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- Worst free agency moves
- By David Steele
1. Knowshon Moreno, RB, Dolphins
Even with the short shelf-life for running backs these days, Moreno is showing signs of reaching his limit already at age 27 in July. Brilliant in Denver’s Super Bowl run, he stayed on the market a while and ended up in Miami on a one-year, $3 million deal—all because of health concerns, which are showing already with offseason knee issues.
2. Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Texans
After all the drama of Houston possibly leveraging the first overall pick to get their quarterback of the future, they ended up with one for the immediate present (and a total project for the future in fourth-rounder Tom Savage). On his fifth team in his 10-year career, Fitzpatrick has been a decent seat-warmer, but it’s not obvious what he’ll do there that Matt Schaub couldn’t—except do it cheaper.
3. Julius Peppers, DE, Packers
Green Bay is betting $27 million ($7.5 million guaranteed) that at 34, Peppers isn’t finished. He was too pricey for the Bears based on his production and cap number, but the production —7 ½ sacks for a terrible defense—is the real concern. Improved defense could propel Aaron Rodgers and Co. into Super Bowl contention, but that’s asking a lot of Peppers at this stage of his career.
4. Miles Austin, WR, Browns
His Pro Bowl days in Dallas seems eons ago, even though he just turned 30. Besides needing to prove he’s healthy for the first time in years, he’s landed in an uncomfortable place, with a quarterback duel and a thin receiving corps that got no draft help and almost certainly won’t include Josh Gordon. Austin could disappear quickly in Cleveland.
5. Michael Oher, T, Titans
Never lived up to the hype that came with him from the best-selling book and blockbuster movie “The Blind Side.” In fact, he didn’t end up on the blind side in Baltimore, moving to the right side and, last season, becoming a revolving door and a penalty machine. Oher’s in the top half of the league and he’s now closer to home, but four years at $20 million is quite a price for someone whose name exceeds his play.
6. Jason Hatcher, DT, Redskins
Showed up from the Cowboys with the tag “if healthy” attached. Naturally, he’s already undergone knee surgery that will delay his start of training camp with his new team. He could upgrade Washington’s line tremendously … if healthy. He somehow nearly doubled his career sack total last year in Dallas with 11, but he’s moving from a 4-3 to a 3-4, and he’s 32.
7. Brandon Spikes, ILB, Bills
Spikes moved to Buffalo (again, for just one year at low money) after clashing with Bill Belichick in New England; it had all the earmarks of a fresh start and a chance to show what an impact he could make. He was going to help make the move of Kiko Alonso to the outside pay off, but Alonso is now out for the year with a torn ACL. Spikes needs to do more than carry a grudge against his ex-team to make this work.
8. Champ Bailey, CB, Saints
The future Hall of Famer tops this year’s class in needing to prove he’s not washed up. After his injuries and struggles the last two seasons, Bailey had to wait a while before the Saints grabbed him for $3.75 million over two years. He’s 36, he’s surrounded by youngsters in the Saints secondary, and they’re talking about going back to the Super Bowl. The fear is that Bailey will make everyone wish he’d just start his countdown to Canton as soon as possible.
9. Toby Gerhart, RB, Jaguars
It could be a familiar trap— the backup looking good in place of the injured superstar, then proving he’s still nothing more than a backup. Or it could be a revelation, that averaging 4.7 yards a carry in less than 300 career carries in four years backing up Adrian Peterson is a sign of good things to come. Not only does Gerhart have to step out of Peterson’s shadow, he has to replace Maurice Jones-Drew. Interesting gamble, but also a costly one (three-year contract, $4.5 million guaranteed).
10. LaMarr Woodley, LB, Raiders
In the Steelers’ run of two Super Bowl trips in three years (2008-10), Woodley totaled 35 sacks. In the three years since: 18, while missing 14 games. Not a good trend, especially with his 30th birthday looming this season. Signing vets to beef up the defense was smart (mainly Justin Tuck), but for two years and a possible $12 million, this has too much potential to be a swing and a miss.
Best Free Agency Moves
By David Steele
NFL training camps will open next week, and virtually every high-profile free agent is under contract. So which teams made the best deals? Who should expect to get the most bang for their bucks? What players will pack the biggest punch on their new teams? Here are the 10 best free-agent moves of the offseason.
1. DeMarcus Ware, DE, Broncos
The Cowboys gave the rest of the league a gift by cutting Ware at the March deadline for salary-cap reasons, and the Broncos swept in with $30 million over three years. They’re betting that even at 32 (next week), his streak of double-digit sack seasons, broken at seven last year, will re-start.
2. Darrelle Revis, CB, Patriots
Revis Island shifts to New England, the Patriots’ counter-move to Denver’s early free-agency binge. The ex-Jet (by way of Tampa Bay, briefly) steps in where Aqib Talib had patrolled — and he’s hungry to prove something to the league about who’s the best shutdown corner.
3. DeSean Jackson, WR, Redskins
Another surprise gift, this time from the Eagles and Chip Kelly, who decided Jackson's contract and personality clashes were not worth it. Division rival Washington quickly decided that, yes, having a healthy Robert Griffin III throw to him was worth the bargain price of $16 million guaranteed over two years.
4. Aqib Talib, CB, Broncos
Talib is now teammates with the receiver (Wes Welker) Bill Belichick believes hurt Talib on purpose in the AFC title game. Belichick now has bigger problems — his big lockdown corner is now playing for the biggest obstacle between his Patriots and another Super Bowl trip.
5. Kevin Williams, DT, Seahawks
The Seahawks are betting that after 11 seasons and at 34 (next month), Williams still has something in the tank and will fill the gaps on the line. It’s a safe bet. Williams is of more use here than he would have been on rebuilding Minnesota. At a little over $2 million for one year, it’s extra-safe.
6. LeGarrette Blount, RB, Steelers
The Steelers like to run with big bruisers, and Blount can bruise with the best of them, as he proved down the stretch for the Patriots last year. A brilliant pick-up for Pittsburgh from the devalued running back market. Potentially a cheap blunder for New England, who didn’t think that under $4 million over two years was worth it to keep him.
7. Steve Smith, WR, Ravens
He’s just what the Ravens were missing when they let Anquan Boldin go last year — tough, clutch, someone the whole team, especially Joe Flacco, could count on. Not only do they not care that he’s 35, they relish it. The question: Will Flacco enjoy him more than Cam Newton will miss him down in Carolina?
8. Antonio Cromartie, CB, Cardinals
Purely a cap move by the Jets, for whom Cromartie played well and re-established his reputation with Darrelle Revis gone from the other side. Being 30 shouldn’t be a problem. Being part of a loaded secondary led by Patrick Peterson on the other side really won’t be a problem.
9. Jared Allen, DE, Bears
Even after 11 years and a slight drop-off last season in Minnesota, Allen is just what the Bears need. The defense was injury-riddled and atrocious, and this is a great cornerstone on which to rebuild. His contract is structured so that he’s a total steal this season (just $3 million in salary).
10. Michael Vick, QB, Jets
Vick has voiced concerns about whether he’s getting a true chance to win the Jets’ starting job, but the reality is that it’s there for him to take from Geno Smith. It’s practically a can’t-lose for the Jets. If he pushes Smith to make the leap in his second year, great. If Vick wins it outright and stays healthy (always a big “if”), they get probably his last great run as a starter. All for just $5 million.
