by Free agency is in full effect across the NFL as the new league year is set to begin on Wednesday. While Lamar Jackson and Aaron Rodgers will take center stage in less than 24 hours, teams are agreeing on contract terms with top free agents as they comply with the cap.
New deals can’t be officially announced until tomorrow, but there were plenty of signings around the league on Day 2. Who are the winners and losers after a busy Day 2 of free agency? Many teams are excited after finding their free agent.
From Monday: Day 1 winners and losers
Good day Howie Roseman. The Eagles kept their biggest free agent by getting James Bradbury to stay in Philadelphia — at a discount no less (three years and up to $44 million). Whether the Eagles will have Bradberry and Darius Slay in 2023 is currently up in the air, but they currently have the dynamic cornerback duo two days into free agency.
Philadelphia also acquired Rashaad Penny on a deal (a one-year deal up to $2.1 million) and retained Boston Scott, creating a pair with Kenneth Gainwell to return. The Eagles are still making a push to re-sign CJ Gardner-Johnson, who is still a free agent.
Philadelphia is still extremely talented despite their losses in free agency. The Eagles prioritized the secondary and made Bradberry stay. Huge win for Roseman.
Aaron Rodgers appears to be on his way to the New York Jets, but he had a shopping list of what he wants with his new team. The Jets landed Allan Lazard (Rodgers’ wide receiver in Green Bay), and Rodgers reportedly asked for Randall Cobb and Odell Beckham Jr. (who the Packers were interested in bringing in two seasons ago).
What will happen to Elijah Moore and Corey Davis? Gareth Wilson won’t be going anywhere and the big reception room will be full if Cobb and Beckham join Lazard. Moore and Davis will certainly be expendable, even if both players would be an asset to Rodgers.
The Jets are desperate for a quarterback. Rogers gets what he wants.
Now that Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley are back in New York, the next task is to get Jones some pass catchers that can elevate his game at quarterback even more. The Giants accomplished this by trading a third-round pick for Darren Waller, who had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2019 and 2020.
Since then, Waller has appeared in 20 of a possible 34 regular season games, but is still one of the best tight receivers in the game when healthy. Expect a lot of two close sets with Waller and Daniel Bellinger, who will help Jones significantly in the middle of the court.
There is still work to be done at wide receiver and on the offensive line, but this is a good start for the Giants in improving their offense.
The hiring of Jonathan Gannon as head coach appeared to be a top free agent destination for the number of Eagles players set to hit the open market. All the Cardinals got out of the 2022 Eagles defense was Kyzir White so far.
The Cardinals aren’t usually big players in free agency, but they couldn’t get James Bradberry or TJ Edwards to join Gannon. Javon Hargrave went to the San Francisco 49ers, a division rival as the cherry on top of a bad start in free agency.
Unless the Cardinals can convince CJ Gardner-Johnson to come to Arizona, this stretch of legal offense has been disastrous. Gannon’s Eagles connections haven’t worked out so far. They also lost Byron Murphy and Zach Allen on defense.
The Cowboys aren’t typically active in free agency, but they were able to land Stephon Gilmore in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts (and only gave up a fifth-round compensatory pick in the process). Dallas needed someone to pair with Trevon Diggs and ended up with a quality starter in Gilmore.
Not only does Gilmore join a defense with Diggs, Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence and Jaron Kearse — the Cowboys have a player who has allowed just a 42.0 passer rating in coverage over the past six seasons. Gilmore will need to thrive and Dan Quinn’s defense will be needed to contain the Eagles and Chiefs strong receiver units.
Williams was a perfect fit with the Detroit Lions, who turned the page on him and signed David Montgomery to a three-year, $18 million contract. Montgomery will take Williams’ spot as the No. 1 running back in the Lions’ offense while Williams hits the free agent market.
Some team will get a great player in Williams, who was great with Detroit last season. Williams had 262 carries for 1,066 yards (4.1 yards per carry) and 17 touchdowns. He produced the first career 1,000-yard rushing season and the first 1,000-yard rushing season for a Lions player since Reggie Bush in 2013.
Williams also led the league with 17 rushing touchdowns, setting the Lions’ franchise record for most rushing touchdowns in a season. He has rushed for over 50 yards in 10 straight games, the longest active streak in the NFL.
Williams is going to get the money he deserves in free agency, but he should have been in Detroit. Some team will be extremely lucky to have him.
