2014 NFL Free Agency Thread

+0.5: Common sense shines through
Karlos Dansby (LB) to Browns: 4-year, $24m with $14m guaranteed
While Dansby proclaimed on the radio this morning that he was going to be the best linebacker in the league, period, the truth is he’s a little way short of that while still being a fine player. The Browns definitely upgraded at the position with the swapping out of D’Qwell Jackson and the import of Dansby. Despite his age he earned a +13.3 grade from PFF last year thanks to some fine coverage work that saw him end up with four interceptions and 10 PDs.

Donte Whitner (S) to Browns: 4-year, $28m with $13m guaranteed
A lot of people have knocked this move, seemingly forgetting that Whitner reinvented himself to a degree last year. Many look at his designation as a strong safety and assume all he did was play in the box. But with just 21. 4% of his run defense snaps here he’s a far more versatile talent and he really upped his game in coverage after his disastrous 2012. Only 28 he’s in the prime of his career and he’ll add something to that Browns defense.

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+1.0: That should work out very nicely!
T.J. Ward (S) to Broncos: 4-year, $23m with $14m guaranteed

We did caution against Ward getting top tier safety money. As well as he graded out a lot of that owed to how the Browns used him; he’s a lot better closer to the line of scrimmage than he was on his heels. So congrats to the Broncos for finding his true value in a scheme that will get the best out of him without leaving him exposed. He’s a fantastic in the box safety (no defender scored higher in our defense grades) who has a real knack for finding the ball carrier.

-0.5: Did you really need to make that move?
D’Qwell Jackson (LB) to Colts: 4-year, $22m with $11m guaranteed

At his peak Jackson was one of the best inside linebackers in the game. His great instincts saw him flow to the ball and make plays. But age and injury have caught up to him to a degree, while playing in a 3-4 system has often times left him struggling to get off blockers at the second level. That is what makes this a negative move with Jackson accumulating a -20.9 run defense grade over the past two years. His saving grace? His work in coverage.

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D-WAIT3 said:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>If teams want to trade for Darrelle Revis, then convert his $16M salary into a bonus, the cap number would be $5.6M this year.</p>&mdash; Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/statuses/443768858080731139">March 12, 2014</a></blockquote>
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bigfoot5415 said:

So would we pay his bonus in full prior to season?

Im a little confused, if his cap hold is only 5.6, why are more teams not interested? Also does that count for every year.

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D-WAIT3 said:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>If teams want to trade for Darrelle Revis, then convert his $16M salary into a bonus, the cap number would be $5.6M this year.</p>— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/statuses/443768858080731139">March 12, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Frank Stallone said:

That's less than I figure or realized... Still feel like they may pull the trigger. Who knows.

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AZ_ said:

The Revis stuff seems like a 'moo' point.

If he doesn't want to agree to a restructure, I doubt a team would make the leap in trading for him. Dude is a businessman, he wants a wide open market with little elite talent at DB left.

He'll get PAID.

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AZ_ said:

The Revis stuff seems like a 'moo' point.

If he doesn't want to agree to a restructure, I doubt a team would make the leap in trading for him. Dude is a businessman, he wants a wide open market with little elite talent at DB left.

He'll get PAID.

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