Poll: Which Team Has Been The Biggest Winner In Free Agency?
With March drawing to a close and many of the game’s top free agents already inked to deals with their new teams, it’s time to take a look at the winners of free agency so far.
Entering the period, the focus was solely on Kirk Cousins and where the former Redskins signal-caller would sign and likely become the highest-paid player in the league. He expressed interest in wanting to win and followed through with his word, selecting the Vikings over a host of other suitors that included the Jets, Broncos and Cardinals. Landing a top quarterback on the open market is a rarity, which makes Minnesota easily one of the top beneficiaries of the early free-agent period. 
The team wasn’t done there, however, and added an impact defensive tackle in Sheldon Richardson to a defensive unit that was already arguably the best in the league. Coupling Richardson with Linval Joseph in the middle of the front four will make for one of the most impenetrable run defenses in the league. Minnesota also added Trevor Siemian to back up Cousins, re-signed kicker Kai Forbath and tabbed Kendall Wright to replace Jarius Wright, who the team released shortly after free agency opened.
Adding Cousins to an offense that already includes Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, Dalvin Cook and Kyle Rudolph, and slotting Richardson into the fray on the other side of the ball left the Vikings as one of the top Super Bowl favorites in 2018.
While the Vikings swung for the fences with a pair of big moves, no team has had a more active few weeks than the Rams. Just this week, the team added five-time Pro Bowl selection and 2010 Defensive Player of the Year Ndamukong Suh to a defensive front that already featured arguably the game’s most dominant defender in Aaron Donald. Needless to say, that pairing is sure to cause plenty of chaos for opposing offensive lines.
Despite losing Sammy Watkins to the Chiefs and trading Alec Ogletree to the Giants, the team did retain safety Lamarcus Joyner by placing the franchise tag on him. It also retained center John Sullivan to maintain some continuity up front on offense.
Where the Rams were the most active was not in signing players, but trading for them. In late February, the team traded for Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters and then later dealt for Broncos star cornerback Aqib Talib. The pairing, coupled with the Suh signing, gives the Rams a defense that is just as good on paper as the team’s high-powered offense.
The Browns entered the free-agent period with tons of cap space and they didn’t wait long to get to work. In one day, the team traded for Tyrod Taylor from the Bills, dealt DeShone Kizer to the Packers for Damarious Randall and used another trade to snatch up Jarvis Landry. All those moves were accomplished with the team still holding onto a majority of their stockpiled draft assets. The move of Taylor provided the team with a more than capable quarterback who can serve as a bridge to the signal-caller the team is expected to draft with either the No. 1 or No. 4 pick in the upcoming draft.
Though the team did lose Joe Thomas to retirement and a big contributor in Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland did also secure the services of Carlos Hyde to serve as the team’s workhorse. After addressing the offense in free agency, the team is set up to pursue top defensive talent in the draft after it nabs its quarterback of the future. 
The Bears made it a point to surround 2017 first-round pick Mitch Trubisky with plenty of weapons in his second season under center. They did just that by tabbing Allen Robinson, Super Bowl-hero Trey Burton and Taylor Gabriel, giving the team a steady group of pass catchers for new head coach Matt Nagy’s dynamic offense. On defense, it retained the services of breakout cornerback Kyle Fuller, who the team had to match an offer for from the Packers.
One under-the-radar signing was the deal to bring in veteran quarterback Chase Daniel. A longtime backup in New Orleans, Kansas City and Philadelphia, the former Missouri gunslinger should help Trubisky in the film room while also serving as a capable fill-in if need be.
The Buccaneers invested heavily in their offense early in free agency, re-signing wide receiver Mike Evans and tight end Cameron Brate to long-term deals. Where they made the biggest splash, however, was the signing of center Ryan Jensen from the Ravens. After just one season at the position, Jensen signed the largest deal for a center in NFL history, a four-year deal for $42MM with $22M in guaranteed money.
Tampa Bay didn’t ignore the defense, however, bringing in the likes of Jason Pierre-Paul in a trade and signing Vinny Curry. If things fall right, the Buccaneers could even add the top defensive end in the draft in Bradley Chubb, should a run on quarterbacks happen early in the first round.
Among the other teams with notable additions include: The Texans (Tyrann Mathieu), 49ers (Richard Sherman), Raiders (Jordy Nelson), Jaguars (Andrew Norwell) and Giants (Nate Solder).
So who has had the best offseason so far? Is it a team that made a flurry of moves or one who made one notable addition? Take PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.
49ers Took Different Approach In Free Agency This Offseason
With a full year under their belt, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch helped devise a new strategy for the team’s free-agent approach.
Rather than list the top five players in their opinion at each position they were looking to address, then go down the list until agreeing to terms with a player, they identified specific players of interest they believed were fits. This offseason, that included center Weston Richburg and running back Jerick McKinnon, who were both signed by the 49ers.
“It started with the foundation of John and Kyle being on the same page on how we want to build our team and this is ultimately where we want to get to, and we want to get to sustainable success,” 49ers CEO Jed York said, via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.
Of course, the 49ers’ most notable move of the offseason came in the form of a three-year deal for cornerback Richard Sherman. The team officially introduced Sherman on Thursday.
Raiders Sign CB Leon Hall
The Raiders have signed veteran cornerback Leon Hall. Agent Doug Hendrickson announced the agreement on Twitter and the team confirmed the news moments later via press release. 
The deal means that Hall will be staying put in the Bay Area after playing for the 49ers in 2017. Hall is 33 years old and will turn 34 in December, but new coach Jon Gruden has shown a predilection for signing older players this offseason. Previously this month, the Raiders signed aging vets such as wide receiver Jordy Nelson, running back Doug Martin, and safety Reggie Nelson.
The Raiders have shaken up the secondary in recent weeks as Sean Smith, David Amerson, and T.J. Carrie are out and free agents Rashaan Melvin and Shareece Wright are in to join 2017 first-round pick Gareon Conley at cornerback. Conley and Melvin project to start on the outside while Hall could factor in as a nickel back.
Hall spent the bulk of his career with the Bengals, but has bounced around since 2016. Last year, in nine games, Hall played on 34% of SF’s defensive snaps and 20% of the club’s special teams snaps. He amassed 15 tackles and one pass defensed.
Latest On 49ers, Reuben Foster
While speaking at the NFL owners meetings, 49ers CEO Jed York seemed to indicate that linebacker Reuben Foster‘s spot on the team was safe following a pair of offseason arrests. But York also suggested that Foster is on thin ice with the organization.
“From my conversations with John (Lynch) and Kyle (Shanahan), I know Reuben is very cognizant of where his position is right now,” York said, via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. “And his time with the 49ers could potentially be over if he continues to do things outside of the team that aren’t what we want him to be a part of.”
There is still a decision to be made as to whether Foster will face criminal charges from the Santa Clara County District Attorney stemming from his arrest on suspicion of domestic violence in February.
“We have to wait until that happens but that will obviously be something that we get together and discuss whatever comes down when those issues come up and figure out where we move from there,” York continued.
Foster was also arrested in January in Alabama for possession of marijuana.
“We’d love Reuben to be on this team,” York said Wednesday, per Branch. “And we’d love him to participate for us, but if he’s not doing things off the field that allow us to be able to rely on him — or he’s doing something that we’re not comfortable with off the field and it’s proven that’s what’s going on — I think the guys have said then you’re just going to have to move on.”
Foster had a productive rookie season for San Francisco after being selected with the No. 31 overall pick in the 2017 draft out of Alabama. He started 10 games, collecting 59 tackles, and Pro Football Focus graded him as the top rookie linebacker in the NFL.
CB Delvin Breaux To Visit With Packers And 49ers
The Packers and 49ers are set to host Saints free-agent cornerback Delvin Breaux for visits, according to Joel A. Erickson of The Advocate (on Twitter). The Saints had the option of extending Breaux a tender as a restricted free agent but elected not to. Erickson also reported (on Twitter) that the New Orleans native and LSU alum wishes to stay at “home.” 
Breaux has already had visits with the Patriots and Broncos. The 28-year-old former CFL standout did not play last season after suffering a setback in his return from a broken fibula in 2016 that limited him to just six games.
The Saints signed Breaux from the CFL prior to the 2015 season and he graded out as a high-end starter in his first year in New Orleans, per Pro Football Focus metrics, starting all 16 games and tallying three interceptions. But he’s failed to recapture the momentum he built in his rookie year.
Reports had indicated that Breaux was close to a deal with the Broncos and was likely to sign with the team if he passed a physical before leaving the visit without a deal. The news of upcoming meetings with the 49ers and Packers points to Denver and New England likely moving on.
The Packers have brought back Tramon Williams but could still stand to add depth at cornerback after trading Damarious Randall to the Browns. The 49ers have already added a big-time cornerback this offseason in Richard Sherman and have Ahkello Witherspoon currently projected to start opposite of the former Seahawks standout.
Contract Details: Burnett, Bodine, Williams
Let’s take a look at the most recent new contracts around the NFL:
AFC
- Morgan Burnett, S (Steelers): Three years, $14.35MM. $4.25MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle).
- Kyle Williams, DT (Bills): One year, $5.5MM. $4.5MM guaranteed. $2.25MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Mike Rodak of ESPN.com).
- Russell Bodine, C (Bills): Two years, $5MM. $2.15MM guaranteed. $1.15MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Rodak).
- Matthew Slater, ST (Patriots): Two years, $5.2MM. $1MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe).
- Clinton McDonald DT (Broncos) Two years, $7MM. $1MM roster bonus. $3MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Mike Klis of 9News).
NFC
- Tramon Williams, CB (Packers): Two years, ~$10MM (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com).
- Alex Okafor, DE (Saints): Two years, $6.787MM. $1.5MM guaranteed. $1.5MM signing bonus (link via Nick Underhill of the Advocate).
- Jonathan Cooper, G (49ers): One year, $4.95MM. $4MM guaranteed. $2MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Tom Pelissero of NFL.com).
- Sylvester Williams, DT (Lions): One year, $3.5MM. $3.4MM guaranteed. $1.5MM available via playtime incentives (Twitter links via Pelissero and Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com).
- Luke Willson, TE (Lions): One year, $2.5MM. $1.4MM guaranteed. $900K signing bonus (Twitter link via Justin Rogers of the Detroit News).
- Kai Forbath, K (Vikings): One year, $790,000 base salary (Twitter link via Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press)
Latest On 49ers S Eric Reid
So far, there has been no known interest in Eric Reid, despite the fact that he is among the most talented safeties available in this year’s free agent crop. Reid has speculated that the lack of buzz has been due to his kneeling during the national anthem in the past, but he indicated on Thursday that he will no longer participate in anthem protests. 
[RELATED: 49ers Meet With CB Ladarius Gunter]
“From the beginning, Colin [Kaepernick] has been flexible,” Reid said (via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area). “He started by sitting. He changed it up. We decided to kneel. And we understand that you got to change with the times. So I’m not saying I’m going to stop being active, because I won’t. I’m just going to consider different ways to be active, different ways to bring awareness to the issues of this country to improve on. I don’t think it’ll be in the form of protesting during the anthem. And I said ‘during’ because it’s crazy to me that the narrative got changed to we were protesting the anthem, because that wasn’t the case. But I think we’re going to take a different approach to how to be active.”
Reid’s participation in anthem protests are likely one reason for his continued unemployment, but it has also been a slow moving market for safeties in general. It took Tyrann Mathieu a little while to find his deal after being released by Arizona and other notables such as Kenny Vaccaro and Tre Boston continue to look for work. We’re also just eight days into the official free agency period (side note: can you believe that it has been only eight days?), so it stands to reason that Reid is still likely to find a quality deal.
Reid says that he has yet to receive an offer from a team, but 49ers GM John Lynch said “never say never” when asked about the prospect of a return to the 49ers. Although no visit has been scheduled, Reid’s agent has been in contact with clubs, tweets Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group (Twitter link).
49ers Meet With CB Ladarius Gunter
The 49ers met with Panthers free agent cornerback Ladarius Gunter on Thursday, GM John Lynch said (Twitter link via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area). The Panthers did not extend a restricted free agent tender to Gunter earlier this month, but they are said to have interest in a reunion at a lesser rate.
Gunter, 26 in May, had the most defensive snaps of any Packers cornerback in 2016. Last September, the Panthers picked him up after he slid down Green Bay’s depth chart and was released after just one game. His playing time didn’t improve much from there – he appeared in just four games for Carolina last year and did not record an official statistic.
After signing running back Jerick McKinnon, center Weston Richburg, and cornerback Richard Sherman, the 49ers have stayed relatively quiet in free agency. Their most recent move of note was signing guard Jonathan Cooper to a one-year deal.
Dolphins To Sign RB Frank Gore
The Dolphins have agreed to sign running back Frank Gore, according to Mike Florio of PFT (on Twitter). It’s a one-year deal for the veteran. 
Gore, a potential future Hall of Famer, now has the opportunity to finish his career where it all began. Gore was born in Coral Gables, Florida and made his name at the University of Miami. After ten seasons in San Francisco and three seasons in Indianapolis, he gets to ply his craft in Miami once again.
The Dolphins project to start Kenyan Drake at running back, but the opportunity is there for Gore to split carries with him. The remainder of the Dolphins’ running back depth chart is decidedly less accomplished than Gore as Senorise Perry, De’Veon Smith, and Brandon Radcliff are all former undrafted free agents with minimal live action on their resume.
Gore, 35 in May, has 14,000+ career rushing yards to his credit, as well as five Pro Bowl selections. He nearly turned in a tenth 1,000 yard season in 2017, but he averaged just 3.7 yards per carry. Gore is no longer the star that he was with the 49ers, but he can still be a useful piece in Miami’s backfield. From the Dolphins perspective, it’s a low-risk proposition that they can bail on, if necessary, without any real financial penalty.
[RELATED: Dolphins Depth Chart]
Dolphins To Meet With Frank Gore
Frank Gore could finish his football career back where it all started. Gore is slated to visit with the Dolphins on Thursday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). 
Gore was born in Coral Gables, Florida and played his college football at the University of Miami. With the Hurricanes, Gore averaged 5.7 yards per carry and became a third round pick of the Niners in 2005. Thirteen years later, GMs regret allowing him to slip all the way to No. 65 overall. Gore has had a remarkable career and has been shockingly durable throughout as well. He has missed only 12 possible regular season games in his career and has missed none since 2010.
The five-time Pro Bowler is no longer among the very best at his position, but he remains healthy and somewhat productive on the verge of his 35th birthday. Last year, Gore ran for 961 yards off of 261 carries, giving him a 3.7 yards per carry average. That wasn’t terribly efficient, but he did add 29 catches for 245 yards and one score.
It’s possible that Gore can perform better after moving on from the Colts, who finished 18th in run blocking last season, per Football Outsiders. The Dolphins were ranked even lower by FO’s stats, but they do have a new look offensive line that features guard Josh Sitton and Daniel Kilgore and is bookended by a pair of former first round picks in Laremy Tunsil and Ja’Wuan James.