4 moves we loved from the first day of NFL free agency, from the 49ers defense to a Browns bargain

The Lions bet on a breakout cornerback. The 49ers sent a message about QB play. And the Browns even did something right.

The first day of the NFL’s 2023 free agent signing period began slowly, ramped up after lunch time, then … seemed to pause for an Aaron Rodgers trade that never happened. But while a deal for the four-time MVP never materialized, several other impact players agreed to contracts that will shape the race to Super Bowl 57.

The Las Vegas Raiders made the move from Derek Carr to Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback, opting to trade in one slightly underwhelming veteran for another. The Chicago Bears revamped their linebacker corps with T.J. Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds. The market for offensive tackles shot up so high that former Eagles first round pick Andre Dillard was able to command a shade under $10 million per year despite zero starts in 2022.

There were plenty of good deals that flashed across our timelines before fizzling out like fireworks. Here are the four I liked the most.