As NFL teams begin to shift their focus back towards the NFL Draft, we have time to look back at the NFL free agency winners and losers.
Winners
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens finally landed their wide receiver when they traded for former Arizona Cardinal Anquan Boldin. He’s a consistent receiver who shows toughness that Ravens’ fans will grow to love.
Even though he doesn’t have game-breaking speed, Boldin has the intangibles to be a solid top receiver and will help make the Ravens one of the favorites to represent the AFC in Super Bowl XLV.
Detroit Lions
While the Lions didn’t sign the top free agents, they made the biggest splash with several key moves on the first night of free agency. By bringing in Kyle Vanden Bosch, the Lions added more depth to a porous defensive line.
The addition of Nate Burleson to the wide receiver group will not only help take some pressure off of Calvin Johnson, but give quarterback Matt Stafford a capable set of hands.
Washington Redskins
This is the first time that I can remember than owner Daniel Snyder did not open the checkbook and offer a ludicrous contract. Maybe Snyder forgot it was the NFL’s free agency period.
Or perhaps the presence of Mike Shanahan has helped keep Snyder from making bone head offers. Either way, the Redskins have taken the first step in returning to their roots of a successful franchise.
Losers
New York Jets
While the Jets did make a smart move when they brought over Antonio Cromartie to play opposite one of the best cornerbacks in the league, they took a major step back in the running back department.
The Jets decided to give up on Thomas Jones for LaDainian Tomlinson. What makes this move even more peculiar is that the Jets are paying Tomlinson the same amount Jones is receiving from the Chiefs.
Not only did Jones out gain Tomlinson by almost 900 yards over the last two seasons, the two look worlds apart when they are running the ball. Unless Tomlinson has some major revival in New York, this is going to be a rough year for him.
Arizona Cardinals
With the number of players that left Arizona, you would think they were playing for a winless team. Gone are Kurt Warner, Carlos Dansby, Antrel Rolle and Anquan Boldin.
The biggest area of concern for the Cardinals is their starting quarterback, which has tentatively been given to Matt Leinart. A close second has to be the loss of Boldin. Although the Cardinals have capable receivers aside from Larry Fitzgerald, they need to show they can handle the number two spot on a weekly basis.
Chicago Bears
The Bears were the big spender on Julius Peppers, signing him to a six-year contract worth potentially $91.5 million. Peppers will receive a guaranteed $42 million from the Bears after recording an impressive 10.5 sacks in 2009. Bears’ fans are hoping he doesn’t revert back to his 2008 form when he had 2.5 sacks.
Chicago did gain back some positive karma by picking up former Vikings’ running back Chester Taylor. Even with this addition, the Bears are going to find out soon enough they severely overpaid for Peppers.
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