NFL off-season winners and losers

This weekend’s NFL draft is a big deal, but it isn’t the official start of the 2007 season. That began the day after Super Bowl XLI and, in some cases, even earlier. Already, teams and players have taken steps that will help determine how they’ll do in the upcoming season. Some have stepped forward; others have backpedaled in a big way. A look at five of the biggest winners and losers so far:

FIVE WINNERS

1. PHILADELPHIA -- Despite losing quarterback Jeff Garcia, who helped salvage their 2006 season after Donovan McNabb was injured, the Eagles have made some productive moves. They picked up key free agents in defensive tackle Montae Reagor, linebacker Takeo Spikes and receiver Kevin Curtis. Reagor, a four-year starter for Indianapolis, is a bit undersized for his position but fits Philadelphia’s system. Spikes, a former Buffalo standout, can start at any linebacker spot. Curtis, the former third receiver for St. Louis, is a deep threat who will fill the void left by Donte Stallworth.

2. WES WELKER -- As a rookie, Welker went undrafted and was cut after Week 1 by San Diego. Three years later, the receiver has a blockbuster five-year deal with New England that includes a reported $9 million guaranteed. The Patriots acquired him in a trade with Miami, which received second- and seventh-round choices in this year’s draft. So Welker, who caught 67 passes in 2006, increased his salary by nearly 10 times -- and he’s on a Super Bowl contender to boot.

3. NEW ENGLAND -- The rich get richer. The Patriots bolstered their linebacker corps by adding Adalius Thomas, formerly of Baltimore, and got receivers Stallworth from Philadelphia, Kelley Washington from Cincinnati and Welker from Miami. Thomas was probably the best player on the league’s best defense last season, and Stallworth was the premier receiver among free agents.

4. DENVER -- Some familiar names are gone -- Jake Plummer, Al Wilson, Keith Burns, Tatum Bell -- yet the Broncos appear to be improved. Denver signed the best available cover corner in Dre Bly, and the best blocking tight end in Daniel Graham. Patrick Ramsey will be a solid backup quarterback to Jay Cutler, and the team upgraded at running back with Travis Henry. A good player who might otherwise escape notice is guard Montrae Holland, formerly of New Orleans. He should help Denver uphold its tradition of outstanding play on the offensive line.

5. MATT SCHAUB -- Despite never having won a regular-season start in three seasons with Atlanta, Schaub signed a six-year, $48-million deal to replace David Carr as quarterback of the Houston Texans. Beyond the finances, it’s a fantastic deal for the former Virginia star. Not only does he have a chance to emerge from Michael Vick’s shadow, but he’ll get a lot of help from Texans Coach Gary Kubiak, known for his ability to mold quarterbacks. Still, knowing Houston’s offensive line, Schaub might benefit from one word of advice: Duck!

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FIVE LOSERS

1. SEATTLE -- The Seahawks failed to land the big free agent they wanted, losing out on guard Kris Dielman when he decided to stay in San Diego for roughly $500,000 a year less than Seattle was offering. Mike Holmgren was really angry about that. The Seahawks also lost safety Ken Hamlin to Dallas, and center Robbie Tobek to retirement. Newly acquired defensive end Patrick Kerney should take up some of the slack left by Grant Wistrom, who was released, but that was the team’s most significant move.

2. DONTE STALLWORTH -- As one of the most coveted offensive weapons available, the former Philadelphia receiver should have commanded a more lucrative deal than the one he signed with the Patriots. His signing bonus was $1 million, with the promise of a big payday providing he’s still around for a second season in New England. The Eagles didn’t make a concerted effort to keep him, and reports of his being in the league’s substance-abuse program hurt his value in the open market.

3. CINCINNATI -- Nearly all the team’s recent headlines have concerned Bengals behaving badly. Cincinnati did almost nothing in free agency, short of watching several of its impact players flutter away. They bid farewell to guard Eric Steinbach (Cleveland), tight end Tony Steward (Oakland), linebacker Marcus Wilkins (Atlanta), safety Kevin Kaesviharn (New Orleans) and receiver Washington (New England). Cincinnati’s big foray into free agency? It signed center Alex Stepanovich, who started five games for Arizona last season.

4. LANCE BRIGGS -- The Chicago linebacker was looking for a big payday and a chance to step out of Brian Urlacher’s shadow. What he got was a big mess -- and a reputation in need of repair. Briggs, who last season left $13 million in guaranteed money on the table and opted to play for $750,000 and incentives, thought he’d get a chance to test the free-agent market. Instead, the Bears kept him by making him their franchise player -- the first time they’ve applied that designation to a player -- and only Washington has made a run at him. So far, the teams have been unable to agree to trade terms and Briggs, who in Chicago has become the poster child for greedy athletes, says he hopes never to play another down for the Bears.

5. CHICAGO -- Let’s see, the team that got to the Super Bowl with its defense watched defensive coordinator

Ron Rivera walk away to San Diego; dumped its best player on offense, running back Thomas Jones, in a bargain-basement trade with the New York Jets; picked up safety Adam Archuleta, who has yet to prove he’s recovered from the back injury he suffered a few years ago in St. Louis; and is waiting for defensive tackle Tank Johnson to be released from prison, when the NFL will slap him with a long suspension. Oh, and there’s the Briggs situation. All that, and the Bears have to contend with the hangover of their Super Bowl loss.