Free Agency, Day Four

Another day, another bunch of signings in the NFL.

Rams sign OC Scott Wells

The Rams signed offensive center Scott Wells.

This was a great move by the Rams. They found themselves on of the best centers in the league and puts a piece in place as the foundation of that Rams offensive line. He can build a good rapport with Sam Bradford and help the rest of that offensive line solidify. They still need a lot of help, but Wells is a solid foundation.

Texans re-sign OC Chris Meyers

The Texans re-signed offensive center Chris Meyers to a four-year deal worth $25 million dollars with $14 million guaranteed.

Good job by the Texans. They kept themselves in the running for Meyers while trying to retain Mario Williams. Once Williams was out of their reach, they went back and used their cleared cap space to retain one of the leaders of the offensive line. This keeps their offense on track while they concern themselves with replacing Mario Williams.

Ravens re-sign OC Matt Birk

The Ravens re-signed offensive center Matt Birk to a three-year deal.

This move made sense on both sides. Birk has a good chemistry with quarterback Joe Flacco and would not have gotten any better offers than the ones he was receiving from Baltimore. It was either re-sign or retire most likely and he decided he still wanted to play football, hence this signing.

Falcons re-sign DE John Abraham

The Falcons have re-signed defensive end John Abraham to a three-year deal.

I love this move. While I’ve always said that the Falcons needed to focus on re-signing their own, they gave Abraham a competitive offer without over-paying him and stood by it. When Abraham couldn’t find a better offer in free agency, he came back and they took him back. I normally criticize the Patriots for behavior like that; however the Falcons aren’t simply dismissing their veteran players. They’re trying to get them to come back at fair market value, and still improve their team. The Patriots tend to just let their better players walk and expect to replace them with lower round draft picks. The Falcons are doing the value signings the right way.

Cowboys sign OG Nate Livings, re-sign WR Kevin Ogletree

The Cowboys signed offensive guard Nate Livings to a five-year contract worth $19 million dollars with $6.2 million guaranteed. They also re-signed wide receiver Kevin Ogletree.

The Cowboys have wanted to help their offensive line and cut some of their cap commitments. Livings was decent with the Bengals last year and comes in at a nice cheap price. He’s not an upgrade over the recnelty cut Kyle Koiser, but can start and be a top backup should the Cowboys want to hold him at that spot.

Ogletree is a speedster who could never really catch on in the special teams or in the offense. They’re going to give him a chance, but it’s not likely to go anywhere.

Raiders sign CB Ron Bartell, OG Mike Brisiel

The Oakland Raiders signed cornerback Ron Bartell and offensive guard Mike Brisiel. Brisiel’s contract was for five years and worth $20 million dollars.

The Raiders needed to sign a corner after cutting about half of their defensive backfield and Ron Bartell has been solid in the past. However he’s suffered injuries the past couple of years and he alone is not going to make up for all the losses that secondary had suffered.

The Mike Brisiel signing makes sense for similar reasons. The Raiders has several of their starters in limbo because of free agency and had to cut several others fir cap reasons. Brisiel’s a solid starter who came at a cheap price. He should help improve the offensive line, but like Bartell, he’s not going to make up for all the losses the offensive line has suffered. 

Redskins sign CB Cedric Griffin

The Redskins signed cornerback Cedric Griffin to a one-year deal worth a maximum of $2.5 million.

This is slightly puzzling, but not a horrible signing. Griffin is an experienced corner and came at a great price as compared to corners of similar experience levels. Griffin can work well to push incumbent nickel corner Kevin Barnes, but it’s doubtful he could be much more. His knee problems have sapped him of his speed and left him at the mercy of opposing receivers. He needs to be used as a sub-package corner until he shows that he can stay with good receivers.

Chargers sign QB Charlie Whitehurst, S Atari Bigby

The Chargers signed back one of their own, signing Charlie Whitehurst to a two-year deal. They also signed safety Atari Bigby to a two-year, $2.5 million contract that can be maxed out at $4.5 million through incentives.

It makes sense that Chargers general manager would go out a get Whitehurst back when he came available. Whitehurst spent his formative years with the Chargers and after he spent some time in Seattle trying to earn a starting job, it only made sense he return there to backup Philip Rivers.

The success (there was none) of the Bob Sander experiment in San Diego precipitated the move to go after a guy like Bigby. Bigby is a guy who can lay wood with the best of them, but his ability in coverage has lacked somewhat and he’s missed a lot of time with injuries in recent years. He could be the answer at the strong safety spot, but is more than likely only a stopgap.

Seahawks re-sign FB Michael Robinson

The Seahawks re-signed fullback Michael Robinson to a two-year contract.

Robinson has done a good job transitioning from being a college quarterback to a pro running back then a pro full back. Last year, he one of the key blockers in Marshawn Lynch’s run to a new contract and now he’ll be there for another two years. He’s also a good special teams player, so the Seahawks are really getting a value signing here.

Jets sign QB Drew Stanton, WR Chaz Schilens

The Jets signed quarterback Drew Stanton to a one-year deal worth $1.25 million dollars and wide receiver Chaz Schilens.

Both of this signings are good for value. Stanton is an underrated backup quarterback with a solid skill set. While I doubt he’ll push starter Mark Sanchez for his job, he can still provide a better option if Sanchez is hurt, or doesn’t pay well, than a well-part-his-prime Mark Brunell.

Schilens is a tall possession receiver with decent hands and decent production while he was with Oakland. However he kept getting pushed down the lineup with the Raiders because of his lack of great speed. He may find a role as the Jets slot receiver, but he should expect competition.

Bears re-sign S Criag Steltz

The Bears re-signed safety Criag Steltz to a two-year contract.

This signing made sense. The Bears have gotten fairly good production out of Steltz the past few years and he’s been a good starter in a pinch. With all of the problems the Bears have had at safety since Daniel Manning left, the Bears need to hang on out those who have been successful at that position.

Colts sign S Tom Zbikowski

The Colts signed safety Tom Zbikowski. 

I like this signing. Zbikowski has been stuck behind Ed Reed while he was with the Ravens, which would make anyone look less than amazing. But Zbikowski a solid defense back. He’s coverage skills aren’t amazing, but with the Colts he’d be ask to play up close to the line more, which is a strength. It’s good value for a player who can be a solid starter on a rebuilding team.

Panthers sign S Haruki Nakamura, LB Kenny Onatolu

The Panthers signed safety Haruki Nakamura and linebacker Kenny Onatolu to three-year contracts. Nakamura’s contract was worth $3.8 million with $1 million guaranteed.

Both are special teams aces and depth players, though Nakamura is expected to push Sherrod Martin for a starting position. I wouldn’t be entirely surprised if Nakamura won that battle to be honest. I think Nakamura has into had a fair shot at showing what he’s capable off because he’s been stuck behind one of the best safeties of all-time in Ed Reed. Either way, the Panthers got great value with Nakamura.

Giants re-sign franchised P Steve Weatherford

The Giant agreed with franchised punter Steve Weatherford on a five-year contract worth $12.75 million dollars.

The Giants thought well enough of Weatherford to slap the franchise tag on him, so it only made sense that they would agree on an extension. It doesn’t really mean much because of how fluid position like punter and kicker are, but for now, this was a good signing.