Winners of the 2018 NFL Free Agency
Yes, the Rams are our biggest FA winner this year. They started with a big move, trading with Kansas City for Marcus Peters. They also stacked up on D-Line talent, becoming the suiters for Ndamukong Suh. Pairing him with DPOTY Aaron Donald, and the Rams have the best D-Line in the NFL. Not to mention signing Aqib Talib and Sam Shields will help their backfield even more.
The perineal AFC North losers, coming off of an 0-16 season, had an excellent FA. The Browns triple trade day is in the books, trading Miami for Jarvis Landry, giving Landry a good target by going for Tyrod Taylor, and trading their main starting quarterback of 2017 for Green Bay’s Damarious Randall. That was only the start.
This is a team who hasn’t had a good roster in years. Now with head coach Matt Nagy, Chicago went all in on the FA. With need at WR, the Bears went with Allen Robinson, and also went with Trey Burton, former Eagles TE who threw Nick Foles his touchdown in the Super Bowl. Saving young CB Kyle Fuller was key too, for the Bears to make the playoffs once more.
Perhaps Minnesota landed the biggest name of the FA. Kirk Couisins provides them with a true starting quarterback who can win them games. And paring Sheldon Richardson with Everson Griffin and Danielle Hunter will make this already scary defense even more elite.
Give them some credit for getting Richard Sherman before anyone else. Weston Richburg will also give their O-Line a much needed weapon.
After getting rid of back and forth running back DeMarco Murray, they signed former New England Patriot Dion Lewis. He was a star in the return game, so that’s a plus. They also went for Malcom Butler, the savior of Super Bowl XLIX and was an above average corner for a few years. He will add to their defense which has a lot of potential.
Nate Solder was one of the best signings of the FA. That was a steal man. Also, veteran Jonathan Stewart can mentor the younger running backs on their roster, particularly 2nd overall pick Saquon Barkley.
Adding Sammy Watkins to a receiving corps that already features Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce will strengthen their 2018 offense under Patrick Mahomes. Kendall Fuller is the prefect replacement for Marcus Peters, and Anthony Hitchens adds to the Chiefs also.
Might I say that the Doug Martin signing was a good idea, thus improving their backfield consisting already of Marshawn Lynch. Jordy Nelson will be a good addition to play with the likes of Amari Cooper and Martavius Bryant. And Christian Hackenburg, well... it’s likely he’ll be a third or fourth string quarterback on a roster consisting of Derek Carr, Connor Cook, and EJ Manuel.
Call me biased, but I think they had a good enough free agency. Something they never would’ve done under Ted Thompson. They signed former pro bowler Muhammad Wilkerson, former Packer Tramon Williams, and tight ends Jimmy Graham and Marcedes Lewis. Nice veteran talent, and Lewis provides blocking that Graham nor Lance Kendricks could deliver.