2012 Free Agency, Day One

Free agency has begun and the insanity is already going fast and fierce. There were some other signings that happened before it began so there’s a lot to cover. Let’s get into it.

The Bears acquire WR Brandon Marshall from Dolphins for two third round picks

Talk about blockbuster moves. The Bears decided that the receiving prospects in the draft weren’t all that appealing and decided to go for Jay Cutler’s favored target from Denver. They got a major steal in acquiring him for only two third-round picks. Marshall and Cutler had a great relationship when they were both in Denver and Marshall is the kind of big receiver the Bears have needed to get since they acquired Cutler from the Broncos some years ago. Now they have him and can focus on other needs.

I have no idea what’s going through the Dolphins minds as they make this move. They have no other major receiving option and could’ve gotten a lot more for Marshall than they did. They now need to focus on re-building their receiving corp. among other issues, but they’re not in a real advantageous position draft wise and without a quarterback I’m not sure how they lure free agents. This move is just outright puzzling.

Buccaneers sign WR Vincent Jackson

The Buccaneers signed Vincent Jackson to a five-year, $55.55 million dollar contract with $26 million guaranteed. The deal will pay Jackson an amount equal to the sum of his guaranteed money in the first two years of his contract and $36 million in the first three years. This was a move the Bucs were clearly pushing hard for, but I’m not sure how much is actually helps them. Yes he’s a great deep threat receiver; however the Buccaneers problems had more to do with consistent quarterback play and protection than a lack of a deep threat. But, he’s not going to hurt anything by being brought in, especially if Arrelious Benn doesn’t return well from his knee injury.

Saints re-sign WR Marques Colston

The Saints went a long way to holding their dominant team together before free agency began by signing Marques Colston to a five-year deal worth almost $40 million including $19 million guaranteed. While the Saints have to be focusing on getting Drew Brees signed to a long-term deal, Colston was definitely in their top three of other impending free agents to keep. Colston has been there with Brees since the beginning and is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, regardless of how many people don’t give him the credit he deserves. It was important to lock him up long-term and they got good value for how much they’re paying him.

The Rams sign CB Cortland Finnegan

The Rams signed cornerback Cortland Finnegan to a five-year $50 million dollar contract. This seemed like an obvious move from both sides. Finnegan is getting the kind of payday he deserves and reuniting with head coach Jeff Fisher, who knows how to use him on a defense. On the other side, the Rams suffered through injury after injury at the cornerback this year. Finnegan will stabilize the position and give the Rams a reliable playmaker in the secondary. His familiarity with the system will also help them transition those who haven’t played in the system before. Excellent pick up.

Redskins sign WRs Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan re-sign Adam Carriker

The Redskins made the first move of free agency proper by signing Pierre Garcon. The deal was for five-years, $42.5 million including $21.5 million guaranteed. They also re-signed defensive end Adam Carriker to a four-year, $20 million-dollar deal with $7 million guaranteed. The Redskins have also signed WR Josh Morgan to a two-year, $6 million dollar deal.  

Garcon had a very good year with the Colts, in spite of having severe issues at quarterback. He’s the kind of player that can take short passes and turn them into big plays. He also has good deep speed, making him a dangerous weapon on the outside. He’ll be a good complement to Santana Moss and a nice piece for the Redskins to build around. The value seems like a bit much, but Garcon can be the kind of major play maker that would be worth that kind of money.

Carriker had his best year as a pro last season and showed that he fits much better as a 3-4 defensive end than as a 4-3 defensive tackle. He’s been solid against the run and at pressing the pocket in pass rush. I thought they really needed to keep him in place if they wanted their defense to continue to be good and they did. So I think it’s somewhat redundant to say it, but I really think this was a good signing.

I think the Morgan signing was another good move. They didn’t overpay for a receiver who is solid, but often injured. If Morgan can stay healthy, he provides a more than solid option to play out of the slot or on the outside. If he doesn’t then the Redskins didn’t risk too much in going up to get him. Nice value signing.

Chargers re-sign OC Nick Hardwick, sign WR Robert Meachem  

The Chargers were able to re-sign starting center Nick Hardwick to a three-year contract worth $13.5 million with $6.5 million guaranteed. Given the retirement of starting guard Kris Dielman and the release of starting offensive tackle Marcus McNeil, the Chargers needed to hang onto one of the rocks of their offensive line. Hardwick is one of the better centers in the NFL and can bring together lesser offensive lineman to be better than the sum of their parts. This was a deal the Chargers had to get done and they were able to get good value for what he’s able to get done.

Following Vincent Jackson’s departure for Tampa Bay, the Chargers went after probably the second best big play receiver in this crop of free agents and got their guy in Robert Meachem, they signed to a four-year deal worth $25.5 million. The Chargers definitely needed to address this issue with their offense. Vincent Jackson’s big play ability and the consistent production of Antonio Gates made up for what is an otherwise unremarkable receiving corp. Meachem is a bit more under-sized than Jackson, but he’s in the same class as Jackson when it comes to taking the top off of a defense. Though Meachem is a bit smaller, he still can helps the deep game the same way Jackson did. The Chargers will still need to add another receiver, but it’s not as big an issue now.

Titans re-sign S Jordan Babineaux, several key back-ups

The Titans got a lot of work done before free agency began on Tuesday, re-signing four impending free agents, the highlight of which was safety Jordan Babineaux, who singed a three-year deal. The others who were re-signed were linebacker Patrick Bailey, offensive guard Fernando Velasco and defensive lineman Malcolm Sheppard.

Babineaux came in from Seattle and provided a stabling force opposite Michael Griffin. He was solid both in run support and in coverage, showing the ability to make big plays and prevent opposing offenses from making plays. Given that the Titans were on the verge of losing three of their four starting defensive backs, it was a great idea to keep both of their starting safeties to help provide some stability while their corners transition.

Bailey, Velasco and Sheppard were all valued backups who worked mostly in special teams and had great value in that capacity.

Seahawks re-signs DE ‘Red’ Bryant, LB Heath Farwell

The Seahawks re-signed free agent ‘Red’ Bryant to a five-year, $35 million dollar deal with $14.5 million being guaranteed. Bryant was considered the other major impending free agent after Marshawn Lynch for Seattle and they made the right choice in re-signing him rather than franchise tagging him. The fact is that Bryant is a ‘tweener defensive tackle/defensive end, who plays the end position because he struggled on the interior. His pass rushing ability is well below that of other top-flight defensive ends that would’ve set the contract parameters of the franchise tag. However, his play goes well beyond his pass rushing ability and he can be very disruptive on the edge. The Seahawks got him at a fair value at seven million a year and Bryant should be comfortable getting that kind of money. Good job by the Seahawks.

The Seahawks also re-signed linebacker Heath Farwell to a three-year contract. Farwell is mostly a special teams ace, but with David Hawthorne being a free agent, he could play a bigger role on defense.

Colts re-sign WR Reggie Wayne

The Colts re-signed wide receiver Reggie Wayne to a three-year deal, worth a maximum of $17.9 million dollars. While Wayne can still be a good receiver, the logic of this move escapes me.  The Colts have been making every move to clear out the old guard and make way for a new regime. Now, the first big move they make in free agency is to bring back one of their longest tenured players? I think he’ll be a good mentor to new young receivers and a nice security blanket for Andrew Luck, but the move just seems to fly in the face of what the Colts were doing previously.

Giant re-sign CBs Terrell Thomas, Michael Coe and Justin Tryon

The Giants re-signed Terrell Thomas Tuesday only hour before he became a free agent. They signed him to a four-year deal worth $17 million. However, it’s structured in such a way that Thomas could not be paid a $6 million dollar option bonus next year and become a free agent. At that point, they would only have spent one million on him. The reminder of the contract is back loaded. Thomas notched five interceptions as a starter in 2010 before tearing his ACL and missing all of last year. Thomas had a starter’s ability before the injury and was a solid player. However, following the injury his explosive and speed could be gone. They needed to be careful about how much they offer Thomas because of the injury history, but they couldn’t afford to lose both Thomas and Aaron Ross and Thomas would be the cheaper player to retain due to the injury.  The Giants did a good job structuring the contract so that they could lock him up to a relatively fair value contract if he returns to form, but not committing too much to him in case the injury robbed him of his speed and therefore, his coverage ability.

The Giants also re-signed Michael Coe and Justin Tryon, both of whom are strictly backups and special teams players. Either could be cut in training camp so they’re hardly impact signings.

Eagles extend OL Todd Herremans

The Eagles agreed to a three-year extension with Todd Herremans on Tuesday, just hours before he was to become a free agent. The deal was worth a bit over $21 million with $11 million guaranteed. Herremans has started 92 games with the Eagles, bouncing between the left guard and right tackle spots. That versatility and experience definitely added to his value and that’s why he was able to swing such a nice contract. It was a prudent and intelligent move by the Eagles. They couldn’t afford to have a rotating door on their offensive line like they did at their linebacker and safety positions. Herremans is a solid value and a versatile lineman who can help them in multiple positions. Good signing.

Falcons re-sign WR Harry Douglas, QB Chris Redman

The Falcons re-signed wide receiver Harry Douglas and quarterback Chris Redman. The terms of the contracts have yet to be disclosed. These very definitely good signings by the Falcons, since both players are very similar with their surroundings are solid at what they do. Douglas is a great third receiver who could be a starter in other circumstances while Redman is a solid backup who can give you a good game or two as a starter if you need him. Good signings for offensive depth.

Bear re-sign CB Tim Jennings; sign QB Jason Campbell, LB Blake Costanzo  

The Bears re-signed cornerback Tim Jennings to a two-year contract. Jennings may not have had the major impact that a lot of Bears fans thought that he would, but he’s still a solid corner. He has good experience and works well within the Tampa-Two system that Lovie Smith employs. Bringing him back for a reasonable price was a good move. He may not be a Pro Bowler, but he can start there for the next couple of years.

The Bears also signed Jason Campbell to a one year contract, giving them an experienced backup to starter Jay Cutler. Campbell is a good starting quarterback, though he’s suffered through injury problems and bad system fits. He’ll be a solid option should Jay Cutler get hurt again.

The Bears also picked up a special teams ace and backup linebacker Blake Costanzo, signing him to a two-year deal. Costanzo will play much the same role with the Bears as he did the 49ers, mostly a special teamer and depth linebacker. He’s one of the best at those roles, but don’t expect him to offer much more than that.

49ers sign CBs Carlos Rogers and Perrish Cox, re-sign Tavares Gooden

The Niners made news yesterday by signing Randy Moss to a one-year contract and they make news yet again by signing former Broncos cornerback Perrish Cox, who sat out last year while defending himself against sexual assault charges. After he was acquitted earlier this month, he made a big statement about returning to the NFL. He was a solid starter in Denver when he was a rookie and hasn’t been gone that long, so he should still have solid skills. This is a relatively low risk move that could reap a big reward.

Additionally, the 49ers re-signed backup linebacker Tavares Gooden to a one year contract. Gooden, originally thought to be the heir-apparent to Ray Lewis in Baltimore, since now just a backup and special teamer.  This was a prudent move, though there’s a fair chance that he’ll not make it through training camp.

They also were able to re-sign free agent cornerback Carlos Rogers to a four-year deal worth a maximum of $31.3 million. This was the big priority for the 49ers and they were able to pull it off without committing too many years or too much money to a corner that is coming off his first big year. Still, by locking Rogers up, the 49ers are guaranteed to return all of their starters on defense. Rogers has been solid his whole career, but only really came on as a ball hawk and great corner last year. In staying with the 49ers, he’ll have a consistent defense which takes advantage of his best skills and can make him a regular Pro Bowler. The signing just made too much sense from both sides not to get done.

Jaguars re-sign S Dwight Lowery, DE Jeremy Mincey, P Nick Harris, extend LB Russell Allen

The Jaguars signed free agent safety Dwight Lowery to a four-year contract late Friday night. The Jaguars also signed impending free agent punter Nick Harris to a new contract, no terms were disclosed, and extended the contract of restricted free agent linebacker Russell Allen by three years. No terms were disclosed on that contract either.

The Jaguars made it a priority to re-sign Dwight Lowery and with s a good reason. Lowery came to the Jags as a cornerback who had struggled to stay on the field with the Jets and transitioned to the free safety position very well. He was a perfect complement to the hard hitting Dawan Landry who the Jags brought in last year. In keeping him on a four year deal, they were able to help solidify the strength of their team, the defense, and leave themselves room to pursue more offensive help in the draft. Excellent signing.. Nick Harris has been a great punter for years and his work this year was no different. He’s re-signing just made since. Allen is a solid special team ace and backup linebacker who the Jags had decided would be a priority to re-sign this free agency period. It only makes sense they would get a deal done. All in all, solid moves all-around.

In a post-midnight move, the Jaguars were able to re-sign their 2011 sack leader Jeremy Mincey to a four-year contract. Financial terms were not immediately available. This was a sound move by the Jags. Mincey is not your typical sack leader, but he showed last year that he was the best pass rusher the Jaguars had. While they’ll still need to try and find another very good pass rusher to help this defense, having Mincey back with help their cause. Good decision.

Panthers re-sign OL Geoff Hangartner

The Panthers re-signed free agent offensive lineman Geoff Hangartner to a three-year deal. Financial terms were not immediately available. I like this move. The Panthers tied most of their money up a year ago with a lot of their bet talents, but Hangartner has been somewhat underrated as part of the Panthers lineup. He’s been solid a versatile tackle/guard and has filled in will when Travelle Wharton has been injured. With Wharton’s release, Hangartner is likely going to be filling in at one of the starting guard positions.

Jets re-sign DE/LB Bryan Thomas

The Jets re-signed outside linebacker Bryan Thomas to a one-year contract. Thomas has been a pretty good pass rusher over a number of years, but never really great. He can help the team rush the passer, but he’s inconsistency and injury history makes him a risky signing. But on a one-year deal, the Jets got him at fair value.

Browns re-sign TE Alex Smith, OL John Greco

The Browns re-signed backup tight end Alex Smith to a one-year deal and offensive lineman John Greco to an undisclosed contract. Both signings made sense in terms of maintain quality backups, but I’m still a bit puzzled by the Alex Smith signing. Other than Joshua Cribbs, Joe Thomas and Alex Mack, no one on that offense should be comfortable with their positions. Granted, Smith is hardly going to be expensive to let go, but it still is slightly puzzling.

Patriots re-sign LB Niko Koutouvides

The Patriots re-signed backup linebacker Niko Koutouvides to a one-year deal. Koutouvides is strictly a backup linebacker and special teamer, but the Pats need all the help they can get on the defensive side of the ball. While financial terms were not disclosed, it’s likely they got him for a reduced salary and aren’t risking much by bringing him back. Prudent move.