Should we be excited about NFL free agency? Well, maybe. It depends on who you’re rooting for. If you’re a fan of the Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers or the Seattle Seahawks, well, then, welcome to the land of Meh.
Here’s an update on NFL free agency to date as played out by the four NFC West teams.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals allowed recently imported linebacker Sean Weatherspoon to return home to Atlanta. Starting right tackle Bobby Massie signed a three-year deal with the Chicago Bears. In the plus column, speedy safety Tyvon Branch was signed for two years to replace the outbound Rashad Johnson.
Other than that, it’s both ho and hum for the Cardinals so far. Backup quarterback Drew Stanton re-signed. Last year’s free agent tight end, Jermaine Gresham, is visiting teams and former Cincinnati Bengal Leon Hall came to Arizona for a visit. Moving on.
Los Angeles Rams
Defensive end Chris Long was released before free agency began, but the Rams re-signed two defensive linemen: William Hayes and Eugene Sims for modest money. Receiver Brian Quick re-signed with the Rams on a one-year deal.
Perhaps they spent all their money when they moved to L.A.? Rams fans, new/transplanted or otherwise, are in waiting mode. How do you spell momentum in Los Angeles? I don’t think anyone knows. That’s called buzzkill, folks.
San Francisco 49ers
While their counterparts across San Francisco Bay are spending like drunken sailors, the 49ers’ approach could not be more different than the Oakland Raiders’. But this offseason has to be better than the last one, right?
With Chip Kelly now at the helm, the 49ers don’t appear to know what to do with Colin Kaepernick. Actually, it’s not fair to pin that on Kelly. They clearly didn’t know what to do with Kaepernick ever since Jim Harbaugh was shown the door.
Kicker Phil Dawson was re-signed to a one-year deal. Quarterback Thad Lewis, one of many former Philadelphia Eagles, was signed for some reason. Guard Alex Boone departed for Minnesota. In the keeping-pace column, nose tackle Ian Williams was re-signed for five years.
The 49ers are going to need to answer this question for their fans: What good is $53 million in cap space if you don’t spend it on anyone?
Seattle Seahawks
The inevitable roster churn that happens to teams with several top-paid stars (Russell Wilson, Richard Sherman, Michael Bennett, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, Bobby Wagner, Jimmy Graham, K.J. Wright) goes on. Recently gone are former starters Bruce Irvin, Brandon Mebane and J.R. Sweezy. With Sweezy now a Buccaneer, should we nominate a different Seahawks player to be the new Tonight Show punchline? My vote is for Luke Willson.
But the news is not all bad for Seahawks free agency. Jeremy Lane was retained (expected) and Jermaine Kearse (surprising, considering his stated intention to not take a hometown discount) also re-signed. Speaking of Kearse, it’s nice that he’s back. But don’t let him play GM anytime soon. By re-signing two expected starters, the Seahawks take the title of “most exciting free agent party” in the NFC West.
The NFL free agency action is a bit brisker elsewhere. For a more complete breakdown of NFL free agency to date, check out how the rest of the NFL’s teams are faring here:
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