Raphael ZamoranoReading: 10 min.
Fourth Chance Podcast: Diana Flores’ inspiring message to the girls who start the Flag
The gold-winning quarterback at the World Games shared a few words with us for those who start in the sport.
After the first days of negotiations, the current transfer and trade period pales in comparison to what happened just a year ago.
Is it me, or has the current free agency period left us with a lot to owe?
A year ago, names like By Miller, Christian Kirk y J.C. Jackson they blew the lid off record contract sums for their respective positions on the open market.
That, without mentioning the action in terms of transfers.
Right now, there are quite frankly few contracts on the market to really get excited regarding.
It is remarkable the huge contract he received Javon Hargrave by the san francisco 49ers (four years and 84 million dollars, 40 million dollars guaranteed to the firm), and the agreement that the Atlanta Falcons a Jessie Bates III (four years and 64.02 million dollars). At the moment, they are two of my favorite free agency moves, and I see potential in both cases to fulfill them fully.
Later, I see several movements that leave me doubts. Let’s take a look at some of them:
Los Cincinnati Bengals they might have gotten one of the biggest bargains on the market, agreeing for four seasons and 64,092 million dollars with Orlando Brown Jr.an offensive tackle who has already been invited in the last four consecutive seasons to the Pro Bowlthe first of hers at right tackle and the last three at left tackle. Brown comes from giving up zero sacks once morest the defense of Philadelphia in it Super Bowl LVII as one of the keys, along with the rest of the offensive line, to the victory of the Kansas City Chiefs.
sure, it’s not Walter Jones o Joe Thomas in its heyday, but it is reliable.
Instead, the Chiefs preferred to commit $80 million over four years, including $40 million guaranteed at the signing of the agreement, to Jawan Taylor as a replacement for Brown. If the same Taylor who has never won an invitation to Pro Bowl in his four years as a professional, playing in the same conference as Brown.
And, in the same AFC Westlos Denver Broncos committed $87.5 million over five years, with $35 million guaranteed at contract signing, to Mike McGlincheya steady right tackle with five years of experience in the league, who also doesn’t know what it’s like to play a Pro Bowl. On top of it all, the coolest memory we have of McGlinchey on a gridiron is to see it flying through the air, courtesy of a manoeuvre. Micah Parsons in playoffs. And, let’s not forget, the offensive line of San Francisco –everyone, not exclusively McGlinchey— had a really bad time in the NFC Championship Game before them Eagles which were contained in the Super Bowl by Kansas City two weeks later.
Taylor y McGlinchey now average more money annually than Brownand received more guaranteed money than Brownwho agreed with Cincinnati Wednesday, following Taylor y McGlinchey They had their contracts agreed.
Los Chicago Bears they took it upon themselves in recent months to purge their payroll, and entered the offseason as the team with the most room to work below the salary cap, nearly $100 million.
It is therefore not surprising that they are one of the most active teams so far.
However, the commitment for four years and 72 million dollars, with 36.8 million guaranteed, that they assumed with the linebacker, is striking. Tremaine Edmunds. Because? Well, because just a few months ago they categorically refused to offer a contract extension to Roquan Smitha better linebacker than Edmunds.
Edmunds He has to his credit two invitations to the Pro Bowlbut none since 2020, while Smith comes from a campaign Pro Bowlwith inclusion in the first team All-Pro.
The reluctance to pay too much on the position is sometimes understood, following all, it is not a premium. and transfer to Smith to the Baltimore Ravens halfway through last season, it netted them second- and fifth-round picks. But is it worth the reward for downgrading at the position, and shelling out big bucks for a multi-year deal anyway?
Is not better known good than bad to know?
Since we touched on the subject of Bearswe must applaud the incorporation of the broker D’Onta Foreman through a one-year, $3 million deal announced Thursday. Last year, following the Carolina Panthers will send to Christian McCaffrey in exchange for the 49ers, Foreman he became the focal point of the running offense and responded in a big way, posting career highs in rushing, rushing yards, yards per carry, and rushing touchdowns. If he maintains a similar level, he, too, might be one of the big steals of the offseason, especially in such a depressed market for running back.
The curious thing regarding the matter is that the signing of Foreman arrives hours following Chicago agreed for two years and 4.5 million dollars with Travis Homeran eternal substitute for the Seattle Seahawks that, in four seasons as a professional, he does not reach the total rushing yards he had Foreman only last season.
will they be enough Foreman y Homer to make up for the loss of David Montgomerywho emigrated to the Detroit Lions? Seems complicated, particularly when it comes to the versatility of Montgomery to contribute to the passing game, too.
following with one’s own Montgomeryand the theme of the corridors, the Lions They are another of the teams that make us scratch our heads. They signed their division rival’s former running back to a three-year, $18 million deal, with $8.75 million guaranteed at the signing, pretty decent numbers, to be sure.
But, they let emigrate to Jamaal Williamswho led the NFL last year in rushing touchdowns with 17, and who was coming off his first 1,000-yard rushing season, a total he hasn’t reached Montgomery since 2020. And, in the process, they broke up a duo of runners made up of Williams y D’Andre Swift which proved to be very effective last year.
Instead, the New Orleans Saints got the services of Williams agreeing for three seasons and 12 million dollars, with 8.15 million guaranteed, to match him with the star Alvin Kamara.
Again, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence.
Since we mentioned the broker market, it’s a shame how position wages have fallen, at least as far as the open market is concerned.
Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs y Tony Pollard They received the franchise tag, so they might play in 2023 in exchange for $10.9 million if they don’t reach a multiyear deal with their respective teams, whether or not they are traded in the coming weeks.
Depending on market conditions, they can consider themselves lucky. While, in other positions, price inflation does not stop, the same does not happen with brokers.
So far, no one has received a larger contract than Miles Sanderswho signed for four years and 25 million dollars, with 13 million guaranteed at the time of signing, for the Panthers. After him, Montgomery and Williams are the only ones who found a minimum of $10 million a year in their new deals.
None of the 15 drivers signed this offseason have accomplished more than two years.
Instead, the list of available names is still impressive: Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette, Kareem Hunt, Devin Singletary, Damien Harrisy Jerick McKinnon They attract attention. They may still be joined by the name of Dalvin Cookand there were rumors a few days ago that the Tennessee Titans would consider parting with Derrick Henry by way of exchange.
The league can be very ungrateful to its raw material, the players.
The biggest swap we’ve seen so far involved Jalen Ramsey going from Los Angeles Rams to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a third-round pick, and a fill-in player, tight end, Hunter Long.
Safe, DJ Moore He was part of a huge trade for the first overall pick, but the wide receiver wasn’t really the focal point of the trade, although he will help the New Yorkers’ offense immediately. Bears.
After Ramseyhighlight the Darren Waller going from Las Vegas Raiders a New York Giantsy Stephon Gilmore of the Indianapolis Colts a Dallas Cowboys. Both are players over the age of 30, who will help without necessarily becoming protagonists, really.
The transfer of John Smith of the New England Patriots a Falconsand the guard Shaq Mason of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a Houston Texanswas barely noticed.
Quite the opposite happened last year, when Davante Adams, Tyreek Hill, Amari Cooper y A.J. Brown they rocked the league with their respective trades, just talking regarding the wide receiver position.
Also, we had the quarterbacks Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson, Carson Wentz y Matt Ryan changing uniform by way of exchange, and Khalil Mack among the most notable defenders. Nothing to do with the names that have been negotiated this year.
We have barely been in negotiations for a week, and there is still time. Furthermore, comes the seemingly inevitable, with Aaron Rodgers and his pass from Green Bay Packers a New York Jets. As the draft approaches, many big-card names may start to move.
However, it is clear that the market has moved much less than it did 12 months ago.
Finally, we’re going to close by listing a handful of free agency deals that kind of went under the radar and that, in our opinion, can generate very good returns.
• El linebacker T.J. Edwards to the Bears (three years, $19.5 million).
• El linebacker David Long Jr. to the Dolphins (two years, $11 million).
• The offensive tackle Andrew Wylie to the Washington Commanders (three years, $24 million).
• Defensive tackle Jarran Reed to the Seattle Seahawks (two years, $10.8 million).
• El safety Juan Thornhill to the Cleveland Browns (three years, $21 million).
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