Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Free Agency 2015: Dominoes Start Fallin'


It's long overdue.
Like Harper Lee's sequel or Pete Rose's Hall of Fame induction, I am finally putting the quill to the parchment... well in digital form. The Dynasty Dispatch is back! Hopefully this year I'll be able to keep up.

      On March 10th at 4 p.m. Eastern Standard Time the flood gates will open. The 2015 NFL season will officially be open and free agents allowed to sign with the teams of their choosing. Many a players fate will be altered. Some will be enhanced by a new environment, others will whither as a cast off to a wasteland the locals either call the 'Land of Oak' or 'Village of Jackson'. Even with this countdown in place, there has already been plenty of movement. Several owners have sacrificed veterans to the gods of the Cap and now are poised to throw those savings at the player they believe will take their team to Santa Clara in 2016.  
"What happens in REALITY, casts waves throughout FANTASY" 
      In a normal year, this week doesn't carry too much excitement, let alone an out-of-nowhere, league shattering, bewilderment inducing trade. But that's exactly what we got when LeSean McCoy was sent packing for Buffalo in exchange for Kiko Alonso. Now, I will let the national pundits hash out the ramifications of this deal because we have bigger fish to fry. What happens in reality, cast waves throughout fantasy.
      Not even a day after this trade (which is not official until the 10th) was announced, Joseph White of the re-branded Average Joe's sent the heir-apparent Darren Sproles and the ageless wonder Antonio Gates to Size Does Matter in exchange for a second round pick (14th overall). The move gives the Joe's an increased arsenal of picks to either move up in the draft or simply stockpile potential. There is bound to be roster turnover as the Joe's now own three Buffalo 'Backs and this draft has depth at the position.

      For Size Does Matter, it gives the team a stop gap at running back as Sproles will be more than serviceable in Chip Kelly's offense. Is he the long term option? No, but the pick surrendered wouldn't have yielded a better starting option for this year. It also helps that wheelin' and dealin' front office guru Eric Smart made a move to secure a late second round pick on Monday evening from the Natty Bohs in exchange for Derek Carr. Smart only moves back 10 spaces but acquires two serviceable options at two pressing needs. Before the deal can be finalized Smart still needs to make a corresponding roster cut. All signs point to Matt Cassell being given his papers, but like the McCoy/Alonso deal, you never know what can happen.

      The third wheel in this first wave of roster moves are the Natty Bohs. Acquiring Derek Carr may seem insignificant but given the history of RG3 and Andy Dalton, a young gunslinger with upside is a good pickup. Only Mariota and Winston possess the skills to start day one in this year's draft and without a 1st round selection, the Bohs would be forced to go after Hundley or a less favorable choice in the later rounds. Oakland is desolate, but they have money to spend and if Carr gets some weapons he could take a step forward. But in all seriousness, it's Oakland, and that's a very big IF.  



    




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