NFL Free Agency: Winners and Losers So Far in Free Agency

We are almost through the first week of NFL free agency, and numerous trades and signings have occurred, significantly rearranging the NFL picture.

Big name players like Santonio Holmes, Jonathan Joseph and many others are already off the board and have agreed to contracts with teams.

And while there are still several marquee players remaining in the free agent pool, the winners and losers of this hectic free agency period are starting to take shape.

So here are the biggest winners and losers of the free agency period up until this point.

1. Loser: Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills had one of the worst seasons of any NFL team last year and are currently in another rebuilding phase with the franchise.

And while they have talented young players in C.J. Spiller and Marcell Dareus, they still took a big hit to their team this past week in free agency.

Linebacker Paul Posluszny left Buffalo and agreed to a contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, which immediately bolsters their defense.

In Buffalo, the absence of Posluszny will be tough for the Bills' young defense to adjust to. He has been the leader of that defense since he was drafted by Buffalo. 

In his four years with Buffalo, Posluszny had 398 total tackles, including 295 solo stops.

Clearly, he will be missed in Buffalo next season, and it could be a while before the Bills have another dominating linebacker like Posluszny.

2. Loser: Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals could arguably one of the tougher franchises to play for.

Just ask Carson Palmer.

Add on the fact that the Bengals have not had a strong team the last few years, and the Bengals are the optimal free agent destination for many players.

Unfortunately, it seems as if things for the Bengals will get worse before they get better.

They recently lost Chad Ochocinco to the New England Patriots and, most notably, Carson Palmer to retirement. 

Terrell Owens will not be a Bengal next season either, so Cincinnati has lost their top two wide receivers and starting quarterback.

They will have to rely on rookie quarterback Andy Dalton to lead the offense, so it looks as if the season for Cincinnati could be a rocky one.

3. Loser: Carolina Panthers

While some might think the Carolina Panthers are in a good position re-signing both DeAngelo Williams and Charles Johnson, I believe it will hurt them in the long run.

They signed these two players to two very expensive, multi-year contracts.

Johnson signed a six-year, $72 million contract, while Williams received a five-year, $43 million contract with $21 million of it guaranteed. 

My biggest concern with these contracts mainly deals with re-signing Williams.

He is a great running back and has been the Panthers' MVP for the last few seasons. But he is already 28 years old and approaching that infamous age of 30, which is the age that most running backs start to decline.

With so much money tied up in Williams as he approaches 30, it is a huge risk for the Panthers.

I have a feeling that it could come to hurt the Panther in three or four years, especially if Williams is not able to perform at the level he was once capable of doing.

4. Winner: New England Patriots

The New England Patriots have done it again. They have acquired very talented players for a seemingly cheap price.

In a trade with the Washington Redskins, the Patriots received form NFL star defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth for only a fifth-round draft pick in 2013.

This is a relatively cheap price for an amazing talent at defensive tackle. Of course, the problem lies in all of the issues Haynesworth brings with his conditioning and effort on the field. But if there is any franchise that can fix these issues, it is the Patriots.

In addition to Haynesworth, the Patriots also got wide receiver Chad Ochocinco from the Bengals in exchange for late-round draft picks.

Ochocinco brings the Patriots a playmaker at wide receiver, something Tom Brady has been lacking since the departure of Randy Moss last season.

He will immediately improve their passing attack and will set the Patriots up for another Super Bowl run in 2011.

2. Winner: Kansas City Chiefs

Perhaps one of the most underrated signings so far in the free agency period could be Steve Breaston agreeing to a contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Chiefs surprised a lot of people last year after making the playoffs. But the Chiefs certainly excelled on offense behind the play of Jamal Charles, Thomas Jones and Matt Cassel. 

Add in Breaston to the offense and it gives the Chiefs another weapon in their passing attack. Not to mention, the extra benefits to the kick and punt return game that Breaston brings with him.

He often flew under the radar in Arizona behind big-time wide receivers like Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. But Breaston is a reliable receiver and gives Cassel another quality target to throw to down the field.

His speed will help Cassel stretch the defenses, and he also gives them a legitimate big-play threat as well.

Breaston and the Chiefs certainly look as if they are putting the right pieces together to win the AFC West.

3. Winner: New York Jets

The New York Jets were one of the top teams last year, making it to the AFC Championship game for the second straight season.

And they are still looking to sign big names this offseason in order to finally make it to the Super Bowl. 

The team did a great job in quickly re-signing their leading wide receiver Santonio Holmes. He was a player who the Jets could not afford to lose if they expect to duplicate their success from the prior two years.

Holmes will be vital to the development of Mark Sanchez as a quarterback. If he and Holmes can continue the chemistry they have developed, the Jets will be one of the best teams in the NFL, along with their outstanding defense.

The Jets are also the current favorite to sign All-Pro cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. With Jonathan Joseph and the Houston Texans agreeing to a contract, it seems highly likely that Asomugha will then end up in New York.

The duo of Asomugha and Darrelle Revis would be unmatched at cornerback position in the entire NFL. It would instantly make the Jets arguably the best team in the league.

Look for the Jets not to go quietly as we end the first week of free agency and training camps start up.