NFL Free Agents 2011: 5 Biggest Winners So Far

Usually after two days of free agency, there haven't been enough big signings to get a good sample size of which teams are leading the pack in negotiations.

That hasn't been the case this offseason, as the NFL lockout took a good chunk out of teams' bargaining time and the entire league is rushing to acquire players as fast as it can.

Through two days, there have already been some substantial moves.

Some were expected, some were surprising and some just made you scratch your head.

There were two teams that just barely missed my top five winners in the past two days: the Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers.

The Cowboys almost made the list by re-signing top free-agent tackle Doug Free, while the Chargers tendered receiver Vincent Jackson, re-signed safety Eric Weddle and signed former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Takeo Spikes.

Speaking of the 49ers, they won't be making this list. They lost Spikes and starting center David Baas, and are not even mentioned when it comes to pursuing top quarterbacks on the market, while division foes the Arizona Cardinals may acquire Philadelphia Eagles top backup Kevin Kolb.

Here are my top five winners of free agency thus far.

5. St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams, who lost the NFC West to the Seattle Seahawks in the last game of the season in 2010, only made one signing on Wednesday, but it was bigger than it may appear.

The Rams, who struggled against the run last season, signed former Philadelphia Eagles safety Quintin Mikell to a four-year contract.

Not only does it give the Rams a preeminent run-stopper at the safety position, Mikell is also a very good fit in St. Louis, given head coach Steve Spagnuolo mentored him as the defensive backs coach in Philadelphia from 2004-2006.

An underrated move, and an underrated player, but the Rams set themselves up better to go after the division crown in 2011.

4. Kansas City Chiefs

Receiver Steve Breaston wasn't one of the premier free agents on the market this offseason, but what he will do for the Kansas City Chiefs is what matters most.

By signing Breaston to a five-year deal, the Chiefs have a legitimate No. 2 option opposite Dwayne Bowe right now, and it should make them even more explosive next season on offense.

While Breaston isn't an elite player, he's been a solid No. 2 opposite Larry Fitzgerald with the Arizona Cardinals, registering over 2,400 receiving yards in his last three seasons with the team.

He's extremely athletic, and is a very good No. 2 option to have on the squad.

QB Matt Cassel is going to have some fun with the 27-year-old in the coming years.

Not to mention it allows the Chiefs to develop rookie Jonathan Baldwin into a potentially dangerous No. 3 receiver.

3. Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks lost veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck on Wednesday, but the team was set for a transition anyway and their five-year deal with the top wideout on the market in Sidney Rice more than made up for it.

Rice only played six games last season due to injury so there is some risk involved, but one only has to look at his numbers in 2009 to see what this guy is capable of: over 1,300 years and eight touchdowns.

He's athletic, quick and explosive, and he makes big-time plays when given the opportunity.

On top of that, the Seahawks improved their offensive line with former Oakland Raiders guard Robert Gallery.

How the Seahawks got a player of Rice's caliber in particular is beyond me. Sure, they won the division last season, but they were 7-9 and there were plenty of better teams Rice could have gone to.

And while the deal (five years, $41 million) may seem like a steep price to pay, it's nothing compared to what receiver Santonio Holmes received (five years, $50 million) and the contract is incentive-based, meaning only $18 million is guaranteed money.

2. New York Jets

The New York Jets only signed one player on Wednesday, but it was a huge move that was vital to the development of quarterback Mark Sanchez.

That player was receiver Santonio Holmes, who signed a five-year, $50 million deal to re-sign with the Jets.

Holmes was arguably the No. 2 receiver in the free-agency class this offseason, only behind Sidney Rice in my mind.

More importantly, he developed unquestionable chemistry with Sanchez, and was part of the reason the Jets beat the New England Patriots in the playoffs.

We always know the Jets are going to come out with a ferocious defense, but Holmes gives them balance on offense, which is critical if they are to continue their push for a Super Bowl.

Huge signing by the Jets.

1. Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers headed into free agency with two big-time players on the market.

But by the time the second day was done, the Panthers had signed both running back DeAngelo Williams and defensive end Charles Johnson.

It doesn't matter how much the Panthers signed Williams and Johnson for (in short, a lot of money); what matters is that they somehow retained them after a 2-14 season that saw longtime coach John Fox leave the team.

Without Williams, rookie quarterback Cam Newton would have been helpless, and he still is one of the top running backs in the league.

He is now signed with the Panthers for the next five seasons.

As for Johnson, all he did was record 12 sacks last season in a breakthrough campaign for the 25-year-old.

He's now signed for the next six seasons.

In short, the Panthers somehow managed to re-sign the best running back on the market and the best defensive end on the market.

They won't have to worry about signing a franchise running back or franchise defensive end for half a decade while Newton continues to develop.

While the Panthers didn't win a lot in 2010, they're already off to a good start in 2011.