NFL Free Agency Winners/Losers -

In a competitive sport devoid of guarantees, free agency in the NFL seems like the riskiest wager of them all.

The in-between period between the end of meaningful free agency and the NFL Draft allows for a degree of analysis. With hundreds of millions of dollars floating between teams and players, the NFL economy looks rather sound. With that said, while some teams spend wisely, filling areas of need, others completely failed to acquire missing pieces to get them over the proverbial hump. Under those circumstances, both groups of teams will assess what went right and what veered way off course.

Winner: Cincinnati Bengals

If you look at what prevented the Bengals from the chance to raise their first Lombardi, this felt like a no-brainer. Under duress for the entirety of that game, Joe Burrow tried to win a ring with little to no blocking. As a result of the loss, Cincinnati hit the ground running by fortifying their shaky offensive line. In landing La’el Collins, Ted Karras, and Alex Cappa, the offense can actually breathe a sigh of relief. Imagine those numbers with competent blocking.

Loser: Dallas Cowboys

In the NFC East, where the Cowboys appeared as the front-runner, catastrophic losses brought them back to the pack. Randy Gregory initially looked as though he’d re-sign. Then, the Denver Broncos swooped in and brought him to Colorado. Gregory, after years of off-field issues, looked to have finally turned the corner. Now, he turns the corner, terrorizing quarterbacks in the AFC West. Moreover, his departure leaves a cavernous gap in the pass rush. Additionally, the loss of Amari Cooper hurts the passing game. Whether he disappeared or not, Cooper gave the Cowboys an elite route runner at all three levels.

Winner: Buffalo Bills

Von Miller jumpstarts a pass rush that needed an edge rusher to enhance the technically sound Bills’ defense. The Bills play a very tightly constructed defense that relies upon serious gap integrity and sound tackling angles. Yet, they’ve lacked the ability to get home from the edge, until now. Another intriguing note is the signing of tight end O.J. Howard. Pairing him with Dawson Knox should concern defenses. Each is an athletic tight end that can block and find soft spots as safety valves.

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Loser: Minnesota Vikings

In extending Kirk Cousins’ contract, Minnesota adhered itself to a quarterback with good numbers but a mediocre record. 59-59-2 screams middle of the road. Yet, with a new regime, the team felt the need to stick with him. Cousins excels in the middle of the -season, before the temperature dips. In September, his record sits at 9-16, while in December/January, he resides at 17-20. Not to mention, afternoon and late games see the wheels fall completely off, winning just sixteen of the forty-seven contests. Traveling to Green Bay and Chicago in December will continue to break the Vikings’ spirit.

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Winner: Carson Wentz

In the quick turnaround world of the NFL, what quarterback actually earns three chances to turn the fortunes around for a different team. In trading Wentz to Washington, the Colts walked away with a bevy of picks. However, the real winner is Wentz. Naysayers will trumpet his arrival as the moves of a perennially desperate franchise, praying for relevance and a return to their winning ways. If you look back at his history, teammates and management feel no love lost watching Wentz suit up elsewhere. To paraphrase the old saying, ” It’s not them, it’s you”. Now, in Washington, the team will attempt to craft more offensive talent around him, hoping to capitalize on a winnable division. The Cowboys regressed in the offseason, opening the door for the Commanders to stroll through. Wentz’s alleged aloof demeanor won’t matter if he can bring victory to Washington. A true winner in free agency.

Serious Movement

While we don’t know who won the blockbuster deals in Seattle and Green Bay, we do know that the 2021 season provides teams with the ability to lay down a foundational base to build a winner upon. Now, some of these moves will catapult someone into contention, while others will break a franchise. At least no one gave a coach ten years removed from coaching a ten-year, nine-figure contract. On balance, anything less than that could be regarded as a victory and should be heralded as such.