Friday recap 3/26
The Friday news dump has once again hit the NFL. The free agency market has slowed down significantly since last week, but there have still been multiple big signings that will affect the league next season quite a bit. Additionally, there have also been some trades dealt today with draft selections that have left many quite shocked, so lets take a look.
Earlier today the San Francisco 49ers acquired the 3rd overall pick in the draft from Miami, giving up the 12th overall pick, a 2022 third rounder and both a 2022 and 2023 first round pick. The Dolphins then turned around and traded the 12th overall pick, their 4th rounder this year and their first round pick in 2022 to the Eagles for the sixth overall pick. This sequence of trades did a lot for a lot of different people. Tua will likely keep the starting job in 2021 now that the Dolphins aren’t picking top 5. Jalen Hurts also won today, and has a great opportunity to keep his starting job in Philly and is going to get the chance to have the organization build around him and help him succeed, instead of picking a new quarterback, not even giving him a chance to start a full season. Now, the Eagles can still take a quarterback at 12, but after trading back instead of trading up for Zach Wilson, they will likely take a receiver like Devonta Smith or Jalen Waddle to help Jalen Hurts succeed. The 49ers however, will look to take one of the top quarterbacks in this years draft. The names that are circulating for the niners to be high on are Tray Lance and Mac Jones. Justin Fields has been considered to be one of the top selections at this point in the draft, but there has recently been a lot of speculation regarding the trust that teams have in fields, with some expecting his to fall all the way to the 4th round.
Also today, the Raiders signed former Ravens wide receiver, Willie Snead to a one year deal. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers also signed Leonard Fournette to a one year deal this morning, locking up all 22 starting players from their super bowl win, after signing Ndamukong Suh to a one year deal as well. The Buccaneers look to run it back in 2021, but only time will tell if this goal ends up successful. The Arizona Cardinals made another free agency addition this week, signing Malcolm Butler to a one year deal worth about $6 million, replacing Patrick Peterson who left to Minnesota last week. Malcolm Butler was released earlier this offseason and will now look to be the lead corner in the Cardinals defense in the upcoming season. The Cardinals defense now consists of Malcolm Butler, Budda Baker, Chandler Jones, JJ Watt, Marcus Golden, and their 2020 first round pick, Isaiah Simmons. Additionally, the Washington Football Team signed former Titans Receiver Adam Humphries, a surprise signing considering he suffered a potential career ending head injury late last season. The Bills signed Matt Brieda to a one year deal, and lastly the Seahawks resigned Carlos Dunlap to a two year deal worth $16.6 million.
In summary the NFL is already looking forward the draft in late April in Cleveland. The draft will serve as one of the most pivotal moments of the whole offseason, as it normally does. We could potentially see four quarterbacks go in a row to begin the draft, and we could also see a good number cornerbacks who would typically go top ten fall to the bottom half of the first and maybe even the second round. The offseason has been eventful so far this year, and will get even crazier as time goes on, just wait for more!