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Denver Broncos

Key additions: QB Peyton Manning, CB Tracy Porter, TE Joel Dreessen, TE Jacob Tamme, S Mike Adams, QB Caleb Hanie, WR Andre Caldwell.

Key losses: DT Brodrick Bunkley, WR, Eddie Royal, TE Daniel Fells, QB Tim Tebow, QB Brady Quinn, TE Dante Rosario.

Did they get better? The Broncos added Manning and that move changes the course of the entire division. Denver is instantly the favorite to win the AFC West again because of this addition. Yes, there are risks as the 36-year-old Manning missed the entire 2011 season with a neck injury that required several surgeries. Denver is convinced Manning is fully recovered and has been cleared to play.

If the 2012 Manning is anything like the Manning we last saw, Denver will be in good shape and the offense will be dangerous. The key is on defense. It has improved greatly and the Porter and Adams additions should help, even while losing Bunkley will hurt. Overall, this team made huge strides in the offseason.

What’s next: Denver’s biggest need areas are at defensive tackle (the Broncos may need two), running back, safety, receiver and linebacker. However, much of that need is for depth purposes.

Denver’s only true glaring hole is at defensive tackle. Expect the Broncos to use their No. 25 pick on the position. I wouldn’t be surprised if the team’s second-round pick is used on a running back unless the Broncos like one of the remaining veterans on the market.

Kansas City Chiefs

Key additions: CB Stanford Routt, RT Eric Winston, RB Peyton Hillis, TE Kevin Boss, QB Brady Quinn.

Key losses: CB Brandon Carr, QB Kyle Orton, FB Le'Ron McClain, LB Demorrio Williams.

Did they get better? Had it not been for the Manning blockbuster, everybody would be taking about what the Chiefs did. I think the Chiefs’ work in free agency was among the best five in the NFL.

Instead of giving quarterback Matt Cassel serious competition, the Chiefs further committed to him by giving him some strong pieces on offense. Hillis will team with Jamaal Charles to make a dangerous running tandem. Winston is one of the league’s better right tackles and Boss and Tony Moeaki will give opposing defenses fits in double tight end sets. This will be a varied offense that will have many weapons. The Chiefs are solid on defense and Routt is a veteran who is comparable to Carr, but more experienced and is less expensive.

What’s next: The Chiefs could use a nose tackle, help at inside linebacker, secondary depth and offensive line depth. They will get a good player with the 11th pick and I think they will try to solidify the middle of the defensive line with someone like Memphis’ Dontari Poe. If the Chiefs can add an impact defender with that pick, it will complete an outstanding offseason.

Oakland Raiders

Key additions: G Mike Brisiel, CB Ron Bartell, CB Shawntae Spencer, CB Pat Lee.

Key losses: LB Kamerion Wimbley, RB Michael Bush, QB Jason Campbell, CB Stanford Routt, TE Kevin Boss, DT John Henderson, RB Rock Cartwright, WR Chaz Schilens, DE Trevor Scott, CB Chris Johnson.

Did they get better? It’s difficult to argue this team improved. Just look at all the losses. It’s a pure fact of numbers, Oakland lost much more than it brought in. This team has more questions than it did at the end of last season and it has more holes. With limited cap space and the fact Oakland doesn’t pick in the draft until No. 95, the Raiders will have a difficult time adding any more impact players. Depth can be an issue.

I understand why this has happened. The new Oakland regime had to get things in order, and sometimes, before a team can make major steps forward as an organization, it may have to take a step back. There is still a lot of talent in Oakland, but it is clear the other three teams made more impactful additions.

What’s next: Oakland will be challenged to find impact players, but it will need to add depth at several places after finding a starting outside linebacker. Oakland needs depth at linebacker, the secondary, offensive line, running back and at quarterback. I think we will see Oakland be patient and add at spots all the way up into the season.

San Diego Chargers

Key additions: WR Robert Meachem, LB Jarret Johnson, WR Eddie Royal, FB Le’Ron McClain, QB Charlie Whitehurst, S Atari Bigby, TE Dante Rosario, LB Demorrio Williams

Key losses: WR Vincent Jackson, RB Mike Tolbert, G Kris Dielman, S Steve Gregory, QB Billy Volek.

Did they get better? I’ve talked to a lot of scouts who believe the Chargers improved. The truth is they lost two good players in Jackson and Tolbert and so did not improve as much as Denver and Kansas City did. But the Chargers did get creative and added a lot of pieces for the price it would have cost to keep Jackson. They also retained key offensive linemen Nick Hardwick and Jared Gaither. Meachem and Royal give quarterback Philip Rivers some interesting weapons.

Johnson will help the defense and he will make it tougher. The Chargers may have gotten a little deeper while losing some star power.

What’s next: The Chargers still haven’t addressed their greatest need outside of keeping its offensive line intact. San Diego will no doubt use its No. 18 pick on the best available pass-rusher to help Johnson is not a great pass-rusher.

Other needs include a big backup running back, offensive line depth and some more depth in all layers of the defense.

There is one unsigned player from the top 10 AFC West free-agent list we compiled prior to the market opening. Seven of the nine signed players have departed the division. Let’s review the free-agent season in the division:

1. Vincent Jackson, receiver, San Diego:

Status: Signed with Tampa Bay

Comment: The Chargers replaced Jackson with Robert Meachem and Eddie Royal and used the money saved for other free agents. Jackson will be missed, but he was pricey.

2. Brandon Carr, cornerback, Kansas City:

Status: Signed with Dallas

Comment: Carr was a goner as soon as Kansas City signed Stanford Routt in February.

3 . Michael Bush, running back, Oakland:

Status: Signed with Chicago

Comment: The Raiders will miss him, but there was little chance he was coming back to Oakland.

4. Jared Gaither, tackle, San Diego:

Status: Re-signed with San Diego

Comment: The Chargers feel comfortable with Gaither as their blind-side protection for Philip Rivers.

5. Nick Hardwick, center, San Diego:

Status: Re-signed with San Diego

Comment: The anchor of the offensive line is back and that’s a big deal.

6. Mike Tolbert, running back, San Diego:

Status: Signed with Carolina

Comment: The Chargers will miss this versatile back. They must replace him somehow.

7. Jason Campbell, quarterback, Oakland:

Status: Signed with Chicago

Comment: I think Campbell deserved to get a chance to start again, but he will back up Jay Cutler.

8. Brodrick Bunkley, defensive tackle, Denver:

Status: Signed with New Orleans

Comment: The Broncos will miss him and will need to find help at defensive tackle.

9. Kyle Orton, quarterback, Kansas City:

Status: Signed with Dallas

Comment: The Cowboys paid Orton handsomely to back up Tony Romo.

10. Antonio Garay, defensive tackle, San Diego

Status: Unsigned

Comment: The Chargers still hope to bring him back to be a rotational player.

The New York Jets not only traded for Tim Tebow Wednesday, they inherited Tebow's immense following.

The wildly-popular quarterback has one of the biggest fan bases in sports. That group will surely follow Tebow to New York when he suits up for his first game with the Jets. Expect Tebow's No. 15 Jets jersey to be one of the NFL's top sellers.

But Johnette Howard of ESPNNewYork.com brought up an interesting point that should be of a big concern to the Jets.

"This is not a move that helps [Mark] Sanchez develop into a better quarterback. It just makes him a more haunted one. He just inherited Kyle Orton’s old life in Denver, where nothing was ever good enough to quiet the Tebow chants."

Has Mark Sanchez become the new Kyle Orton? As Howard wisely points how, how much will be good enough for the Jets’ starter?

If Sanchez loses the season opener, will the "Te-bow" chants start? What if the Jets lose two in a row next season and Sanchez has a couple bad games?

Jets fans are already antsy about Sanchez. They've seen three years of up-and-down football, and the arrow doesn't appear to be trending up. The Jets finally have a competent backup who has won games in the regular season and playoffs, and that is extra ammo for fans.

Orton was ran out of Denver early last season by fan pressure to play Tebow. Sanchez cannot be run out of New York -- his $58.25 million contract extension says so -- but the pressure in New York could be the same or worse than it was for Orton.

Things could get ugly fast if Sanchez doesn’t get off to a fast start. Sanchez has to perform in 2011 or run the risk of being Orton 2.0.

Tebow-mania may be over in Denver, but by no means, is it dead.

In a lot of ways, it is just revving up.

That’s what happening when the most polarizing athlete in the world is sent to the world’s biggest media market. Broadway Tim. Is anybody ready for it? As the drama unfolds, I can’t help but think it is a bad fit.

It seems the Jets wanted Tebow for the wrong reasons. The Wildcat? Really? Isn’t that a thing of the past?

I think the Jets’ leadership was swayed by the perfume of Tebow-mania. I don’t think they fully understand its power. The Jets just turned Mark Sanchez into Kyle Orton.

Sanchez should immediately call and ask Orton for any advance on how to handle being the starter on a team in which Tebow was the backup. Orton can tell him a short story because he was yanked in the fifth game last year amid major fan pressure.

Every time Sanchez throws an incomplete pass, there will be calls for Tebow to be put in. It happened in Denver and it will happen in New York. For a young quarterback who needs to take the next step, putting Sanchez in the Tebow pressure cooker may not be a great idea. Add an already tumultuous locker room and the intense media coverage of New York, and Tebow-mania has a chance to implode this team.

Also, I don’t think it is a good move for Tebow’s career. Being reduced to a gimmick player is not what he wants. Tebow would have been much better off going to a place like Green Bay or New England where he could learn from a great quarterback. Even Jacksonville would have been a better professional and personal situation than in New York.

Tebow-mania may be shifting from the AFC West, but it will still be a major NFL focus as it has ugly potential.

For years, the theme in Denver was the Broncos were searching for their next John Elway.

Leave it to Elway to finally get the job done. It’s been a windy road at the most important position on the field in Denver since Elway -- who became Denver’s top football decision-maker last year -- retired after the 1998 season and back-to-back Super Bowl titles.

The Broncos now have greatness at the position again in the form of Manning. Let’s review what has happened during the often frustrating journey between Elway and Manning in Denver:

Brian Griese

Years as Denver’s starter: 1999-2002

Comment: Griese had the impossible task of replacing Elway. He had his moments, but he was not a special player and Denver couldn’t handle seeing the dip at the position.

Jake Plummer

Years as Denver’s starter: 2003-06

Comment: Plummer was probably better than he was given credit for. He won his share of games in Denver, but, again, he wasn’t a special player.

Jay Cutler

Years as Denver’s starter: 2006-08

Comment: He is the poster boy of Denver’s frustration at quarterback in its post-Elway existence. Cutler flourished under coach Mike Shanahan and he seemed like he was on his way to being an elite player for Denver. But he famously clashed with Shanahan’s replacement, Josh McDaniels, and he was shipped off to Chicago. It changed the course of the organization that has been felt all the way until Manning’s agreement to come to Denver.

Kyle Orton

Years as Denver’s starter: 2009-11

Comment: Acquired in the Cutler deal, Orton did a nice job for Denver, but he was just a journeyman.

Tim Tebow

Yeas as Denver’s starter: 2010-2011

Comment: He was McDaniels’ parting gift to Denver. Tebow started 16 games in Denver and it was a wild scene. But Elway was never comfortable with Tebow’s ability to be an NFL passer, and now it appears Tebow will be another quarterback who will be shown the door in Denver.

I have to give you guys credit. After the news broke that Eli Manning's brother had found a new job, along with the news that the Broncos would now try to trade Tim Tebow, I didn't hear from very many of you. Normally, when a player arrives on the market, I get Twitter queries within five minutes from fans of all four of our teams, asking whether their team should or will pursue said player. But today, not much. The one Redskins one I got was later explained as sarcastic by the person who asked it (silly me for not figuring that out immediately), and I've had a couple of people ask whether it'd be worth it for the Eagles to bring him in as a long-term project behind Michael Vick. But that's it.

Anyway, the answer is no. Whichever team is your favorite in the NFC East should not be trying to trade for Tebow. To wit:

Tim Tebow
#15 QB
Denver Broncos
2011 STATS
• Att271
• Comp126
• Yds1729
• TD12
• Int6
• Rat72.9
• The Redskins don't need the headache of crazed Tebow fans screaming and putting up billboards saying he should start the first time Robert Griffin III has a bad game.
• The Eagles need as little controversy as possible, and no matter how hard they may work to portray Tebow as a long-term project, you know the same thing would happen there if Michael Vick started to struggle.
• The Cowboys just signed a three-year deal with Kyle Orton to be their backup, and it wouldn't surprise me if it included language guaranteeing that Orton never had to hear Tebow's name again as long as he lives.
• The Giants? No.

Remember this about Tebow: His success as a Bronco came after the team decided to completely structure its offense around him, accentuating his strengths and minimizing his weaknesses (i.e., actually throwing the ball). The Broncos had no established receivers that were going to kick about such a decision, a veteran running back who was totally on board and a flexible, open-minded coach who was willing to consider an outside-the-box option as possibly better than the offense he preferred to run.

There isn't a team in the NFC East that remotely fits that description.

And finally, Tebow's not a free agent. This isn't a situation in which you could sign him to a low-risk, incentive-based deal and benefit if he blossomed but not suffer in the short-term if he didn't. You'd have to trade something of value for Tebow, who'd come with a contract he got as a result of being a first-round pick. Who in this division (heck, who in any division) can say it's worth spending real resources on a quarterback who might never be an NFL-caliber thrower.

Tebow is, obviously, a fine young man and would be a great guy to have on a team. I think the Broncos should keep him, use him as a backup quarterback and design some interesting offensive sub packages around him. But the Broncos already have him, and whatever they've invested in getting him is a sunk cost. For a team to trade something to get Tebow would appear to be a mistake at this point, and it certainly wouldn't make sense for anyone in the NFC East.

Yeah, yeah, I know. The news that the Washington Redskins have agreed to another one-year deal with quarterback Rex Grossman is not going to make anyone's Saturday night in D.C. After last season's 20th interception, you didn't want to see Grossman again, and I totally get why the initial reaction is to moan and wail.

But folks, they're not bringing Grossman back in to be their starting quarterback. The Redskins' starting quarterback in 2012 is going to be a rookie for whom they traded three first-round picks and a second-round pick, most likely Robert Griffin III. You don't make a deal like the one the Redskins made to move up to No. 2 in the draft if you're not planning to start the guy you're picking right away.

That established, how exactly is Grossman a bad choice as backup quarterback? He knows Mike Shanahan's offense in depth. When he was the quarterback in 2011, that offense actually ran somewhat efficiently in spite of a shredded offensive line and a receiving corps of which the team's first two hours of free agency this past Tuesday were a searing indictment. The only problem with Grossman was the turnovers, which were intolerable in quantity and the reason they couldn't possibly bring Grossman back as next season's starter.

But they haven't. They've brought him back as a guy who can help the coaching staff teach Griffin the offense. A guy who can sit in the meeting rooms next to the rookie and help explain terminology that might be unfamiliar, who can stand next to him on the practice field and show him how certain plays work and where he can expect receivers to be in certain situations. It's not as though he's going to get into Griffin's head and affect his in-rhythm decision-making. If Griffin weren't responsible with the ball, he wouldn't be getting picked second overall in the draft. He'll throw some interceptions, but when he does it'll be because that's what rookies do -- not because he was tutored on how to do so by a leading expert who happens to be his veteran backup.

And if Griffin gets hurt and Grossman has to step in and finish a game, the Redskins know he can run the offense and won't be overwhelmed. And yeah, they also know he'll throw interceptions, but that's what you get with a backup quarterback. If he didn't have some kind of fatal flaw, he'd be a starting quarterback. The best backup option on the market was Kyle Orton, but he got a three-year deal from the Cowboys and you can understand why they didn't want to do that. The second-best was Jason Campbell, and if the Redskins had brought him back, would that have made the fans feel any more awesome than this does?

Perspective, folks. We've been trying to preach it all week here. I know it's tough. I know you want every player your teams signs to be the best one you ever heard of. But it doesn't work that way. And given all of the objective circumstances, there's nothing wrong with Grossman coming back to Washington. As long as he's just the backup.

The New York Jets continue their search for a backup quarterback behind Mark Sanchez. According to the Denver Post, the Jets will host former Broncos and Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn on Friday.

Quinn, a former first-round pick, was Tim Tebow's backup in Denver last season. He expressed disappointment that he didn't get a chance to play with the Broncos over Tebow recently in a controversial interview with GQ magazine. Quinn later apologized for his comments.

The Jets are looking for a viable No. 2 quarterback, but that became increasingly difficult after New York agreed to a $58.25 million extension with Sanchez. The contract ensures Sanchez is the starter for at least the next two seasons. Borderline starters such as Chad Henne (Jacksonville), Kyle Orton (Dallas) and Jason Campbell (Chicago) all signed with other teams.

Quinn has starting experience. He started 12 games with Cleveland and has thrown 10 career touchdowns and nine interceptions.

The Jets also met with former Detroit Lions backup quarterback Drew Stanton today. Stanton has four career starts in four seasons.

The big names are signing elsewhere as the Dallas Cowboys remain focused instead on needs, and on targeting specific players they like to fill those needs. While Mario Williams -- the apple of many Cowboys fans' eyes over the past few weeks in spite of no evidence at all that Dallas was really pursuing him -- was busy looking for a home in Buffalo, the Cowboys on Thursday morning agreed to a deal with free-agent safety Brodney Pool. Cowboys coach Jason Garrett broke the news in a conference call with reporters, Calvin Watkins tells us:

Garrett said the team wanted to sign Pool last year, during the brief free agency period, but was unable to due to finances.

"He has some really good ball skills," Garrett said.

Pool has played with Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan with the Cleveland Browns in 2009. Under Ryan, Pool had a career-high four interceptions and also had 10 pass breakups.

Again, many fans had been asking whether they'd sign someone like LaRon Landry. But while he doesn't have the name recognition or the raw ability of Landry, Pool is a guy who actually plays in games every week. Ryan likes him. He likes Ryan. They need someone to replace Abram Elam, who's a free agent. Makes sense. A day after signing cornerback Brandon Carr, backup quarterback Kyle Orton, fullback Lawrence Vickers and guard Mackenzy Bernadeau, the Cowboys continue to fill the many holes on their roster with players who look like good fits. Former Bengals guard Nate Livings and former Panthers linebacker Dan Connor are in town today to talk contract as well, and each would add depth to positions where the Cowboys are lacking.

A smart, targeted approach to free agency by a team with a lot of different needs. Maybe not the most exciting offseason the Cowboys have ever had, but if I were a Cowboys fan, I'd be enjoying it very much.

So I was sitting here on Twitter, trolling for news, answering your questions and getting a kick out of the fact that Justin Tuck was watching (and tweeting about) the same "Big Bang Theory" rerun when it occurred to me that it was almost time to turn in and get some sleep. Before I did that, I just wanted to ask one question.

How was your day ...

Philadelphia Eagles?

"Surprising." You guys know I didn't think the Eagles intended to sign DeSean Jackson to a long-term contract, so when the news broke Wednesday afternoon that they had, I was stunned. It's a good deal for the Eagles, as almost all of the $15 million in guaranteed money is concentrated in the first two years and it saves them $6.6 million against this year's salary cap. And Jackson's happy because he's making a ton more than he did last season. The issue now is whether his production will rise along with his happiness. (And how long he'll stay happy, considering what other receivers are getting on the open market.) They signed Trent Cole to a four-year contract extension, and in the wake of the Jackson news the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that they were working on a new deal for running back LeSean McCoy.

The Eagles seem determined to take care of their own roster before dipping into the free-agent pool, so they're making little moves, too. Antonio Dixon signed his restricted free-agent tender, and Winston Justice got traded to the Colts in a deal that saw the teams swap sixth-round draft picks. That last was a salary dump, but it was one they needed to make. Guard Evan Mathis remains unsigned and is drawing interest elsewhere, but the Eagles still believe they have a good chance to bring him back.

One weird thing did happen. Late in the afternoon, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Gerald McCoy sent out a tweet in which he apologized to Bucs fans for being unable to lure free-agent linebacker Curtis Lofton to Tampa and said Lofton was going to sign with the Eagles. The Eagles quickly denied any contact with Lofton, and McCoy retracted his tweet. So it's tough to say what's going on there, but it bears watching. The Eagles need linebacker help, but the linebacker market is slow, so they can wait it out.

Dallas Cowboys?

"Outstanding." They got their top-choice cornerback, agreeing with Brandon Carr on a five-year, $50.1 million contract. They got their veteran, starter-quality backup quarterback, agreeing on a three-year deal with Kyle Orton. They added guard Mackenzy Bernadeau to their interior offensive line mix, where they needed (and still could use more) help. And they signed fullback Lawrence Vickers to replace Tony Fiammetta, who seems to want to go see what he can get on the market. According to ESPNDallas.com, they have visits scheduled in the coming days with free-agent safety Brodney Pool and free-agent guard Nate Livings, so they're still hard at work trying to fill needs. The names may not be the splashiest, but the Cowboys have been down those roads before, and this measured, focused, need-based approach looks like the right way for them to go. A lot of money for Carr, yes, but they desperately needed a top free-agent cornerback, and that's what they're going for this year.

Many Cowboys fans were upset to lose wide receiver Laurent Robinson, who came out of nowhere to catch 11 touchdown passes from Tony Romo in 2011. But the Cowboys were never going to pay him anything close to what the Jaguars ended up paying him ($32.5 million for five years), and they shouldn't have paid their No. 3 wide receiver that much. They were prepared to go without Robinson last year. He was a bonus, a lottery ticket that hit. They'll be fine with what they have at receiver, and they can fill in Robinson's spot the same way they did last year, when they sifted through a bunch of decent-looking candidates and came up with Robinson. Don't sweat that loss, Cowboys fans. The team has bigger worries and bigger needs.

New York Giants?

"A success." They flew former Cowboys tight end Martellus Bennett in late Tuesday night, and they signed him Wednesday to a one-year, $2.5 million contract. They obviously see something they like in Bennett and believe that the coaching staff and quarterback Eli Manning can bring the best out of him, and they targeted and got him. They also got him on a very low-risk deal that will allow them to go in a different direction if he disappoints and their injured tight ends are healthy enough to return at the end of the season. Cowboys fans seem sure he will disappoint, and he very well may. But he's only 25 and he's got a ton of physical ability, so the Giants think maybe they're getting a guy right before he really takes off. The Giants also retained backup quarterback David Carr, which they wanted to do. What they'll do next I do not know. They need offensive line help and could use a veteran running back to replace Brandon Jacobs, but they'll be patient and target specific guys they like, because that's the way they operate. It seems to work for them.

Washington Redskins?

"Quieter." After racing out of the free-agent gates and signing two wide receivers before the sun went down on Tuesday, the Redskins made very little news Wednesday. Their trade with the Rams for the No. 2 pick in the draft became official, and we learned that they will host former Giants cornerback Aaron Ross for a free-agent visit Thursday in the hopes of adding him to their cornerback mix. They still haven't locked up Eddie Royal, who seemed poised to become their third free-agent wide receiver signing last night, and he's on his way to talk to the Chargers. And they have a visit set up with safety Brandon Meriweather. But the most-asked question about the Redskins is where they stand with free-agent linebacker London Fletcher, who was called a "top priority" in December by Mike Shanahan but remains unsigned. It's possible that this is where the salary cap sanctions hurt the Redskins. Having lost $18 million in cap room this year (and $18 million next year) for violating the other owners' sense of spending propriety during the uncapped 2010 season, the Redskins might find a Fletcher signing trickier than, say, a Pierre Garcon signing. Garcon is 25, and they can spread out his contract and the resulting cap hit over five years. Fletcher is 36, and any deal with him is much more likely to be front-loaded. That doesn't mean they can't bring him back, but it could make it a little more difficult. Just a theory I heard from someone I talked to today.

My day was excellent, and I enjoyed spending it here and on Twitter with you. Much more to come Thursday and beyond.

The Kansas City Chiefs are giving Peyton Hillis one season to prove he is more like the 2010 version, who excelled under Brian Daboll, and not the 2011 version who struggled with several issues.

In an attempt to bolster their potentially dangerous offense, Kansas City brought the powerful running back -- who spent his first two NFL seasons with the Denver Broncos -- back to his AFC West roots. Hillis, who was traded from Denver to the Cleveland Browns in a deal for quarterback Brady Quinn two years ago, signed a one-year deal worth $3 million with Kansas City.

Under new offensive coordinator Dabol in 2010 Hillis ran for 1,177 yards and 11 touchdowns. Hillis will be a complementary back to Jamaal Charles, who is expected to be back after tearing an ACL in Week 2, and provides insurance if Charles is not 100 percent by the start of the season. The Chiefs are also still visiting with San Diego Chargers free agent Mike Tolbert and there is a chance Tolbert could be added to the backfield as well.

The Chiefs are a ground-based team and Hillis is a good fit. Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. loves the addition in Kansas City.

“Hillis runs with extreme aggression and also catches the ball much better than many realize since he is a big power," Williamson said. "I worry about his durability, but with Charles, he should be the complementary piece.”

Last season without Daboll, Hillis struggled in several areas. He had just 587 yards and averaged 3.6 yards a carry during a year where he graced the cover of the Madden video game.

It was a strange season for Hillis. He was questioned for missing a game when he was ill, there was a reported player’s intervention for him because of his unhappiness over his contract, he went through several agents, and he has denied a report that he thought about quitting football last season to join the CIA.

Because the Chiefs are not committing to Hills for the long term, the team is protected if Hillis does not revert to his 2010 days. I expect Hillis to play very hard as he tries to prove to the Chiefs and to the rest of the league he deserves the long-term deal he has long desired.

Hillis is another interesting component to Kansas City’s offense. An offense featuring Charles, Hills, receivers Dwayne Bowe, Steve Breaston, Jon Baldwin and tight end Tony Moeaki is powerful. It has the potential to both wear down opponents and to score quickly. The Chiefs are trying to make it even better. They are trying to sign Tolbert and former Houston standout right tackle Eric Winston. Plus, the team is bringing in former Oakland tight end Kevin Boss to pair with Moeaki.

Instead of trying to replace quarterback Matt Cassel, it seems that the Chiefs are bent on giving him as much help as possible. Potential Cassel competitors Jason Campbell, Kyle Orton and Chad Henne have all signed elsewhere.

With a defensive-minded head coach in Romeo Crennel, it is clear the Chiefs believe pumping up the offense is the team’s biggest priority and securing Hillis to a team-friendly deal is a solid start.

The key thing to understand is that the Dallas Cowboys needed a cornerback. The secondary was the biggest reason they flopped down the stretch and failed to reach the playoffs in 2011. They cut Terence Newman on Tuesday, they can't be sure Mike Jenkins can stay healthy and they don't know if Orlando Scandrick is ready to be a starter. They didn't just need someone who was better than Newman -- they needed someone better than Jenkins and Scandrick.

Brandon Carr, late of the Kansas City Chiefs, was their top target. They flew him in Tuesday night, as soon as free agency opened, and they spent 24 hours negotiating a contract with him. Just before 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Adam Schefter reported that the deal was done for five years and $50.1 million.

That's a lot of money, but the Cowboys had little choice. Once Cortland Finnegan signed with the Rams on Tuesday (for similar money), Carlos Rogers re-signed in San Francisco and Eric Wright signed in Tampa Bay, the Cowboys had to come away from this market with Carr. The drop-off to the next-best defensive back on the market was simply too steep.

Carr will be 26 years old when the 2012 season starts, which is part of the appeal. He's a good cover corner and, considering his age, can become even better. That's surely part of the Cowboys' hope -- that they're getting a guy who's on the upswing and is about to blossom into a top-level corner. For that money, he'll need to.

Here's what Scouts Inc.'s Matt Williamson had to say when I asked him about Carr:

"Well, first and foremost, the Cowboys had a massive need at the position and considering the weapons in the NFC East, getting a reputable CB was a must. I like Carr. He is still young, plays physical and can play man or zone coverage, although I think he is better as a zone guy. However, I also think he benefited a great deal from having [Brandon] Flowers on the other side of him in KC, as the Chiefs often put Flowers on the opponent’s WR1."

Not exactly a ringing endorsement considering the money. But it's a little like the Pierre Garcon signing in Washington. Did they overpay? Clearly. But everybody overpays in the first 24 hours of free agency, and the Cowboys couldn't afford to come out of it without a good cornerback. This is the guy they liked best, and this is what corners cost this year. Lots of pressure on the young man now, of course, to fix one of the team's biggest weaknesses. But I still think they'll look to add another defensive back, either in free agency or in the draft, and he's sure to be better than Newman was in 2011.

The Cowboys have been busy today. They agreed on a deal with backup quarterback Kyle Orton earlier in the day. Since then, they've added guard Mackenzy Bernadeau (who's not a big name but gets added into the mix with their other young interior linemen) and (per Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com on Twitter a few minutes ago) agreed on a deal with fullback Lawrence Vickers. Lots of pieces being added, but Carr is the biggest and most important, and they absolutely needed to pay him what they paid him, or they wouldn't have gotten him.

Some teams ignore backup quarterback, often to their detriment. (See: 2011 Colts, Bears, et al) Other teams really, really really don't. The Dallas Cowboys fall into the latter group. They do not feel comfortable if they don't have a veteran backup who can step in and start an NFL game if Tony Romo goes down with an injury. That's why they put in a claim for Kyle Orton when he was waived by Denver during the 2011 season and that's why they have agreed to terms with Orton on a new three-year contract.

When Romo got hurt two years ago, the Cowboys were able to plug in Jon Kitna, a former NFL starter who retired this offseason, and operate their offense basically just as well as it operated under Romo. Kitna wasn't as good as Romo is, and neither is Orton, but given the number of weapons the Cowboys have on offense, they want their worst-case scenario to be a quarterback who won't get rattled by NFL pressure and can get the ball to the right people. Orton, who began each of the past two seasons as the Broncos' starting quarterback and lost his job in 2011 to the Tim Tebow phenomenon, fits the description. If he has to start a lot of games for the Cowboys, they're probably in trouble. But if he has to start one or two -- or finish a game in which Romo gets injured -- they won't have to worry whether he can handle the responsibility.

The other quarterback on the Cowboys' roster is Stephen McGee, who was their fourth-round draft pick three years ago and hasn't seen enough action to be counted on in the event that they need a starter.

Orton was also on the radar for the Washington Redskins, who are in the market for a backup to the rookie quarterback they plan to draft with the No. 2 overall pick in next month's draft. But the Cowboys got him instead. Now, they need to sign a defensive back. More on that later, I believe, as we continue to track what's going on with Brandon Carr.

In the end, Jason Campbell signed with the Chicago Bears because it was the best backup job available. After realizing he wasn’t going to get any interest to compete somewhere for a starting job, Campbell took a one-year deal to be Jay Cutler’s backup.

The incredible turn of events for Campbell has continued. I truly feel bad for him. He deserves better.

Campbell was playing well last season as the Raiders’ starter when he broke his collarbone in October. Two days later, the Raiders sent two premium picks for Carson Palmer, and Campbell went from a valuable pending free agent to a player who is now a backup.

It is clear why Campbell wanted to leave Oakland. There is no way he’d want to stay and back up his replacement, Palmer, even though Campbell is now backing up a better, younger quarterback in Jay Cutler.

Kansas City probably wasn't interested in bringing Campbell in as competition for Matt Cassel. Even though Campbell played for Chiefs quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn in Washington. Orton is going to visit Dallas (where he too would be a backup), so it is an indication that Cassel may remain the starter.

I think Campbell would have been a formidable competitor for Tim Tebow in Denver, but the Broncos didn't want to do anything until the Peyton Manning sweepstakes was resolved.

Campbell jumped at what he thought was the best bet and he will have to hope he gets a chance to start sometime down the road.

Oakland fans should salute Campbell as he leaves town. He was a classy leader who stayed professional and supported the team after his injury. Lesser people wouldn’t have handled it as well as Campbell did.

You've waited, speculated, hoped and fretted for months, and today it finally arrived -- the start of NFL free agency. It was a busy and hectic day, as it often is, and it's liable to continue into the wee hours of the morning. But for now, as we creep toward midnight, it seems like a good time to stop and ask each of our division's four teams our favorite free-agency question.

So. How was your day...

Washington Redskins?

"Exciting." The Redskins were extremely busy right away, agreeing to deals with wide receivers Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan and working on another for wide receiver Eddie Royal. The fact that they moved so quickly led to industry-wide cries of "Same old Redskins -- champions of March," because there's no more powerful force in the NFL than conventional wisdom. But an actual close look at what they're doing reveals the kind of smart, long-view plan that Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen began working to execute last offseason.

The old, reckless-spending Redskins would not have been outbid for 29-year-old Vincent Jackson, who got $55.5 million ($26 million guaranteed) from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The receivers the Redskins signed will be 26 and 27 years old at the start of the season. And while five years, $42.5 million ($20.5 million guaranteed) is obviously too much for Garcon, who's never been a No. 1 wide receiver, it's what it cost to get him. Shanahan has identified him as a guy who can explode, based on where he is in his career, the way he'll fit in Shanahan's offense and the potential for him to grow along with Robert Griffin III. If Shanahan's wrong, the contract could haunt him. But he's not just throwing money around. Garcon is a guy Shanahan targeted, for good, specific reasons. There is a plan here, and it's likely to continue as they work to fill holes on the offensive line and in the secondary in the coming days and weeks.

The Redskins also re-signed Adam Carriker on Tuesday to maintain depth on the defensive line. What Redskins fans would like to see next is a re-signing of linebacker London Fletcher. I believe the Redskins would like that too, but the longer it goes without getting done, the greater the chance is that the Redskins will lose one of their most valuable defensive players. What's clear is that, in spite of being docked $36 million against the cap for violating some sort of amorphous fake spending limit during the uncapped 2010 season, the Redskins still have plenty of room under the cap with which to work.

Dallas Cowboys?

"Better than Monday." A day after learning that they'd be docked $10 million against the salary cap over the next two years for the same kinds of bogus violations that nailed the Redskins, the Cowboys set about executing their own plan. They cut Terence Newman and David Buehler and restructured the contracts of Doug Free and Orlando Scandrick -- a combination of moves that bought them about $15.8 million in extra cap room this year. Then, according to Adam Schefter, they brought in free-agent cornerback Brandon Carr, who at this writing seemed likely to sign with Dallas as Newman's replacement as early as Tuesday night. With Cortland Finnegan having signed for five years and $50 million in St. Louis, and Carlos Rogers having re-signed for four years and about $30 million in San Francisco, the market seemed set for Carr, and the Cowboys seemed determined not to let him leave Dallas without a deal.

Schefter also reported that the Cowboys were looking at Kyle Orton, who'd be an excellent veteran backup option for Tony Romo at quarterback. And ESPNDallas.com writes that they plan to bring in former Panthers linebacker Dan Connor and former Bears tight end Kellen Davis for visits as well. Connor makes sense because they'll need depth at linebacker and may need more time to Bruce Carter to develop behind a veteran. Davis makes sense as a possible replacement for Martellus Bennett, who's in New York to visit the Giants. So if they get Carr done, they'll have addressed their most glaring need on the first day and are already at work on filling some other important needs. They still need to find offensive line help, and it looks as though they could lose wide receiver Laurent Robinson to the Jaguars or Dolphins, but cornerback was the place for them to start.

New York Giants?

"Productive." The champs began the day by re-signing cornerback Terrell Thomas, which was a priority of theirs, and buying themselves some cap room with the restructuring of the contract of center David Baas. Then they flew Bennett in for a visit, since they need a tight end to replace the two they lost to serious knee injuries in the Super Bowl. Cowboys fans are chuckling at the idea that another team would want Bennett, who earned a reputation as a pass-dropping underachiever during his time in Dallas. But the Giants see a guy who's 6-foot-6, 270 pounds, fast and still just 25 years old. They certainly trust their coaching staff and their quarterback to get the most out of any player, and if they can get him on a reasonable deal, it's certainly worth a shot that he still could transform his remarkable physical talent into reliable on-field production. And if he can't, Jake Ballard and Travis Beckum should be back healthy at the end of the season anyway. It's worth the Giants' time to check on Bennett.

The Giants target guys they like but are otherwise patient, so don't expect to hear much about them and Mario Manningham, Aaron Ross or Jonathan Goff anytime soon. They'll let those guys see what they can get on the market, and if they come back disappointed and willing to sign for the Giants' numbers, they could return. If not, the Giants feel confident they can find replacements.

Philadelphia Eagles?

Wait. That was today? Yeah, the Eagles had a quiet day. They extended Todd Herremans' contract and, as Sal Paolantonio reported, were working on an extension for Trent Cole as well. Part of the reason for the quiet is that the Eagles did a lot of work in free agency last year and expect those players to play better in 2012. Part of the reason is that the position at which they need the most help is linebacker, and the linebacker market hasn't really started humming yet. I still think Fletcher makes sense for them on a number of levels, and I wonder if he's a guy they're quietly targeting to steal away from Washington. We'll see. They won't go as nuts as they did last year, but the Eagles won't stay silent for long.