Post by spiderfan on Mar 15, 2020 19:52:58 GMT -8
It is that time of year folks! The Free Agency/trade frenzy has begun and I'll be updating this thread as signings happen and give my brief thoughts on them. I'll also talk about any notable trades as well. Enjoy!
Austin Hooper to Browns
Quick thoughts: Hooper is a talented TE who was a Pro Bowler. Can't go wrong with signing someone like that.
DeAndre Hopkins traded to Cardinals, David Johnson traded to Texans
Quick thoughts: Well, wasn't expecting this today. In one of GM Bill O'Brien's "imma trade a star player" move, Texans #1 WR DeAndre Hopkins is now a Cardinal and Cardinals RB David Johnson is now a Texan. What is interesting about this trade is the fact that Johnson wasn't used much by Kliff Kingsbury last year, who instead used Kenyan Drake. So, if you are the Cardinals you trade a RB you weren't using (along with a 2nd and a next year 4th round pick) for a very talented WR. And the Texans add another RB to their mess of a RB room. I guess this also means that Larry Fitzgerald will transition into some type of #2 receiver role. The Cardinals won this trade. Big time.
DeForest Buckner traded to Colts for 1st round pick
Quick thoughts: DeForest Buckner was one of the key defensive line pieces for the 49ers in their Super Bowl run and now that he is on the Colts, it would appear that they are looking for a cheaper option in the draft. Not a terrible idea, considering this draft class will have some great D-lineman. The Colts get a really talented D-lineman themselves too. It would appear that the Colts viewed Buckner in higher regard than someone like say Auburn's Derrick Brown. Win win for both teams.
Jack Conklin to Browns
Quick thoughts: The Browns needed O-line help BAD and they are getting it with Conklin. If he stays healthy, they've got themselves a good player.
Byron Jones to Dolphins
Quick thoughts: Congrats Miami! You got a really good CB, who probably shouldn't have hit the free agent market, but did because the Jones' incompetence! I can't say I'm surprised that he left the Cowboys, although that doesn't damper my disappointment with the reality of his exit.
Jimmy Graham to Bears
Quick thoughts: Jimmy Graham has been good wherever he has been and I doubt that will change with Da Bears.
Marcus Mariota to Raiders
Quick thoughts: Mariota had an up and down tenure with the Titans. Early on it looked like he would be a franchise QB and then later he ended up getting replaced by Ryan Tannehill. The Raiders have a history of reviving careers and I think Mariota will be next on that list. Derek Carr isn't that good and I think that Mariota will at some point overtake his spot at the starting QB of the Raiders, whether that be during training camp or early into the season. It is worth mentioning that both Raiders GM Mike Mayock and HC Jon Gruden were both VERY high on Mariota before the 2015 NFL Draft back when they were both TV analysts, so I think they'll do everything to set him up to succeed. Good signing by the Raiders.
Stephon Diggs traded to Bills for a whole bunch o' draft picks
Quick thoughts: There have rumors of Diggs being traded from the Vikings for a while now, but the rumors are no more because Josh Allen now has a fantastic weapon to throw to. The Vikings are loaded with draft picks so they should be able to replace Diggs, at the same time the Bills did a great thing by getting someone of Diggs' talent to be on their roster. Win win for both teams.
Randall Cobb to Texans
Quick thoughts: After trading away DeAndre Hopkins the Texans needed a replacement and so they signed Randall Cobb? I mean, Cobb is a good player but he already transitioned into being a slot receiver so I'm not exactly sure what the Texans plan is. But that pretty much describes GM Bill O'Brien. As for the Cowboys, it looked like Cobb would be reunited with his old HC in Mike McCarthy, but with that no longer being the case, the Cowboys will have to yet again look for a slot receiver. First Cole Beasley leaves and now Randall Cobb leaves. Look to the draft, I guess?
Robert Quinn to Bears
Quick thoughts: Another good signing by the Bears. Now with Khalil Mack on one side and with Robert Quinn on the other that Bears defense will be even better than it has been. I guess the Cowboys backup plan is Randy Gregory coming back. If they even had a backup plan.
Jason Witten to Raiders
Quick thoughts: I wasn't expecting this at all. So much so, that I don't really know what to say other than good him. The fact that he can still get near 5 million dollars at his age is crazy. He has been a long time Cowboys great and I wish him the best. Happy Trails, Jason!
Phil Rivers to Colts
Quick thoughts: I always thought Jacoby Brissett was an overrated QB. It took another season of him being the QB for the Colts to realize that and are replacing him. Rivers can still be good, although he has been inconsistent for the last few years. Hopefully, Colts HC/play caller Frank Reich can put him in a situation to succeed in the AFC South.
Teddy Bridgewater to Panthers
Quick thoughts: Ya wanna know what doesn't make sense? Moving on from your QB because of his injury history and possible future injury risk and replacing him with a guy with an injury history and is a walking injury risk. Look, what happened to Bridgewater wasn't his fault or anybody's fault. That doesn't change the fact that his knee was obliterated. Now, he has come back and played well for the Saints and is a fit for a place like a New Orleans. A place like Carolina is an odd fit. They are into the first year of what is going to be a rebuild and the idea that Bridgewater seems a little too experienced for that. Good luck, Carolina.
Tom Brady to Buccaneers
Quick thoughts: After 20 years, the Patriots dynasty is finally over. Up until recently, the idea of Brady playing in another uniform seemed crazy. We live in a crazy world because Tom Brady is now the QB of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. For as much trash as I talked about Bucs HC Bruce Arians this past season, I gotta give him credit for making this move happen. This team has offensive talent, Mike Evans, O.J Howard, and Breshad Perriman just to name a few. This team has defensive talent like Shaquil Barrett and Jason Pierre Paul. Now that their bust QB is gone and with the 7 team playoffs being the new norm, the sky is the limit for this team.
And even if they don't do all that great, I still would like to congratulate the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fanbase who has lived with a garbage team for a lot of years and not much hope, finally having some hope and optimism around your franchise. Not to mention excitement and media attention. The Buccaneers haven't been on Sunday Night Football since 2008. I guarantee that will change this year because like any good Northeasterner, Tom Brady likes himself some Florida.
Nick Foles traded to Bears
Quick thoughts: I was really optimistic for Foles in Jacksonville last year. That all changed when he got injured. Now, after having a lackluster season in Jacksonville, he will be headed to the Bears to compete with current Bears QB Mitchell Trubisky. It is worth mentioning that Bears HC Matt Nagy worked with Foles for a brief period in Kansas City, so they have history together. What is also worth mentioning is that Foles plays the underdog better than the top dog, so I won't be surprised if he leads the Bears to a whole bunch of wins.
Chris Harris to Chargers
Quick thoughts: The Chargers add another good player to an already good defense. The Broncos aren't going to enjoy playing the Chargers next year, that I can tell ya with Harris knowing that Broncos offense.
Darius Slay traded to Eagles
Quick thoughts: Big. Play. Slay. One of, if not the best player on the Detroit Lions now goes to a better team in the Philadelphia Eagles and will make big plays for the Eagles. Great move by them. As for the Lions, all I have to say is Matt Stafford ya deserved a better team, enjoy your fat contract.
Melvin Gordon to Broncos
Quick thoughts: After a failed holdout that ended up with him getting replaced, Melvin Gordon is now likely a backup in Denver. A shame for what was once a promising career.
Todd Gurley to Falcons
Quick thoughts: After being one of, if not the best RB in the NFL, a franchise player, and a team leader, Todd Gurley is now likely a backup in Atlanta. It is a shame that injuries have derailed his career, but he made his money and seems happy. Good for him.
Emmanuel Sanders to Saints
Quick thoughts: The arms race in the NFC South is on and the Saints adding Emmanuel Sanders is proof of that. As he showed with the 49ers last year, he still has gas in the tank and I have no doubt that he'll contribute plenty to the Saints next year. Good signing.
P.J. Walker to Panthers
Quick thoughts: The likely MVP of the XFL (had the season finished ), P.J. Walker is now reunited with his old college coach Matt Rhule and adds an interesting dynamic to the Panthers QB room. Obviously, Teddy Bridgewater is getting paid more, but with Walker's connection with Rhule and his high talent level that he showed in the XFL, I wonder who would win an open QB competition for the Panthers if it comes to that. My guess would be Walker and that is why I think this a good signing by the Panthers.
Kyle Allen traded to Redskins
Quick thoughts: With P.J. Walker now on the Panthers that now means that Kyle Allen (who I talked about a lot during last year's columns) will now go from the Panthers to the Redskins to be reunited with his previous coach Ron Rivera. Allen showed a whole bunch of promise last year and with word on the street being that Rivera wants to put pressure on current Redskins de-facto QB Dwayne Haskins, trading for Allen was a solid move. I wouldn't be surprised if we saw Kyle Allen at some point beat out Haskins for the QB job of the Redskins.
Rob Gronkowski traded to Buccaneers
Quick thoughts: GRONK IS BACK! After retiring from football and being a WWE wrestler, he is now reunited with his old QB Tommy Bay Brady and they look to bring a Super Bowl to Florida. I don't how much Gronk has left in the tank, but it is possible that like Jason Witten (who took a year off that everyone wants to forget) he is refreshed and plays at a high level. It will be fun to watch what yet another Bostonite does in Florida.
Jameis Winston to Saints
Quick thoughts: So after being a free agent for over a month, the former Bucs bust goes to the division rival Saints. Kinda fitting that one of the least likeable players in the NFL is gonna go play for one of the least likeable coaches in the NFL. His salary is low and apparently he thinks that being under the tutelage of Sean Payton and Drew Brees will revitalize his career. It won't, because Winston is what he is despite the Bucs actively building the team and coaching staff for his benefit and just because he holds Drew Brees' clipboard doesn't mean he will improve in the slightest. If Winston does succeed count me in for the Jerry Springer Show looking sideline arguments when Winston throws a terrible INT and Sean Payton is as red as his Ferrari (which again I don't know if he owns a red Ferrari, but Sean Payton TOTALLY seems like the kind of guy who would buy a red Ferrari to show how rich and masculine and brilliant he is).