[ad_1]
The first day of free activity is in the books and there was a lot of money in circulation. This should not come as a surprise, with the salary cap coming back up this year and teams no longer fearing the league's cap-wide problems. There are enough dubious teams willing to want aggressive / desperate to pretend that it's not strange to see a series of big contracts (some of which will eventually be smaller when we get the contracts complete later) and as is always the case with the first bidders, we saw a lot of fun money.
Free agency: 1st day
This kind of agreement means that some people have won and others have lost. Which means that the time has come for instinctive reactions related to the day of the opening of the independent agency. If someone is a loser, I do not think that they will ever fail in life, it just means that I did not like the way that first day unfolded. for them. The reverse may be true for the winners.
If you want more in-depth ventilation, Take a look at the Pick Six podcast – our daily NFL show – for the total number of reactions to all book entries every day. Fire on your hate mail to me on Twitter @ WillBrinson.
WINNERS
Derek Carr
To be determined until the draft takes place and we know that Jon Gruden has not left the track and decided to recruit three more quarterbacks with his three first-round picks (we do not never know), but for now, Carr has had a good start. in the offseason in terms of pieces being put around him. First of all, it's hard to beat an old Jordy Nelson as first receiver to Antonio Brown as first receiver, which Carr did this weekend when the Raiders traded against Brown , Steelers receiver compensation for a third and a fifth choice. The Raiders also went freelance Monday by signing the tackle Trent Brown at a massive chord to be Carr's blindside protector.
Signing Brown feels MUCH like the last offseason contract with Nate Solder: the former Patriots left-backers go into free mode, many teams need help from the offensive lineup and receive a lot of help. Money despite questions about where these attacks are at the top level. the players at the position. It's a long way to say that it's foolish for the Raiders to give Brown so much money after seeing him play well for a whole season for the Pats. The transition from Dante Scarnecchia to Tom Cable is a major concern. Another concern is that the Raiders recruited Kolten Miller last year in the first round and just 10 days ago Jon Gruden described him as a guy who could be a Pro Bowl forward for years. Either the Raiders move Miller on the right side, or they just pay an absolutely obscene amount for their right tackle.
But as for Carr, his boss just spent a ton of money to land on a left starting tackle that, according to some, still manages to maintain the level of play he played with the Patriots. If he does, and if Brown can be the guy we saw in Pittsburgh, Carr could have a major rebound season in his second year with Gruden.
Earl Thomas
The security of the future Hall of Fame wins tremendously thanks to all the other security measures that have been paid. From the door we saw the Redskins inexplicably giving Landon Collins an agreement that is worth $ 84 million over six yearsand who eliminates everything else in terms of security contracts – Collins is a good player, but he has just been paid as the best security of all football. He is still young (25 years old) and was a legitimate candidate for the defensive player of the year early in his career. If it returns to its All-Pro form, it will look like a good contract. If it's anything other than one of the five best security chances for the duration of this deal or if it ends up having trouble getting coverage, it will look like one. of these reverse movements of the independent agency Redskins.
Tyrann Mathieu signed a $ 42 million, three-year contract with the Chiefs, an agreement that I like because of its versatility and the fact that the Chiefs need help on the defensive side of the ball. Mathieu can move everywhere, play nickel, play the safety, stop the race and stand outside if he wishes. The Chiefs need this kind of versatility on the defensive side of the ball. He must stay in good health so that this deal is worth it, but I like the risk.
Thomas wins here because the security market, after being extremely sluggish last year, was causing concern. These concerns have been completely mitigated – LaMarcus Joyner also had a silver boat Raiders and Kenny Vaccaro received $ 26 million from the Titans. This means that Thomas should be able to easily get the $ 15 million a year that he wants over two years. Thank David Mulugheta for a big deal: he has already raised money for Vaccaro and Collins, with Thomas coming. Nice offseason for him on the security market.
Bill Belichick free agents
A pair of guys who played for the Patriots hit the free agency and earned a lot of money in the free market. Trent Brown and Trey Flowers were, by nature, overpaid freely.
As for Flowers, there are conflicting reports on this one as to whether it's $ 16 million or $ 17 million or whatever for Flowers, but whatever it is in either, that represents a lot of money for the former fourth round pick made by the Patriots. Detroit has aggressively signed a large number of notable old New England players, which is no wonder considering the Bob Quinn / Matt Patricia combo in Detroit. But it's not really the "Patriot Way" to rain free will on the players that the Patriots have dropped; Titans and Lions deliberately ignored this theory. Yet there is no doubt that Flowers was the best rusher available on the market and it is important that your team has quality passes. Flowers is another young rising player – he'll be 26 before the season – and the Lions bought him for his best. He has only 21 bags in the last three years, so he should take a step forward in Patricia's defense so that this deal is fully justified. Position value and age are high on me, especially since Flowers should work well alongside Damon Harrison and D & # 039; Shaun Hand.
As always, Belichick is the real winner here: these guys are going to offer him a pair of third-round scorecard picks in the NFL Draft next year by developing a pair of guys and letting them in. free conditions. The Patriots are good at this sport.
losers
Jacksonville Jaguars
Sign Nick Foles for a period of four years, $ 88 million ($ 50 million guarantee) The contract was a necessary decision of the Jaguars, who have been hampered by the lack of starting quarterbacks for years. Blake Bortles cost them the opportunity to play off the match for the CAF championship game two years ago. But it's a crazy money for Jacksonville. Who did they bet against? I heard on the NFL Network that the Jags had to pay to Foles for the departure of the legitimate quarterback to earn the respect of everyone who was in the building upon his arrival. I can see that as logic, but that does not mean that the logic is good. Foles received a Super Bowl MVP title, but the Jags bet against themselves and have just been caught at Foles for a ridiculous amount of money. Do not give me the line "it's the cost of doing business" because that's what pushed the Jaguar into this situation for the first time, when they extended Bortles year-round last.
San Francisco 49ers
In just a few years as General Manager of the Niners, John Lynch has shown that he was not afraid to go to the market and pay for someone he would like, whatever his position. Big winner this year? Kwon Alexander, who signed a surprising $ 54 million four-year contract with San Francisco. This contract makes Alexander the best-paid linebacker of all American football. He now earns more than $ 1 million a year more than Luke Kuechly. This suggests that it may not work very well for them for the duration of the transaction. Alexander is still very young, he will not be 25 years old until August. Thus, the 49ers buy their premium and he tore his ACL early enough last season so that back in early 2019 is not a problem. But it is a linebacker who has not participated in more than 100 tackles once in four seasons. However, he has a penchant for the ballhawk, recording six choices in those four seasons, six forced fumbles and 22 defending passes. It is just amazing to see that kind of money given to a guy in that position who has recently been injured. It's doubly difficult after the 49ers burned a first-round pick against Reuben Foster.
Ravens of Baltimore
The Ravens played their defense last season and most of the last seasons. Lamar Jackson and the attack launched late in the season were a huge advantage and changed the way they operated, but defense was the ultimate key. Here is the problem for Baltimore: they lose everyone in their defense. Eric Weddle, who was released by the Ravens, left for the Los Angeles Rams. Say what you want about his age, but he was a key part in the back. On Monday, the Ravens discovered that Terrell Suggs would go in a different direction, probable signature with the Cardinals in a homecoming contract. And the contracts that linebackers have passed into free agencies probably mean that C. J. Mosley will be too rich for the blood of Baltimore. They can always be good at defense, but that represents a lot of defeats for key players at all levels of their defense.
Houston Texans
The Texans are contenders because of Deshaun Watson more than anything, but the defense was also a major asset last year in the Houston playoff race. Suddenly, this defense loses players left and right. Texans were competitive chasing Tyrann Mathieu but ultimately could not keep the Honey Badger to go through the Chiefs' door, a competitor of the AFC. Houston also saw Kareem Jackson leave take $ 33 million from the Broncos. Add Kevin Jackson to his exit from play and they suddenly took some big hits in high school in a few hours to free authority. J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney are still the stars of this defense, but Clowney has only the franchise, so his future is a little dark and Watt is not young. It could still be a very good defense, but it is hard to imagine that she is an elite without some back improvements.
[ad_2]
Source link