The first hour of free agency went by fast in the NFC North. From Kevin Seifert at ESPN.com:
So, we have Chicago hosting three significant free agents Friday. Detroit is hoping to complete a trade for a defensive tackle and bring back a pass rusher from Tennessee. Minnesota could be looking for a backup running back, and Green Bay has allowed both starting offensive tackles to enter the market.
It looks like a poor start for the Green Bay Packers by comparison to their NFC North rivals. Everyone else is adding players, while the Packers may be losing them. The trade mentioned above would return former Packer DT Corey Williams to the NFC. The Browns will probably unload him for a 5th or 6th round pick because he's due a $2 million bonus next week.
But the quickest move was made by the Lions who signed WR Nate Burleson. He certainly had a good 2009 season for the Seahawks, and the fans over at Field Gulls are sorry to lose him. He'll receive a 5 year, $25 million contract with $11 million guaranteed. For comparison, WR Greg Jennings received a 3 year, $27 million contract with $16 million guaranteed back in June. Football Outsiders ranked Jennings as the No. 16 WR in 2009, while Burleson came in at No. 40. It seems like a foolish contract, but the Lions have to pay a premium and be aggressive after all the losing they've done in the last decade.