Boldin trade and free agency analysis

With the league entering its first uncapped year since 1993 there was a lot of uncertainty as to what teams would do with regards to free agency.

Would the one or two head scratcher, big money deals we see every offseason get consummated? Would most teams continue to operate as if the cap were still in place (which most other businesses in this country would refer to as a budget)?

Big money deals

Daniel Snyder has either lost his checkbook, or new GM Bruce Allen and head coach Mike Shanahan have him locked in a closet somewhere in FedEx Field, as the Redskins have been uncharacteristically quiet in free agency.

Normally the winners in landing big name free agents, the Redskins were rumored to have been interested in former Panthers DE Julius Peppers, but were not in the mix for his services once the league calendar began anew. Instead Peppers quickly agreed to a deal with the Chicago Bears estimated to be worth $12 million annually, which is significantly less than the $18 million he was reportedly seeking or the $14 million the Panthers allegedly offered.

It didn’t take S Antrel Rolle long to find a new home in the bright lights of the big city. The Giants moved quickly to sign the former Cardinal to one of the richest deals ever for a safety, netting him $37.5 million over 5 years.

Even the normally stingy Patriots retained one of their own when they locked up franchised NT Vince Wilfork with a 5 year, $40 million contract making him the highest paid nose tackle in NFL history. After more than a year of hand wringing over whether or not the Patriots would get him signed, it was curious that the deal came together on the first day of an uncapped year.

The Cardinals give away Boldin

That the Arizona Cardinals finally traded disgruntled WR Anquan Boldin didn’t come as a surprise, as much as that their asking price was merely a third round pick. Granted Boldin has had some injury problems the past two seasons, but the Cardinals obviously feel they are well positioned with Steve Breaston and Early Doucet behind team leader Larry Fitzgerald.

However, settling for a third and a fourth in exchange for one of the team’s top players (who originally was a second round pick) and a fifth round selection seems low in our opinion, especially in light of the contract extension he signed to join the Ravens that seemed reasonable for a player of Boldin’s caliber.

Desert mirage?

What makes the Boldin trade even more significant is the overall talent drain happening in the desert. The team has lost quarterback Kurt Warner to retirement, linebacker Karlos Dansby to a free agent deal with the Dolphins and safety Antrel Rolle, who they released.

While they were hopeful to get a shot at getting Rolle signed to a new contract, he instead signed with the Giants. In what you could call a desperate move to compensate for his loss, the Cardinals traded their fourth round pick in 2010 and a seventh rounder in 2011 to the Jets for Kerry Rhodes.

On the surface it looks like a good move for New York, as Rhodes had worn out his welcome and they got great value for a player that most likely would not have made it into training camp with the team. All things considered, the Cardinals probably could have waited for the Jets to release Rhodes rather than waste the draft picks.

Cleveland purge continues

New grand pubah, same results. Last season the Browns traded away TE Kellen Winslow and WR Braylon Edwards, now the team has traded away DT Corey Williams and a seventh round pick to Detroit in exchange for a fifth round pick. This is the same player that the team sent a second rounder to Green Bay for just two season ago.  This move seems like a further indictment of Phil Savage’s tenure as Cleveland’s general manager.

Did the Jets solve their secondary woes?

After missing badly on the trade for Lito Sheppard in 2009 the Jets are again trying a reclamation project. The Jets gave up their 2011 third round pick to the Chargers for Antonio Cromartie, which can escalate to a second rounder based on his performance. If Cromartie can turn his game around opposite Darrelle Revis, then the Jets will have gotten solid value out of the trade.

Tagged as: Anquan Boldin, Antrel Rolle, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Darrelle Revis, Free agent, Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, National Football League, NFL