Instant Reaction: NFL Free Agency Day 1
By Michael Schneid
The Broncos have a plan. The AFC champs lost to the Seahawks in the Super Bowl and clearly saw the value in having a great defense. Denver signed former Browns safety TJ Ward and Pro Bowl CB Aquib Talib. Talib is an upgrade over Dominique Rogers-Cromartie and will play next to Chris Harris. The Broncos have also long been rumored to be pursuing a pass rusher across from Von Miller and are reportedly the favorites to land former Cowboys LB Demarcus Ware, the franchise's all-time leader in sacks.
The Browns still don't have a plan. Replacing D'Qwell Jackson with Karlos Dansby is a slight upgrade but they downgraded from TJ Ward to Donte Whitner. Whitner brings a new element of toughness to Cleveland, but isn't a ballhawk like Ward.
Tampa Bay added Alterraun Verner and Michael Johnson. Verner is the ideal Cover 2 CB that Lovie Smith likes and will replace Darrelle Revis. Johnson adds another pass rushing element to the TB defense.
What are the Raiders doing? $60 million in cap space. They let their own guys get away (LT Jared Veldheer and DE Lamarr Houston). Still not sure why they didn't use the franchise tag on either. But they replaced Veldheer with Roger Saffold. And good news...Darren McFadden returns!
The Chargers made a puzzling move signing RB Donald Brown. I like Brown and he ran hard last year for the Colts. But the Colts already have Ryan Mathews and Danny Woodhead and are a passing team. Doesn't seem like there is enough carries to split three ways and throw 25+ times a game.
Remember the reports that 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh and GM Trent Baalke hated each other and weren't speaking? Well don't believe everything you read. Harbaugh is clearly in charge as evidenced by yesterday's trades. SF acquired QB Blaine Gabbert and OT Jonathan Martin for late round draft picks. Gabbert was the 10th overall pick in 2010 and has a chance to revive his career as a backup. Martin played for Harbaugh at Stanford and will also look to revive his image.
The Saints surprisingly signed safety Jarius Byrd. The pairing of Byrd and Kenny Vacarro at safety is a scary thought for opposing QBs and players but the Saints cannot afford to tie up that much money at one position, especially when they need to re-sign Jimmy Graham and they plan to trade Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas.
The Patriots were quiet on day 1 and could look to make a splash later this week when Darrelle Revis is released. Revis would be the perfect replacement for Aquib Talib and would allow the Patriots to have yet another advantage over the Jets.
Speaking of the Jets, they are reportedly meeting with Eric Decker today. The Jets would still need a catching TE and second WR with Decker to make him productive. He cannot be the one and only offensive weapon. He has to be the first of a few options.
The Jaguars signed Vikings backup running back Toby Gerhart. Gerhart will compete for the starting job with Jordan Todman and likely a 2nd-4th round draft pick.
The Broncos have a plan. The AFC champs lost to the Seahawks in the Super Bowl and clearly saw the value in having a great defense. Denver signed former Browns safety TJ Ward and Pro Bowl CB Aquib Talib. Talib is an upgrade over Dominique Rogers-Cromartie and will play next to Chris Harris. The Broncos have also long been rumored to be pursuing a pass rusher across from Von Miller and are reportedly the favorites to land former Cowboys LB Demarcus Ware, the franchise's all-time leader in sacks.
The Browns still don't have a plan. Replacing D'Qwell Jackson with Karlos Dansby is a slight upgrade but they downgraded from TJ Ward to Donte Whitner. Whitner brings a new element of toughness to Cleveland, but isn't a ballhawk like Ward.
Tampa Bay added Alterraun Verner and Michael Johnson. Verner is the ideal Cover 2 CB that Lovie Smith likes and will replace Darrelle Revis. Johnson adds another pass rushing element to the TB defense.
What are the Raiders doing? $60 million in cap space. They let their own guys get away (LT Jared Veldheer and DE Lamarr Houston). Still not sure why they didn't use the franchise tag on either. But they replaced Veldheer with Roger Saffold. And good news...Darren McFadden returns!
The Chargers made a puzzling move signing RB Donald Brown. I like Brown and he ran hard last year for the Colts. But the Colts already have Ryan Mathews and Danny Woodhead and are a passing team. Doesn't seem like there is enough carries to split three ways and throw 25+ times a game.
Remember the reports that 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh and GM Trent Baalke hated each other and weren't speaking? Well don't believe everything you read. Harbaugh is clearly in charge as evidenced by yesterday's trades. SF acquired QB Blaine Gabbert and OT Jonathan Martin for late round draft picks. Gabbert was the 10th overall pick in 2010 and has a chance to revive his career as a backup. Martin played for Harbaugh at Stanford and will also look to revive his image.
The Saints surprisingly signed safety Jarius Byrd. The pairing of Byrd and Kenny Vacarro at safety is a scary thought for opposing QBs and players but the Saints cannot afford to tie up that much money at one position, especially when they need to re-sign Jimmy Graham and they plan to trade Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas.
The Patriots were quiet on day 1 and could look to make a splash later this week when Darrelle Revis is released. Revis would be the perfect replacement for Aquib Talib and would allow the Patriots to have yet another advantage over the Jets.
Speaking of the Jets, they are reportedly meeting with Eric Decker today. The Jets would still need a catching TE and second WR with Decker to make him productive. He cannot be the one and only offensive weapon. He has to be the first of a few options.
The Jaguars signed Vikings backup running back Toby Gerhart. Gerhart will compete for the starting job with Jordan Todman and likely a 2nd-4th round draft pick.
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