Reading list: Reactions to Tuesday's NFL transaction frenzy

The NFL enjoyed one of its craziest offseason days in history Tuesday, with significant signings overshadowed by stunning trades ahead of the start of free agency. Here's a look at some of the best reaction and analysis columns:

Saints trade Jimmy Graham to Seahawks

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• The Seattle Times' Jerry Brewer says the Seahawks are well on their way to another big season: "(Seattle) has much work left to retool the offensive line, but that's an easier task than finding the next Jimmy Graham. If the Seahawks finish what they've started, they'll finally build a consistently explosive offense to complement their fantastic defense." [Seattle Times]

• Larry Holder of the New Orleans Times-Picayune says questions about Graham made him expendable, and praised the Saints for acquiring a high pick in the deal: "The Saints found Graham in the third round of the 2010 draft. Their staff is more than adept at discovering and developing offensive talent throughout every round of the draft." [NOLA.com]

• ESPN's Mike Triplett isn't keen on the deal from the Saints' perspective, at least not in the interim: "The number that mattered most was 7-9 - the Saints' record, even with Graham on the field. That gives them permission to try something else. So do I understand the move? Sure. But do I like it? Not immediately." [ESPN]

Eagles deal Nick Foles to Rams for Sam Bradford

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• Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch believes the Rams made a significant upgrade at quarterback over the oft-injured Bradford: "Foles suffered a broken clavicle and missed half the games last season. He is an iron man compared to Bradford, though, and he is still developing at the age of 26." [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]

• Paul Domowitch of the Philadelphia Daily News says the deal makes no sense for the Eagles: "Bradford is a major injury risk. That (head coach Chip) Kelly, who places such a high value on players who can stay on the field, would be willing to take a major risk on a guy with an injury history like Bradford's seems out of character." [Philadelphia Daily News]

• ESPN's Nick Wagoner believes the acquisition of Foles isn't the only major move the Rams need to make: "The pieces for a dominant defense look to be in place, but if the Rams are to become what (head coach Jeff) Fisher wants, they must make haste to ensure the running game can meet that standard." [ESPN]

Lions acquire Haloti Ngata from Ravens

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• Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press lambasted the Lions for panicking in the wake of Ndamukong Suh's departure: "The Ngata trade underscores why the Baltimore Ravens are one of the NFL's elite franchises and why the Lions struggle maintaining mediocrity. The Ravens are proactive. The Lions are reactive." [Detroit Free Press]

• Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun respects Ngata for not backing down in contract talks: "It was about more than money. It was also about principle and pride. He might have been on the downside of his nine-year playing career, but he was still one of the best at his position in the NFL. I respect Ngata's stance." [Baltimore Sun]

• SI's Chris Burke says the Lions made out slightly better than the Ravens: "Ngata is 31 and probably will not handle the same snap-count workload that Suh did, but he's still a serious handful up front. (Baltimore's) trade for draft picks was preferable to simply letting Ngata walk. It's still nowhere near as ideal as keeping Ngata in the fold." [SI]

The best of the rest

• Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News blasted 49ers owner Jed York, GM Trent Baalke and coach Jim Tomsula for not showing retiring linebacker Patrick Willis respect: "All three stayed to listen to Willis, then all three bolted. That was hardly the way to honor Willis, who never ran or hid during his 49ers career - on the field or off." [San Jose Mercury News]

• Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean said retiring Titans quarterback Jake Locker earned plenty of respect from his teammates during his brief NFL career, but "will go down as a poor first-round pick made by the Titans. Locker did everything the Titans could've asked from a starting quarterback but stay healthy." [The Tennessean]

• Steve Serby of the New York Post says Darrelle Revis's signing with the Jets could shake the entire foundation of the AFC East: "It doesn't make the Jets a Super Bowl contender ... but it sure makes them relevant. It kills two birds with one stone because it degrades the Patriots in a way that gives the rest of the AFC East hope for a change." [New York Post]