Free Agency Tracker: Crickets in Foxboro

Mike Wallace got his money, San Diego lost an anchor on their offensive line and Tennessee is loading up on what promises to be a monsterous free agency period for them...

...and the Patriots?  The only sound coming out of Foxboro are the chirping of crickets.

"The sound emitted by crickets is commonly referred to as chirping; the scientific name is stridulation. Only the male crickets chirp. The sound is emitted by the stridulatory organ, a large vein running along the bottom of each wing, covered with "teeth" (serration) much like a comb. The chirping sound is created by running the top of one wing along the teeth at the bottom of the other wing. As he does this, the cricket also holds the wings up and open, so that the wing membranes can act as acoustical sails."

And now that our entomology lesson is completed, please enjoy the following latest transaction from the first couple of hours of free agency:

Chiefs agreed to terms with QB Chase Daniel, formerly of the Saints, on a three-year contract.

Per CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora, the deal is believed to be worth over $3 million per year. That's quite a pay-day for a player who has attempted just nine career passes, and will enter 2013 as Alex Smith's strict backup. New coach Andy Reid is clearly trying to groom Daniel into a future starter, but he shouldn't threaten Smith's job status this season. Reid has never been one to get caught short at the game's most important position.

Titans agreed to terms with TE Delanie Walker, formerly of the 49ers, on a four-year contract.

Tennessee has been super active in the opening hour of free agency. They add Walker to their haul along with LG Andy Levitre. Walker is a tremendous blocker, and the Titans will likely try and pair him with raw, but athletic Taylor Thompson in an effort to replace free agent Jared Cook. Walker's signing could signal the end for blocking-only tight end Craig Stevens.

Broncos signed OG Louis Vasquez to a four-year, $23.5 million contract.

The deal includes $13M guaranteed. The Chargers claimed that retaining Vasquez was a priority, but they never proved it with a contract offer. San Diego let the second-best guard available hit the market and he signed with a division rival. A top-13 overall guard last season according to Pro Football Focus, the 6'5/335 Vasquez is especially effective as a pass blocker. He'll be as asset in the Broncos' quest to keep Peyton Manning upright.

Browns agreed to terms with OLB Paul Kruger on a five-year, $41 million contract.

It reportedly includes $20 million guaranteed. It's a generous haul for a four-year veteran with just 15.5 career sacks, but probably not what Kruger had in mind before the start of free agency. Kruger will line up opposite OLB Jabaal Sheard in new DC Ray Horton's attacking 3-4 defense. Kruger's signing leaves Cliff Avril as the lone remaining pass-rushing jewel on the open market.

Dolphins agreed to terms with WR Mike Wallace on a five-year, $65 million contract that includes $30 million guaranteed.

They whiffed on Harbaugh, Peyton, and Fisher, but they got Wallace. Still just 26 years old -- he'll turn 27 in August -- Wallace owns a career yards per catch average of 17.2 with 32 touchdowns across four seasons. While Wallace's critics will knock him as a straight-line deep threat, he gets into the end zone and that happens to be pretty important in the NFL. Although we don't love the fit for Wallace's fantasy value, the Dolphins can now give Ryan Tannehill a formidable receiver corps. Wallace is No. 1, Brian Hartline is No. 2, and slot man Davone Bess No. 3 with Rishard Matthews flashing the ability to be a capable No. 4.

Titans agreed to terms with OG Andy Levitre on a five-year, $39 million contract.

Free agency's top guard is off the market. Levitre graded out as the NFL's top pass-blocking guard last season and was also part of a Bills' rushing unit that ranked third in yards-per-carry (5.0). He's just 26 years old and fills a massive problem area for the Titans. Chris Johnson will have a harder time throwing his offensive line under the bus next season and Jake Locker will certainly have more time in the pocket.

Bills released QB Ryan Fitzpatrick.

The move comes with a staggering $10 million-plus cap hit, but the Bills didn't see the point in moving forward with a player they had publicly lost faith in. Fitzpatrick has the ability to be one of the league's better backups, but proved time and again under Chan Gailey he didn't have what it takes to be a long-term starter, especially in terms of arm strength. He'll be a backup elsewhere in 2013.

Bears agreed to terms with TE Martellus Bennett on a four-year contract.

The Bears had interest in Jared Cook, but he appears to have priced himself out of their range. Bennett is younger, a way better blocker, and also creates mismatches in the pass game. He also figures to be cheaper. The Bears haven't upgraded their line yet, but became a better blocking team with the Bennett deal. Bennett could be a low-end TE1 in Chicago if Marc Trestman opens up the offense and teaches Jay Cutler how to come off first-read Brandon Marshall.