The first wave of free agency, three dizzying days of player movement, big spending and even some trades, is over, and the second wave, which will be weeks of one-year deals, has already begun.
Judging which teams “won” and “lost” during the first week of free agency is a fool’s errand. So I won’t try. But there are winners and losers from a different angle.
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Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has seen his team add receiver Deebo Samuel and left tackle Laremy Tunsil via trade this week. Associated Press
Washington QB Jayden Daniels. The Commanders were one of last year’s surprises, reaching the NFC championship game. Armed with cap space due to Daniels’ rookie contract, general manager Adam Peters wasn’t content to run it back. He traded for San Francisco receiver Deebo Samuel and Houston left tackle Laremy Tunsil to join an offense that gave up 50 sacks and had one receiver (Terry McLaurin) with more than 45 catches.
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Defensive tackles. In an era when teams rightly prioritize pass rushers and cornerbacks, free-agent defensive tackles are often on the move and this week was no different. Changing teams were unrestricted free agents that included Poona Ford (Los Angeles Chargers to Rams), Javon Kinlaw (New York Jets to Washington), Milton Williams (Philadelphia to New England), Solomon Thomas (Jets to Dallas), Larry Ogunjobi (Pittsburgh to the Bills) and Dalvin Tomlinson (Cleveland to Atlanta). All this money spent even though the draft is supposedly deep with big-fella defensive tackles.
Guys who were cut early. Cast aside by their teams ahead of free agency – or shortly after Monday’s negotiating period began – were players who had no problem finding new employment, suggesting their former team erred in cutting them or their new team saw a different picture. Cornerback Darius Slay (Philadelphia to Pittsburgh), receiver Davante Adams (Jets to Rams), tight end Evan Engram (Jacksonville to Denver) and defensive ends Joey Bosa (Chargers to Bills), Leonard Floyd (San Francisco to Atlanta), Jonathan Allen (Washington to Minnesota) and Harold Landry (Tennessee to New England) all quickly found new employment.
Bills CB Christian Benford. Under contract at cornerback (not including the nickel spot) are Benford, Brandon Codrington, Ja’Marcus Ingram, Daequan Hardy and Te’Cory Couch. I’m sure GM Brandon Beane has a plan to find Nos. 2-3 cornerbacks, it’s just a matter of when we will know.
Broncos defense. The Broncos ranked third in fewest points allowed (18.3), second in fewest yards allowed per play (4.93), third against the run (96.4 yards per game) and first in sacks (63). And now they have gotten better. In addition to re-signing defensive tackle D.J. Jones, they added two San Francisco studs in linebacker Dre Greenlaw and safety Talanoa Hufanga.
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San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey has seen his team gutted during the last week. Joshua Bessex, Buffalo News
Running backs. The spend-money-on-a-back trend lasted one offseason. Nobody the quality of Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry or Josh Jacobs was on this year’s board, so a course correction was expected. But good players like Najee Harris (Pittsburgh to Chargers), Elijah Mitchell (San Francisco to Kansas City), Rico Dowdle (Dallas to Carolina) and Raheem Mostert (Miami to Las Vegas) had to settle for one-year contracts. Running back remains – and always will be – the position of disposable labor.
New England’s offense. Poor quarterback Drake Maye. The Patriots – on their third coach and third offensive coordinator in as many years – needed to build around the second-year Maye. Instead, they spent and spent and spent on defense with the aforementioned Williams and Landry and cornerback Carlton Davis and linebacker Robert Spillane. The Patriots need a left tackle, left guard, center and top two receivers. Last I checked, they didn’t have five first-round draft picks.
The 49ers’ remaining core. Through Thursday, San Francisco had lost, cut or traded 13 players, a total gutting of a roster that made two Super Bowls since 2018, but was in need of a reset. But this kind of reset? The core of left tackle Trent Williams, tight end George Kittle, running back Christian McCaffrey and defensive end Nick Bosa had their chance at winning a ring, but not this year.
Dallas owner/general manager Jerry Jones. Last week, his son, Stephen, said the Cowboys would be “selectively aggressive.” Turns out, they have been significantly inactive. They’ve worked the margins for the Jets’ Thomas and Denver running back Javonte Williams, and traded for Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam. And don’t forget, do-everything defender Micah Parsons still needs to be paid.
Saints coach Kellen Moore. New Orleans continues to hang onto the belief it can contend when it should start believing a teardown is necessary. The Saints’ only notable move was signing the Chiefs' Justin Reid to play safety, a product of them reworking contracts to create cap space. One of the worst moves of the week by any team (if not the worst) was the Saints re-signing defensive end Chase Young to a three-year contract worth $51 million. Ugh. Moore better hope ownership is patient.
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