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NFL free agency, 2018: Biggest winners and losers from day one

By Peter Panacy

LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 12: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins talks with quarterback Sam Bradford #8 of the Minnesota Vikings after the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Washington Redskins 38-30 at FedExField on November 12, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - NOVEMBER 12: Quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins talks with quarterback Sam Bradford #8 of the Minnesota Vikings after the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Washington Redskins 38-30 at FedExField on November 12, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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FOXBORO, MA – OCTOBER 22: Malcolm Butler #21 of the New England Patriots reacts as he warms up before a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Gillette Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA – OCTOBER 22: Malcolm Butler #21 of the New England Patriots reacts as he warms up before a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Gillette Stadium on October 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

Winners: Cornerbacks Malcolm Buther and Trumaine Johnson

Cornerbacks Malcolm Butler and Trumaine Johnson got paid.

Butler, now joining the Tennessee Titans on a five-year, $61.25 million contract, can put aside his surprising benching in Super Bowl LII and a generally lackluster 2017 campaign in the rear-view mirror.

At 28 years old, Butler joins a revamped defense under first-year head coach Mike Vrabel. It’s not a surprise to see Tennessee act aggressively here, even though that’s a lot of cash for a player coming off a down season.

Still, Butler wins out and joins a relatively weak AFC South division with a realistic shot at returning to the playoffs.

LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 10: Trumaine Johnson #22 of the Los Angeles Rams runs onto the field prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 10, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 10: Trumaine Johnson #22 of the Los Angeles Rams runs onto the field prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 10, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

Meanwhile, Johnson’s pending deal with the New York Jets will likely wind up making him the highest paid corner in NFL history.

Is Johnson a good corner? Sure. Is he elite? Not exactly.

At any rate, these two top-name corners on the NFL free agency market have to be feeling good about cashing in this offseason.