5 Best free-agent acquisitions of the past decade ft. Peyton Manning
The 2022 free agency period has gotten off to a hot start, with free-agent deals such as stud cornerback JC Jackson signing with the L.A. Chargers on a five-year, $82.5 million contract.
Chargers are giving former Patriots’ CB JC Jackson a five-year, $82.5 million deal that invoices $40 million guaranteed, per source.
A whole host of franchise-changing free agents have been signed to teams across the NFL in the past decade, from Pro Bowlers to All-Pros and Super Bowl winners. Here are the five best of the past decade:
#5 - Trey Hendrickson to the Cincinnati Bengals, 2021
Perhaps jumping the gun just one season after his free agency move, but DE Trey Hendrickson's impact on the Cincinnati Bengals defense cannot be underestimated. Hendrickson was signed by the Bengals to a four-year, $60 million contract in 2021 and immediately helped transform the team's fortunes.
Hendrickson joined a unit that finished dead last in sacks with just 17.0 across the entire team in 2020, but he got 14.0 sacks himself in 2021 as the Bengals went all the way to Super Bowl 56, narrowly losing out to the L.A. Rams.
- First Pro Bowl Selection
- 14 sacks (Most by a Bengal since 1976)
- 11 straight games with at least half a sack (Most in team history)
Trey Hendrickson's first season in Cincinnati was one for the ages. https://t.co/JbL3qnbArr
#4. Malcolm Jenkins to the Philadelphia Eagles - 2015
Strong safety Malcolm Jenkins was let go by the New Orleans Saints in 2014 and moved up to Philly to join the Eagles on a three-year, $16.25 million contract.
After joining the Eagles, he took his game to another level, receiving three Pro Bowl nods (2015, 2017, 2018) and earning a First-Team All-Pro selection in 2015. He was also part of the Philadelphia Eagles side that won Super Bowl 52, defeating the New England Patriots 41-33.