Keeping your own free agents from fleeing your team may be the best free agency strategy in professional football. Getting a player that fits your system, meshes with your team and that you know you can coach may be the toughest thing to do in all of football so why let a guy who fits all those needs walk in free agency?
There was mad scramble leading up to Tuesday at 4 p.m. EST for teams to get the guys they wanted to keep from hitting the streets. Some of those guys still managed to get a foot out the door, only to wind up back with their original team.
So how did everybody do over the last three days? Let’s take a look.
Houston Texans
Re-signed: Ryan Mallet, QB (two years, $7 million)
Re-signed: Kareem Jackson, CB (four years, $34 million)
Re-signed: Damaris Johnson, WR (one year, $1 million)
The Texans scored big even before free agency began, locking in the guy they think has a chance to be their franchise quarterback for what amounts to peanuts. If Jackson had hit the market, he’d likely be in Philadelphia right now, so they had to get a deal worked out with him. Johnson is their best slot target and it was smart to keep him on the roster for some continuity after releasing Andre Johnson.
Buffalo Bills
Re-signed Jerry Hughes, DE (five years, $45 million)
Re-signed: Jordan Gay, K (undisclosed)
Gay may not be the most exciting looking free agent keeper, but last season he put 49 of his 80 kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks. With a leg like that alone, he’s worth keeping around cheap, but if he can develop into an actual field goal kicker, you’re looking at a real weapon. Hughes was a priority for the Bills to keep, even moving to a 3-4 defensive scheme and they got him for the next five seasons.
Philadelphia Eagles
Re-signed: Brandon Graham, OLB (four years, $26 million)
Re-signed: Mark Sanchez, QB (two years, $16 million)
When the Eagles re-signed Sanchez that should have been a clue something was afoot. It seems that Philadelphia has been in the news every day and made not one, but two franchise-defining blockbuster trades to go along with their free agent signings. Graham is an interesting re-sign because he kind of started his career out as a bust defensive end under the Eagles old head coach Andy Reid. Kelly turned him into an outside linebacker and now he’s a potential star.
Indianapolis Colts
Re-signed: Mike Adams, S (two years, undisclosed)
Re-signed: Darius Butler, CB (undisclosed)
Re-signed: Joe Reitz, OL (three years, $9 million)
The Colts were a big free agent mover over the first couple of days, but first they needed to lock in some key players of their own, especially on defense. Adams is a Pro Bowl safety and Butler a solid starter. Reitz adds some flexibility on the offensive line and can start at all five positions.
San Diego Chargers
Re-signed: Trevor Robinson, C (two years, $4.25 million)
Re-signed: Ricardo Mathews, DL (one year, undisclosed)
The Chargers are in an odd situation coming into free agency and this could be the year the team either joins the upper echelon of playoff teams, or returns to medicate. Keeping Robinson makes sense for the continuity on a pretty good offensive line, made better from some other free agent moves. Matthews is a solid back up and spot starter, recording 21 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles last season.
New England Patriots
Re-signed: Devin McCourty, S, (five years, $47.5 million)
The Patriots have money to burn this free agency period so it’s a mystery to me why they didn’t retain Darrelle Revis, even at that high price, and Vince Wilfork too. McCourty also looked to be gone, but the Pats stepped up at the final hour, locking in the 27-year-old safety for the next half-decade. McCourty was great last season, but he really stepped up his game in the playoffs, making a key interception to help beat the Ravens in the divisional round.
5 more years!!!! #PATSNATION (D-Mac) pic.twitter.com/RBvY4O3mmY
— Devin&Jason McCourty (@McCourtyTwins) March 10, 2015
Other moves involving players staying with their original teams
Green Bay Packers re-signed: Bryan Bulaga, Scott Tolzien (QB)
Denver Broncos re-signed: Virgil Green (TE)
Minnesota Vikings re-signed: Matt Asiata (RB). Josh Berger
Arizona Cardinals re-signed: Alameda Ta’amu (DT)
Seattle Seahawks re-signed: Mike Morgan (LB)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers re-signed: Larry English, Jason Williams, Major Wright, Luke Stocker and Mike Jenkins
Atlanta Falcons re-signed: Antone Smith (RB) Eric Weems, Charles Godfrey, Nate Stupar
Carolina Panthers re-signed: Joe Webb, Fozzy Whittaker, Brenton Bersin, Brian Folkerts, Ben Jacobs
San Francisco 49ers re-signed: Derek Carrier
Miami Dolphins re-signed: Kelvin Sheppard, Michael Thomas, Derrick Shelby
New York Jets re-signed: Bilal Powell (RB)
Washington Redskins re-signed: Trent Robinson (S)
Cincinnati Bengals re-signed: Eric Winston (OT)
Pittsburgh Steelers re-signed: Arthur Moats (OLB) and Matt Spaeth (TE)
Detroit Lions re-signed: Josh Bynes (LB)
St. Louis Rams re-signed: Lance Kendricks (TE)
