1959 NAAF Free Agency
Bradley Shocks The League
Former 2nd overall pick and 4-time all-star, DB Alexander Bradley, was the talk of the free agency period. Almost every team made a push for the 27-year-old. The early rumours had the DB heading to a team with money. Boston and Montreal were at the front of that conversation with Providence being mentioned here and there. Both Boston and Montreal would be great landing places for Bradley as up and coming teams, but there was also talk from teams that were just really competitive. Long Island and Ottawa both looked like likely landing places, with London getting mentioned due to former Athletics QB Riley Kiernan and OL Magnus Gunnersson both going there last season. However, with everyone talking about those teams, they missed one team that would ultimately bring Bradley to their secondary. After being fired by the Athletics and joining Louisville, Emil Riddle made a huge push to bring Bradley to the Thunder. He would succeed in doing so adding Bradley to a deadly secondary that has S Johnny Berger, DB Jayden Mills, and this year’s 1st overall pick DB Oliver Langstrom. Bradley ultimately wanted a team with support in the secondary and Louisville certainly has that. He also was excited to be reunited with LB Silas O’Brien who would re-sign with the Thunder earlier in the offseason. His contract would end up being 5 years at $31,500-$32,000 a season which makes Bradley the highest-paid defensive back in the league.
Royals’ GM Jon Neal Makes Several Moves to Boost Depth
The Royals would be involved in 3 trades over the course of the free agency period. The first was a lateral move which saw 3rd String QB Micheal Kramer heading back to Worcester in exchange for fellow veteran QB Andrew Glover. Worcester ultimately would just be looking for a slightly cheaper QB to back up QB Gene Bishop, as well as the team resenting Glover for being put into the starting role near the end of last season.
Glover would not be a Royal for too long though. A week after being acquired by Ottawa, he would be sent over to Louisville in exchange for veteran DB Jesse Scott. Glover ultimately adds leadership and great teaching ability to the Thunder who are looking to further QB Leonidas Dumont’s development. Ottawa ultimately gets a depth DB in Jesse Scott as well as opening a spot on their roster for up and coming undrafted QB Dick Ray.
Top 10 Free Agent Round-Up
After Bradley went off the board the remaining top free agents would find a new home. OL Ronnie Elliot would take his talents to Boston to add to easily the best offensive line in the league heading into this season. RB Johnnie Stafford would be looking for a new start by heading to Buffalo to take over for the recently retired RB Arthur Conner. Endzone threat, WR Christian Venegas, would be a highly sought after piece who would end up heading to Providence to team up with QB Conner O’Rourke. WR Ronald Vernon would find himself heading to Buffalo to join WR Daniel Irons and WR LeRoy Krueger in a steadily improving receiving core. LB Sharquay Bradford would join Venegas in heading to Providence, while his former teammate DB Amyre Rouleau would end up heading back to Long Island instead of a new team. WR Peter Brooks would also join Rouleau in Long Island and he looks to take a shot at the title with the Raiders in what will likely be his final season. DB Louie White and QB Andrew Sexton would join the Rouge, with Whtie getting to play in his hometown to finish out his career.
Top 10 Free Agents
1 - DB Alexander Bradley - WOR -> LOU - 5Y, $31,500-$32,000
2 - OL Ronnie Elliot - BUF -> BOS - 3Y, $17,500
3 - RB Johnnie Stafford - PRO -> BUF - 2Y, $18,000
4 - WR Christian Venegas - WOR -> PRO - 3Y, $18,500
5 - WR Ronald Vernon - BOS -> BUF - 3Y, $15,000
6 - LB Sharquay Bradford - LI -> PRO - 2Y, $14,000
7 - QB Andrew Sexton - LDN -> MTL - 1Y, $11,000
8 - DB Amyre Rouleau - LI -> LI - 1Y, $15,000
9 - DB Louie White - BUF -> MTL - 1Y, $13,500
10 - WR Peter Brooks - PRO -> LI - 1Y, $10,000
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