2016 NFL Free Agency: Updates Through Day 2

The 2016 NFL free agency period is well underway and the movers and shakers are, well, doing just that. Some teams opted to make big splashes already, while others made more subtle moves which could eventually pay big dividends.

Over the next several days, more big moves are expected to be made, but let's take a moment to assess what's already taken place.

Titans Land Murray in a Potential Steal

The Philadelphia Eagles appears to be completely ridding themselves of Chip Kelly and any players he brought in. DeMarco Murray was misused last season and will get a fresh start in Tennessee, after being traded along with a 4th round draft pick for an earlier pick in the 4th round. Murray was the Offensive Player of the Year in the 2014-15 season and will look to return to form with the Titans, who already have their quarterback of the future in Marcus Mariota.

Texans Find Answers on Offense

The Houston Texans certainly had some questions on the offensive side of the ball heading into the offseason. The most pressing need was at the quarterback position. They tried their hand with a number of names, including Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett, but nothing seemed to click. Enter Brock Osweiler. While not a stud, Osweiler showed some progression this past season in Denver. Houston will have an entirely new backfield, following the release of the injury prone Arian Foster. They found his replacement in Lamar Miller, who should be an upgrade.

Dolphins Leave Us Scratching Our Heads

CBS Philly

The Eagles unloaded two regressing players onto the Miami Dolphins' tab, leaving many to wonder why the Dolphins would even agree to such a deal. Philadelphia sent cornerback Byron Maxwell and linebacker Kiko Alonso to Miami for their Top-10 draft pick. Calling this move "risky" would be a severe understatement. Maxwell took a step back since his time in Seattle and Alonso has yet to prove that he's not an injury liability. The Dolphins made another questionable decision by bringing in a struggling Mario Williams. They even cut their top cornerback, Brent Grimes. Not to mention they let Olivier Vernon walk.

The G-Men Bolster Their Defense

Speaking of Olivier Vernon, he's headed to East Rutherford. The Giants signed him to an $85 million deal over five years. He will now team up with fellow pass-rusher, Jason Pierre-Paul. New York made another big splash by bringing in cornerback Janoris Jenkins, who was a legit cover man with the Rams. He and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie should form a solid tandem in the secondary. The Giants also snagged run-stopper Damon Harrison from the Jets, which is one of the more underrated deals thus far.

Honeymoon is Over in Denver

The Denver Broncos are the reigning Super Bowl champions, but if they have any hopes of repeating in 2016-17, it may be time to re-up. They are now without a quarterback, with Peyton Manning retired and Osweiler headed south. Denver lost two big components of their top-ranked defense from last year as well, as defensive end Malik Jackson signed with the Jaguars and linebacker Danny Trevathan is on the move to Chicago. It's safe to say Denver has some work to do.

Raiders Continue Their Rise

Damian Strohmeyer/Associated Press

The Oakland Raiders finally put the rest of the NFL on notice, despite finishing with a 7-9 record. With a solid corps of young talent, they are on pace to have thier best season in long time. So far in free agency, they have only improved their outlook for 2016. First, Oakland signed former Ravens offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele. Then, they went out and grabbed cornerback Sean Smith from their AFC West rival Kansas City Chiefs. The Raiders even added another pass rusher in Bruce Irvin.

Other Notable Moves

• Falcons sign C Alex Mack

• Chargers sign WR Travis Benjamin

• Jets sign RB Matt Forte

• Jaguars sign S Tashaun Gipson

• Eagles re-sign QB Sam Bradford

• Chargers sign DT Brandon Mebane

Stay tuned to The Demo Tape for more updates!

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