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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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SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 22: Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts to a play against the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on October 22, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – OCTOBER 22: Richard Sherman #25 of the Seattle Seahawks reacts to a play against the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on October 22, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Winner: San Francisco 49ers

This is a 49ers-specific site. Of course we’d list the Niners as winners in NFL free agency.

OK, so general manager John Lynch hasn’t been as active as he was last year. But 2017 was more about turning over the roster. This year is more about fine-tuning it.

There are three major moves to speak of here, of course. First, the 49ers quickly lured in former Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman on a team-friendly deal. Sizing it up with those given to Trumaine Johnson and Malcolm Butler, it looks like a steal:

This solves a major need for San Francisco’s secondary, although there is some risk with Sherman’s 2017 Achilles injury.

Up front, the Niners brought in former New York Giants center Weston Richburg to immediately compete with the incumbent, Daniel Kilgore. Both have guard experience too, so the loser of that competition could bump out.

To cap things off on day one, San Francisco inked former Vikings running back Jerick McKinnon to a four-year contract.

As we broke down here, McKinnon is the ideal scheme fit for head coach Kyle Shanahan’s outside-zone rushing attack, whereas Carlos Hyde wasn’t.

Good moves by the Niners in NFL free agency.