NFL Free Agency: 3 Big Winners in Free Agency

Having fun yet? Only days into the new NFL 2011 free agency window and there have been moves by almost every team in the league. Many teams prioritized signing their drafted and undrafted rookies to get the easy deals out of the way.

Several teams have resigned their own unrestricted free agents today. The biggest of the re-signings came from the very active New York Jets when they re-signed the top wide receiver free agent Santonio Holmes. The Carolina Panthers re-signed their top two free agents in running back DeAngelo Williams and Charles Johnson.

Other teams did not move the guys they looked to cash in on. Most notably the Denver Broncos with Kyle Orton and the Philadelphia Eagles with Kevin Kolb.

Let's look at a round up of the top three winners and losers thus far in the free agency market.

Winner No. 1: The New York Jets

The charismatic, colorful New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan got his main priority for his ball club for the upcoming 2011 NFL season. The two sides agreed to a five year 50 million dollar deal with 24 million guaranteed. A nice deal for a wide receiver smack in the middle of his prime years.

The deal has clearly indicated that Rex Ryan chose to keep Santonio Holmes over Braylon Edwards with the possibility of signing both being far-fetched. The New York Jets could have continued to restructure their salary cap in order to keep Edwards in the fold but they have another hot prospect in mind that plays on the other side of the ball.

The New York Jets have been linked with a hotly contested transcontinental battle with the San Francisco 49ers for the stud cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha of the Oakland Raiders. If the 49ers win out in the Asomugha ante, they should look to resign current Antonio Cromartie maintaining one of the best cornerback tandems in the league.

If the New York Jets do sign Nnamdi Asomugha, be afraid, be very, very afraid.Darrelle Revis commented on the speculation of the possibilities of him and Nnamdi Asomugha lined up on opposite sides of the field.

“He’s the best cornerback in the league, and me and him as a tandem would be unbelievable"

Rex Ryan will blitz on first down. He will blitz on second down. Oh, and he will blitz on third down.

Whichever flight pattern the New York Jets decide to take flight in, they have won the day by providing a big boost to their team by taking care of business in house and re-signing arguably the best wide receiver on the market.

Winner No. 2: The Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings may have lost Tarvaris Jackson. Whoop ti do. Do you think they planned on keeping Jackson in the fold after reaching for the former Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder? Absolutely not.

The Minnesota Vikings blew Leif Ericson's Gallehus horn letting their divisional opponents know that they will no concede and quietly slide into the fourth spot. Say what you want, but this deal makes them instant playoff contenders.

Remember, they still have Adrian Peterson to hand the ball off to. Percy Harvin, migraines aside, has proven to be one of the most explosive play makers in the NFL the last couple of years. Jared Allen will still continue to mow down quarterbacks and celebrate by kneeling on one knee flinging his arms out wide. (Reminding quarterbacks "I am this good!")

Yes, the Vikings did lose their number one wide receiver in Sidney Rice to the Seattle Seahawks. Do not let that distract you from what Donovan McNabb brings to the table. He played poorly in Washington last season, but Mike Shanahan currently operates one of the biggest laughing stocks in the NFL.

Prior to being dealt from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Washington Redskins on Easter 2010 McNabb had an incredible final season with the Eagles. McNabb completed 60.5% of his passes, threw for 3,369 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions during the 2009 season.

For a guy who has made a living by throwing to a bunch of lack luster receivers during the majority of his time in Philadelphia, Donovan McNabb, the 12-year veteran and six-time pro bowler, can at least restore hope in the state of 10,000 lakes that they will be competitive this NFL season.

The Minnesota Vikings also resigned kicker Ryan Longwell to a 12 million dollar, four year deal and added Chicago Bears Devin Aromashadu. A solid Tuesday in Minnesota indeed.

Winner No. 3: The Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks in less than 24 hours have taken on a startling resemblance from a team that wears a ton of purple and enjoys wearing hats with horns on their heads. Pete Carroll made a gutsy move opting to go after Tarvaris Jackson over a Kevin Kolb, who they have been interested in for over two years, or a Kyle Orton.

The Seattle Seahawks (aka the "sea chickens") decided to part ways with their former starter in Matt Hasselbeck and go after the Minnesota Viking castaway. Not exactly the most popular choice with other quarterbacks on the market that would conceivably be the better fit in the Pacific Northwest.

The mobile quarterback could flourish under the watch of Pete Carroll and the "12th Man" in Seattle.

The Seahawks also signed an astounding amount of undrafted free agents on Tuesday as well. Nineteen in total. Pete Carroll seems to have that recruiting blood still flowing through his veins opting to go with strength in numbers and see if they find any diamonds in the rough.

Pete Carroll's ace in the hole was the signing of former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Sidney Rice. The prolific, athletic wide receiver reunites has been reunited with his former quarterback just hours after Tarvaris Jackson's deal had been announced.

The Seattle Seahawks add another weapon to their offensive attack. The 6'5 Mike Williams had a career resurrecting career last year in Seattle and now has a new partner out wide.

Carroll also brought in guard Robert Gallery from the Oakland Raiders to try and sure up the offensive line to provide their newly acquired signal caller some protection.

Overall, the Seattle Seahawks made great strides in their team with Tuesday's acquisitions as they look to repeat as NFC West division champs.