The first wave of NFL free agency in review
Let's hand out a few superlatives.
Some around the league might be underwhelmed by this year’s crop of free agents, but I’m grateful that they’ve given us plenty to discuss just days into the new league year.
While most of the biggest moves have already happened, we’re still waiting on a couple of others. Like, for instance, whether the Jets and Packers can pull off the Aaron Rodgers trade. And how much media coverage Rodgers can court while insisting that he hates it.
For all intents and purposes, though, the first wave of free agency is over. I don’t particularly like to hand out grades or shame certain teams for “overpaying” for a player1 (get that money, king!).
But I do enjoy handing out superlatives, so I picked out several trades, signings, and releases that most stood out to me.
The saddest forever goodbye (not really): Mike White leaves the Jets for the Dolphins
Mike White became a bit of a cult hero for the Jets. After spending the 2020 season going back and forth between the practice squad and active roster, White made his first NFL start on Halloween in 2021. It was a nightmare game … for the Bengals. White’s record-setting performance led the Jets to an upset win over the eventual Super Bowl runners-up.
The Jets switched back to White this past season when they could no longer tolerate Zach Wilson’s struggles. He played well in a double-digit win over the Bears and had the backing of his teammates. However, due in part to turnovers and due in part to injuries that he tried to play through, White couldn’t reach that level again.
Despite that, White maintained his popularity with the Jets fanbase, which made it difficult when the free agent quarterback signed with an AFC East rival. So much so that at least one account unintentionally made it seem like White had passed away:
Thankfully, White is OK and apparently fulfilled a lifelong dream by joining the Dolphins. He’ll be the backup to another young quarterback, and based on the team’s actions with Tua Tagovailoa, White might actually be allowed to play through injuries in Miami.
The saddest almost goodbye: Darius Slay stays with the Eagles after all
On the first day of the new league year, NFL reporters revealed that the Eagles were going to release Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay. Based on his own tweets, Slay confirmed that those reports were accurate.
While Lions fans were dreaming of a reunion with Slay, the Eagles were on the precipice of losing one of the biggest voices in the locker room and someone who still played like a top-10 corner in the league.
Then, suddenly, things changed and Slay was expected to return to Philadelphia, as he once again corroborated:
The next day, Slay agreed to a new extension and became one of several vets, such as Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, Jason Kelce, and James Bradberry, trying to run it back with the Eagles.
The actual saddest goodbye: Ezekiel Elliott and the Cowboys part ways
Though it didn’t come as a surprise, Ezekiel Elliott’s release marked the end of an era in Dallas. It was a bitter pill to swallow for his quarterback and BFF, Dak Prescott. Even Jerry Jones was pretty broken up about it. But his contract was too much of an albatross, as tends to happen with running backs these days.
In 2022, Zeke became the third Cowboys RB, along with Hall of Famers Emmitt Smith and Tony Dorsett, to total 10,000 yards from scrimmage. He finished his career with the franchise ranking No. 3 all-time in rushing yards and touchdowns, after Smith and Dorsett. And like Smith and Dorsett, Elliott’s time with Dallas came to an unceremonious end.
After leading the NFL in rushing yards per game in his first three seasons, Elliott’s role with the offense took a hit with the emergence of Tony Pollard. This past season, Zeke recorded a career low in carries (231), rushing yards (876), yards/carry (3.8), receptions (17), and receiving yards (92). He also happened to be playing hurt for most of the season, despite missing only two games:
At his peak, Elliott was the best running back in the NFL. Those days are gone, but he can still help out a new team, especially at the goal line and as a blocker (his last play as a Cowboy notwithstanding).
The most shameless signing: The Jets add Allen Lazard
Earlier this week, it was reported that Aaron Rodgers had some, let’s be nice and say “suggestions,” for which old/injured receivers the Jets could sign. Soon after, the Jets opted for the youngest and least injured of the bunch: Allen Lazard.
And wouldn’t you know it, but one day later, Rodgers told Pat McAfee — who is a member of the media, even though Rodgers loathes the media — that he wanted to be traded to the Jets.
On the one hand, the Jets did need another wide receiver. Garrett Wilson is a star, and Elijah Moore and Denzel Mims are still young enough to turn things around, but they are light on reliable targets.
On the other hand, it is embarrassing how thirsty NY has been in its pursuit of Rodgers. I mean, the Jets hired Nathaniel Hackett as their offensive coordinator! But I suppose when you’re the Jets, you’re desperate enough to willingly debase yourself for a former MVP quarterback.
The most win-win signing: Orlando Brown Jr. joins the Bengals
In 2021, the Bengals’ greatest weakness was their offensive line, which allowed Joe Burrow to be sacked a league-high 51 times during the regular season and 19 times in the postseason (seven of which came in the Super Bowl). So they did what any franchise should do for its quarterback and bolstered Burrow’s protection in the offseason.
Unfortunately, injuries to his linemen gave Burrow another depleted unit heading into this postseason.
So the Bengals did what any franchise should do for its quarterback and bolstered Burrow’s protection with the best offensive lineman on the free agent market! (And per both Bleacher Report and ESPN, the best free agent period.)
Orlando Brown Jr. can and has played both right and left tackle, but he clearly prefers the latter, to keep a promise he once made his father:
Some teams in the NFL might see him as a RT, but not Cincinnati, where he can protect Burrow’s blind side just as he did for Patrick Mahomes for the past two seasons. Good news for Burrow: During this year’s playoffs, Brown didn’t surrender a single sack.
The best second-chance trade: Jonnu Smith reunites with Arthur Smith in Atlanta
In 2020, tight end Jonnu Smith was one of the Titans’ top weapons in the passing game. He trailed only A.J. Brown in receiving touchdowns with eight.
That following offseason — right after Tom Brady and the Bucs won a Super Bowl — the Patriots uncharacteristically went off in free agency. They not only nabbed Smith, but they also got another highly rated tight end, Hunter Henry.
Most of those signings didn’t work out so well for New England, though Henry was more productive (and earned more snaps) than Smith, who finished his Patriots career with only one touchdown.
The Pats dealt the tight end to Atlanta, where he’ll be paired up again with a coach who knows how to utilize him better: his former Titans offensive coordinator, Arthur Smith. It was a low-risk move for the Falcons that could pay dividends if Jonnu Smith can bounce back — and if Smith’s presence helps turn Kyle Pitts loose.
The least romantic trade: The Raiders send newlywed Darren Waller to the Giants
Earlier this month, Darren Waller and Kelsey Plum had what I can only presume was the most sober and most athletic wedding in Las Vegas history.
Ten days later, Josh McDaniels shipped Waller off to the Giants, while Plum is still a member of the Aces. As RG3 said:
I don’t doubt that McDaniels has zero romantic bones in his body, but that wedding is what could have spurred on the trade in the first place. McDaniels spilled the beans about the Waller-Plum wedding — which he wasn’t invited to — to the media at the NFL Combine. That reportedly angered Waller.
The good news for Waller is that Brian Daboll will know how to properly use him in New York. As long as Waller can stay healthy, he should be one of Daniel Jones’ favorite targets in 2023.
And maybe there’s someone in the New York Liberty front office who loves love so much that Plum will get traded there at some point this year.
The most conspiratorial signing: Jakobi Meyers heads back to Vegas
The Raiders only won one of their final five games in 2022. That was in part thanks to Jakobi Meyers. The then-Patriots receiver made the most boneheaded/hilarious play of the season, leading to Chandler Jones bowling over Mac Jones and scoring a game-winning touchdown:
It was an unusual mistake for Meyers, who went from an undrafted free agent to the Pats’ leading receiver in each of the last three years. So unusual that maybe, just maybe, he threw the game on purpose just so that the Raiders could sign him once he hit free agency a couple months later?
Well, in a word, no. There are enough crazy conspiracy theories out there, and I don’t want to encourage any more. The truth is I just wanted another excuse to show the “pitchy pitchy whoops” play.
Meyers gave several valid reasons why he ended up in Vegas, including a chance to play for Josh McDaniels again.
It also helps that the Raiders supposedly offered Meyers more than the Patriots were willing to pay him — but not JuJu Smith-Schuster, apparently.
At his introductory presser, one reporter asked about the lateral-gone-wrong, and Meyers was a good sport about it and gave a thoughtful answer about what he learned from the experience:
If he’s not already a favorite in Las Vegas, he should be.
The most “the rich get richer” signing: Javon Hargrave goes to the 49ers
The 49ers already boasted the NFL’s best defense and the NFL’s best defensive player last season. Now they added the consensus best defensive free agent to the mix? Seems unfair!
And yet, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave fills a major void for the Niners, who lacked a strong interior presence on their DL. They got an up-close look at Hargrave in January, when he bullied the San Francisco OL in the NFC Championship Game:
Yeah, it’s no surprise that they targeted him in free agency.
In 2022, Nick Bosa registered an NFL-high 18.5 sacks, or more than three times as many as any other 49er. That should change with the addition of Hargrave, who put up 11 sacks, more than another other interior lineman not named Chris Jones.
With Bosa on the outside and Hargrave on the inside, good luck to the offensive linemen who will have to face San Francisco’s defense this coming season.
Remember last year when everyone was crapping all over the Jags for giving Christian Kirk a four-year, $72 million deal? That turned out totally fine!