Free agency is a crapshoot. Sometimes you win by losing a player and other time the player wins by moving to a new franchise. There have been some gigantic shifts for teams through the free-agent market. Plenty of Hall of Famers — and future HOFers — have made marks by moving from one city to another.
15. Ed McCaffrey
Ed McCaffrey was ordinary in his first four pro seasons, three with the New York Giants and one with the San Francisco 49ers. The Denver Broncos signed the WR from Stanford and everything blossomed. McCaffrey had three 1,000-yard seasons in Denver and caught 462 passes for 6,200 yards. In his first four seasons, he had done no better than 610 yards.
14. Mike Vrabel
Two-for-one is what the Patriots got when they landed linebacker Mike Vrabel via free agency. Vrabel had not started a single game in four years with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He came to New England and became a mainstay of the Patriots’ dynasty. In addition to being a force on defense, Vrabel also became a target for Tom Brady as an eligible receiver. Talk about crazy eights: Vrabel played eight years in New England, caught eight passes, all for touchdowns. A grand total of 11 yards gained. You can add in two more postseason grabs for three yards, and, of course, both went for touchdowns.
13. Priest Holmes
Priest Holmes did have a 1,000-yard season for the Baltimore Ravens in 1998. He combined for about 1,100 yards in the next two seasons and the Ravens saw him leave for Kansas City. The former Texas star exploded in KC, rushing for 1,555, a league-leading 1,620 and 1,420 yards in his first three seasons. He also scored 56 touchdowns on the ground in that time, 48 of them coming in seasons two and three as a Chief.
12. Curtis Martin
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The New York Jets actually got the better of the New England Patriots. Stunning. Signing Curtis Martin away from New England gave the Jets a Hall of Famer. Martin had three consecutive thousand-yard seasons in New England. Somehow, the Patriots let him sign with their division rival. With Gang Green, Martin tacked on seven more 1,000-yard seasons before finishing his career in 2005 with 735 yards, the only time in his glorious career he did not rush for four digits. In all, Martin rushed for 10,302 yards as Jet.
11. James Farrior
One that the Jets whiffed on was letting James Farrior go to Pittsburgh after five seasons. Farrior played in 154 games in 10 seasons as a Steeler and started every one of them. He was a mainstay of the defense and was a two-time Super Bowl champ.
10. Kurt Warner
No one should question whether Kurt Warner was going to thrive. He was the maestro of the “Greatest Show on Turf.” Warner went from the supermarket to Super Bowl champion. He moved to the Giants for a disappointing season before rekindling his career after signing as a free agent with Arizona. Warner nearly brought the Cardinals a Super Bowl. That’s how much of a Hollywood career he had.
9. Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice had already done it all as a 49er, catching passes for 19,247 yards and 176 TDs before moving across the Bay to the Raiders. Too old? Not quite. In his three full seasons in Oakland, he caught passes for better than 3,200 yards and 18 more scores.
8. Adam Vinatieri
This is an intriguing one that got away from the Patriots. They have not suffered since Stephen Gostkowski replaced Adam Vinatieri. However, everyone has to be amazed that the kicker is still going. He has had double-digit year careers with two teams. Remarkable. Vinatieri has improved with age, going from 81.9 percent success rate in NE to 86.4 percent with the Colts. Vinatieri has 2,600 career points and reached four digits with both NE and Indy.
7. Kevin Mawae
The Jets may not win many games. However, the did land two free agents who turned out to be Hall of Famers. Kevin Mawae played four seasons in Seattle before heading to Gang Green. He spent eight years as a Jet playing in and starting all 118 games. Mawae will be enshrined in Canton this summer, joining fellow free-agent Jet signee Curtis Martin.
6. Nick Foles
Nick Foles is Mr. Postseason. He’s also going to be revered in Philadelphia forever. Foles considered retirement before returning to the Eagles in 2017. And is the City of Brotherly Love glad he did. Foles led the Eagles to the Super Bowl and victory over the Patriots in Super Bowl LII. He almost worked similar magic in 2018 before Philly fell to the New Orleans Saints.
5. Reggie White
Reggie White played eight years in Philadelphia and had established himself as arguably the best defensive lineman of his era. It seemed implausible that Philadelphia would not turn him into an Eagle for his entire career. The Green Bay Packers came calling and White traded one shade of green for another. He was the “Minister of Defense” and left opposing teams praying double- and triple-team could stifle him. They usually failed.
4. Shannon Sharpe
Shannon Sharpe went from seventh-round pick to All-World TE in 10 years with the Broncos. He left Denver for Baltimore in 2000 and helped the Ravens win a Super Bowl. In his two seasons as a Raven, he led them in receptions once. He also famously was part of a 96-yard touchdown play with Trent Dilfer in the 2000 AFC Championship Game. Another HOFer on the list.
3. Deion Sanders
Deion Sanders intercepted six passes and had 303 return yards for the 49ers in 1994, his lone season with SF. The superstar moved to the team with the Lone Star on its helmet and the Dallas Cowboys thrived. He was a shutdown corner on defense and a threat as a returner. Another Hall of Famer who made a move that benefited himself and a team.
2. Drew Brees
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Miami or New Orleans? New Orleans or Miami? Where would Drew Brees land. The Big Easy has been his home and the Saints have never had to worry about the quarterback position since the Purdue star arrived in 2006 from San Diego. Miami, meanwhile, continues to try and find stability in a signal-caller.
1. Peyton Manning
One of the most fascinating free-agent moves. Peyton Manning missed the 2011 season with a neck injury. The Indianapolis Colts decided it was time to move and Manning moved on to the Mile High City. He won Super Bowl 50 as a Bronco and was heroic in coming off the bench in doing so in 2015. Manning started 57 games as a Bronco and was a sterling 45-12.
