Happy New (League) Year!
Tuesday’s open of NFL free agency did not disappoint. In fact, it was probably one of the most active in years, boasting a flurry of signings and re-signings, and even one blockbuster trade.
There’s plenty more to come in the days ahead, but here’s a way-too-early look at some of the biggest winners and losers after Day 1.
WINNERS:
Jets – Revis Island is returning to the J-E-T-S. That alone makes Day 1 successful for a team that struggled mightily in the secondary last year after missing out on Revis.
Dolphins – The Fish landed the top player in free agency, DT Ndamukong Suh. Yes, they paid handsomely for a player who sometimes lets his temper get the best of him, but Suh is the type of talent who can single-handedly transform a defense overnight. And pairing him with Cameron Wake … this team got dangerous.
Packers – The Pack re-signed WR Randall Cobb and OT Brian Bulaga, two big wins for reigning MVP Aaron Rodgers and the NFL’s best offense.
Seahawks – The Seahawks have lacked a top weapon for Russell Wilson to throw, but they just went out and added one of the league’s most unique talents in TE Jimmy Graham. While they still need help on the outside, this deal instantly makes the offense scarier, especially in the Red Zone.
Colts – Indianapolis generated a lot of buzz by landing RB Frank Gore and emerging as the frontrunners for WR Andre Johnson, but both are well past their primes. Still, Gore is an improvement at RB (even though that isn’t saying much) and Andre might be a small step up from Reggie Wayne. The club’s best move of the day was adding former Eagles LB Trent Cole, who is still a solid pass rusher.
Retiring players – 49ers LB Patrick Willis, Tennessee Titans QB Jake Locker and Pittsburgh Steelers LB Jason Worilds all announced that they are walking away from the game at 30 years old or younger. Good for them.
LOSERS:
49ers – The offseason was already off to a rough start with the departure of head coach John Harbaugh, and things didn’t get any better on Tuesday. Defensive stars Justin Smith and Patrick Willis are both retiring, Pro Bowl guard Mike Iupati signed with the division-rival Cardinals and RB Frank Gore is heading to the Colts. The team did add a much-needed deep threat in WR Torrey Smith, but they overpaid for a player best suited to a complementary role. And the team will be paying Blaine Gabbert to play football for two more years.
Eagles – I really liked what Chip Kelly did on the field in his first two seasons in Philadelphia, but now I really question whether he’s in over his head on the personnel side. So far this offseason, he has traded away LeSean McCoy, let Jeremy Maclin walk and traded for Sam Bradford. The McCoy deal isn’t as bad is may appear to fantasy players, because the Eagles get back a young, cheap star in LB Kiko Alonso. But the Bradford deal is the real head scratcher. They gave up Nick Foles (who might actually be the better QB) and draft picks for the honor of taking on a QB who has suffered ACL tears in each of the past two seasons, and they’ll have to pay him a whopping $13 million in 2015. The one bright spot: adding former Seahawks CB Byron Maxwell, a desperately needed addition for the club’s woeful secondary.
Raiders – They entered free agency with more cash to spend than any other team. So far, all they have to show for it is C Rodney Hudson, RB Roy Helu and LB Malcolm Smith. Meh.
Broncos – Denver lost TE Julius Thomas to the Jaguars and G Orlando Franklin to the Chargers, and it appears that DT Terrance Knighton and S Rahim Moore are both likely on their way out of town, too. The club re-signed Virgil Green and added Gary Kubiak favorite Owen Daniels to shore up the TE spot, but John Elway will have his work cut out for him in the coming weeks to plug the other holes.
Saints – The Saints have clearly been in decline the past couple of years, but trading away Jimmy Graham appears to be confirmation that this team is now in full-on rebuilding mode.
Patriots – Things started strong for the Pats when they locked up standout safety Devin McCourty, but it’s been all downhill from there. The team has lost three key pieces of its defense – all-world CB Darrelle Revis, CB Brandon Browner and NT Vince Wilfork. Things will get better if Bill Belichick can lock up pass-rusher Jabaal Sheard during his visit on Wednesday.
Maybe the Lions – They traded for Haloti Ngata, but they lost Suh and it sounds like Nick Fairley may soon follow. Tough blow for one of the team’s top units.
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