Free Agency hits hard.
In the last half decade, this portion of the offseason calendar has become an entity on its own, and day one of the “legal tampering period” hits like an absolute truck. It’s just an onslaught of breaking news that causes the colour on your F5 button to begin to fade.
Personally, it has become my favourite time of the year outside of teams actually playing football (though sometimes the football is much less entertaining). It’s like Christmas for those who enjoy seeing teams acquire players that their previous teams didn’t really want to keep.
This year was no different, with hundreds of players looking down the barrel of having to uproot and move their entire life, hoping they draw interest in a team in a state that has low income tax (though I’m sure they’ll manage regardless).
The Raiders’ Big Day
With every new update, there was a good chance that you would see the words: Las Vegas Raiders. After trading away franchise star *Maxx Crosby to the Baltimore Ravens, they came into the day with a whole lot of cap space and the need to make a splash.
**At the time of writing, the Baltimore Ravens had not pulled out of their trade for Maxx Crosby.*
And I guess they did.
In total, they handed out $271.5 million in contracts to seven different players. With Fernando Mendoza the unspoken first overall pick, the Raiders are planning for him to have a smooth landing. After years of languishing in the dregs of the league, they want to hit the ground running in a new era.
Their biggest splash came in the form of Tyler Linderbaum, the former Ravens centre who has been named to the Pro Bowl in each of the past three seasons. Linderbaum is the rare case of an elite talent making it to free agency due to Baltimore not wanting to pay their centre what a tackle would earn. The Raiders, on the other hand, had cash to burn as he was signed to a 3-year, $81 million contract.
Not only will Linderbaum be a huge help for the incumbent Mendoza, but he will elevate their run game. Last year’s top-10 pick, Ashton Jeanty, failed to showcase his potential behind a poor Raiders O-line.
The majority of the rest of their spending was focused on the defence, with five players being signed on that side of the ball. They aim to overhaul their linebacker corps by bringing in Quay Walker (3-year, $40.5 million) and Nakobe Dean (3-year, $36 million), while former first-round pick Kwity Paye (3-year, $48 million) will look to replace Maxx Crosby on the defensive line.
Other signings for the day included re-signing Eric Stokes (3-year, $30 million), Jalen Nailor (3-year, $35 million), and Malcolm Koonce (1-year, $11 million).
QBs on the Move
The quarterback market is very rarely spectacular, and this year is no exception. The fact that Malik Willis, who has thrown for only six touchdowns in a four-year career, is the headliner says it all.Embed from Getty Images
The Miami Dolphins showcased strong main character energy by being the team to pony up for Willis, signing him to a 3-year, $67.5 million contract. This contract is cheaper than expected and easy to move on from if things don’t work out. The move also reunites Willis with his former Packers DC, Jeff Hafley, who must’ve been impressed by what he saw during their combined tenure in Green Bay.
Even with the signing of Willis, the Dolphins are likely entering a rebuild due to the exorbitant amount of dead cap they have accrued following the release of Tua Tagovailoa. His release has added nearly $100 million in dead cap over a two-year period.
Tua, in turn, was signed by the Atlanta Falcons on a veteran’s minimum, which has turned him from a contract blunder into one of the league’s biggest bargains. With the departure of Kirk Cousins, the Falcons needed to bring in competition for Michael Penix, a player whose own future is in doubt. It also means they have a monopoly on left-handed quarterbacks, so the playbook will not need a serious overhaul if they do turn to Tua.
The Chiefs Get Another Super Bowl MVP
The MVP of the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl, Kenneth Walker III, is cashing in on his championship appearance by signing a 3-year, $45 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.
His addition to Kansas City should add a major improvement to their run game, which was overly reliant on Patrick Mahomes scrambling last year—an element of his game that will be heavily diminished following his return from ACL surgery.
Walker showed flashes during his time with the Seahawks, but never really hit the heights expected of him following his time at Michigan State. However, he timed his run of good form well and turned an exceptional playoff performance into a top-5 contract for his position.
The Chiefs must have had some good news about Mahomes’ knee, as they are also bringing back franchise legend Travis Kelce, who seemed set for retirement. The veteran tight end is signing a 1-year, $12 million contract in an attempt at one last push for glory.
Colts Make a Decision
After looking set to test the market, receiver Alec Pierce shocked everyone by re-signing with the Indianapolis Colts on a 4-year, $114 million contract. In doing so, they made a choice that not many knew had happened, trading Michael Pittman to the Pittsburgh Steelers a few hours later.
Pittman has been a much more productive receiver in his career than Pierce so far, but the Colts clearly see where the future lies. In shipping Pittman for a late-round pick swap, they free up $24 million in cap space. The Steelers, meanwhile, have one of the league’s most intriguing receiver groups with Pittman pairing with DK Metcalf.
Sad Day for Tampa
This feels like the end of an era for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the departure of Mike Evans. After failing to cross 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his NFL career, he has swapped Tampa Bay for the Bay Area.
The perennial Pro Bowler, after looking certain to end his career in Florida, has signed with the San Francisco 49ers, looking to compete for a Super Bowl in the final stages of his career. He signed a 3-year contract for $42.4 million, implying that he’s not on the verge of retirement as many had expected.
It’s also damning for Tampa Bay that Evans would turn away from them, showing that he doesn’t believe in the direction the team is heading under Todd Bowles.