Brock Osweiler's surprise departure could have left the Denver Broncos in disarray

Free agency has started and Alex Ferguson reflects on Brock Osweiler's surprise move to the Houston Texans from the Denver Broncos.

The official start to NFL free agency is one of the crazier times of the American sporting calendar, and 2016 was no different with news that the Houston Texans had signed former Denver Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler in a four-year, $72m deal.

Houston have also added running back Lamar Miller from Miami Dolphins in a four-year, $26m deal, and Alex Ferguson assesses the two moves...

Brock Osweiler

Osweiler - who was a perennial back-up for Peyton Manning after being drafted in the second round from Arizona State in 2012 - finally got his chance in 2015, and had a 5-3 record for 1,967 yards, 10 TDs and six INTS. He had a 61.8% completion percentage and 86.4 passer rating. His passer rating was good to be ranked 25th among qualified quarterbacks in the NFL.

But the 25-year-old showed good leadership signs, right until he went out with a right knee injury. He never started another game again, thanks to the return of Manning and the subsequent Super Bowl victory that came.

The Texans needed a quarterback, and needed one badly after the string of disasters this season [we blame you Brian Hoyer, Ryan Mallett and Brandon Weeden], who were all given time to get the offense going - with a great weapon in DeAndre Hopkins - and simply couldn't. So they turned to their wallets and paid a king's ransom for Osweiler.

You could definitely argue that Osweiler doesn't have the experience to command such a salary, but what he will bring is a good arm and a "high ceiling" - the NFL buzzword for "potential". We can't wait to see how he hooks up with Hopkins.

On Denver's side, Executive Vice President John Elway could well be furious after losing two quarterbacks within a week. He must have thought that Manning's retirement would mean a definite "stay" decision for Osweiler, but now they are looking for a quarterback. Tim Tebow?

Another person who's not going to be too happy is NFL Draftee Christian Hackenberg, who was coached at Penn State by Houston head coach Bill O'Brien. He was thought by many to be coming to Texas as a second-to-third round pick. Oh, and other NFL Draftees - and their agents - aren't going to be too happy either.

Lamar Miller

Lamar Miller was perhaps one of the most heralded running backs to start the 2015 season, with fantasy analysts believing strongly that the player was due for a breakout season, thanks to his great running skills as well as his ability to catch, too.

And while his season wasn't a major failure, it certainly didn't hit drop any jaws. Miller ended the season with 872 yards and 8 TDs, and he had 397 receiving yards and 2 TDs. He only managed to have three 100 yard + days [his biggest was against Houston, where he went off for 175 and a touchdown as well as 61 yards receiving and another score], and only three more in the 50-99 yard range. That's disappointing.

His receiving yards - which many thought would be a huge difference maker - really wasn't. He only had 397 receiving yards [good for eighth amongst NFL RBs] and two TDs. But he showed potential - and that's what O'Brien will be looking for just in case Osweiler can't throw the ball downfield 50 times a game. You can expect dump-offs and slants to Miller to try and open it up.

The problem for Miller is that he's got big shoes to fill - the Texans cut long-time RB Arian Foster and he's going to be expected to be a more-than-viable replacement.

Where does this leave Miami? There are good RBs coming up the draft [like Ezekiel Elliott, Derrick Henry etc], so the Fins aren't going to be lost without Miller. But it certainly doesn't help. And they seem to be focusing on their offense, anyway.