NFL Free Agency: Winners and Losers of the First Week of Free Agency

This past week has been the most hectic NFL offseason in recent memory. The past few days have almost been a four-month period of transactions compressed into just a few days—thanks, NFL lockout. 

After the first week of free agency, here are five winners and five losers.

Be sure to leave some feedback on your opinions on who are winners and losers in free agency!

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Winner: Arizona Cardinals

Key Acquisitions: Kevin Kolb and Todd Heap.

Key Losses: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Steve Breaston. 

The Arizona Cardinals are definite winners so far as they filled their biggest need: quarterback.

Kevin Kolb has all the potential to be a solid passer for the Cardinals and has a strong enough arm to get Larry Fitzgerald the ball on a frequent basis.

With Kolb, not only do the Cardinals move a strong stride forward in winning the NFC West, but they also take care of Fitzgerald's needs of acquiring a quality quarterback. 

Loser: New York Jets

Key Acquisitions: Santonio Holmes, Antonio Cromartie and Plaxico Burress. 

Key Losses: Brad Smith and Drew Coleman. 

The New York Jets may have bolstered their wide receiver corps with retaining Santonio Holmes and bringing in Plaxico Burress, but they missed out on the biggest free agent of them all: Nnamdi Asomugha. 

The Jets front office spent most of the first few days targeting Asomugha, but it was all for nothing as he then later signed with the Philadelphia Eagles.

As of right now, the Jets have major holes defensively with little money to spend.  

Winner: New England Patriots

Key Acquisitions: Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco.

Key Losses: Tully Banta-Cain and Ty Warren. 

The New England Patriots are primed for success entering 2011. 

Prior to the additions of Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco, the Patriots were already favorites to be an elite team in the AFC. 

Haynesworth and Ochocinco address minor needs on New England's roster and could be major contributors this season. 

Loser: Cincinnati Bengals

Key Acquisitions: Bruce Gradkowski and Nate Clements. 

Key Losses: Carson Palmer (possibly), Chad Ochocinco and Johnathan Joseph. 

The Cincinnati Bengals are in big trouble entering 2011.

The team is set to roll with rookie Andy Dalton as the team's starting quarterback, with rookie A.J. Green as their top wide receiver. 

The Bengals already lost Chad Ochocinco and top cornerback Johnathan Joseph, and are set to move forward with former Pro Bowl quarterback Carson Palmer. 

Winner: Philadelphia Eagles

Key Acquisitions: Nnamdi Asomugha, Cullen Jenkins, Vince Young, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Jason Babin.

Key Losses: David Akers, Quintin Mikell and Kevin Kolb. 

The Philadelphia Eagles jumped right into free agency and made several major splashes.

Philly now has arguably the deepest secondary of them all with newly acquired Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie joining Asante Samuel. 

The Eagles also bolstered their defensive line with two beastly passers, Cullen Jenkins and Jason Babin.

Many were speculating that once the Eagles traded Kevin Kolb, they would have no back-up behind Michael Vick; that is not the case with the signing of Vince Young.

Let's put it this way: the Eagles are in very good shape entering 2011. 

Loser: San Francisco 49ers

Key Acquisitions: Alex Smith and David Akers.

Key Losses: Takeo Spikes and Nate Clements.

The San Francisco 49ers have done nearly nothing major in free agency this past week. In such a wide-open NFC West, the 49ers could have easily placed themselves ahead of the pack by improving their defense and wide receiver corps, but they did nothing.

Not to mention, the 49ers lost two key defenders, linebacker Takeo Spikes and cornerback Nate Clements. 

Winner: St. Louis Rams

Key Acquisitions: Mike Sims-Walker, Quintin Mikell and Al Harris.

Key Losses: None. 

The St. Louis Rams take some positive steps forward via free agency so far.

Quarterback Sam Bradford now has a true No. 1 wide receiver in Mike Sims-Walker and the team also brought in veteran leadership to their young defense in safety Quintin Mikell and cornerback Al Harris. 

Loser: Indianapolis Colts

Key Acquisitions: Nothing but retaining Peyton Manning, Joseph Addai and Adam Vinatieri.

Key Losses: Clint Sessions.

You may be a little bit confused to see the Indianapolis Colts as losers, but they haven't done anything to improve their team from last year.

The Colts struggled to protect Peyton Manning last season and had a difficult time stopping teams defensively. Granted, the Colts will likely be atop of the AFC South in 2011, but could have done a lot to improve their team via free agency. 

Winner: Seattle Seahawks

Key Acquisitions: Sidney Rice, Tarvaris Jackson, Robert Gallery and Alan Branch.

Key Losses: Matt Hasselbeck. 

The Seattle Seahawks made several positive steps moving forward to win the very weak NFC West. 

Seattle acquired a quality quarterback-to-receiver duo in former Minnesota Vikings Tarvaris Jackson and Sidney Rice. Jackson will compete for the starting job in Seattle, and should come out on top due to his experience with Rice. 

Loser: Dallas Cowboys

Key Acquisitions: Nothing by retaining Doug Free and Marcus Spears. 

Key Losses: Roy Williams and Marion Barber.

It appeared that the Dallas Cowboys had a legitimate shot at landing free agent Nnamdi Asomugha. In fact, many believe that the reason behind the cuts of Roy Williams and Marion Barber was to clear up enough salary cap space in order to offer Asomugha and an astronomical contract—that obviously didn't work out. 

The Cowboys were very inconsistent in 2010 and haven't done too much to improve moving in 2011.