Free Agency Musings

It's funny that fans would rather see their team involved in reckless action rather than being patience in free agency. No matter how often it's proven that championships are never won in March. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were applauded and their fans were ecstatic about this time last year. In the first week of Free Agency 2014, they spent a bunch on defensive end Michael Johnson, tackle Anthony Collins, quarterback Josh McCown, cornerback Alterraun Verner, center Evan Dietrich-Smith, defensive tackle Clinton McDonald, and several others. Johnson, Collins, and McCown were released a year later. Impressive impact.

Johnson returned to his original team, the Cincinnati Bengals, this weekend. So, the Bengals will likely receive a 3rd-round Compensatory Pick in the upcoming draft for a player that is now on their roster. There's something very wrong with that. Also, Johnson will be paid by both the Buccaneers and the Bengals this season. Nice.

After signing a pay scale-wrecking contract with the Miami Dolphins Ndamukong Suh said that he never wanted to leave Detroit. Really? During the season he said that his agent would decide where he played. That's a pretty good indication that his new home would depend entirely on money. He signed a six year, $114 million contract with $60 million guaranteed with the Dolphins. The Lions offered six years, $102 million with $58 million guaranteed. Florida has no state income tax. Michigan has 4.25% income tax. With numbers that size there's really very little difference. If Suh really wanted to stay in Detroit those numbers from the Lions would have worked. At least, that's the feeling here.

If Suh is going to get a salary close to that of the top quarterbacks in the game he had better be the best defensive player in the game. And the best by a lot. He isn't. J.J. Watt is the best defensive player. Suh has the talent to be as dominant as Watt but in his five years he hasn't been. Not even close. Not only is Suh behind Watt he might also be behind Justin Houston, Darrelle  Revis, Earl Thomas, Luke Keuchley, Richard Sherman, and Muhammad Wilkerson in sustained defensive excellence. Suh hasn't even been the most consistent defensive tackle in the league. Gerald McCoy. Even rookie Aaron Donald made more impact plays last year. Suh hasn't even been the best defensive player on the Lions over the past couple of seasons. DeAndre Levy. Suh was in the last draft that brought insane rookie contracts. He's been paid well and he's going to be paid even better. He does have the talent to perform to that contract. He just has to finally do so.

Chip Kelly has lost his mind. I actually like the trade for Sam Bradford. If, and it's a big "if," he can stay healthy. I also like the acquisition of Kiko Alonso even if it cost LeSean McCoy. I don't understand his running back decisions after clearing the position in the name of cutting salary. He traded McCoy, agreed to terms with Frank Gore, lot Gore, agreed to terms with Ryan Matthews, signed DeMarco Murray to a big contract, still signed Matthews to a modest contract. Kelly said that finances forced the trade of McCoy. He said that the savings made it possible to add Alonso, cornerback Byron Maxwell, Matthews, and Murray. In no world that I know does the $10 million, or so, saved from moving McCoy equal the nearly $25 million that Kelly added. He says now that he wanted to add two of the top three backs in free agency and Gore, Murray, and Matthews were his top three. If Kelly truly wanted two of those backs it wouldn't have taken Murray calling him to spark a contract dialogue. Chip Kelly is making things up as he goes. It feels like the foolish, random signings that the Eagles made in 2011.

Rex Ryan might want to stop poking the New England Patriots. When he was hired by the New York Jets a few years ago he started poking at the team that ruled the AFC East. I suppose that bravado was refreshing even humorous then. But he failed to live up to the boasts as the Jets gradually fell apart. Now, as the Buffalo Bills coach, Ryan is claiming that the gap between the Patriots and the rest of the division is closing. Maybe it has but he should wait until he can prove this on the field.

Speaking of Ryan's Bills. They have been bold in free agency. There aren't too many teams that can boast a play-making trio the likes of LeSean McCoy, Sammy Watkins, and Percy Harvin. Even with Matt Cassel at quarterback. The Bills defense is terrific and should only get better with Ryan at the helm.

Speaking of Ryan. His mind is on the Bills now but it must be hard for him to miss what the Jets have done in free agency. He needs cornerbacks for his defense to perform at it's peak. Then Jets General Manager John Idzik provided him a sad group last year. Fast forward to now and the Jets have a brand new, familiar secondary. The Jets have added corners Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie, and Buster Skrine as well as safety Marcus Gilchrist. I feel like Ryan could have worked with current Jets GM Mike Maccagnan.

The New Orleans Saints are obviously in the middle of an overhaul. Trading Jimmy Graham is the only proof needed for that. But they aren't packing up their tents. They cleaned out the offense and the defense. They still have playmakers like Mark Ingram and Brandin Cooks. They still have Drew Brees. They added CJ Spiller. They now have five picks in the first three rounds of the draft. They seem to be looking forward while remaining competitive and as long as Brees is under center they will be competitive. But their salary cap is an absolute disaster. Stocking up on early-round draft picks is a good way of changing that. Trading promising, low-salaried Kenny Stills for an over-priced Dannell Ellerbe isn't a good way of changing that. Neither is adding Spiller and Brandon Browner.

The Seattle Seahawks now have Jimmy Graham. That's not good for the rest of the league. As soon as the trade was announced I couldn't help but recall the pregame near-rumble of a couple of years ago between Graham and pretty much the entire Seahawks defense. I'll bet that they made amends immediately.

They had a ton of money to spend in free agency so they had an advantage but I like the additions made by the Jacksonville Jaguars:

Julius Thomas, TE
Jared Odrick, DT
Jermey Parnell, T
Davon House, CB
Dan Skuta, LB
Sergio Brown, S

That's six new starters. I particularly like the additions of Odrick and House.

If the Dallas Cowboys could scrape up the money to sign defensive ends Greg Hardy I'm surprised that they couldn't do the same for running back DeMarco Murray. I guess that the decision-makers decided that the money was better spent on a pass rusher than a runner. A lot of people would agree with that. With a possible suspension looming the Cowboys were wise to make Hardy's pay dependent on his presence for the games.

The Minnesota Vikings haven't done much in free agency outside of signing their own free agency. Something can be said for that strategy. Just look at the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings did make a splashy transaction. They traded a fifth-round pick for Miami Dolphins speedster Mike Wallace and a seventh-round pick. The trade didn't cost much but Wallace's contract will. That cost forced the Vikings to release receiver Greg Jennings. I would have preferred that the Vikings kept both veteran pass catchers but $20 million for two veteran receivers was deemed too much. Wallace is nearly four years younger than Jennings and much faster. His addition also makes the Vikings receiver group more versatile. Jarius Wright can step in for Jennings in the slot. And Wallace gives the Vikings their best deep threat since Randy Moss.

The flood of signings has slowed to a trickle but there are some talented players looking for work. The budget bin signings often make more of an impact than the high-priced talent.