We expected big name free agents to get snapped up and to find out if rumors leaked during the legal tampering period over the last two days turned out to be true. And we got all that. What no one could have guessed is that, three blockbuster trades were on the table and all three were announced at roughly the same time.
Saints trade All-Pro Tight End Jimmy Graham to Seahawks
As difficult as it was to re-sign Jimmy Graham last season as a potential free agent, even going as far as a court case where Graham sued to be labeled a wide receiver so he would get more money with a franchise tag, the New Orleans Saints decided that Seattle Seahawks center Max Unger and their 2015 first round NFL draft pick was enough to send Grahem out west.
The Seahawks send the No. 31 pick in the draft, along with Unger to New Orleans as part of the deal and pick up the Saints fourth round pick.
New #Saints C Max Unger:
*6-year veteran
*2-time Pro Bowler
*Started all 67 games he appeared in for the Seahawks pic.twitter.com/dH30dFe0qa— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) March 10, 2015
Graham caught 85 passes for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. He instantly becomes Seattle’s best weapon in its passing offense. Graham has dominated the NFL since his second season in the league, catching 51 touchdowns over five seasons and averaging over 10.5 yards per catch every year.
Unger is a two-time Pro Bowler himself and is no slouch and is just 28 years old.
Sam Braford Era over in St. Louis, traded to Eagles for Nick Foles
The Eagles weren’t ready to start 2015 with Nick Foles as their quarterback and Sam Bradford and his agent wouldn’t budge in contract negotiations, so the two teams looked at the situation and decided to cut bait.
The Rams send Bradford and his $13 million contract, along with his pending free agent status in 2016 to the Eagles along with a fifth round draft pick. In return, the Rams get Foles, a fourth round pick and a second round pick next season.
Eagles will surrender 2016 2nd-round pick to Rams in QB trade no matter what. But will get back a conditional… http://t.co/xdhr2CLpWD
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2015
Bradford missed the entire 2014 season after suffering his second torn ACL in a calendar year. Before his first torn ACL, suffered against the Carolina Panthers in 2013, Bradford was on to his best year as a pro. In seven games he completed 60.7 percent of his passes for 1,687 yards, 14 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Projected out over 16 games, that would have been 3,856 yards, 32 touchdowns and nine picks.
Foles dealt with his own injury issues last season and was less effective than in his first year as the team’s starter when he made the Pro Bowl, throwing for 2,891 yards and 27 touchdowns with just two interceptions in 13 starts.
Foles was 14-4 over this season and a half as a starter for the Eagles. Bradford was 18-30-1 in St. Louis.
Haloti Ngata will replace Suh for the Lions
The Detroit Lions didn’t take any chances with their interior defensive line in the upcoming draft or free agency. After losing All-Pro defensive tackle Ndomukong Suh to the Miami Dolphins, the Lions will replace him with Haloti Ngata after working out a trade with the Baltimore Ravens.
Yes that really happened.
Haloti Ngata is now a member of the Detroit Lions. pic.twitter.com/SdckKttspX
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) March 10, 2015
For Ngata, who the Ravens needed to move for salary cap reasons, Baltimore gets the Lions fourth and fifth round picks. The Ravens also ship a seventh rounder to Detroit.
“Haloti is a great player but an even better person,” Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh said. “He has been an anchor of our success for many years. We appreciate everything he has done for our organization and the Baltimore community. We wish he and his family nothing but the best.”
Ngata is a five-time Pro Bowler himself. He played in 12 games last season with 31 tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles.
Rams trade late pick to Texans for Case Keenum
Nick Foles wasn’t the only quarterback the Rams acquired via trade Tuesday. The Rams sent a seventh round pick to the Houston Texans to get Case Keenum back on the team. Keenum was on the Rams roster in 2014, but was cut when the team needed a roster spot for safety Mark Barron.
Texans traded QB Case Keenum back to the St. Louis Rams for a 7th-round pick in 2016, per league sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2015
Keenum started eight games for the Texans in 2013, completing 58.4 percent of his passes for 1,760 yards and nine touchdowns with six interceptions.
