerback Isaiah Trufant, according to his agent.
Weeden, the team’s first-round draft pick in 2012, struggled in his two seasons with the Browns. He started 20 games but was replaced at the beginning of the 2013 season by Brian Hoyer, then returned as the starter when Hoyer was hurt before being replaced for the remainder of the season by veteran Jason Campbell.
—Running back Pierre Thomas is staying with the New Orleans Saints, agreeing to a two-year contract extension.
The Saints parted with veteran running back Darren Sproles and wide receiver Lance Moore before free agency began and were active on Tuesday in the player marketplace, signing safety Jairus Byrd to a big contract.
Thomas led the Saints in rushing last season with 549 yards and two touchdowns on 147 carries. He started nine games and also had a career-best 77 receptions for 513 yards.
—Defensive end Chris Clemons was released by the Seattle Seahawks, saving the team $7.5 million against the 2014 salary cap.
Clemons was disposable because of his salary and the presence of defensive ends Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril.
—Veteran offensive guard Chris Williams signed a four-year, $13.5 million deal with the Buffalo Bills.
Williams, a first-round pick (14th overall) out of Vanderbilt who was moved from tackle to guard and then released after four uneven seasons with the Chicago Bears, could unseat veteran Doug Legursky at left guard. He started 16 games with the St. Louis Rams at left guard last season.
—Right tackle Austin Howard signed a five-year, $30 million deal with the Oakland Raiders. Howard, an undrafted free agent from Northern Iowa, started every game for the New York Jets the past two seasons. He was tied for the NFL lead among right tackles with two sacks allowed in 2013.
—Tennessee Titans offensive tackle David Stewart was waived with a “failed physical” designation.
Stewart, 31, could draw interest from the St. Louis Rams, where the power structure of coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead has some familiarity with the veteran. That assumes Stewart plans to continue his NFL career.
—The New England Patriots released defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga and offensive lineman Markus Zusevics.
Sopoaga, 32, is a veteran of 10 NFL seasons, including the second half of 2013 with the Patriots after being acquired from Philadelphia in a midseason trade on Oct. 29, 2013. Zusevics, 24, spent the 2013 season on injured reserve after suffering an injury during training camp.