NFL Free Agency 2011: 5 Teams Hit the Hardest by Free Agent Losses or Inaction

We’re going to look at teams hurt most by this insane flurry of NFL free-agency activity. But let me give fair warning: You will likely walk away from this realizing that many the teams that were bad last year, (or deceptively bad) are going to be bad again, because they have extremely suspect management (with one exception).

During the most intense period of player movement in the history of the NFL, these five teams chose to sit and let the river flow past them. That can be a good strategy once in a while, but, as it stands now, they’ll look back in regret come December.

5. Minnesota Vikings

As mentioned, this list is a tough one because a lot of teams that were already wheezing and down on all fours got kicked in the ribs, and will probably show it throughout 2011. The Vikings, despite the Brett Favre antics and the inept head coaching last season, did not do much to help their case during free agency.

Only in watching the Vikings play in 2009 could you really appreciate how much losing Sidney Rice is going to be painful. He stretched the field and gave everyone leading the way for Adrian Peterson one extra step before contact. Those steps matter. Not to mention how he opened the passing lanes, as well. 

Deep threats are typically more valuable in their presence than in their statistics. Perhaps Michael Jenkins could fill this role, but his numbers with Atlanta would say otherwise.

The Vikings, perhaps expectedly, let Ray Edwards go. Edwards is not a household name, but if anyone’s curious about who was typically at the bottom of the league's ninth-best rushing defense—it was Edwards and Jared Allen. Edwards had the second-most sacks on the team last year with eight; Antoine Winfield, a cornerback was third with two. It’s not clear who can replace Edwards without a significant drop-off on the left side of the line.

At least they re-signed Ryan Longwell!

**This piece is supposed to be about free-agency losses, but I want to go on record as saying the Donovan McNabb signing was smart. They gave up two sixth-round picks to take a flyer on a borderline Hall of Famer who seems to have gas left in the tank. Not a long-term solution, but a good one while they transition to Ponder.

The only potential issue is grumblings like that of Ray Didinger at CSNPhilly.com, who says that "McNabb doesn’t want to be a mentor or a guy who keeps the seat warm for the next quarterback." That’s something to watch.

4. Miami Dolphins

It can be difficult to make offseason evaluations on teams that rely on defense. Defenses win games with a wider variety of game plans than their offensive counterparts.

A team can outmatch on the flanks and allow for linebackers to make a couple extra blitzes that turn the tide. A defense can stunt toward the middle and force a peripheral running game. It can drop ends into zones and blitz cornerbacks. It can work without the focal-point constraints of the football, and therefore can be more flexible in how it attacks…

What I’m trying to say is that the Dolphins are going to suck. That whole rant about defenses was just an abstract point. The Dolphins had a poor showing in the free-agency market, and, though they rely on defense, they’re going to be really bad this year. (Totally had you going that I was going to hedge my analysis.)

First, show me a Dolphins fan that’s excited about Reggie Bush and I’ll show you a guy that hasn’t deleted his DVR'd SportsCenter episodes from 2006. Bush is not a good NFL tailback. He is a phenomenal tailback when paired with a very skilled, creative offensive line. Unfortunately, that doesn't help you when you play for the 2011 Dolphins.

The Bush signing was a classic “give them something to be excited about” signing, not a “let’s get better at running the ball” signing. Miami will be surprised how much it misses Ronnie Brown and (eventually) Ricky Williams.

Also, and this may be a sign that the Apocalypse is upon us, but not re-signing Tyler Thigpen has hurt an NFL team. (No lightning? Floods? Okay, we’re okay.) He is a better quarterback than Matt Moore...Oh my god, the Dolphins have such a hilariously bad quarterback situation. I can’t believe this is being typed out in actual English sentences.

We’re done here. Hopefully their Pu Pu platter of defensive signings does something. Otherwise this team will be thrilled to walk away with seven wins again.

3. Indianapolis Colts

Our one non-bottom feeder.

Yes, they re-signed Peyton Manning, and yes, they re-signed running back Joseph Addai, who tricks everyone into thinking he’s good because he’s a decent fantasy starter, but always gets hurt. But other than that? You don’t get a ring for re-signing Adam Vinitieri.

It almost seems as if the Colts were so consumed with getting a Manning deal done that they forgot about the other 21 guys needed for a football team.

This team wasn’t that good last year; why are they sitting on their hands? I realize they had flashy passing statistics, but what about the fact both the rushing and passing defense for the Colts were hanging near the bottom third of the league?

You can’t win games if your defense can’t make a stop. You also can’t win games if you can’t control the run. The Colts had one of the worst rushing attacks in the NFL last year.

And yes, even though the Colts did have the league’s best passing offense, they lost weak-side tackle Charlie Johnson, which, in case Hollywood hadn’t informed you, is important. That’s Peyton’s blind side.

A very curiously quiet offseason for one of the best teams in the last decade.

2. Oakland Raiders

Oh, man.

I can already picture the Raiders fans in the comments telling me what I hater I am. Guys, it’s not “hating” (a word that’s totally lost meaning in today’s sports world) when I’m pointing out stuff that’s happened. We’re just reviewing events that have occurred in reality.

So relax and just zone out until Al Davis finally goes to the Great Game in the Sky and real management can take over.

Think of it this way: The hottest player on the free-agency market (Nnamdi Asomugha) didn’t even consider coming back. In addition to one of the league’s premier shutdown corners, the Raiders managed to let their top pass catcher go.

Trying to think of a receiver? Nope, it was a tight end.

Zach Miller went to the Seahawks, even after reports like Vittorio Tafur's of the San Francisco Chronicle, which said, "People inside the Raiders' organization thought Miller was set to re-sign once they were under the cap."

But that’s okay because Oakland signed a couple veteran receivers…Oh, no it didn’t do that either. Well then it must have an offense that relies on tight ends catching passes and signed…No, it didn’t do that either. Well, at least the Raiders still have a chance at Terrell Owens’s ghost.

Perhaps, there is a little redemption in re-signing Michael Huff. His 67 tackles look pretty sexy…until you realize those tackles were second on a team that was ranked fourth-to-last in the league in rush defense. Basically, he was cleaning up the linebackers’ mistakes—a position that the Raiders didn’t do anything to shore up, either. (Please don’t cite the low pass-yardage totals against the Raiders last year; they gave up the sixth-most touchdowns in the league.)

After a nice 2010 (that could easily be chalked up to a weak schedule), the Raiders should expect another frustrating season.

Don’t shoot the messenger.

1. San Francisco 49ers

As a fan, (see, Raider Nation. No hating—just facts) I considered driving down to Santa Clara to see if the power had gone out. I would have even dug through my closet and brought my Wi-Fi card in case anyone needed to make a call over Skype.

Did no one add Jim Harbaugh to the [e-mail] distribution list? And then Trent Baalke slept in…for a week?

HELLO??

For a team that kept a terrible season respectable with defense, they sure hemorrhaged a lot of jerseys.

Second leading tackler on the team, Takeo Spikes? Gone. Takeo Spikes' neck? Gone. The veins in Takeo Spikes' neck? Gone.

Third leading tackler, Nate Clements? Gone. Nate Clements' contract? Gone. (Actually, I’m okay with that.).

Starting weak-side linebacker, Manny Lawson? Gone. The 3-4 defensive anchor, Aubrayo Franklin? Gone. (To be fair, the Niners are likely to shift to a 4-3.)

How can they replace all these guys? I suppose Aldon Smith can step in on the outside of that line. And Ray McDonald is probably ready for more playing time. Otherwise? Clements was terrible value for the money, but he played. Who’s replacing him? (Cut to a shot of me tapping my foot furiously.)

And on the offensive side of the ball? At least they signed David Akers (a kicker), and re-signed Alex Smith (a spaz).

(Cue the shot of Niners fans balancing on the railings of the Golden Gate Bridge.)

Follow Caleb on Twitter or Bleacher Report if you want more musings. He also wrote a book called The St George's Angling Club, which you can buy on Amazon.