Ten Thoughts on the NFL: Free Agency edition

1) Even though it seems risky giving quarterback Brock Osweiler $18 million a year, that's simply what the market dictates starting QBs are getting these days. Yes it's crazy money for a guy with 7 career starts and a career passer rating of 86.0, but teams need to figure that position out before they can realistically consider themselves a playoff contender.

The Houston Texans did what they felt they had to do.

I do think the Texans have a good enough defense to be competitive and if Osweiler can play smart, game-managing football, they should be in the AFC South race. Especially since they added former Miami running back Lamar Miller, who is a very underrated player in my opinion.

But the key for Houston will be Brock's development not that he's clearly the Man, and this tweet from Broncos' beat writer Mike Klis has to give the Texans pause about a potential entitled attitude from Osweiler.

Talked to source close to Brock Osweiler family who said Brock was GONE from benching/switch to Peyton. #9news #9sports

— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) March 14, 2016

I get being pissed off, but to flat out be ready to move on from an organization that decided to go back to one of the all time greats to ever play the game seems like sour grapes to me.

2) The Jacksonville Jaguars made ex-Denver defensive end Malik Jackson the 2nd highest paid d-lineman in the game. Not bad for a guy who finally cracked the starting lineup for good last year in his 4th season and who racked up 5.5 sacks in 2015. Giving Jackson 5 years, $85,500,000 with $42,000,000 of it guaranteed is a bit more than I would have went.

3) Jackson's former Bronco teammate, 26 year old Derek Wolfe, had to cringe a little when he saw the kind of money the Jags handed Jackson. Wolfe, if you recall, was also set to become a free agent after the 2015 season, but he decided to sign an extension with Denver. Wolfe's 4 year, $36,700,000 contract that included a $17,500,000 guaranteed is just a bit smaller than Jackson's.

For comparisons sake, Wolfe also had 5.5 sacks last year (in 12 games), but he's started all 55 games he's played on for the Broncos.

4) I think the Detroit Lions panicked after Calvin Johnson announced his retirement. How else can you explain them giving a five year, $40 million contract, with $17 million guaranteed to Marvin Jones? I think Jones is a good player, but that's a lot of money for a guy that had his career year playing against defenses that were concerned with A.J. Green. Maybe the 26 year old Jones is ready to be the man, and his 65 catches and 816 yards is just a tease of what's to come.

5) I really like what the Oakland Raiders did on the first week of free agency. They added pass rushing linebacker Bruce Irvin, offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele and cornerback Sean Smith. These three will bolster the talent of a young and emerging team.

6) Why would the Miami Dolphins sign 31 year old defensive end Mario Williams and allow 25 year old defensive end Olivier Vernon to leave?

7) Would you want your favorite team to take a chance on Colin Kaepernick, Robert Griffin III or Johnny Manziel?

Kaepernick is still with the 49ers, but he's on the trade block, and the other two are free agents. Of the three, I think RGIII has the most upside.

8) If former Bears running back Matt Forte was really chasing a ring at this point in his career, I don't understand why he picked the New York Jets. Maybe head coach Todd Bowles sold him on their vision for the 2016 season or maybe the money (3 years/$12 million with $9 million guaranteed) was too good to pass up.

The Jets were 10-6 last year, but Forte claims the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers were two of the 5 teams interested in his services. If I was a veteran back looking for a place to win, I'm going to play with Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers.

9) Believe it or not, Jay Cutler has become a reason players want to come to Chicago.

New Bears defensive lineman Akiem Hicks says that Cutler will give them a "great opportunity to win every Sunday," and that "it would be hard to find a couple DLs in this league who don't know who Jay Cutler is and what he brings to the table."

Then there's this tweet about new Bears' inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman.

Jerrell Freeman was impressed by Jay Cutler during the joint training camp w the #Bears last August. A reason he signed

— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) March 13, 2016

Perhaps the narrative that Cutler is soft, which was probably the dumbest of all the Cutler narratives, is over.

Also for what it's worth, Cutler was at Halas Hall and he welcomed new Bears' Danny Trevathan and Bobbie Massie to Chicago at their introductory press conference.

10) One more quick nugget on Freeman.

Did you catch his rant on former Colts teammate Coby Fleener?

Current New Orleans Saint Fleener, who also left the Colts as a free agent, decided to take a shot at his old team out the door saying they didn't show enough effort during the 2015 season.

To say that pissed Freeman off would be an understatement.

"Fleener, he didn't have the [guts]. That [bleep] pisses me off. And he must've been looking in the mirror when he did the interview.

"I despise guys like that. That's what little girls do, talk about you when you're not around. I'm a grown man. If I see something I don't like, I'm going to go have a face-to-face convo with that player/players and we are going to get an understanding! I feel like I had a hand in building what's over there [in Indianapolis], so he's [bleeping] on me, too.

"That's a bitch move.

"You can print all that, brotha!"

Bears fans looking for a guy with passion and fire must love Freeman already.

What are some of your Thoughts this week?