David J. Phillip/AP
Brock Osweiler got a handsome new contract with the Houston Texans.
The NFL’s free agency period is always an exciting time, and this year was no different.
When the new league year opened up, teams scrambled for the best available stars, throwing out tons of money for the best pass-rushers, while teams for the best offensive players.
For some teams, like the Houston Texans and New York Giants, it was undoubtedly a successful period. For other teams, like the Cleveland Browns, or some players, like the still-unsigned Ryan Fitzpatrick, it hasn’t been so fun.
Check out the winners and losers below.
WINNER: Olivier Vernon
Old team: Miami Dolphins
New team: New York Giants
One thing to know: Vernon may be the biggest winner of the NFL free agency period. Vernon was given the transition tag for $12.7 million before the Dolphins pulled it off the table. As the best pass-rusher available, the Giants threw him a five-year, $85 million deal with $40 million guaranteed.
WINNER: New York Giants & Ben McAdoo
Players added: Olivier Vernon, Janoris Jenkins, Damon Harrison
Players lost: Rueben Randle, Prince Amukamara
One thing to know: The Giants spent a potential $103 million to bring in Vernon, Jenkins, and Harrison to boost their defense while re-signing Jason Pierre-Paul. After quiet free agencies under Tom Coughlin, first-year coach Ben McAdoo has a bolstered roster work with.
WINNER: Brock Osweiler
Old team: Denver Broncos
New team: Houston Texans
One thing to know: Osweiler may be the NFL’s second-biggest winner of the offseason. After Peyton Manning retired, Osweiler became the hottest free agent quarterback. After a brief bidding war between the Texans and Broncos, Osweiler moved to Houston for four years, $72 million.
WINNER: Houston Texans
Players added: Brock Osweiler, Lamar Miller
Players lost: Arian Foster, Garrett Graham, Rahim Moore, Brandon Brooks, Nate Washington
One thing to know: In nabbing Osweiler and Miller, a 24-year-old running back, the Texans made a clear push to improve their offense with what’s already a sturdy defense. This team is young, full of potential, and frankly, scary.
WINNER: Kirk Cousins
Old team: Washington Redskins
New team: Same team!
One thing to know: Cousins hasn’t gotten a long-term deal for his breakout season — yet. However, Cousins did get the franchise tag, worth nearly $20 million in base salary, giving him the highest base salary for the 2016 season. It’s quite a jump for a QB who was a backup last August.
WINNER: Mark Sanchez
Old team: Philadelphia Eagles
New team: Denver Broncos
One thing to know: Sanchez went from an out-of-favor backup in Philadelphia, to currently, the starting quarterback in Denver. The Broncos reportedly want to bring in another QB, who Sanchez will compete with, but the prospects aren’t great, and it seems Sanchez has a chance to helm Denver’s offense this season.
WINNER: Malik Jackson
Old team: Denver Broncos
New team: Jacksonville Jaguars
One thing to know: Jackson, arguably the Broncos’ third-best pass-rusher on their Super Bowl defense, got a monster, five-year, $90 million contract from the Jaguars. Afterward, he said the Broncos could have had him back for “less than nothing.”
WINNER: Jacksonville Jaguars
Players added: Malik Jackson, Chris Ivory, Prince Amukamara, Tashaun Gipson
Players lost: none
One thing to know: The Jaguars had money to spend, so they went out and spent it. Malik Jackson was their prize signing, with a whopping $90 million contract to head their pass rush. With a solid pass game already in place, this team could be a playoff contender if all goes right.
WINNER: Martellus Bennett
Old team: Chicago Bears
New team: New England Patriots
One thing to know: Bennett fell out of favor (and struggled with injuries) in Chicago last year under John Fox and Jay Cutler. Now, he’ll catch passes from Tom Brady, alongside Rob Gronkowski, under Bill Belichick.
WINNER: Oakland Raiders
Players added: Kelechi Osemele, Bruce Irvin, Sean Smith
Players lost: none
One thing to know: Already one of the most lethal pass attacks in the NFL, the Raiders ponied up to give Derek Carr protection in the pocket and to wreak havoc on opposing passers.
WINNER: Mohamed Sanu
Old team: Cincinnati Bengals
New team: Atlanta Falcons
One thing to know: In a shallow wide receiver free agent market, the 26-year-old deep threat who only had 394 yards in 2015 got a $35 million contract from the Atlanta Falcons.
WINNER: Mike Wallace
Old team: Minnesota Vikings
New team: Baltimore Ravens
One thing to know: Wallace suffered through a terrible, 39-catch, 472-yard season with the Vikings before getting released. He then signed with the Ravens for $11.5 million and openly rejoiced having a quarterback with a big arm to get him the ball easily.
WINNER: Von Miller
Old team: Denver Broncos
New team: Same team!
One thing to know: It hasn’t happened yet, as Miller got hit with the franchise tag, but he must be salivating at the money free agent pass-rushers have gotten this offseason — $90 million for Malik Jackson, $85 million for Olivier Vernon. As perhaps the NFL’s preeminent pass-rusher, when Miller gets his long-term deal, it will be a monster.
LOSER: Denver Broncos
Players added: Mark Sanchez, Russell Okung
Players lost: Peyton Manning, Brock Osweiler, Malik Jackson, Danny Trevathan, Evan Mathis, Owen Daniels
One thing to know: The Broncos have seen some of their best players flee Denver or get poached by other teams. They still have an elite group of wide receivers and a fearsome defense, but it hurts to lose so much of a championship squad.
LOSER: Ryan Fitzpatrick
Old team: New York Jets
New team: Unsigned
One thing to know: Fitzpatrick had a career year for the Jets last season. And nobody buys into it. The 33-year-old journeyman has had trouble getting a team to match his contract demands. He’ll end up on a team, surely, but it seems it won’t be for the price he wants.
LOSER: Tom Coughlin
One thing to know: Coughlin was fired from the Giants after 12 years as head coach, then watched the team splurge on the type of defense he hasn’t had in years.
LOSER: Cleveland Browns
Players added: Robert Griffin III, Rahim Moore
Players lost: Johnny Manziel, Alex Mack, Travis Benjamin, Tashaun Gipson, Mitchell Schwartz
One thing to know: The RGIII signing made noise, but the Browns lost many of their top free agents with little effort. A damning report said players treat the Browns like a college experience — four years and done. Their new executive said other teams made fun of him and the Browns to his face because they didn’t even know who he was.
LOSER: Miami Dolphins
Players added: Mario Williams
Players lost: Olivier Vernon, Lamar Miller, Rishard Matthews
One thing to know: The Dolphins gave up on Vernon for the 31-year-old Williams. They lost Miller, haven’t gotten a replacement at running back yet, and haven’t gotten Ryan Tannehill any more targets.
LOSER: Russell Okung
Old team: Seattle Seahawks
New team: Denver Broncos
One thing to know: Okung entered free agency without an agent. If everything goes right, he’ll have done well for himself, signing a five-year, $53 million contract with the Broncos. But very little of it is guaranteed, and the Broncos can cut him after Year 1 without paying him much. It’s a big gamble.
LOSER: Greg Hardy
Old team: Dallas Cowboys
New team: Unsigned
One thing to know: Hardy was cut from the Cowboys after a disastrous season off the field. Aside from the sickening details of his domestic violence incident, he was reportedly a negative influence on the Cowboys locker room. Will another team take a chance on him?
LOSER: Cincinnati Bengals
Players added: none
Players lost: Marvin Jones, Mohamed Sanu
One thing to know: The Bengals figure to be good again in 2016, but they’ll have work to do on offense. They lost Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu, their third and fourth receivers, respectively, leaving the job to A.J. Green and Tyler Eiffert with little backup help.
LOSER: Trevor Siemian
Old team: Denver Broncos
New team: Same team!
One thing to know: Not familiar with Siemian’s name? He’s currently the backup quarterback in Denver. The 250th pick in the 2015 draft, poor Siemian has been completely overlooked by the NFL world as everyone frets the Broncos’ lack of viable quarterback options. It doesn’t seem he got any starting consideration before the Broncos picked up Mark Sanchez.
Take a look at where the NFL’s next stars might land….
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