MIKE DE SISTI / MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL
After the second day of free agency, the Dallas Cowboys made a blockbuster trade to sure up the secondary, and the Aaron Rodgers wait continues, but signs point to an agreement soon.
Winner: The Aaron Rodgers Wish List
A free agency wish list from Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets was released Tuesday morning, including Randall Cobb, Allen Lazard, Marcedes Lewis and Odell Beckham. All but one of those players were with Rodgers in 2022 on the Green Bay Packers, that being Beckham, whose a close friend of Rodgers. As the day wore on, Lazard signed a four-year, $44 million contract with the Jets. This signing shows the commitment from New York and likely confirms that Rodgers will be playing for the Jets in 2023. Rodgers will appear on The Pat McAfee Show Wednesday, and an announcement about his future will likely come out of it.
Loser: Miles Sanders
The market for running backs has reached an all-time low as teams avoid committing to the position long-term. This is the case for Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler, who requested a trade after failing to negotiate a new contract and had an 18-touchdown 2022 season. Another running back who’ll struggle to find a new team is former Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders, as he had a career year in 2022 with 1269 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. Sanders will have to lower his expectations for his contract as the market for running backs is plentiful but in low demand. The Eagles have already signed his replacement in former Seattle Seahawks running back Rashaad Penny.
Winner: Dallas Cowboys Secondary
In a surprising move, the Indianapolis Colts traded way five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore to the Cowboys for a fifth-round pick. The 2019 defensive player of the year will join another Pro Bowl cornerback Trevon Diggs. One of the issues in 2022 for Dallas was secondary play outside of Diggs, and with this trade, that issue is more than fixed, as Diggs and Gilmore are one of the best combos in the NFL. Gilmore will likely be a one-year rental as the Cowboys look to contend for a Super Bowl as the NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles have lost vital defensive pieces in free agency.
Loser: The Josh McDaniels-New England Patriots Connection
Former Patriots offensive coordinator McDaniels has now signed three former Patriots to begin free agency in 2023. The first being quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo and the wide receiver duo of Jakobi Meyers and Phillip Dorsett. Even with these additions, the Las Vegas Raiders traded away their Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller for a third-round pick. The New England to former coordinator pipeline hasn’t been friendly in the past as former Detriot Lions head coach Matt Patricia did a similar thing in free agency. Patricia lasted three years in Detroit and finished with a 13-29-1 record. McDaniels hasn’t shown success yet, with a 6-11 record his first year in Las Vegas, and will have to demonstrate success in 2023 to be retained another year.
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