NFL Free Agency Moves We Loved and Some We Hated
A lot has happened over the past couple weeks. I have been following the offseason religiously and watched GMs make some excellent moves, as well as a few head scratchers. Below are some in both categories.
Moves I Loved
Miami Dolphins Trade for CB Jalen Ramsey
I think this was an excellent move by Miami. Ramsey was the 3rd best cornerback in the league last year per PFF. He comes with a hefty salary, but the Dolphins only had to give up a 3rd round pick and a no-name tight end. Miami struggled to defend anyone’s passing attack last year, giving up the 5th most passing yards and forcing interceptions at a rate good for third worst in the league. This move bolsters that unit and will help them try and slow down the top arm talent in the AFC.
Kansas City Chiefs Sign OT Jawaan Taylor
Whether or not Kansas City would franchise tag Orlando Brown had long been a talking point around the NFL. However, Brown wanted to reset the market for the offensive tackle position and probably wouldn’t have liked playing under the tag again. The Chiefs decided to let Brown walk and instead sign a cheaper, Jawaan Taylor. At just 26, Taylor has a lot of career left in him and has improved with each season in the league. PFF had Taylor as the 40th best tackle in the game last season. His run blocking needs some work, but his pass blocking ability is more than acceptable. With Kansas City relying more on the passing game anyway, Jawaan will fit right in. The Chiefs are still protecting their greatest asset (Patrick Mahomes) and saving a little money in the process.
Dallas Cowboys Releasing RB Ezekiel Elliot
I know this was a tough pill for Jerry Jones to swallow. I’m very surprised he did, but it was 100% the right move. The Cowboys couldn’t afford to pay their running back room over 26 million next season. Zeke had a great career with Dallas and his highlights in that uniform will always be looked at fondly by Cowboy fans, but he was holding the team back. Tony Pollard was the much better back the past two seasons and everyone knew it. When Zeke came into the game, the air was sucked out of the ball. Elliot will surely find a spot on a team as a goal-to-go, bruiser type back, but he isn’t worth 16 million a year.
Chicago Bears Get Haul from Carolina for 1st Overall Pick
This trade could go in both categories as I love it for Chicago, but hate it for Carolina. The Bears got two firsts, two seconds, and DJ Moore, who is a clear WR1. Justin Fields finally has a decent receiver room to throw to. Moore, Claypool, Mooney and Kmet aren’t blowing anyone away, but they’re definitely good enough to allow the Bears to evaluate Fields better. If Fields turns out not to be the guy, they’ll likely have two top 10-12 picks in next year’s draft to do something about it. If Fields proves he is the franchise quarterback, then Chicago has plenty of draft capital to surround him with good, cheap talent when they have to extend him. This was an A+ trade by Ryan Poles.
Denver Broncos Trade for Sean Payton
I know Sean Payton isn’t a player, but he will be more valuable to his new team than any other trade or free agent signing this offseason. The Broncos offense was abysmal last year. 32nd in points per game, 32nd in 3rd down conversion percentage, 19th in passing yards per game, 21st in rushing yards per game. I could go on and on. Payton will come in and immediately turn this team around. Arguably one of the greatest ever offensive minds in league history, Sean Payton has the ability to take Denver from worst to first. In reality, they probably won’t win the division, but stealing that Wild Card spot from the Chargers is definitely on the table.
Moves I Hated
New York Giants Trade for TE Darren Waller
What are the Giants doing here? Not only is Waller one of the more expensive tight ends in the game, but he never is healthy enough to play. He’ll be 31 by the time next season rolls around and hasn’t played more than 11 games since 2020. Granted, his two year run from 2019-2020 was insane production. Both seasons saw him have over 1,000 yards and 90+ receptions, but that level of play seems in the rear view mirror. I hope I’m wrong as I want Daniel Jones to finally have some weapons, but this was a head scratcher if I’ve ever seen one.
New York Jets (probably) Trade for QB Aaron Rodgers
I know everyone is saying the Jets will finally have a quarterback and actually have serious playoff hopes next season. I don’t buy into the hype for a second. I’m supposed to believe a guy who hates working in the offseason and getting to know his rookie receivers is now going to flawlessly mesh together with a totally new team? No chance. He thought he was going to retire and now he’s moving, meeting new people, dealing with the New York media, learning a new playbook etc. There is a much higher chance Rodgers leads the Jets to a 9-8 or 10-7 record and a first round exit, followed by retirement than he takes them deep into the playoffs and returns for a second year. This has disaster written all over it.
How Lamar Jackson has Handled Free Agency
This move has blown up in Jackson’s face. According to Lamar and contrary to reports from Adam Schefter, the Ravens offered him a 3-year contract worth 133 million with all of it being guaranteed. This could be the poor in me talking, but how do you not take that deal? Patrick Mahomes got 10 years, 500 million. He will be locked down for the rest of his career. With the contract Lamar was offered, he would be eligible for a new contract at 30 years old. If he stays healthy, he’s looking at a chance to leave in a few years (if he pleases) and another shot at a mega millions deal. The only reason a player wouldn’t take this contract is if he thinks he won’t last that long in the league. If I’m a GM, I can’t in good conscience offer a 4-5+ year deal, fully guaranteed, to someone who doesn’t think he’ll be worth it in 3 years. This whole saga has been interesting from the beginning, and I can’t wait to see where it goes, but it seems it’s not going to end in a way that Jackson likes.