Super Bowls aren’t won in March. And on the flip side of that coin, seasons aren’t lost in March either. It’s hard to predict how each team’s moves in free agency will ultimately pan out when they start playing football, but looking at how good or bad some contracts may have been, what kind of talent teams lost compared to what they added, and the schematic fits are all things to look at when trying to predict future success. Here’s a list of the five biggest losers so far in free agency:
5. New York Giants
The Giants had some glaring needs going into free agency and failed to address those needs. This might not be a problem with the draft approaching but some of their needs are weak positions in this draft class. In particular, their need of safeties. They need both a strong safety and a free safety while allowing veteran strong safety Antrel Rolle walk. They also allowed Walter Thurmond to leave (although he was injured almost all of last season) when they also need a slot cornerback. They did, however, address the running back position by adding Shane Vereen to the mix, although you could argue they overpaid for him.
4. Oakland Raiders
The Raiders are on this list not because of the quantity of free agents they signed, because it sure was a lot, but the quality of the free agents they signed. The one that jumps out right away is the signing of safety Nate Allen and the contract they decided to give him. He was serviceable in Philadelphia but by no means deserved the money the Raiders gave him. The Raiders also went hard after running back DeMarco Murray and ended up with Trent Richardson. Their best signing was that of nose tackle Dan Williams.
3. Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings have a lot of problem areas and didn’t address any of them. The only person they brought in was backup quarterback Shaun Hill. They re-signed some depth on the offensive line but the starters are the problem. If they want to optimize Teddy Bridgewater’s talent, they’re going to need guys on the line who can pass protect better than the players they have now. While you can’t build through free agency, it’s a good time to get complimentary pieces and the Vikings failed to do that.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs are the model for bad free agency periods. They have become notorious for signing some of the biggest free agents every year and then letting them go a year or two later. The Bucs got rid of both Michael Johnson and Adrian Clayborn but brought in Bruce Carter and Henry Melton. They also let Da’Quan Bowers and Mason Foster walk as well. Their free safety Dashon Goldson certainly didn’t have a good year so they brought in Chris Conte, who isn’t much better. The people they have let go for the dead money they’ve had to eat certainly makes for a bad free agency period. This season they certainly brought in less people and not as big of names, but they didn’t do themselves the greatest of favors with the contracts they gave some of them.
1. Detroit Lions
The Lions lost a lot during this year’s free agency, particularly in their front seven. They lost Ndamukong Suh, Nick Fairley, C.J. Mosley, George Johnson, and Darryl Tapp. In their secondary they lost Cassius Vaughn and Rashean Mathis as well. On their offensive line they lost Rob Simms, Dominic Raiola, and Garrett Reynolds (backup), not to mention the loss of running back Reggie Bush. So who did they add to make up for all these losses? Tyrunn Walker. That’s it. With so many key losses and only one incoming free agent, it leaves too many holes for them to address them all in one draft class.