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NFL free agency keeping busy even with virus

Free agency in the NFL has been one of the only bright spots in a sports landscape ravaged by COVID-19.

The league plans to continue with the draft and everything that surrounds it as planned, so the fact that major moves are happening isn’t necessarily a shock.

There are plenty of moves to be made and lots of ink to be dried on contracts, but these five early moments stuck with me as ones that could shape the NFL’s 101st season and beyond.

First, let’s talk about Tom Brady. The legend ended his 20-year run with the New England Patriots on a sharp decline compared to any of his previous full seasons as the starting man under center.

Be it a lack of offensive weapons or a lack of arm strength the 43-year old Brady ended his tenure with the Pats by throwing a pick-6 to former Patriot, Logan Ryan.

Following an inability to get an expensive deal done with the team, Brady inked a two-year, $50 million deal.

This intrigues fans because of the unknown factor.

It’s a multi-year agreement for Tampa Bay, and they decided to not go any younger at quarterback. After Jameis Winston completed a “historic” season of 33 touchdowns to 30 interceptions, the Bucs wisely let him walk.

However, Tom Brady at 43 may prove to be an extension of the problem, not the solution.

Sure, Tampa has offensive weapons in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but Brady’s inconsistency proved he was just a game manager in 2019.

Even with a No. 1 target, this move is a tough sell for me. As for New England, we’ll see who gets to fill those big shoes.

Bruce Arians is Tampa Bay’s current head coach, but let’s talk about his former team in the Arizona Cardinals.

The Cards took advantage of Texans head coach Bill O’Brien’s ineptitude by snagging all-pro wideout DeAndre Hopkins on the cheap. They got him for the price of RB David Johnson and a 2019 second-round pick.

That’s it? I know Hopkins is due a huge contract extension, but to trade him for pennies on the dollar is absurd.

Even if he caused drama behind the scenes, O’Brien panicked and moved him as fast as he could.

The Cam Newton show is over in Carolina, and it didn’t come without plenty of drama.

The former MVP was injured a handful of times since his magical 2015 year, and after nine seasons, Carolina released him. This came after Newton said on Instagram that he did not want to leave the organization, but Carolina did what it had to do.

Even though PJ Walker might not be the answer, he certainly makes things interesting in that quarterback room.

Walker, a stud in the rebooted XFL, torched defenses in the spring league en route to signing with Carolina on a two-year, $1.565 million deal. It’s a low-risk contract with upside.

Former XFL signal caller Jordan Ta’amu signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on a similarly small one-year agreement.

As for Newton, he looks to find a new team when he is deemed health. It’s hard to imagine him left out in the cold. Even Philip Rivers signed with the Colts after a disastrous final year with the Chargers.

Finally, two of the league’s most futile front offices got together for a trade that could serve as a domino effect for both teams.

Quarterback Nick Foles had his bloated contract taken on by the Chicago Bears. This comes only a year after signing a four-year, $88 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

He did not earn that kind of money without merit, as he got that contract after two straight years of coming off the bench and leading the Philadelphia Eagles to playoff glory.

His stock skyrocketed with a win in Super Bowl 52, but Jacksonville reached. Foles’ inconsistency as a starter hurts a Bears offense that has little start power anyway.

His trade to Chicago means second-year man Gardner Minshew is now the permanent starter in Duvall County, and Bears QB Mitch Trubisky could be out the door sooner rather than later.

Minshew took over for Foles, who was injured early in 2019. Trubisky never developed past his rookie season, so maybe a change of scenery could be a good thing for him.

Contact Josh Hughes at jhughes@newsandsentinel.com

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