The Biggest NFL Off Season Moves

As teams bring together their regional scouts to ensure that their final draft preparations are in place, they are at the same time shaping their 2015 season by securing the free agent signings they deem necessary, and with ‘signing season’ in full flow, there have already been a rash of big names find a new home.

Jimmy Graham – Traded to Seattle Seahawks

As one of the most impactful receivers in the NFL over the past four years, Graham has caught double digits TDs in three of those, and is easily the biggest threat from the TE position in the NFC, with only Rob Gronkowski ahead of him in the league as a whole. Moreover, Graham adds a go-to presence that Russell Wilson and the Seahawks will find invaluable from here on out. This move adds an extra dimension to the repeat NFC Champions’ offense, and is easily the biggest move of the off-season so far.

As for New Orleans, it is a signal of their intent. For a team that looked set to challenge for an NFC title for years to come, a turbulent couple of years has shaken their most prized possession loose, and it is hard to imagine it will end there. As it shapes up now, 2015 may be a long year for the Saints.

Ndamukong Suh – Signed with Miami Dolphins

The interior defensive beast that was selected with the second overall pick in 2010 has moved on from Detroit, and found pastures new in Miami, which appears to be a good fit all round. The Fins add a monstrous talent to their DL that already boasts Cameron Wake and Randy Starks, yet they had to make a couple of key cuts in order to add cap room and force the deal through. Once again, Miami make a big splash in free agency, and carry a lot of risk in the deal, but Suh is one of the best defensive talents to hit free agency in years, and should provide them with a renewed energy in a division that is winnable should they overcome the Patriots, and their always effective offense.

For Suh, it looks to be a great landing spot. He is earning huge money, and makes the move from the dreary, freezing surroundings of Motor City to the Sunshine State, a city desperate for big names over which they can fawn, and it is easy to picture Suh being the face of their franchise for the duration of his contract.

Sam Bradford/Nick Foles Trade between St. Louis Rams and Philadelphia Eagles

This one came out of the blue somewhat, given that the Rams had persisted in telling the media they were moving forward with Bradford, who was taken first overall by St. Louis five years ago. Two ACL tears later, and his career hangs in the balance, and so it is that the Rams have moved him, and his $13m/season deal to Philly for Nick Foles, the QB phenom who, only a year ago, looked set to carry the Eagles on his back, but stuttered to a rough start in 2014, and soon lost the starting job to Mark Sanchez.

Given the draft picks involved in this trade (the Rams received a 2015 fourth and a 2016 second for a 2015 fifth), the St. Louis should be seen as the overall winners of the trade, yet of the pair of QBs, it is Bradford that has the higher upside, and if healthy, could easily find his feet as an above average starter in the league. If the Eagles can form a strong OL in front of Bradford, you can expect him to flourish, whilst Foles will struggle in St. Louis should they not invest heavily in their offensive front this off-season.

Of all the moves so far this off-season, these are the three that made the most impact, but it is a long run to the NFL Draft at the end of April, and you can expect at least a couple more blockbuster moves between now and then.

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