FREE AGENCY ROUNDUP
Our 3GML GMs spent the past week wheeling and dealing with free agents in an attempt to improve their rosters. Some squads had more holes to fill than others - Let's check out how each team has fared thus far during the early stages of Free Agency.
BUFFALO BILLS
Free Agents Signed: 0
Although the Bills have been quiet, the team's talented roster has allowed the team to save money while getting ready for the draft. Look for the team to find a backup QB late and to potentially test the thin MLB market in the coming weeks. Buffalo also locked up their Kicker of the future by acquiring Jason Sanders from the Miami Dolphins for a 2020 5th round pick.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Free Agents Signed: 3
FS Adrian Amos - 4-years, $37,000,000 ($8,000,000 in Additional Guarantees)
Madden Rating: 88
PFF FA Grade: Elite
HB Mark Ingram - 3-years, $15,000,000 ($0 in Additional Guarantees)
Madden Rating: 86
PFF FA Grade: Below Average
OLB Shaquil Barrett - 1-year, $5,000,000 ($3,000,000 in Additional Guarantees)
Madden Rating: 80
PFF FA Grade: Elite
Miami was already very active in the offseason trade market acquiring 34 OLB Whitney Mercilus from the Houston Texans and pass rusher Olivier Vernon from the New York Giants. The team also brought back QB Jacoby Brissett to lead their squad into the future. The additions of FS Adrian Amos and OLB Shaquil Barrett were strong financial deals for young, foundational players. The Dolphins scored big with each of these signings.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Free Agents Signed: 0
The defending Super Bowl champions are in the same boat as the talented Buffalo Bills squad in that they are a team with minimal needs. New England did well to resign their own following the team's Lombardi trophy. T Ja'wuan Jones resigned with the team along with CB Ronald Darby to help the team's core group remain intact. The team also made a prudent financial decision to let DE Za'Darius Smith walk to Green Bay - There was no way signing Smith to a 5-figure deal made sense for the Pats. Look for the team to still try to acquire cornerback and runningback depth later in Free Agency.
NEW YORK JETS
Free Agents Signed: 4
DE Trey Flowers - 5-years, $90,000,000 ($500,000 in Additional Guarantees)
Madden Rating: 88
PFF FA Grade: Very Good
C Matt Paradis - 3-years, $29,030,000 ($4,590,000 in Additional Guarantees)
Madden Rating: 88
PFF FA Grade: Above Average
TE Demetrius Harris - 2-years, $6,000,000 ($4,000,000 in Additional Guarantees)
Madden Rating: 79
PFF FA Grade: Average
CB Jason Verrett - 1-year, $3,600,000 ($400,000 in Additional Guarantees)
Madden Rating: 84
PFF FA Grade: Above Average
The Jets have improved their roster more than any other 3GML team this offseason. By adding Flowers and Paradis, the Jets have bolstered their lines immensely on both sides of the ball. The team also traded for G Kelechi Osemele in a fleecing from the Oakland Raiders. An offensive line that once looked like a glaring weakness now is in the top third of the league in terms of overall talent. Under-the-radar signings of Jason Verrett and Demetrius Harris could pay dividends for years to come. Verrett, the former first round pick out of TCU, has the gritty playing style that Gregg Williams likes.
MOCK DRAFT 2.0
#6 - New England Patriots - TE Noah Fant (Iowa) - The Pats have few holes. Pairing Fant with Eric Ebron will give Andrew Luck a pair of inside weapons to go along with Julio Jones on the outside.
#10 - Buffalo Bills - WR DK Metcalf (Ole Miss) - Everybody believes linebacker is the pick here. We see Metcalf as a perfect additional weapon for Aaron Rodgers. Juju Smith-Schuster will continue to develop and Brandin Cooks is another huge weapon for the Bills, but Metcalf would bring a level of physicality to the WR room that the Bills have never seen before.
#24 - New England Patriots - CB Deandre Baker (Georgia) - New England has been unsuccessful finding a CB in free agency and can lock up the feisty Georgia product to pair alongside Marshon Lattimore.
#27 - Buffalo Bills - C Garrett Bradbury (NCSU) - The team has one glaring hole heading into the 2019 season: Center. Picking Bradbury here could be the smartest move of the 1st round in giving the team an anchor up front for the next 10 seasons.
#28 - New York Jets - SS Johnathan Abram (Mississippi State) - The Jets need a deep enforcer. Enter Abram. The former Bulldog would put a bow on a terrific offseason while giving Gregg Williams a full cupboard of playmakers at his disposal.
#33 - Miami Dolphins - OL Dalton Risner (Kansas State) - The Dolphins can either go OL or CB here as they have filled most of the team needs this offseason. With only three offensive linemen on their roster, Risner would start right away for a team that aims to run the ball early and often.
