5 Biggest Winners From NFL Free Agency
By Bobby Burack
The biggest names of this year’s NFL free agency class have made their decisions. Here is a breakdown of the five biggest winners:
Green Bay Packers
Stop me if you’ve heard this before: during free agency the Packers were … wait, they were actually active? General manager Brian Gutekunst busily improved the team’s defense immensely.
Za'Darius Smith provides much-needed pass-rushing help and comes with significant upside. Both safety Adrian Amos and linebacker Preston Smith project to be upgrades on a defense that just can’t seem to get things right.
Those additions do not — and will never — make up for missing out on trading for Khalil Mack last year, but the Packers are having a good offseason thus far.
Nick Foles
There are plenty of reasons the Jacksonville Jaguars might not be the best destination for Nick Foles, but he didn’t have a ton of options. He landed a satisfying deal despite the absence of a bidding war.
Foles, who will be a clear upgrade over Blake Bortles, is receiving $46.625 million in the first two years of the four-year, $88 million agreement. The pressure is on him now to actually lead an offense instead of being the clear backup.
Safeties
Last offseason safeties couldn’t find any money. That has not been the case this year.
It all starts with Landon Collins, who signed a massive six-year, $84 million deal with the Redskins. Then the Ravens added to it by giving Earl Thomas four years and $55 million. Other safeties Tashaun Gipson, Kenny Vaccaro, and LaMarcus Joyner helped change that narrative with solid deals as well.
New York Jets
The New York Jets added the best player on the market in Le'Veon Bell, so that alone would be a win. The game-changing running back will make life much easier on Sam Darnold in his second year. Bell isn’t just a ball-carrier, he’s a dynamic weapon in the passing game and will be the focus of opposing defenses every week.
The Jets also shelled out big money for linebacker C.J. Mosley, who instantly enhances the run defense. Receiver Jamison Crowder should find success with Adam Gase sooner rather than later.
Losing out on Anthony Barr after the two sides had an agreement was tough and will leave a bad taste in their mouths. That said, the Jets will be coming into the year much improved as a result of their moves.
The NFL
The NBA-ization of a dramatic, mysterious free agent period crowns the NFL as the biggest winner.
The only areas the NBA has truly dominated the NFL is the amount of conversation it receives regarding player movement. This year, the NFL’s free agent period has been filled with talking points and excitement.
The league may never be able to match the thrill of the free agency of guys like LeBron James and Kevin Durant, but the NFL is certainly moving in the right direction here.