The first wave of free-agent signings typically is marked by money hemorrhages, sometimes head-shaking deals that launch good-but-not-superstar players to startling contract heights compared to more distinguished peers. These are players who just happen to be the best available at their positions in a talent-thin year, and not infrequently appear on their team’s “Worst-ever signings” lists before those contracts run their courses.
Re-signing one’s own is one thing; retaining drafted talent is a statement that a team knows what it has. But the 2016 lineup of free agents has had headliners who in other years might not be, just as the best-rated quarterback in each draft is anything but worth a top-five pick.