Free agency should be winding down after these moves

Since my last post, there were even more free-agent moves that took place. Take a look at who switched area codes:

• Wide receiver Javon Walker, cut by Denver, signs with division-rival Oakland
• Oakland defensive tackle and future hall of famer Warren Sapp retires
• Ravens sign special-team standout linebacker Brandon Ayenbadejo
• St. Louis adds left guard Jacob Bell and tight end Anthony Becht
• Wide receiver Marty Booker returns to Chicago
• Oustide linebacker/defensive end Tyler Brayton shifted from the West coast to the East by leaving Oakland and signing with Carolina
• Rams replace kicker Jeff Wilkins with Seattle’s Josh Brown
• Tight end Alge Crumpler found a home in Tennessee
• Running back T.J. Duckett brought his rumbling, bumbling ability to Seattle
• Falcons cut running back Warrick Dunn and replace him with Michael Turner
• After cutting offensive tackle Barry Sims, the Raiders sign Kwame Harris
• Middle linebacker Landon Johnson leaves Cincinnati for Carolina
• Jevon Kearse, like Booker, makes a return to his original team.
• Jaguars sign former first-round pick defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy
• Giants sign veteran safety Sammy Knight
• Cardinals haul in defensive end Travis LaBoy from Titans
• Defensive end Bobby McCray signs with the Saints
• Steelers pick up versatile running back Mewelde Moore
• Carolina cast-off middle linebacker Dan Morgan signs with the Saints
• Titans lose another defensive end, Antwan Odom, as he jets to the Bengals
• The Jets make Calvin Pace the highest-paid outside linebacker in the NFL
• Tight end Jeb Putzier joins the Seahawks
• Falcons keep quarterback Chris Redman but cut Joey Harrington
• Pro Bowl fullback Tony Richardson joins Jets
• Vikings replace Richardson with former Eagle Thomas Tapeh
• Patriots sign cornerback Jason Webster and retain that guy Randy Moss
• Chiefs acquire linebacker Demorrio Williams
• Jets land another offensive lineman in versatile offensive lineman Damien Woody

Wow, what a list, huh? Well, lets get this analysis started…

Oakland Raiders

Oakland, by cutting ties with longtime-Raider Barry Sims, are slowly beginning to severe connections with everything that has been awful about the organization in the past 4-5 seasons. Adding Kwame Harris may not provide all the answers to Oakland's troubles along the offensive line, but the Raiders are in desperate need of a fresh start and adding the 6-7, 300 pound Harris, who’s still pretty young at 25 after spending five years in the league after being selected in the first round by the 49ers, isn't a bad move by any means. Also, winning the bidding-war for Javon Walker means that Oakland is capable of bringing in young talent despite their recent woes. Walker, when healthy, is one of the best deep-threat wide outs in the league and should help quarterback JaMarcus Russell’s development. Like I said, IF healthy (and that’s a big IF with this guy), Oakland should have a nice pair of WRs in Walker and former college quarterback Ronald Curry.

Warren Sapp’s retirement must have been hastened by Tommy Kelly’s acquirement of a contract worth $50 million-plus. Oakland will miss No. 99, but this move might provoke Oakland to using Terdell Sands, who I thought was a big reason why Oakland was so good on defense in 2006, a lot more than they did in 2007. By the way, losing defensive end Tyler Brayton—in my opinion—should only help Oakland, not hurt them. I’ll shed more light on that that later.

New York Jets

The Jets, perhaps the busiest team this offseason, signed former first-round picks Calvin Pace and Damien Woody to big deals worth at least $20 million-plus in guaranteed money. Pace was acquired to fill the Jets' need at outside linebacker for their 3-4 defense and Woody was signed to provide adequate protection/running blocking skills at right tackle (the Jets cut Anthony Clement, who started every game at RT after signing with New York two years ago, after signing Woody), a position he only played five games at for the Lions last season. I have to be honest--I'm not too sold on these guys as "impact players," but you can't knock the Jets for at least trying to fill their voids. Pace only has 14 and 1/2 career sacks in five years and Woody has battled weight problems since joining Detroit after the 2003 season. Also, these moves impact the draft heavily, because after filling their need at OLB and RT, the Jets may opt to take running back Darren McFadden with the sixth-overall selection and a wide receiver in the second round rather making a pick based solely on need. I guess you could say the "verdict is still out" on these two signings. On a smaller scale, the Jets also signed cornerback Andre Woolfolk, who also happens to be another former first-round pick. Woolfolk, who was drafted by the Titans, hasn't logged as much playing time as Tennessee would have liked and sat out 2007 on IR due to a leg strain. However, he has good size (6'2", 195) for a corner and Jets coach Eric Mangini is good at getting the most out of his secondary. Perhaps the most solid signing the Jets made in the past three days was Tony Richardson, a three-time Pro Bowler who's paved the way for Adrian Peterson/Chester Taylor and Priest Holmes throughout his excellent career as a dual-threat fullback. There's not doubt this 13-year veteran was a key aquisition, as he will definitely improve New York's running game with his experience and ability to move linebackers and clear running lanes. Although the majority of the Jets' offense was run out of a two-tight end set in 2007 (they cut their starting fullback Darien Barnes midway through the season), I'd expect New York to employ Richardson much more than backup tight end Joe Kowalewski.