The best players seldom reach free agency. That's true of the franchised guys like Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas, and it's now true of one of the top running backs and wide receivers available that weren't tagged. The result is a less-intriguing free agent market, and some disappointment in dynasty leagues.
Randall Cobb is back with the Packers on a 4-year, $40 million deal. Cobb would have probably received more money elsewhere, from a team like the Raiders perhaps, but will instead pair with Jordy Nelson to keep the top of Green Bay's receiving corps intact. Great news for Cobb and the Packers, but not so much for those holding Davante Adams and (to a lesser extent) Jeff Janis in dynasty leagues.
The Packers primarily use three-wide receiver sets, so Adams will still be on the field a lot. But there are only so many targets, yards and touchdowns to go around, so Adams looks like more of an 800-yard, 5-6 TD kind of guy, as long as Nelson and Cobb stay healthy. A blow to his value, and not great news for guys like tight end Richard Rodgers, who might have stood to benefit if Cobb departed. Those holding Cobb can be relatively happy, since while he might have been more of a go-to guy in another offense, it undoubtedly wouldn't have been as prolific a passing one.
Mark Ingram has also signed a 4-year deal with the Saints. I own Ingram in a dynasty league and have mixed feelings about the deal. Certainly Ingram had a great season for the Saints last year, coming close to 1,000 yards and scoring 9 TDs despite missing three games.
On the bright side, Ingram will be in the same offense as the clear starter, so the same kind of numbers he had a year ago, or better, are very reasonable. But on the other hand, the Saints have long used a three-man backfield, curtailing Ingram's values. Khiry Robinson will get some carries, and although the Saints released Pierre Thomas, they'll have another back involved -- Travaris Cadet, or maybe another veteran or youngster. Ingram's workload might have been a little more reliable had he moved on to another team, e.g. Dallas if they lose DeMarco Murray.
It's more disappointing, of course, for those holding Robinson in dynasty leagues, since his path to starting will clearly be blocked by Ingram. They aren't playing Ingram $4 million per year to compete with Robinson.
The removal of those key players from the market should help the leverage of Murray and Jeremy Maclin, who might draw interest from teams that had been hoping to sign Ingram or Cobb. Or they could be re-signed as well. So maybe Ryan Mathews will be the major beneficiary. Some team that had been eyeing Ingram could now go all in on Mathews.
Should be an interesting free agency period, just not as interesting as it would have been if these players were still available.
--Andy Richardson