Quiet Start to June Free Agency

It used to be called the final wave of free agency, some people now call it free agency 2. Whatever you want to call it the beginning of June has always been an important date in the NFL calendar. This is because of the change in salary cap implications. Only the current year’s bonus proration counts toward the cap when players are released or traded after the 1st of June.

Here we are on the morning of the 4th of June, and very little had happened so far. There have been 16 players signed to new teams so far this month, but they have been extra bodies to add depth to squads. The most notable signing is former Super Bowl champ, Running Back Rex Burkhead, who has found a new home in Houston. Though he’s going into an already crowded Running Back group.

The other signings made so far are:

• Tyler Newsome – Arizona Cardinals
• Ronald Blair – New York Jets
• Andy Jones – San Francisco 49ers
• Brian Price – Detroit Lions
• Dayan Lake – Los Angeles Rams
• James Burgess – San Francisco 49ers
• Devin Gray – Baltimore Ravens
• Roderic Teamer – Las Vegas Raiders
• Abry Jones – Tennessee Titans
• Pharoh Cooper – Jacksonville Jaguars
• Darqueze Dennard – Arizona Cardinals
• Mycole Pruitt – San Francisco 49ers
• Alex Ellis – Las Vegas Raiders
• Trevon Coley – Tennesse Titans
• Tye Smith – Minnesota Vikings

The most notable names on the free agency list are still there for now. Players like Geno Atkins, Kawann Short, Melvin Ingram, Sheldon Richardson, Justin Houston, Larry Fitzgerald, Golden Tate, and Richard Sherman are still waiting to find out where they will be playing this season.

Trades and Releases

There have yet to be any significant releases from teams looking for some cap relief. Nor have there been any trades, with even the expected impending trade of Julio Jones being quiet so far. Everyone was waiting for June. Where the Falcons would get the cap relief they want from a trade, but clearly teams aren’t banging the Falcons door down. At least for the asking price of the hierarchy in Atlanta. Of course, we are all waiting on Aaron Rodgers news too.

With OTA’s finishing up and the low cap this year, perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise that teams are taking their time. With several weeks now until training camp starts (July 27 for most teams), teams will look to get the final pieces they need in place. Before training camp starts ideally. Fans will have to show that rare capacity of the modern sports fan, and be patient.