Is it just me, or has the start of NFL free agency been unusually busy this year? It might not be any busier than usual, but it certainly seems like it. Probably because of the number of big names that have changed teams. And it's not just new-found free agents. There's been a staggering number of trades. That might actually be the reason it seems like there's been more movement than usual. Everyday we're hearing about a big name being traded.
Let's start with the trades. That's how the good teams have been leaving their mark. Jimmy Graham went from the Saints to the Seahawks. Suddenly Seattle's offense is a lot more formidable. A third straight trip to the Super Bowl is obviously their goal, and adding an All-Pro tight end certainly helps.
Meanwhile, Chip Kelly's Eagles made a very interesting move. Shortly after re-signing Mark Sanchez, which led me (and probably a bunch of others) to believe he was going to become Philly's starter and Nick Foles would be expendable. Well, it turns out Foles was expendable. He got traded to the Rams for Sam Bradford. So, instead of Foles and Sanchez, it's now Bradford and Sanchez. It's all very confusing. Although I'm fairly certain it does mean the Eagles won't trade up in the Draft to make a Chip Kelly-Marcus Mariota reunion happen. Philadelphia's second big trade was shipping LeShon McCoy to the Bills. That freed them up at running back to make a major coup and snag DeMarco Murray away from the rival Cowboys for five years.
The Bills getting McCoy was huge, but it's the entire AFC East that's been making major noise. It's almost as if the three of them got together and finally decided that, after all these years, they weren't going to let the Patriots push them around anymore. Especially Miami. The Dolphins were already the closest to contention. After the first week of free agency, that hasn't changed. In fact, Miami has become even more of a threat to new England's division dominance.
Perhaps the biggest name (literally) out there on the free agent market was Ndamukong Suh. Detroit's franchise player made the kind-of surprising move by not re-signing with the Lions. Instead he tested the waters and got a major deal from a Dolphins team that went from having a good defense to having a really good defense. And Miami also picked up an All-Pro tight end in Jordan Cameron. Depending on what else they do this offseason, it really looks like the Dolphins are going to be serious players in 2015.
As for the Jets, they've finally freed themselves of Rex Ryan and set about rebuilding their trademark defense. And it started with reuniting with Darrelle Revis. I'd like them to just come out and say that trading Revis to Tampa Bay two years ago was a mistake. Because, even more than the whole Tim Tebow fiasco, it was trading Revis that started the Jets' downward spiral that was the end of the Rex Ryan Era. And because Revis needs some company in the secondary, Antonio Cromartie will stay together with new Jets Head Coach Todd Bowles after coming over from the Cardinals. Meanwhile, on the offensive end, which everyone knows is the Jets' real problem, they did their nonexistent quarterback a favor by getting him a No. 1 receiver in Brandon Marshall. Of course, that won't make a difference if Mariota doesn't fall to them at No. 6 as they hope/expect and they have to go into another season with that wonderful Geno Smith/Michael Vick tag team.
In addition to Revis, New England has also already lost running back Shane Vereen to the Giants and cornerback Brandon Browner to the Saints. They also made the decision to part ways with Vince Wilfork, freeing up a lot of cap room (again, literally). Wilfork might return for less money, but that remains to be seen. I think he'll get interest from other teams and play elsewhere, though.
There are some other vets that are headed to different teams, provided they don't retire. The most significant of those released veterans was Reggie Wayne. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Colts' all-time leading receiver rejoin his former quarterback for Peyton's fourth (and likely final) season in Denver. To replace Wayne, the Colts brought in somebody they know well--Houston's Andre Johnson. The Texans' all-time leading receiver, Johnson's just as old as Wayne. But the Colts were only looking for a No. 2 receiver to pair with T.Y. Hilton, and Andre Johnson certainly fits that bill.
It's the running game that's been Indy's real problem in the three years since they've decided to test their Luck without Peyton. The Trent Richardson experiment failed miserably, which they fully acknowledged by releasing the former Alabama star. After flaming out in Cleveland and now Indianapolis, Richardson's disappointing NFL career is probably over. And I think it's safe to say the Colts made a major upgrade at running back by snagging Frank Gore. It looked like Gore was all set to sign with the Eagles, but instead he chose Indianapolis. (Had he picked Philly, Murray probably stays in Dallas.)
Seeing as they made very little attempt to re-sign Gore, San Francisco's probably in rebuilding mode. Especially since their second-best offensive player, guard Mike Iupati is staying in the division with the Cardinals. They signed a former Cardinal of their own in Darnell Dockett, but Patrick Willis retired. So did Titans quarterback Jake Locker, who's all of 26.
Like I said, there's been a lot. And free agency just started! It's the NFL, so there plenty more to come. We haven't even hit the Draft yet. Expect the wheeling and dealing to continue.
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