Evolution of Free Agency: Best/Worst Contracts, Franchise Tags, & More!

Check out the evolution of NFL free agency!
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[@kevez17]

I’ll never get tired of learning about the history of the game

[@Flame-ic9en]

Same

[@husainlethal213]

Same here

[@marcus8032]

Same here

[@cameronfillicetti4756]

Same

[@michaelfloridaorlando1790]

Here here

[@chidozieosuji5158]

Worst deal or all time: Bill O’Brien becoming the GM of the Texans

[@gregaj7]

That, or Matt Millen in the same position with the Detroit Lions.

[@txboi6894]

Did you ever hear the tragedy of chip kelly?

[@miker9825]

@@gregaj7 you can add in matt patricia being the Lions HC too

[@bradleybrown8399]

Detroit: "hold my beer"

[@cjramos5096]

@@miker9825 eh lions already weren’t good tho idk who can fix them I like their new coach tho

[@stw3art14]

Favre to the Vikings is one of the most overlooked free agent signings

[@SuperSuperbowl1]

I’m not even a Vikings fan but that 09 Vikings team was probably the most fun team I’ve ever seen in my life. I was crushed that Favre didn’t get to go out with a ring

[@jonathanfrimerman8855]

@@SuperSuperbowl1 2017 team was also fun with Case Keenum 2009 and 2017 were both very fun

[@JaytooComp]

@@SuperSuperbowl1 because favre was a choke artist he choked y’all out of going to the Super Bowl

[@ivandaniel2596]

@MR.random57 how about you shut TF up??

[@namtrof01]

Seemed like he did a kegstand on a fountain of youth that year, and ap was Derrick Henry but a little faster imo. Percy Harvin had burners, Jared Allen had a mullet, they had brothers at the dt spot. I mean what wasn't to enjoy

[@jordan12118]

0:41 damn seeing Nick Foles get introduced by the Jags feels like a blur. Crazy how that almost immediately blew up

[@kurtwagner350]

Crazy how everyone but the Jags knew he wasn’t worth anything near that

[@loganfriend8018]

What about him on the Rams and Chiefs?

[@CharizardMaster69]

@@loganfriend8018 Rams, eh, he was on the Chiefs because Andy Reid was on the Chiefs

[@HeadlinePlays]

got hurt on the first drive, sucks for Phillys literal folk hero

[@3lement2010]

Crazy how money has changed. 4 years and 17 million for Reggie! Best comparison to nowadays is Aaron Donald who signed a 6 year 135 million contract. If you take the average and condense it to 4 years it's 4 years and 90 million.

[@3lement2010]

@@malus1426 nah

[@FecalMatador]

But a $4million salary in the early-mid 90s was probably worth more than $20ish mill a year, no?

[@tryharddog2279]

U gotta adjust for inflation

[@shaochiavang]

@@FecalMatador in 1990, $4 million would b worth like $8M.

[@Wolf_3125]

Inflation

[@johnny__topside]

Damn, the lions getting screwed over even in the 1940’s haha

[@user-uk1kw4vn6v]

Please keep making stuff like this. I knew nothing about free agency history other than it expanded in the 90’s before this video.

[@MyloTanner006]

Dan Synder should literally be on this list for all of his worst FA Signings!! Including Albert "Head Stomping" Haynesworth

[@miker9825]

You can also add drafting. He went against his staff and selected Haskins because his kid knew him.

[@rohaankamaraj8368]

Getting Manning for less than $20 million dollars a year was an absolute steal for my Broncos... even despite the cap being much lower than it is now and QBs weren’t getting payed 30 mill back then

[@miker9825]

Agreed. Manning also said during the press conference he had no intention of being one of the highest paid in the league. Guess he really wanted another ring.

[@sports3117]

The Broncos getting Peyton Manning was the greatest acquisition in the history of the franchise, just like Tom Brady going to Tampa was the greatest signing in franchise history

[@balamkinich7968]

Crazy how Arguably the 1 and 2 best QBs ever got let free by the teams that drafted them.

[@mosescarter5980]

@@Tr1Dylan I wouldn’t say awful he stepped up when he needed to mostly an on the field coach because they were awful as soon as he left.

[@zay_gzs5635]

@@mosescarter5980 you could tell him Manning's final season that it was over

[@mosescarter5980]

@@zay_gzs5635 yeah you definitely could I’m just saying he was never an awful player he just wasn’t great anymore

[@boogitybear2283]

Brady should have been a Buccaneer since he came into the league. He was Tony Dungy’s missing piece!

[@michaelmccourt4992]

10:25 Will Smith in the crowd

[@beckduron7391]

😂😂

[@itsaiden2cool862]

Lol

[@cjlindallas7749]

17:14 I still remember Priest Holmes and then Larry Johnson on my fantasy teams. I won league championships with those guys. 💯

[@JahNuhThunDeeTheOneAndOnly]

All I know is that the New England Patriots are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Eagles Dream Team by going on a free agent spending spree themselves!

[@mshat18]

Yup and while it looks good they still need a QB.

[@williammunny8514]

@@mshat18 Newton could improve his performance with a full offseason and the improved WR and TE Corps. As aggressive as they are, I think an uptrade in the draft will play a huge role in their plans.

[@kalibaking877]

As a Pat's I am concerned that might happen

[@burtmacklin4497]

I completely forgot Tony Romo was undrafted, an absolute legend

[@erics2739]

Rookie wage scale made huge difference

[@johnortan1890]

It was mainly because of the small hands, scouts were weird about that stuff, and smaller school. Romo is in the college football hall of fame though. According to Dat Nguyen and Darren Woodson, Romo was the best qb on the team the first practice. Nguyen stated that when Romo was the scout team qb, Romo would do these crazy plays and the defense would get chewed out by Parcells because Romo was escaping sacks and making plays against the starting defense. And they were trying to tell Parcells that its this young qb the guy is great. And that's saying something because 2003 Cowboys had the #1 defense in the nfl and Romo was balling on them as a rookie.

[@imalwayslast3170]

@@johnortan1890 Dat Nguyen was a heck of a player when he was healthy. Romo was slow, but his ability to escape was impressive. Yes, he choked that one game. I recall the snap that went over his head and he still managed a first down after chasing it like 30 yards.

[@burtmacklin4497]

@Coogan found the 13 year old

[@burtmacklin4497]

@Coogan then that’s even more sad

[@ST0NE_206]

Texans: We make a good spot on the list? Bill O’Brien: yesn’t. NFL: *slowly backing away* _”uh...well..”_

[@mt_baldwin]

Kirk Cousins got the biggest deal because in 2017 the Vikings seemed one piece away from being Super Bowl contenders, seemingly needing only a good-not-great QB and there was none of these accept Cousins coming up in the next draft (the would fall to the Vikes draft spot) or free agency. It doesn't look so crazy in context but with hindsight yeah he probably got too much.

[@Gungho73]

QB's always do get too much. Seeing him get that bag wasn't surprising, but seeing that team not reach the height they did with Keenum still felt bizarre.

[@Weontherisebyrandy]

This interesting free agency this year

[@TJV83]

New England gobbled up all of the good free agents

[@user-zp5lt3kj7o]

Yea God bless

[@user-zp5lt3kj7o]

@@TJV83 not all God bless

[@kingjayded4752]

Love this channel. Wonderful video as always!

[@billhuffman4327]

I enjoyed this, enlightening & entertaining..thank you!

[@christianramirez9303]

This is a fantastic video!

[@BHUBYT]

Great video I love the free agency and nfl draft videos

[@thatonebillsfan]

Just imagine what kinda deal prime Reggie White would get if it was now! He would for sure get 100 mil+

[@jacksonsandell1625]

he'd get an aaron donald type deal. Donald got 6/135 million, around 22.5 average salary. he'd get similar if not more if this was Reggie White in his prime.

[@Gihad97]

Fantastic. Great presentation. I never knew about the history of free agency. I only the modern stuff like the franchise tag. Never knew about the other stuff. Never knew Al Davis was commissioner at one point.

[@timrc417]

Absolutely loved this video. From the narrator’s enthusiasm to the great visuals and the deep history lesson, I’m really glad I found this channel.

[@thayronturner1818]

Thank you. This was awesome

[@DaveedOchoa]

Love these type of videos that shows the history of the NFL in detail, Amazing Video!

[@jake4379]

I had to go back and look at that Rodney Harrison contract... 6yrs/15 million ??? WOW

[@Mo-MuttMusic]

Thanks for sharing. In-depth reporting on an interesting topic. Shawn R., Mo-Mutt Music/Sacred & Secular (and sports fan)

[@lilbroomstick2.085]

Thanks for the video NFL throwback

[@donelljr4467]

Good video

[@penguinrea0088]

This some great history

[@DaveedOchoa]

Best Free Agent signing is gonna be between Peyton Manning, Reggie White, and possibly Tom Brady

[@davidmiller6579]

* & Drew Brees!!! Went from being replaced to being an all time great & turning around a franchise w/ no stadium that hadn’t been to the playoffs since the 60s!!

[@DaveedOchoa]

@@davidmiller6579 yeah very true forgot to include him!

[@EzekielMitchell98]

@@DaveedOchoa the worst might be hanesworth and Kirk cousin

[@BrooksDunn]

Hardy Nickerson was pretty underrated for the Bucs, he got Derrick Brooks and Sapp up to speed in the Tampa D and showed them how to be great.

[@johnortan1890]

@@EzekielMitchell98 definitely not the worst, Cousins has actually played alot better than the media claims for whatever reason. It's just the vikings defense fell off once they finally got a qb.

[@TJV83]

Hopefully the Patriots have a better season this year, I like watching the old games where the QB just said “fuhk it” and threw the ball as hard as possible and hope the right guy catches it

[@juandavila4534]

Excellent video. Thank you so much

[@Sugarist0]

Hey Seattle, y’all know that Malcom Butler was undrafted too?

[@jedi4canes]

I just got into pro football but I watched college so this helps me learn about the past

[@piijay14]

Free Agency is cool but Salary Cap is a killer.

[@bloodorange6713]

Nope, without it, the league would end up like the MLB or fifa, where the richest clubs/teams dominate yearly

[@josephratliff7165]

I agree with everyone else here, I never get tired of watching stuff like this and the throwback channel in particular does a great job. I am curious though, as the episode states that in the event a franchise loses a player that has been designated "Non-Exclusive Franchise Player" said franchise will receive two first round draft picks as compensation? That cant be correct is it? I am pretty sure the round those compensatory draft picks will be selected is determined by a combination of the round they were originally selected from and the following seasons production if I am not mistaken ?. I just cant picture 1 much less 2 first round draft picks being bantered about in such a manner. Can anyone help with this question?

[@SlowedBloom9188]

I did a research project on Red Grange!

[@markspringer8296]

The value from Priest Holmes 🔥

[@balamkinich7968]

If K.B. is narrating, it's a guaranteed good watch.

[@thechosenhero8157]

I wish the nba had a channel like this

[@AlternativeElvis]

Yeah, that went in one ear and out the other! I'll never get it 🤣

[@footballdude4271]

So basically, when GB signs a top tier FA they win a SB within the next 3-4 years

[@devildog65]

I can NEVER forget the beginning of Free Agency (FA), because at the time my team, the Cowboys, were World Champs and FA dismantled our Dynasty. I remember getting TE Jay Novacekvin Plan B FA and thinking what a steal he was. Within 5 years, my team, from players to coaches, was deconstructed slowly but surely.

[@zacmp29]

13.45 is so wholesome

[@the6footplustree75]

It was a welcome surprise hearing the legend, Marv Albert, making an announcing cameo in this video.

[@michaelellman7205]

Y.A. Tittle looks like a modern QB. He could spin it.

[@theclandestinewitness]

We love you in KC Priest

[@ericsmith6823]

that offensive line was insane even after tait the right tackle left for chicago

[@johnortan1890]

@@ericsmith6823 that oline helped but alot of those tds were all of Holmes. No holes but Holmes would just jump and flip over the oline and dline from like 5 yards out into the endzone.

[@ZeroDarkTwenty3]

2023 Free agency day baby!!!

[@gefarmsemery2773]

Didn't the rams place tag on ol pace twice or 3 times?

[@Mike__B]

Yup 93 is when free agency exploded... a year later the NFL came up with the idea of salary cap so that teams that made more money couldn't swoop in on every big free agent, now players continue to argue that they should get a bigger piece of the pie.

[@sjwilson1079]

I actually know how recent all this free agency is, I was a kid when they implemented the salary cap.

[@samueloconnor2938]

No mention of Adam Thielen in the UDFA part?

[@199019852007]

Is that will smith at 10:24 in the oakland raiders hat and jacket?

[@derpy.1]

18:40 Isn’t that the music from Saint Row 3 or something? The menu music?

[@edwardthibodeaux8815]

I heard it in madden 10 so I don’t think so

[@edwardthibodeaux8815]

Sorry derpy

[@bssenyt]

Here before it blows up tickets 🎫

[@AlejandraGarcia-mp2fu]

From all RAIDER NATION...you guys are welcome 😎😉

[@ericsmith6823]

Remember when you guys made Tommy Kelly the highest paid defensive lineman and paid D'Angelo hall for 6 games and Javon walker all in the same off-season and I root for the raiders

[@jaylew8408]

The way owners were back then when it came to money, I wouldn't be surprised if someone told me that the owners had a meeting to see if they should get a portion of the players salary that they would receive from uncle Sam while the players were off fighting in the war. You know considering without those certain players around to play, the owners could possibly lose out on money since the fans wouldn't come to watch if their favorite player wasn't playing

[@johnnysama]

Who was the most consequential free agent signing(s), in your opinions? Let's hear ya.

[@heathengrinder]

8:34 😂😂😂

[@truthiscensored]

What about Snagga Tooth Williams who in 1832 signed highest paid contract in history for $2 and a biscuit... He had a good year too. 85 TDs, 103 sacks, 54 ints, 10,000 yards lol

[@Nationof300]

3:40 nastiest Pump fake ever

[@ezrahiller2420]

do evolution of week 1

[@jonathanfrimerman8855]

Evolution of week 17

[@loganstolberg2743]

What about exclusive rights free agents?

[@YourGrannysThong]

I know it’s not the same sport, but remember when everyone lost their shit when Garnett signed a 125 million dollar contact? Nowadays, players feel insulted if only offered anything around that amount. We’ll see our first billion dollar contract in sports in the next 10-15 years. Just in the last 20 years salaries in the jumped an insane amount. Top players back then were making around 8-10 million a year. Now, it’s in the ballpark of 40-50 million a year

[@mraulmadrid7]

what happened to Elliot Harrison, does he not narrate the throwback channel anymore?

[@effend446]

And that's not even mentioning the salary cap that took effect in 1994.......a year after unrestricted free agency began. Players getting cut because teams decided they could no longer afford them. And that's why we have the parity we have today.

[@bumpusjones.1978]

Sorry fo second post, Dick Lane was out of football for a couple of years and working at an aircraft factory and while on the bus going to and from work he would pass the Rams office one day he walked in carry a scrapbook of his highlights had a tryout and was signed on the spot.

[@bloodorange6713]

My all time favorite player. Dude was in a league of his own

[@bumpusjones.1978]

@@bloodorange6713 The Night Train Necktie is the greatest finishing move outside wrestling. When your so dominant the league changes the rules to stop you is an item on the resume few players can boast.

[@bumpusjones.1978]

Somethings are lost in history about Reggie White signing w/Packers the incredible amount of ridicule he took for 2 things he said after he signed, “God told me to sign w/Packers” and “Im here to win a Super Bowl”. Just before this time Green Bay was used as a threat by GM’s and coach’s, “ill trade you to Green Bay if” like parents of naughty children and the boogie man, the threat was real as AllPro WR John Jefferson was traded because of a contract dispute prior to the 1981 season. At the time both GB and TB were both so bad for so long that the two games they played each year were referred to as “the Bay of pigs” games. Most importantly Reggie White made GB a place to go, in between his signing and SB XXXI Sean Jones, Seth Joyner, Desmond Howard, Keith Jackson and Andre Rison came to GB. The higher profile Reggie gave GB spotlighted that GB has always openly accepted and embraced players/coach’s regardless of color and at this time GB was the first NFL team in history to have both DC/OC that were African Americans in those roles at the same time Sherman Lewis and Ray Rhodes. An interesting side note to this was “In Living Color” the TV show w/Wayans Bros and the show that made Jim Carey and Jamie Fox stars had a show right after the Packers hired Lewis/Rhodes and when the cast came out at the end together several/most cast members were wearing Packer hats in celebration of that fact. No team/city has benefited more from free agency, 20+years of garbage to 30 years of sustained success. Great video, sorry my response was so long.

[@jonathanfrimerman8855]

10:29 RIP KEVIN GREENE

[@christianrose8697]

Dang even in the past no one wanted to play for the lions lol

[@rainbowstar9552]

At 8:42 notice the error in the text

[@rustyshackleford1114]

Hardy Nickerson was one of the most underrated free agent signings in modern NFL history.

[@whydontiknowthat]

Handy Nickerson is also one of the most underrated names in NFL history.

[@BrooksDunn]

I just said this lol.. I didn’t see yours.. I agree 100%, he mentored the younger Bucs greats to form the great D’s that would shut down the greatest show on turf.. too bad he wasn’t there to win a ring with them.

[@TryPuttingItInRice]

Right off the bat, the Lions proving their incompetence by not signing Speedy and then he goes and wins with the Browns 😂

[@danieldalton7923]

This was posted almost on the day that Tom signed with the bucs

[@Gungho73]

Imagine letting go of Johnny Unitas, arguably known as the father of modern quarterbacking. The guy involved in the Greatest Game Ever Played. The guy who romanticized the idea of a late drive to win the game. Imagine being the organization that let him go, let him risk the finances with gas money to even try and meet the Colts. And you had him.

[@DV1287]

So, who is the greatest free agent of all time?

[@ethanelmore8146]

Reggie white or peyton manning

[@iagreebut2216]

Tom brady or peyton manning (for QBS at least )

[@jcore0981]

I hate to be that guy but Brady.

[@alexandertatpati2833]

​@@jcore0981 Im a chiefs fan ,but damn brady is just better than them. (not saying anything ,but if we had our o-line, it could have been competitive).

[@TheHeston83]

TB12 but my favorite Free Agent Signing was Wes Welker to The Broncos

[@Gungho73]

I always find a reason to scrutinize non QB contracts now because of guys like D'Brickashaw Fergusons contract details.

[@andrewhoback1080]

Can you use three tags every year?

[@jbfarley]

No, one per year, as he said

[@josephvanhorn5347]

Imagine trying to negotiate a contract with a company that knows for a fact you can’t work anywhere else. Slave- Yeah, uh, I think I deserve $250,00 a year. Owner- lol no. Slave- $200,000? Owner- We’ll give you 50 bucks a week and wash your uniform after games. Slave- Do you have a pen? 😕

[@lukenguyen1789]

um, forgot abt the goat that tb12 took down. taylor heinicke

[@josiahjones515]

nick files looks like a younger Lindsey Graham

[@akvalues]

Johnny Unitus was a Steeler!??

[@yeet5830]

I can’t believe my Steelers could of had Unitas But we did have bradshaw

[@dmeads5663]

The Steelers were the ones to draft Unitas and they cut him.

[@balamkinich7968]

Washington and Heinicke put up the biggest fight for Brady and the Bucs in the playoffs Could have Showed them little respect

[@balamkinich7968]

@Braden Houser the funny thing is, they won their division and played better against Tampa than New Orleans, Green Bay and Kansas City. To me, 7-9 doesnt tell their tale. They went 5-1 or 6-1 With Alex Smith in at QB with one leg. So during the back half of the season it was completely different team without Haskins throwing the ball in the dirt every game. What a midseason turnaround

[@balamkinich7968]

@@thebrockman12 it does when they tout the Brady playoff run and leave out the only team that was a good matchup for them.

[@balamkinich7968]

@Braden Houser hindsight is 20/20 Cant argue with you on that. I'm not faulting them for putting him out there week one. They should have pulled the plug a lot sooner tho.

[@mikeybarboza3086]

As a born and bred 49ers living in the heart of Patriots country (30 mins from Foxborough) and then hearing the reports that Brady wanted to come home to SF only to have Kyle and John say they're sticking with Garoppollo was the 2nd time this team has broken my heart and cost us SB's. The 1st was 2005 taken Alex Smith over Aaron Rodgers. What could've been....

[@BrooksDunn]

Brady would have made the throws to beat KC the first time, especially with the D giving him so much comfort knowing they had the chiefs offense in check. I think Brady might of had a Dynasty going in SF if he was given a chance.

[@johnortan1890]

Be glad that they stuck with Jimmy, because 49ers are one of if not the worst team in the nfl everytime Jimmy is not playing. Also Rodgers on those trash 49er teams with alot of different systems every year would probably not be the same qb. Alex Smith got put in a rough situation.

[@Goku-dh3rt]

17:06 best bargain if all time

[@steamedclams5689]

The Baltimore Colts got one of the great QBs of all time, u may have heard of him. Any fan right now: No I OnLy CaRE AbOUt ToM BrADy.

[@TJV83]

Yeah Unitas was a beast and so is Brady

[@masify8632]

interesting

[@erics2739]

Reggie white for my packers except tom brady had the biggest impact if you as

[@XBC3-4GOTY]

Best Free Agent Signings are Reggie White Charles Woodson Deion Sanders Peyton Manning Drew Brees

[@ravens52raylewis87]

What no Tom Brady or Brett Favre?

[@clark2501]

@@ravens52raylewis87 Brett Favre had one good year in Minnesota in his two years there and it led to a single NFC championship appearance. He didn’t play there long enough. Same thing for Brady thus far. Yeah he won a SB, but let’s see what happens this season before we put him up there with guys that have several years or more of great play, were instrumental in a SB run or multiple, or basically revived a franchise from the dead and made them relevant for the first time.

[@ravens52raylewis87]

@@clark2501 Favre had an MVP worthy season that year who cares how long they play there in the first place and the you really think the Buccaneers who had not won a Super Bowl since 2002 or made the playoffs since 2007 weren't a suffering team that Brady helped bring back to reality and while the Vikings were good the previous year it was Brett Favre that really put them over the edge what makes their season's so significant is the fact that both of these guys played like MVPs threw over 30 TDS and over 4000 YDS in their 40s on new teams in their very first years when most QBs retire before that so I'm just saying

[@godbobo4088]

3:03 no way that’s a real name you gotta be kidding me.

[@yourbrotherjoeproductions9326]

If only Franchise Tags werent a thing like the NBA look at all those chickens going to different farms

[@adamdickinson2894]

Hi Kyle

[@muhfux]

It really is ridiculous how much these guys get paid to have fun

[@willwoessner2503]

Rip DT

[@heathengrinder]

I wonder how many "taunting" penalties primetime would have in todays nfl lol

[@paulynunnz9740]

Wait, so it’s all a Al Davis video?

[@Matthew-vw8xn]

12:33 u forgot the goat Henicke