VJax gets paid
The initial surge of free agent signings has come and not yet gone. The Redskins appear primed to sign Robert Griffin a bevy of wide receivers. Some of the big name free agents have signed and a couple appear ready at any minute to pull the trigger on a new home.
The Buccaneers caught the big fish of the day by landing Vincent Jackson. Big player, even bigger contract. Jackson signed a 5-year, $55 million deal with $26 million guaranteed. Jackson will make $36 million over the first three years of this deal putting him in Andre Johnson territory. The Bucs may have overpaid but the need drove this one. This move should make Josh Freeman a very happy man as he will have a legitimate deep threat to take the heat off the young quarterback. The Bucs may not be done as they are linked to Carl Nicks and Curtis Lofton.
The St. Louis reunion tour has begun with the Rams signing Cortland Finnegan to a five-year, $50 million deal. Finnegan reunites with former coach Jeff Fisher. Look for Jason Jones to be the next target for the Rams.
Speaking of reunions Reggie Wayne was officially not a Colt for five hours. Wayne was a free agent from 4:00 PM to 9:15 PM when he re-signed with the Colts on a three-year deal. Wayne will give Andrew Luck a legitimate albeit aging weapon.
The day began with Brandon Marshall being dealt to the Chicago Bears for two third round picks. The move reunites Marshall with the quarterback that led him to his top two NFL seasons, Jay Cutler. This combo combined for 211 connections and 14 TD’s in their short time together. The Dolphins traded two second round picks just two seasons ago. He was a relative disappointment in Miami and ushered out of South Beach. The move for the Bears is a low-risk, high-reward move that gives Cutler a much needed No. 1 receiver. It also frees up their first-round pick which was probable to be spent on a receiver. This pick can now be used to address an aging defense.
An hour into free agency the Redskins struck their first of two deals with weapons for RGIII. The ‘Skins went all in on WR Pierre Garcon inking him to a 5 year, $42.5 million deal with $15 million guaranteed. This is a huge deal for a secondary receiver but Griffin throws a great deep ball and Garcon specializes in the vertical game. It’s a good fit…the money may be overboard. But it is the Redskins.
The Redskins added another receiver in San Fran cast-off Josh Morgan. Morgan signed a 5-year, $12 million deal with $7.5 million guaranteed. This deal is voidable after two seasons, ouch. The Redskins continued their spending spree by signing one of their own in Adam Carriker. Again, they doled out the cash to bring the defensive end. Carriker inked a 4-year, $20 million deal with $7 million guaranteed.
Red Bryant will be staying in Seattle on a 5-year, $35 million with $14.5 million guaranteed. Bryant is one of the most underrated defensive players in the league. I like this move for both sides as it appears to be a good marriage of system and player.
Jason Campbell signed a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears. He will serve as Cutler’s backup and should avoid a complete flop if Cutler goes down again.
It’s beginning to look as if Mario Williams will not make it out of Buffalo. Talk has surfaced that he will become the highest paid defensive player in football. The Bills also appear locked into WR Robert Meachum. Two big moves by the Bills if they happen.
