Ex-sports agent predicts NFL teams with most money to burn
US (CBS Sports) — NFL teams will have more than $1.2 billion in salary cap space at their disposal when the 2017 league year begins March 9. Typically, winning the free-agent signing period doesn’t translate into on-field success.
That certainly wasn’t the case last season. Armed with almost $60 million in cap room for free agency, the Raiders earned their first playoff berth in 15 seasons thanks to some key free-agent acquisitions: outside linebacker Bruce Irvin, safety Reggie Nelson, guard Kelechi Osemele and cornerback Sean Smith.
Three straight losing seasons spurred Giants general manager Jerry Reese to overhaul a defense that ranked last in the NFL in total and pass defense during the 2015 season.
He committed almost $200 million, with more than $105 million in guarantees, to three big-ticket defensive players: defensive tackle Damon Harrison, cornerback Janoris Jenkins and defensive end Olivier Vernon.
The spending spree paid off. The Giants made the playoffs as a wild-card team and were responsible for two of the Cowboys’ three regular-season losses.
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