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Seahawks show no fear in trading for Graham

Three big trades and dozens of contract agreements kicked off NFL free agency in style Tuesday afternoon, all those media leaks that had the league threatening discipline notwithstanding. Some snap reactions from the frantic first few hours:

Graham effect

Give Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider credit for staying bold after the Percy Harvin era nose-dived. By trading away a first-round pick in a mega-deal for the second time in three years — this time to the New Orleans Saints for star tight end Jimmy Graham — Schneider added a unique matchup threat to help balance a Marshawn Lynch-driven offense. Unlike Harvin, who was dealt to the New York Jets in October for pocket change and released Tuesday, Graham carries no history of insubordination and doesn't need a majority of his touches manufactured.

Seattle, which got a fourth-round pick back from New Orleans, also sent two-time Pro Bowl center Max Unger to the Saints. But that's a small price if Graham is healthy and returns to top form after a season hampered by shoulder trouble. He can be the No. 1 receiver quarterback Russell Wilson has never had. Meanwhile, Saints QB quarterback Drew Brees must overcome the loss of another top play-maker, one year after Darren Sproles was traded away. Ongoing salary cap problems aren't helping.

Rule benders

Running back Frank Gore's flip from a wink-nod deal with the Philadelphia Eagles to a three-year, $12 million contract with the Indianapolis Colts illustrates multiple problems with the NFL's three-day negotiating period. Technically, no contracts could be offered or accepted until 4 p.m. ET Tuesday. But that didn't stop dozens of deals from leaking before then — all yet to be signed, providing Gore the out to reconsider.

Because the Eagles were permitted to communicate with Gore only through his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, and couldn't bring him in for a visit, there was no way for Gore to get a feel for a new organization after a decade with the San Francisco 49ers. If anything, it's a shock more players haven't reneged on verbal commitments. The NFL has to re-examine the rules in the offseason and figure out if there's a better way. Letting coaches directly recruit prospective free agents for at least part of the window seems like a logical place to start.

Grass is greener

From the St. Louis Rams' perspective in the short term, the quarterback swap that sent 2010 No. 1 pick Sam Bradford to the Eagles for Nick Foles and a second-round pick in 2016 (with a flop of two 2015 picks and some conditions) boils down to value and reliability. GM Les Snead and coach Jeff Fisher have amassed loads of talent on defense and have intriguing young pieces at the skill positions on offense. But that's not enough to make a playoff push when Shaun Hill, who signed with the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday, and Austin Davis are at quarterback.

Bradford missed all but seven games over the past two seasons because of knee injuries. Even when healthy, he had issues with accuracy and consistency. So in a critical fourth season for this regime, the Rams turn to Foles, who is coming off a broken collarbone that ruined his first full season as the Eagles' starter but threw 27 TD touchdown passes with two interceptions after taking over in 2013. The bonus: cash savings and relief for the Rams' strapped salary cap. Foles is due $1.522 million in the last year of his rookie deal. Bradford, also in a contract year, is due $12.985 million. Whether either QB stays put for 2016 remains to be seen.

Rock solid

At 31, Haloti Ngata's best days might have been with the Baltimore Ravens. But the Detroit Lions' trade for the monster defensive lineman sent a strong message in the wake of All-Pro Ndamukong Suh's expected money grab with the Miami Dolphins: They still intend to field one of the NFL's most physical, fearsome fronts.

Players loved the job defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and his staff did a year ago as the Lions quietly went 11-5 and returned to the playoffs. Can coaches scheme around the loss of the league's best interior player? Probably not entirely, but adding Ngata to the mix — for the bargain price of fourth- and fifth-round picks, with a seventh-rounder coming back — doesn't hurt. And the Lions have flexibility to add more parts if they want. Placing the franchise tag on Suh to keep him off the open market would've cost about $26.9 million in cash and cap space. Ngata's salary in the last year of his deal: $8.5 million.

Staying home

As usual, some of the smartest money was spent before the start of free agency, by some of the smartest teams. The Green Bay Packers locked up slot receiver Randall Cobb on a four-year, $40 million contract and were finalizing a deal with tackle Bryan Bulaga. The New England Patriots re-signed safety Devin McCourty for five years and $47.5 million. The focus is always on what happens on the open market, but the players who actually hit free agency often get there for a reason. Retaining ascending players you know best on their second contracts is at the center of pretty much any consistent program.

source : http://www.usatoday.com