Week two of free agency saw plenty of transactions, but for nowhere near the amount of money as the first week. Two of the biggest moves of the week came in the form of trades. These two moves, along with one signing, are discussed below and, as always, the rest of the transactions are down below with some of the more significant ones highlighted in red.
Arizona Cardinals trade for DE Chandler Jones
The latest in a recent string of trades comes from the Patriots and Cardinals.
Arizona receives Jones, 26, while New England receives guard Jonathan Cooper, 26, and a second round pick.
Sometimes a move works well for both sides, and this is a great example.
The Cardinals had been looking to upgrade their pass rush for a while now. Last year, Dwight Freeney, a mid-season signing and now a 36-year-old free agent, led them in sacks.
Jones will come in and provide the team with quality pass rush on the outside, something that was severely lacking from their defense.
Cooper didn’t appear to be in the Cardinals’ plans and has disappointed since they selected him seventh overall in 2013.
For New England, they have multiple important free agents set to become free agents after the 2016 season. As an edge rusher with 36 sacks in four seasons, Jones would have been the most expensive to re-sign.
Instead of receiving either a third or fourth round compensatory draft pick for him, they now get Cooper and a second round pick.
While Cooper didn’t appear to be in the Cardinals plans, his performance hasn’t been as bad as advertised. He could compete for a starting job in New England.
Also, the Patriots are without a first round pick this year due to punishment for Deflategate. Adding a second round pick gives New England picks No. 60 and 61 in the second round.
It is important to note that both teams signed veterans to one-year contracts replace their departed player after the trade. Arizona signed guard Evan Mathis and New England signed defensive end Chris Long.
Baltimore Ravens sign S Eric Weddle
Weddle, 31, was one of the best free agents this offseason, but he took his time deciding where he wanted to play.
He signed a four-year contract worth $26 million with $13 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $7 million.
One of the best safeties in the NFL, he spent his first nine seasons in San Diego. However, his relationship with the team soured and he wasn’t going to return.
Last season he recorded 78 tackles, six passes defensed and 0.5 sacks in 13 games. In 2014, he recorded 114 tackles, eight passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one interception.
Baltimore rarely ventures into the free agent market, and if they do, it usually is for inexpensive players. This marks a change from their normal strategy.
Weddle gives the Ravens their best safety since future Hall of Famer Ed Reed left a few years ago.
New England Patriots trade for TE Martellus Bennett
Continuing with another Bill Belichick trade, the Patriots added Bennett, 29.
In order to acquire him, the Patriots sent a fourth round pick to Chicago for Bennett and a sixth round pick.
Bennett is one of the most talented tight ends in the NFL, but the Bears had been shopping him for a while, as he appeared to wear out his welcome in the Windy City.
Last season, he caught 56 passes for 439 yards and three touchdowns. The year prior, 2014, was his best as a professional, with 90 receptions for 916 yards and six touchdowns.
In addition to his skills as a receiver, he is a capable blocker.
New England is one of the best offenses for a tight end. Tom Brady has featured the position for years.
With this trade, the Patriots easily have the best tight end combination in the game. Rob Gronkowski is the best tight end in football and Bennett provides another target.
For Chicago, they were able to trade a player they clearly didn’t want for better draft position and save about $5 million in cap space in the process.
Bennett is a free agent after 2016.
Other Moves:
The Arizona Cardinals re-sign TE Jermaine Gresham to a one-year contract.
The Arizona Cardinals re-sign DT Red Bryant.
The Arizona Cardinals sign G Evan Mathis to a one-year contract.
The Arizona Cardinals re-sign RB Chris Johnson to a one-year contract.
The Atlanta Falcons re-sign S Charles Godfrey.
The Atlanta Falcons sign OT Tom Compton.
The Atlanta Falcons sign S Damian Parms.
The Atlanta Falcons sign WR Aldrick Robinson.
The Atlanta Falcons sign CB DeMarcus Van Dyke.
The Atlanta Falcons sign LB LaRoy Reynolds.
The Baltimore Ravens sign WR Mike Wallace to a two-year contract.
The Baltimore Ravens release S Will Hill.
The Baltimore Ravens re-sign WR Marlon Brown.
The Baltimore Ravens re-sign LB Chris Carter.
The Buffalo Bills sign TE Jim Dray.
The Carolina Panthers sign DT Paul Soliai to a two-year contract.
The Chicago Bears sign LB Jerrell Freeman to a three-year contract.
The Chicago Bears sign DT Mitch Unrein.
The Chicago Bears re-sign WR Marc Mariani.
The Chicago Bears sign DT Akiem Hicks to a two-year contract.
The Chicago Bears re-sign TE Rob Housler.
The Chicago Bears re-sign TE Zach Miller.
The Chicago Bears sign LS Aaron Brewer.
The Cincinnati Bengals re-sign DT Pat Sims.
The Cincinnati Bengals sign S Taylor Mays.
The Cleveland Browns waive QB Johnny Manziel.
The Cleveland Browns sign OL Alvin Bailey.
The Cleveland Browns sign LB Justin Tuggle.
The Cleveland Browns sign LB Demario Davis to a two-year contract.
The Cleveland Browns cut LB Karlos Dansby.
The Cleveland Browns cut WR Dwayne Bowe.
The Cleveland Browns sign S Rahim Moore.
The Dallas Cowboys re-sign LB Kyle Wilber.
The Dallas Cowboys re-sign OT Charles Brown.
The Dallas Cowboys re-sign CB Morris Claiborne.
The Dallas Cowboys re-sign TE James Hanna.
The Dallas Cowboys re-sign RB Lance Dunbar.
The Denver Broncos trade a conditional seventh round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for QB Mark Sanchez.
The Denver Broncos match the Miami Dolphins four-year offer sheet for RB C.J. Anderson.
The Denver Broncos sign OT Russell Okung to a five-year contract.
The Detroit Lions re-sign QB Dan Orlovsky.
The Detroit Lions re-sign LS Don Muhlbach.
The Detroit Lions re-sign CB Crezdon Butler.
The Detroit Lions sign S Rafael Bush.
The Detroit Lions re-sign TE Tim Wright.
Free agent DT B.J. Raji has announced his retirement from the NFL.
The Green Bay Packers sign OT Vince Kowalski.
The Green Bay Packers sign DE Ray Drew.
The Houston Texans sign S Antonio Allen.
The Indianapolis Colts sign QB Scott Tolzien.
The Indianapolis Colts sign RB Robert Turbin.
The Jacksonville Jaguars sign CB Prince Amukamara to a one-year contract.
The Jacksonville Jaguars sign G Mackenzy Bernadeau.
The Jacksonville Jaguars sign OT Kelvin Beachum.
The Kansas City Chiefs re-sign CB Jamell Fleming.
The Kansas City Chiefs sign WR Rod Streater.
The Los Angeles Rams re-sign DE Eugene Sims.
The Los Angeles Rams sign CB Coty Sensabaugh to a three-year contract.
The Los Angeles Rams re-sign TE Cory Harkey.
The Los Angeles Rams sign DE Quinton Coples.
The Miami Dolphins re-sign QB Matt Moore.
The Miami Dolphins sign DE Andre Branch.
The Minnesota Vikings re-sign CB Marcus Sherels.
The Minnesota Vikings re-sign DE Justin Trattou.
The Minnesota Vikings re-sign TE Rhett Ellison.
The Minnesota Vikings re-sign CB Terence Newman.
The Minnesota Vikings re-sign RB Matt Asiata.
The Minnesota Vikings sign OT Andre Smith to a one-year contract.
The New England Patriots sign WR Chris Hogan.
The New England Patriots sign DE Frank Kearse.
The New England Patriots re-sign S Nate Exner.
The New England Patriots sign DE Chris Long to a one-year contract.
The New England Patriots sign RB Donald Brown.
The New England Patriots sign LB Shea McClellin.
The New Orleans Saints sign LB Nate Stupar.
The New Orleans Saints sign LB James Laurinaitis.
The New Orleans Saints sign S Jamarca Sanford.
The New York Jets re-sign TE Kellen Davis.
The New York Jets sign DT Steve McLendon to a three-year contract.
The New York Jets sign DT Jarvis Jenkins to a two-year contract.
The Oakland Raiders cut LB Curtis Lofton.
The Oakland Raiders sign LB Daren Bates.
The Oakland Raiders re-sign WR Andre Holmes.
The Oakland Raiders re-sign OT Donald Penn to a two-year contract.
The Oakland Raiders sign S Brynden Trawick
The Philadelphia Eagles release DL Brandon Bair.
The Philadelphia Eagles re-sign CB Nolan Carroll.
The Philadelphia Eagles sign WR Chris Givens.
The Pittsburgh Steelers sign OT Ryan Harris to a two-year contract.
The San Diego Chargers re-sign DL Damion Square.
The San Diego Chargers re-sign OT Chris Hairston.
The San Diego Chargers sign CB Casey Hayward to a three-year contract.
The San Francisco 49ers re-sign K Phil Dawson.
The San Francisco 49ers sign G Zane Beadles.
The Seattle Seahawks re-sign P Jon Ryan to a four-year contract.
The Seattle Seahawks sign OT Bradley Sowell.
The Seattle Seahawks sign DT Sealver Siliga.
The Seattle Seahawks sign G J’Marcus Webb.
The Seattle Seahawks cut LS Clint Gresham.
The Seattle Seahawks sign RB Christine Michael.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers sign CB Brent Grimes to a two-year contract.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers re-sign S Chris Conte.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers sign CB Josh Robinson.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers sign DE Robert Ayers to a three-year contract.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers sign LB Daryl Smith to a one-year contract.
The Tennessee Titans re-sign DT Al Woods to a three-year contract.
The Tennessee Titans sign LB Sean Spence.
The Tennessee Titans re-sign OT Byron Bell.
The Tennessee Titans sign CB Antwon Blake.
The Washington Redskins sign DL Kendall Reyes.
The Washington Redskins re-sign TE Logan Paulsen.
The Washington Redskins re-sign P Tress Way to a five-year contract.
The Washington Redskins re-sign CB Will Blackmon.
The Washington Redskins sign S David Bruton to a three-year contract.
The Washington Redskins re-sign OLB Junior Galette to a one-year contract.
The Washington Redskins re-sign G Josh LeRibeus.
The Washington Redskins sign LB Terence Garvin.
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