Top 27 NFL Offseason Acquisitions
1.) Jared Allen, DE, Trade, 2007: Chiefs, 2008: Vikings
Contract: 6 yrs, $78 million with incentives ($31 million guaranteed)
Traded with a 6th round pick in '08 for a 1st round pick, two 3rd round picks and a 6th round pick
The Hope: The high-motor Allen builds on his league-leading 15.5-sack performance from a year ago.
The Caveat: The Chiefs labeled Allen an "at risk" player, thanks to is two DUI's while in Kansas City.
The Reality: Without approving drinking and driving, the fact of the matter is Allen already served a two-game suspension and has been a model citizen over the past year and a half. His legal woes are behind him. On the field, he may very well be the best defensive end in football.
2.) Alan Faneca, G, UFA, 2007: Steelers, 2008: NY Jets
Contract: 4 yrs, $32 million ($23 million guaranteed)
The Hope: Faneca can continue his reign as the most dominant guard in the AFC for at least another four years.
The Caveat: His advanced age (31) suggests that his prime is somewhere in his rearview mirror.
The Reality: When Faneca actually starts to slow down is when we can start talking about his age. Until then, the Jets forked over record money, but they're ensuring themselves of having one of the game's preeminent guards lining up between third-years gems D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold.
3.) DeAngelo Hall, CB, Trade, 2007: Falcons, 2008: Raiders
Contract: 7 yrs, $70 million ($9.5 million in '08)
Traded for '08 2nd round pick, '09 5th round pick
The Hope: Hall left his bad attitude in Atlanta and will bring to the Bay Area only the uncanny cover skills that make him arguably the most dangerous cornerback in the NFL.
The Caveat: Last time the Raiders traded for a lethal, super-talented playmaker with attitude problems, they wound up getting ripped off with two years of Randy Moss's loafing.
The Reality: A great on-field performance goes a long ways toward blending an outspoken personality in the locker room. And a $70 million contract does wonders for appeasing a once-despondent star. Hall is a Class-A cornerback, which makes him as rare as a red diamond.
4.) Asante Samuel, CB, UFA, 2007: Patriots, 2008: Eagles
Contract: 6 yrs, $57 million ($20 million guaranteed)
The Hope: Samuel can take over the shutdown duties from the talented by fragile Lito Sheppard and help continue the excellence that has defined the Eagles secondary since the days of Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor.
The Caveat: The sixth-year veteran enjoyed lounging in a lot of zone coverage with the Patriots. In Jim Johnson's defense, Samuel will be asked to operate more in man-to-man.
The Reality: The Eagles plucked the highest prized free agent on the market, thus giving them a reliable new elite cornerback to replace their unreliable old elite cornerback (Sheppard). The persistently improving Samuel may struggle in this scheme early on, but throw his way ten times and be prepared to see at least two interceptions.
5.) Jonathan Vilma, LB, Trade, 2007: Jets, 2008: Saints
Contract: 1 yr, $1.1 million remaining on original contract
Traded for a 4th round draft pick in 2009*
The Hope: Vilma, an' 06 Pro Bowl alternate, can fully recovery from the surgery last year that removed the piece of dead bone dislodged in his knee.
The Caveat: Knee injuries can be a real bugaboo for a linebacker, especially one who is as reliant on his speed and agility.
The Reality: The reward is undoubtedly greater than the risk for New Orleans here. For starters, the Saints have been hurting for an acceptable middle linebacker basically since the day they marched in. If Vilma does regain his form (and being just 26 years old, he probably will), then New Orleans will have given up two mid-round draft picks for a player of early-first-round value.
*An additional mid-round draft pick in '09 could be added depending on Vilma's production
6.) Alge Crumpler, TE, Released, 2007: Falcons, 2008: Titans
Contract: 2 yrs, $5 million ($2.7 million guaranteed)
The Hope: The four-time Pro Bowler can do for Vince Young what he once did for Michael Vick: be a go-to weapon.
The Caveat: Various injuries, including a knee that required surgery, have robbed Crumpler of much of his explosiveness. Now he's just a guy with questionable hands.
The Reality: Crumpler is an upgrade over all of Tennessee's previous tight ends, both as a blocker and especially as a receiving threat. Playing with a dazzling young quarterback again will reinvigorate the once-crestfallen veteran.
7.) Kris Jenkins, DT, Trade, 2007: Panthers, 2008: Jets
Contract: 5 yrs, $35 million ($20 million guaranteed)
Traded for a 3rd and 5th round draft pick
The Hope: Jenkins can utilize his behemoth size and domineering power to become the rock that has been missing from the middle of New York's three-man defensive line.
The Caveat: Major shoulder injuries have wrecked two of the past four seasons for the older brother of Cullen. His attitude never helped things in Carolina, either.
The Reality: When at full strength, Jenkins is arguably the best defensive tackle in the NFL outside of Tommie Harris. However, despite his size, most of his success has come from playing a one-gap brand of football. There must be at least some concern over how inspired Jenkins will be to take on constant double teams as a nose tackle.
8.) Jacob Bell, OL, UFA, 2007: Titans, 2008: Rams
Contract: 6 yrs, $36 million ($13 million guaranteed)
The Hope: Bell can do what few Ram offensive linemen have done in recent years: stay healthy and be consistent.
The Caveat: After grooming him for four years, the Titans had absolutely no problem letting the former fifth-round pick walk.
The Reality: Bell is one of the better all-around guards in football….and few people know it. He is a force in the ground game and, with a decent center beside him, can hold up just find in pass protection. Bell is a huge upgrade over any of last year's starters in St. Louis.
9.) Shaun Rogers, DT, Trade, 2007: Lions, 2008: Browns
Contract: 6 yrs, $42 million ($20 million guaranteed)
Traded for 3rd round draft pick and CB Leigh Bodden
The Hope: The 340-pound monster can be a voracious force in his new nose tackle role.
The Caveat: Rogers comes with enough issues to fill a month's worth of Montell Williams Shows. There have been legal troubles, weight fluctuations, questionable practice habits, attitude concerns and health problems, to name a few.
The Reality: Rogers is a top-notch talent, but to guarantee him as much money as Cleveland did was borderline foolish. He has yet to prove himself over the course of a 16-game season (excluding his contract year in '05) and he has never operated on a three-man front.
10.) Corey Williams, DT, Franchised, 2007: Packers, 2008: Browns
Contract: 6 yrs, $38 million ($16.3 million guaranteed)
Franchised by Green Bay, traded for 2nd round draft pick
The Hope: Williams can apply his freakishly rare combination of power and quickness to the defensive end position in Romeo Crennel's 3-4 scheme.
The Caveat: True, we're talking about one of the more unheralded powerhouse players in the game, but the Browns essentially paid sticker price for Williams by surrendering a second-round pick on top of a big contract.
The Reality: Although unknown to many casual fans outside the Badger State, Williams is one of the 10 best defensive tackles in football. However, he'll be operating a four-technique assignment as a defensive end, plus he'll be competing as a financially secure player for the first time in his career. Factor in the second-round draft pick trade and the Browns may have rolled more dice than they realized here. Still, if Williams maximizes his potential, Cleveland's defense will soar.
|
