Ah, yes – NFL free agency 2019 is underway. Actually, it’s pretty well been underway for a couple of days now. Seems like this has been a really active week – more active than this period has been in the past. So, let’s catch up.
I’m going to do my best to keep up with all the biggest moves of the day. Biggest – let’s face it…I don’t have time to cross every transaction off the list. I have a day job, y’know? Got mouths to feed (not really)! Here’s what’s happened so far (I’m going to do my best to keep the most recent acquisitions up top – everything from ‘Dee Ford’ on down was written last night, so….not in chronological order…).
NFL Free Agency 2019
DeSean Jackson traded to the Philadelphia Eagles – The Eagles get Jackson and a 2020 7th round pick. The Bucs get a 6th round pick in 2019. Seems like a no-brainer for the Eagles. Back where it all started for Jackson!
Tyrell Williams to the Oakland Raiders – Four year, $44M – The Raiders signin’ anything that breathes at this point. A major overhaul of the offense is underway. I said it with Humphries and Crowder, but MAN – I am shocked at the uptick in dollars some of these wide receivers are getting.
Mark Ingram to the Baltimore Ravens – Three year, $15M – Kinda surprised by this one. I thought Ingram would command a higher dollar amount, but with the Ravens set to build around Lamar Jackson and a stout running game, he should see immediate production as a Raven.
Earl Thomas to the Baltimore Ravens – Four year, $55M – The Ravens eventually HAD to do something to address all of the departures on defense. They get one of the best safeties in the game and one of the best free agents on the board, period! $32M guaranteed, $22M in the first nine months of the deal, per Adam Schefter.
Le’Veon Bell to the New York Jets – Four years, $52.5M – The Jets need play-makers, and Bell is one of ’em….assuming he can come back from a year away from playing and produce at the same level. He didn’t quite get the money he was looking for, but that’s still a v handsome contract.
Dee Ford TRADED to the San Francisco 49ers – …aaaand he’s going to sign an extension for five years, $87.5M. Hot damn – they ain’t kiddin’ when they say the pass rush is highly valuable in the NFL, are they? Think about this – the 49ers could potentially have Ford on the same line as Nick Bosa, DeForest Buckner, and Arik Armstead. That’s crazy. In return, the Kansas City Chiefs get a second round pick.
Cordarrelle Patterson to the Chicago Bears – Two years, $10M – An incredibly useful guy to New England, I’m kinda surprised he didn’t stay a Patriot. 2019 will be his seventh year in the league, but he’s still showing a high level of production. Surprised to see this sit at only two years. This is an intriguing deal.
Odell Beckham, Jr. TRADED to the Cleveland Browns – Wow. That’s a big one. The New York Giants gets a first, a third, and S Jabrill Peppers in return. Not a bad haul for the Giants, but now you have to wonder where production is going to come from at the WR position. Interestingly enough, the Browns shot up to the 5th favorite to win the Super Bowl last night, and were the most-bet team to win it all in both total tickets and total money. That Browns offense is scary as hell now. Congrats, Cleveland!
Rodger Saffold to the Tennessee Titans – Four years, $44M – I love the move. The Titans needed to address the interior offensive line, and they went out and got the best guard of this free agent class. There’s a lot money in that line now, but this is a massive upgrade.
John Brown to the Buffalo Bills – Three years, $27M – this offseason needs to be about putting weapons around Josh Allen. In Brown, they get a speedster who should present a new dynamic to the Bills offense. The Bills also signed former Dallas Cowboys WR Cole Beasley. Looks like they got the memo.
Trey Flowers to the Detroit Lions – Five years, $90M – This one’s fascinating. The Lions didn’t wanna play around with Flowers. Instead of structuring the deal, they outbid the other suitors by just throwing a chunk of guaranteed money at the guy. He’ll reunite with Matt Patricia, so you gotta think this was a case of the Lions brass just going all out to get their guy.
Landon Collins to Washington – Six years, $84M – Well, Collins got P-A-I-D and Washington has their already stout secondary locked down for years to come. I love the move – Collins was #1 on my free agent big board.
Nick Foles to the Jacksonville Jaguars – Four years, $88M – Well, well, well. The Jags shelled out the dough to make Foles their guy. He’ll reunite with John Defilippo, who he won a Super Bowl with in Philadelphia. We’ll see if he can maintain the success he’s had with the Eagles over the last couple of seasons in Jacksonville and get the Jags over the hump.
LaMarcus Joyner to the Oakland Raiders – Four years, $42M – man, the Raiders just givin’ out boat loads of money. Joyner is one of the best safeties in this class, but hot damn – that’s a hefty contract.
Matt Paradis to the Carolina Panthers – Three years, $27M – the Panthers need multiple upgrades along the offensive line. Paradis is a proven guy who fills a major need. Worth it.
Preston Smith to the Green Bay Packers – Four years, $52M – HOOWEE the Packers have a lot invested in the linebacking position over the next four years. If the re-tooling works, then it’s worth it.
Za’Darius Smith to the Green Bay Packers – Four years, $66M – the Packers are completely blowing up the linebacking corps, but the Za’Darius and Preson should make for a formidable pass rush duo. This defense, as a whole, is going to look a lot different in 2019.
Adrian Amos to the Green Bay Packers – Four years, $37M – Highly underrated, but that’s going to happen when this free agent class also included Collins, Thomas, and Mathieu.
Tyrann Mathieu to the Kansas City Chiefs – Three years, $42M – Massive contract, but the Chiefs had to handle the safety position. They have one of the NFL’s best for the next three years. Whether or not he was worth the big haul, well…we’ll have to wait and see.
Adam Humphries to the Tennessee Titans – Four years, $36M. I’m skeptical of the value here…adding a slot receiver from a pass-happy offense to this run-heavy Titans offense and all. But, the bottom line is that Marcus Mariota needs GUYS. The Titans need to surround him with reliable players, and I’m all for that. If Humphries can produce, he’s worth the big contract.
C.J. Mosley to the New York Jets – Five years, $85M – Holy SHIT what a contract. He’s the best linebacker in this class, and has been a force for the Baltimore Ravens his entire career. He’s also (hopefully for the Jets) in the prime of his career.
Trent Brown to the Oakland Raiders – Four years, $66M – If I’m an offensive lineman, man – I hope the Pats are drafting me. They seem to just keep churning out these massive contracts for guys. But, don’t let me downplay Brown’s ability. He was the unquestioned offensive line gem of this class. Also, how much fuckin’ money do the Raiders have?!?!?! Can we check on that?
Ja’Wuan James to the Denver Broncos – Four years, $51M – James has been a consistently good lineman in Miami. It’s an area the Broncos needed to upgrade. Not going to hate on this one.
Jamison Crowder to the New York Jets – Three years, $28.5M – The WR market is garnering a lot more money than I thought. This seems expensive for Crowder, but if he’s healthy he can be a difference-maker. The Jets need guys like him.
Dante Fowler to the Los Angeles Rams – One year, $14M – that’s a hefty paycheck, but the Rams elected to keep Fowler on a ‘prove it’ deal.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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