Free Agency Tracker: Crickets in Foxboro

Mike Wallace got his money, San Diego lost an anchor on their offensive line and Tennessee is loading up on what promises to be a monsterous free agency period for them…

…and the Patriots?  The only sound coming out of Foxboro are the chirping of crickets.

“The sound emitted by crickets is commonly referred to as chirping; the scientific name is stridulation. Only the male crickets chirp. The sound is emitted by the stridulatory organ, a large vein running along the bottom of each wing, covered with “teeth” (serration) much like a comb. The chirping sound is created by running the top of one wing along the teeth at the bottom of the other wing. As he does this, the cricket also holds the wings up and open, so that the wing membranes can act as acoustical sails.”

And now that our entomology lesson is completed, please enjoy the following latest transaction from the first couple of hours of free agency:

Chiefs agreed to terms with QB Chase Daniel, formerly of the Saints, on a  three-year contract.

Per CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora, the deal is believed to be  worth over $3 million per year. That’s quite a pay-day for a player who has  attempted just nine career passes, and will enter 2013 as Alex Smith’s strict  backup. New coach Andy Reid is clearly trying to groom Daniel into a future  starter, but he shouldn’t threaten Smith’s job status this season. Reid has  never been one to get caught short at the game’s most important position.

Titans agreed to terms with TE Delanie Walker, formerly of the 49ers, on a  four-year contract.

December 30, 2012; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end Delanie Walker (46) runs with the ball after making a catch next to Arizona Cardinals free safety Kerry Rhodes (25) in the third quarter at Candlestick Park. The 49ers defeated the Cardinals 27-13. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Tennessee has been super active in the opening hour of free  agency. They add Walker to their haul along with LG Andy Levitre. Walker is a  tremendous blocker, and the Titans will likely try and pair him with raw, but  athletic Taylor Thompson in an effort to replace free agent Jared Cook. Walker’s  signing could signal the end for blocking-only tight end Craig Stevens.

Broncos signed OG Louis Vasquez to a four-year, $23.5 million  contract.

The deal includes $13M guaranteed. The Chargers claimed that  retaining Vasquez was a priority, but they never proved it with a contract  offer. San Diego let the second-best guard available hit the market and he  signed with a division rival. A top-13 overall guard last season according to  Pro Football Focus, the 6’5/335 Vasquez is especially effective as a pass  blocker. He’ll be as asset in the Broncos’ quest to keep Peyton Manning upright.

Browns agreed to terms with OLB Paul Kruger on a five-year, $41 million  contract.

It reportedly includes $20 million guaranteed. It’s a generous  haul for a four-year veteran with just 15.5 career sacks, but probably not what  Kruger had in mind before the start of free agency. Kruger will line up opposite  OLB Jabaal Sheard in new DC Ray Horton’s attacking 3-4 defense. Kruger’s signing  leaves Cliff Avril as the lone remaining pass-rushing jewel on the open market.

Dolphins agreed to terms with WR Mike Wallace on a five-year, $65 million  contract that includes $30 million guaranteed.

They whiffed on Harbaugh, Peyton, and Fisher, but they got  Wallace. Still just 26 years old — he’ll turn 27 in August — Wallace owns a  career yards per catch average of 17.2 with 32 touchdowns across four seasons.  While Wallace’s critics will knock him as a straight-line deep threat, he gets  into the end zone and that happens to be pretty important in the NFL. Although  we don’t love the fit for Wallace’s fantasy value, the Dolphins can now give  Ryan Tannehill a formidable receiver corps. Wallace is No. 1, Brian Hartline is  No. 2, and slot man Davone Bess No. 3 with Rishard Matthews flashing the ability  to be a capable No. 4.

Titans agreed to terms with OG Andy Levitre on a five-year, $39 million  contract.

Free agency’s top guard is off the market. Levitre graded out  as the NFL’s top pass-blocking guard last season and was also part of a Bills’  rushing unit that ranked third in yards-per-carry (5.0). He’s just 26 years old  and fills a massive problem area for the Titans. Chris Johnson will have a  harder time throwing his offensive line under the bus next season and Jake  Locker will certainly have more time in the pocket.

Bills released QB Ryan Fitzpatrick.

The move comes with a staggering $10 million-plus cap hit, but  the Bills didn’t see the point in moving forward with a player they had publicly  lost faith in. Fitzpatrick has the ability to be one of the league’s better  backups, but proved time and again under Chan Gailey he didn’t have what it  takes to be a long-term starter, especially in terms of arm strength. He’ll be a  backup elsewhere in 2013.

Bears agreed to terms with TE Martellus Bennett on a four-year  contract.

The Bears had interest in Jared Cook, but he appears to have  priced himself out of their range. Bennett is younger, a way better blocker, and  also creates mismatches in the pass game. He also figures to be cheaper. The  Bears haven’t upgraded their line yet, but became a better blocking team with  the Bennett deal. Bennett could be a low-end TE1 in Chicago if Marc Trestman  opens up the offense and teaches Jay Cutler how to come off first-read Brandon  Marshall.