We are in the midst of the NFL season and the contenders are starting to be separated from the pretenders. This week, one contender made a move to shore up a weakness. This is discussed below and, as always, the rest of the moves are down below with some of the more significant ones highlighted in red.
Arizona Cardinals sign OLB Dwight Freeney
One of the best free agents left on the market finally has a home, as the Cardinals added the 35-year old Freeney.
It is only a one-year contract worth less than $1 million, but there is another million available in sack incentives.
With 111.5 career sacks, he is 21st all-time and ranks fifth among active players. However, he hasn’t had a double-digit sack season since 2010, when he recorded 10.
In his last 20 games he has only four sacks, but has recorded 12 quarterback hits and 55 quarterback hurries, according to Pro Football Focus. So, while he isn’t taking down quarterbacks at his old rate, he is still producing pressure.
Arizona has been able to rely on blitzes to produce pressure recently, but you can old schematically hide a lack of talented edge pass rushers so much. Making matters worse for the Cardinals is that top outside linebacker Alex Okafor is going to be out two to four weeks with a strained calf. Okafor’s injury likely spurred the Cardinals to make a move and add Freeney.
Despite being close to the end of his career, Freeney was able to consistently produce pressure last year for San Diego. He won’t be able to play a full game for Arizona, but he should be good for a limited role that sees him on the field for specific passing downs.
With Arizona looking like one of the best teams in the NFL, the signing of Freeney signals that they are serious about reaching the Super Bowl.
Other Moves:
The Arizona Cardinals sign CB Cariel Brooks.
The Baltimore Ravens sign WR Jeremy Ross.
The Baltimore Ravens waive DT Christo Bilukidi.
The Baltimore Ravens sign CB Shareece Wright.
The Baltimore Ravens sign CB Asa Jackson.
The Baltimore Ravens sign CB Charles James.
The Baltimore Ravens cut LB Jason Babin.
The Baltimore Ravens cut CB Rashaan Melvin.
The Baltimore Ravens claim RB Raheem Mostert off waivers.
The Buffalo Bills sign QB Josh Johnson.
The Buffalo Bills cut K Billy Cundiff.
The Buffalo Bills sign S Josh Bush.
The Chicago Bears sign RB Antone Smith.
The Chicago Bears waive QB David Fales.
The Chicago Bears sign LB Jonathan Anderson.
The Cleveland Browns claim S Don Jones off waivers.
The Dallas Cowboys sign WR Vince Mayle.
The Dallas Cowboys waive WR Vince Mayle.
The Dallas Cowboys claim RB Rod Smith off waivers.
The Denver Broncos release FB James Casey.
The Denver Broncos sign TE Richard Gordon.
The Denver Broncos waive TE Mitchell Henry.
The Green Bay Packers sign TE Justin Perillo.
The Houston Texans sign DT Brandon Dunn.
The Indianapolis Colts sign WR Marcus Thigpen.
The Indianapolis Colts cut QB Josh Johnson.
The Jacksonville Jaguars waive-injured LB John Lotulelei.
The Jacksonville Jaguars sign LB Jordan Tripp.
The Kansas City Chiefs sign RB Spencer Ware.
The Miami Dolphins waive RB Raheem Mostert.
The Miami Dolphins sign S Jonathan Dowling.
The New England Patriots cut CB Bradley Fletcher.
The New England Patriots sign S Brandon King.
The New England Patriots claim CB Rashaan Melvin off waivers.
The New Orleans Saints cut S Don Jones.
The New Orleans Saints sign WR Joseph Morgan.
The New York Jets waive TE Wes Saxton.
The Oakland Raiders sign S Tevin McDonald.
The Oakland Raiders waive S Keenan Lambert.
The Oakland Raiders cut S Taylor Mays.
The Philadelphia Eagles cut G Julian Vandervelde.
The Philadelphia Eagles sign OT Tanner Hawkinson.
The Pittsburgh Steelers cut S Ross Ventrone.
The San Diego Chargers waive S Adrian Phillips.
The San Francisco 49ers release CB Shareece Wright.
The San Francisco 49ers sign G Andrew Tiller.
The Seattle Seahawks sign RB Rod Smith.
The Seattle Seahawks sign CB Crezdon Butler.
The Seattle Seahawks release wR B.J. Daniels.
The Seattle Seahawks release RB Rod Smith.
The Seattle Seahawks sign LB Nick Moody.
The Seattle Seahawks sign wR B.J. Daniels.
The St. Louis Rams cut RB Trey Watts.
The St. Louis Rams sign TE Justice Cunningham.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers sign OT Reid Fragel.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers waive G Matthew Masifilo.
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