One of the wildest opening days of free agency in NFL history is complete, and boy, did we need it. If you would have told me on Sunday that DeForest Buckner and DeAndre Hopkins were going to be traded, I probably would have muted you on Twitter. Yet here we are.

Here’s my thoughts and analysis on all the big free agent moves and trades from around the league on Monday, including the ripple effect that many of these transactions could have on the Bucs.

Bucs Finalize Expected Key Moves On Defense

Let’s start with the Bucs. They didn’t do anything unexpected, but bringing back Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul are still important moves that ensure this team will boast a strong pass rush in 2020.

Bucs OLB Shaq Barrett – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Will Barrett contend to be the NFL’s sack leader again? That could be stretching it a bit, but one look at his tape and you see a player who can win one on ones in a variety of ways. I don’t think Barrett is a flash in the pan, and Pierre-Paul has played some of the best football of his career in Tampa Bay. JPP is due for a decline at some point, but his contract is only for two years, and the Bucs had the space to make it happen. Both moves were no-brainers and ensure the two key free agent pieces on the Bucs defense will be back in Tampa next season.

One thing to keep in mind in regards to Shaq Barrett: no edge defender tagged as a linebacker has played on the tag since 2014 (Brian Orakpo). The defensive end tag is now around $3 million more per year than the linebacker tag. That may not end up being an issue to Barrett, but if I were him I wouldn’t want to play on a linebacker tag after leading the league in sacks. Of course, all of this is moot if the Bucs reach a long-term deal with Barrett in the coming months, which I think will happen.

Rough Day For Atlanta

I have no idea what the Falcons are doing this offseason. I know their cap situation isn’t great, but cutting Desmond Trufant when you don’t have any quality cornerbacks? I don’t get it.

Then the team let Austin Hooper walk, which I’m fine with, only to turn around and trade a second round pick and swap fourths with the Ravens for Hayden Hurst? He’s going to be 27 years old during training camp, and he could only get on the field part-time for Baltimore despite being a first-round pick a couple years ago. I don’t think he’s a terrible player, but giving up second round picks for a backup tight end when you have as many holes as the Falcons do is really bad business.

Falcons RB Devonta Freeman – Photo by: Mark Lomoglio/PR

The loss of Trufant, Hooper, Devonta Freeman and soon Vic Beasley aren’t crippling blows by themselves, but because the team has no answer developing at any of those spots on their current roster, the depth chart is really lacking.

Now Atlanta needs help at cornerback, edge defender, interior offensive line, interior defensive line, running back and maybe linebacker too. They need Chris Lindstrom, Kaleb McGary, Isaiah Oliver and Takk McKinley, four of their top five picks over the past three drafts, to step WAY up after disappointing early in their careers. If they don’t, the Falcons could be one of the NFC’s worst teams in 2020.

Two teams in the NFC South should not be contenders in 2020. We’ll see if the Bucs can take advantage.

Dissecting All The Dumbness In The DeAndre Hopkins Trade

Here are all the reasons I can think of why the Texans trade of DeAndre Hopkins and a fourth-round pick to the Cardinals for David Johnson, a second and a fourth-round pick will go down among the worst trades in NFL history:

-DeAndre Hopkins is maybe the best WR in the NFL
-The Texans offense relies heavily on the Deshaun Watson-Hopkins connection
-Keeping their good young QB happy and loaded with talent weapons should be priority No. 1
-Hopkins is just 27 years old
-Hopkins’ contract is extremely team friendly and lasts three more years
-Hopkins has missed one game in his seven-year career due to injury
-Hopkins is worth a first-round pick and then some, Texans didn’t get even the first rounder
-David Johnson runs like a piano is on his back
-Johnson hasn’t hit four yards per carry or 1,000 yards since 2016, the last time he was good
-The Texans already traded a third-round pick for a RB who wasn’t worth it in Duke Johnson
-Johnson had multiple games with zero carries last season
-Johnson is the fourth highest paid RB in the NFL
-RB is the least valuable position in the NFL
-The Vikings compensation for Stefon Diggs on the same night: A 1st, 4th, 5th and 6th round pick

49ers Won The DeForest Buckner Trade

That isn’t to say the Colts “lost” the trade though. Buckner is a really good player who will instantly make their defense better. But having to surrender the 13th overall pick in a draft with a lot of blue chip players AND pay Buckner a massive contract at $21 million per year? That’s a tougher sell to me.

I think there were ways for the Colts to get quality interior defensive line play and keep the 13th overall pick and add a playmaker to their offense. At 44 and 75 they can still do that, but it’s less likely that they will land the same caliber of player. It’s far from a trade that screws the Colts up, but I probably wouldn’t have made the deal at that cost.

For the 49ers, this gets really interesting. Their defense is loaded with studs, but Buckner was the second best player on that heralded defensive line. By paying Arik Armstead, the team essentially said they weren’t willing to meet Buckner’s admittedly sky-high asking price, so trading him for elite compensation makes sense. Now the pressure will fall on Armstead to not only live up to his big contract, but to do so while playing inside a lot more.

Still, the 49ers have enough talent in their front seven to overcome the loss of Buckner, and now they are also equipped with the 13th overall pick to address other needs. Currently the Niners are slated to select at 13 and 31, with their top positions of need being defensive tackle, wide receiver, free safety and maybe cornerback. I’d expect to see them take the best player available at one of those spots at No. 13, and then trade back from No. 31 to add more draft selections, as the team’s next pick is currently at No. 157.

49ers And Cardinals Blockbuster Trades Have Big Impact On Bucs

A lot of the first day of free agency went swimmingly for the Bucs, but the ripple effect on the draft from two blockbuster trades did not. The Cardinals trade for Hopkins is almost certainly going to take them out of the running for a wide receiver at No. 8 overall, which could center their focus on an offensive tackle.

In addition, while the 49ers are expected to go wide receiver or defensive tackle at No. 13, the reality is that in an offensive tackle class this strong, they may like someone enough to pull the trigger on Joe Staley’s eventual replacement with their new first round pick.

Maybe neither of those scenarios play out, or maybe both do, but the rest of the day didn’t help the Bucs much either. The Jets whiffing on the top tackles on the market hurts, as they could easily choose a top pass protector at No. 11. Cleveland signing Jack Conklin fills their hole at right tackle, but with no suitable left tackle on the roster, the Browns will still likely select one at No. 10.

Lots of obstacles between the Bucs and the offensive tackle they may covet in Round 1. And I haven’t even mentioned about how both Arizona and San Francisco are also likely landing spots for Javon Kinlaw or Derrick Brown as well. If Bucs don’t trade up, we’re all gonna be sweating this thing out.

Stefon Diggs To The Bills Can Be A Double Win

For Buffalo, the process of trading for Diggs is an excellent one. They’ve drafted well and signed quality free agents, the roster is ready to win now and Diggs is affordable and fills an important need. He also fits their offense perfectly and was better than anyone they likely would have landed at No. 22.

The question is whether Josh Allen can maximize Diggs’ abilities, and what Diggs’ response will be if the young quarterback struggles in his third season. The pressure is on Allen to take the next step in his development and make this trade work. If he doesn’t, the Bills can’t let all this talent go to waste waiting for him to figure it out. They’ve gotta be prepared to move on in 2021 unless there’s a significant leap from Allen.

For Minnesota, a 2020 1st (22 overall), 2021 4th, 2020 5th and 2020 6th is a terrific haul. Diggs’ attitude seems to have been an issue there, but he is also their best offensive player and losing him will be a big blow that isn’t easily remedied. The Vikings may eventually be a better team for this move, but I’m not sure that will be the case in 2020. That’s good news for the Bucs in what will be an ultra-competitive NFC.

Bullet Point Free Agency Thoughts

• Ryan Tannehill is probably the best the Titans were going to do at quarterback this offseason, but I’m guessing he regresses and they’ll end up looking for a quarterback in a year or two.

• Why do teams keep paying Jimmy Graham? He’s completely cooked and it’s been evident for years. The Bears two-year, $16 million contract with the veteran tight end is embarrassing. Whatever magic Ryan Pace had a few offseasons ago he seems to have totally lost.

• I didn’t like the Ereck Flowers or Shaq Lawson contracts for the Dolphins, but important to note they probably have the worst offensive line and edge defenders in the NFL, so anything is an upgrade at those two positions. I loved the Byron Jones signing and thought Kyle Van Noy is a great fit even if they paid more than I would have. They have the cap space, so it’s hard to hate on their process right now. Getting better, slowly but surely.

• Quietly, Graham Glasgow has been a solid player in Detroit, and now he’s going to be tutored by the best offensive line coach in the NFL in Mike Munchak. Could turn out to be a very good signing at $11M per year.

• Jack Conklin and Austin Hooper are both solid players at their positions, but I don’t see either as a real difference maker for Cleveland. Upgrades over what they currently had at both spots, but they should still prioritize offensive tackle in Round 1, while filling defensive holes on day two and three.

• Detroit was busy on Monday, but they overpaid for everyone they signed. Jamie Collins outside of New England scares me (I know it’ll be a similar system). Nick Williams emerged last year as a solid rotational defensive lineman, but $5 million per year? Whew. Hal Vaitai at five years for $50 million was just insane though. He’s a solid backup at best. There is no way much of that contract is guaranteed. I think Detroit only got marginally better despite spending a lot of money.

• Philly signing Javon Hargrave for $13 million a year over three years is a great move. He’s been a consistently good player in Pittsburgh and can play all three downs from several different techniques. Those are the type of interior defensive linemen you pay good money to, and Hargrave wasn’t even that expensive. He and Fletcher Cox are going to beat the brakes off people.