Usually around this time, tournament hoops dominate conversations. Between last second game-winning shots, brackets being busted, a few Cinderellas still dancing, and some tourney heroes appearing, March Madness vastly overshadows NFL Free Agency. Just know that as crazy as the tourney can be, so too can NFL general managers!
And when there’s money to splurge due an increase in the salary cap, and a new carry over money rule, there’s bound to be a heap full of regrets. Or basically, give general managers too much money and too much freedom, and suddenly it’s like 2 AM closing time and Sam Bradford starts to look like Tom Brady.
Luckily I got you covered to sort out the free agent mess! Just don’t expect any Vince Young Dream Team exclamations. Let’s hand out some grades.
The NFL’s March Madness: Free Agency Grades Part I
Denver trades for Mark Sanchez… Grade: D
Philadelphia gets conditional pick in return… Grade: B
I remember there being a joke about how one guy stole from his neighbor, waited for the neighbor to say he needed that item because someone stole it from him, and then the crook sold that stolen item back to his neighbor. Maybe the Eagles fleecing Denver wasn’t as bad as that crook, but it’s really dang close. Like why didn’t Denver just wait until the Eagles cut Mark Sanchez, because the Eagles would have cut him eventually or he would have cost them $5.5 million (only $2.5 million if they cut him) against the cap? Or am I missing something here?
Now Philly only has to shelve out $1 million for a “You can have him” Sanchez and a conditional draft pick, most likely only a fifth rounder. But the Broncos are handcuffed to a $4.5 million price tag for Sanchez.
Tampa Bay signs Robert Ayers for three years/$19.5 million… Grade: D
Here’s the skinny on Ayers:
Age – 30
2015 sacks (in a contract year) – 9.5
2014 sacks – 5
2013 sacks – 5.5
2012 sacks – 2
Comparable salary defensive end (around $6 million/year) – Jerry Hughes & Fletcher Cox.
So basically you’re paying $1 million for every sack for a player now in his 30s?
Broncos retain C.J. Anderson… Grade: F
In a buyer’s market (20 teams with over $20 million in cap space!), Denver could have been gifted a second rounder by signing CJ Anderson to a $2.5 million restricted offer. If you’re a team with money to splurge, would you sign Anderson (a proven running back) to at least $2.5 million AND surrender a 2nd rounder??? Of course!
So it came as no surprise when the Dolphins jumped all over that boneheaded mistake, and desperately tried to lure Anderson to “South Beach” with a four year/$18 million contract. Did the Broncos match? Of course they did. Is John Elway kicking himself knowing he’s paying a running back that ran for only 720 yards and five touchdowns last year, $4.5 million for the next four years? YES! Is now the wrong time to bring up that Mark Sanchez trade again?
Houston Texans sign Lamar Miller… Grade: A
Only $5.5 million for the next four years for a solid back that ran for only 872 yards, but only because two now disposed of coaches didn’t realize what they had. Seriously! Miller had eight touchdowns, 4.5 yards per carry, and a MINISCULE 194 attempts.
Check this out (backs with at least 4.5 yards/attempt):
Adrian Peterson – 327 attempts & 1485 yards
Doug Martin 288 attempts & 1402 yds
Todd Gurley 229 attempts & 1106 yds.
Wait, hold up. How much does Peterson and Martin make? Peterson – $12 million/year. Martin – $8 million/year… SPACE CITY FOR THE WIN!
Giants sign Olivier Vernon… Grade: D
I always loved those which-doesn’t-fit-in questions. You know like, “Hey Bill O’Brien, which J.J. Watt doesn’t fit in: defensive end J.J. Watt, tight end J.J. Watt, or running back J.J. Watt?”
Anyway, let’s apply that question to this group, each of whom will be counting at least $11 million against the cap next season:
A. Muhammad Wilkerson
B. Calais Campbell
C. J.J. Watt
D. Olivier Vernon
E. Robert Quinn
You got it? That’s right, it’s D!
But if you guessed C, you’re not wrong either.
Just know, of that group only one doesn’t scare me, the $13 million Vernon. Who’s averaged 7.25 sacks over the last four seasons. Who was left out of the conversation when Suh signed with the Dolphins and most people said to themselves, “Man, now they have Ndamukong Suh AND Cameron Wake!” And who has the stink of best free agent available in a horrible free agent market for his position?
