2017 NFL Free Agency: Winners & Losers of Week 2 – Bleacher Report

2017 NFL Free Agency: Winners & Losers of Week 2

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While it's difficult to be competitive in today's NFL without a front office that knows how to draft and develop its own talent, there's no question that savvy free-agency signings can take a team over the edge into contender territory.

The deals that happen after the first few days of free agency usually look much different than the ones that go down when the new league year begins, largely because teams and players' reps have had two days to negotiate those ones during the "legal-tampering" period.

And while it's true that the most expensive contracts are often announced early, teams can still make an impact in Week 2. Similarly, teams can also make foolish decisions, or do nothing.

We'll take a look at some of those winners and losers from the second week of free agency.

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The New England Patriots are consistently competitive because Bill Belichick knows how to make savvy additions in free agency to supplement a roster built from smart drafting.

Belichicksent New England's No. 32 and No. 103 picks to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for wide receiver Brandin Cooks and the No. 118 pick,per ESPN's Dianna Russini.

That move addresses one of the most anemic positions on New England's roster and gives Tom Brady a dynamic new weapon in an already deadly offense.

But it wasn't all about new faces in New England. The Patriots also managed to retain key defensive piece Dont'a Hightower, re-signing the linebacker to a four-year contract with a maximum value of $43.5 million.

Belichick is one of the best wheelers and dealers out there, so it's no surprise that the defending Super Bowl champions only got better this offseason.

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The Green Bay Packers made an uncharacteristic splash early in free agency when general manager Ted Thompson signed not one, but two free-agent tight ends in Martellus Bennett and Lance Kendricks.

As usual for Thompson, the deals did little to hurt the Packers' cap health, and there's no question the Packers offense has gotten a new level of dangerous with the improvement in pass-catchers.

However, the significant upgrade at one position didn't do enough to counteract the losses the Packers suffered in Week 2.

On March 12, one of the league's best guards, T.J. Lang, departed Green Bay for NFC North rival Detroit. While opting not to re-sign Lang certainly saved the Packers a hefty cap hit, the gains made at tight end are threatened by a weakened offensive line. There's no feasible replacement for Lang on the roster currently.

It was also a bad look when Thompson let first-round draft selection Datone Jones walk. Jones signed with a division rival: the Minnesota Vikings. The Packers converted Jones from a defensive end to an outside linebacker, elected not to pick up his fifth-year option and then let him leave in free agency. Not a success story for the front office.

Losing running back Eddie Lacy isn't a huge hit for the Packers, who can certainly do better, but right now they only have a converted wide receiver in Ty Montgomery in the backfield.

Green Bay has a lot of pressure riding on a stellar draft class with so many new holes.

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The Minnesota Vikings' grade early in free agency would look quite different to their mark after Week 2, as the team was slow to make moves.

However, Minnesota picked things up in the second week of free agency and made some crucial additions.

The Green Bay Packers' loss was the Vikings' gain as Minnesota acquired pass-rusher Datone Jones, who will now make it his business to get after Aaron Rodgers twice a year.

Jones was converted from a defensive end to an outside linebacker in the Packers' 3-4 system, and now he'll likely see another position change in the Vikings' 4-3 front. But the move gives Minnesota some nice options in the defensive line rotation.

The Vikings also resolved the looming Adrian Peterson question once and for all by bringing in the free-agent running back with arguably the most potential in former Oakland Raider Latavius Murray.

Minnesota removed itself from what would have been an $18 million option on Peterson and picked up a younger replacement on a three-year deal worth up to $15 million.

That's a savvy move for a team hoping to get back into the conversation in the NFC North.

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The Cincinnati Bengals lost a lot of talent in free agency, and they didn't do enough in Week 2 to bolster the roster as a result.

Early in free agency, Cincinnati saw star left tackle Andrew Whitworth depart for the Los Angeles Rams, while guard Kevin Zeitler defected to the rival Cleveland Browns.

The Bengals also lost Domata Peko, Rex Burkhead, Margus Hunt and Karlos Dansby.

In Week 2 of free agency, Cincinnati added tackle Andre Smith and guard T.J. Johnson, so no one can accuse the team of not at least trying to improve its new holes.

However, Smith and Johnson are nowhere near Whitworth and Zeitler in terms of talent, and so Cincinnati remains one of the teams to regress the most so far between 2016 and 2017.

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No one could claim the Detroit Lions have been aggressive in free agency, but their measured approach to improving some of their most glaring weaknesses has paid off so far this offseason.

Detroit let Larry Warford walk in free agency, but it replaced him with the Green Bay Packers' Pro Bowl guard, T.J. Lang, who makes that situation a net gain.

The Lions also went after the best right tackle available in Rick Wagner, a sure upgrade from Riley Reiff. That move is sure to improve the Lions' middling run game.

If the Lions are able to find a way to bring back wide receiver Anquan Boldin, who had 584 yards and eight touchdowns for them in 2016, they'll really be able to chalk this free agency up as a smart and successful victory.

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The Arizona Cardinals lost a lot of talent early in free agency...and haven't signed any outside free agents in Week 2 save for linebacker Jarvis Jones on March 14.

Calais Campbell, Tony Jefferson, Marcus Cooper and D.J. Swearinger all signed with other teams. Those are not players who are easy to replace.

The Cardinals attempted to mollify losing Jefferson by signing 32-year-old veteran Antoine Bethea, but that's not a long-term investment. In fact, Arizona signed three players 30 years old or older, which won't keep this team competitive for long.

If Arizona can't hold onto quarterback Carson Palmer and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, its window could close as early as next season. The team should be in win-now mode, especially with the NFC West relatively up for grabs, but it's not clear the front office has achieved that in free agency. The draft will be important for this team.

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The Rams made a big improvement to their already dangerous defense when they added pass-rusher Connor Barwin during the second week of free agency.

There's no question Los Angeles started free agency off on a high note, addressing one of their biggest needs at left tackle with the best player available in Andrew Whitworth.

However, the Rams have kept the momentum going into Week 2. Kickers never make for flashy free-agency signings, but Greg Zuerlein had a solid year in 2016 and can make kicks from distances that others can't.

Barwin is a particularly intriguing addition for this team. The Rams had a need to fill after trading defensive end William Hayes, and the team reunites Barwin with former Houston Texans defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. The pass-rusher is also a key addition at outside linebacker as the Rams convert to a 3-4 defense.

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Players come and go, but one of the worst things that could happen to a team during a tumultuous free-agency period is losing a member of its front office.

Washington parted ways with general manager Scot McCloughan in the middle of free agency. Somehow, the team still managed to convince coveted wide receiver Terrelle Pryor to sign, but it's a one-year "prove-it" deal, and it already seems obvious that the wideout will prove himself right onto another team come March 2018.

The Redskins also lost top receivers DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon, so even though the Pryor signing helps, the team still experienced a net loss at the position.

The team also didn't even offer defensive tackle Chris Baker a contract, as he explained on SiriusXM NFL Radio(h/t NFL Network), which further seems to hint at the mess that is the front office right now.

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2017 NFL Free Agency: Winners & Losers of Week 2 - Bleacher Report