First 48 hours of free agency transformed 15 NFL teams
Coming off a lopsided loss in Super Bowl XLVIII, GM John Elway made a clear commitment to upgrading the AFC champs' defense, signing ex-Dallas Cowboys DE DeMarcus Ware (three years, $30 million, $20 million in guarantees), ex-Cleveland Browns S T.J. Ward (four years, $22.5M, $13.5M guaranteed) and ex-New England Patriots CB Aqib Talib (six years, $57M, $26M guaranteed, per ESPN). The Broncos also lost two starters - WR Eric Decker (five years, $36.25M, $15M guaranteed to the New York Jets) and G Zane Beadles (five years, $30M, $12.5M guaranteed to the Jacksonville Jaguars) - with the likes of DE Shaun Phillips, DE Robert Ayers, CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and RB Knowshon Moreno still unsigned. But a team that set offensive records in 2013 sure looks more dangerous now on the other side of the ball.
VIDEO: Broncos get quite a haul
New England PatriotsIt was just one move but signing CB Darrelle Revis (one year, $12M guaranteed, plus a $20M option for 2015) hours after his release from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was a coup, especially after Talib departed. Next task: re-sign WR Julian Edelman or find a superior alternative. They also must figure out what to do with NT Vince Wilfork, who has asked for his release according to NFL Network.
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Cutting Revis and LT Donald Penn cleared more than $23 million in cap space to fuel an aggressive attack on the market. They replaced those two with ex-Tennessee Titans CB Alterraun Verner (four years, $25.5M, $14M guaranteed) and ex-Cincinnati Bengals OT Anthony Collins (five years, $30M, $15M guaranteed per ESPN). They also made a big commitment to ex-Bengals DE Michael Johnson (five years, $43.75M, $23M guaranteed) and signed ex-Seattle Seahawks DT Clinton McDonald (four years, $12M, $4.75M guaranteed), ex-New York Giants TE Brandon Myers (two years, $4.25M, $2M guaranteed) and ex-Chicago Bears QB Josh McCown (two years, $10M, $4.75M guaranteed), who was anointed the starter by new coach Lovie Smith.
PHOTOS: Old NFL faces in new places Atlanta Falcons
Trading a fifth-round pick to the New Orleans Saints for a proven difference-maker like RB Darren Sproles looks like a steal, if he can stay healthy. They also addressed their issues in the secondary, signing ex-Saints S Malcolm Jenkins (three years, $15.5M, $8.5M guaranteed) and ex-Miami Dolphins CB Nolan Carroll (two years, $3.65M, $750K guaranteed).
Jacksonville Jaguars
Despite a tight salary-cap situation that forced numerous cuts in recent weeks, they went all-in on ex-Buffalo Bills FS Jairus Byrd (six years, $54M, $26.3M guaranteed), who figures to team with Kenny Vaccaro as one of the NFL's best safety tandems.
Seattle Seahawks
They wanted to get tougher up front on defense, which is why they paid the price for ex-Dolphins NT Paul Soliai (five years, $32M, $14M guaranteed) and ex-Kansas City Chiefs DE Tyson Jackson (five years, $25M, $11M guaranteed) in addition to re-signing DT Jonathan Babineaux (three years, $9M, $4M guaranteed). They also got offensive line help with ex-Chiefs G Jon Asamoah (five years, $22.5M, $8M guaranteed).
Carolina Panthers
Gus Bradley is rebuilding his old Seahawks defense one spare part at a time, signing DE Red Bryant (four years, $19M, $5.225M guaranteed) the day before free agency began and adding DE Chris Clemons (four years, $17.5M, $5.475M guaranteed) soon after Seattle cut him. DE Jason Babin re-signed Thursday, three days after voiding his old deal. The Jaguars also made a major commitment to Beadles and signed several others, including ex-Pittsburgh Steelers DE Ziggy Hood (five years, $16M, $5.5M guaranteed), ex-Minnesota Vikings RB Toby Gerhart (three years, $10.5M, $4.5M guaranteed) and ex-Bucs LB Dekoda Watson (three years, $6.25M, $1.5M guaranteed).
Chicago Bears
The Super Bowl champs' core is intact for another title run. But they lost some depth up front with the releases of Bryant and Clemons and at receiver with the release of Sidney Rice and departure of WR Golden Tate (five years, $31M, $13.25M guaranteed with the Detroit Lions), who also was a threat on punt returns. Also gone are RT Breno Giacomini (to the Jets) and McDonald.
WR Steve Smith isn't what he once was, but his release marked the end of an era. Also gone is S Mike Mitchell (five years, $25M, $5.25M guaranteed with the Steelers).
Cleveland Browns
They're overhauling a defensive line that became a weakness last season, starting with the release of DE Julius Peppers and investment in ex-Oakland Raiders DE Lamarr Houston (five years, $35M, $14.9M guaranteed). They also brought in ex-Lions DE Willie Young on a value deal (three years, $9M, $3.95M guaranteed) and signed ex-Green Bay Packers S M.D. Jennings for 2014.
Kansas City Chiefs
They missed out on Revis but brought in someone for him to cover twice a year: Decker, who instantly becomes their top receiving threat after the release of WR Santonio Holmes. Giacomini replaces departed Austin Howard at right tackle.
Miami Dolphins
Exchanging Ward for a higher-priced alternative in ex-San Francisco 49ers S Donte Whitner (four years, $28M, $13M guaranteed) will be scrutinized in the years to come. So will the decision to cut ILB D'Qwell Jackson last week and replace him with ex-Arizona Cardinals ILB Karlos Dansby (four years, $24M, $12M guaranteed), who played well last season but isn't getting younger at age 32. An offer sheet to restricted free agent WR Andrew Hawkins (four years, $13.6M, per NFL Network) could provide a useful piece on offense if the Bengals don't match.
Oakland Raiders
They let go of LT Branden Albert (five years, $47M, $26M guaranteed with the Dolphins), who was their franchise player a year ago, meaning last year's No. 1 pick, Eric Fisher, most likely is headed for QB Alex Smith's blind side. They also lost two guards with starting experience, Asamoah and Geoff Schwartz (to the New York Giants), as well as versatile WR/PR Dexter McCluster (three years, $9M, $7.35M guaranteed with the Tennessee Titans). Their two signings were economical: ex-Indianapolis Colts G Jeff Linkenbach (one year, $900K, $250K guaranteed) in addition to ex-Houston Texans LB Joe Mays (two years, $6M, $3M guaranteed), who spent time with Andy Reid in Philadelphia.
Adding Albert was a solid first step to shoring up one of the NFL's worst offensive lines. They also made a low-risk, potentially high-reward acquisition of ex-Lions S Louis Delmas (one year, $2.25M, $1M guaranteed) just before free agency. One big questions is whether new NT Earl Mitchell (four years, $16M, $8M guaranteed) can fill Soliai's shoes.
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They entered free agency with nearly $60M in cap space and promptly let two key players go. Houston went to Chicago, and LT Jared Veldheer (five years, $35M, $17M guaranteed) went to Arizona - which wouldn't be as big a deal if replacement Rodger Saffold hadn't flunked his physical, sending him back to the St. Louis Rams. RB Rashad Jennings left for the Giants, too. The Raiders did sign another offensive lineman, ex-Jet Howard (five years, $30M, $11.8M guaranteed), and ex-Giants DE Justin Tuck (two years, $11M, per ESPN). But a team that needed a lot of help will need more than that.
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