Former Louisville football stars making moves in NFL Free Agency

The NFL’s Free Agency period kicked off last week, and several former Louisville football players have signed new deals with their respective teams.

This has been one of the wildest NFL Free Agency periods that I can remember over the past few offseasons. Several big name players were set to hit the market, including RB Le’Veon Bell, but no one saw the trades of the NFL’s top two wide receivers happening in back-to-back days.

With all of that plus talk of Nick Foles, the Raiders overpaying everyone, and much more, the free agency of several former Louisville football stars have slid under the radar. Teddy Bridgewater, DeVante Parker, Jamon Brown, John Miller, Preston Brown, Eli Rogers, and Joshua Bellamy all entered free agency looking for new deals to continue their promising NFL careers.

At the top of that list was Teddy Bridgewater, who was traded to New Orleans this past season after signing with the New York Jets last spring. The fifth year QB spent the season backing up future Hall of Famer Drew Brees, though he had proven prior to his injury and in the preseason last year with the Jets, that he was capable of starting. That left many, including myself, wondering if maybe this offseason he’d look to find another team where he could be the starter right away.

DeVante Parker, who the Dolphins opted to not pick up the fifth year option of, looked destined for a fresh start after missing several games of the last few seasons to injury and having some odd exchanges with former head coach Adam Gase.

Preston Brown, John Miller, and Jamon Brown, all multiple year starters, as well as Josh Bellamy and Eli Rogers, two serviceable veterans at the wide receiver positions, were looking to get another contract to continue their high level of play whether with their current teams or somewhere else.

All in all it has been an interesting free agency for the Louisville guys in the NFL. Let’s take a quick look at who’s on the move and who’s staying put.