NFL Free Agency 2016 gets started today at 4 PM Eastern. With several teams having absurd funds to spend there will be some big, big contracts handed to players today. And in the coming days. A few of those big contracts are already done deals.
Day two of the "legal tampering window" wasn't as quiet as the opening day. The only surprise there was that day one was so quiet. Several contract agreements were announced yesterday. That used to be a "no-no." Now it's "a-ok." Here are a few of the agreements that were "leaked" yesterday and early this morning.
Oakland Raiders
Kelechi Osemele, G
Bruce Irvin, LB/DE
Jacksonville Jaguars
Malik Jackson, DL
Chris Ivorym, RB
New York Giants
Janoris Jenkins, CB
San Diego Chargers
Travis Benjamin, WR
Tennessee Titans
Ben Jones, C
There were also several players that re-signed with their original team. That's great for player and team but that's hardly pulse-altering.
The Raiders, Jaguars, and Giants were three of the teams with the most salary cap room to spend. And it showed. The Raiders and Jaguars gave quarterback-like contracts to Osemele and Jackson. The crazy thing is that all three teams still have a lot of cap room left. Each will be in the bidding for any player that tickles their fancy. Maybe for some that don't simply because they can.
As for the Minnesota Vikings.
Word around the campfire was that they were in the race with the Raiders for Osemele. When the numbers for the contract become official today it will be clear why the Vikings didn't win that race. The going price for a talented guard has just reached a whole other level. Free agency has a tendency to do that.
The Vikings reached out to several players over the two days of tampering.
Kelechi Osemele, G
George Iloka, S
Reggie Nelson, S
Vincent Rey, LB
Emmanuel Lamur, LB
Tahir Whitehead, LB
James Hanna, TE
They lost the Osemele race. I think that it's clear that the Vikings want to come out of free agency with either Iloka or Nelson. Each played for head coach Mike Zimmer when he was defensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals. That goes for the linebackers Rey and Lamur as well. Safety is a priority this offseason and it looks as though the Vikings want to fill the position in free agency. Iloka is younger and more expensive. Nelson is older and a little cheaper. Either would be a terrific upgrade.
There should be some offensive linemen on the Vikings call list in the coming days. Improving the offensive line is the #1 offseason priority.
The spending officially starts this afternoon.
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