The NFL has evolved into a 24/7, 365 days a year sport. The offseason, with its scouting combine, free agency signing period, and draft process, has arguably become more entertaining to some fans than the actual games being played.
Now that we are a little more than 48 hours into the NFL’s Free Agent Friendsy, here are some early winners and losers thus far.
Winners –
Chicago Bears – I love the signings of TE Martellus Bennett and OT Jermon Bushrod. The two most glaring issues on the Bears offense last season were the offensive line and the lack a reliable safety-valve in the form of a good pass-catching TE. Enter Bennett and Bushrod. Bushrod will play RT, allowing last year’s rookie OT Gabe Carimi to move inside and play OG. Bennett, who last season with the New York Giants had 55 receptions, 626 receiving yards, and 5 TDs, will instantly improve the Bears TE situation and be that second option Culter was lacking last season. The Bears TE last season, Kellen Davis, 19 receptions, 229 receiving yards, and 2 TDs. Problem solved.
Denver Broncos – If they weren’t already the favorite to win the 2013-2014 Super Bowl, they are now. The Broncos had little needs coming off last season, finishing with the best record in the AFC, but the ones they did have, they filled in nicely this offseason. The Broncos were weak on the interior of the OL, so they went out and signed starting OG Louis Vasquez to plug that hole at RG. On defense, they were light in the defensive backfield, so they just went out a signed starting CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. This will allow the Broncos to play CB Champ Bailey more as the nickel CB, where his declining speed won’t hurt him as much, or they can slowly start to transition him into playing FS. Oh yeah, and as if QB Peyton Manning didn’t have enough weapons to throw the ball too, they just went out and signed a little known WR named Wes Welker. Sickening!!
Indianapolis Colts – Despite this team having an inspirational and remarkable season, capped off by them making the playoffs, they had a lot of holes that needed to be filled this offseason thru free agency and the draft. They needed major help along the OL and just about at every position on defense. The Colts are well on their way to doing that. They signed OT Gosder Cherilus away from the Detroit Lions, where he was a staple at RT. It’s unclear if he will move over to LT to protect QB Andrew Luck’s blind side and allow current LT Anthony Castonzo to move to RT, but either way adding Cherilus is a major improvement to the Colt’s OL. On defense, they added three good starting players in CB Greg Toler, LB Erik Walden, and S LaRon Landry. With the continued development of Andrew Luck, look out for the Colts to be a strong contender in the next few years.
Miami Dolphins – Is 5-years, $60 million a little much for a WR of Mike Wallace’s caliber? Some would argue yes, but some would argue that Wallace is the second most talented WR in the NFL only behind WR Calvin Johnson. In order to get a talent like Wallace to come to your team, you have to overpay a little bit. Getting a true #1 WR was a must for the Dolphins this offseason. With all due respect to WR Brian Hartline and the good year he had last season (74 receptions, 1083 receiving yards, but only 1 TD), he can’t be your team’s #1 WR, especially while you are trying to develop a young QB in Ryan Tannehill. I think Hartline will actually complement Wallace nicely. Wallace will be able to stretch the field on deeper routes, which will open up the middle of the field for Hartline on those intermediate routes. The Dolphins also made good moves in signing LB’s Dannell Ellerbe and Phillip Wheeler to bolster their defense. With the New York Jets in a free-fall, Buffalo Bills in total rebuild mode, and the New England Patriots not getting any younger (mainly Tom Brady), the Dolphins have a little window here to be a player in the division.
Losers –
Arizona Cardinals – Their most pressing need is at the QB position, and their only solution thus far is signing QB Drew Stanton. Again, with their most pressing need being at the QB position, the Arizona Cardinals solution thus far is signing QB Drew Stanton. Ok??!! I’m also not impressed with their other free agent signings so far. They went out and signing a washed up RB in Rashard Mendenhall and a bunch of backups on defense. Good luck this season, Cardinal Fans.
Baltimore Ravens – I guess you can’t really call them losers, as they did resign QB Joe Flacco, which was a must for them after he led them to a Super Bowl victory. But making Flacco the highest paid QB in NFL history is coming at a costly price. They were forced to trade away WR Anquan Boldin to the San Francisco 49ers, they weren’t able to resign either of their starting LB’s in Dannell Ellerbe and Paul Kruger, and it’s looking more likely they will not be able to resign star FS and franchise staple, Ed Reed. I have no doubt that the Ravens will rebound through the draft, as they are one of the best front offices in the NFL at doing so, but it’s not a good look for them to be losing all of these key pieces to their Super Bowl winning team.
New England Patriots – I actually like the move of letting WR Wes Welker leave and signing WR Danny Amendola. I think it makes them a better team and at this point in each of their careers, I would rather take 5-years of Amendola than 2-years of Welker. However, the Pats aren’t in the business of pleasing me; they’re in the business of pleasing the golden boy, Mr. Uggs himself, Tom Brady. And when Tom takes a pay-cut so that you can go and resign his favorite WR target (Welker), you better do so. Tom isn’t happy right now, and that makes the New England Patriots losers.
New York Jets – Mark Sanchez is still their starting QB. How anyone can still be a starting QB in the NFL after committing the Butt Fumble is beyond me.
Oakland Raiders – Need I say more?
Seattle Seahawks – Just because they are the San Francisco 49ers’ new rival and everything they do now from here on out is seen with hated eyes. Plus, the city is trying to steal my basketball team away, which they will be unsuccessful at.
Mr. Armchair Speaking!!!
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