The second day of the NFL Free Agency period kicked off with another bang, as the San Francisco 49ers finally pulled the trigger on their trade of quarterback Alex Smith to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The 49ers, fresh off a Colin Kaepernick-led trip to the Super Bowl, agreed to trade Smith, who was their former starting quarterback, two weeks ago in exchange for the Chiefs' second-round pick in this year's draft and a conditional pick in the 2014 draft.
With the trade now complete, San Francisco officially moves into the Colin Kaepernick era after the 24-year-old rose to prominence when Smith went down with an injury late in the season. And the 49ers have begun their push to return to the big game by acquiring Baltimore WR Anquan Boldin Monday in a trade.
The Cheifs, meanwhile, have made a flurry of off-season moves that have been highlighted not only by the deal for Smith, but the signing of WR Dwayne Bowe, punter Dustin Colquitt and left tackle Branden Albert.
Will Dwight Freeney End Up In Denver?
Meanwhile, with defensive standout Dwight Freeney now a free agent, the latest rumors look like Freeney could end up teaming with his old buddy Peyton Manning in Denver again.
Freeney, an eight-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman with the Indianapolis Colts, was released by the Colts Monday after 11 seasons with the team. Freeney was part of the Colts' lone Super Bowl title team in 2006 since moving to Indianapolis from Baltimore.
The trade caught Freeney by surprise.
"I was very surprised to hear they wanted to go in a different direction," Freeney told ESPN's Ed Werder. "Would have been nice to retire a Colt."
However, signs are pointing to Freeney possibly being targeted by the Denver Broncos, who dominated with a 13-3 record in the AFC this past season before losing a double-overtime heartbreaker to the eventual champion Ravens in the Divisional Playoff.
With Denver looking for a pass rusher in the free agency period, Freeney, though he is 33 years old, has an impressive credentials list that make him an attractive target. Signing him would reunite him with Manning, the two ex-Colts playing together during Indianapolis' Super Bowl in 2006 and their run to the Super Bowl in 2009.
Manning, who finished second in the MVP voting last season, has already thrown his support behind signing Freeney. With that endorsement, Freeney possibly heading West to Denver might not be so far fetched.
- Contribute to this Story:
- Send us a tip
- Send us a photo or video
- Suggest a correction
