Free agency 2017 continued into the weekend with more excitement. Let’s take a look at the offseason action.
NFC North
Top 10 Right Guard TJ Lang made a decision. He scorned the Packers because he said he wanted to win now. TJ Lang chose the Detroit Lions on a three year 28.5 million dollar deal with 19 million guaranteed. Detroit has upgrade at right tackle and right guard and on a cheaper bill than the total cost of Riley Reiff (Vikings) and Larry Warford (Saints). Detroit has one of the best offensive lines in the league now. Great job Bob Quinn.
Ted Thompson awoke from his slumber to nab some tight ends. Green Bay added the Black Unicorn Martellus Bennett to a 3 year 21 million dollar deal. Green Bay also signed Lance Kendricks after he was cut by the Rams. Green Bay should be set at tight end.
The Lions also signed blocking tight end Daniel Fells (1 year 1.5 million) from Arizona and Keshawn Martin (WR). Martin has kick and punt return skills. Backup DT Stefan Charles signed with Jacksonville on a one year deal but the Lions had already replaced him with Akeem Spence.
The Vikings added right tackle Mike Remmers to a five year 30 million dollar deal. Riley Reiff got over 11.5 million per year per the contract numbers. This means the Vikings will make Reiff their left tackle.
Minnesota lost Captain Munnerlyn to a 4 year 17 million dollar deal to the Panthers. Charles Johnson also signed with the Panthers for one year 1.2 million. Audie Cole signed a one year deal with Jacksonville.
Chicago was busy on the weekend too. The Bears signed CB Marcus Cooper to a 3 year 16 million dollar deal. Cooper should be the Bears slot CB to team with Kyle Fuller and Prince. Jonthan Banks signed a one year deal with Chicago at CB too for depth. GM Ryan Pace remained busy signed backup tackle Tom Compton. Finally, Kendall Wright will compete with Eddie Royal in the slot for the Bears. Wright signed a one year 4 million dollar deal to join Chicago. Kicker Connor Barth was brought back by Chicago as well.
Around the League
The Patriots were trading like crazy during the weekend. The Patriots traded a 3rd round pick for Kony Ealy and the Panthers 4th round pick. Slick deal by New England. The Patriots weren’t done. They traded their 1st round and 3rd round pick for WR Brandin Cooks and a 4th round pick from the Saints. Cooks will be a huge weapon for Tom Brady in his final days in New England.
Jabaal Sheard signed a 3 year 25 million dollar deal with the Colts. Sheard leaves New England but the Patriots replaced him with Ealy. Lawrence Guy(DE) also signed a 4 year 13.5 million dollar deal with the Patriots. Former Colt Mike Adams (SS) signed a two year deal with Carolina. Nate Allen (FS) signed a one year deal with Miami as well.
The Cowboys stole Nolan Carroll from Philadelphia for a 3 year 10 million dollar deal. Carroll will be the Cowboys new slot CB. Terrence Williams re-signed for Dallas for 4 years and 17 million. Williams will continue to the be the Cowboys number 2 WR. The Cowboys signed DT Stephen Paea and DE Damontre Moore to one year contracts. Finally, in Cowboys news, right tackle Doug Free retired. This is a blow to their offensive line.
Kelvin Beachum signed a 3 year 24 million dollar deal to be the Jets new left tackle. Sylvester Williams got a 3 year deal to play nose tackle for the Titans. JJ Wilcox signed a two year deal from Tampa and leaves Dallas.
DJ Fluker signed a one year deal with the Giants. Fluker is oft injured but could play right tackle or right guard for the Giants. The Jaguars cut DT Roy Miller. Tampa signed Josh Robinson to a cheap two year deal. Domata Peko leaves the Bengals for the Broncos. Philly Browns leaves Carolina for the Bills on a one year deal. Jordan Mills signed a two year deal with Buffalo and Marshall Newhouse inked a two year deal with the Raiders. ILB Lorenzo Alexander inked a 2 year 9 million dollar deal to remain with Bills.
There has been a lot of change in the NFL. There are still some big names out there like Donta’ Hightower, Eddie Lacy, Latavious Murray and Adrian Peterson. We’ll see if any North GMs make any more roster moves before the draft.