John Clayton: Six things we learned from 2015 free agency

Six things we learned from 2015 free agency

Clayton

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Thanks to a quiet agreement between the NFL and the NFLPA, the period in which teams can sign players classified as unrestricted free agents was shortened (it previously ended on June 1). It was a smart change. Very few unrestricted free agents get deals in May, and if they do, the deals are usually for minimum salary.

In fact, there is a decent chance the market will pick up for the remaining unsigned unrestricted free agents. Starting Tuesday, signings don’t count against teams in the computation of compensatory picks. So the dozen teams in position to be awarded compensatory picks, which cover the net loss of unrestricted free agents, can jump into the market Tuesday without having any signings count against them. Street free agents — players who have been cut or weren’t under contract last year — don’t factor into the compensatory picks.

The remaining 138 unrestricted free agents become street free agents Tuesday. [That is, Tues. May 12, a week ago.] Shortening the unrestricted free-agency period gives those players a better chance to land with teams in time to participate in OTAs and minicamps.

Let’s review what has happened in this year’s unrestricted free-agency period.

1. A record $1.528 billion in total contract compensation was spent on 142 unrestricted free agents. Free-agency spending has been growing steadily over the past four years. It was $1.43 billion in 2014, $1.271 billion in 2013 and $1.16 billion in 2012. With the salary cap expected to rise to around $150 million next year, expect $1.6 billion to be spent. As always, spending is fast. In the first 11 days, 98 players received contracts worth $1.472 billion. After March 20, 44 players received $55.6 million. From that group of 44, the only player to receive more than $3 million was wide receiver Michael Crabtree, who went to the Oakland Raiders for a one-year deal at $3.2 million.

2. The New York Jets ($179.3 million), Jacksonville Jaguars ($174.5 million), Miami Dolphins ($137.2 million), Philadelphia Eagles ($121.2 million) and Oakland Raiders ($110.8 million) each spent more than $100 million in contracts. It was fascinating how these teams invested. The Jets, for example, hit the cornerback market hard, grabbing Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine for $127 million worth of contracts to revamp the position, along with giving safety Marcus Gilchrist a four-year, $22 million contract. Chip Kelly put $51 million worth of contracts into the Eagles’ backfield with the additions of DeMarco Murray and Ryan Mathews. The Chicago Bears (12), Jets (11), Raiders and Falcons (nine each) led the free-agency period in signings. No surprise. They were drafting in the top eight.
Only two teams committed more money to free agents this year than the Dolphins, and nobody got a bigger deal than Ndamukong Suh.

3. Defense ruled. Four of the top five contracts went to defensive players. The Dolphins paid defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh the kind of money you’d give a quarterback, signing him to a six-year, $114.3 million deal. Revis returned to the Jets for $14 million a year. The Cowboys gave Greg Hardy a one-year, $11.3 million, but that will be discounted by his suspension. Cornerback Byron Maxwell shocked the free-agent world with his six-year, $63 million contract from the Eagles.

4. Increasing free-agent salaries are making it harder for teams to keep drafted players. The 2011 draft was considered a good one. Twelve of the top 16 selections made the Pro Bowl. So far, 37 players from the 2011 class received second contracts from their teams, while 45 left in free agency. There are 15 first-rounders from 2011 who are on their fifth-year options, so those numbers will change. It’s becoming harder for teams to keep second- and third-round choices. Ten second- and third-rounders from 2011 re-signed with their original teams. Twenty went to other teams.

5. The cornerback market was the biggest surprise. Revis received $14 million a year, which wasn’t a surprise. The Maxwell deal ratcheted up the market. Maxwell, a sixth-round pick of the Seahawks, got $10.5 million a year. Antonio Cromartie (Jets) and Chris Culliver (Washington) each received $8 million a year. Tramon Williams (Cleveland) got $7 million a year. Skrine and Davon House (Jacksonville) each topped $6 million a year.

6. The AFC East might be up for grabs. The Dolphins, Bills and Jets entered free agency hoping to upgrade their chances of getting wild-card berths. But the possible suspension of quarterback Tom Brady could give those teams a chance to challenge for the AFC East crown. The Bills added tight end Charles Clay and receiver Percy Harvin as free agents and traded for running back LeSean McCoy. The Dolphins signed tight end Jordan Cameron and Suh. The Jets revamped their secondary, signed James Carpenter at guard and traded for receiver Brandon Marshall.