Free Agent Frenzy

Two days of "legal tampering" helped create what felt like a flood of signings. Tuesday was pretty busy. Yesterday morning was even busier as teams and/or agents wanted to get things done before the official start of the new league year. There once was a time, not long ago, when a player actually visited a team before he signed a contract with them. There was an opportunity to get to know each other. Some wining and dining. The "legal tampering window" has made it a whirlwind. There are now probably more players officially signed in the first few hours than in the first few days only a few years ago. It's crazy. Here's some thoughts on that craziness.

The top total contracts handed out in the first day frenzy:

Malik Jackson, DT, Jacksonville Jaguars-$90 million/6 years
Olivier Vernon, DE, New York Giants-$85 million/5 years
Brock Osweiler, QB, Houston Texans-$72 million/4 years
Janoris Jenkins, CB, New York Giants-$62.5 million/5 years
Damon Harrison, DT, New York Giants-$46.3 million/5 years

The Giants are playing the free agency game this year like the Miami Dolphins usually do. Jerry Reese has kept the Giants competitive for nearly all of his nine years as general manager. He's done that by drafting solid talent. Since he's had success in the draft he's been conservative in free agency. That sure changed this year. Vernon is now paid more per year than J.J. Watt. That doesn't sound right. Add in the one-year contract signed by defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul and the Giants handed out total contracts in excess of $200 million in the first day of free agency. The Giants did come away with a very sturdy looking defensive line. Olivier Vernon-Damon Harrison-Jonathan Hankins-Jason Pierre-Paul.

The Jaguars lost out to the Giants in the Olivier Vernon sweepstakes. They have a ton of cap room so it's amazing that they could lose to anyone in a bidding war. They must have their limits and the Giants exceeded them. The Jaguars were still plenty active in adding Jackson, running back Chris Ivory, punter Brad Nortman, and safety Tashaun Gipson.

The Oakland Raiders had a lot of cap room and they spent a lot of it on three players.

Kelechi Osemele, G
Bruce Irvin, LB/DE
Sean Smith, CB

Osemele's take home pay is closer to that of quarterbacks than guards.

The Texans might have changed their team more than any other team. They made the playoffs last year mostly because of their defense. Now, they might have an offense that might do their share. It all depends on whether Brock Osweiler can be the quarterback that everyone in Houston is now hoping that he is. He had some terrific moments with the Denver Broncos. He also had some moments in which he looked like a quarterback that hadn't played a meaningful NFL game before. The Texans also added a very good running back in Lamar Miller. So, Osweiler doesn't have to do it all on his own. They lost a couple of solid starters on the offensive line to other teams but the addition of guard Jeff Allen and center Tony Bergstrom should help offset those losses.

The AFC South could a very entertaining division. As with everything in the NFL it starts with the quarterbacks. Andrew Luck is great. He just has to stay healthy and upright. Blake Bortles and Marcus Mariota are very young but have shown some special things. I Osweiler can be "the guy" for the Texans the chase for the AFC South could be a blast.

If the Texans aren't the most changed team the Philadelphia Eagles are. The changes were made as much through subtractions as additions. They erased most of what Chip Kelly did last year by trading away linebacker Kiko Alonso, corner Byron Maxwell, and running back DeMarco Murray. Then they went and signed quarterback Chase Daniel, safety Rodney McLeod, linebacker Nigel Bradham, guard Brandon Brooks, and corner Ron Brooks. That's a lot of movement.

Damn near everyone following the NFL and within NFL is probably wondering what the new front office of the Cleveland Browns is doing. Four starters, center Alex Mack, tackle Mitchell Schrwatz, receiver Travis Benjamin, and safety Tashaun Gipson, all walked out the door. They don't seem to be reaching out to many free agents. They certainly haven't signed any. And they still have Johnny Manziel.

Despite the signing frenzy the cupboard is not bare. There are still some talented players looking for a home.

One interesting free agency nugget that slipped through all of the signing reports was the news that the Kansas City Chiefs are being disciplined for violating the league's anti-tampering policy. It appears that the Chiefs did some things that they shouldn't have been doing in their recruitment and eventual signing of receiver Jeremy Maclin last year. The Chiefs apparently had contact with Maclin during the tampering window. A lot of things are allowed during that window but that's not one of them. Teams are only allowed to talk to representatives of the players during that time. The Chiefs will forfeit a third-round pick this year and a sixth-round pick in 2017. The league has also fined the team $250,000, head coach Andy Reid $75,000, and general manager John Dorsey $25,000. Bad Chiefs.