How the NFL Free Agency is shaping up
It’s that time of the year again. It’s March and big things are happening. I’m not talking about the incredibly thrilling college basketball tournament. No, I’m talking about big-time NFL players signing huge deals with new, hopeful and sometimes hopeless teams. Sometimes these signings can improve their respective teams- Peyton Manning in 2012 (Broncos), Curtis Martin in 1998 (Jets), and Michael Turner in 2008 (Falcons). But, sometimes these big contracts can just be a lot of hype and almost no talent- Murray in 2015 (Eagles), Ahman Green in 2007 (Texans), and Nnamdi Asomugha in 2011 (also Eagles). So as the free agency block gets smaller and smaller as March rolls on, let’s predict the biggest booms and busts of 2017:
Booms
WR Brandon Marshall (Jets to the Giants)- All Marshall had to do was move locker rooms. He was signed to a two-year $12 million deal. The Giants now have OBJ, Marshall, and Shepard. Their passing game just keeps getting more dynamic. The craziest part about this deal was that Marshall said the Giants offered “probably the least” amount of money. The Giants got a great deal here and added a physical, red-zone complement to Odell Beckham Jr.
CB A.J. Bouye (Texans to the Jaguars)- After having a couple of tough seasons in the league A.J. Bouye broke out last year as a star. According to Pro Football Focus A.J. Bouye was the #1 free agent cornerback this year! He was paid $13.5 million for five years with the Jaguars- a great deal for his talent. With Jalen Ramsey and him manning the cornerback spots, Jacksonville is one of the best young secondaries in football. This was a great move by Jacksonville.
S Tony Jefferson (Cardinals to Ravens)- I’m not going to say that $9 million isn’t a lot, but Jefferson is really good. He is always around the ball and according to Pro Football Focus he is the #2 free agent Safety in the league. He is great in coverage and also dominant against the run game. With Weddle at Free Safety, Jefferson can play closer to the line, which is where he does so well.
LT Andrew Whitworth (Bengals to the Rams)- Greg Robinson just doesn’t do it at left tackle for the Rams. So, the Rams went out and signed the best guy out there- Whitworth $36 million for three years. He is older, but the Rams know what they are getting- someone to keep Jared Goff on his feet. At arguably the second most important position in football (QB being #1) the Rams made a big play here.
OLB James Harrison (Steelers to Steelers)- Now, this move wasn’t big, exciting news, but I would say it was still a very smart move by the Steelers. Sometimes keeping hold of internal free agents is the best move a team can make. He is still one of the team’s top defenders- even at 38. Harrison had 51 total pressures (including the playoffs) and 35 came from week 11 onward. He got better as the season went on and proves that age is just a number. Plus, they got him at 3.5 million for two years!
Busts
CB Stephon Gilmore (Bills to Patriots)- The Patriots were faced with the decision of Malcom Butler or Stephon Gilmore and they chose Gilmore. I just don’t get that. Butler had a much higher Pro Football Focus grade (88.6 to Gilmore’s 73.2)- due to his four picks, 12 pass breakups, and consistently making great plays in coverage. On the other hand, Gilmore struggled through a mediocre year in Buffalo and although he might have a good skill set- he hasn’t proved himself. It just doesn’t make sense that the Patriots would pay Gilmore $65 million for five years considering they could have stuck with a great, proven CB who has helped the Pats win the Superbowl twice.
LT Matt Kalil (Vikings to Panthers)- If you actually follow football (watching Blindside the movie doesn’t count) you would know Michael Oher has been really bad. Cam Newton had a bust of a year last year- partly due to Oher’s lack of pass blocking. But, Matt Kalil doesn’t really do much better. He was also really bad. And he is getting paid $11.1 million a year with $25 million guaranteed (5th highest paid OT). Don’t get it.
QB Mike Glennon (Buccaneers to Bears)- He hasn’t started in an NFL game since 2014 and he wasn’t good back then either. He completed a mere 57.4 percent of his passes his sophomore year, losing four of his five starts. Luckily for the Bucs they went out and got Winston. But somehow on the first day of the 2017 free agency the Bears gave Glennon $45 million for three years. Glennon has been set up to fail though, as the Bears have been really bad and now their top playmaker- Alshon Jeffery- is leaving.
