2015 NFL free agency: Grading the big moves so far

NFL Free Agency hasn’t technically even started yet -- that doesn’t happen until 4:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday -- but a long list of big-money handshake deals appear to be done, pending putting ink to paper. With a wink and a nudge, Ndamukong Suh and Byron Maxwell’s agents and new teams apparently agreed to terms and in doing so have set the bar for what looks to be an exciting NFL spending spree.

(I’m sure I’m the first one to write that.)

Suh’s (reported) six-year, $114 million deal with the Dolphins guarantees $60 million, pays him an average of $19 million per season, and would be what Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com calls a “position buster.” Which is to say, Suh’s reported $19 million per year average greatly exceeds the norms of the defensive tackle position in the NFL, with the next-closest being Gerald McCoy’s average earnings of $13.6 million per year.

No matter how you slice it, Suh set a new gold standard for his position and potentially changed the salary-per-position paradigm going forward. Hell, Suh’s reported deal even blows 3-4 defensive end J.J. Watt’s six-year, $100 million deal out of the water. Watt is generally regarded as the best non-quarterback football player on the planet, so that’s saying something.

You could, of course, make the argument that Suh is worth the money. Miami’s front office certainly sees it that way. Whether he is or whether he isn’t, the reported deal has major implications for the 2015 season. Here are a few.

The Bills traded for LeSean McCoy and Matt Cassell, the Jets traded for Brandon Marshall, the Patriots re-signed Devin McCourty, and the Dolphins buoyed a few of their cap casualty releases by slamming a big fat domino down on the division with the Suh signing. There’s no telling whether or not the Suh deal moves the needle the way the team is hoping it will, but it’s certainly a big move for a defense that already has a strong defensive front. Suh was a major impact player for the Lions’ elite defense last season, so his addition will at least have division rivals sitting up and taking a closer look at how their rosters are set up.

The old cliché says to “build from the trenches,” and while there are many ways to skin a cat in the modern NFL, Miami seems to be subscribed to this thinking. The Dolphins’ projected defensive front now includes Cameron Wake, Earl Mitchell and/or Randy Starks, Ndamukong Suh, and Olivier Vernon. That ain’t shabby.

Moreover, Suh is a force multiplier in that he’ll now command double teams and the focus of opposing offensive linemen, freeing up Vernon and Wake on the edges. He’s a great pass rusher, a strong run defender, and he’s the type of player that opposing teams have to scheme for and around. That’s what you want out of a marquee player. He instantly makes Miami’s defense more dynamic.

The logic in wanting Suh on your team is pretty much unassailable ... the only question was and will remain, “for how much?”

Miami’s answer seems to be: “Who cares?”

An annual salary of $19 million is a lot to dedicate to one player when you’re dealing with a league-wide salary cap. The decision to open up the checkbook for Suh could potentially affect the job status of some of his would be teammates, including Randy Starks and Mike Wallace. It also likely means Jared Odrick will leave for another team in free agency.

Suh’s salary is legit quarterback money, so that obviously begs the question. What if Ryan Tannehill fully breaks out in 2015 and commands a deal somewhere in the neighborhood of $20 million per year? With Russell Wilson and Andrew Luck likely to hit their payday’s this season, Tannehill could end up finding a very, very strong market, and that could be complicated for Miami. It could get tough to have two players taking up that much of the salary cap, though if the cap continues to grow at $10 million per year it may not be as big of a deal as it seems.

Screw all that worrying. If you’re a Miami coach, player, or fan, this is exciting news, and if you’re an AFC East opponent, things just got tougher for you. Suh is a physically intimidating, disrupting player that has consistently produced at a Pro Bowl level. Free agents of Suh’s caliber rarely hit the open market, and the Dolphins went all in.

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An average annual value of $10 million sounds like chump change when compared to the deal that Ndamukong Suh will be getting, but Seahawks free agent corner Byron Maxwell’s reported five-year, $53 million deal (with $23 million guaranteed) is anything but that. There is a high demand for cornerbacks this year. Maxwell found himself at the top of the market list, so despite a reported last-ditch effort by Seattle to retain their starter, the money in Philadelphia proved too enticing.

At that reported price, Maxwell becomes the fifth-highest paid corner in average salary per year, behind only Darrelle Revis, Patrick Peterson, Richard Sherman, and Joe Haden. That’s some pretty good company.

Is he worth that? Tough to know at this point, obviously, and playing in the Legion of Boom probably didn’t hurt his market and perceived value. That said, playing opposite the rarely-targeted Richard Sherman meant that Maxwell saw the brunt of opposing quarterbacks’ targets, and he was excellent nonetheless. As long as Philly asks him to do similar things as what he did in Seattle, this looks like a big pickup for a team that needs some help in the defensive backfield.

Maxwell’s reported numbers also set the market for cornerbacks, and Brandon Flowers reported four-year, $36 million deal reinforces it. Tramon Williams, Antonio Cromartie, Buster Skrine, and Davon House are pretty stoked right now.

It’s really weird to imagine Frank Gore in anything but a 49ers jersey. But, according to multiple reports, the San Francisco great is headed East to join NFC West rival Byron Maxwell in Philly. After trading LeSean McCoy and his salary to the Bills, the Eagles had some money to play with (even with the Maxwell signing). Gore brings that north-sound, smashmouth mentality to Chip Kelly’s offense. It’s an intriguing pairing, that’s for sure.

The Chiefs desperately need receivers. Jeremy Maclin is a very good one, and despite a last-ditch effort by the Eagles to keep him, reports have it that Maclin will sign in Kansas City to reunite with Andy Reid. He’ll come in as the Chiefs’ top target with the imminent release of Dwayne Bowe.

Franklin has been a solid starter for the Broncos at both tackle and guard and heads to sunny San Diego to sign on Tuesday, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Offensive linemen signings aren’t as sexy as pretty much every other position, but Franklin is a good player so this is (will be) an underrated move.

Ravens speedy wideout Torrey Smith is reportedly set to sign with the Niners once Tuesday rolls around, and he’s already written a thank you/goodbye note to fans regarding his imminent departure. Smith gives the Niners a legit speed threat down the field, and with Michael Crabtree likely heading elsewhere he provides Colin Kaepernick with another legit weapon down the field. That is, if Colin Kaepernick isn’t traded.

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Of course, we can’t always have exciting and scintillating team changes by all the major free agents. Receiver Randall Cobb re-signed with Green Bay, safety Devin McCourty is reportedly headed back to the Patriots, cornerback Brandon Flowers re-signed with the Chargers, tackle Derek Newtonsticks with Houston, running back Mark Ingram is staying in New Orleans, Doug Free is sticking with Dallas, and cornerback Kareem Jackson remains with Houston. Quarterback Mark Sanchez will return to Philly and pass rusher Jerry Hughes will reportedly re-sign with Buffalo.

Oh, by the way, free agency really, actually starts on Tuesday.