Big Moves Already Being Made

The NFL, long unable to prevent free-agency deals from being agreed to quietly before the actual start of free agency, now allows a short “tampering” period before the official opening of big-game season. You can’t stop a rules violation? Legalize it. End of problem.

The real beginning of the league’s free-agency signing period is Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET. Nothing can be officially official before then. But the shelves are already emptying, like a grocery store in the northeast before a heavy snow. Sure, some pitted olives and tins of anchovies remain, but the prime filet is gone.

Let’s start with quarterbacks. It is all but certain that Kirk Cousins is leaving the Washington Redskins for the Minnesota Vikings and a fully-guaranteed deal worth about $84 million over three years. Minnesota’s three QBs from last year? Case Keenum is heading to the Denver Broncos, Sam Bradford to the Arizona Cardinals and Teddy Bridgewater to the New York Jets, who also have a deal in place with former Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson.

The Tennessee Titans decided to shop at the New England Patriots’ store. Cornerback Malcolm Butler and running back Dion Lewis are headed south and the Patriots could lose left tackle Nate Solder.

Former Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham? To the Green Bay Packers, along with ex-Jets defensive end Mo Wilkerson. The Chicago Bears will pilfer former Miami Dolphins kicker Cody Parkey, but he might not have to kick a lot of field goals if new receivers Allen Robinson (last with the Jacksonville Jaguars) and Taylor Gabriel (goodbye, Atlanta Falcons) come through. The Dolphins will pick up receivers Danny Amendola (ex-Patriots) and Albert Wilson (late of the Kansas City Chiefs).

The Jaguars get a new guard in Andrew Norvell, who leaves the Carolina Panthers, as does defensive tackle Star Lotulelei for the Buffalo Bills.

So there’s Wednesday’s news late afternoon this morning. Surely there will be more. Teams will cut players, bring in others for a look and churn their rosters.

A feeding frenzy in a shark tank is always worth the price of admission.

 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman