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Mind-blowing stats for free agency
A team built with the strong free agency acquisitions, the New England Patriots may be tasked with defending their Super Bowl title with some fresh faces. Take a look at these mind-blowing stats as we head into free agency.
Some free agents should step into big roles immediately for their new teams. Among the 2016 free agent signings were a playoff quarterback (Houston's Brock Osweiler), a 1,000-yard rusher (Houston's Lamar Miller), a 1,000-yard receiver (Baltimore's Mike Wallace), and a defender with double-digit sacks (Buffalo's Lorenzo Alexander).
Eight of New England's 22 Super Bowl starters (36.4 percent) joined the team through free agency, including WR Chris Hogan, RB Dion Lewis, LB Rob Ninkovich, and CB Malcolm Butler (undrafted free agent).
In each of the last 14 seasons, at least one quarterback has posted a winning record immediately after changing teams that offseason (min. 5 starts). Among the notables to do so? Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Drew Brees, and Kurt Warner.
There were 127 players who changed teams via free agency between Super Bowl 50 and the start of the 2016 season. Eight of them (6.3 percent) made the 2017 Pro Bowl: CB Casey Hayward (SD), CB Janoris Jenkins (NYG), LB Lorenzo Alexander (BUF), LB Zach Brown (BUF), S Eric Weddle (BAL), S Reggie Nelson (OAK), C Alex Mack (ATL), and G Kelechi Osemele (OAK).
Adrian Peterson will be entering his 11th season in the NFL. Since entering the NFL in 2007, Peterson leads all players in rushing yards,(11,747), rushing TD (97), and 100-yard rushing games (49) . Among all players with 100+ career games played, Peterson ranks 3rd in NFL history in rushing yards per game (95.5) . However, in 2016, Peterson had the fewest rushing yards (72) and average (1.95) among all running backs with at least 30 carries.
Free agent running back LeGarrette Blount led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 2016. Only player in the Super Bowl era has led the NFL in rushing touchdowns and then joined a new team in free agency: DeMarco Murray, who left the Cowboys in 2015 and signed with the Eagles.
The Patriots may be forced to defend their title with a significantly different roster. Their 2017 free agent class includes their leaders in rushing yards (RB LeGarrette Blount), TD receptions (TE Martellus Bennett), interceptions (CB Malcolm Butler, restricted), tackles (CB Logan Ryan), tackles for loss (DT Alan Branch), and quarterback pressures (DE Jabaal Sheard) - and that doesn't even include LB Dont'a Hightower or DE Chris Long.
Free agent pass rushers Julius Peppers (143.5 career sacks) and DeMarcus Ware (138.5 career sacks) both rank in the Top 10 in career sacks in NFL history (Peppers 5th, Ware 8th). The rest of the Top 10 - Bruce Smith, Reggie White, Kevin Greene, Chris Doleman, Michael Strahan, Jason Taylor, Richard Dent, and John Randle - are all in the Hall of Fame.
Free agent safety Eric Berry has made 5 Pro Bowl teams in his first 7 seasons in the NFL. The only 3 safeties to make more Pro Bowls in their first 7 seasons are Steve Atwater and Hall of Famers Ken Houston & Ronnie Lott.
In each of the last 6 offseasons, a running back has joined a new team in free agency and rushed for 1,000+ yards in their first season with their new team. Lamar Miller continued the trend in 2016 by rushing for 1,073 yards in his first season with the Texans.
