NFL Free Agency Update 2.0: The Thick of It

by Rick Valente

The chips are starting to fall as NFL free agency continues to roll on. The book has closed on the biggest prize, Mario Williams, as he signs a six-year deal at $50 million guaranteed to go to the Buffalo Bills. Also, Peyton Manning has officially ruled out the Miami Dolphins as a suitor, so it is looking like the Titans have a slight edge over the Broncos in this two-team race... but wait! The 49ers have emerged as a surprise third team in the race! Oh the drama. Also, the Patriots continue to make some minor moves that don't knock your socks off, but address some major needs on this team. As is tradition, let's kick things off with the hometown team:

Patriots Address Biggest Needs Early

If you go back and look at my March 8th article, The Patriots' Top Five Needs This Offseason, the top three needs on this team were safety, defensive end, and center. The Patriots have signed three starters so far in free agency: safety Steve Gregory, defensive end Jonathan Fanene, and re-signed center Dan Connolly. So while it may seem like the Patriots are staying quiet in free agency, they are actually doing a great job of filling holes on their roster.

Gregory, who I talked a bit about in my opening free agency post, was the starting strong safety for San Diego in 13 games last year, but is reported to be a better fit on the free safety side. This works out well for the Patriots because Patrick Chung is a better fit at strong safety. With the signing, the Patriots have two legitimate starting safeties, something they did not have last year, a major contributor to their Swiss cheese pass defense. Gregory's versatility was surely something that attracted the Patriots to him, as he can play both safety positions, contribute on special teams, and even play some nickleback.

Not that Nickleback.

Jonathan Fanene is another Jack-of-all-trades signing that the Pats have established themselves with for over a decade. He can play at defensive tackle or defensive end, and is a balanced player, as he is not just a pass-rushing or run-stuffing specialist. Fanene had 6.5 sacks last year while playing fewer than half of the defensive snaps for the Cincinnati Bengals. He will get much more playing time on the Patriots, so I am interested to see if Fanene rises to the challenge or fades under the pressure.

With Dan Connolly, a guy who has been with the team since 2007, the Patriots have a player who has already proven himself to the coaching staff. He stepped in admirably at guard during the Logan Mankins holdout of 2010 and played almost an entire season at center last year when Dan Koppen went down. The Patriots reward him for being their safety net by re-signing him, probably meaning the end of Koppen's run in New England.

Fanene brings beef the Pats' D-Line.

These were all favorable signings, but there are certainly more needs that the Patriots have to address. I think we are going to see Belichick search for a slot receiver as an insurance policy, because it wouldn't surprise me if Welker is gone after this season. You don't want to replace the most productive wide receiver in the NFL with someone who doesn't know your system, so preemptively signing another slot guy makes a lot of sense. I also would like to see the Patriots give a look to an outside wide receiver, but given the sky-high contracts that have been given to receivers in free agency, I would expect that positional need to be filled through the draft. Tommy Streeter from Miami should be available in the second round, and provides the size (6'5") and speed (4.40 40-yard dash) to fill that hole. Finally, the Patriots need to acquire a pass-rusher, hopefully even two of them. I would like to see them bring back Mark Anderson (who is on a visit to Miami today) or Andre Carter, and also try and make their one big splash of the offseason with the other pass-rushing spot. Whether it is signing  Kamerion Wimbley or drafting Melvin Ingram or Courtney Upshaw, even if that means (gasp!) trading up in the first round.

I like the way this offseason has started for this Patriots team. With these signings, hopefully a few more, and the infusion of talent the draft should bring, this Patriots team will be better than the 2011 version of the New England Patriots.

Super Mario Signs Super Contract With the Bills

I have to say that I absolutely did not see this coming. If I made a list ordering the NFL cities from most likely to sign Mario Williams to least likely, Buffalo would have been in the high 20's. That's why it is a shock to me that Williams flew out to Buffalo as soon as free agency started, and left a day later with $50 million guaranteed over six years. Nobody else even had a chance. Buffalo's defensive line is now the best in the league, even surpassing the New York Giants. That is pretty bad news for Tom Brady and A Miami Dolphins Quarterback to be Named Later, but it is REALLY bad news for Mark Sanchez and his rag-tag offensive line. It's such bad news that I put the word "really" in bold, capitals and italics. That's bad.

The Jets look to be headed in the wrong direction with their team, so right now, I definitely see Buffalo as the number one contenders to the reigning AFC East champions. Fitzpatrick is mediocre and overpaid, the rest of the offense is pretty good, but the defense is outstanding at worst. They are basically the 2009-2010 Jets all over again. I've got to say that with the Jets, Colts and Dolphins being collectively terrible last year, I truly missed the rivalry. Buffalo is a welcome challenge in my mind.

The Favre-Like Peyton Manning Melodrama

As we follow the planes, trains and automobiles that Peyton Manning is taking across the country you can't help but catch a whiff of Favre-ness. The drama is ripe right now, but it will soon rot once Manning goes to a Boys & Girls club in Mississippi and announces where he is taking his talents to in the neon glow of a vitamin water refrigerator.

Wait... that sounds familiar.

The most recent development is that Manning has already secretly met with the San Fransisco 49ers and took a physical after a workout with Harbaugh. I would love to see manning go to San Fransisco, and it really makes the most sense for a guy whose tires only have a few more years of tread. Chances are good that Manning won't win a Super Bowl with the Titans or Broncos, but chances are also good that manning will win a Super Bowl with the 49ers if he is healthy.

With that said, Super Bowls are secondary to Peyton Manning. More than anything, Manning wants to be in a city/market where he is comfortable and on a team where he is allowed to control the offense. He has more to gain but more to lose by going to San Fransisco. The stakes are much lower if he chooses the Broncos, and even lower than that if he goes to Tennessee, where I believe he will ultimately end up.

Quick Hits Around The NFL

- The Saints made another great signing in getting guard Ben Grubbs to replace Carl Nicks. He comes for $11.5 million cheaper over five years and really isn't that bad of a downgrade. I would say the Saints are having a good offseason, but that tiny issue of an infamous bounty scandal with looming record-breaking punishments really throws a wet blanket over things.

- Signing DeSean Jackson to a 5-year $51.1 million contract is a risk for the Eagles, but one that will pay off. Jackson let being in contract limbo affect his on-field performance and he will return to the old DeSean this season and beyond thanks to a little financial security.

Jackson will be back in 2012

- The Falcons re-signed John Abraham for three years, which is good news for Atlanta, but bad news for the Patriots, who could have used the veteran pass-rusher. With Harry Douglas already re-signed, if the Falcons can sign Curtis Lofton back to the team, they will be in a great position to succeed next year. That is, before head coach Mike Smith finds a way to ruin it.

- The Jaguars signed Laurent Robinson and Chad Henne who will at least bring some respectability to the Jacksonville passing game, and give Blain Gabbert a few years to learn how to play NFL football. Somewhere MJD's knees are smiling.

- The Redskins signed Cedric Griffin and Brandon Merriweather, immediately putting them into the "Loser" category for the offseason, even if they draft both Luck and RG3. Two terrible signings that don't bring a winning mentality to your locker room.

- The Cowboys grabbed Brandon Carr for $50.1 million over five years. It's a lot of money, but it's a passing league and it helps to be able to defend it.

- The Chiefs made a great move in getting Peyton Hillis for $3 million for one year. He is the perfect compliment to Jamaal Charles and I am certain he is going to have a great year with the Chiefs. I blame the Madden Curse for last year.

- The Chargers added Eddie Royal to their receiver mix. The additions of Meachem and Royal definitely soften the blow of losing Vincent Jackson.