NFL Offseason Moves: Who Won? Who Lost?

With the NFL Lockout finally coming to an abrupt halt, the arms race that is NFL free agency has gone into full effect.

While some teams elected to sit on the sidelines (i.e. Pittsburgh and Baltimore), others (such as Seattle, Philadelphia and New England) made monstrous splashes. Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco could become two of the biggest steals of the offseason, as could Jonathon Joseph, the versatile cornerback who signed with Houston. Oakland, meanwhile, let both Nnamdi Asomugha and talented young TE Zach Miller walk to free agency, earning them the prized grade of "F-."

Now that we know a full NFL season is on tap, we can safely anticipate a wild August full of training camp drama and way too much fantasy football analysis (seriously, why do people insist on telling you about their fantasy football teams? I don't care!!!)

In the meantime, here is a look at the 16 teams (or half of the league) who made substantial free agent signings or trades. Sorry Bills fans -- I love Brad Smith, but I couldn't find a way to include you on this list.

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Philadelphia Eagles

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Winners of the Nnamdi Asomugha sweepstakes, the Eagles now feature perhaps the most lethal trio of cornerbacks in the league with Asante Samuel and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (acquired in the Kevin Kolb trade) playing alongside Asomugha. The only potential issue here is Samuel, who despite reporting to camp, had this to say to bleedgreennation.com: "If they're tired of my big-playmaking ability, maybe they'll ship me out," Samuel said. "Maybe they'll keep me. I don't know. Who knows." Back to the positive though. The other great part of the Asomugha deal is the price. Arguably the game's best corner, he could easily have demanded more money from teams like Dallas and Houston, but instead gave the Eagles a discount at the five-year for $60 million. (Hey, it's all relative right?) The Ronnie Brown signing was another move I really liked. LeSean McCoy is coming off a terrific season, but he is a smaller back. Brown -- who played in all 16 games last year-- is very productive when healthy. The combination of him and McCoy alongside Michael Vick gives the Eagles perhaps the scariest rushing attack in the league. While Philly still has a glaring hole at linebacker, it has done itself a big favor by adding Jasin Babin to help bolster its defensive line. If Babin, who signed a five years, $28 million contract, can continue last season's production (12.5 sacks), the hole at LB won't matter as much. And with the NFL becoming more pass-happy every year, nabbing a shutdown corner like Asomugha makes the Eagles a legitimate Super Bowl contender moving forward. Cullen Jenkins is another nice pickup who will also bolster the Eagles' front four. They even added Vince Young as an insurance policy in case Vick gets hurt again. But, $5.5 million guaranteed? Now that's another story. Grade: A+

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Winners of the Nnamdi Asomugha sweepstakes, the Eagles now feature perhaps the most lethal trio of cornerbacks in the league with Asante Samuel and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (acquired in the Kevin Kolb trade) playing alongside Asomugha.

The only potential issue here is Samuel, who despite reporting to camp, had this to say to bleedgreennation.com: "If they're tired of my big-playmaking ability, maybe they'll ship me out," Samuel said. "Maybe they'll keep me. I don't know. Who knows."

Back to the positive though. The other great part of the Asomugha deal is the price. Arguably the game's best corner, he could easily have demanded more money from teams like Dallas and Houston, but instead gave the Eagles a discount at the five-year for $60 million. (Hey, it's all relative right?)

The Ronnie Brown signing was another move I really liked. LeSean McCoy is coming off a terrific season, but he is a smaller back. Brown -- who played in all 16 games last year-- is very productive when healthy. The combination of him and McCoy alongside Michael Vick gives the Eagles perhaps the scariest rushing attack in the league.

While Philly still has a glaring hole at linebacker, it has done itself a big favor by adding Jasin Babin to help bolster its defensive line. If Babin, who signed a five years, $28 million contract, can continue last season's production (12.5 sacks), the hole at LB won't matter as much. And with the NFL becoming more pass-happy every year, nabbing a shutdown corner like Asomugha makes the Eagles a legitimate Super Bowl contender moving forward. Cullen Jenkins is another nice pickup who will also bolster the Eagles' front four. They even added Vince Young as an insurance policy in case Vick gets hurt again. But, $5.5 million guaranteed? Now that's another story.

Grade: A+

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Comments

[bmwracer]

03:22 PM on 08/05/2011

Wonder when the Haynesworth-Ochocinco trade will eventually blow up....?

[lotus321]

12:31 PM on 08/05/2011

I loe the thank you massa picture between chad and brady, lol

[Branimir9000]

09:01 PM on 08/04/2011

Rams look like they made some nice moves, too. I'd put them in the top half of teams that did well.

[Tanker10a]

12:45 PM on 08/04/2011

"NFL Offseason Moves: Who Won? Who Lost?"
HONESTLY! Who the hell cares? Let's get on with it!

[Wide Stance]

09:44 AM on 08/04/2011

Haynesworth to the Pats was THE deal.

(The Jets over-pursuit of Asomugha also deserves an honorable mention. They are worse off than when they started.)

[kapalabhati]

06:49 AM on 08/04/2011

Paul Poz-itively smokin'.

[xxx xxxx]

01:11 AM on 08/04/2011

Detroit will own the NFC north !.

[NextStopWonder]

11:54 AM on 08/04/2011

Lawd willin'!!

[opprobrious]

11:05 PM on 08/03/2011

What? No Packers? Oh yeah. They didn't need to make any "moves"; Just get healthy. Go Pack!

[Valois]

09:05 PM on 08/03/2011

a D+ for the Chicago Bears? What a joke. They got better in every way, they improved their WR, they improved their Oline, they improved their defense. Just because they didn't go for any big names does not mean they deserve a D+.

dim people thinking big names = big improvement

[Jazmo]

06:35 PM on 08/03/2011

I'm the person who likes Ocho. I hate the Pats (Eagles fan) but I hope he has a great season. He's a character but he has alot of talent that was really really wasted.

I wish HuffPo had a better pic of him with the headline. Looked a little like he was proposing to Brady.

[Nate35]

08:51 PM on 08/03/2011

You obviously don't hate us THAT much if you're still wishing him a good season.

[grandpaMark]

04:48 PM on 08/03/2011

The Cowboys will be among the NFL' worst, again. Romo chokes in every game that matters, the defense depends on 2 of the NFL's worst corners and as long as Jones and his clueless son decide who to sign, there is no hope for Dallas. I cannot wait til Ware is a free agent; his vast talent is WASTED in DALLAS. Has Jones signed ANYONE worth mentioning this offseason? Answer: no! Sticking with the same, proven losers will assure more humiliation for Jones and his bad facelift!

[Hugatreetoday]

03:44 PM on 08/03/2011

Ochodinko had better mind his P&Qs as Brady will not put up with any B&S. He is fiercely competitive and will give his teammates an earful if they don't perform! If 85 has any sense at all he'll buckle down, shut his trap and thank his lucky stars (not the dancing ones) to now be playing with an MVP QB. Time to get it together Chad. No more l@@k at me antics. To be fair though, he was able to control himself pretty well on that silly dancing show so hopefully that will translate over to playing with New England. I don't know what Bill B. says to these players when they come to the team but they sure change their tune and get serious in a hurry don't they? lol

[benji85]

04:02 PM on 08/03/2011

Although would you rather have a classclown for a wideout or one who's getting arrested at least once a season.

[Hugatreetoday]

07:30 PM on 08/03/2011

Well truth be told I guess I'd prefer the class clown. ;-)

[marcel4745]

01:08 PM on 08/12/2011

why should he have to worry about brady, get off his jock all brady has to do is throw the ball close . chad is a play maker just like randy was!!!!!

[AngryHarpy]

03:42 PM on 08/03/2011

A+ grade for New England? Really?

Haynesworth was a complete bust and pain in the rear for Washington -- Belichick may be able to handle him better, but that's still yet to be determined. Not to mention he was horrible for team morale in Washington. There's no telling how he will do and if he can recover from the last 2 seasons.

Chad Ochocinco is a good pick up for them though. He may have a resurgence like Moss.

[Nate35]

08:36 PM on 08/03/2011

The point is they gave up next to nothing for Haynesworth and the 'skins already paid most of his contract. Even if he's only slightly better than in Washington, he still beats a future 5th round pick.

[AngryHarpy]

11:30 PM on 08/03/2011

Yeah, that's true. I'm still skeptical that he will have an impact this year though.

[cameron d]

03:41 PM on 08/03/2011

Shouldn't a team sign a quarterback that can actually throw before spending $41,000,000 on Sidney Rice? I don't know, maybe it's just me.
I know I'd rather have Kyle Orton than Travaris Jackson. It's not like Denver would have asked for much.

[chiodo08]

03:26 PM on 08/03/2011

I didn't know the league paired down to 16 teams?...