With the wide open free agent period just six days away, the landscape has been altered by some surprise cuts and new contracts that came out of nowhere. As of 5 p.m. Thursday, March 3, here’s where we stand
New Contracts
Sam Bradford, QB, Philadelphia Eagles; Antonio Andrews, RB, Tennessee Titans
No one was more shocked at Sam Bradford’s new contract with the Philadelphia Eagles than actual Eagles fans. Bradford signed a two-year, $36 million deal with $26 million guaranteed. To do the math, that pays him $18 million a year, nearly a $5 million raise from what he made last season when he guided the team to a 7-7 finish.
Sam Bradford officially signs his two-year deal. He'll discuss it live at 2:30 PM. Watch online on on our app pic.twitter.com/uPCwvR3np1
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) March 3, 2016
While Eagles fans might have been upset, the move makes a lot of sense for the Eagles. They get a known quantity at quarterback and new head coach Doug Pederson doesn’t have to play a rookie, or even draft one in his inaugural season. Bradford had a mediocre season statistically for the Eagles in 2015, passing for 3,725 yards, completing 65 percent of his passes for 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. But Pederson is a pro at remaking mediocre quarterbacks, having worked magic with Michael Vick, Nick Foles and Alex Smith over the last few seasons.
The Eagles and Pederson were the best fit for Bradford and he obviously knew it, settling for the right per year number with this contract, but not the length that he wanted.
For the Titans, keeping Antonio Andrews makes plenty of sense. The Titans found a real running game with the third-year back out of Western Kentucky last season. He carried the ball 143 times for 520 yards and three touchdowns. He added 174 yards on 21 catches through the air. Andrews, at 5-foot-10 and 225 pounds, can allow the Titans to put off adding a running back higher in the draft.
Cuts and Voids
Charles Johnson, DE, Carolina Panthers, Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons; Alex Mack, Center, Cleveland Browns; Mario Williams, DE, Buffalo Bills; Donald Butler, ILB, San Diego Chargers; Daryl Smith, ILB, Baltimore Ravens; DeMeco Ryans, ILB, Philadelphia Eagles; Marques Coltson, WR, New Orleans Saints; Antonio Cromartie, CB, New York Jets; Jared Cook, TE, Los Angeles Rams; James Laurenaitis, MLB, Los Angeles Rams; Chris Long, DE, Los Angeles Rams, Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans
A veritable Pro Bowl group of talent has been set free over the last week or so, with only Cleveland center Alex Mack choosing to cut the cord himself by voiding his contract to become a free agent. Because of that, Mack is probably set to reel in some bank as the NFL’s first $10 million center and plenty of teams will be calling. Mack could end up back with Browns, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a team like the Rams or Seattle Seahawks, in need of a center, make him too good an offer to pass up. The Rams have specifically put together enough cap room to make this kind of move.
Alex Mack had 3 years, $24M remaining on deal and could once again become NFL's highest paid C. Return to Cleveland still "very possible."
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 2, 2016
Teams that play the 3-4 suddenly have their pick of some legit NFL talent with Smith, Butler and Ryans all in the wind. In fact, I wouldn’t surprised if the teams in question (the Eagles, Ravens and Chargers) didn’t end up swapping these guys around before free agency is over. For the 4-3 middle linebacker on this list, Laurenaitis, he can basically pick his team. Laurenaitis can play in either system and is already fielding calls from contending teams looking to add a leader and guaranteed 100 tackles to their defense.
Cromartie has basically spent the last couple of seasons as a mercenary and this year will be no different. He’s still a good player and should have no trouble finding a job, but could run into a stumble if he’s looking for a long-term contract.
The star power of this group is in the defensive ends with three former Pro Bowlers, Williams, Johnson and Long all hitting the street at the same time. Long, at least, comes with a few question marks after suffering injury-shortened seasons the last two years. Johnson too missed most of 2015 and recorded just one sack and spent eight weeks on injured reserve. But both Long and Johnson are guys that can deliver double-digit sack seasons when healthy and their market value will reflect it.
Former #Jets CB Antonio Cromartie is expected to visit the #Bills, source says. Rex Ryan is intrigued by a reunion.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 28, 2016
Williams wasn’t a good fit for Rex Ryan’s system in Buffalo and that’s the only reason he didn’t put up his usual monster season. As long as Williams can pass any physical, he’ll make $13 million this year for somebody easy.
BREAKING: Bills release DE Mario Williams after four seasons. pic.twitter.com/ho9mMx8omZ
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) March 1, 2016
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