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You can access all individual NFL Free Agent Signing Grades via the link. Overall NFL Free Agent Team Grades will be posted below.
2023 NFL Free Agent Team Grades: NFC East
Dallas Cowboys: B+
Acquired: RB Ronald Jones, WR Brandin Cooks, G Chuma Edoga, CB Stephon Gilmore.
Lost: RB Ezekiel Elliott, WR Noah Brown, TE Dalton Schultz, G Connor McGovern, G Jason Peters, OLB Anthony Barr, CB Anthony Brown, K Brett Maher.
The Cowboys lost a couple of big names in free agency: Ezekiel Elliott and Dalton Schultz. However, I’d say they had a positive offseason. Elliott has been a decrepit running back the past three years, so it’s no surprise that he hasn’t generated any interest in the open market. Schultz, meanwhile, is talented, but Dallas can find his replacement with one of the many gifted tight ends in the 2023 NFL Draft class.
While the Cowboys didn’t sign anyone of note, they orchestrated two excellent trades. They acquired Brandin Cooks to be the No. 2 receiver they had been seeking since moving Amari Cooper. They also acquired Stephon Gilmore to bolster their secondary. Cooks and Gilmore will have a bigger impact on the roster than Elliott and Schultz would have in 2023.
New York Giants: B
Acquired: WR Parris Campbell, WR Jamison Crowder, WR Jeff Smith, TE Darren Waller, TE Tommy Sweeney, DT A’Shawn Robinson, DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches, LB Bobby Okereke, CB Amani Oruwaryie, S Bobby McCain.
Lost: WR Richie James, WR Kenny Golladay, G Nick Gates, C Jon Feliciano, LB Jaylon Smith, CB Fabian Moreau, S Julian Love.
The Giants entered the offseason with two major impending free agents, as Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones were set to hit the market. It seemed as though they’d be able to keep only one via the franchise tag, but they re-signed Jones and then slapped Barkley with the franchise tag. Jones was an overpay, but keeping the two players will allow the Giants to reach the playoffs again in 2023.
Aside from retaining, Jones and Barkley, the most significant move the Giants made was trading for Darren Waller. The stud tight end will be a key weapon for Jones moving forward. Newly signed Parris Campbell and Jamison Crowder could contribute as well, but they are far less exciting additions. In fact, the only new free agent the Giants obtained who was ranked higher than 1.5 stars was Bobby Okereke, who should help bolster the linebacking corps.
Overall, this was a positive offseason for the Giants because they retained their core and were able to add a couple of talented players to improve the overall roster.
Philadelphia Eagles: B+
Acquired: QB Marcus Mariota, RB D’Andre Swift, RB Rashaad Penny, WR Olamide Zaccheaus, TE Dan Arnold, DT Kentavius Street, LB Nicholas Morrow, CB Greedy Williams, S Terrell Edmunds, S Justin Evans.
Lost: QB Gardner Minshew, RB Miles Sanders, OT Andre Dillard, G Isaac Seumalo, DE Robert Quinn, DT Javon Hargrave, DT Ndamukong Suh, DT Linval Joseph, LB T.J. Edwards, LB Kyzir White, S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, S Marcus Epps.
The Eagles had 12 key free agents entering this offseason, all of whom were rated two stars or higher. It seemed like their roster would be obliterated by departures, but Philadelphia kept way more of those free agents than anticipated. Howie Roseman did a great job of retaining Jason Kelce, James Bradberry, Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, and also Darius Slay, who easily could have been a cap casualty.
While the Eagles lost some major players, primarily Isaac Seumalo, T.J. Edwards, and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, they had replacements at the ready for the first two in Cam Jurgens and Nakobe Dean. They went to the open market to fill Gardner-Johnson’s shoes, doing so with Terrell Edmunds, who is coming off a great season in Pittsburgh.
This offseason could have easily been a complete disaster for the Eagles, but thanks to Roseman’s wizardry with the cap, Philadelphia is still in a position to compete for the Super Bowl.
Washington Redskins: C-
Acquired: QB Jacoby Brissett, OT Trent Scott, OT/G Andrew Wylie, G Nick Gates, LB Cody Barton, CB Cameron Dantzler.
Lost: QB Taylor Heinicke, QB Carson Wentz, RB J.D. McKissic, G Trai Turner, G Wes Schweitzer, C Chase Roullier, LB Cole Holcomb, S Bobby McCain.
The Cowboys and Giants were able to improve this offseason, while the Eagles did a good job of treading water. The Redskins, on the other hand, failed to take a step forward. Their best signing was Andrew Wylie, a passable starting tackle who may slide inside to guard. Cody Barton was also acquired, but he’s a downgrade from Cole Holcomb, who was lost to the Steelers.
It seems as though the gap between the Redskins and the other three teams in the NFC East has widened, so this free agency team grade should reflect that.
2023 NFL Free Agent Team Grades: AFC East
Buffalo Bills: B
Acquired: QB Kyle Allen, RB Damien Harris, WR Trent Sherfield, WR Deonte Harty, G David Edwards, G Connor McGovern, DT Poona Ford, S Taylor Rapp.
Lost: QB Case Keenum, RB Devin Singletary, WR Isaiah McKenzie, WR Jamison Crowder, G Rodger Saffold, G Greg Van Roten, LB Tremaine Edmunds.
The Bills did a good job of bolstering their roster this offseason with some under-the-radar acquisitions. The interior offensive line was considered a weakness last year, so the Bills bolstered both guard spots. They managed to upgrade Rodger Saffold and Greg Van Roten into David Edwards and Connor McGovern. The former was an especially crucial signing.
Damien Harris was also obtained to replace Devin Singletary. While this may seem rather insignificant, Harris can function as a goal-line hammer Buffalo sorely lacked last season when it squandered many opportunities in the red zone.
I’d say the Bills have done a decent job this offseason. They didn’t make any splash signings, but they were able to make some nice improvements to their already-stacked roster.
Miami Dolphins: A
Acquired: QB Mike White, WR Braxton Berrios, WR Robbie Anderson, TE Eric Saubert, TE Tyler Kroft, DE/OLB Malik Reed, LB David Long, CB Jalen Ramsey, S DeShon Elliott, P Jake Bailey.
Lost: QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, RB Matt Breida, C Ted Karras, DE Shaq Lawson, DT Davon Godchaux, OLB Kyle Van Noy, OLB Kamu Grugier-Hill, S Bobby McCain, P Matt Haack.
I loved what the Dolphins were able to accomplish this offseason. It all started with the Jalen Ramsey trade, as Miami obtained an extremely talented cornerback or a mere third-round pick. Ramsey will fill a huge need in a secondary that struggled mightily versus the pass last year.
Miami then moved on to free agency where it made some quality signings. DeShon Elliott will be another key member of a much-improved defensive backfield, while David Long will inject some needed talent into the linebacking corps. Mike White will also provide some quality depth behind Tua Tagovailoa, at least until he suffers an injury himself.
There’s no doubt that the Dolphins are better now than they were last year. Perhaps they won’t suffer a late-season collapse again.
New England Patriots: D
Acquired: RB James Robinson, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, OT Riley Reiff, OT Calvin Anderson, TE Mike Gesicki, LB Chris Board, P Corliss Waitman.
Lost: RB Damien Harris, WR Jakobi Meyers, WR Nelson Agholor, TE Jonnu Smith, OT Isaiah Wynn, OT Marcus Cannon, OT Yodny Cajuste, C James Ferentz, S Devin McCourty, P Jake Bailey.
The Patriots had huge needs at receiver and offensive line, yet addressed those holes with some questionable signings. New England overpaid JuJu Smith-Schuster, who has been a constant disappointment throughout his career following a stellar rookie campaign. The offensive line was addressed via Riley Reiff, who is way past his prime.
Outside of that, the Patriots made some fine acquisitions like James Robinson and Mike Gesicki, but there’s no guarantee that they’ll pan out either. With all that said, I have no choice but to grade New England poorly.
New York Jets: INC
Acquired: QB Aaron Rodgers, QB Tim Boyle, WR Allen Lazard, WR Mecole Hardman, WR Randall Cobb, OT Billy Turner, C/G Wes Schweitzer, NT Al Woods, DT Quinton Jefferson, P Thomas Morstead.
Lost: QB Mike White, RB James Robinson, WR Elijah Moore, WR Braxton Berrios, OT George Fant, G Nate Herbig, DT Sheldon Rankins, DT Nathan Shepard, LB Kwon Alexander, S Lamarcus Joyner, K Greg Zuerlein.
The Jets are getting an incomplete grade for now because they have yet to trade for Aaron Rodgers (or another quarterback). It seems certain that New York will make a move for Rodgers, but it remains to be seen what sort of compensation it will relinquish to the Jets.
Aside from the Rodgers situation, the Jets have undergone a mediocre offseason. They overpaid Allen Lazard, but that may have been the price to pique Rodgers’ interest in joining the team. I’m not crazy about Mecole Hardman either, but he wasn’t expensive. I’d rather have Elijah Moore, but Moore was disgruntled, so that trade was unavoidable.
I’ll have an updated grade once the Rodgers trade finally occurs.
2023 NFL Free Agent Team Grades: NFC North
Chicago Bears: A
Acquired: QB Phillip Walker, RB D’Onta Foreman, RB Travis Homer, WR D.J. Moore, TE Robert Tonyan, G Nate Davis, DE/DT Rasheem Green, DT DeMarcus Walker, DT Andrew Billings, LB Tremaine Edmunds, LB T.J. Edwards, LB Dylan Cole.
Lost: RB David Montgomery, WR Equanimeous St. Brown, WR Dante Pettis, OT Riley Reiff, G Michael Schofield, DE Al-Quadin Muhammad, DT Armon Watts, LB Nicholas Morrow.
The Bears entered the offseason with the most cap space in the NFL to spend in free agency, but the most significant move they made was trading for D.J. Moore. Chicago dropped from No. 1 to 9 in the 2023 NFL Draft, acquiring numerous draft choices in addition to Moore. The former Panther receiver will give Justin Fields a true No. 1 receiver, which is something he has lacked thus far in his career.
Wide receiver was just one of many holes on Chicago’s roster. The Bears addressed the offensive line with Nate Davis, who is an excellent guard. The Bears also did well to upgrade the middle of their defense with a pair of talented linebackers, Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards.
Chicago still has a long way to go in upgrading the talent around Fields, but this offseason was a great start.
Detroit Lions: A-
Acquired: RB David Montgomery, WR Marvin Jones, G/C Graham Glasgow, DT Christian Covington, LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin, CB Cameron Sutton, CB Emmanuel Moseley, S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson.
Lost: RB Jamaal Williams, RB D’Andre Swift, RB Justin Jackson, WR D.J. Chark, C/G Evan Brown, DE Austin Bryant, DT Michael Brockers, CB Jeff Okudah, CB Will Harris, CB Mike Hughes, S DeShon Elliott.
Detroit’s defense made huge strides during the 2022 season, but the secondary was still considered a weak point. Thus, it wasn’t a surprise that the team spent most of its resources finding upgrades in the defensive backfield. Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley will provide lots of help at cornerback, while Chauncey Gardner-Johnson will be able to effectively replace DeShon Elliott.
I like what the Lions did this offseason, except for one thing, and that would be the David Montgomery signing. Detroit needed a goal-line hammer to replace Jamaal Williams, and Montgomery can certainly fill Williams’ shoes. However, the Lions gave Montgomery $6 million per season, which is far too much for his talent level. Still, this is not enough for me to downgrade Detroit’s overall free agent grade very much.
Green Bay Packers: MILLEN
Acquired: CB Tarvarius Moore.
Lost: QB Aaron Rodgers, WR Allen Lazard, TE Robert Tonyan, TE Marcedes Lewis, DE/DT Dean Lowry, DT Jarran Reed, S Adrian Amos, K Mason Crosby.
It remains to be seen what the Packers will obtain for Aaron Rodgers. Unless they get a great package of selections from the Jets, they deserve an “F” grade for their free agency period. After all, they signed only one player, Tarvarius Moore, who is just a depth corner. Green Bay lost some talent otherwise and will be worse as a consequence in 2023.
Minnesota Vikings: B-
Acquired: WR Brandon Powell, TE Josh Oliver, DE Marcus Davenport, DE/DT Dean Lowry, LB Troy Reader, CB Byron Murphy, CB Joejuan Williams.
Lost: WR Adam Thielen, TE Irv Smith Jr., DT Dalvin Tomlinson, LB Eric Kendricks, CB Patrick Peterson, CB Cameron Dantzler, CB Duke Shelley, CB Chandon Sullivan.
There are some major names in the “lost” category. The Vikings said goodbye to Adam Thielen, Dalvin Tomlinson, Eric Kendricks, and Patrick Peterson. Some of this is overblown, however. Thielen could no longer get open, so he won’t be missed very much. Kendricks was also a declining player. Peterson played well last year, but the Vikings found a younger and better cornerback in Byron Murphy. Likewise, Dalvin Tomlinson was replaced by Dean Lowry. Marcus Davenport was also a nice addition to the defensive line.
Despite the departed big names, the Vikings had a fine offseason, especially considering that they were in the red to start the spring. They didn’t make a big improvement to their roster, but just treading water has to be considered a win, given the team’s lack of salary cap space.
2023 NFL Free Agent Team Grades: AFC North
Baltimore Ravens: F/MILLEN
Acquired: WR Odell Beckham Jr., WR Nelson Agholor, CB Rock Ya-Sin.
Lost: RB Kenyan Drake, WR Demarcus Robinson, TE Josh Oliver, OT Ja’Wuan James, G Ben Powers, DE/OLB Justin Houston, DE Steven Means, DE Jason Pierre-Paul, DT Calais Campbell, DE/DT Brent Urban, CB Marcus Peters.
The Ravens haven’t signed a single player in free agency besides Nelson Agholor. They lost some major talent like Ben Powers, Calais Campbell and Marcus Peters, though the latter could still be re-signed.
This grade will be an “F” or a Millen. Obviously, a Millen is worse, and Baltimore will earn a Millen if they retain Jackson for the huge, guaranteed contract he wants. If they manage to retain Jackson relatively cheaply or trade him for a pick that includes the No. 4 overall selection, this will just be an “F.”
Cincinnati Bengals: A-
Acquired: OT Orlando Brown, CB Sidney Jones, S Nick Scott.
Lost: QB Brandon Allen, RB Samaje Perine, TE Hayden Hurst, CB Eli Apple, S Jessie Bates, S Vonn Bell, S Tre Flowers.
The Bengals absolutely had to do something about their offensive line, which continued to be a liability last year despite three major signings during the previous offseason. The problem was that one of those new players, La’el Collins, wasn’t able to stay healthy. He struggled mightily when on the field, so he had to be upgraded.
Cincinnati did just that by signing Orlando Brown. The former Chief was signed to a reasonable deal, so that automatically makes the Bengals’ offseason a success. Protecting Joe Burrow will give them a great chance to win the Super Bowl.
The downside to Cincinnati’s offseason was that it lost some key players in the secondary, namely Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell. However, the Bengals had young players waiting to take over for those departed veterans, so they may not be missed very much.
Cleveland Browns: A+
Acquired: QB Joshua Dobbs, WR Elijah Moore, WR Marquise Goodwin, TE Jordan Akins, G Colby Gossett, G Wes Martin, DE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, DT Dalvin Tomlinson, DT Maurice Hurst, DT Trysten Hill, CB Mike Ford, S Juan Thornhill, S Rodney McLeod.
Lost: QB Jacoby Brissett, RB Kareem Hunt, RB D’Ernest Johnson, DE Jadeveon Clowney, DE Chase Winovich, DT Taven Bryan, LB Deion Jones, S John Johnson.
Like Deshaun Watson or not, the Browns had to add some talent around him, namely at receiver, where they sorely lacked depth last year. They also had to bolster their pass rush and retain some key veterans so Watson can have more possessions next year.
The Browns did all of this. They traded for Elijah Moore, who will give Watson a promising tertiary option. Meanwhile, Dalvin Tomlinson and Ogbonnia Okoronkwo figure to be upgrades the defensive line desperately needed. The Browns were also able to re-sign Anthony Walker and then sign Juan Thornhill to really bolster the middle of their defense.
I love what Cleveland was able to accomplish this offseason. If Watson can return to pre-2021 form, this free agency class will allow the Browns to reach the playoffs this season.
Pittsburgh Steelers: B
Acquired: WR Allen Robinson, OT Le’Raven Clark, G Isaac Seumalo, G Nate Herbig, DT Breiden Fehoko, DT Armon Watts, LB Cole Holcomb, LB Elandon Roberts, S Keanu Neal.
Lost: DE/DT Chris Wormley, LB Devin Bush, LB Robert Spillane, LB Myles Jack, CB Cameron Sutton, CB William Jackson, CB Levi Wallace, CB Ahkello Witherspoon, S Terrell Edmunds.
The Steelers typically don’t make a big splash in free agency, but they signed two significant players this offseason. The first was Isaac Seumalo, who will provide a much-needed enormous upgrade to the interior of the offensive line. This will obviously give Kenny Pickett a good chance to make big strides in his second season. The other was Cole Holcomb, a solid, three-down linebacker who will finally give the Steelers a quality player in the middle of their defense.
It wasn’t all positive for the Steelers this offseason, as they lost two key members of their secondary: Cameron Sutton and Terrell Edmunds. I suspect the Steelers will address cornerback and safety early in the 2023 NFL Draft to fill those holes. Thus, once we have a complete picture of Pittsburgh’s offseason, it’s likely that it’ll be deemed a success.
2023 NFL Free Agent Team Grades: NFC South
Atlanta Falcons: A
Acquired: QB Taylor Heinicke, WR Mack Hollins, WR Scotty Miller, TE Jonnu Smith, DE Bud Dupree, DT Calais Campbell, DT David Onyemata, DT Eddie Goldman, CB Jeff Okudah, CB Mike Hughes, S Jessie Bates, S Tre Flowers.
Lost: QB Marcus Mariota, WR Olamide Zaccheaus, TE Parker Hesse, G Elijah Wilkinson, LB Rashaan Evans, CB Casey Hayward, CB Rashad Fenton.
I don’t think there’s any question that the Falcons did a good job of improving their overall roster this offseason. In fact, they may have done enough to put them atop the NFC South, though that’s not exactly an amazing feat.
Still, the Falcons’ defensive line is much better than it was last year, as the additions of Calais Campbell and David Onyemata, as well as the return of Eddie Goldman, will make it so Atlanta is finally not dead last in pressure rate. Meanwhile, Jessie Bates will provide a huge upgrade at safety.
The Falcons still have a lot of work to do in upgrading their roster, and there’s no telling how good Desmond Ridder will be, but Atlanta should be graded highly for making some nice improvements.
Carolina Panthers: D
Acquired: QB Andy Dalton, RB Miles Sanders, WR D.J. Chark, WR Adam Thielen, TE Hayden Hurst, DT Shy Tuttle, DT DeShawn Williams, LB Kamu Grugier-Hill, S Vonn Bell, S Eric Rowe.
Lost: QB Sam Darnold, RB D’Onta Foreman, WR D.J. Moore, DT Matt Ioannidis, LB Cory Littleton, LB Damien Wilson, S Juston Burris.
Someone needs to explain to me what the Panthers are doing. They overpaid for a running back (Miles Sanders), a 33-year-old receiver who can’t get open anymore (Adam Thielen) and a mediocre tight end (Hayden Hurst). Meanwhile, Carolina relinquished D.J. Moore in a trade.
The only good thing about this offseason is that the Panthers were able to trade up to obtain the No. 1 overall pick. They’ll get their pick of the quarterback litter, but that franchise signal-caller will be hurt by not having Moore at his disposal. Instead, his receivers will be the decrepit Thielen and the injury-prone D.J. Chark. This does not seem like a good recipe for success.
New Orleans Saints: F
Acquired: QB Derek Carr, RB Jamaal Williams, WR Bryan Edwards, TE Foster Moreau, OT Storm Norton, DT Khalen Saunders, DT Nathan Shepherd, CB Lonnie Johnson, S Johnathan Abram.
Lost: QB Andy Dalton, RB Mark Ingram, WR Jarvis Landry, WR Marquez Callaway, WR Deonte Harty, DE Marcus Davenport, DE Kaden Ellis, DE/DT Tanoh Kpassagnon, DT David Onyemata, DT Shy Tuttle, DT Kentavius Street, CB Bradley Roby, CB Chris Harris Jr., S Justin Evans, S P.J. Williams, S Daniel Sorensen.
I really hate what the Saints are doing. Their goal should be tanking for a franchise quarterback. They could have done this in 2023 to snatch Caleb Williams or Drake Maye in the 2024 NFL Draft. Instead, they’ve decided to tread water and remain around .500. They could make the playoffs in their incredibly weak division, but they’ll just immediately lose in the playoffs anyway.
This treading of water was shown by the Saints signing Derek Carr and Jamaal Williams, two incredibly mediocre starters. Carr was never able to take the Raiders to the next level, while Williams’ fluky touchdown total is likely to regress to the mean. The Saints otherwise signed pedestrian players, all while losing some key talents like David Onyemata and Marcus Davenport. Furthermore, Alvin Kamara will almost certainly be suspended.
Carr will give the Saints an upgrade at quarterback over Andy Dalton, but the Saints’ Super Bowl chances are still zero percent. This is why they needed to rebuild, but have decided to eschew that strategy yet another year.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: B-
Acquired: QB Baker Mayfield, RB Chase Edmonds, G Matt Feiler, DT Greg Gaines, S Ryan Neal, K Chase McLaughlin.
Lost: QB Tom Brady, RB Leonard Fournette, WR Julio Jones, WR Breshad Perriman, OT Donovan Smith, G Shaq Mason, DE Carl Nassib, DT Akiem Hicks, DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches, CB Sean Murphy-Bunting, S Logan Ryan, S Mike Edwards, S Keanu Neal, K Ryan Succop.
Like the Saints, the Buccaneers needed a hard reset in the wake of losing their franchise quarterback. They made some noise by signing Baker Mayfield, but they’ve done a better job overall of making sure they can land one of Caleb Williams or Drake Maye in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Mayfield might be a hated signing, but there’s nothing wrong with kicking the tires on him. He was a former No. 1 overall pick, after all, so if the Buccaneers can salvage his career, they could pursue other options next April. Still, it’s way more likely that Mayfield fails, and that’s OK, given the talent the team lost this offseason. Tampa Bay won’t be very competitive in 2023, but that seems to be the plan.
2023 NFL Free Agent Team Grades: AFC South
Houston Texans: B+
Acquired: QB Case Keenum, RB Devin Singletary, RB Mike Boone, FB Andrew Beck, WR Robert Woods, WR Noah Brown, WR Steven Sims, TE Dalton Schultz, TE Eric Tomlinson, OT Greg “Mr. Reliable” Little, G Shaq Mason, C Michael Deiter, DT Sheldon Rankins, DT Hassan Ridgeway, LB Denzel Perryman, LB Cory Littleton, LB Jermaine Carter, CB Shaq Griffin, CB Darius Phillips, S Jimmie Ward.
Lost: QB Jeff Driskel, QB Kyle Allen, RB Royce Freeman, WR Brandin Cooks, WR Chris Moore, WR Phillip Dorsett, TE Jordan Akins, TE O.J. Howard, G A.J. Cann, G Justin McCrary, DE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, DE/DT Rasheem Green, LB Blake Cashman, LB Neville Hewitt, LB Kevin Pierre-Louis, CB Tavierre Thomas, S Jonathan Owens.
The Texans have made so many transactions this offseason, it’s difficult to know where to begin. I think the one thing that stands out to me is that they didn’t lose anyone of significance, save for Brandin Cooks. And even that’s not a big loss because the disgruntled Cooks didn’t play very hard for Houston last year.
Most of the players the Texans added aren’t great by any stretch of the imagination, but they are better versions of the players they lost. Scanning from left to right, Devin Singletary will be a better No. 2 running back than Royce Freeman. Robert Woods, presumably the No. 2 receiver next year with the 12th-overall choice likely to be used on a wideout, will be an upgrade over Chris Moore. Dalton Schultz, the best signing of the Texans’ offseason, will be a tremendous red zone weapon for whichever quarterback the Texans select at No. 2 overall. Shaq Mason isn’t the blocker he once was, but he’ll do a better job than A.J. Cann.
Defensively, the Texans’ top signing was Denzel Perryman, who will provide his usual great run support to make sure Houston isn’t gashed by opposing ground attacks again. Jimmie Ward will help in the secondary, provided he can stay healthy for a change.
It’s been a long time since I’ve said this, but I think the Texans did a solid job this offseason. They still have a poor overall roster, but they’ll be more competitive this upcoming season.
Indianapolis Colts: D-
Acquired: QB Gardner Minshew, WR Isaiah McKenzie, TE Pharaoh Brown, DE Samson Ebukam, K Matt Gay.
Lost: QB Matt Ryan, WR Parris Campbell, OT Dennis Kelly, OT Matt Pryor, DE Yannick Ngakoue, LB Bobby Okereke, CB Stephon Gilmore, CB Brandon Facyson, S Rodney McLeod, K Chase McLaughlin, P Matt Haack.
I can’t say the Colts have enjoyed a positive offseason. They lost their No. 1 cornerback, Stephon Gilmore, and they signed four pedestrian free agents: a backup quarterback (Gardner Minshew), a mediocre-at-best slot receiver (Isaiah McKenzie), a rotational edge rusher (Samson Ebukam) and a kicker (Matt Gay).
Making matters worse, the Colts overpaid Gay by a large margin. I’m sure his kicking abilities will come in handy when it’s Week 4, and the Colts are trying desperately to improve to 4-9.
Perhaps the greatest mistake Indianapolis made this offseason was not trading up to No. 1 in the 2023 NFL Draft. As a result, the Colts will be stuck with the third- or fourth-best quarterback prospect in the class. Indianapolis could trade for Lamar Jackson, and if that happens, I’ll re-grade the team’s offseason.
Jacksonville Jaguars: D
Acquired: RB D’Ernest Johnson, OT Josh Wells.
Lost: WR Marvin Jones, TE Dan Arnold, OT Jawaan Taylor, DE Arden Key, DE Dawuane Smoot, CB Shaq Griffin.
Jacksonville spent so much money last year that it was going to be difficult to pay for players once again. In fact, the team signed only one player, D’Ernest Johnson. I liked the move, as Johnson has shown promise and can be a solid backup behind Travis Etienne.
Otherwise, the Jaguars did nothing. They were hurt by a couple of departures, namely Jawaan Taylor, so Jacksonville will need to address tackle in addition to its other needs. That’s not ideal for a team that will be trying to take the next step in 2023.
Tennessee Titans: C
Acquired: WR Chris Moore, OT Andre Dillard, DE Arden Key, LB Azeez Al-Shaair, LB Ben Niemann, LB Luke Gifford, CB Sean Murphy-Bunting.
Lost: QB Joshua Dobbs, RB Dontrell Hilliard, WR Robert Woods, TE Austin Hooper, OT Taylor Lewan, G Nate Davis, C Ben Jones, C Corey Levin, DE Bud Dupree, DE Tarell Basham, DT DeMarcus Walker, LB David Long, LB Zach Cunningham, S Andrew Adams, K Randy Bullock.
Are the Titans rebuilding or not? Based on their decision to allow three key offensive linemen to walk – Taylor Lewan, Nate Davis, Ben Jones – it would certainly seem so. But if that were the case, what’s with the Sean Murphy-Bunting signing? And what are Derrick Henry, Ryan Tannehill, and Kevin Byard still doing on the roster? All three will be too old by the time Tennessee fully reloads with a new group for the future.
There’s still time for the Titans to move these players. Meanwhile, there’s no doubt that the Titans have gotten worse. They will struggle to block next year, while their defense won’t be as good after losing some talent. The Titans could have one of the worst records in the NFL next year, and I’d say that’s part of the plan, except we haven’t gotten confirmation about that yet. This is what’s making Tennessee so difficult to grade.
2023 NFL Free Agent Team Grades: NFC West
Arizona Cardinals: C
Acquired: QB Jeff Driskel, OT Dennis Daley, G/C Hjalte Froholdt, DT L.J. Collier, DT Kevin Strong, LB Kyzir White, LB Josh Woods, CB Rashad Fenton.
Lost: RB Darrel Williams, WR DeAndre Hopkins*, WR Robbie Anderson, WR A.J. Green, TE Maxx Williams, G Justin Pugh, G Max Garcia, G Cody Ford, C Rodney Hudson, C Billy Price, DE/DT Zach Allen, DT Trysten Hill, DE/OLB Markus Golden, LB Ben Niemann, LB Tanner Vallejo, CB Byron Murphy, CB Antonio Hamilton, P Andy Lee.
Only one player the Cardinals added this offseason was graded higher than 1.5 stars. That would be two-star linebacker Kyzir White, who was a solid signing. Otherwise, Arizona didn’t accomplish much this spring.
Furthermore, Arizona lost some key defenders in Zach Allen and Byron Murphy. DeAndre Hopkins figures to be dealt soon as well. The team didn’t even come close to replacing these three stars, so it’ll have to address those areas in the NFL Draft. The problem is that the Cardinals already had a ton of needs.
To be fair, the Cardinals know they’re not going to be competitive in 2023 because Kyler Murray will be recovering from a torn ACL. It’s actually in Arizona’s best interest to tank for the 2024 NFL Draft, which the team did well, even though that may not have been the official plan.
Los Angeles Rams: D-
Acquired: None.
Lost: QB Baker Mayfield, WR Allen Robinson, G David Edwards, DT Greg Gaines, DT A’Shawn Robinson, DE/OLB Leonard Floyd, LB Bobby Wagner, CB Jalen Ramsey, CB Troy Hill, S Nick Scott, S David Long, K Matt Gay, P Riley Dixon.
The Rams didn’t sign a single free agent because they were extremely strapped for cash entering free agency. They lost some key players as well, including some key members of their defense like Jalen Ramsey and Bobby Wagner. David Edwards, meanwhile, was a defensive departure the Rams couldn’t exactly afford.
Make no mistake, this was a truly rough offseason for the Rams. The only positive is that they didn’t overpay for an overrated player, so at least that’s something.
San Francisco 49ers: C
Acquired: QB Sam Darnold, QB Brandon Allen, WR Chris Conley, OT Matt Pryor, C Jon Feliciano, DE Clelin Ferrell, DT Javon Hargrave, CB Isaiah Oliver, K Zane Gonzalez.
Lost: QB Jimmy Garoppolo, OT Mike McGlinchey, C Jake Brendel, DE Samson Ebukam, DE Charles Omenihu, DT Maurice Hurst, DT Hassan Ridgeway, LB Azeez Al-Shaair, CB Jason Verrett, CB Emmanuel Moseley, S Jimmie Ward, K Robbie Gould.
The 49ers are still the best team in the NFC West, but they suffered some key departures this offseason. They lost some key depth in their front seven, but more importantly, they said goodbye to some talented defensive backs, as well as stellar right tackle Mike McGlinchey.
San Francisco didn’t find viable replacements on the open market. The one impactful signing they made was acquiring Javon Hargrave to bolster the interior of their defensive line, but they now have holes on their roster that they didn’t possess last year. This figures to hurt them as they contend with the other top teams in the conference.
Seattle Seahawks: B
Acquired: G/C Evan Brown, DE Mario Edwards, DT Dre’Mont Jones, DT Jarran Reed, LB Bobby Wagner, LB Devin Bush, S Julian Love.
Lost: RB Rashaad Penny, RB Travis Homer, WR Marquise Goodwin, G Gabe Jackson, C Austin Blythe, DT Shelby Harris, DT L.J. Collier, DT Quinton Jefferson, NT Poona Ford, NT Al Woods, DE/OLB Bruce Irvin, LB Cody Ford, CB Artie Burns, CB Justin Coleman, S Ryan Neal, S Johnathan Abram.
The Seahawks seem to have enjoyed the best free agency period of every team in the NFC West. They made some key signings to improve the offensive line and front seven. Evan Brown was added to replace the retired Austin Blythe, which seems like an upgrade. However, the big signings were Dre’Mont Jones and Bobby Wagner to bolster the middle of the defense. Wagner is old, but happens to be coming off a great year. He’s obviously familiar with the Seahawks’ scheme, so he’ll have an easy transition back to Seattle.
It also should be noted that the Seahawks didn’t lose anyone of significance that they didn’t replace. Blythe, some defensive lineman, and linebacker Cody Barton all departed, but Seattle found substitutes, most of whom are upgrades.
I don’t think the Seahawks did enough to overtake the 49ers in the division, but they certainly closed the gap. They should be graded accordingly.
2023 NFL Free Agent Team Grades: AFC West
Denver Broncos: A+
Acquired: QB Jarrett Stidham, RB Tony Jones, FB Mike Burton, WR Marquez Callaway, TE Chris Manhertz, OT Mike McGlinchey, G Ben Powers, C Kyle Fuller, DE/DT Zach Allen, P Riley Dixon.
Lost: RB Latavius Murray, RB Chase Edmonds, RB Mike Boone, FB Andrew Beck, TE Eric Saubert, OT Billy Turner, OT Cameron Fleming, OT Calvin Anderson, G Dalton Risner, G Tom Compton, C/G Graham Glasgow, DT Dre’Mont Jones, DT DeShawn Williams, DE/OLB Jacob Martin, CB Ronald Darby.
If you ignore a potential decline, there are two reasons why Russell Wilson was a huge disappointment last year. The first was the coaching. It’s no coincidence that Wilson performed better after Hackett was fired, albeit in a small sample size. The second was the poor offensive line play. Denver couldn’t protect Wilson at all, which created huge problems against teams capable of rushing the quarterback effectively.
It appears as though Denver fixed both problems. Sean Payton will be a huge upgrade over Hackett, while a couple of offensive linemen were signed to improve the blocking. Mike McGlinchey and Ben Powers were outstanding signings and will give Wilson a fighting chance in 2023.
The Broncos also did a good job of bolstering their defensive front, which had issues against the run last year. Zach Allen was signed to help fortify the group.
I love what Denver did this offseason. It deserves an A+. Now, there are no more excuses for Wilson.
Kansas City Chiefs: C+
Acquired: QB Blaine Gabbert, WR Richie James, OT Jawaan Taylor, OT Donovan Smith, DE Charles Omenihu, DT Byron Cowart, LB Drue Tranquill, S Mike Edwards.
Lost: QB Chad Henne, RB Ronald Jones, FB Michael Burton, WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR Mecole Hardman, OT Orlando Brown, OT Andrew Wylie, DE Carlos Dunlap, DT Khalen Saunders, NT Derrick Nnadi, S Juan Thornhill.
Tyreek Hill’s departure certainly didn’t harm the Chiefs, but perhaps the loss of their two tackles will. Patrick Mahomes struggled with pressure during his Super Bowl loss to the Buccaneers, and he could be in store for a similar fate if Jawaan Taylor doesn’t serve as a viable replacement for Orlando Brown. Taylor seems like a downgrade, but Andy Reid has a keen eye for offensive line talent, so perhaps he’ll prove his detractors wrong once again. Still, the Chiefs have only filled one offensive line hole.
Aside from the offensive line drama, the Chiefs didn’t experience many changes aside from the Juan Thornhill departure. Kansas City signed Mike Edwards to compensate for this, but Edwards isn’t as good as Thornhill. Safety is another position the Chiefs will have to address in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Overall, a “C” grade seems right. The Chiefs aren’t as good on paper as they were last year, but if they draft well, they can get back to that level.
Las Vegas Raiders: C-
Acquired: QB Jimmy Garoppolo, QB Brian Hoyer, WR Jakobi Meyers, WR DeAndre Carter, WR Phillip Dorsett, WR Cam Sims, TE Austin Hooper, DT John Jenkins, LB Robert Spillane, CB Duke Shelley, CB Brandon Facyson, S Marcus Epps, S David Long.
Lost: QB Jarrett Stidham, WR Mack Hollins, TE Darren Waller, TE Foster Moreau, OT Jermaine Eluemunor, DE/OLB Jordan Jenkins, DE Clelin Ferrell, DT Andrew Billings, LB Denzel Perryman, LB Jayon Brown, CB Rock Ya-Sin, CB Sidney Jones, S Duron Harmon.
Like the Saints, the Raiders are a team that probably should be tanking for a franchise quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft. Perhaps things would be different if they were in another division, but to compete with the Chiefs and the Chargers, they need to have an excellent signal-caller and a stacked roster. The Raiders have a solid team, but they’re not in a position to contend for the AFC West crown.
The Raiders signed Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason, but he’s just a game manager. Jakobi Meyers was brought in as a familiar piece in Josh McDaniels’ offense, but he’s just replacing Darren Waller’s production. Meanwhile, the Raiders lost some key players like Denzel Perryman and Rock Ya-Sin. Las Vegas was terrible against the run when Perryman wasn’t on the field last year, so that bodes poorly heading into 2023.
It seems as though the Raiders will be worse in 2023, based on what they did in free agency. It’s not a huge downgrade overall, but the Raiders needed a much better offseason to stay within distance of the Chiefs and Chargers.
San Angeles Chargers: C-
Acquired: LB Eric Kendricks.
Lost: WR DeAndre Carter, OT Storm Norton, G Matt Feiler, DT Christian Covington, OLB Kyle Van Noy, LB Drue Tranquill, CB Bryce Callahan, S Nasir Adderley.
The Chargers’ most significant move in free agency isn’t listed because it was neither an acquisition nor a loss. It was a re-signing, as Trey Pipkins received a 3-year, $21.75 million deal. This was a huge overpay and a very strange move because it was clear that the Chargers needed an upgrade over him at right tackle.
Aside from retaining Pipkins, the Chargers signed Eric Kendricks, who will be looking to rebound from last year’s poor production. Kendricks used to be one of the better off-ball linebackers in the NFL, but it appears as though age has sapped his talents. Still, he could bounce back and perform well in 2023. That’ll be necessary for the Chargers to replace their top lost free agent, Drue Tranquill.
The Chargers can’t be graded favorably, as they overpaid for a pedestrian blocker and signed only one player. That said, if Kendricks pans out, the team might have a chance to win in the playoffs next year.
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