Top Five Free Agent Winners and Losers
by Paul Eide
Senior Writer
2/7/08

1. New York Jets Key Additions: G Alan Faneca, DT Kris Jenkins, LB Calvin Pace, FB Tony Richardson, OL Damien Woody If you didn’t know any better you’d think General Manager Mike Tannenbaum was on the hot seat judging by his willingness to throw top dollar at many of the best free agents on the market. But give him credit; he isn’t just throwing money around for the sake of throwing money around (See the Oakland Raiders below), he’s addressing significant areas that needed to be upgraded. Who stands to benefit the most for these acquisitions? Aside from the team as a whole, the value of Thomas Jones just shot thru the roof in my opinion. Not only does the offensive line feature two of the best young prospects in the league (Ferguson and Mangold), but it now has two solid veterans (Faneca and Woody) in addition to an All Pro fullback (Richardson) in less than a week. Plus, the additions of Kris Jenkins and Calvin Pace mean Mangini’s 3-4 defense is finally taking shape in his third year at the helm.

Icon SMI

2. Cleveland Browns
Key Additions: DT Shaun Rogers, DT/DE Corey Williams, WR Donte’ Stallworth, QB Derek Anderson (resigned), RB Jamal Lewis (resigned)

Romeo Crennel and the Browns front office aren’t resting on their laurels after the team’s fourth 10 win season in the last 20 years. Jamal Lewis had the best season of a Cleveland running back since Kevin Mack in 1985 and retaining Derek Anderson after his career year makes a lot more sense than relying on untested Brady Quinn. Donte’ Stallworth has averaged 17.1 yards per catch over the last two years and gives them a legit deep threat opposite Braylon Edwards who not only takes the focus off of Edwards, but clears out the middle of the field for Kellen Winslow to operate. "Donte' will be the major addition to our offense this year," said Browns general manager Phil Savage. "He will bring legitimate speed, quickness and playmaking ability to the receiving corps and add a different dimension to the skill players we already have in place. We're glad he's a Brown." Even bigger than signing Stallworth, the Browns traded for up and coming defensive tackle Corey Williams who will move to end in the 3-4 and proven stud Shaun Rogers to play the nose.  Even sweeter for Browns fans is that the team essentially stole Rogers from Divisional foe Cincinnati who was in desperate need of a DT.

3. Miami Dolphins Key Additions: LB Reggie Torbor, QB Josh McCown, S Yeremiah Bell (resigned), DT Jason Ferguson, WR Ernest Wilford Pay attention kids; class is in session. Bill Parcells is a genius. That term is thrown around loosely but just observe what the two time Super Bowl champ is doing in South Florida. He isn’t throwing a ton of money at the big names, but Parcells is old enough to know that’s what gets teams, and NFL GM’\s, in trouble. Instead, Parcells is building the Dolphins for the long haul, employing long lost vision to a franchise that has had five coaches in five years.  Jason Ferguson isn’t a sexy name, nor is Ernest Wilford, but these players fill team needs and provide stability. The biggest “name” signing was picking up linebacker Reggie Torbor who was a situational player for the Giants’ defense. It may not seem significant at the surface, like the signings of Josh McCown and Yeremiah Bell, but signing a veteran guy like Torbor who knows what it takes to win is an underrated move that will look very smart a year from now.

4. San Francisco 49ers
Key Additions: DE Justin Smith, WR Isaac Bruce, RB DeShaun Foster, KR Allen Rossum, LB Dontarrious Thomas

Mike Nolan is aware of the fact that he is in danger of being fired, which is why over the past two off seasons the Niners have been the most active team in the free agent market. At least Niner fans can’t say the organization isn’t being proactive. Plus the guys they are going after have proven what can be expected of them. Never mind that after the signings of Nate Clements, Michael Lewis and Tully Banta-Cain a year ago that the defense actually got worse, Nolan is fighting for his life and credibility. Justin Smith is coming off one of his worst seasons as a pro but should return to form. Ike Bruce is old, but don’t underestimate the effect of being reunited with Mike Martz will have. He is also only two years removed from a 1,000 yard season. Between DeShaun Foster and Frank Gore you have exactly one healthy RB over a full season. Kidding aside, spelling Gore with Foster could be the best thing for both backs. Nolan may have taken the “Quick fix” approach, but can you blame him? In the infamous words of Latrell Sprewell, “He’s got kids!”

5. Jacksonville Jaguars
Key Additions: WR Jerry Porter, WR Troy Williamson, QB Cleo Lemon, CB Drayton Florence, DT Jimmy Kennedy

On the surface it seems like Jack Del Rio’s love affair with slow, 6-5 and above wide outs is finally over. The Jags haven’t had a deep threat since Jimmy Smith and actually made their fist attempt since his retirement to fill that void by bringing in Troy Williamson and Jerry Porter. While Williamson hasn’t proven much other than he cannot be relied upon as a #1 NFL wide receiver, the change of scenery could be huge like it was for Wes Welker a year ago. Porter is as good as the talent around him and the system he plays in, plus leaving the dysfunctional Raiders can’t hurt. Many have speculated that is what retarded his growth. It will be interesting to see how the two pan out and it appears as though by signing both mercurial wide receivers, Del Rio is hedging his bets that at least one will be productive.  Drayton Florence immediately becomes the team’s nickel back and will push to be the #2 corner behind Rashean Mathis. Jimmy Kennedy can be successful when healthy and helps ease the loss of Pro Bowler Marcus Stroud, especially for the cost.

Losers

1. Chicago Bears
Sometimes you just wonder what Jerry Angelo is thinking. I understand why they cut Muhammad (too many drops, slow, old) and Berrian (mediocre talent for the money he wanted) but what is the contingency plan? Look on the depth chart and apparently there isn’t one. Devin Hester at wide receiver will not only limit his effectiveness as a kick return but also increase his injury risk exponentially. The only thing Mark Bradley has proven since being drafted is that he can’t stay healthy. Rashied Davis is nothing more than a slot receiver. To Angelo’s credit signing Marty Booker was a solid move for the money, but at 31 his ceiling is 700 yards and 3-4 touchdowns. Enough about the wide receivers, the Bears have glaring needs all along the offensive line and have yet to address any of them in free agency. Pick an O-line position and the Bears need help either because of age or plain old lack of production. Also, Cedric Benson is a bust and Adrian Peterson is 29 which means another running back is worth considering. The signing of Lance Briggs was nice and gives them a chance to win at least a couple games because of the defense alone, but at this point they are asking awful lot of their draft picks.

2. Tennessee Titans
Why will this team do nothing to facilitate the development of Vince Young? Though being prone to inconsistent play and turnovers is mostly his fault, some of the blame has to fall on the Titans brass for doing nothing to upgrade his wide receivers. Roydell Williams and Brandon Jones? Really? Signing Alge Crumper was a decent move in general, but for a team that develops tight ends as well as any team in the league it seemed a peculiar choice. Why not go after Donte’ Stallworth, Bryant Johnson or DJ Hackett? Instead, both Justin McCareins and Drew Carter are being brought in for visits. Signing either is a lateral move at best. Earlier in the week Franchise Player Albert Haynesworth expressed his opinion of the team’s lack of moves thus far.  "We need more weapons for Vince (Young). Now we need more defensive linemen. We are not doing anything. We are really just making ourselves worse the way I look at it," said Haynesworth. "It doesn't look like we're trying to get better. I don't know what we are doing, I really don't. Saving this money doesn't add over to next year." By the way, Jevon Kearse is DONE.

3. Oakland Raiders It isn’t about who the Raiders lost, but more about the ridiculous amount of money they threw at mediocre, inconsistent talent. Who is Tommy Kelly? He is now the highest paid defensive tackle in the NFL after signing a contract worth $18.125 in guaranteed money, seven years total for $50.5 million. These numbers are even more ridiculous considering Kelly has never settled in at one position and played in just seven games last season before sustaining a season ending ACL tear. And he wasn’t the only free agent they signed with a blown out ACL to his credit. Wide receiver/ notorious malcontent/locker-room cancer Javon Walker is now your #1 wide receiver Raider fans! Speaking of inconsistency, Kwame Brown, a bust during his time with the 49ers, will now be relied upon to do what he couldn’t do in five years as a Niner; play up to his potential. Gibril Wilson was a decent signing from a talent standpoint but defensive backs are only as good as the D-line and linebackers in front of them.

4. New England Patriots
Obviously the loss of Asante Samuel hurts, but the cumulative effects of losing Randall Gay and Eugene Wilson may end up hurting them more as both were versatile contributors at more than one position. The age of the Patriots linebacking corps is also an area that needs some attention in free agency especially when you consider that since Bill Belichick arrived the Patriots have not taken a linebacker on the first day in his eight years overseeing the draft. Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel aren’t getting any younger and Junior Seau probably isn’t coming back.

5. Philadelphia Eagles
No matter how well Asante Samuel plays it will be hard to live up to the $57 million dollar contract he received, especially in front of Philly fans who are as notorious for their lack of objective analysis for their team as they are for their love of possibly the greatest sandwich ever invented. But to their credit, Philly had a need and did what they could to fill it. The real problem so far is that they have done nothing to get McNabb another offensive weapon in the passing game. Plus losing Thomas Tapeh to the Vikings will prove to be more significant than it is being viewed as now. Also, they need some serious help at linebacker, defensive end and safety. Signing Chris Clemons looks good on paper, but are the former Raiders eight sacks in 2007 a trend or anomaly? I’m going with anomaly.