In the midst of a world crisis the NFL world moved forward with trades and free agency this week with major moves and monster contracts for many of the best players in the NFL. The media was at one point thinking that it should have been pushed back based on the Coronavirus spreading across the world and that this was not the right time for the rich to get even richer but, it is still football, deals are going to be made and it gave us fans “something” sports-wise to talk about this week. Here are my winners and losers in free agency this week and why I feel that way, with their latest odds to win division, conference, and Super Bowl.
Winners
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2/1 Division
9/1 NFC
16/1 SB
My theory I made on my pod Against All Odds with Cousin Sal, of “TB to TB”, Tom Brady to Tampa Bay actually came to fruition. This will make Tampa Bay relevant for the first time since winning the Super Bowl in 2003. The signing of Brady has already raised ticket sales and he will love working will the QB whisperer head coach Bruce Arians. Brady will also have two pro bowl receivers and a stud tight end to work with something he didn’t have last year in New England.
The Buccaneers also franchise tagged Shaq Barrett who had a breakout season with 19.5 sacks. Bruce and Brady equals bigtime for the Buccs in 2020.
Arizona Cardinals
8/1 Division
25/1 NFC
50/1 SB
Cards General Manager Steve Keim pulled off the deal of the century in acquiring possibly the best wide receiver in the game, D’Andre Hopkins from the Houston Texans. They got him from Texans head coach and General Manager Bill O’ Brien for a banded up running back in David Johnson. What a weapon to acquire for second year QB Kyler Murray. Arizona now will have three excellent receivers in Hopkins, Christian Kirk, and hall of famer to be Larry Fitzgerald. With the acquisition of Hopkins, the odds instantly went down on the Cards with knowing what a steal they just pulled off.
Cleveland Browns
4/1 Division
15/1 AFC
40/1 SB
The Browns signed tight end Austin Hooper from Atlanta and made him the highest paid tight end in the league at 4 years and $44 million. That will certainly help QB Baker Mayfield control the line of scrimmage. They also signed a reliable backup for Mayfield in Case Keenum and helped fix that offensive line with Titans right tackle Jack Conklin for 42 million.
Winning Player
Los Angeles Chargers QB – Tyrod Taylor
10/1 Division
25/1 AFC
50/1 SB
It seems after the Chargers failed to sign Tom Brady that for the time being, they will roll with Taylor and maybe draft a QB in the draft. If that is the case Taylor who is 31 years old with start the season as their starter and will have one more chance to get it done as a starting QB in the league. The Chargers still have a solid receivers crew plus they resigned running back Austin Ekeler who had a tremendous season last year running and receiving.
Losers
Houston Texans
2/1 Division
35/1 AFC
80/1 SB
It came out that Head Coach/General Manager Bill O’Brien didn’t get along with star wide receiver D’Andre Hopkins, but that is no excuse to basically give away a top 2 receiver in the league for a guy who might be done in the league and take on the rest of his enormous contract.
David Johnson in 2016 had 2100 total yards and 20 touchdowns, and in the next three seasons combined he has 2100 yards and less TD’s by four. If this trade goes extremely bad, and we will be able to tell as the season goes Bill O’Brien and his smug attitude may have sealed his fate by seasons end or before.
Jacksonville Jaguars
15/1 Division
150/1 AFC
300/1 SB
This Jaguars team is not only in a rebuilding mode and that’s fine, but they continue to make terrible decisions in trades. They barely have a home field advantage as they continue to play games in London and are scheduled for two games there in 2020. The Jags just traded defensive end Calais Campbell to the Baltimore Ravens for a measly fifth round pick. Campbell is 33 years old but has made five pro bowls and three in row. The Jacksonville/London Jaguars since 2018 have in deals gotten rid of not only Campbell but, AJ Bouye, Dante Fowler, Malik Jackson, and pro bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey. The Jags traded away QB Nick Foleswho was a one year disaster to the Bears on Wednesday, which now adds to the stack of questions of what this team plans on fielding for a team heading inti the 2020 season.
Losing Players
Cam Newton
It will be interesting to see what happens to Newton here considering the Panthers didn’t even inform him that they were signing QB Teddy Bridgewater. Then there were rumors he was going to Chicago and play for the Bears but the signing of Foles squashed that thought. In this spot Cam Newton is basically being “left for dead” by Carolina with no starting QB positions left in the league.
Jameis Winston
Winston led the league in turnovers (30 interceptions) a season ago and with the Buccaneers signing Brady it meant Winston was forced to look elsewhere. I felt he would sign with the Chargers who still have a solid offense, but they decided not to go that route which has Winston stuck in limbo with not many answers. Winston’s erratic play and his off the field issues seem to have finally caught up to him in free agency.
Good Luck, and please keep your families and yourself safe ! Harry.