2021 NFL Free Agency Thread

[spiderfan]

NFL Free Agency has begun! Admittedly, this year's free agent class isn't as intriguing as other free agent classes in the past, but it is the NFL offseason and anything can happen. I'll be posting my thoughts on the various signings and trades right here, so be sure to check back as news comes out. Let us begin!

Joe Thuney to Chiefs

Quick thoughts: After their disastrous Super Bowl performance, the Chiefs O-line is being rebuilt and that rebuild starts with solid guard Joe Thuney formerly of the Patriots. He has never missed a snap and was on 2 Patriots SB Champions teams, so a nice signing by the Chiefs. 

Corey Linsley to Chargers

Quick thoughts: Linsley was an All-Pro for the Packers last season, and with Mike Pouncey retiring, the Chargers needed a center and they got arguably the best center in the game. Great signing by the Chargers. 

Matt Judon to Patriots

Quick thoughts: Judon has been a good linebacker for the Ravens defense, and has peaked the last 2 seasons with back to back Pro Bowls. We know that Belichick is a defensive mastermind and will find ways to make things happen, so I doubt this signing ends up being a bad one. 

Jonnu Smith to Patriots

Quick thoughts: The Patriots needed to add some weapons for recently re-signed QB Cam Newton and with Smith being one of the better TEs in the NFL, Cam will have a great weapon, especially considering Patriots OC Josh McDaniels' love of TEs in the offense. Like Judon on defense, I doubt this signing ends up being a bad one for the Patriots. 

[spiderfan]

Nelson Agholor to Patriots

Quick thoughts: After having a renaissance in Las Vegas, Agholor is another solid weapon 

Yannick Ngakoue to Raiders

Quick thoughts: Ngakoue gets to be reunited with Gus Bradley who was the defensive play caller/head coach in Jacksonville in his rookie year and now that Bradley is in Las Vegas as defensive coordinator, I would expect Ngakoue to have a better 2021 than 2020. 

[spiderfan]

Fitzmagic to The Artists formerly known as Redskins

Quick thoughts: With Fitzmagic being run out of Miami for being too good, he gets the opportunity to prove the Dolphins wrong by signing with the plucky NFC East Champ Football Team. Word is that he is going to compete with with Taylor Heinicke and Kyle Allen and with those 3 all being good QBs (admittedly Allen and Fitzpatrick are inconsistent but both have had great moments), I think the Football Team will be in good position to win the NFC East next year. It will be fun to see Fitzmagic brought to the NFC East and it will certainly make that division more fun to watch than in previous years. 

Hunter Henry to Patriots

Quick thoughts: Another starting caliber TE for the Patriots? Cam is gonna have some weapons this year. 

[spiderfan]

Andy Dalton to Bears

Quick thoughts: Last year the idea was that Dalton would play for the Cowboys for a year for a low salary, potentially get playing time, and then come back the next year in free agency and get more money. And that is exactly what has transpired. It will be interesting to see if this means that Trubisky is done as a Bear (since Trubisky is a free agent) or if Foles becomes a salary cap dump and is done as a Bear or if the Bears decide to have a 3 way QB competition or if Dalton is the guy for 2021. As of right now it isn't clear, and it going to be interesting to see what happens during the offseason. As it stands, Dalton is a good QB who is an upgrade at the position IMO. 

Shaquill Griffin to Jags

Quick thoughts: When you have a quality cornerback like Griffin and you lose him to free agency as a team you are in a bad spot at least temporarily. That is the position the Seahawks are currently in. CB is now going to be a top priority for them for the rest of free agency and in the draft if they don't find a replacement for Griffin in free agency or trade. As for the Jags, signing a quality cornerback like Griffin in free agency is a no brainer. 

[spiderfan]

Trent Williams stays with 49ers

Quick thoughts: Usually, I just talk about guys leaving teams, but I had to talk about Williams signing the biggest contract for an O-lineman ever. He is one of, if not the best O-lineman in the game and with the 49ers having a run based offense, having someone like Williams is essential. Great re-signing by the 49ers. 

[spiderfan]

Curtis Samuel to The Artists formerly known as Redskins

Quick thoughts: The former Ohio State standout is going to be an excellent complement to Terry McLaurin. Expect for there to be some Fitzmagic with the Football Team's receiving core. 

Patrick Peterson to Vikings

Quick thoughts: Peterson has wanted out of Arizona for a long time and has now gotten his wish. With Zimmer being the defensive mastermind that he is, and Peterson being the player that he is, passing against the Vikings will not be an easy task.

AJ Green to Cardinals

Quick thoughts: An already stacked receiving corps gets even more stacked. Barring injuries, the Cardinals are making the playoffs next year. 

[spiderfan]

Mitch Trubisky to Bills

Quick thoughts: Trubisky has now entered the "draft bust from one team, backup to another team" stage of his career. That is what happens when someone who is clearly overhyped, get overdrafted, and inevitably becomes a disappointment. The good news for Trubisky is that if he is a quality backup (i.e. is nice to the coaches, is buddies with the starter, sits in the film room) his career will last a while and who knows? Maybe he'll become a starter somewhere else someday... in the new XFL. 

[spiderfan]

Kenny Golladay to New York Football Tinys

Quick thoughts: The Tinys have needed receiver help for Daniel Jones for a long time now, and they have finally gotten it with Golladay. Although knowing the Tinys, they'll shrink even with this signing. 

[spiderfan]

Leonard Fournette re-signs with Bucs

Quick thoughts: Again, I don't usually talk about re-signings, but this one is extra notable because the Tommy Bay Buccaneers have now according to Elias Sports officially retained all 22 of their starters from their Super Bowl champion squad. This is something that has not been done in the salary cap era. Will the Bucs repeat? I don't know, but they'll have a good shot at it with everyone coming back. 

[spiderfan]

Dolphins trade to 49ers and then Eagles

Quick thoughts: A lot of picks over a lot of years are involved in these trades. Long story short: The 49ers now have the #3 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. The Dolphins now have the #6 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and more first round picks in the years to come. The Eagles now have the #12 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft and another 1st round pick next year.

My opinion on all of this? It is obvious that the 49ers want someone REALLY REALLY REALLY bad. Who is that person? No one knows and everyone claiming to know conflicts with someone else claiming to know. My immediate read is that the 49ers want a QB. Whether that is someone in the draft or the under-controversy Deshaun Watson is yet to be seen. 

The Dolphins are building something real and are going to be in Super Bowl contention here pretty soon. 

The Eagles now have more assets to build around Jalen Hurts which considering the state of their team, is something they need.

[spiderfan]

Sam Darnold traded to Panthers

Quick thoughts: Here were my pre-draft thoughts on Sam Darnold: 

-Sam Darnold is incredibly overrated. He had 26 TDs and 22 TO's last year. That isn't good folks despite what people will tell you. He also played at his worst in the biggest games for USC vs Washington St (where he had a game losing fumble) vs Notre Dame (where the team got beat 49-14), and in the Cotton Bowl (where Darnold had 3 turnovers and no touchdowns).

Throughout the years I have continued to be a critic of Darnold's because despite what his truthers will tell you, he isn't very good. Has he not been dealt a good hand with the Jets? Sure. But it isn't like his draft contemporaries weren't also dealt bad hands and those guys panned out. Why? Because Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson were far better players in college than Sam Darnold. I would have been shocked had they not been better pro players also. 

Darnold is a bust plain and simple. Now, can he revitalize his career with the Panthers? Eh, maybe. Panthers OC Joe Brady is an offensive genius, so it is possible that Darnold turns out to not be a complete bust as a player.  

[spiderfan]

Jadeveon Clowney to Browns

Quick thoughts: The Browns have wanted Clowney for a while and they've finally got him. When healthy, Clowney is one of the best run stoppers in the league and is very good coming off the edge. Add him to an already talented Browns defense and you have the recipe for a good signing by the Browns. 

[spiderfan]

Orlando Brown traded to Chiefs

Quick thoughts: The Chiefs needed to improve their offensive line significantly and Orlando Brown will give the Chiefs significant improvement on the offensive line. It will cost the Chiefs a a 1st round pick (and other picks) but considering where the Chiefs are at the end of the various rounds of the draft, I doubt they would be find someone better than Orlando Brown. It will be interesting to see what the Ravens do with that extra first round pick. They could trade up into the top of the first round and select one of the top receivers or trade down and get future picks.