The first week of Nfl The free agency is in books, with a lot of current action in what was considered one of the weakest classes in recent years. This did not prevent the teams from trying to improve their lists in last week, because many clubs had a lot of space to spend.
The Seattle Seahawks made their game in the quarter-Arrière, unloading Geno Smith and signing Sam Darnold to replace him. Milton Williams obtained a 100 million dollars contract from the New England Patriots ($ 51 million guaranteed), which makes him the third highest defensive tackle in football in terms of average annual salary ($ 26 million per year).
DK Metcalf was exchanged at the Pittsburgh and Deebo Samuel Steelers was treated with Washington commanders in successful agreements among wide receivers. The commanders then strengthened their offensive line by exchanging for Laremy Tunsil and the Texans of Houston reshaped their offensive line while acquiring the CJ Gardner-Johnson security in a separate agreement with the Eagles of Philadelphia.
As of Super bowl Champions, they went from five players on defense n ° 1 in the Nfl Last season. Oh, and Aaron Rodgers has not yet signed.
With everything that has happened in a free agency, let’s make some larger photos of photos and decide what are the excessive reactions and which are reality.
Signing Sam Darnold is a lateral decision for the Seahawks
Excessive reaction or reality: Overreaction
The Seahawks made a wisdom to go from Geno Smith because they were not going to compete for a Super bowl With a 34-year-old quarterrier who launches a lot of interceptions. Seattle decided to pay in place Darnold, which comes out of a career year with the Vikings du Minnesota and was the best quarter-arre available in free agency.
Smith won $ 25 million a year ($ 31 million reached the last year of his agreement), while Darnold signed a contract which pays him $ 33.5 million per year. Seattle pays more Darnold, but Darnold is 27 years old and launched for 4,319 yards and 35 touched passers -by last season (fifth in the Nfl in both categories). On the throws of more than 20 yards below, Darnold led the Nfl In the purposes (34), the completion rate (49%), the passage passage (new) and the yards by passage (1,182).
The advantage is there with Darnold because he will find the offensive coordinator of New Seahawks, Klint Kubiak, who was the coordinator of the passage when Darnold was in San Francisco. It was a risk to take for Seattle.
The DK Metcalf trade is useless if the Steelers do not receive Aaron Rodgers
Excessive reaction or reality: Reality
The Steelers had to upgrade their game of passes during the offseason and finished the first step with the trade for Metcalf. The twice pro Bowler is one of the six players in the history of the NFL with more than 900 reception yards during each of its first six seasons, while its 48 affected have been equal for the fifth of the NFL since its entry into the League in 2019.
Metcalf is a good player and a large receiver n ° 1, but who will throw the ball? The Steelers have not officially excluded a return from Russell Wilson, but have the objective of Aaron Rodgers. If Rodgers comes to Pittsburgh, he will launch to Metcalf and George Pickens – which could potentially be the best receiver in the league.
Pittsburgh knows what he has with Wilson, and the results showed last December. This Metcalf trade works if Rodgers chooses Pittsburgh, especially since he abandoned a second round choice in the agreement. The Steelers are back to square one if they do not get rodgers – because they lack reliable options in position.
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Bryan Deardo
The Bears are a eliminatory team next season
Excessive reaction or reality: Overreaction
Take credit to the Director General Ryan Polon to ensure that Caleb Williams is protected while he is entering his second season. The Bears were aggressive in improving the offensive line, exchanging a choice of fourth round in 2026 for Joe Thuney and a sixth round choice in 2025 for Jonah Jackson.
After having solidified the position of the guard, the Bears decided to sign the center attracted Dalman to an agreement of $ 42 million over three years, making it one of the best paid centers of the game. They also have Braxton Jones and Darnell Wright in Tackle.
Is this offensive line good enough to make Chicago an eliminatory team? Not quite, because Williams must progress in two years in the passage game (and there will be few excuses with the improved offensive line and Ben Johnson as a chief coach). All this comes down to Williams, because Dennis Allen is very likely to bring the defense back in a unit of the top 10 of the year 1.
Let’s stop the media beating of the Bears qualifiers, but Chicago is certainly better.
The Bengal Front of Bengals will cost them another berth in playoffs
Excessive reaction or reality: Reality
You have to ask yourself why Bengals take so long to sign their players to extensions. Ja’mar Chase is still not signed, and now he will become the first 40 million dollars in the League because Bengals have waited for too long to agree. Tee Higgins is on the franchise label for the second consecutive year and there does not seem to be a long -term extension in sight (still).
Then there is Trey Hendrickson, which Bengals cannot pay due to the growing market of the Rusher. Cincinnati will seek to receive a strong recovery remuneration for Hendrickson, one of the best rushers of football passes.
These extensions harm the chances of Cincinnati to build in the trenches of Joe Burrow, protecting the quarterrier and arriving at the quarter-back on the other side of the ball. Bengals have kept a good part of their own players, but have still not improved the offensive or defensive line – who have both injured them in the past two years.
If Cincinnati could have his own best players sign, he may really improve his list in free agency. The franchise should not be so mediocre under Burrow.
The commanders are better than the Eagles after having acquired Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil
Excessive reaction or reality: Overreaction
Commanders have certainly improved in free agency with the commercial acquisitions of Tunsil and Samuel, giving Jayden Daniels blind protection and a gadget receptor which can create nightmares for defenses (in particular food next to Terry McLaurin).
The Eagles lost several key defensive players, including Josh Sweat, Milton Williams, Darius Slay and CJ Gardner -Johnson – All vital for defense n ° 1 last year who helped them win a Super bowl. The Eagles expected to lose these players and replace them with recovery choices, but they are always massive losses.
Even with commanders improvements, they still have ways to go to catch and pass the Eagles. Philadelphia always has the heart of his intact offensive group and the best offensive line in football. Defense still has good young players, and others came with the players they have drafted and developed in recent years.
Washington is better and can win the NFC East. Philadelphia is still loaded and in his super bowl window.
Aaron Rodgers is not good enough for the teams to expect it
Excessive reaction or reality: Reality
The quarter market is low at this stage of the free agency, and the class was not strong to start. Apart from Cam Ward and Sheder Sanders, are there any quarters that have the potential to be franchise players (maybe Jaxson Dart?).
For Steelers, Giants and Vikings, Rodgers is the best option that remains. Pittsburgh needs him, New York does not have to have it, and the minnesota to JJ McCarthy pending in the wings. So why all this time to make a decision? And why do the three teams expect a player who has just left a season during which he had his lowest completion rate (63.0%) since 2019 and the lowest note of passers-by (90.5) in a full season of his career?
Very simple: after Rodgers, there is no one else for these teams. The giants are not guaranteed with the choice n ° 3 and the steelers do not receive a quarter of franchise at n ° 21. These two teams could use Rodgers for different reasons, and Rodgers knows that by using the Vikings to raise the price (and he can even sign there as a year’s bride in McCarthy).
Rodgers is not good enough, but it is the current market of the free agent quarter. These teams have no choice.
