2015 NFL Offseason

NFL teams are kicking into full gear prepping for the draft and the future. A couple big moves happened this week with a completely unbased rumor about a team looking to trade an elite level player.  So what else are your favorite teams doing? And where do you see players lining up next fall?

QB

Josh McCown

Buccaneers

released

signed with

Browns

QB

Matt Cassel + Draft Pick

Vikings

traded for

2 Draft Picks

Bills

RB

Matt Forte

Bears

trade rumors

RB

LeSean McCoy

Eagles

traded for

LB

Kiko Alonzo

Bills

RB

Steven Jackson

Falcons

released

RB

Peyton Hillis

Giants

released

RB

Reggie Bush

Lions

released

RB

Pierre Thomas

Saints

released

WR

Brandon Marshall

Bears

trade

5th round pick

Jets

WR

Greg Little

Bengals

released

WR

Brian Hartline

Dolphins

released

WR

Brandon Gibson

Dolphins

released

WR

Harry Douglas

Falcons

released

WR

Jacoby Jones

Ravens

released

WR

Lance Moore

Steelers

released

TE

Anthony Fasano

Chiefs

released

TE

Brandon Bostick

Packers

released

signed with

Vikings

OL

Mike Pollak

Bengals

released

OL

Todd Herremans

Eagles

released

OL

Justin Blalock

Falcons

released

OL

Charlie Johnson

Vikings

released

DE

Robert Geathers

Bengals

released

DE

Darnell Dockett

Cardinals

released

signed with

49ers

DE

Jonathan Massaquoi

Falcons

released

DE

Mathias Kiwanuka

Giants

released

DE

Chris Canty

Ravens

released

DE

Stephen Bowen

Redskins

released

DT

Ndamukong Suh

Lions

not resigned

signed with

Dolphins

DT

Ricky Jean-Francois

Colts

released

signed with

Redskins

DT

Vince Wilfork

Patriots

released

DL

Barry Cofield Jr.

Redskins

released

MLB

AJ Hawk

Packers

released

LB

Brad Jones

Packers

released

OLB

Shaun Phillips

Colts

released

LB

Keith Rivers

Bills

released

CB

Cortland Finnegan

Dolphins

released

CB

Cary Williams

Eagles

released

S

Thomas DeCoud

Panthers

released

S

Bernard Pollard

Titans

released

Reformatted the first post to be all-encompassing. Added a bunch of new moves.

MLB

AJ Hawk

Free Agent

After 9 years in cheese country, Hawk is free to find a new home. He falls in a weird category of player, he's never celebrated, so he can't be considered overrated, but he's by no means underrated in my mind. He's just a non-flashy, solid part of a defense.

Future Home: After 9 years, you have to think Hawk wants to chase another championship. The top 3-4 defenses he could possibly join that are strong playoff contenders include the Colts, Ravens, or Cardinals, and not much else. The other tantalizing idea is he heads to Chicago to usher in the new defense Vic Fangio is implementing as the Bears are a hot mess at 4/5 of the front 7 entering next year. As a Bears fan, I'd neither like nor dislike Hawk in uniform.

RB

Reggie Bush

Free Agent

Once again, another Detroit RB succumbs to the injury bug leading to his release/retirement (Best, Leshoure, etc.). Dynamic Bush may be in each aspect of the game, but he can't stay on the field to warrant a big deal.

Future Home: Bush can't be considered a starting back anymore. He needs to fill the change of pace role similar to a Darren Sproles. You have to think Pete Carroll has a special place in his heart to bring Bush in in a friendly team deal. Three teams looking for a RB could include the Patriots, Ravens, and Vikings.

RB

Matt Forte

Chicago Bears

Forte responded to rumors of him being a trade target for the Bears. The last time Forte's contract was in its final year, he threatened to hold out. Nobody has produced more at RB than Forte since he entered the league.  The new Bears regime wants to be a running team, so you'd think he'd stay and that this rumor is complete BS.

Future Home: Chicago
I don't see a single scenario where Forte is moved. He's too good to get fair compensation for him, and there's not a player on the roster ready to step up to fill his shoes. When it comes to money talks, Forte has proven volatile, so maybe new Bears GM Ryan Pace won't deal with his shenanigans and finds a suitor for him. Like Bush, the Patriots, Ravens, and Vikings each need a RB. The Rams do as well. The Patriots always go cheap, though the Ravens and Rams seem like possibilities.  Dream what-if scenario, the Bears get a ransom for Forte, and use their early 2nd round pick to scoop up Ameer Abdullah from Nebraska. But I'd rather keep Forte for now.

WOW!
A blockbuster trade in the NFL. One with no legal issues, no known locker room intrigue, or politically corrected fueled public outrage pushing the player out of town. This never happens.

Shady McCoy to the Bills for Kiko Alonzo. Apparently the sound an Eagle makes is quack, because that's all Chip Kelly is doing in the NFL. Maybe the Eagles have new uniforms and a green/yellow color scheme they're unveiling this year.

Now that there's a legitimate elite level player being traded for an up-and-coming superstar level player (coming off a scary injury), it might be time to start quantifying how to allow upper-level players to be moved in the league. Within reason of course.

So do the Eagles sign DeMarco Murray, or the soon to be released CJ Spiller? A fun fact, the Bills just traded for RB Bryce Brown of the Eagles a year ago too.

Well the Bills GM and Rex Ryan must be getting work done on their Madden save files, agreeing in principal to a second trade. The trade will be official on 03/10/15.

Vikings send Matt Cassel and a pick for 2 picks from the Bills. Savvy move by Minnesota if you ask me.

the_EDJ wrote:Well the Bills GM and Rex Ryan must be getting work done on their Madden save files, agreeing in principal to a second trade. The trade will be official on 03/10/15.

Vikings send Matt Cassel and a pick for 2 picks from the Bills. Savvy move by Minnesota if you ask me.

If we're getting 2 picks back, I'm thinking one of them is a semi-early pick if we're sending a pick along with Cassel.  I like the move, he was a high priced backup ($4 mil if I remember correctly), Teddy seems durable and reliable (knocks on wood) and we can find a decent backup for cheaper.  I liked Cassel, he's an upgrade from Orton and Manuel IMO.  Not a huge one, but still an upgrade.

Fun fact: Cassel is now competing with another Florida State QB picked in the top 20.  Formerly Ponder and now EJ Manuel.

Media "sources" are saying the Bears are shopping Brandon Marshall. Which makes sense they'd be trying to sign Hartline to replace him after hosting Hartline yesterday since they're similar receivers.  Marshall's talent is still elite, and could fetch a good price with his recent good behavior, minus a limited locker room meltdown last year.

Darnell Dockett to the 49ers. The richest defense in the league gets richer. smh

Vince Wilfork let go by Patriots. He'd be a great anchor for the Bears to usher in their new defense. (Wishful thinking)

Steelers want Polamalu to retire?! Where's Rodney Dangerfield talking about respect?

Saints cutting RB Pierre Thomas.

Mel Kiper mocked Nebraska DE/OLB Randy Gregory to the Bears. That would be fun to watch...

Well shit. Another major trade yesterday...

Brandon Marshall to the Jets for a 5th round pick.
Coach Fox and GM Pace must really want to restore the Bears locker room because off the field, Marshall was a model citizen getting his disorder under control.  The Bears are now well under the cap, sitting with $38 million to spend. Do they make a play at Suh as a 3-4 DE? Or target Randall Cobb as a speed threat at WR?

Jimmy Clausen returns to the Bears.
Is this a sign to give him a chance to start if they move Cutler? Or just a veteran backup?

Suh to Dolphins...wow.

Thankfully, JJ Watt and friends helped us keep tabs on all the important deals and rumors to keep this crazy NFL offseason of trades going on.
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But seriously, we're gonna have to explore the precedents set on how to handle big names being traded now, because apparently, the Agents and GMs have learned a few new tricks.

>> Saints Jimmy Graham+4th Rounder to Seahawks for Max Unger and 1st rounder.
>> Eagles Nick Foles and 5th Rd pick to Rams for Sam Bradford and 4th Rd pick and future 2nd Rd pick, including a future conditional pick ranging from not at all to 4th or 3rd.
>> Ravens Haloti Ngata to Lions for picks.

RB Frank Gore to Colts
RB Shane Vereen to Giants
WR Brian Hartline to Browns
WR Jeremy Maclin to Chiefs
WR Andre Johnson to Colts
WR Torrey Smith to 49ers
WR Brandon Gibson to Patriots
WR Harry Douglas to Titans
TE Owen Daniels to Broncos
TE Julius Thomas to Jaguars
DT Stephen Paea to Redskins
LB A.J. Hawk to Bengals
LB Lamarr Woodley to Cardinals
LB Trent Cole to Colts
LB J.T. Thomas to Giants
LB Malcolm Smith to Raiders
CB Buster Skrine to Jets

And there's even more I'm missing. Revis expected to go to Jets. Just a matter of time.

Bradford trade is baffling.

I think Percy's going to buffalo

Nebraska DE/OLB Randy Gregory tested positive for marijuana at the draft combine. He failed two drug tests at Nebraska (and they were never reported to the public). He's owning up to it and not making excuses (good on him), but man, how much money does he lose?

Chiefs OLB Justin Houston was a 1st round prospect, and a positive test dropped him to Round 3. I liked the idea of Gregory to the Bears, but now, I wonder if he's free-falling.

Tim fucking Tebow to the Eagles. Fuck. Fuckity fuck fuck.

ESPN is unbearable enough with their coverage of LeBron and Johnny Manziel. Now a journeyman veteran player with no real success to speak of can dominate the "news."

the_EDJ wrote:Tim fucking Tebow to the Eagles. Fuck. Fuckity fuck fuck.

ESPN is unbearable enough with their coverage of LeBron and Johnny Manziel. Now a journeyman veteran player with no real success to speak of can dominate the "news."

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Led the Broncos to the playoffs, beat Pittsburgh in said playoffs in the only season he was actually allowed to start.....

I may have to play with the Eagles now to build a Tebow dynasty....