The bulk of NFL free agency is done. There are a few players still available. Jadevon Clowney, Mitchell Schwartz, K.J. Wright, Melvin Ingram, Richard Sherman, and Casey Hayward to name a few. Teams have turned their attention from free agency to the 2021 NFL Draft. That makes it a fine time to look back on the free agent signings that teams have made. Here are some of my favorites from the NFC teams.
Minnesota Vikings
Dalvin Tomlinson, DT
The Vikings had to improve their defense. They focused on that side of the ball in free agency. Dalvin Tomlinson was the biggest of six new defensive players. There were too many occasions last season when teams ran at will against the Vikings defense. That won’t happen with Tomlinson and Michael Pierce in the middle of the defensive line. It’ll be fun to see Patrick Peterson in a Vikings uniform. I like the return of defensive end Stephen Weatherly and Mackensie Alexander. Xavier Woods will pair nicely with Harrison Smith at safety. Of the new additions, I expect Tomlinson to have the biggest impact. I expect him to have more of pass rush presence than he ever had with the New York Giants. The only thing that I didn’t like about the signing was that the contract was for only two years.
Green Bay Packers
Aaron Jones, RB
The Packers have only signed a few of their own players. They had to keep the versatile Aaron Jones in the backfield.
Chicago Bears
Allen Robinson, WR
I didn’t much care for any of the new players that the Bears signed so I guess keeping Allen Robinson via the franchise tag was my favorite. His production takes a hit by the quarterbacks that’ll be throwing to him.
Detroit Lions
Romeo Okwara, Edge
The Lions were one of the most active teams in free agency. I was a bigger fan of the players that they lost than the players that they signed. My favorite signing was one I hoped that they wouldn’t make. Romeo Okwara was one of the players that I hoped would find his way to Minnesota.
New York Giants
Kenny Golladay, WR
The Giants added about a dozen new players. Kenny Golladay was the best receiver available and the Giants got him. It’s nice that he’s out of the NFC North.
Philadelphia Eagles
Anthony Harris, S
I hoped that the Vikings might re-sign Anthony Harris. Instead they chose a younger, cheaper option with Xavier Woods.
Washington Football Team
Curtis Samuel, WR
Washington had a few signings that I really liked. William Jackson, Adam Humphries, and Ryan Fitzpatrick to name three. I liked the signing of Curtis Samuel the most. He was another player that I hoped might find his free agent way to Minnesota.
Dallas Cowboys
Falcons Safeties
The Cowboys rebuilt the back of their defense with safeties from Atlanta. Keanu Neal and Damontae Kazee. Neither is solely a safety. Neal might play some linebacker. Kazee plays some slot corner. Both make the Cowboys defense more versatile.
Carolina Panthers
Haason Reddick, LB
Haason Reddick found his pass-rushing groove last season when the Cardinals needed it the most. He was one of my favorites in the 2017 NFL Draft. He was probably a disappointment until he started collecting sacks last season. I’m curious to see what Panthers coach Matt Ruhle has planned for Reddick. Finding his defensive niche might’ve been his biggest problem in Arizona.
New Orleans Saints
Tanoh Kpassagnon, Edge
The Saints were in such a salary cap hole that they spent most of the final days pre-free agency shedding contracts. They did manage to scrape together enough change to add Tanoh Kpassagnon.
Atlanta Falcons
Mike Davis, RB
The Falcons haven’t done much in free agency. They did add a capable running back in Mike Davis.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chris Godwin, WR
The Buccaneers spent all their energy and money keeping together the team that won the Super Bowl. Chris Godwin was a player that I thought might find more on the market than the Buccaneers could afford. Instead, the franchise tag was used to keep him in Tampa Bay.
San Francisco 49ers
Alex Mack, C
Gotta pick the Cal player. Even at 36, Alex Mack is one of the best centers in the league.
Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford, QB
Other than losing a bunch of players the Rams didn’t do much in free agency. They did make one of the biggest moves of the offseason in trading a bunch of picks and Jared Goff to the Lions for Matthew Stafford. He’s an elite quarterbacking talent. The only thing that’s kept him from being considered an elite quarterback is playing on dismal Lions teams.
Arizona Cardinals
J.J. Watt, DL
J.J. Watt was this year’s gift from the Houston Texans.
Seattle Seahawks
Kerry Hyder, DL
The best additions for the Seahawks were a couple players from San Francisco. Kerry Hyder and cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon. I’m going with Hyder because of his positional versatility. He might be the versatile sort of defensive lineman that the Seahawks haven’t head since Michael Bennett.
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