Winners And Losers Of Free Agency

After the first few days I think its time to take a look at the winners and losers of free agency.

Their is a lot that goes in to each teams decision when they bring in a new free agent, such as how do they affect your salary cap? Do they fit your scheme? and will the player be a good fit for your teams personnel?

Some teams made huge jumps in terms of where they want to put themselves in the next couple seasons, while others kind of let this years free agent class slip away.

Winners:

One team that made the best improvement thru this years free agency class should come as no surprise when you look at the who they brought in as the next head coach. That franchise is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and new head coach Lovie Smith.

Smith was named as the new head coach around the beginning of the year and has made drastic changes to the organization since he has become the Head Honcho. One of the biggest moves he made was the decision to cut one of the best corners in the game, CB Darrelle Revis. The move was not too surprising but was drastic nonetheless, which helped the Bucs save $16 million in cap space for next season.

Next on Smith's agenda was to enforce the D-Line with the signings of DE Michael Johnson and DT Clinton McDonald. The Bucs had already planned ahead for the departure of Revis, signing CB Alterraun Verner the day before Revis was even cut, making Verner their top defensive player in the secondary.

To follow up with all of the defensive signings that you would expect from a Lovie Smith team, he wrapped up a deal with his former QB while in Chicago, Josh McCown. Smith has come out to say that the starting QB job is McCown's to lose, not Mike Glennon who was the starting QB thru the majority of last season.

What he added to this team brings something the Bucs have not had the past couple seasons and that is stability. The NFC South should shake up to be one of the toughest in the NFL next season and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are clearly the early winners of free agency.

Notable Mentions: 

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Denver Broncos grabbing New England's top corner (Aqib Talib) as well as Dallas' top pass rusher (DeMarcus Ware) and Cleveland's top safety (TJ Ward).

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New England Patriots mention comes from their lone free agent signing thus far CB Darrelle Revis, who should be looking to prove himself once the season starts. After losing Talib to the Broncos it was looking as if the Patriots would be hurting in their pass defense but the signing of Revis brings in talent far beyond what they once had with Talib. *The Patriots are also in talks with former Seattle Seahawk CB Brandon Browner, which undoubtedly would be coined the "Legion of Boom" of the east, AFC watch out if this move happens.

Seattle Seahawks had one agenda this free agency and that was to bring back DE Michael Bennett. Mission successful, although they did lose a lot of depth on the defensive side of the ball as well as a talented young WR in Golden Tate. I am sure that Schneider and Carroll will be able to make something out of nothing as usual in this years draft or thru some smaller name free agent signings.

Losers:

AP Photo/L.G. Patterson

There is a couple teams I had in mind for this section but it is hard to go against the Oakland Raiders when it comes to losing, in every aspect of the NFL as it seems. 

After the Raiders foolishly signed Roger Saffold to a huge contract that was later negated after Saffold "Failed" his physical. The story behind the Saffold situation is that owner Mark Davis decided to negate the contract because he felt it was entirely too much money spent for him (5-year 42.5 million, $21 million guaranteed) and sent him packing back to St Louis.

You might ask yourself, "What would the Raiders do next?"

Well they would sign RB Darren McFadden, their former 4th overall pick in the 2008 draft to a 1-year contract for about $4 million (Only $100,00 guaranteed). Seeing as how McFadden has not played a full season in his career they might of well have thrown the money in a wood chipper and turned the scraps into furniture because that's exactly where they will see their money next season, the bench.

The next major move by the Raiders was bringing in a declining Justin Tuck for a 2-year $11 million deal.

That deal would have been great about 4-5 years ago but Tuck is on the decline of his career. Tuck should help bring a level of veteran leadership to the debacle that is the Oakland Raiders but on the field they will need a lot more help than a 31-year old DE on the end of his career.

Its a good thing the Raiders came into the offseason with $60 million in cap space otherwise the move for Tuck would be a disaster for them. Luckily they still have enough money to keep going around and we will see whats next on the agenda for the lowly Oakland Raiders.

Notable Mention:

Seattle Seahawks are both winners and losers in the free agency market so far. They lost a WR in Golden Tate who has improved his numbers every season that he has been in the league. They also lost the leadership of DE Red Bryant who was played a huge role in Seattle as the captain of the defense. They also lost Clinton McDonald and Chris Clemons, the loss of all three of these defensive lineman will be felt if the Seahawks can't find any help thru free agency or the draft. They also lost help on the offensive line with Breno Giacomini "JET"-ting out for New York.

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Dallas Cowboys have lost some of their best players on defense this offseason, and its not like their defense was that talented before they left, with DeMarcus Ware and Jason Hatcher leaving town. That may not be the last we hear about players heading to different locations. The Cowboys were able to free up cap space with cutting Ware but I don't see any clear outcome from the cut besides saving Jerry Jones some money, because I know I wouldn't want to play in a organization that is run the way Jerry has been running it.


Follow me on Twitter - @therealrikrok89
 

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