Although the 2019 NFL league year and free agency did not officially open until 4:00 p.m. New York time on Wednesday, teams, players, and agents have been aggressive, more than ever, to reach an agreement before the new league year officially opened, hence when contracts can become official. Unlike the recent trend in Major League Baseball, the free agent frenzy in the NFL has been exciting for fans to follow, as the league’s best unrestricted players are wasting no time to put pen to paper to change their financial status for the rest of their lives and their family. There are still some top players available, notably two former members of the Kansas City Chiefs from last season, safety Eric Berry and pass rusher Justin Houston. Nonetheless, there are clear winners and losers in the start of free agency, and those teams who failed to capitalize must strike come draft day.

Winners:

Cleveland Browns

After a successful end to the 2018 regular season, finishing 7-8-1 and overcoming early season turmoil with former head coach Hue Jackson, the Browns were already optimistic heading into the upcoming season. New head coach Freddie Kitchens turned the Browns’ offense around in his stint as offensive coordinator last season, and first overall selection in last year’s draft, quarterback Baker Mayfield, could not be more joyous to get Kitchens back in the offense to continue building off the foundation they laid together last season. However, that was before acquiring one of games best receivers Odell Beckham Jr — they did not have to sacrifice much to get him. The trade details include Beckham to Cleveland for their first round selection (17th overall), one of their two third round picks (95th overall), and safety Jabrill Peppers, a first rounder in 2017. To pair Odell alongside former LSU teammate Jarvis Landry and newly signed halfback Kareem Hunt, who will be suspended the team’s first eight games due to a domestic violence incident that got him released in Kansas City, the Browns’ offense on paper has shaped up to be one of the league’s best in just a year’s time. Additionally, the team made another trade to bolster their roster with the Giants before the start of the league year, acquiring pass rusher Oliver Vernon to solidify an already solid defensive front. The days of the Browns being the laughing stock of the NFL are over and they are finally a legitimate playoff contender this season and could very well win the AFC North with their recent influx of talent implemented into their roster.

Oakland Raiders

After trading a generational pass rusher the caliber of Khalil Mack before the start of the 2018 regular season to Chicago and later young wideout Amari Cooper to Dallas midseason, the Raiders’ decision to completely tear down their roster was contentious for most, but head coach Jon Gruden’s second season has commenced with him wanting to quickly rebuild his team through the stockpile of draft picks he netted in the regular season and spending a plethora of their cap money in free agency. It was undecided what direction the Raiders were going to move this free agency period due to their stockpile of picks, but first year general manager Mike Mayock has been one of the more aggressive in the league to start his tenure. The first move made was for disgruntled All-Pro former Steelers’ receiver Antonio Brown for just a third and fifth round pick in the upcoming draft. Surely, his off-field antics will be under scrutiny after what unfolded in Pittsburgh, and the team must keep any instance of unrest between parties in house, but what could he be disappointed about after getting a pay raise and getting out of Pittsburgh? Brown got what he wanted leaving Pittsburgh and Gruden must sit down his with new All-Pro to ensure the chaos he started in Pittsburgh is a thing of distant memory. Brown must take a leadership role on this young team if he wants any opportunity to earn his first Super Bowl victory. After trading for Brown, the team signed former Patriots’ guard Trent Brown to the richest contract in offensive lineman history and former Chargers deep threat Tyrell Williams. On the other side of the ball, they signed former Rams franchise tag recipient Lamarcus Joyner. It will be interesting to see how these new expensive, possibly overpaid, additions blend together, but nonetheless, the team has shown fans their willingness to compete this year and when the organization heads to Las Vegas in the 2020 season. Lastly, do not forget about those four top 35 picks, one of those top four overall. To combine the pure talent Gruden has gained in free agency with the young talent he will soon amass through the draft, the Raiders will be in a much different position at the start of this season than last, but there is still much to be done.

Nick Foles

The Super Bowl winning quarterback in Philadelphia two seasons ago finally gets his own, uninterrupted shot to succeed, landing an $88 million deal which includes over $50.2 million in guarantees with the Jacksonville Jaguars over the duration of the four year contract. However, for Jacksonville’s sake, the team still owes last year’s starter Blake Bortles $6.5 million in dead money after releasing him, an indirect added cost to the quarterback situation, which puts a dent to their already tight cap space to improve their roster.  

Losers:

New York Giants

Giants’ general manager Dave Gettleman said just weeks ago at the NFL Combine “we didn’t sign him [Odell] to trade him.” After signing the receiver to a five year, $90 million dollar extension in August, just seven months later, the team went against their word and traded their star wideout. However, they did get safety Jabrill Peppers to help replace the wounds in the highly scrutinized decision to not place the franchise tag on safety Landon Collins, as he signed a massive contract with division rival Washington. This move to save money might have been smart for them, but trading one of the most popular players in the league and building your team around 38 year-old Eli Manning is not. He will earn $11.5 million this season and Sunday, he received a $5 million roster bonus. Trading Beckham is the epitome of misdirection the team is currently headed; it is still not clear if New York will take a quarterback this draft, and hogging cap space on a quarterback that has his best days behind him is not the recipe to rebuild a franchise that has been  mediocre since their last Super Bowl in the 2011 season.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers could only muster a third and fifth round pick from the Oakland Raiders after trading their former All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown (possibly the best in the NFL). Furthermore, they got no cap relief from the Oakland in the trade, as they are paying $21 million against the cap for Brown to play on another team. Also, it was known star running back Le’veon Bell was not going to re-sign with the team after he denied to play under the franchise tag in the season, so the team knew they had money to sure up both sides of the ball after losing two game-changing players on offense. However, they failed to add any significant pieces on offense and to a defense that was often mediocre last season. It seems like we could have seen the Steelers’ window for a championship slammed shut.

Le’veon Bell

The Jets landed a group of immensely talented players, including linebacker C.J. Mosley and former Steelers All-Pro halfback Le’veon Bell. The former Steeler came to terms with the New York Jets Wednesday on a four-year deal worth $52.5 million in base value ($13.25 million per year) that includes $35 million in guaranteed money, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. However, Bell sacrificed millions more and a year of his NFL career by holding out this past season. Although the numbers are relative, with Bell declining to play under the Steelers franchise tag, he missed out on $14.55 million and the market was not as robust as he expected. The guarantees in his new deal provides him security in the event of an injury, which he wanted by holding out, but the Steelers’ five-year $70 million proposal in July offered $33 million over the first two years versus the $26 million he will receive the first two years in New York– a loss of $7 million. Although the Steelers’ contract extension only offered $10 million in guarantees, either way he lost $14.55 million by not showing up under the tag last season. It is all relative, though.