If you consider the top 4 teams from 2013, other than the Broncos, not a lot of flashy moves in FA:
- Seattle re-signed Michael Bennett, but he took a hometown discount, taking less than the Bears offered. Aqib Talib wasn't willing to do that for the Pats. Otherwise, the Seahawks didn't sign anyone of note day 1 of FA. They lost Clinton McDonald and O'Brien Schofield. Walter Thurmond is visiting with Jacksonville, and Brandon Browner probably won't be back.
- San Francisco made a pair of late-round trades for depth at QB (Blaine Gabbert) and OL (Jonathan Martin), picking up a pair of former high draft picks who haven't exactly excelled so far. They cut CB Carlos Rodgers, and lost S Donte Whitner. They did sign Antoine Bethea to replace Whitner.
So far the Pats have simply done nothing, and they have only lost 1 player, albeit an important one: Talib. But with Denver taking the "all in" approach, there wasn't much the Pats could do about that.
The smart teams aren't rushing into FA and overspending. Denver is acting out of desperation. Maybe it will pay off, but I personally doubt it.