| ProFootballWeekly.com asked
contributing editor Joel Buchsbaum for his thoughts on some of the free-agent signings,
trades and other hot topics around the NFL. 
Raiders sign Trace Armstrong
Buchsbaum: The Raiders weren’t happy with their pass rush last year. Armstrong led
the league in sacks as a role player (with Miami). The Raiders have had great success with
older pass rushers as role players in the past, especially smaller, quicker, savvy players
with excellent technique.
Seahawks sign John Randle
Buchsbaum: Mike Holmgren’s hoping to revive him. He’s looking to recapture
the magic they had in Green Bay when they brought in Brett Favre — instead, you have
Matt Hasselbeck — and Reggie White, an older defensive lineman who brought new life
to the team — (instead, you have) John Randle.
Packers trade Matt Hasselbeck to Seahawks
Buchsbaum: With regard to the Seahawks’ trade for Hasselbeck, I think it’s a
good deal for both sides. After Brett Favre signed the long-term deal with the Packers,
Hasselbeck wanted out. After this year he’s be a free agent, and he’d go on his
own, and they couldn’t likely put a franchise tag on him. So they did the best to get
value. They need either a top defensive lineman or a premium wide receiver in the draft,
and although they didn’t gain an extra first-round pick, moving from 17 to 10 would
have probably cost them a two and a four to do so, and they also add a third-round pick.
From Seattle’s standpoint, they got the quarterback that their coach likes the most.
He knows the system. He should be able to come right in. And the combination of the two
players, getting Hasselbeck and John Randle, can possibly upgrade both sides of the ball
for them, and they still go into this draft with two first-round picks, including a very
high first-round pick, to select with.
Bears sign Brad Maynard
Buchsbaum: The Bears wanted a bad-weather punter with a strong leg, which he is. The
only concern is he’s never been very consistent as a pro, but he’s got
tremendous talent.
Chargers sign Ryan McNeil
Buchsbaum: The Chargers’ signing of Ryan McNeil fills a huge need at cornerback.
He played very well for the Cowboys last year. He’s a smart, veteran corner.
Doesn’t have great top-end speed but is a good, steady player and a major upgrade
over what they’ve had in quite some time. The downside is they had to guarantee part
of his contract for three years.
Chargers sign Marcellus Wiley
Buchsbaum: The Chargers sign the most coveted free agent still on the market, Marcellus
Wiley, the young Bills defensive end who just came into his own for a reported six-year,
$40 million contract with $9 million up front. The Chargers had the inside track because
it was John Butler who had drafted Wiley, plus Wiley is (originally from) Los Angeles, so
he’s going home. Another factor in the deal may have been that the Chargers play on a
grass field, which can increase a player’s longevity. With the addition of Ryan
McNeil and Wiley, the Chargers have now filled their two greatest defensive needs and may
now look to add another ex-Bill in QB Doug Flutie.
Dolphins sign Todd Perry
Buchsbaum: Todd Perry signing with the Dolphins — that’s basically Tony Wise,
who is one of (Perry’s) biggest fans when he coached the Bears’ offensive line.
He likes him a lot. That probably means they will not re-sign Kevin Donnalley.
Browns sign Dwayne Rudd
Buchsbaum: The connection here is that Rudd is a guy that many scouts felt could have
been a Pro Bowl player if he didn’t get hurt during last year and has played close to
a Pro Bowl level, if not a Pro Bowl level, before. Foge Fazio, who is the Browns’ new
defensive coordinator who coached him in Minnesota, is a huge fan of his and feels he can
be just about as good as any linebacker in the game.
Saints sign Albert Connell
Buchsbaum: Connell is a guy that had the reputation of being a star-potential player
who would always tempt you with his great ability and have some great games but never do
it consistently. The Saints feel that with (head coach) Jim Haslett and the other positive
players they have on the roster, they can get it out of him, and they had him rated as the
top receiver in free agency.
Carolina re-signs Mike Minter
Buchsbaum: They just felt he was the best player on their defense and they
couldn’t lose him. A lot of clubs had made a strong pitch for him.
A problem with free agency
Buchsbaum: I’d like to make a point about what is wrong with free agency. Take a
team like the Bills. They take a raw developmental prospect from an Ivy League school,
Marcellus Wiley, in the second round, pay him a sizable bonus, spend three years basically
developing him to the point where he is ready to be a starter, have him have a
breakthrough year in the fourth year and then lose him right after that. In effect, they
are developing a star player for another team, which just seems very unfair to me. |
