Since I am in quarantine, I guess I will write an article with poor grammar about free agency. Nothing could stop 2020 NFL free agency, not even COVID 19. Let’s take a look at all the additions, releases, trades and other news.
Green Bay Packers
Green Bay is acting like Ted Thompson is still in charge. Yes they signed two players in LB Christian Kirksey with a 2 year 13 million dollar deal and Right Tackle Dick Wagner at 2 years 11 million but both of those players were releases from other teams. Those two will replace long time Packers Blake Martinez and Bryan Bulaga.
Meanwhile, Bryan Bulaga and Blake Martinez got big deals with the Chargers and Giants respectively. Comp pick heaven is coming to Green Bay.
Jimmy Graham was cut and signed with the Bears ending his contract early for the cap room. Graham had regressed in the last two seasons with Green Bay so this was the proper cut.
Safety Will Redmond and TE Marcedes Lewis were resigned cheap and Jake Kumerow signed his ERFA one year contract.
Chicago Bears
The Bears signed TE Jimmy Graham quickly after the Packers cut him with a 2 year 16 million dollar deal.
Chicago got themselves a competent QB by trading a 4th round pick for Nick Foles. The Bears don’t have many draft picks now though with only two 2nd round picks and some late picks.
The Bears dumped fifth year option of Leonard Floyd creating 13.2 million in cap and used that money to sign Robert Quinn to a huge 5 year 70 million dollar deal. Quinn played well for Dallas last year.
Chicago also released WR Taylor Gabriel and CB Prince Amukamara for a 13 million in cap space total. Finally, back LB Nick Kwiatkowski got a big deal with the Raiders but the Bears re-signed head hunter LB Danny Trevathan for 3 years 21 million to stay in Chicago.
Rotational DT Nick Williams who had a very good 2019 left the Bears in free agency to join the Lions on a 2 year 8 million dollar deal. Backup QB Chase Daniel also bolted the Bears for the Lions on a 3 year 13 million dollar deal.
Big Dick Nick takes over for Trubisky which will make things interesting in Chicago.
Minnesota Vikings
Big cuts were made with NT Linval Joseph and CB1 Xavier Rhodes. CB2 Trae Waynes and slot CB Mackensie Alexander left in free agency. Right Guard Josh Kline was also released. The only player replaced so far was Joseph with run stuffing DT Michael Pierce from Baltimore to the Vikings at 3 year 27 million.
The Vikings did tag Anthony Harris for a cool 10 million.
Oh and that Kirk Cousins guy got a 2 year 66 million dollar extension. Not fully guaranteed this time but close. Cousins will be a Viking for the next 3 years at QB.
Kicker Dan Bailey got a 3 year extension and punter Britton Colquitt got a 3 year extension. Fullback CJ Ham got an extension too for 4 years 12 million.
Finally, stud WR Stefon Diggs got traded to Buffalo for a a 2020 1st round pick, 5th round pick and 6th round pick and 2021 4th round pick. The Vikings got a nice haul considering DeAndre Hopkins just got traded for peanuts to the Cardinals.
The Vikings lost alot of veteran players this offseason at the price of mega-money for Kirk Cousins. Everson Griffen’s future is up in the air as well with Minnesota.
Detroit Patriots aka Lions
The Lions got weird this offseason by cutting Damon Harrison and Dick Wagner for some cap space. Detroit replaed Harrison with Danny Shelton, former Patriot (2 years 8 million) and Halapoulivaati Vaitai to a 5 year 45 million dollar deal. Vaitai is one big Samoan dude that played well in the Eagles Super Bowl run in 2017.
Nick Williams 2 years 8 million and Chase Daniel 3 years 13 million was snaked from the Bears at DT and backup QB.
Jamie Collins, former Patriot, upgrades the Lions LBS big time with a 3 year 30 million dollar deal. The Lions cut Devon Kennard for 5.4 million in cap room since he wouldn’t be needed with Collins taking his position.
Lions traded a 5th round pick and received free safety Duron Harmon, former Patriot and 7th round pick in 2020. This was the pick they got from the Quandre Diggs trade so essentially traded Diggs for Harmon and gained a 7th.
Right guard Graham Glasgow go ta big deal with Denver and DT AShawn Robinson got a decent 2 year deal with the Rams. Detroit has some holes at DT and Guard still. Punter Sam Martin is still a free agent as Detroit looks to change punters.
Desmond Trufant was cut from the Falcons due to cap hell and signed a 2 year 21 million dollar deal to be Detroit’s top corner. Once that move was made, Detroit traded Darius Slay for a 3rd and 5th round pick in 2020 to the Eagles. Slay reunites with Schwartz and became the highest paid CB in the league, which Detroit was not willing to pay for Slay.
Danny Amendola, former Patriot, got another 1 year 5 million dollar deal to be Detroit’s slot WR again in 2020. Lions re-signed long snapper Don Mulhbach. Death. Taxes. Muhlbach. He was been with the team since 2004. Special team safety Jayron Kearse was signed to a cheap one year deal as well to replace Mile Killebrew.
The Lions have been busy this offseason trying to get the 3 win stink off of them.