Under The Radar Free Agent Signings

Filed in archive NFL on March 11, 2008

We're all familiar with how big an impact the signing or re-signing of players like Alan Faneca, Randy Moss and Asante Samuel could be. They are established stars that bring a lot to their team. But there are other players who were on the move in free agency that could really be impact players for their new squads. These guys didn't get the media ink or the cash the big stars did, but that doesn't mean they won't be valuable.

- LB Landon Johnson: The former third-round pick got a three year, $10 million deal from the Carolina Panthers after playing in Cincinnati the last four seasons. Just 26 years old, Johnson isn't spectacular, but he is durable and solid. He collected 109 tackles for the Bengals, and makes for an athletic trio of linebackers for the Panthers, joining Thomas Davis and Jon Beason.

- WR Ernest Wilford: Wilford is a big, 6'4", 220 lb. wideout who went from Jacksonville over to Miami. The one time fourth-round pick often got lumped in as an underachiever with Reggie Williams and Matt Jones, former first-round picks at wide receiver. But that wasn't necessarily fair, as Wilford had more catches than Williams twice in their four seasons there, and the two have comparable numbers overall. Wilford should help the Dolphins, as the team has very little at wide receiver and needed a big body to go over the middle to complement Ted Ginn's deep speed.

- LB Derek Smith: Smith was released by the San Francisco 49ers and quickly snatched up by San Diego. Both teams run a 3-4 front, and Smith has played in the middle and excelled for years. He's not one to rush the passer, but he will be stout in run defense, and had at least 90 tackles every year until 2006, when he was limited to 13 games. San Diego was the perfect spot for him, as he goes to a veteran team that has enough playmakers so Smith can concentrate on just doing what he does best: make tackles.

- FB Tony Richardson: For a team that averaged just 3.8 yards per rush (only five NFL teams were worse), the New York Jets needed to do everything they could to get their running game going. After signing Alan Faneca and Damien Woody to play offensive line, the team signed Richardson to play fullback. Richardson had been the lead blocking back when priest Holmes was doing his thing in Kansas City, not to mention last year, as he helped open holes for Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor in Minnesota.