On March 17, the National Football League allowed teams to start signing free agents. Already, big names have changed teams. Check out the most impactful free agent signings so far as well as other NFL news from the past week so you can keep planning your bets against their NFL odds.
NFL COVID-19 Update – March 18th Edition
2022 Super Bowl
- When: Sunday, Feb. 6, 2022
- Where: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood California
- TV: NBC
Super Bowl LVI Odds
- Kansas City Chiefs +400
- Green Bay Packers +800
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers +600
- Buffalo Bills +1000
- Baltimore Ravens +1100
- San Francisco 49ers +1400
- Los Angeles Rams +1300
- Cleveland Browns +1800
- New Orleans Saints +1800
- Seattle Seahawks +2000
- Miami Dolphins +2500
- Indianapolis Colts +2200
- Pittsburgh Steelers +2500
- Dallas Cowboys +2800
- Tennessee Titans +2800
- Arizona Cardinals +3000
- Los Angeles Chargers +3300
- New England Patriots +2500
- Minnesota Vikings +5000
- Philadelphia Eagles +5000
- Las Vegas Raiders +5000
- Washington Football Team +6000
- Atlanta Falcons +5000
- Chicago Bears +6600
- Denver Broncos +6600
- Jacksonville Jaguars +6600
- Carolina Panthers +5000
- New York Giants +6600
- New York Jets +8000
- Cincinnati Bengals +10000
- Houston Texans +12500
- Detroit Lions +12500
Drew Brees retires after 20 years, New Orleans Saints resign Jameis Winston
Even with free agents bolting their 2020 squads, the biggest news from last week is how after 20 seasons, Drew Brees decided to hang up his cleats. Brees is the owner of a Super Bowl ring and twelve NFL records.
Among his most impressive are most career passing yards, most career pass completions, and most consecutive games with a touchdown pass. Brees is tied with seven other players for most touchdown passes in a single game.
The Saints and Brees knew he was going to retire before the free agent period. New Orleans restricted his contract, though, to get below the cap. Then Brees retired.
And then the Saints signed Jameis Winston to a one-year contract. Sean Payton said Winston and Taysom Hill will contend for the starting quarterback position during the summer.
But Hill fumbled 10 times and lost 5 last season. Payton won’t take that chance. If Winston can prove he can take care of the football, that he won’t throw interceptions, the job belongs to him.
New England acquires resign Cam Newton and sign TEs Henry & Smith
After a disappointing season, the Patriots are rehauling their entire roster. The biggest move? New England signed the two best tight-ends available, Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith.
In 2020, Henry played with the Los Angeles Chargers. Smith played for Baltimore. By signing both players, Bill Belichick signaled he’s going back to his two-tight-end set that led to multiple Patriots’ Super Bowl victories.
Resigning Cam Newton is also a plus. Newton gets a $13.6 million deal. $6 million of it is based on incentives. If Cam proves he’s a starter in the NFL, and he keeps insisting he is, he’ll earn the $6 million.
New England also signed WR Nelson Agholor, resigned LB Kyle Van Noy, who had bolted to the Dolphins, signed 2020 San Francisco WR Kendrick Bourne, and last year Philadelphia safety Jalen Mills.
Because of all the signings, the odds on the Patriots to win the Super Bowl dropped +1500 to +2500 from +4000. New England isn’t done changing their team, and the draft is in April. So if you like the Pats, jump on them before they make more moves.
Seattle decides to keep Russell, Houston may be kicking themselves for not trading Watson
The Bears pursued Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson with as much fervor as possible. But the Seahawks spurned Chicago.
Why? Seattle wants to make teams desperate for Russell. Desperation, especially during the season if quarterbacks for the Saints, Bears, or Raiders fail, forces the price on Russell to rise.
Wilson won’t play with a team other than Seattle, New Orleans, Chicago, or Las Vegas. So waiting on trading Wilson makes the most sense.
For Houston, not trading Deshaun Watson when they could may come back to bite them. Two masseuses have filed civil suits against Deshaun.
Who knows if any of it is true. It may not matter. In today’s cancel culture environment, the Texans may be forced to discipline Watson no matter what happens. Also, it’s difficult to play your best when you’ve got something like this hanging over your head.
Bears go with Dalton, Green, Samuel, and Peterson find new homes
After their failed attempt at acquiring Russell Wilson, the Chicago Bears turned their attention to Andy Dalton. The Cowboys made Dak Prescott the second highest paid quarterback in the NFL, which is why Dalton became available.
Dalton wants to start. The Bears have an opening. The former Cincinnati Bengals’ signal-caller could do well in Chicago.
A.J. Green will play for the Arizona Cardinals. When healthy, Green remains one of the best wide receivers in the league. He’s not the Green from seven years ago, but he should definitely help an offense with Kyler Murray at quarterback and DeAndre Hopkins on the other side.
As a Carolina Panther in 2020, Curtis Samuel had a great season. He caught 77 passes for 851 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Washington Commanders signed Samuel to a massive contract. The WFT may not know who their starting quarterback will be, Taylor Heinicke and Ryan Fitzpatrick are the two choices, but they do know who their starting wide receivers will be, Samuel and Terry McLaurin.
Cornerback Patrick Peterson signed with the Minnesota Vikings. Peterson should enter the hall-of-fame after he retires. Peterson is a major upgrade at the position.
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