Silverman: Start Of NFL Free Agency Signals Start Of False Hope Season

By Steve Silverman
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Free agency is a time for players to get paid and get rich, but with just a few exceptions, bringing in big-money players is not usually the way for a team make a huge improvement.

One of the exceptions, of course, is the current Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos, who brought in players like Peyton Manning, DeMarcus Ware and Aqib Talib through free agency. The Broncos went to two Super Bowls in the past three seasons, and shocked the NFL by disposing of the favored Carolina Panthers in February.

The New York Giants are hoping that they can begin to rebuild their defense by signing cornerback Janoris Jenkins from the Los Angeles Rams. Jenkins should be an improvement for Big Blue, but he is not going to turn around the 32nd-ranked defensive by himself. He has 10 interceptions in the last four seasons.

The Giants need playmakers on defense, and while they met with defensive end Charles Johnson, who played last season for the NFC champion Panthers, it does not appear they are going to get him. Johnson, who had an injury-riddled and unproductive 2015, looks like he is willing to take less money from Carolina than he could have gotten from either the Giants or Tampa Bay Bucs.

Look for the Green Bay Packers to win the Matt Forte sweepstakes. Forte was undervalued throughout his career with the Chicago Bears, because he is just as productive as a receiver as he is a runner. He has exceeded the 1,000-yard rushing mark five times and he caught 102 passes during the 2014 season.

But the Bears don't think they need the 30-year-old Forte and they told him last month that they would not be bringing him back.

Forte is giving strong consideration to the Packers, and that can't be a surprise to anyone. Forte saw the Packers pile it on his former team over the years, and it would be nice to be on the other side of that rivalry and work with Aaron Rodgers instead of watching him throw TD pass after TD pass against him.

Forte would also be a great fit for a number of teams, including the New York Jets and New England Patriots, but at this point, he seems to be most enamored with the Packers.

Lamar Miller has been a hard-working and dependable running back for the Miami Dolphins, and the Houston Texans are reportedly ready to make him a sizable offer. The Texans were tormented by Arian Foster, who was at one time one of the most talented running backs in the league.

But Foster was always injured, and that's why the Texans cut him last month. Miller has played all 16 games in each of the last three seasons, and he prides himself on staying in the lineup. That's just what the Texans need.

The Dolphins seem poised to counter the loss of Miller by signing defensive end Mario Williams, whom Rex Ryan decided he didn't need in Buffalo. That may not work out so well for the former Jets head coach.

The Bears may be losing Forte, but they have their own free agency goals. Chicago wants to improve its defense and head coach John Fox knows where to turn.

Fox coached the Broncos through the 2014 season, and he is quite familiar with their overpowering defense. That's why it looks like they are going to pay linebacker Danny Trevathan more than $7 million per year to put on a Bears uniform.

The Bears were one of the worst defensive teams in the league in 2013 and '14 before showing quite a bit of improvement last year. That is, once they brought in Fox as head coach and Vic Fangio as defensive coordinator.

But there's only so much these experienced coaches can do, and the Bears need defensive talent. Trevathan will fit in well with the defense if he puts his name on a contract.

The Broncos are in big trouble this offseason. In addition to likely losing Trevathan, Malik Jackson will reportedly sign a huge deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars shortly after free agency begins.

Peyton Manning has already retired and the Broncos have not yet been able to sign and seal Brock Osweiler.

While they have retained Von Miller by franchising him, the Broncos that take the field in September are not likely to bear much resemblance to the team that won Super Bowl 50.

The new NFL year will start in moments, and dreams have already begun to take shape.

Follow Steve on Twitter at @ProFootballBoy