The arrival of the NFL’s new calendar year led to an explosion of free agent signings and significant trades around the league. The Green Bay Packers kept last season’s top scoring offense nearly intact by agreeing to terms with Randall Cobb over the weekend on a four year, 40 million dollar deal and right tackle Bryan Bulaga is also expected to return with a new, five year contract that will average just under seven million dollars a season. The Packers haven’t formally announced the Bulaga deal but he texted several of his teammates to say he’s returning. The Packers also extended qualifying tender offers to a pair of restricted free agents, tackle Don Barclay and safety Sean Richardson. That will retain Green Bay’s exclusive right to negotiate new deals for those two players. They did not extend the same offer to receiver Jarrett Boykin who will become an unrestricted free agent.
The Packers did lose defensive back Davon House to the Jacksonville Jaguars. In search of an opportunity to win a starting job, House signed a four year deal averaging a reported six million dollars to sign with the Jaguars who had more salary cap space than any other NFL team.
Linebacker A.J. Hawk, wavied the Packers last week, agreed to terms on a free agent deal with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Defensive back Tramon Williams, perhaps an even higher priority for the Pack with House departing, was scheduled to visit the New Orleans Saints on Tuesday night.
Blockbuster trades highlighted the first day of the new year with the New Orleans Saints sending Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham and a fourth round pick to the Seattle Seahawks in exchance for starting center Max Unger and the Seahawks first round pick next month. The Philadelphia Eagles and St. Louis Rams exchanged starting quarterbacks and draft choices with Nick Foles heading to the Rams and Sam Bradford moving to Philly. The Detroit Lions will give up two, mid-round draft picks to the Baltimore Ravens for veteran defensive tackle Haloti Ngata who is expected to fill the void left by Ndamokong Suh’s departure to Miami. The Bears traded Brandon Marshall to the New York Jets for a fifth rounder and New York promptly waived former Viking and Seahawk Percy Harvin. The Jets are also bringing back Darrelle Reavis. As for Minnesota, they re-signed running back Matt Asiata. Former Wisconsin Badger tight end Owen Daniels signed with Denver.
The San Francisco 49ers had three key players leave. Guard Mike Iupati signed with Arizona, running back Frank Gore went to Indianapolis and perennial Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Willis announced his retirement.