FREE AGENCY
Brees stays at home in New Orleans ... Cousins to Vikings ... Cards grab Bradford .... Broncos commit to Keenum ... Packers dump WR Nelson for TE Graham
Deadline, shmedline. NFL free-agents-to-be began finalizing deals with new teams early Tuesday, more than a day before the league technically permits it.
At about the time 39-yearold quarterback Drew Brees agreed to remain with the New Orleans Saints, for a reported $50 million over two years, free-agent deals started going down in bunches.
Other major quarterback dominos already had begun to topple. Top free agents at other positions similarly began lining up on new gigs elsewhere.
Since Monday at noon EDT, per NFL rules, teams have been permitted “to contact, and enter into contract negotiations” with agent representatives of any veteran players due to become unrestricted free agents once the new league year begins Wednesday at 4 p.m. EDT. But “a contract cannot be executed” before then.
That language is not nearly strict enough (undoubtedly by design) to prevent contract agreements in principle from being reached. And on Tuesday, reports of such deals kept blowing up on Twitter, one after another.
Before analyzing such dealsin-waiting, and what other quarterbacks remain on the as yet unopened market, let’s look at Brees remaining with the Saints.
QB DREW BREES Still a Saint
The money for which Brees stayed is a shocker, frankly. He could have commanded $30 million a year in the open market, but accepted $25 million per, with just $27 million guaranteed — a screaming bargain for the Saints.
But since the Saints lost in heartbreaking fashion at Minnesota two months ago in an NFC divisional playoff game, Brees never hid the fact that his clear intention was to remain in New Orleans, just as club officials repeatedly said they wanted the 17-year NFL veteran back.
Reports said Brees has a no-trade clause in the new deal. He’ll likely now conclude his career in the Big Easy.
Brees moved to New Orleans in 2006 after spending his first five pro seasons in San Diego; he has been a Pro Bowl selection in New Orleans 10 times; he won a Super Bowl there in 2009; and he and wife Brittany have raised their young family there.
It’s home now. And there’s no place like home.
QB KIRK COUSINS to Minnesota
Reports stressed this is not yet a done deal. But the terms of what the Minnesota Vikings have offered the passer on his last full day as a contracted Washington Redskin leaked out.
According to NFL Network, the Vikes are offering Cousins $86 million, fully guaranteed, over three years. That’s an average of $28.7 million per season, which would break San Francisco QB Jimmy Garoppolo’s briefly held record for highest NFL average salary, of $27.5 million.
“(The Vikings) believe they’ve got him,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted.
The New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals reportedly are, or were, the only other two serious possible destinations for Cousins, a 29-year-old entering his seventh NFL season.
After backing up fellow rookie Robert Griffin III to start his pro career in 2012, Cousins eventually ascended as the better option soon after Jay Gruden was hired as head coach in 2014. Cousins started every Redskins game over the past three seasons, and has a 66% completion percentage and 99-to-55 TD-tointerception ratio.
QB CASE KEENUM to Denver
The surprise performer of the NFL’s 2017 regular season with Minnesota, Keenum didn’t feel the postseason love from the Vikings, despite leading that team to the NFC championship game.
Numerous reports say he has agreed to join the Denver Broncos. While no precise terms of the agreement have leaked, the Denver Post reported that Keenum’s deal “is expected to be a shorter-term contract, with approximately $18 million per year in average pay.”
As with Brees’ new deal, that seems light. But if accurate, it’d be a solid indication the Broncos aren’t sold on Keenum being “the guy” long term.
Hence, would it come as a surprise if, on April 26, the Broncos use their No. 5 overall draft pick on the best available rookie quarterback – among USC’s Sam Darnold, Wyoming’s Josh Allen, UCLA’s Josh Rosen and Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield.
If, however, the Broncos trade down from No. 5, you’ll know they’re sold on Keenum.
QB SAM BRADFORD to Arizona
Purely a temp.
The Cardinals reportedly will sign the 30-year-old to a oneyear contract for $20 million. It’ll be his fourth NFL team in nine years.
The Cards are slated to pick 15th overall — perhaps not high enough to select any of Darnold, Allen, Rosen or Mayfield. Unless they’re smitten with Louisville’s Lamar Jackson — the only other QB prospect likely to be taken in the first round — expect Arizona to try to trade up.
QB TEDDY BRIDGEWATER to N.Y.Jets
Looks like he’ll fight it out with Josh McCown to be the Jets’ temp QB until whichever rookie they draft No. 6 overall is ready to take over, or just as backup insurance.
This news broke Tuesday night, on ESPN, a couple hours after numerous reports said McCown will return to the Jets on a one-year, $10-million deal. Bridgewater’s deal, too, is for just one year.
FREE AGENT QBS
The above moves leave these as the probable next best freeagent-to-be options at QB: A.J. McCarron (Cincinnati) Colin Kaepernick (San Francisco)
Matt Moore (Miami) Derek Anderson (Carolina) Geno Smith (New York Giants)
There are many more even less appealing options after them, including Chad Henne (Jacksonville), Ryan Mallett (Baltimore), EJ Manuel (Oakland) and Matt Cassel (Tennessee).
So, which other clubs still need a veteran QB, at least as a temp starter or experienced backup to a raw rookie? Certainly the Buffalo Bills, and maybe the Miami Dolphins.
Which veteran
might the Bills sign? Not likely McCarron, who barely played behind Andy Dalton in four years in Cincinnati. More likely the Bills would choose a more grizzled backup, such as Moore, Anderson or Smith. Because Anderson backed up Cam Newton in Carolina, and the Bills hierarchy love them their ex-Panthers, maybe he’s the guy they’ll sign.
Teams needing a new veteran backup behind an entrenched starter – whether or not they opt to draft a raw, Day 2 or 3 rookie — include the Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals, Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars.
TE JIMMY GRAHAM to Green Bay
New GM Brian Gutekunst apparently wants the league to know his Green Bay Packers are going to be selectively aggressive in free agency. He agreed to terms Tuesday with former superstar New Orleans and Seattle tight end Jimmy Graham on a reported threeyear deal.
The 31-year-old’s production cratered in Seattle, where he seemed improperly used. That’s not likely to be an issue in Green Bay.
Undoubtedly to help make room for whatever gargantuan contract Graham will get, the Packers cut nine-year wide receiver Jordy Nelson. Ouch.
Nelson bounced back from a blown ACL in 2015 with 14 TDs in 2016, second most of his career. But in 15 starts last year he caught just 53 passes for 482 yards and six scores. The ginormous asterisk? Rodgers missed most of the season while incompetent backup Brett Hundley quarterbacked.
WR SAMMY WATKINS to Kansas City
His third NFL team before age 26. That should tell you something.
The top-five pick from 2014 spent three injury-marred, under-performing seasons in Buffalo before being traded to the Los Angeles Rams last August. He was immediately proclaimed Jared Goff’s No. 1 pass target, but effectively became only L.A.’s fourth-most productive receiver, after RB Todd Gurley, rookie Cooper Kupp and his ex-Bills teammate Robert Woods.
Watkins and the Chiefs reportedly have agreed to a $48-million, three-year deal with $30 million guaranteed. So he’s got his big money. Can he earn it? Big question. I’m skeptical.
WR ALLEN ROBINSON to Chicago
First of two great gets by the Bears to help second-year QB Mitchell Trubisky. Robinson played at a Pro Bowl level two years ago in Jacksonville, before deflating along with the rest of the Jags offence in 2016. He missed all of last season with a torn ACL.
Should he be able to return to form in new head coach and chief offensive strategist Matt Nagy’s new Bears attack, Robinson will be worth the $42 million over three years (with $25 million guaranteed) he’ll reportedly be paid.
RB JONATHAN STEWART to New York Giants.
Cut by Carolina, Stewart found a good new home. He’ll help a terrible rushing attack.
RB ISAIAH CROWELL to New York Jets
Under-rated with the Cleveland Browns, amid all those losses, he won’t be so overlooked if he performs as well in the Big Apple on a reported three-year deal.
CB MALCOLM BUTLER to Tennessee
The former Super Bowl heroand-zero with New England reportedly will sign with the Titans, for a huge deal: $61 million over five years, with $30 million guaranteed. Not a bad bounce-back for whatever reason Patriots head coach Bill Belichick kept him out of the Super Bowl last month.
WR PAUL RICHARDSON to Washington
Seattle loses an underappreciated go-to receiver for Russell Wilson. Alex Smith, whose arrival in a trade from the Chiefs expected to go through on Wednesday, sure can use such a reliable downfield target.
Behind top target Doug Baldwin, Richardson caught 44 passes for 703 yards and six TDs in ’17. He’ll reportedly earn $40 million over five years with $20 million guaranteed.
WRS DANNY AMENDOLA AND ALBERT WILSON to Miami
Amendola, a reliable big-play pass-catcher of Tom Brady’s since 2013, is expected to sign with the Dolphins, one of three AFC East rivals of the New England Patriots.
Amendola is set to earn $12 million over two years, with $8.25 million in reported guarantees. He’s 32. That’s not a bad deal.
Wilson’s is a less impactful addition to the Dolphins. A poor man’s Jarvis Landry, basically. Although $24 million over three years is hardly the stuff of poor men.
EXTRA POINTS
The first two offensive linemen to line up new deals: G Andrew Norwell (to Jacksonville from Carolina for five years, $66.5 million) and C/G Weston Richburg (to San Francisco from New York Giants, for three years, $24 million) … Good news for Buffalo Bills fans worried about their team’s defensive line. Tackle Kyle Williams announced his return for a 13th season, and dependable ex-Carolina starter Star Lotulelei reportedly has agreed to terms … Philly further bolstered its NFL-best DL two-deep by agreeing to terms with NT Haloti Ngota for one year … A big loss for Dallas, a wise pickup for the Chiefs: LB Anthony Hitchens, an improving MLB who’s stellar in pass coverage, for $9 million per year in … New head coach Matt Patricia is quickly putting his stamp on the Detroit Lions defence, by upgrading his linebacker corps with Devon Kennard from the New York Giants for $18.75 million over three years, as well as Christian Jones from Chicago for $7.75 million over two years … Chicago will add PK Cody Parkey, who made 21-of-23 field goals last season with the Dolphins … Jacksonville re-signed WR Marqise Lee … Tuesday cuts: Baltimore RB Danny Woodhead, Arizona RB Adrian Peterson, Philadelphia TE Brent Celek.