Is a defensive lineman with 24 career starts and 14 sacks worth a contract that includes $42 million in guaranteed money?The answer, on the surface, is no.But before going crazy about the agreeing to terms on a six-year deal with that guaranteed money for defensive end , take a deeper look.Here are three things that might change your mind:Jackson, who I ranked as my No. 2 free agent, might not get big sack numbers but he impacts the quarterback and he's really good in the run game.Jackson just turned 26 in January, which means his best football is in front of him. He wasn't a full-time starter in Denver until last season.But the biggest impact on the contract numbers is easy to see: The NFL free-agent market is flush with cap room, teams willing to spend
Sean Taylor Jersey it, and few marquee stars. Somebody has to get paid.As one personnel man said Tuesday, "It's only going to get crazier."Jackson is a good player coming off a good season and a dominant postseason. The Jaguars have to get better up front, so it makes sense especially for a team with more cap room than any other in the league. Even after the Jackson deal, they still have the most cap room in the league.Expect more major deals to fly in the next few days as players who might not be stars end up with mega-contracts. Also remember that most of these deals are really just two- or three-year deals, so the guaranteed money is the important thing. This is a good time to be a free agent, especially if your best football is in front of you and not behind you like Jackson.Megatron retirement falloutThe expected decision that receiver is retiring came Tuesday, and it means the Lions have a big hole at receiver.With Johnson gone, is the new No. 1, which means the Lions need to find help. I would imagine they would draft one or two receivers, maybe even one in the first round. As for Johnson, he had a heck of a career. And you have to respect a man who makes a decision to walk away on his terms. He made enough money and he's healthy enough to do so. Smart man.Great player. He was fun to watch. And now comes the tough part: Is he a Hall of Fame player? I would tend
Frank Gore Jersey to lean yes, but if Terrell Owens can't get in on his first try, there's no way Johnson should either.Pa s-rushing market shrinking fastWith re-signing with the , going back to the on a one-year deal and agreeing to a two-year deal with the , the market for Dolphins defensive end could heat up. Vernon was given the transition tag by the Dolphins, which means they can match any offer. But if a team were to structure a deal in a way that would make it tough for Miami to match, they might end up with Vernon.With Williams in the fold, the Dolphins might take the tag off Vernon or release . If the tag comes off, Vernon would be a 25-year-old pa s rusher free on the market. If that were to happen, he would get a deal in the Jackson range.Either way, Vernon is about to cash in big time. Any team with a pa s-rush need should target Vernon. He was my No. 1 free agent. Minnesota mulliganI was wrong about in Minnesota. I thought his speed would show up in that offense with last season. It didn't. And now he and his $12 million cap hit are being released.Wallace can fly, but for some reason he never plays to that speed in terms of productivity. He will get another chance. New England? They sure need somebody who can run.More musings: I love the move by the Bills to re-sign guard . He played really well last season for the Bills after sitting out following the "bully-gate" scandal in Miami. I was watching tape of Kansas City's , who is a really good player, and Incognito threw him around some in the game the Bills played against the Chiefs. He was violent and knocked him to the ground on a handful of plays. Howard seemed to get frustrated at times. Teams need nasty on their offensive line, which Incognito brings on
Willie Herenton Jersey the field. If the Browns let leave, they will be making a mistake. Some Browns sources were shocked they let it get to this point, where he is unrestricted. Benjamin can fly. There is a need for speed. It might have come as a bit of surprise when the Colts decided to re-sign tight end and let walk. Allen signed a four-year, $29-million deal with the Colts on Monday, keeping him off the free-agent market. That means Fleener, who is the better pa s catcher, will hit the market and almost certainly be gone. Allen has always been a favorite of Colts general manager Ryan Grigson, who loves his toughne s and ferocity. But that's a lot of money to pay for a guy who has 109 catches in four seasons. He had just 16 in 12 games last season ... Grigson admitted a major mistake with the release of 2013 first-round pick . He was expected to be a good outside rusher, and he provided little in terms of pa s rush and was inactive for the final six games last season. That's how teams get into trouble, by blowing premium picks. If the Jaguars sign a guard in free agency, maybe Seattle's , they will move to center. Linder has taken snaps at center in his two years with the team. He mi sed 13 games last
Duke Johnson Jersey year after suffering a torn labrum. As a rookie and for three games in 2015, he was Jacksonville's best lineman, lining up at right guard. But the team thinks he could easily make the move inside to center, where Steve Wisniewski isn't expected back. Cleveland is said to be eyeing Wisniewski. If the Jaguars did sign Sweezy or maybe another guard like Kansas City's , they would have a solid inside three in the new guard, Linder and second-year player , who played well as a rookie at right guard when Linder went down. Left tackle is middle-of-the-road and right tackle , who signed as a free agent from Dallas last season, played well in the second half of 2015. The team felt it took Parnell time to adjust to playing with Cann when he came into the lineup. The Raiders have agreed to terms with guard , and there is talk he could play left tackle for them. He played there the final three games of the season for the , and did a nice job. But I think he's a dominant guard who would just be a solid left tackle. The Raiders could
Sam Waardenburg Jersey play him at guard with center and fellow guard and Oakland would have a powerful inside trio. They could then bring back , who is a free agent, to play left tackle. That's the smart thinking, but the Raiders might be trying to out-think themselves by playing Osemele at left tackle. He has played right tackle as well. Did Howie Roseman trade Chip Kelly's smoothie recipes yet?
