The NFL season ended February 13th with the Los Angeles Rams being crowned as Super Bowl Champions. Once the season was over, I began to start scouting players for this year’s draft. Little did I know already established NFL players would take over draft season. It started with Aaron Rodgers watch which immediately started after another disappointing playoff exit for the Packers.
On March 8th Rodgers ended up deciding to stay with the Packers signing an extension where he is slated to earn $150.8 million dollars over the next 3 seasons. The very same day Russell Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos about an hour and a half later giving them the quarterback they have so desperately needed since they won Super Bowl 50 and Peyton Manning headed into retirement.
Two days later March 10th Khalil Mack was traded to the Los Angeles Chargers who now have the elite pass rushing tandem of Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. The Chargers would go on to sign All-Pro Corner J.C. Jackson and defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day fixing their weaknesses on defense.
5 days later March 17th Davante Adams then gets traded to the Las Vegas Raiders signing a 5-year $141.25 million dollar contract
March 18th 24 hours later Deshuan Watson signed a 5-year $230 million dollar fully guaranteed contract with the Cleveland Browns after missing a year dealing with his legal troubles.
BUT WAIT there’s more…. Tyreek Hill would end up getting traded to the Miami Dolphins signing a 4-year $120 million dollar contract.
My biggest takeaway from all of this is NFL players are finally taking matters into their own hands. For years now we’ve seen NBA players take matters into their own hands with everything from Lebron’s decision to go to Miami back to Cleveland then to Los Angeles or Kevin Durant going from Oklahoma City to Golden State to Brooklyn. Which has led to several players in the NBA doing what they feel is best for them rather than what the norm use to be which was staying with your team your whole career even if they don’t present you with the money or the chance to win.
With the franchise tag and the very short shelf life of NFL players it was very hard for players to play for multiple teams. Nowadays ever since Tom Brady went to Tampa Bay and they gave him everything under the sun quarterback movement has been a very big thing as you’ve seen already with Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Deshaun Watson, Matt Ryan and soon to be Baker Mayfield.
But now it’s no longer the quarterbacks it’s all players who are taking matters into their own hands where they feel the need to either get their money that they have earned or to be put in the position to elevate their legacies by winning championships.
We’re going through March Madness and it’s almost time for the NBA Playoffs, the MLB season starts soon and yet here we are the main talking point is still the NFL and the players are in control of their career and I must say it is about time!
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