The NFL Free Agency Craze
NFL Free Agency opened on March 11, and the first couple of days proved to be a whirlwind of news. Top quarterback Kirk Cousins signed a massive four-year, $180M contract with the Atlanta Falcons, who had a major need for a signal-caller after running with Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke last season.
The Miami Dolphins lost one of their top talents on defense when Christian Wilkins signed a four-year, $110M contract with the Las Vegas Raiders. $84.75M is guaranteed as part of the deal. Jonathan Greenard and Danielle Hunter swapped teams in Free Agency, with Greenard going to Minnesota, and Hunter going to Houston. New England Patriots target Calvin Ridley decided to sign with the Tennessee Titans on a four-year, $92M deal. The wide receiver was one of the Patriots’ top targets on the open market, but they instead went for former Minnesota Vikings receiver K.J. Osborn. Another big signing is running back Derrick Henry to the Baltimore Ravens, as he and QB Lamar Jackson look to be a one-two punch for the offense.
Multiple re-signings took place, such as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers re-signing quarterback Baker Mayfield, the Kansas City Chiefs re-signing top defensive talent Chris Jones, and the Patriots re-signing offensive tackle Mike Onwenu.
The Patriots also signed journeyman quarterback Jacoby Brissett for a one-year, $8M contract. He was previously on the team during the 2016 season when he started two games in place of Jimmy Garoppolo, who had started the first two games of that season in the place of Tom Brady, while he was serving his Deflate Gate suspension. He will look to be a mentor if the Patriots draft a quarterback with their third overall pick.
The trade front has also seen action, such as Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields being traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who also signed Russell Wilson. With the trade, the Bears inched forward toward the possibility of taking a Quarterback at first overall, who is probably going to be USC quarterback Caleb Williams. The Steelers then traded former first-round pick quarterback Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles.
In other quarterback news, the trade of Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars became official as well. Beyond the quarterback position, Brian Burns was traded to the New York Giants and received a massive contract of his own. After the major craze, things have died down in terms of scale, but names like Justin Simmons and Xavien Howard are still on the market waiting to be signed.
