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NFL free agency: Winners and losers from Day 1

By Kevin Parvizi

OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 03: Wide receiver DeSean Jackson #10 of the Philadelphia Eagles warms up before a game against the Oakland Raiders on November 3, 2013 at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, California. The Eagles won 49-20. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 03: Wide receiver DeSean Jackson #10 of the Philadelphia Eagles warms up before a game against the Oakland Raiders on November 3, 2013 at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, California. The Eagles won 49-20. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 25: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Trent Brown #77 of the New England Patriots in action against the New York Jets on November 25, 2018 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Patriots defeated the Jets 27-13. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 25: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Trent Brown #77 of the New England Patriots in action against the New York Jets on November 25, 2018 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Patriots defeated the Jets 27-13. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

WINNERS: Oakland Raiders

Antonio Brown is the biggest acquisition of the offseason thus far, and the Oakland Raiders gave up a mere third and fifth-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers to obtain one of the greatest offensive players of this generation. The financial cost? Well, that was substantially higher, but the Raiders desperately needed to find a No. 1 wide receiver after dealing Amari Cooper, who didn’t have a great connection with iffy franchise quarterback Derek Carr, for a first-round pick last season.

Carr will have no excuse if he struggles in 2019, because the Raiders added another high-impact talent to their offense. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Raiders signed star left tackle Trent Brown, formerly of the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, to a four-year deal worth $66 million.

After trading Kelechi Osemele, who has been one of the league’s best guards since entering the league from Iowa State in 2012, to the New York Jets, the Raiders needed to add a top-notch offensive lineman. Brown – a 6’8″, 380-pound titan of the gridiron – is exactly that, and the upgrade he provides the Raiders over Kolton Miller at left tackle is immense.

The Raiders may or may not be sold on Carr going forward, but if he does start for the team in 2019, he’ll have two of the league’s best by his side at critical positions in Trent and Antonio Brown. And if Oakland is able to sign Le’Veon Bell, their offense could dramatically improve next season. For now, they have to be considered winners in NFL Free Agency.

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