Free Agency Recap: Day 3- Wilfork Out, Browner In?



Day 3 of free agency was a roller coaster ride for Pats fans, who went from the euphoric high of signing Darrelle Revis to a brilliant contract to the emotional gut punch of Patriots mainstay Vince Wilfork asking for his release, finally finishing on pins and needles after conflicting reports about the status of Brandon Browner. In case you let your emotions got the best of you, here's our one-stop recap of yesterday's free agency action.
  • Lets start with the Patriots, who used some creative cap work land Darrelle Revis for only a $6.5-$7 million cap hit in 2014, leaving them with about $10 million in space. However, that fantastic news was soon followed up by reports that Vince Wilfork, unwilling to negotiate a pay cutting extension, asked the team for his release. Wilfork's release (the Patriots haven't granted his request yet) would leave a big hole in the middle of New England's defense, but unloading his $11.6 million cap hit would free up an additional $8 million in space. 
  • Some of that money may or may not be going to former Seahawks corner Brandon Browner. Ian Rappaport reported that Browner has agreed in principle on a 2 year deal with the Patriots, saying the corner had told those close to him they had a deal. However, Adam Schefter soon reported that Browner's agent refuted those claims, saying that the Redskins, Saints and Raiders are still in play for his client. Browner's agent was also apparently pissed because the false report was interrupting a night of rec league hockey. Things got weird last night.
  • San Francisco didn't make any big moves today, but they are poised to host a couple of interesting free agents tomorrow; namely, CB Walter Thurmond III (Seahawks), CB Chris Cook (Vikings) and WR Julian Edelman (Patriots).
  • Edelman's visit with the Niners is his first of free agency, thanks in part to two of his major suitors prioritizing other free agents over him. The Browns have signed WR Antrell Hawkins to an offer sheet (Hawkins is a restricted free agent) that Cincinnati is not expected to match because of cap concerns, and the Ravens are trying hard to get WR Steve Smith, who began his meeting with them last night. Baltimore is also expecting to lose safety and former Patriot James Ihedigbo to Detroit.
  • Speaking of Cincinati, they released LB James Harrison after just one year. Harrison didn't make much of an impact in Cinci and is unlikely to get much interest as a free agent. They also lost valuable offensive tackle Anthony Collins to the Bucs, who released Donald Penn to accomodate Collins at left tackle.
  • The Eagles made one of the biggest splashes of the day, starting their morning off right by trading a fifth round pick for Darren Sproles. Again, the Eagles now have both LeSean McCoy and Darren Sproles to play in Chip Kelly's offense. Be afraid, NFL. The Eagles also signed CB Nolan Carroll, an ex-Dolphin.
  • Perhaps eager to make a splash just to distract from the embarrassing Rodger Saffold fiasco, the Raiders finally got a little aggressive with their league-leading cap space. They signed two accomplished veteran pass rushers, former Giant Justin Tuck and former Steeler Lamarr Woodley. Tuck's signing with Oakland (and not New England) made both me and CSNNE's Mike Giardi very sad.
  • One of the Patriots suspected targets as an Edelman alternative, Emmanuel Sanders, remains busy. One day after visiting Jacksonville, the former Steeler visited with Kansas City, where he would add some playmaking to a limited Chiefs passing offense. The Chiefs also added LB Joe Mays and versatile OL Jeff Linkenbach, who is badly needed after the Chiefs lost their starting LT and both starting guards on free agencies first day.
  • The Vikings got aggressive and added two cornerbacks, former Charger Derek Cox and former Panther Captain Munerrlyn. They also resigned DT Fred Evans, taking another option of the market for the Patriots to fill a soon to be Wilfork-sized hole in the middle of their D.
  • The Redskins made some moves yesterday, adding former Cowboys DT Jason Hatcher, former Texans LB Daryl Sharpton (who played well filling in for the oft-injured Brian Cushing) and former Eagles DL Clinton Geathers. They also added former Raiders CB Tracy Porter, which didn't stop them from meeting with Pats target Brandon Browner.
  • The complete decimation of Carolina's receivers continued with Ted Ginn Jr, who is headed to Arizona for a potentially cushy gig as the #3 guy behind Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Floyd. The Cards also hosted former Jet CB Antonio Cromartie on a visit.
  • The Bills managed to re-sign tight end Scott Chandler, eliminating one of the few logical targets for the Patriots at that position. Another Patriots target who was actually brought in for a visit, former Cowboy Phil Costa, signed with Indianapolis, where he'll take over the starting center job from recently release Samson Setele. The Colts hope he'll soon be joined by WR Hakeem Nicks, who is in Indy for a visit.
  • The Jaguars took two more pass rushers off the market, signing Chris Clemons (continuing the Seattle-Jacksonville pipeline) and Jason Babin. They also grabbed former first round pick Ziggy Hood, an DT an ex-Steeler, and met with CB Walter Thurmond III and WR Emmanuel Sanders.
  • The Texans have been relatively quiet so far in free agency, but the took another potential Pats TE target off the market by re-signing Garrett Graham
  • The Bears made another move to shore up their defensive line, signing former Lion Willie Young. They also re-signed Dante Rosario and picked up Panthers receiver Domenik Hixon.
  • The Giants made a pair of moves at linebacker, adding former Raven Jameel McClain and re-signing Jon Beason. They also kept fullback Henry Hynoski.

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