I’m still taking stock of yesterday’s antics. The media in the states is going wild. What a time to be covering the league over there. The NFL is doing its best impression of the NBA with these wild signings and trades. The Ram’s success has thrown a massive spanner in the works for owners, teams, players, coaches etc. Players feel they can move for more and more money, and teams feel like if they trade their draft picks for guaranteed production, they can speed up their Super Bowl aspirations. It’s great viewing seeing most team’s sacrifice their future for the here and now, but it’s a bleak outlook for some teams in the long-term. I would also say the owners are getting a little worried the players have a little too much power at the moment, but who really cares about them? The next most interesting trades/signings are as follows:

9 – Khalil Mack’s trade to the LA Chargers

This looks to be a good trade for the Chargers, as they only give up a 2nd round pick this year and 6th round pick next year. Some experts are saying that Bears rookie GM, Ryan Poles got taken advantage of because they also take a decent dead cap hit. Mack clocked up 36 sacks and 35 tackles for loss in his 53 games over four seasons with the Bears. Averaging nine sacks per season is solid, but nothing spectacular giving his elite ability. The six-time Pro Bowl edge rusher has been slightly injury prone the last two seasons, so we’ll see how it all plays out in 2022, but the signing looks a good one on paper for the Chargers. It’s also going to help Joey Bosa continue to flourish, as Mack will take attention off of the Ohio State star pass rusher.

10 – Aaron Rodgers signs 4-year $200m extension with the Green Bay Packers

One of the greatest throwers of the football ever, Aaron Rodgers is sticking it out with the Packers. The reclusive Rodgers is a media favourite for both positive and negative reasons. This is the second season in a row where there has been speculation around his preferred destination, whether that be with the Pack, a new team or retirement. His huge extension keeps him at Green Bay for another four years. It was shocking to learn that he knew about the Davante Adams trade and still signed, given the fact that he has needed additional WR support even with Adams there. The Packers will have to draft well or sign another veteran wide out to keep the Packers in the fold. Re-signing Rodgers was objective number one though.

11 – Mitchell Trubisky signs a 2-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers

This is a very interesting signing indeed. Trubisky ends his disappointing time in Chicago and Buffalo with a new two-year contract with the Steelers. He puts pen to paper on a $14.25m deal that’s worth up to $27m with incentives. While Trubisky has got slammed for his time in Chicago, and sometimes rightly so, he is going to an excellent franchise and coaching setup. The guy can also play. Sometimes. Mike Tomlin is a Hall of Fame head coach, and the Steelers are a team that never finish below 0.500. Trubisky will have better weapons to play with, should he get the starting role, so things are looking up for the number two pick in the 2017 draft. He has the starting job for the moment, but rumours are swirling about the Steelers looking to draft Malik Willis in the upcoming draft.

12 – Amari Cooper’s trade to the Cleveland Browns

When the Cowboys resigned Michael Gallup to a five-year $57.5m deal the writing was on the wall for Cooper. The elite route runner has been with the Cowboys since 2018, but his time with America’s team has come to an end. In his three full seasons with the Cowboys, he broke the 1000-yard mark twice, with 1189 and 1114 in 2019 and 2020 respectively. He logged 27 receiving touchdowns in his time with Dallas, so he does have good production. He is a well needed attention for the Browns who only had to give up a fifth-round pick for the wideout. He will also have a top five QB throwing to him, when Watson takes the field. Browns’ fans should be happy with the pickup.

13 – The Brady Effect: Playoff Lenny, Chris Godwin, Ryan Jensen & Carlton Davis resign deals with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

From my understanding, Chris Godwin was the only one of the names mentioned above to have resigned with the Bucs before Brady announced his comeback. Leonard Fournette actually posted a farewell message to Bucs fans saying he was leaving before Brady made his announcement. He could not delete the post fast enough when he heard the GOAT was coming back. The Bucs are looking good again and have an elite defence to compliment the high-powered offence.

14 – Marcus Mariota signs a 2-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons

I am really rooting for Mariota here. I love a comeback story when someone has been counted out previously. The ex-Titan flashed when he was called to action last season with the Raiders. His athletic ability goes without question and his reconnection with his former play-caller Arthur Smith, who is now the head coach of the Falcons, is sure to produce some juice. Mariota’s deal is a two-year contract, with the first year worth $6.75m and an option of $12m in the second year. The Falcons are the worst roster in the league, so if it goes bad, they can chalk it down and move on. If it goes well, they have a new QB to build around. A win-win really for Atlanta (likely to be the last bit of good news for a while).

Coming up in Part 3:

• Allen Robinson signs a 3-year deal with the LA Rams
• La’el Collins signs a 3-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals
• Matthew Stafford signs a 3-year $129m extension with LA Rams
• Jameis Winston re-signs on a 2-year deal with the New Orleans Saints
• Chandler Jones signs a 3-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders
• Carson Wentz’ trade to the Washington Commanders
• DJ Chark signs a 1-year deal with the Detroit Lions
• Za’Darius Smith signs a 3-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings

J.