Top 100 | QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K/P | FA Grades | FA Team Grades | FA Rumors
I’ll list the good and bad moves made during the trade deadline and in free agency on this page.
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March 15 Updates
Patriots re-sign S Devin McCourty (2 years, $23 million): A+ Grade
The Patriots are getting a massive hometown discount with this signing. Devin McCourty is one of the top safeties in the NFL, so he deserved way more money than this. Getting him back for $23 million over two years is a steal.
The one concern with McCourty is his age, as he turns 33 prior to the start of the season. However, McCourty was still a Pro Bowl-level performer in 2019, and safeties tend to play well into their mid-30s, so I don’t expect too much of a decline from him.
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Texans re-sign CB Bradley Roby (3 years, $36 million): B Grade
Bradley Roby has been one of the most inconsistent players in the NFL over the previous half decade. He played well in 2015, struggled the year after, bounced back at a high level in 2017, then performed poorly once again the following season. He signed a 1-year “prove it” deal ahead of the 2019 campaign and played very well after returning from injury. The Texans saw enough from him to give him a contract worth $12 million per season.
I’m fine with this deal. Roby is a talented player with upside. He can struggle at times, but when he’s on an upswing, he can perform on a very high level. The Texans have severe cornerback issues outside of Roby, and they have tons of money available, so it makes sense to re-sign him for this sort of contract.
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Titans re-sign QB Ryan Tannehill (4 years, $118 million; $62 million guaranteed): D- Grade
The Wuhan Coronavirus is an upper respiratory illness, so it doesn’t affect the brain, right? If it did, I could understand why the Titans gave Ryan Tannehill this contract. Otherwise, I have no good explanation for this.
Why haven’t the Titans learned from mistakes other teams have made? Several franchises have paid a high price for giving non-elite quarterbacks big-money deals. The Lions with Matthew Stafford, the Falcons with Matt Ryan and the Ravens with Joe Flacco are just three of many examples. The thing is, Stafford, Ryan and Flacco were all better quarterbacks when they signed their contracts than Tannehill is at the moment. Tannehill did a good job operating in Tennessee’s run-first offense last year, but he’s just a game manager with below-average throwing talent. He was an upgrade over Marcus Mariota, but that doesn’t mean that he deserves a contract that’ll pay him $62 million in guarantees, especially when there’s a clear upgrade in Tom Brady available!
I was very close to giving this an “F” grade. You could easily make the case for it, but the continuity is the one good aspect of this deal. Still, this contract will destroy Tennessee’s cap situation in the near future.
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Colts re-sign OT Anthony Castonzo (2 years, $33 million): A Grade
This is great news for the Colts. There was chatter that Anthony Castonzo would retire this offseason, which would have created a huge void at left tackle. Luckily for Indianapolis, Castonzo has decided to return to the team for at least two more years.
Not only is this a positive turn of events, it’s also a great deal. Castonzo getting $16.5 million per year may seem like a lot, but this contract is for just two seasons. The Colts aren’t putting themselves into a bad situation because they won’t be stuck with overpaying Castonzo in the event of an unforeseen decline. Instead, they’ll keep one of the better left tackles at low risk, which means this signing is definitely worth an “A” grade.
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March 14 Updates
Bears re-sign LB Danny Trevathan (3 years, $21.75 million): C+ Grade
Danny Trevathan was an outstanding acquisition by the Bears four years ago, as he was one of the major components to Denver’s Super Bowl-winning defense. Trevathan played similarly in 2018 when the upstart Bears made the playoffs and were a double-doinked kick away from advancing to the second round.
That said, I’m not too high on this re-signing. Trevathan turns 30 in 10 days, so the Bears are paying a bit on past production. That production wasn’t always available either, as Trevathan has played more than 12 games just once during his time in Chicago. He has missed 18 contests the past four seasons, and his injury rate can only rise as he enters his 30s.
The money per year on this deal isn’t terrible, so I’m not going to give this a terrible grade. However, going above a C+ seems like a mistake as well. Perhaps the Bears should have focused on re-signing Nick Kwiatkoski instead.
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March 12 Updates
Bills re-sign G Quinton Spain (3 years, $15 million): C Grade
I initially couldn’t decide between a C+ and a “C” grade for this signing. Quinton Spain is a pretty pedestrian guard. He’s not terrible, but he’s not very good either. He doesn’t deserve $5 million per season.
That said, I think it’s important for offensive lines to have continuity. Keeping the unit together is for the best, so I won’t give Buffalo too low of a grade for this contract. It’s not an egregious sum, so even though it’s an overpay, I’d say a “C” is warranted.
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March 10 Updates
Texans re-sign K Ka’imi Fairbairn (4 years, $17.65 million; $9 million guaranteed): C Grade
I gave the Packers and Patriots B+ grades for re-signing Mason Crosby and Stephen Gostkowski, respectively. Each kicker received a contract worth a bit more than $4 million per season. The Texans have given Ka’imi Fairbairn a similar contract in regard to money per season, and yet this grade must be substantially worse than what Green Bay and New England both earned.
There are two reasons for this. One, this deal is longer than the 3- and 2-year pacts Crosby and Gostkowski received. It also contains $9 million guaranteed, which seems like too much money for a kicker. Two, Fairbairn isn’t as good as Crosby or Gostkowski. Fairbairn is a solid kicker, but he’s not worth this sort of money; he missed five extra points in 2019.
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March 9 Updates
Bills sign CB Josh Norman (1 year, $6 million): B Grade
I’d say $6 million is way more than what I would’ve given Josh Norman, based on his play over the past couple of seasons. Norman was pretty mediocre in 2018, and then downright awful last year. He was one of the worst cornerbacks in 2019. He was so atrocious that he was benched late in the season. Norman turned 32 in December, so his decline wasn’t much of a surprise.
Though $6 million is too much money, I don’t hate this signing. This move comes with minimal risk because it’s for one season. Also, it’s important to note that Norman played some of his best football under Sean McDermott when the two were together in Carolina. Norman knows the system, so there won’t be any sort of transitional period. Thus, it’s possible that he rebounds and at least becomes mediocre again. If so, this signing will be worth it, as Norman will provide valuable depth in that scenario.
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March 6 Updates
Chargers re-sign RB Austin Ekeler (4 years, $24.5 million; $15 million guaranteed): B Grade
The Chargers apparently didn’t listen to our video podcast from this week where Kenny said that Austin Ekeler is a candidate for major statistical regression…
I agreed with Kenny, but only because Ekeler won’t have Philip Rivers as his quarterback next year. I like Ekeler more than Kenny does, as I think he’s a very talented receiver out of the backfield. Ekeler caught 92 passes for 993 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in 2019.
This may seem like a lot of money for a running back who can’t handle a full workload because of his stature. That’s definitely a problem with this deal, but Ekeler is such a valuable part of the passing game. His presence will help the development of Justin Herbert or Tua Tagovailoa, so that has to be factored into this grade.
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Feb. 22 Updates
Packers re-sign K Mason Crosby (3 years, $12.9 million): B+ Grade
I recently gave the Patriots a B+ for re-signing Stephen Gostkowski to a 2-year, $8.5 million contract. Mason Crosby, like Gostkowski, is an excellent kicker, and they both happen to be the same age. They’ll both earn about the same about per year, so the two deals should be graded similarly.
It should be noted that this contract is front-loaded, as $6 million will be given to Crosby in the first year. This is not a surprise, given that the new CBA will be signed soon.
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Feb. 18 Updates
Seahawks sign TE Greg Olsen (1 year, $7 million): C- Grade
Of all the places Greg Olsen visited after being released by the Panthers, Seattle seemed like the worst-possible destination. The Seahawks have two younger and better options at the position in Will Dissly and Jacob Hollister, so the 35-year-old Olsen is arguably now the third-best tight end on Seattle’s roster.
Furthermore, I don’t understand why the Seahawks are paying Olsen $7 million to play for them in 2020. Olsen looked close to done this past season, thriving only in matchups where the opposition struggled mightily to cover tight ends. Olsen will almost certainly be worse at 35 than he was at 34, so why the $7 million, especially when he doesn’t fill a need?
The only positive I can see with this signing is that Olsen will be a positive veteran presence in the locker room, which is not something that should be dismissed. Despite that, however, I’m mostly opposed to this signing.
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Cardinals re-sign OT D.J. Humphries (3 years, $45 million; $29 million guaranteed): B- Grade
The prospect of D.J. Humphries receiving $29 million on a contract paying out $15 million per season would’ve been laughable a year ago. Humphries was a constantly injured player who was never on the field for all 16 games throughout his young career. He was teetering on the verge of bust candidacy as a former first-round pick.
Much has changed in the past 12 months. Humphries finally played a whole year, and while he wasn’t dominant, he was a solid presence on an otherwise pedestrian Arizona offensive line. Just 26, Humphries can continue to improve his play in the coming seasons.
That said, there’s a small sample size of Humphries playing at a high level and staying healthy. He could just as easily revert to the injury-prone sub-par tackle we’ve seen in the past in 2020. I understand why the Cardinals re-signed him – protecting Kyler Murray is paramount – but this contract comes with substantial risk.
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Feb. 10 Updates
Ravens re-sign S Chuck Clark (3 years, $16 million; $10 million guaranteed): A+ Grade
I usually reserve A+ grades for great bargains, and that’s exactly what this is. I don’t know how the Ravens did it, but they managed to re-sign one of their newer talented defensive players to a very cheap contract.
Chuck Clark was a part-time player prior to Week 6. His role increased when Tony Jefferson tore his ACL, and the Ravens didn’t suffer declined play when that happened. Clark played very well down the stretch to help Baltimore reach a 14-2 record. He’s only 25 (as of April), so I expect him to continue to improve.
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Jan. 3 Updates
Bears re-sign S Eddie Jackson (4 years, $58.4 million; $33 million guaranteed): B- Grade
The Bears allowed Adrian Amos to get away, so they were focused on keeping Eddie Jackson around for the long term. They signed him to a contract that makes him the highest-paid safety per a yearly average.
Jackson is a fantastic play-maker, but I don’t think he’s great enough to be the highest-paid safety in the NFL. This is a slight overpay, but definitely not an egregious one, as Jackson is a core player in Chicago’s defense.
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Dec. 30 Updates
Raiders re-sign G Richie Incognito (2 years, $14 million; $6.35 million guaranteed): A- Grade
Richie Incognito was a spectacular addition to the Raiders’ offensive line. He performed on a Pro Bowl level, which was shocking, considering that he was out of the NFL when Oakland signed him.
The Raiders did well to re-sign Incognito at a very cheap price. The one concern I have is that Incognito is 37 (as of July), so he could regress in the near future. However, with just $6.35 million guaranteed, there’s not much of a downside.
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Bengals re-sign C Trey Hopkins (3 years, $20.4 million; $4.5 million guaranteed): C Grade
I’ve begun the process of creating my 2020 NFL Free Agent Rankings. I rated Bengals center Trey Hopkins as a 1.5-star player, so you have to believe that I was shocked to see him receive a contract worth $20 million.
Hopkins is a backup-caliber center, but was forced into action this past season due to mass injuries on the offensive line. Hopkins wasn’t horrible, but he didn’t perform well either. I don’t understand why the Bengals believed that he was worth a deal that pays nearly $7 million per year.
That said, something that helps this signing is that there are only $4.5 million in guarantees, so the Bengals can dump Hopkins any time they please without any sort of ramifications. Thus, I won’t grade this move very poorly.
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Dec. 28 Updates
Ravens re-sign CB Marcus Peters (3 years, $42 million; $32 million guaranteed): A Grade
Marcus Peters struggled with the Rams earlier in 2019, but he has been performing on an All-Pro level ever since being traded to Baltimore. The Ravens have rewarded him with a contract worth $32 million guaranteed.
I usually designate “A” grades for great bargains. I wouldn’t say this constitutes as one because Peters is being paid fairly, but I love the terms of this deal. It’s only a 3-year contract, so the Ravens aren’t risking much by signing him to this pact. If Peters regresses, the Ravens won’t be on the hook for a huge liability.
Besides, there’s so much upside. It seems like Peters has been in the NFL for a long time, but he’ll turn just 27 in January. He could still improve upon his game, which is scary, given how well he has played for his newest team.
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Texans re-sign DE/OLB Whitney Mercilus (4 years, $53.5 million; $28.5 million guaranteed): B- Grade
The Texans don’t have a general manager, so some of their personnel moves can be explained by that. The power-hungry Bill O’Brien has made some dubious decisions since firing his entire front office. This isn’t exactly as bad as some of his other moves, but this isn’t a good one either.
Whitney Mercilus is having a strong season, but I’m not sure it warrants this sort of money. Mercilus has been banged up lately as well, so he comes with some risk, especially with the fact that he’ll turn 30 this summer. The Texans could be paying on past production, a concept I’m sure O’Brien doesn’t quite understand.
Still, this isn’t a terrible move, as Mercilus will continue to be a key contributor in Houston’s defense, at least for the next couple of years.
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Dec. 24 Updates
Seahawks sign RB Marshawn Lynch: A Grade
The Seahawks lost Chris Carson, Rashaad Penny and C.J. Prosise over the past several weeks, so they were desperate for a solution at running back. They could’ve gone with C.J. Anderson or Robert Turbin, but they decided to bring back an old, long-time friend instead.
I like this signing, and not just because of the ‘Member Berries it’ll provide for Seahawk fans. Marshawn Lynch played relatively well last year in a bad situation, averaging 4.2 yards per carry behind an injury-ravaged Oakland offensive line. Assuming Lynch is in shape – the Seahawks likely wouldn’t have signed him otherwise – Lynch could be just as productive this season.
Furthermore, Lynch provides the Seahawks with some respectability in the backfield. Lynch is someone opposing defenses will feel as though they’ll need to account for, which will help ease some of the pressure Russell Wilson will see in the wake of Duane Brown’s injury.
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Dec. 16 Updates
Saints claim CB Janoris Jenkins: A+ Grade
The Saints struck out with one former Giant cornerback, so why not try another? Eli Apple has been a dismal addition to New Orleans’ secondary, but the Saints will be hoping for better luck with Janoris Jenkins.
Jenkins had struggled mightily earlier in the season, but improved in recent weeks prior to his release. The Giants got rid of Jenkins because he said some bad things on Twitter, but the Saints shouldn’t care about that because they’re in the business of potentially winning a Super Bowl this year.
Jenkins, at the very least, should be a big upgrade over Apple, and he should be more motivated to play with a winning organization rather than the Giants. This is a great addition without much downside, so it should be graded appropriately.
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Chiefs claim DE/OLB Terrell Suggs: A+ Grade
Terrell Suggs said he would threaten to not report to his new team if the Ravens didn’t claim him, so it’ll be interesting to see if he goes back on his word.
Either way, this is a great move for the Chiefs. If Suggs doesn’t report, Kansas City will have blocked their primary threat in the AFC from having a defensive upgrade. If Suggs recognizes he can win a Super Bowl in Kansas City, he’ll help his new team’s pass rush by playing about 20 or so snaps per game and putting heat on Lamar Jackson and Tom Brady. Suggs potentially having some inside info on Jackson can’t be ignored either.
No matter what happens, Kansas City made a terrific decision by claiming Suggs. This is worth an A+ grade.
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Dec. 13 Updates
Dolphins re-sign WR DeVante Parker (4 years, $40 million): C+ Grade
This is a tough grade. Based on DeVante Parker’s performance this year, this would be worth an “A” grade at the very least. Parker has been dominant at times in 2019, finally becoming the first-round receiver the Dolphins expected he would be when they selected him in the opening frame of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Parker, however, had been a horrible disappointment prior to 2019. He failed to log more than 744 yards in any year before this season. He was often lethargic and even quit on his team. However, the case can be made that this was all Adam Gase’s fault. Gase has proven to be an atrocious coach, so it’s not a surprise that Parker is thriving under a new staff.
I’ve decided to split the difference and give the Dolphins a C+. Parker could easily regress and become terrible again, but this contract could also be seen as a great value in a year or two.
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Dec. 8 Updates
Panthers re-sign LB Shaq Thompson (4 years, $54.2 million; $28 million guaranteed): D Grade
Uhh… what? Did anyone in Carolina’s front office not watch the Redskins game? Derrius Guice greatly embarrassed Thompson in that game, yet the Panthers are awarding Thompson for his dreadful performance with a huge contract. The timing of this is weird.
Besides, this is a major overpay. Thompson is a fine linebacker, but he’s not very good in run support. He’s also not elite in coverage. For a 4-year deal, Thompson should’ve gotten a contract worth around $28 million overall; not $28 million guaranteed!
The one silver lining is that Thompson is still young (25) and has tons of upside, so he could improve his game. However, we haven’t seen any proof that he’s worthy of this sort of money.
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Dec. 7 Updates
Colts re-sign TE Jack Doyle (3 years, $21 million): C+ Grade
Jack Doyle is a nice fantasy player, but this seems like a lot of money for him. Doyle has never topped 700 receiving yards or five touchdowns in a season. Some of his stats in the past were enhanced by Andrew Luck. Furthermore, he’s turning 30 this offseason, so he might suffer a decline soon.
I don’t think this is a horrible deal by any means because Doyle is an important member of Indianapolis’ roster, but the Colts are overpaying for their tight end.
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Eagles re-sign OT Lane Johnson (4 years, $72 million; $54.6 million guaranteed): B+ Grade
This happened the Sunday after Thanksgiving, but I’m just getting to this now. Because this signing occurred on a Sunday, I just missed it with all of the games going on. Better late than never, though!
This contract makes Johnson the highest-paid offensive lineman on a per-year and guaranteed basis. That may seem odd because Johnson is a right tackle, but he’s the best player at his position in the NFL. We also know his importance; Carson Wentz is far worse when Johnson can’t take the field. Wentz has struggled without Johnson throughout his young career, so keeping his best blocker around is a good move.
I can’t grade this in the “A” range because this is not a bargain, by any means. However, this re-signing is very important for Philadelphia, so I’m grading this as a B+.
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Nov. 28 Updates
Eagles re-sign K Jake Elliott (5 years, $21 million; $10.5 million guaranteed): B Grade
I usually grade kicker re-signings poorly because teams often overpay for players at that position. Kickers tend to get hot, receive a big contract, then choke under pressure and ultimately get cut. Then, they take some time off and reemerge, and the cycle begins again.
Jake Elliott, however, has been very clutch for the Eagles. His 61-yard field goal propelled Philadelphia on its Super Bowl run, and he has been a perfect 14-of-14 this year. I’m fine with the Eagles making him a top-five-paid kicker, but I wouldn’t grade this in the “A” range either.
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Nov. 16 Updates
Dolphins re-sign WR Allen Hurns (2 years, $8 million; $3.27 million guaranteed): D Grade
I don’t understand this signing. Allen Hurns is either the third or fourth receiver on the Dolphins, and he has caught either one or two passes in all but one game this year. He’s basically a replacement-level receiver at this stage of his career, so why did the Dolphins believe that they had to give him any guaranteed money, let alone more than $3 million.
This signing can’t be graded favorably. Even at $3.27 million guaranteed, this is a major overpay.
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Eagles re-sign RB Jay Ajayi: A Grade
The Eagles haven’t had the best injury luck this season. They had numerous players hurt earlier in the year, particularly in losses to the Falcons and Lions. Things were getting better recently, but numerous players will be out once again versus New England. This likely includes Jordan Howard, who has not been cleared for contact because of a stinger.
Jay Ajayi is a great replacement for Howard. Ajayi is very talented and still young (26), so he should be able to play well in his second stint with the Eagles. He obviously knows the playbook, so he’ll be able to fit in right away. Ajayi’s problems have been his health – it’s why he’s been a free agent for so long – but he’s healthy at the moment, which makes him a great option right now as a complement for Miles Sanders.
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Nov. 11 Updates
Eagles re-sign G Brandon Brooks (4 years, $54.2 million; $30 million guaranteed): B Grade
Brandon Brooks is one of the top guards in the NFL, and based on his talent level alone, he’s worth this sort of contract. The Eagles have a great offensive line when everyone is healthy, and Brooks is a major reason why.
However, there are two potential issues with this deal. First, Brooks turns 31 this offseason. Interior linemen can usually play well into their mid-30s, so this may not be a problem. Still, it’s a slight worry. And second, Brooks previously dealt with anxiety issues. Brooks has been better in that regard, but that’s something that could always resurface.
Despite those two concerns, I’m still high enough on this contract to give it a “B.” It’s not a great value signing, but it was a quality and necessary move for the Eagles to make.
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Nov. 8 Updates
Browns re-sign C J.C. Tretter (3 years, $32.5 million; $23 million guaranteed): B Grade
The Browns don’t have a quality offensive line, but don’t blame J.C. Tretter. He’s a solid center and has yet to turn 30. It’s important for the Browns to retain their few better blockers, so this signing can’t be graded poorly.
That said, it’s not an “A” either, as this isn’t much of a bargain. I’d say the price is about right, perhaps even a bit high for Tretter, but I’m all for retaining him.
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Nov. 1 Updates
Seahawks claim WR Josh Gordon: A Grade
The Patriots waived Josh Gordon because they didn’t want to deal with him anymore, prompting the Seahawks to claim him. It’s possible that Gordon won’t play very much for the Seahawks because he may do something utterly horrible like smoke weed. The NFL’s Saudi Arabian dict- I mean, commissioner, will likely suspend Gordon years for this.
I like this move, however. The Seahawks aren’t risking anything, and they need help across from D.K. Metcalf. Neither David Moore nor Jaron Brown are getting it done, and Gordon figures to be a big upgrade – if he manages to stay out of trouble.
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Sept. 14 Updates
Broncos re-sign FB Andy Janovich (3 years, $5.7 million): A Grade
Have you noticed that the Broncos have run the ball better in recent weeks? Andy Janovich is a reason for that. Janovich missed the first three games of this season with a strained pec. He returned Week 4 and has really bolstered the rushing attack since.
Janovich is one of the better run-blocking fullbacks in the NFL. With that in mind, he seems like a great bargain at less than $2 million per year.
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Sept. 10 Updates
Texans re-sign C Nick Martin (3 years, $33 million; $18.35 million guaranteed): B- Grade
Every time the Texans do something these days, I expect that I’ll have to criticize it. Can you blame me? They’ve made some dubious moves of late. This one isn’t terrible, though I can’t say it’s not great either.
Nick Martin struggled during the early portion of his career, though he’s gotten a bit better of late. This seems like an overpay for him at the moment, but Martin is still young (26), so if his play continues to get better, this deal will seem appropriate.
I can’t grade this too favorably, as Martin should have gotten less money, but there’s a chance this contract could be worth it the long run.
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Sept. 7 Updates
Patriots sign WR Antonio Brown (1 year, $15 million; $9 million bonus): B Grade
I listed the Patriots as the top team to sign Antonio Brown, and yet I still can’t believe this happened. I almost get the feeling I’m still dreaming from last night, and that I never got out of bed.
If this is real, I love the risk, but am not a fan of the money. As far as the risk is concerned, the Patriots are one of the few teams that can pull off a move like this and not be too penalized for it. They have six Super Bowls to their name, so if this backfires, and their 2019 campaign is ruined, it’ll be fine. They can just regroup and make a run next year. Besides, there’s a good chance this pans out, as the Patriots have a strong locker room, led by a future Hall of Fame coach and quarterback tandem. There’s no way Brown can legitimately question the authority of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, unless he has truly lost his mind. If he behaves, the Patriots will have the upside of the 2007 version of their team – the one that went 16-0 with Brady throwing deep passes to Randy Moss all the time.
The money, however, prevents this from being in the “A” range. While I believe this will pan out for the Patriots, there’s a legitimate chance it won’t. The Patriots won’t be able to roll over this money next offseason, which could hurt. Of course, they won’t care if they win a seventh Super Bowl, which now has a greater probability of happening.
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Sept. 6 Updates
Falcons re-sign WR Julio Jones (3 years, $66 million; $64 million guaranteed): C Grade
This contract is troubling. Not because Julio Jones isn’t worth it; on the contrary, on a day in which a malcontent like Antonio Brown was released, it really makes you appreciate a professional like Jones. The long-time Falcon is arguably the best receiver in the NFL. He turned 30 this offseason, but he should continue to perform on an All-Pro level for the next few years.
My concern is the guaranteed money. All but $2 million of this deal is guaranteed, so this resembles an NBA contract. The NBA sucks because overpaid bums tend to slack off once they sign huge deals. I’m not saying Jones will do that – I expect him to continue to work hard – but what if he suffers a devastating injury next year, like a torn patellar tendon? If so, the Falcons will be stuck with a suffocating contract that will destroy their salary cap for years.
Given the danger that this contract presents, I can’t grade it favorably, despite how great of a player Jones is. I really hope that this doesn’t set a precedent for contracts to come. Guaranteed deals would ruin the NFL, much like the NBA.
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Sept. 6 Updates
Chiefs re-sign WR Tyreek Hill (3 years, $54 million; $35 million guaranteed): B Grade
It’s amazing how much can change in a couple of months. Back in early July, many suspected that Tyreek Hill wouldn’t even play in 2019 because of the allegations surrounding him and a brief audio tape that was released by the media. Now, despite recent trade rumors, Hill will be in Kansas City for a while, as he inked a 3-year contract with $35 million in guarantees.
Given that the longer audio tape vindicated Hill in large part, there shouldn’t be major off-the-field concerns regarding him. I’m a bit worried about the company he keeps, and the toxic relationships in which he’s engaged in the past, but that won’t affect this grade too much.
What can’t be argued is that Hill’s talent matches this money. Hill is one of the best, young receivers in the NFL. He’s only 25, so outside of sudden injuries, there’s no chance of regression. I’m comfortable giving the Chiefs a “B” grade for this extension.
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Sept. 5 Updates
Rams re-sign TE Tyler Higbee (4 years, $36 million; $15.5 million guaranteed): BILL F’BRIEN Grade
Can someone let the Rams know that they turned off the salary cap setting in franchise mode? I can’t imagine that they would have given Tyler Higbee this contract under normal settings, so someone should give them the heads up.
This is a horrible deal. Tyler Higbee offers nothing as a receiver. His value is in blocking, and he’s good at that. However, blocking tight ends grow on trees. You can find them anywhere. A fair contract for Higbee would be about $9 million over three years, so this is just an absurd amount of money for him. This signing deserves an “F,” and I have to say that I’m liking this Bill F’Brien new “F” grade. It feels great.
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Sept. 4 Updates
Cowboys re-sign RB Ezekiel Elliott (6 years, $90 million; $50 million guaranteed): C Grade
The Cowboys didn’t make a very good draft pick in 2016 when they selected Ezekiel Elliott fourth overall. Elliott is a supreme talent, but running backs are easily replaceable. The demand for running backs is at an all-time low in the NFL. As an example, I tried to come up with teams that could trade for Melvin Gordon, and only a few options presented themselves. Running backs, in this day and age, should be obtained later in the draft, no matter how talented they are. Had the Cowboys passed on Elliott, they could have landed Jalen Ramsey or DeForest Buckner to make their defense impenetrable. What’s certain is that both will have much longer careers than Elliott, and both are at far less risk for injury.
Instead, Dallas was forced to double down on its mistake. Again, Elliott is a fantastic player, and if you exclude the position, his talent warrants this money. However, the fact that he’s a running back cannot be ignored. Running backs come and go very quickly in the NFL. Just look at Todd Gurley as an example. The Rams paid Gurley slightly more than $14 million per year, and now he has arthritic knees and may not be able to play much longer. Elliott’s career could similarly conclude just as quickly. There’s a decent chance that he regresses midway into this deal, even though he’s just 24 years old.
I don’t hate this contract, and I won’t give it an “F,” or even a “D.” The Cowboys were in a tough position, so because of their previous mistake, they were almost forced into making Elliott the highest-paid runner in league history. However, this contract could easily look terrible two or three years from now because running backs are so extremely volatile.
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Sept. 3 Updates
Rams re-sign QB Jared Goff (4 years, $134 million; $110 million guaranteed): C+ Grade
Wow, this is a lot of money for a player not even ranked in the top 10 of his position. He’s 14th in the NFL Quarterback Power Rankings. Goff has great ability, and he works very hard, but his football IQ is limited, and he gets very frazzled when pressured. Just look at how he performed versus the Bears, Patriots and Eagles at the end of last season. He forgot his own snap count against New England in the Super Bowl!
I can’t grade this favorably, as the Rams are putting themselves at risk with this big contract. However, I still expect Goff to work hard and improve because he loves football. Retaining him is important, and with a new CBA looming, this contract may not seem as bad in a couple of years. Thus, I won’t go lower than a C+ for this grade.
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Cowboys re-sign OT La’el Collins (5 years, $50 million; $35 million guaranteed): C+ Grade
This is the most guaranteed money ever paid to a right tackle. The question is whether or not La’el Collins deserves $35 million guaranteed, and I would say no, though it’s more complicated than that.
Collins was atrocious at right tackle in 2017, but made improvements last season. He wasn’t great, but showed some major potential. He’s only 26, so he could keep improving. I can see a scenario in which Collins keeps upgrading his game and eventually becomes one of the top right tackles in the NFL over the next couple of seasons. If so, this contract will make lots of sense.
Of course, this is far from a guarantee. Collins could just as easily continue to be nothing more than a decent right tackle, especially if the money goes to his head. Thus, I can’t grade this contract favorably, but I don’t hate it either.
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Sept. 2 Updates
Colts re-sign QB Jacoby Brissett (2 years, $30 million; $20 million): B Grade
I initially thought this contract was too expensive, given that all we’ve seen of Jacoby Brissett is one pedestrian season a couple of years ago. However, Brissett didn’t really have any time to adjust to the system and develop chemistry with his teammates. He was also protected poorly and didn’t have good coaching aiding him.
If Brissett improves, as expected, the Colts could look smart for giving him this cheap extension. If, however, he performs like he did in 2017, this will be an overpay. I like this risk though, as Indianapolis truly believes in him.
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Sept. 1 Updates
Steelers re-sign CB Joe Haden (2 years, $22 million; $16.5 million): B+ Grade
Joe Haden turned 30 this offseason, but he’s still a very good cornerback. His brief absence last year really hurt the Steelers, as opponents attacked that side of the field when he was out for a game-plus. Retaining him was very important.
Haden is no longer the great cornerback he once was, but he can still perform on a Pro Bowl level at times. A contract worth $11 million per season isn’t exactly cheap, but I like the terms of this deal. It’s only for two years, so it doesn’t carry much risk for the long term. With that in mind, the Steelers deserve a favorable grade.
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Bears re-sign C/G Cody Whitehair (5 years, $52.5 million; $27.5 million): B+ Grade
One of the reasons why I loved the Bears going into the 2018 season was their offensive line. They have an excellent blocking unit, and Cody Whitehair is a big part of that. Whitehair is an excellent center, so this contract is well deserved.
The Bears had to re-sign Whitehair to keep their offensive line intact, and I’d say this price is right. I won’t give this extension an “A” because this is not a bargain deal, but a B+ seems like the correct grade for this contract.
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Aug. 31 Updates
Chiefs sign RB LeSean McCoy (1 year, $4 million; $3 million): A Grade
I’m frustrated as a fantasy football analyst and player because it’s unclear what’ll happen in Kansas City’s backfield. However, there’s no doubt that this is a great signing by the Chiefs.
Kansas City didn’t have a proven runner in the backfield, which was a potential problem. Damien Williams had no history of success, while Darwin Thompson, despite being promising, was just a rookie. McCoy adds some much-needed experience. He also knows Andy Reid’s offense, which will make for a seamless transition. McCoy looked done in 2018, but showed some surprising burst in the preseason, so he could be an effective and reliable player for the Chiefs.
The price is right, too. McCoy is getting just $4 million for 2019. Sure, $3 million of it is guaranteed, but this contract will not hurt Kansas City in the long term if McCoy fails. This is all upside, and I love the move.
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Aug. 31 Updates
Jaguars re-sign LB Myles Jack (4 years, $57 million; $33 million): B Grade
Myles Jack is the second young linebacker to receive a big contract this month. Jaylon Smith obtained $64 million over five years, while Jack will be getting more per season over a slightly briefer term.
This deal must be compared to the contract the Cowboys gave Smith. Both Jack and Smith are outstanding players, though I’d favor the latter ever so slightly. With that in mind, it doesn’t seem right that Jack is getting more money per year. I gave Dallas a B+ for re-signing Smith, so this contract can’t be graded as highly.
That said, I can’t bash this deal. Jack is the Jaguars’ do-it-all linebacker, and he’s such an important player in their defense. Retaining him was crucial, even if Jacksonville overpaid a bit.
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Aug. 30 Updates
Titans re-sign C Ben Jones (2 years, $13.5 million): C Grade
It seems like every center in the NFL has been signed this offseason. Ben Jones has been the latest center to receive a new contract, as he’ll earn close to $7 million per year over the next two seasons.
Jones is not nearly as good as Rodney Hudson or Mitch Morse, but he’s getting about half as much as them. Jones is a below-average center, so I wouldn’t say he’s even half as good as Hudson or Morse. In fact, I’ve argued that the Titans should upgrade Jones. I don’t like that they’re giving him a new contract like this, but I won’t completely bash this signing, as I think continuity is important for the offensive line.
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Raiders re-sign C Rodney Hudson (3 years, $33.75 million; $24.4 million guaranteed): A Grade
Mitch Morse was the highest-paid center in the NFL when he signed a 4-year, $44 million contract with the Bills five months ago. Rodney Hudson has now eclipsed Morse, making slightly more than $11 million per season on this new deal.
I gave the Morse signing a B-, but this is a much better deal. Not only is Hudson better than Morse; he’s also more reliable. Morse is a great center, but he tends to get banged up and miss time. Hudson, conversely, hasn’t missed a game since 2015. In fact, he has missed just three contests as a pro since becoming a full-time starter in 2013. The one slight concern with Hudson is that he’s 30, but centers have shown that they can play at a high level into their mid-30s.
I generally reserve my “A” grades for bargains. While this may not seem like one, I think it is. Compared to Morse, Hudson should be paid much more. Also, I feel as though centers as a whole are underpaid in the NFL, given how important that position is.
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Aug. 28 Updates
Bills re-sign K Stephen Hauschka (2 years, $8 million): B Grade
For a franchise that has a dubious history of dubious special teams, it’s nice that they can keep a reliable kicker around for a couple more years. That would be Stephen Hauschka, who just signed a 2-year extension.
Hauschka has done mostly well in Buffalo. He was 29-of-33 in 2017, but slipped to 22-of-28 last year. Still, three of those six misses were from beyond 50, and Hauschka has whiffed on only one extra point in two seasons.
This isn’t a lengthy contract, and the $4 million per year seems fair. I’m not crazy about this deal, but it’s fine.
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Aug. 22 Updates
Cardinals sign WR Michael Crabtree (terms TBA): C+ Grade
I initially was confused by this signing, then came around to liking it, but then soured on it. Let me take you through my thought process.
On the surface, Michael Crabtree doesn’t make much sense for the Cardinals. They already have Larry Fitzgerald to play the role of a veteran receiver. Arizona has plenty of talented young players at the position, namely Christian Kirk, Andy Isabella and Hakeem Butler, so why would they need a second veteran presence when Crabtree would just take snaps away from those who need experience? Then, I realized that Kliff Kingsbury wanted a receiver who knew his scheme. Both Crabtree and Kingsbury were coached by Mike Leach, so the former knows the offense and can help teach it to everyone else.
I reached the point in which I was going to grade this in the “A” range, but I then recalled something else. It seems as though every single head coach who goes straight from college into the pros without any sort of NFL experience always does something like this. Whether it’s been Steve Spurrier, or Chip Kelly, college coaches always seem to acquire their former players, or at least those who know their offense. And it never pans out.
Thus, I’ve decided to downgrade this to a C+. I don’t hate this move. I understand the logic behind it. But ultimately, it’s been a losing strategy over the years, so I can’t really get behind it.
Update: The Cardinals haven’t completely agreed to terms with Crabtree just yet.
Update No. 2: Arizona has finally agreed to terms with Crabtree, perhaps because of a result of Hakeem Butler being lost to injury. I still don’t like this move very much, but don’t hate it.
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Aug. 21 Updates
Dolphins re-sign WR/KR Jakeem Grant (4 years, $24 million): F Grade
I don’t think the Dolphins understand how finances work. When you have a pedestrian receiver on your roster who has never caught more than 21 passes in a single season, you shouldn’t give him a $24 million contract. It’s pretty simple, but Miami doesn’t understand this for some reason.
I will acknowledge that Grant is more than a pedestrian receiver. He’s a very good return specialist, but given how the NFL is always curtailing its rules on special teams, those sorts of players are less valuable than ever. Grant is also improving at wideout, but it’s not a guarantee that he’ll be a big producer at the position this year, or at any point in his career.
The Dolphins are paying based on the best-possible outcome for Grant, but that seems unnecessary. They probably could have gotten away with giving him a contract worth less than half as much as this one. Given how irresponsible this extension was, it clearly deserves to be graded as a failure.
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Cowboys re-sign LB Jaylon Smith (5 years, $64 million): B+ Grade
A day after hearing his owner say, “Zeke who?” Ezekiel Elliott saw Jaylon Smith get extended before him, so he can’t be too happy. Nevertheless, this is an essential move Dallas made to retain one of its top defensive players.
Jaylon Smith famously fell to the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft because of an injury. After a slow start to his career, Smith has evolved into one of the best linebackers in the NFL. Do-it-all linebackers who thrive in coverage are more important than ever, so I can get behind the Cowboys paying Smith this amount of money.
I’m giving Dallas a B+ for this extension. This deal is not a bargain, so it won’t be in the “A” range, but the Cowboys did a good job of retaining their young linebacker.
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Aug. 17 Updates
Eagles sign QB Josh McCown (1 year, $2 million): A+ Grade
When Nate Sudfeld suffered an injury in the preseason, there was speculation that the Eagles would have to decide between Colin Kaepernick, who refused to study film when he was in the NFL, and Sam Bradford, who is more fragile than a chandelier, to be their new backup behind Nick Foles. Josh McCown was higher than both in the NFL Free Agent Quarterback Rankings, but he discussed retirement, so I assumed he wasn’t an option.
The Eagles lured McCown out of this pseudo-retirement with a $2 million contract, and it was a great move. McCown is 40, but he’s very smart and can still play somewhat well. In fact, I just recently re-watched the Patriots-Jets game from last year in which McCown nearly upset New England by going 26-of-45 for 276 yards, one touchdown and an interception with a supporting cast that’s much worse than what the Eagles have.
Ideally, McCown won’t play at all. Even if he doesn’t, however, he’ll still provide great value to the Eagles as an intelligent person in the quarterback meeting room. McCown could even help Carson Wentz learn some things, which could boost Wentz’s level of play. I love this move for that reason, and I think this signing is worthy of an A+.
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Aug. 8 Updates
Chiefs sign CB Morris Claiborne (1 year, $1.5 million): A Grade
The Chiefs had several needs on the defensive side of the ball entering the offseason. Cornerback was one such area, and it remained unfixed. It took until August, but Kansas City finally may have found a solution for that void.
Morris Claiborne’s career has been ravaged by injuries. His play was affected by his poor health last year, when he struggled. However, he was much better in 2017 for the Jets when he wasn’t banged up. If Claiborne can remain close to 100 percent, he’ll provide Kansas City with a big boost at corner.
Of course, Claiborne could easily get hurt again and struggle like he did this past season. Still, the Chiefs are not taking any sort of risk here, as they signed him to a 1-year deal worth just $1.5 million. The only downside is that Claiborne won’t be able to play until Week 5 because of a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy, but that shouldn’t affect the grade at all because Claiborne is very cheap and provides nothing but upside.
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Aug. 4 Updates
Patriots re-sign QB Tom Brady (2 years, $70 million): A Grade
I usually reserve “A” grades for good bargains. For most players, a $70 million contract over two years would not be a bargain. Then again, Tom Brady is not most players.
This deal makes Brady the sixth-highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. Yet, Brady is the best player at his position, so one could argue that Brady should have gotten more money. The risk is that Brady is now 42 years old, and he has to slow down eventually. However, we’ve seen no signs of regression from him. His diet and workout regimen are pristine, so it’s definitely feasible that he’ll continue to play at his current level throughout the duration of this contract.
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Aug. 1 Updates
Jets sign C Ryan Kalil (1 year, $8.4 million): A+ Grade
So much for Ryan Kalil’s retirement. The long-time Panther hung up the cleats earlier this offseason, but the $8.4 million the Jets offered him was apparently enough to sway him to play one more season.
This is an excellent signing. A price of $8.4 million may seem hefty for an old player like Kalil, but this contract is just for one year, and New York has plenty of cap space. Kalil is obviously no longer the player he once was, but he can be an upgrade over what the Jets currently have at center, and the leadership and experience he can bring to the locker room will be very valuable.
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Panthers sign S Tre Boston (1 year, $3 million): A+ Grade
It’s shocking that Tre Boston was on the market for so long. Boston misses tackles, but he’s excellent in coverage. He’s a major reason why Arizona had positive pass defense marks this past season.
Boston will be a big boost for Carolina’s secondary, and he’s also cheap and comes with no risk. This is a great signing for the Panthers.
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July 31 Updates
Saints re-sign WR Michael Thomas (5 years, $100 million; $61 million guaranteed): B Grade
Michael Thomas is not only now the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history; he has become the highest-paid offensive non-quarterback in league history. Thomas caught 125 passes for 1,405 yards and nine touchdowns in 2018, prompting this unprecedented contract.
There are some negatives to this. Thomas is not the best offensive non-quarterback in the NFL, and I wouldn’t even say he’s the best player at his position in the league. Also, dedicating this much money to one player, especially a non-quarterback, could be harmful to the team’s depth in the future.
However, it’s difficult to hate this contract because Thomas is a great player and a vital part of New Orleans’ offense. It’s also worth noting that this is the general direction of where NFL contracts are going, and Thomas’ deal will be surpassed by the next great offensive non-quarterback in the near future.
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July 28 Updates
Seahawks re-sign LB Bobby Wagner (3 years, $54 million): A Grade
This signing happened a couple of days ago, but it didn’t show up in my news feed for some reason. My apologies for the delay, but better late than never.
Wagner has become the highest-paid linebacker in the NFL, and rightfully so. If Wagner’s not the best player at his position in the NFL, it’s Luke Kuechly. Wagner is an extremely important member of Seattle’s defense, as evidenced by the decline of the stop unit when he’s missed action. It was imperative for Seattle to re-sign him.
Wagner is 29, so he shouldn’t regress at all throughout the duration of this contract. I would’ve been somewhat concerned if this were a 4-year deal, but this contract comes with considerable less risk at three years. That’s why this is an “A” grade. Had this been a 4-year, $72 pact, I would’ve given it a B+, but the Seahawks did a great job of protecting themselves.
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July 26 Updates
Lions sign DT Mike Daniels (1 year, $9.1 million): A+ Grade
I speculated in the NFL Trade Block page that Mike Daniels might want to go to an NFC team to get revenge on the Packers. I assumed he would sign with the Bears and Vikings. I didn’t consider the Lions because I didn’t see them as playoff contenders, but Daniels perhaps believes otherwise.
This is a terrific signing. The Lions were already stout versus the run, but they needed an interior disruptor. Daniels will fill that role. Though he’s 30, Daniels is still one of the best 3-4 defensive ends in the NFL. He’ll offer a huge upgrade for Detroit up front at no risk, given that this is just a 1-year deal.
The Daniels signing should be graded as an A+. It’s all upside, and Daniels could boost the Lions up to the same level as the Vikings. I’d still put Detroit well below Green Bay and Chicago, but the team will definitely be way more competitive in 2019.
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July 24 Updates
Titans re-sign S Kevin Byard (5 years, $70.5 million; $31 million guaranteed): B Grade
It doesn’t seem as though casual football fans don’t know how good Kevin Byard is. Byard was one of the best safeties in the NFL last year, yet he was snubbed from the Pro Bowl. What matters is that the Titans recognize Byard’s ability, as indicated by the amount of money in this contract.
Byard is set to make $1 million less in guarantees than Earl Thomas. That doesn’t seem right, as Byard is better, healthier and younger (26 in August) than Thomas at their respective stages of their careers. Thomas was once an amazing safety, but he’s past 30 and hasn’t been able to play a full season since 2015, so Byard deserves more money. However, I gave the Thomas signing a C- grade, so it’s not like this can be seen as a bargain worthy of an “A” grade.
I’m giving the Titans a “B” grade for this extension. Byard deserves to be paid as one of the top safeties in the NFL, but the demand for that position isn’t very high, so it seems like most safety contracts have been inflated for no good reason.
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July 23 Updates
Bengals re-sign WR Tyler Boyd (4 years, $43 million): B+ Grade
Both A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd were entering their contract seasons, so it’s interesting that Cincinnati opted to give Boyd a deal first. That doesn’t mean the Bengals don’t plan on retaining Green, but there could be something to this.
Green, of course, is much older than Boyd (31 in eight days). Boyd, just 24, has a very bright future ahead of him. He caught 76 passes for 1,028 yards and seven touchdowns last year despite playing playing a handful of games with a backup quarterback.
Boyd was seeking a contract worth about $10 million per year, so this is obviously not a bargain worth giving an “A” grade to. However, if Boyd continues to progress, this deal could look like a good value down the road.
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Falcons sign DE/DT Allen Bailey (2 years, $10.5 million; $3.5 million guaranteed): B+ Grade
It’s a surprise that Allen Bailey was on the market for so long. He’s not a great player by any means, but he’s a fine defensive lineman who doesn’t have any weaknesses. He’s not particularly strong in any area either, but he’s a solid player to have in a rotation.
I like this signing. Not only does Bailey provide the Falcons with some needed depth; he’ll also be playing in a familiar scheme, given that he was coached under new defensive assistant Bob Sutton in Kansas City.
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July 20 Updates
Eagles re-sign RB Darren Sproles (1 year): B Grade
I imagine that in an ideal world, the Eagles wouldn’t have re-signed Darren Sproles. They used a second-round pick on Miles Sanders to be their new receiving back. However, Sanders has been limited with a hamstring injury this summer, prompting Philadelphia to bring back Sproles for one more year.
This is a fine move. I’m not sure Sproles has much, or really anything remaining in the tank, but he’s at least familiar with the offense and can be a reliable presence on third down. I imagine his touches will decrease as the year progresses, assuming Sanders can get healthy.
For more on the Sproles signing, Kenny and I discussed it in our most recent podcast video:
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July 18 Updates
Falcons re-sign LB Deion Jones (4 years, $57 million; $25.8 million guaranteed): B+ Grade
The Falcons re-signed another key member of their defense, giving Deion Jones a 4-year contract worth nearly $60 million. This occurred just three days after they retained Grady Jarrett on a similar deal.
Jones is now the second-highest-paid inside linebacker in the NFL, and rightfully so. Jones is a terrific athlete, and he’s only 24, so there won’t be any regression in the near future. We saw Atlanta’s defense fall apart without Jones last season, so retaining him was essential.
As I normally say, I reserve “A” grades for bargains. This can’t qualify as one because of Jones’ new status as the second-highest-paid inside linebacker, so the best I can do is give Atlanta a B+ for this important contract.
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July 15 Updates
49ers re-sign K Robbie Gould (2 years, $10 million): A- Grade
I’m often down on large kicker contracts because players at that position come and go. You’ll often see a kicker get hot, sign a big contract, struggle the following season, get cut, then latch on somewhere else, and the cycle is repeated. I cannot understand the thought process behind giving a kicker a substantial contract or using an early draft choice on one. Unless a kicker with a bionic leg comes along, and he’s capable of easily drilling 80-yard field goals, I would not dedicate any resources to one.
There are, however, a few exceptions. Notable ones include Adam Vinatieri (a couple of years ago, at least), Justin Tucker and Robbie Gould. We’ve seen Gould maintain the status as one of the top kickers in the NFL for a very long time. He’s been terrific for the 49ers, hitting 96 percent of his attempts since joining the team. San Francisco did well to re-sign Gould, and the contract it gave him is a short one, to boot.
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Falcons re-sign DT Grady Jarrett (4 years, $68 million): B+ Grade
Adam Schefter reported that the Falcons and Grady Jarrett were unlikely to sign a contract prior to the franchise tag deadline today, but the two parties agreed to terms.
The Falcons will pay Garrett $17 million per year, which seems adequate for a player of his immense talent. Jarrett is one of the better interior defensive linemen in the NFL, and he’s only 26, so there shouldn’t be any regression. This is not a value signing, so I won’t give this move anything in the “A” range, but a B+ seems about right for this necessary re-signing.
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June 13 Updates
Chiefs re-sign K Harrison Butker (4 years, $20 million): C- Grade
Harrison Butker has been one of the better kickers in the NFL over the past couple of seasons. He’s hit 62-of-69 attempts the previous two years, which includes 6-of-9 from 50-plus. The one downside is that Butker missed four extra points in 2018, though he attempted 69 of them.
Despite Butker’s great accuracy, it’s difficult to like this contract. Butker hasn’t enjoyed long-term success like Adam Vinatieri, so he could easily be a flash in the pan. Kickers come and go in the NFL, and there’s a chance Butker could begin to miss some kicks and then be forced out of Kansas City. When that happens, the Chiefs can just find another kicker.
Kickers grow on trees, so giving one $20 million over four years seems like an error.
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June 12 Updates
Bills re-sign DE Jerry Hughes (2 years, $23 million; $19.5 million guaranteed): B+ Grade
Someone on Facebook just pointed out that I didn’t grade the Jerry Hughes extension from May 21. I was on vacation then – stay tuned for all the craziness in Jerks of the Week, starting Monday – so I just missed it. That’s why this grade is nearly a month late.
Hughes is coming off an excellent year. He had just seven sacks, but played much better than that. The Bills were wise to retain him. The only issue I have is that Hughes turns 31 in August, so regression is coming soon. However, this is just a 2-year deal, and the pricing is very reasonable. If Hughes were a bit younger, I’d grade this in the “A” range, but I feel as though a B+ is fair for this signing.
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June 11 Updates
Saints re-sign DE Cameron Jordan (3 years, $52.5 million; $42 million guaranteed): B+ Grade
This is a much more logical signing than the big contract we saw Kyle Rudolph obtain yesterday. Both players are the same age, but Jordan is a far better talent than Rudolph and plays a much more important position.
Jordan turns 30 in July, so there might be a chance he suffers some regression in the second or third year of this contract. However, Jordan, at the moment, can still be considered an elite player. He’s one of the best defensive ends in the NFL. Not only did he accumulated 12 sacks in 2019, but he was also a great force versus the run. He’s the best player on New Orleans’ defense.
The Saints aren’t getting Jordan on a bargain deal, so I can’t give this signing a grade in the “A” range, but a B+ seems appropriate for this very important move.
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Vikings re-sign TE Kyle Rudolph (4 years, $36 million): D Grade
Umm… what? It seemed as though the Vikings were going to trade Kyle Rudolph after selecting Irv Smith Jr. in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. It made sense to deal him, as Rudolph turns 30 in November and has been declining in recent years.
Apparently, not. The Vikings have given Rudolph a new contract worth $9 million per season. It really doesn’t make any sense. Minnesota, a team with severe financial issues, had a nice, very cheap replacement in Smith, yet it has paid an aging player at a low-impact position an absurd amount of money. I don’t understand this move at all, and it should be graded very poorly.
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June 6 Updates
Eagles re-sign QB Carson Wentz (4 years, $128 million; $107 million guaranteed): B+ Grade
Carson Wentz’s 4-year, $128 million contract extension gives him a grand total of $154 million over six seasons with $107 million guaranteed, the highest such amount in NFL history, barely edging out Russell Wilson.
These sort of contracts are always difficult to grade. With his overall skill set, high football IQ and relentless work ethic, Wentz has the potential to be the best quarterback in the NFL. He absolutely deserves to be the highest-paid player in the NFL. However, we’ve seen huge contracts like this derail other teams, as their front offices have had trouble maintaining quality depth with so many resources dedicated to one player.
I’m giving the Eagles a B+ for this signing. They couldn’t exactly allow Wentz to get away, especially in the wake of Nick Foles signing with the Jaguars. They’ll need to draft very well because they’ll have to get rid of some of their other higher-paid players, much like the Seahawks and Packers have done after paying Wilson and Aaron Rodgers. Luckily for the Eagles, Howie Roseman is one of the top general managers in the NFL, so he should be able to keep his team competitive for the Super Bowl despite this contract.
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June 3 Updates
Panthers sign DT Gerald McCoy (1 year, $8 million): B+ Grade
I listed the Falcons and Saints as potential teams to sign Gerald McCoy. I left the Panthers off the list because they’re moving to a 3-4. One of the reasons the Buccaneers cut McCoy and swapped him out with Ndamukong Suh is because McCoy didn’t fit into their new 3-4. Thus, I didn’t think Carolina would be very interested.
Despite this, I really like this move, and I think it should be graded favorably. It’s sometimes difficult to tell if a player can play in a different scheme, so while McCoy doesn’t seem like a natural fit, there’s a chance he could surprise everyone and do well in the formation. Even if he’s not as good as he was in the 4-3, McCoy should still help Carolina generate some more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Plus, at just one year and $8 million, the Panthers aren’t taking much of a risk, so bringing in McCoy seems very much worth it.
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May 21 Updates
Buccaneers sign NT Ndamukong Suh (1 year): A Grade
The Buccaneers may have thought that they had a chance to land Ndamukong Suh in the 2010 NFL Draft, but he was chosen second overall. Tampa instead selected Gerald McCoy at the No. 3 spot. It took nine years, but the Buccaneers have finally done it. They managed to trade up for Suh.
Joking aside, Suh and McCoy are comparable players. It’s not quite clear which one is better than the other at this stage of their careers, but they can both play at a Pro Bowl level. However, Suh is a better fit for Tampa’s new defense than McCoy is. Suh will also be cheaper than McCoy would have been had McCoy remained on the roster, so it made sense to cut the long-time Buccaneer and obtain Suh instead.
I wouldn’t like this signing if the Buccaneers gave Suh a long-term deal, as we’d see some major lethargy from him. However, he’ll be looking to prove himself in order to obtain one last substantial contract in his player career. He’ll be highly motivated on this 1-year contract – as a guess, I’d say it’s probably worth $8 million or so – meaning the Buccaneers will be getting a talented player at very little risk.
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Patriots re-sign WR Julian Edelman (2 years, $18 million; $12 million guaranteed): A- Grade
When I saw that Julian Edelman was re-signed to a contract worth $18 million for two years, my immediate reaction was, “That’s it!?”
Edelman is coming off a Super Bowl MVP performance and will continue to serve as Tom Brady’s favorite weapon, especially in the wake of Rob Gronkowski’s retirement. He turns 33 tomorrow, but it could be argued that Edelman deserves more money than this. Given the regression possibilities, however, I’d say this is a very fair deal for Edelman.
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Ravens sign DE/OLB Shane Ray and Pernell McPhee (1 year, $1 million; 1 year, $930,000): A- Grade
The Ravens lost a couple of talented edge rushers this offseason, as Za’Darius Smith and Terrell Suggs left for the Packers and Cardinals, respectively. Baltimore was expected to find replacements in the 2019 NFL Draft, but it couldn’t do so until the third round when the team selected Jaylon Ferguson. The Ravens had to find some new edge rushers, so they opted to bring in Shane Ray and Pernell McPhee with cheap deals.
Ray is a former first-round pick who accumulated eight sacks for Denver in 2016. Injuries have derailed his career since, but he’s only 26, so there’s a chance he’ll bounce back and finally meet expectations. It’s very much worth taking the risk for only $1 million in 2019. McPhee, meanwhile, once played for the Ravens, but has spent the past four years with the Bears and Redskins. McPhee was highly ineffective last season with Washington, recording no sacks in 13 games. He’s now in his 30s, so there’s a chance we’ll never see him perform on a high level again. The best the Ravens can hope for is for McPhee to turn into a valuable depth player, but it’s more likely than not that he won’t make the 53-man roster.
Still, these moves are solid. The Ravens are taking fliers on a player with potential and another who once produced for them, and they’re not taking any sort of risks with these two signings, so they should be graded favorably.
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May 13 Updates
Eagles re-sign C/G Stefen Wisniewski (1 year, $1.5 million): A- Grade
The Eagles declined Stefen Wisniewski’s option earlier in the offseason, perhaps because they believed they would strengthen their interior offensive line in the 2019 NFL Draft. They didn’t do so, prompting them to bring back Wisniewski at a cheaper price.
Philadelphia deserves a high grade for this signing. Wisniewski is one of the better backup offensive linemen in the NFL, as he’s a former, capable starter who can play all three positions in the interior. He’s a great bargain at just $1.5 million for 2019.
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Bills sign TE Lee Smith (3 years, $9 million): B Grade
The Bills were grooming former Bengals right tackle Jake Fisher to be their new blocking tight end. Plans changed when the Raiders cut Lee Smith. Buffalo scooped him up and cut Fisher in response.
This is a fine signing. We’ve seen teams give blocking tight ends absurd contacts this offseason. Blocking tight ends shouldn’t be getting $3 million per year either, but this is almost a bargain when compared to some of the other contracts that have seen blocking tight ends receive $6 million annually. Smith is great at what he does, so he’ll be a nice addition to Buffalo’s offense.
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May 12 Updates
Seahawks sign NT Al Woods (1 year, $2.25 million): B+ Grade
The Seahawks were a middling 17th in run defense DVOA last year, so they were expected to obtain a defensive tackle in the 2019 NFL Draft. They didn’t do so until the sixth round, so it makes sense for them to sign Big Al Woods.
Woods is a 330-pound nose tackle who is decent at clogging running lanes. He provides nothing as far as the pass rush is concerned – he has one sack in the past four years – but he’ll be able to play two downs and do a solid job of improving the aforementioned No. 17 ranking. For just $2.25 million in 2018, Woods is certainly worth it.
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Giants sign OT Mike Remmers (1 year, $2.5 million): B+ Grade
The Giants were expected to select a right tackle in the 2019 NFL Draft, but couldn’t find someone to unseat Chad Wheeler. Thus, they had to resort to adding one of the few viable players remaining on the free agency tackle market.
Mike Remmers struggled mightily last year, but there’s some hope that he can rebound. Remmers played guard in 2018 and looked very uncomfortable in doing so. He should be better at right tackle, if only by default. It should also be considered that Remmers had a halfway decent season under Pat Shurmur when the two were together in Minnesota in 2017.
Remmers, at the very least, should be able to challenge Chad Wheeler for the right tackle gig. He could definitely win the job, and while he wouldn’t be a big upgrade, he makes for a nice signing for just one year and $2.5 million.
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May 9 Updates
Dolphins re-sign CB Xavien Howard (5 years, $76.5 million; $46 million guaranteed): C+ Grade
The Dolphins have just made Xavien Howard the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL with this extension. Oddly enough, Howard isn’t even the best cornerback in his division, as Stephon Gilmore can easily make that claim. Howard is a great cornerback, but he should not be the highest-paid player at his position.
This is an obvious overpay by the Dolphins, but I wonder if it’s one that they felt was necessary to make. Miami is the worst team in the NFL right now, so Howard wasn’t going to take a “home-town” discount to remain with the team. I wonder if he would’ve rejected a contract at market value as well. It’s absurd that the Dolphins had to pay Howard this much money, but at the same time, I can understand why they did it.
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Patriots sign TE Ben Watson (1 year, $3 million): A- Grade
A former Patriots tight end just came out of retirement to re-join the team. It’s not Rob Gronkowski, however; it’s Ben Watson instead, as Watson recently called it quits after a solid season in New Orleans.
This is a nice move for the Patriots if Gronkowski remains retired. The Patriots don’t have anything at tight end outside of Austin Seferian-Jenkins, so Watson will contribute next year. For just $3 million, it’s worth it to bring him back to play in New England exactly a decade after he left the team the first time.
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Seahawks sign DE Ezekiel Ansah (1 year, $9 million; $6 million guaranteed): B+ Grade
Ziggy Ansah is a very talented edge rusher when healthy, but the “when healthy” part is something that has plagued his career. Ansah is seldom on the field, as he hasn’t played a full season since 2015. He missed nine games last year, and it sounds like he’ll be out for the first month of the season because of his problematic shoulder.
That said, this is a nice signing because it comes with plenty of upside without much risk. The Seahawks needed an edge rusher badly after trading away Frank Clark, and Ansah can possibly help down the stretch if he can make a recovery. There’s always a chance that doesn’t happen, and that this turns out to be a big waste of money, but at least Seattle won’t be penalized for this deal beyond 2019, aside from not being able to roll over this $6 million into next offseason.
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May 7 Updates
Patriots sign OT Jared Veldheer (1 year, $3.5 million): B Grade
Jared Veldheer was once a solid left tackle for the Raiders and Cardinals, but he has regressed rapidly over the past couple of seasons. He struggled in his final year in Arizona, then didn’t play well in Denver this past year. Veldheer turns 32 in June, so his decline is expected to continue.
Veldheer, however, makes sense for the Patriots. New England plans on starting 2018 first-rounder Isaiah Wynn on the blind side, so Veldheer will provide a viable backup in case Wynn isn’t ready to play. Veldheer has plenty of experience, so it’s nice to have him as a reserve swing tackle without any sort of risk.
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May 6 Updates
Texans sign S Jahleel Addae (1 year, $1.1 million): A Grade
Jahleel Addae signed a 4-year, $22 million contract a couple of offseasons ago. He responded by playing well in 2017, but struggled last year. This wasn’t a surprise, as Addae has battled inconsistency throughout his career. He has the potential to play very well for the Texans, who are looking to replace Tyrann Mathieu, but he could also fail to perform like he did in 2017 again.
Had the Texans given Addae the same sort of deal he received from the Chargers, I would’ve graded this negatively, but the Texans aren’t taking a risk with this move. Owed just $1.1 million for 2019, and nothing beyond, Addae comes with no downside and all potential. Thus, I believe Houston should be graded favorably for this transaction.
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May 3 Updates
Eagles sign LB Zach Brown (1 year, $3 million): A+ Grade
When the Eagles failed to address their woes at linebacker during the 2019 NFL Draft, I was concerned that they wouldn’t be able to cover in space at all this upcoming season. They lost Jordan Hicks in free agency, after all, and never replaced him. L.J. Fort was signed, but he’s just a two-down run defender. He can’t come close to doing what Hicks did for the Eagles, when healthy.
Zach Brown can, however. He was one of the top linebackers in the NFL last year, thriving in both coverage and run support. I don’t know why he was still a free agent, but the Eagles should consider themselves extremely fortunate that they were able to obtain a viable replacement for Hicks this late into the offseason. And when considering the terms, this is an easy A+. Brown should’ve received a much larger contract this season than just a 1-year agreement worth $3 million.
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April 30 Updates
Patriots sign WR Demaryius Thomas (1 year, $2.9 million; $150,000 guaranteed): B Grade
This signing happened two weeks ago, but I missed it amid the draft craziness. So here’s my grade – better late than never, I hope!
Demaryius Thomas’ contract was announced as being worth up to $6 million, but the real value on this deal is $2.9 million. That’s still a bit too much when factoring in both Thomas’ 2018 performance as well as his torn Achilles. Thomas looked done last year, being completely unable to get open. Adding injury to insult, he suffered his torn Achilles in December, so it’s unlikely that he’ll be anywhere close to 100 percent in the early stages of the season. Perhaps he’ll contribute late in the year, but I wouldn’t be too optimistic, given his inability to get separation at this stage of his career.
The good news is that the guaranteed money on this deal is just $150,000, so if the Patriots don’t like what they see from Thomas in training camp and the preseason, they can just cut him. I won’t grade this poorly for that reason, but this is not an “A” signing either.
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Colts sign RB Spencer Ware (1 year, $1.3 million): A Grade
The Colts worked out or hosted running backs more than any other position leading up to the 2019 NFL Draft. Despite this, they didn’t spend a single pick on a runner. Their unwillingness to address the position in the draft led to this signing.
This is a great move. Ware was one of the top options still remaining on the market. He was once Kansas City’s starting running back until Kareem Hunt emerged. A knee injury didn’t help matters, of course, but Ware should be back to 100-percent strength for 2019. He’ll be a terrific insurance policy for Marlon Mack at a very cheap price.
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April 23 Updates
Ravens re-sign K Justin Tucker (4 years, $23.05 million; $12.5 million guaranteed): B Grade
I’m almost always against teams giving kickers this much money. Kickers grow on trees and can be found on the street. You’ll see a kicker get hot, receive a big contract, then melt under pressure and have some sort of psychological breakdown. The cycle happens all the time.
However, it seems as though Justin Tucker is immune to this. Tucker is the best kicker in the NFL, hands down. He’s extremely accurate and very cool under pressure. He’s such a weapon for the Ravens because they’re guaranteed three points if they reach the 40-yard line. Tucker has drilled at least 89 percent of his kicks in each of the past three seasons, and he finished worse than 85 percent just once in his career.
I’m not going to grade this negatively, as I’ve done with many kicker contracts in the past. However, I can’t go above a “B” either, as Tucker is still a kicker.
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April 23 Updates
Chiefs re-sign DE Frank Clark (5 years, $105.5 million; $63.5 million guaranteed): C Grade
I graded the Frank Clark deal for the Seahawks and Chiefs in the NFL Trade Grades page, but it’s now time to grade what the Chiefs ended up giving their new stud defensive end.
This is effectively the same contract the Cowboys awarded DeMarcus Lawrence. The Dallas edge rusher received $105 million for five years with $65 million guaranteed, so the overall money here is slightly more, while Clark will get $1.5 million less in guarantees. Still, the deals are pretty much identical.
I gave the Lawrence contract a B+, so this deserves a worse mark because I consider Lawrence to be the better player. Clark has unbelievable potential, and we’ve seen it already when he recorded 13 sacks in 2018. However, Clark has a much lower floor. He’s had a checkered off-the-field history, and those problems could always resurface. Giving him this much money is extremely risky. It could pay off, but the Chiefs could get royally screwed if yet another player of theirs gets into trouble.
I’m not going to give the Chiefs an “F,” or anything, because I understand the upside. However, I can’t go above a “C” grade either, given the risk involved.
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April 18 Updates
Redskins re-sign DE/DT Matt Ioannidis (3 years, $21.75 million; $14 million guaranteed): B+ Grade
Casual football fans may not have heard Matt Ioannidis, so they might be wondering what he did to deserve a contract worth $7 million per season. However, based on Ioannidis’ talent level, this deal is very much well deserved.
Ioannidis is a former fifth-round pick from the 2016 NFL Draft. He didn’t do much as a rookie, but he has blossomed into a skilled defensive lineman. He notched 7.5 sacks last year and stopped the run very well. He won’t turn 26 until after the 2019 season is over, so he has plenty of room for growth as well. Ioannidis has improved each year, so I don’t see why that trend would suddenly change.
I nearly graded this in the “A” range because it could be argued that this is a great bargain. If Ioannidis continues to improve, he’ll be in Pro Bowl consideration, and this contract could look like a steal in the future. My one concern, however, is that Ioannidis has yet to play a full season. He’s gotten banged up a bit each year, though I don’t think there’s enough of a sample size to confidently state that Ioannidis is injury-prone.
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April 16 Updates
Seahawks re-sign QB Russell Wilson (4 years, $140 million; $107 million guaranteed): B Grade
These signings are always difficult to grade. This deal is worth an unbelievable amount of money, making Wilson the highest-paid player in the NFL. Contracts like this can cripple a franchise, as we’ve seen when the Lions and Ravens gave mega deals to Matthew Stafford and Joe Flacco, respectively. Even though the quarterback is the most important position on a team, allocating tons of resources to one player depletes all of the depth on the roster.
However, Wilson is a far better player than Stafford and Flacco were. He’s a top-five quarterback in the NFL, and at 30, he should still have four or five years of very high level play remaining. The Seahawks couldn’t exactly let him go and start over, so this signing can’t be graded poorly. However, I can’t go above a “B” either, as the Seahawks will struggle to field a great roster around Wilson in the wake of this signing. They must draft well going forward, and this will be a problem in itself because Seattle has just four selections in the 2019 NFL Draft.
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April 13 Updates
Vikings re-sign WR Adam Thielen (4 years, $64 million): A- Grade
It’s amazing to think that Adam Thielen was once an undrafted free agent out of the little-known Minnesota State-Mankato. He made the roster off the practice squad, then eventually entered the starting lineup. He then became a star and logged eight consecutive 100-yard games in 2018, finishing with 113 receptions, 1,373 yards and nine touchdowns.
Thielen has emerged as a top-10 receiver in the NFL, and now he’s being paid like one. If this contract seems like it’s too expensive, consider two other receivers who were given 4-year deals this offseason: Tyrell Williams and Sterling Shepard. Their contracts were worth $44 and $41 million, respectively. Thielen’s pact is for about $5 million per year more than Williams and Shepard’s contracts, yet it seems like Thielen is worth way more than $5 million per season than Williams and Shepard.
I usually reserve “A” grades for great bargain signings. I don’t think this qualifies as such, but this contract seems too great to be marked down as a B+ or worse.
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April 11 Updates
Patriots sign TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins (1 year, $895,000; $50,000 guaranteed): A+ Grade
Unlike the other signings I graded today, this one is new. The Patriots signed Austin Seferian-Jenkins yesterday, yet the numbers have already been released. Seferian-Jenkins will receive less than $1 million overall, with only $50,000 in guarantees.
This is an insanely cheap deal that could really pay huge dividends for the Patriots. New England lost Rob Gronkowski to retirement, and Seferian-Jenkins could be a solid successor if the front office can’t obtain a talented tight end in the draft. Seferian-Jenkins hasn’t done much in his career, but he’s only 26, and he had a solid season for the Jets in 2017. He didn’t do much last year in Jacksonville, but he was injured and Blake Bortles was his quarterback. Seferian-Jenkins’ starting quarterbacks over his career have been Bortles, Josh McCown and Jameis Winston, so perhaps Seferian-Jenkins can pick up where he left off in 2017 and reach his potential with Tom Brady throwing the ball to him. If not, the Patriots don’t stand to lose anything.
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Cowboys sign S George Iloka (1 year, $1.02 million; $300,000 guaranteed): A Grade
Here’s one final signing from weeks ago that I’m finally getting to because we finally have the numbers. Unlike the Matt Kalil move, this one is an excellent one for the Texas team making the transaction.
George Iloka is a solid safety. He’s not particularly great at anything, but he has no liabilities either. I imagine that the Cowboys would like to spend a second-day pick on a safety, as I have happening in my 2019 NFL Mock Draft, but this is more of an insurance policy in case the front office can’t get the player at the position that it wants. If the Cowboys whiff on their safety of choice, they can get away with Iloka seeing significant snaps for them. If not, Iloka will be an excellent backup. Either way, he’s well worth the $1.02 million salary and $300,000 guaranteed.
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Texans sign OT Matt Kalil (1 year, $7.5 million; $2.25 million guaranteed): D Grade
Here’s another signing from March which took forever for the contract details to be revealed. They’re out now, and even though I’m staring at the numbers on Spotrac, I can’t quite believe them.
I understand that the Texans are desperate for offensive line help, but I don’t get why they’d give Matt Kalil this much money. Kalil was one of the worst tackles in the NFL in 2017 and beforehand, and then he missed all of this past season with a knee injury. There’s no indication that Kalil, 30 in July, will ever live up to his billing as the No. 4 overall pick from the 2012 NFL Draft, and there’s not even a guarantee that he’s completely healthy.
Had the Texans signed Kalil to a 1-year deal for the veteran minimum, I would’ve been fine with it. But they gave him more than $2 million in guarantees, which is just absurd. This isn’t quite “F” territory, but it’s close.
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Bears re-sign DE/OLB Aaron Lynch (1 year, $1.5 million): B+ Grade
I had an e-mail request to grade this signing. I missed the details of it earlier, but here they are: The Bears re-signed Aaron Lynch to a 1-year, $1.5 million deal, with all but $250,000 of the money being guaranteed.
This is a solid move, worthy of a B+. Lynch is Chicago’s third outside linebacker, behind Khalil Mack and Leonard Floyd. He played about a third of the snaps last year, accumulating three sacks. His primary strength was his run support. Lynch is a nice backup to have, and he’s still young enough (26) to improve his game, so this was a quality re-signing.
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Eagles sign S Andrew Sendejo (1 year, $1.3 million): A Grade
The Eagles signed Andrew Sendejo way back on March 18, but contract details weren’t released for weeks. We finally have them: The Eagles gave Sendejo just $1.3 million for a single season.
I think this is a terrific acquisition. Sendejo used to be an important member of the Vikings’ defense, but age (32 in September) and injuries forced the Vikings to go younger and healthier at the position. Sendejo hasn’t played a full season since 2014, and he was on the field for just five games last year.
That said, Sendejo has played on a high level when healthy. He had a Pro Bowl-caliber 2017 campaign, and I don’t see why he can’t thrive again this upcoming season. Sure, Sendejo will be 32, but we’ve seen safeties play at a high level into their mid-30s. Injuries could be a factor again, but even if Sendejo continues to get hurt, it’s not like the Eagles will be punished for signing him, as they gave him just $1.3 million for 2019.
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Patriots re-sign K Stephen Gostkowski (2 years, $8.5 million): B+ Grade
It was shocking to me that Stephen Gostkowski was on the market for so long. Teams have given kickers big-money contracts this offseason, so I expected some franchise to throw tons of cash in Gostkowski’s direction. Here are some of those expensive kicker deals:
Wil Lutz (Saints): 5 years, $20.25 million
Jason Myers (Seahawks): 4 years, $15 million
Josh Lambo (Jaguars): 4 years, $15.5 million
Instead, Gostkowski returned to New England for fair compensation. I know that the average salary per season is a bit more, but it’s for half the duration. A 2-year contract is much better than a pact that lasts four or five years. I don’t know why any team would want to be tied to a kicker for that long, given how mentally unstable they can be. If Lutz, Myers or Lambo begins missing kicks and suffers a psychological breakdown, the Saints, Seahawks or Jaguars will be punished for it. The Patriots won’t really suffer the same penalty because the Gostkowski contract is for two years.
With that in mind, I’m willing to give this a B+. I won’t go above that because we’re discussing a kicker signing, but Gostkowski (27-of-32 in 2018) is the third-most-accurate kicker in NFL history, so he deserves to be compensated like this.
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Browns sign S Morgan Burnett (2 years, $7.5 million; $3.65 million guaranteed): A+ Grade
The Browns signed Morgan Burnett a week ago, but contract details weren’t revealed until now. With those coming to light, it’s apparent that this was yet another terrific move by general manager John Dorsey in what has turned out to be an excellent offseason for the Browns.
Burnett was once a stellar defensive back in Green Bay’s defense, as he played numerous positions at a high level. I thought the Steelers made a great signing when they acquired him cheaply last spring, but they didn’t use him optimally, so he didn’t have a good year. I expect Burnett to bounce back if the Browns utilize him properly, and I imagine that they will, given their need at safety in the wake of the Jabrill Peppers trade.
Burnett, at this stage of his career, is not an upgrade over Peppers, but he can do a solid job replacing him. He turned 30 in January, but should still have one or two solid seasons remaining in the tank. With that in mind, this contract seems like a great bargain. It’s really a 1-year deal worth $4.65 million, so the Browns can get out of this pact next spring if Burnett struggles. This seems like a great move overall, especially when considering that the Browns poached a player from their arch rival’s roster.
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April 10 Updates
Giants re-sign WR Sterling Shepard (4 years, $41 million; $21.3 million guaranteed): C- Grade
Sterling Shepard had three or fewer catches in six games last season, and he also has yet to eclipse 900 yards in a single season throughout his career. Naturally, the Giants awarded him with a $41 million contract with more than $21 million in guarantees.
I don’t understand this signing. Shepard is probably worth half as much, though I will say that I can’t state that no other team would give him this sort of money, given how absurdly overpaid receivers have been over the past couple of offseasons. Still, this is way too much for an above-average wideout.
I considered going with a “D” or lower, but I’ve settled on a C-. Shepard has the potential to improve, as he’s just 26, so it wouldn’t totally shock me if he were to take a big step in the near future. However, this is not a good signing, as it seems like the Giants are overcompensating for the bad trade they made earlier in the offseason.
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April 5 Updates
Cowboys re-sign DE DeMarcus Lawrence (5 years, $105 million; $65 million guaranteed): B+ Grade
When players become the highest-paid athletes at their position, it’s not always well deserved. In this case, it is, as DeMarcus Lawrence should be the highest-paid 4-3 defensive end in the league.
Lawrence has been a monster over the past couple of years, logging 25 sacks over the past two seasons. He’s also just 26, so it’s possible that he could continue to improve his game. It’s sometimes perilous to pay a non-quarterback this much money, but Dallas’ defense would’ve taken a huge hit had the front office not re-signed Lawrence.
I’m giving Dallas a B+ for this move. This cannot be an “A” grade because it’s not a bargain of any sort, but re-signing Lawrence was a good decision.
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April 3 Updates
Bengals re-sign CB Darqueze Dennard (1 year, $4.5 million): A+ Grade
This is a bizarre signing. It’s not a bad one; in fact, it’s great. It’s just odd for a couple of reasons.
First, Darqueze Dennard wasn’t expected back in Cincinnati once the team signed B.W. Webb to play in the slot, so it’s surprising that Dennard returned. Second, Dennard is a far better player than Webb, and yet this contract is more favorable than the one the Bengals gave to Webb (3 years, $13 million.)
I don’t understand why Dennard couldn’t get a more lucrative contract on the open market. He’s a solid slot cornerback and should’ve at least been given a deal more favorable than Webb’s. The Bengals won’t complain, as they’re getting Dennard at a huge bargain.
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Raiders sign WR Ryan Grant (1 year, $2.5 million): B Grade
Remember when the Ravens gave Ryan Grant a 4-year, $29 million contract with $14.5 million guaranteed last offseason? The Ravens were very fortunate that they were able to nullify that deal without any repercussions. Grant ended up joining the Colts and registering just 35 catches for 334 yards in 2018.
While Grant was inexplicably severely overpaid by Baltimore, this contract is a fine one. Grant is a halfway decent receiver who would’ve posted better stats last year had he not dealt with a toe injury. He’s worth signing for $2.5 million. He’ll be a nice depth player behind Antonio Brown and Tyrell Williams if he ends up making the roster, which can’t be a given.
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April 1 Updates
Lions sign RB C.J. Anderson (1 year): A Grade
It’s unclear at the moment how much C.J. Anderson will earn next year, but he signed a 1-year deal with the Lions that likely won’t be too lucrative.
If so, this is an outstanding move. The Lions wasted way too many downs on LeGarrette Blount last year. Anderson is better and younger at the moment, as evidenced by his performance in the playoffs last year. He’ll be a nice, presumably cheap complement to Kerryon Johnson, and he comes with zero risk.
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March 30 Updates
Saints sign TE Jared Cook (2 years, $15.5 million; $8 million guaranteed): A+ Grade
Jared Cook is coming off his most productive season as a pro. He caught 68 passes for 896 yards and six touchdowns despite only 79 percent of his passes being catchable, thanks to Derek Carr’s pedestrian passing skills. As a comparison, 93 percent of Ben Watson’s passes were catchable from Drew Brees last year (thanks, Felton S.)
This just goes to show what the younger and more-talented Cook will be able to do as an upgrade over Watson. Cook is a great addition, especially when considering the finances. This contract says it’s for $15.5 million over two seasons, but it’s really just a 1-year pact worth $8 million, which the Saints can easily get out of next spring if they want to. I love this signing as a result, as it’s a low-risk, very high-reward acquisition.
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March 28 Updates
Raiders sign RB Isaiah Crowell (1 year, $2.5 million): B Grade
The top running backs on Oakland’s roster prior to today were Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington, so the Raiders had to find some sort of an upgrade. Isaiah Crowell isn’t a great player, but he certainly qualifies.
Crowell won’t provide a big boost at the position, but he’ll at least be an insurance policy in case Oakland can’t find a better option in the 2019 NFL Draft. Crowell has plenty of natural talent and showcased it in 2016. He has struggled since, but perhaps this 1-year “prove it” deal will keep him motivated. Crowell could continue to struggle, but there’s no risk involved with this signing, so it’s definitely a fine move.
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Raiders sign ILB Brandon Marshall (1 year, $4.1 million): A Grade
The Raiders stealing Brandon Marshall from the Broncos was unthinkable a few years ago. Marshall was a stellar player and a key member of Denver’s Super Bowl-winning defense in 2015. Things have changed, however, as Marshall’s performance has fallen off a cliff in recent seasons, thanks to a barrage of injuries.
There is some hope that Marshall could bolster Oakland’s linebacking corps, however. Marshall isn’t 30 yet, so he has time to revitalize his career. I wouldn’t bet heavily on him doing so, but it’s not like the Raiders are with this deal. It’s only a 1-year contract worth $4.1 million, so there’s barely any risk involved.
I like this signing enough to give it an “A” grade. If it works out, the Raiders will have stolen a solid player from a big-time rival. If it doesn’t pan out, Oakland can just move on without any sort of repercussions.
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March 25 Updates
Raiders sign QB Mike Glennon (1 year, $2 million): A Grade
The average going rate for backup quarterbacks is about $3-4 million per year. Mike Glennon is definitely better than a mediocre reserve. He’s one of the better No. 2 signal-callers in the NFL, so I like the value the Raiders are getting with him. A backup veteran quarterback doesn’t mean as much to the Raiders because they won’t need wins if their starter goes down, but Glennon should be a solid guy to have in the meeting room, especially if Oakland selects a signal-caller early in the 2019 NFL Draft.
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Cowboys sign DE Kerry Hyder (1 year, $1 million): A+ Grade
I absolutely love this signing. Kerry Hyder had a quality 2016 campaign, accumulating eight sacks. He hasn’t done much since because he missed all of 2017 with a torn Achilles and never fit into Detroit’s new 3-4 last year.
Hyder has a good chance of rebounding now that he’s in a 4-3 scheme again. He could come close to double-digit sacks once more, as he’ll be replacing the troubled Randy Gregory. Even if he doesn’t bounce back, Dallas doesn’t stand to lose anything, as Hyder was signed on for just one year.
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Cowboys re-sign WR Tavon Austin (1 year, $1.75 million): B Grade
Tavon Austin was signed nearly two weeks ago, but it took a long time for contract details to be released. They’re available now, and the financials on this signing are quite the doozy.
OK, maybe not. This is not the most exciting signing, but it’s fine. The Cowboys said they wanted to give Austin around 20 touches per game during the 2018 season, but he ended up handling the ball 14 times in seven games. However, Austin will have more of a role on special teams this year with Cole Beasley gone, so it makes sense to bring him back at a reasonable price.
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Bills sign CB E.J. Gaines (1 year, $3.6 million): A Grade
E.J. Gaines played very well for the Bills a couple of years ago. He signed with the Browns last offseason, creating a void at the position across from Tre’Davious White. Perhaps Gaines will fill his own hole, as he is returning to Buffalo after his 1-year hiatus.
Gaines is a talented cornerback when healthy, but he’s had trouble staying on the field. Thanks to injuries and concussions, Gaines played just six games last year after being on the field for 11 contests in 2017. It’s unclear if Gaines will be able to overcome these issues, but why not find out for just $3.6 million? It’s a small price to pay for a talented cornerback. This signing has good upside if Gaines can be healthier. If not, Buffalo won’t really stand to lose anything with this move.
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March 22 Updates
Lions sign CB Rashaan Melvin (1 year, $3.5 million): A+ Grade
This is an outstanding signing. Rashaan Melvin is a talented cornerback with good size (6-2, 196). The reason he was available so cheaply is because of his durability. He has yet to play a full season in the NFL.
However, this could change. I’ve used this example before, but long-time Jaguars running back Fred Taylor used to be known as “Fragile Fred,” but he eventually had a string of several seasons in which he never got hurt. This could happen to Melvin, and if so, the Lions will look like geniuses for filling a huge need at such a cheap rate. If, however, Melvin continues to suffer injuries, the Lions won’t be penalized by this 1-year “prove it” deal.
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Rams re-sign RB Malcolm Brown (2 years, $3.25 million): B Grade
Malcolm Brown’s broken collarbone helped the Rams reach the Super Bowl last year. Had Brown not suffered an injury, Los Angeles wouldn’t have signed C.J. Anderson, who was terrific in the playoffs.
That said, Brown is a capable backup himself. The Lions actually tried to sign him as a restricted free agent to this exact deal, but the Rams were able to keep him by matching the offer. This was a solid move, as there’s no guarantee that Anderson will return next year.
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Eagles sign DE Vinny Curry (1 year, $2.25 million): A Grade
Howie Roseman is a great general manager, though it helps him that there are so many incompetent teams in the NFL. That’s why signings like this look so great for the Eagles. Philadelphia was able to obtain Curry for just $2.25 million for 2019 after the Buccaneers gave him a 3-year, $23 million conract last spring.
Tampa clearly overpaid for Curry, who disappointed last season. This was a surprise after he had played so well for the Eagles, so perhaps the money just went to his head. It’s also possible that he regressed because he reached his 30s. Either way, he’s well worth the minimal risk for the Eagles to bring him back at such a low price. Curry could continue to struggle, but it’s more likely that he’ll pick up where he left off following the 2017 campaign, given that he’ll be in a comfortable system and also will motivated to earn another lucrative deal.
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Panthers sign DE/OLB Bruce Irvin (1 year, $4 million): A Grade
The Panthers are moving to a 3-4, so they had to find some potent edge rushers to fit their scheme. Bruce Irvin has lots of experience in the 4-3, but when he was entering the NFL out of West Virginia, I believed that he would be a better fit in the 3-4. We’ll finally get to see him in that formation in 2019.
Irvin does everything well, but his best attribute is his pass-rushing ability. Despite his age (32 in November), Irvin continued to show off his quality edge-rushing skills late last year when he logged 3.5 sacks in the final four games with the Falcons. Irvin should be able to parlay that into a successful 2019 campaign.
There is definitely some concern that Irvin will regress because of his age, but the Panthers aren’t taking a risk with this 1-year “prove it” contract for only $4 million. They’ll be getting Irvin’s best effort, as he’ll be trying to earn one last lucrative contract in his career.
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Broncos re-sign NT Zach Kerr (2 years, $5 million; $600,000 guaranteed): B+ Grade
Zach Kerr may not offer anything as far as pass-rushing skills are concerned, but he’s been a solid player for the Broncos recently as a monstrous, 330-pound run-stuffer. He’s a key role player on Denver’s defense, so keeping him around on a cheap deal was a nice move by the Broncos.
Denver ended up giving Kerr less than $1 million in guarantees, so they can get out of this contract very easily next spring if they don’t want to keep Kerr around anymore. This contract should be graded favorably as a result.
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Bengals re-sign TE Tyler Eifert (1 year, $4 million): A Grade
Andy Dalton’s production splits with and without Tyler Eifert are night and day. This shouldn’t be a surprise, given how talented Eifert is. That’s why it’s such a shame that Eifert hasn’t been able to stay healthy throughout his career. Eifert has played in just six of 32 possible games over the past two seasons.
Despite Eifert’s very dubious health history, this is a rare, great move by the Bengals this offseason. The odds are against Eifert playing even half of 2019, but the Bengals might as well take a chance for just $4 million. They re-signed Eifert to just a 1-year contract, so if Eifert barely plays once again, the Bengals can just move on next spring without any sort of repercussions.
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Jaguars sign LB Jake Ryan (2 years, $7.5 million; $1 million guaranteed): A- Grade
Jake Ryan was a candidate for a 1-year “prove it” deal after missing all of 2018 with a torn ACL. He was signed to a 2-year contract, but with only $1 million guaranteed, Jacksonville won’t suffer any sort of penalty for cutting him after 2019.
I like this signing quite a bit. The Jaguars missed Paul Posluszny last year, and Ryan will be able to fill his shoes well, at least in run support. Ryan has been very good in that regard throughout his career. He’s not nearly as good in coverage, but Jacksonville won’t ask him to play all three downs at this salary.
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Rams sign QB Blake Bortles (1 year, $1 million): A+ Grade
I never thought I’d grade anything associated with Blake Bortles as an A+, aside from Bortles’ ability to run up a bar tab at the local private night club. Yet, here we are. A team is getting an A+ for signing Bortles.
I mentioned below that the average going rate for a medium backup quarterback is about $3-4 million. Bortles is better than a mediocre No. 2 signal-caller. That may sound crazy, but he has tons of arm talent and tremendous mobility. From an overall, raw talent perspective, Bortles is up there among the tier-two quarterbacks in the NFL. The problem with Bortles has been his reluctance to dedicate himself to his craft. Rather than study film and improve his game, he opted to party hard all the time. As a result, Bortles never knows what defenses are doing, while his mechanics have never been fixed.
However, getting cut by the Jaguars may have served as a wake-up call for Bortles. He may recognize this as his last chance to remain in the NFL, so perhaps he’ll apply himself for the first time in his career. He’ll certainly have some great quarterback coaching in Los Angeles, as Sean McVay turned Jared Goof into Jared Goff a couple of years ago. Perhaps McVay will be able to transform Blake Bottles into Blake Bortles. It’s also Bortles will continue to party his career away, but for just $1 million in 2019, he’s well worth the risk.
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Patriots sign NT Mike Pennel (2 years, $5 million): A+ Grade
I like what the Jets have done this offseason, outside of letting go of Mike Pennel. It was initially speculated that Pennel wouldn’t fit New York’s new 4-3 defense, but it was then announced that the Jets would stick with the 3-4. Cutting Pennel made no sense in the wake of that news, especially when considering that it allowed the Patriots to scoop him up.
Pennel offers nothing as a pass rusher, but that’s fine because he’s excellent at stuffing the run. The Patriots needed a dominant presence like Pennel’s in the interior of their defensive line after losing Malcom Brown this offseason. Pennel will be an upgrade over Brown for sure.
Pennel should’ve commanded a healthy contract, yet the Patriots obtained him for just $5 million over two years, which is a tremendous bargain.
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Patriots sign WRs Maurice Harris, Bruce Ellington (1 year, $1 million; 1 year, $895,000): A- Grade
The Patriots didn’t have any viable receivers outside of Julian Edelman entering the offseason, thanks to Josh Gordon’s off-the-field troubles. These two signings weren’t exactly what New England fans were thinking of when acknowledging that the team needed help at the position, but both Maurice Harris and Bruce Ellington were nice additions.
Of course, it helps that neither wideout was signed on for more than $1 million in 2019. Both offer good upside, however. Ellington is a skilled slot receiver who caught 23 passes in just four games with the Lions late in the year prior to suffering an injury. Ellington’s health has always been a concern, but he’ll be a nice substitute for Edelman in the event of an injury. Harris, meanwhile, is a 6-foot-3, 200-pound receiver with good potential. Harris flashed that upside last year when he caught 10 passes for 124 yards against the Falcons in Week 9, but was stricken with poor quarterback play once Alex Smith suffered an injury two weeks later.
I think both of these moves deserve a grade in the “A” range. Neither comes with any risk, yet Harris and Ellington could both be productive for the Patriots in 2019.
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March 21 Updates
Falcons sign TE Luke Stocker (2 years, $5.5 million; $1.5 million guaranteed): B+ Grade
I can’t believe it. After seeing so many bad contracts given to tight ends this offseason, I figured this would be another horrible one. I expected to find out that Atlanta gave Luke Stocker a 3-year, $19 million contract. If that sounds absurd, you haven’t been paying attention to what other teams have done so far!
This is a much more reasonable contract. Stocker doesn’t do much as a receiver, which is fine because Austin Hooper improved his game last year. Stocker, however, thrives in blocking. I’ve mentioned before that blocking tight ends grow on trees – and they do – but giving a good one a contract like this should be praised after what transpired last week.
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Seahawks sign G Mike Iupati (1 year, $2.75 million): B+ Grade
A Seahawk fan e-mailed me when this signing happened and told me to grade this as an “F.” His reasoning was that Iupati was atrocious in Arizona, and rightly so. I couldn’t issue a grade at that time because the financial details weren’t known, but they’ve finally been released.
At the risk of losing a reader, I like this move. There’s zero risk involved, as it’s just a single-season contract worth less than $3 million. There is reward though, as Iupati used to be a talented blocker, but injuries have derailed his career. At 32, it’s probably too late for Iupati, but I don’t think it’s out of the question that he could improve his health and have a decent season, filling a huge need on Seattle’s front line. I don’t think it’ll happen, but it’s worth taking the risk at just $2.75 million.
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Colts sign DE/OLB Justin Houston (2 years, $24 million): B+ Grade
The Colts entered the offseason with the most cap space in the NFL, yet they hadn’t done anything outside of re-signing Pierre Desir and obtaining Devin Funchess to a 1-year deal. Given that they’re on the cusp of contending for the Super Bowl, it was disappointing not to see them do anything prior to this day.
The Justin Houston signing changes that, though it’s not a guarantee to provide a big boost for Indianapolis. Houston is a huge name, but he has regressed in recent years. Injuries have hurt his career recently, as he’s played more than 12 games just once since 2014. He hasn’t registered double-digit sacks in four years. He’s also turned 30 recently, so the odds of him rebounding aren’t great, though that occurring is possible.
Despite everything I just wrote, I like this move. This is not a long-term contract, so it’s not a huge risk. And even if Houston doesn’t reach double-digit sack territory again, he’ll still help with the pass rush, which was lackluster last year. With more than $70 million to spend, the money had to go somewhere, so giving Houston this sort of a deal isn’t a bad move by any means.
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Cardinals sign G J.R. Sweezy (2 years, $9 million; $3 million guaranteed): B- Grade
J.R. Sweezy is coming off the worst season of his career, so he was a prime candidate for a 1-year “prove it” deal. This is a 2-year pact on paper, but it’s actually a single-season contract worth $5.468 million, which Arizona can get out of next offseason with just $1.5 million in cap space.
I think this is a fine gamble on Sweezy, who used to be a good blocker before leg and foot injuries derailed his career. He could certainly rebound and become a solid lineman again. That said, I’m not quite sure what he’s done recently to deserve $3 million guaranteed, so I think this grade should be in the B-/C+ range.
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Giants sign S Antoine Bethea (2 years, $6.5 million; $3.475 million guaranteed): A+ Grade
I did this earlier with the Donte Moncrief signing, but this is a move that occurred last week, which I’m grading now because contract details have finally been released. In this case, the Giants are getting former Cardinals safety Antoine Bethea for about $3 million per season.
Bethea used to be a solid player, but his performance regressed this past season. He still covered well, but missed too many tackles. It’s not surprising that Bethea’s play declined, as he turns 35 in July.
Still, this is a solid move. Bethea figures to be a good backup at this stage of his career, and that’s exactly how he’s being paid. The Giants needed safety help beyond Jabrill Peppers in the wake of Landon Collins’ departure, and Bethea looks like a quality insurance policy in case the Giants can’t get a better player in the 2019 NFL Draft.
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Cardinals sign DT Darius Philon (2 years, $10 million): A+ Grade
It was once speculated that the Cardinals would use the top pick in the 2019 NFL Draft on Quinnen Williams. With the Kyler Murray selection being imminent, the Cardinals had to find another player to replace Calais Campbell, and they managed to do that with Darius Philon.
Philon may not be a big name, but he’s a very underrated player. He’s very good at clogging running lanes, and he’s beginning to develop some pass-rushing skills. Also, the former sixth-round pick is only 25, so he has plenty of potential to improve his game.
Philon should’ve gotten more money than this, and perhaps he would have if he didn’t play in the football black hole known as San Angeles. The Cardinals won’t complain, as they’re getting an absolute steal to fill a big need.
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Steelers sign WR Donte Moncrief (2 years, $9 million; $3.5 million guaranteed): B+ Grade
Donte Moncrief signed a 1-year “prove it” deal last offseason, joining the Jaguars for $9.6 million. Despite some hype heading into the year, Hype didn’t do much, catching just 48 passes for 668 yards and three touchdowns.
That said, Moncrief didn’t have much of a chance because he was paired with Blake Bortles. Moncrief was more productive when he was catching passes from Andrew Luck earlier in his career, and Ben Roethlisberger will be the best quarterback Moncrief will be catching passes from since Luck. It’s fair to expect him to see an uptick in production, so it could be possible that he’ll emerge as a capable No. 2 wideout across from JuJu Smith-Schuster.
I’d grade this as an A- or a B+. I’d lean toward the latter because I don’t think Moncrief deserves $3.5 million in guarantees, but this contract is truly just a 1-year pact worth $5 million, which seems like a bargain.
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March 20 Updates
Vikings sign G Josh Kline (3 years, $15.5 million): C- Grade
Josh Kline played well for the Titans prior to 2018. He signed a 4-year, $26 million last spring, but his play fell off a cliff this past season. Perhaps the money went to his head, or maybe there was an injury we don’t know about. Either way, the Titans cut Kline in an attempt to upgrade him.
Apparently, one team’s trash is another team’s treasure, as the Vikings signed Kline to a 3-year deal worth $15.5 million. I understand that Minnesota is absolutely desperate for offensive line help, but this is an overpay. Given how horribly Kline played in 2018, the Vikings should’ve been able to get him at a discount. Kline getting $5 million per year is a decrease in pay compared to the previous contract, but this is still way too much money for one of the men responsible for Marcus Mariota taking 11 sacks in a single game.
There’s a chance Kline will bounce back in 2019, so I don’t want to grade this too harshly. However, the Vikings should have been able to get Kline, or someone else of his caliber, at a better bargain.
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Jets sign QB Trevor Siemian (1 year, $2 million): A- Grade
I mentioned below that the average rate for a capable backup quarterback is $4 million per season. I gave the Texans a B+ for signing A.J. McCarron because he’s set to earn a million less than that. Thus, the Jets deserve an even better grade for obtaining Trevor Siemian.
I have Siemian and McCarron rated about evenly in the NFL Free Agent Quarterback Rankings. McCarron is actually listed a couple of spots above McCarron, but both are 1.5-star players. A fair deal for Siemian, who proved he was a capable signal-caller while with the Broncos, would be for $4 million over one season. Getting him for $2 million is definitely a bargain. He’ll be a solid player behind Sam Darnold, and if he has to start a game or two, the Jets won’t automatically be handed a loss unless they’re playing the Patriots. Siemian is also smart, so having him in the meeting room is a plus.
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March 19 Updates
Texans sign QB A.J. McCarron (1 year, $3 million): B+ Grade
The financial rule with backup quarterbacks is that the average player at that position should earn about $4 million per season. I’d say A.J. McCarron qualifies as an average backup signal-caller, so this seems like a slight bargain.
I like this signing for Houston. It’s not great, but McCarron is definitely an upgrade over Brandon Weeden. McCarron proved that he could manage a talented team into the playoffs when he led the Bengals there a few years ago. In fact, he would’ve won a postseason game if it wasn’t for Vontaze Burfict’s antics. The Texans would’ve been screwed with Weeden as their starter in the event of a Deshaun Watson multi-week injury, but McCarron will be able to get some wins in the short term.
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Rams sign DE/OLB Clay Matthews (2 years, $9.25 million): C+ Grade
Some well-known media members are calling this signings one of the “top free agent moves” of the offseason. I’m guessing those media members didn’t watch Clay Matthews play last year.
Matthews is a shell of his former self. Turning 33 in May, Matthews recorded the lowest sack total of his career in 2018 (3.5). This was not a misleading stat; Matthews looked like he was running in quicksand at times. He was a complete non-factor in 2018.
That said, I don’t think this signing is horrible. I don’t think it’s out of the question that Matthews could have one more decent season under Wade Phillips. I personally don’t think that’ll happen, but it could. I just wish Matthews signed a 1-year “prove it” deal instead of this 2-year contract. Maybe that’s what this pact really is, and if so, I may raise this grade. For now, this signing should be in the “C” range.
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Raiders sign LB Vontaze Burfict (1 year, $5 million): A Grade
There was speculaton earlier in the offseason that Vontaze Burfict would have to retire because of his history of concussions. That’s why it’s so surprising that he signed with another team so soon after the Bengals released him.
Burfict was once regarded as one of the best off-LOS linebackers in the NFL. That has changed in the wake of his many concussions and other injuries. Burfict is still a quality player when healthy, and if the Raiders’ medical staff cleared him – I assume this is the case, given that they signed him – then this is an outstanding acquisition.
Burfict comes with zero risk at this contract, so this is nothing but upside. Furthermore, he’ll reunite with his former defensive coordinator, Paul Gunther, so Burfict won’t have any sort of adjustment period. This is a great move for Oakland, worthy of an “A” grade.
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Cowboys sign WR Randall Cobb (1 year, $5 million): A- Grade
If there was one player available on the market this spring who should’ve gotten a 1-year “prove it” deal, it was Randall Cobb. The former Packer receiver had an explosive start to his career, but his production has plummeted over the years because of a myriad of injuries. However, Cobb isn’t 30 yet, so if he can get over his health woes, he could be productive once again.
I really like this signing, and it definitely deserves to be graded in the “A” range. I’m giving it an A- because I’m pessimistic about Cobb’s chances of overcoming his injuries, but the Cowboys aren’t really risking anything with this signing. It’s all potential upside with Cobb, who will take the place of the departed Cole Beasley.
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March 18 Updates
Saints sign K Wil Lutz (5 years, $20.25 million; $9.2 million guaranteed): C Grade
Wil Lutz signed this contract last week, but contract details are finally known. He was retained on a 5-year, $20.25 million deal with $9.2 million guaranteed.
Lutz has been one of the top kickers in the NFL over the past three years. He’s been 87-of-100 over the past three seasons, including 28-of-30 in 2018. Most of Lutz’s kicks have come indoors, but he’s been prolific since joining New Orleans.
Though Lutz is a great kicker, this contract isn’t as good. Kickers seemingly come and go all the time, as some errant attempts force them into mental breakdowns. If that happens with Lutz, the Saints will be stuck with some dead cap money. Of course, Lutz could continue to be great, and if so, the Saints won’t look bad for giving Lutz this deal. Overall, it feels like the Saints overpaid, but not egregiously so.
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Redskins sign OT Ereck Flowers (1 year, $4 million): B Grade
Some may roll their eyes at this signing, given how horribly Ereck Flowers struggled with the rival Giants. However, this seems like a decent signing to me.
Flowers was atrocious with the Giants, resembling a human turnstile, but he’s a former top-10 pick who still happens to be just 24 years old. Perhaps Flowers can make a jump in performance with better coaching. Even if it’s just a slight improvement, he could serve as a decent backup behind Trent Williams and Morgan Moses. The Redskins lost their swing tackle, Ty Nsekhe, to free agency this offseason, so they needed to replace him. Despite his failure in New York, Flowers was one of the top options as a replacement.
Also, it must be pointed out that the Redskins aren’t risking anything. Flowers was signed on for just one year, so the Redskins can just move on from him if he doesn’t upgrade his play.
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Chiefs sign CB Bashaud Breeland (1 year, $5 million): B+ Grade
The Chiefs are desperate for cornerbacks, so any half-decent player at the position is welcome in Kansas City at the moment. Bashaud Breeland played just 330 snaps last year, but he fits in that category.
Breeland is a mediocre starting cornerback when healthy, but he has a dubious injury history. In fact, a 3-year contract he signed with the Panthers was recently rescinded because he couldn’t pass a physical. Breeland would ordinarily come with a high amount of risk, but that’s not the case with this 1-year contract with a maximum value of $5 million. This signing should be graded favorably, as the Chiefs are getting good upside without any drawbacks.
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March 17 Updates
Saints sign C Nick Easton (4 years, $24 million): D- Grade
It’s important not to overreact to retirements of important players, yet that seems to be exactly what the Saints have done in the wake of this signing.
This seems to be a major overpay. I ranked Nick Easton as a one-star free agent because I thought there was a chance his career could be over in the wake of his neck surgery, which caused him to miss all of 2018. The year before, Easton was just a below-average starter. It’s nice that he continue his career. However, considering Easton’s health status, the Saints should’ve been able to get the former Viking at a major discount. Instead, they aren’t even just paying full price for him; they’re giving him way more money than he deserves.
The Saints have a great front office, but this seems to be a rare blunder. There’s a chance this signing pans out, and Easton does well for the Saints, but this signing is far too expensive for my liking.
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Steelers sign LB Mark Barron (2 years, $12 million): B Grade
Mark Barron is coming off his worst year yet, but that may have been because of an ankle injury he never recovered from. Barron should recover and perform better in 2019, though his age (30 in October) is starting to be a factor.
That said, this is a fine signing. The Steelers are desperate for linebacker help, and while Barron won’t fill the need, he’ll at least provide some nice insurance in case the front office can’t obtain Devin Bush in the 2019 NFL Draft (or Devin White via a trade up.)
This contract is for what I thought it would be, though it’s a bit disappointing that the Steelers couldn’t get Barron on a slightly better deal, given his injuries from last year.
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Dolphins sign QB Ryan Fitzpatrick (2 years, $11 million): C- Grade
Ryan Fitzpatrick put together some brilliant performances last year. He had some dud outings as well, but anyone who expects more of the former in 2019 will be sorely disappointed.
Fitzpatrick torched the Saints, Eagles and Steelers to open the season, but he had an arsenal of talented weapons at his disposal. Mike Evans, DeSean Jackson, Chris Godwin, Adam Humphries and O.J. Howard are all more talented than anyone the Dolphins have at receiver or tight end. Fitzpatrick will be working with a far worse supporting cast in Miami, so he’ll struggle, especially considering that he turns 37 in November.
This just seems like a stupid signing. The Dolphins should’ve gone for a quarterback with more upside. Blake Bortles, for example, would’ve been a better choice. Bortles has been terrible throughout his career, but he at least has potential. Perhaps getting cut by the Jaguars would’ve served as a wake-up call for him. If not, the Dolphins would just end up with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, which seems to be the plan anyway.
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March 16 Updates
Seahawks re-sign G D.J. Fluker (2 years, $6 million; $1 million guaranteed): B- Grade
D.J. Fluker was Seattle’s starting right guard last year, but he wasn’t very good. I wouldn’t quite call him horrendous, but he’s someone the Seahawks should’ve focused on upgrading this offseason.
That said, two years and $6 million seems fair for a player Seattle might be forced into starting this upcoming season. Plus, I like the idea of keeping continuity on the offensive line, so I’m mostly in favor of re-signing Fluker. I’m not sure he deserved the $1 million guarantee, but that’s not a huge deal.
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Giants sign DE/OLB Markus Golden (1 year, $3.75 million): A+ Grade
The Giants have been criticized heavily this offseason, but they’ve made several positive moves. I’d definitely put this one in that category, as New York was able to obtain a tremendous bargain by adding Markus Golden.
Golden was a tremendous pass-rusher two seasons ago, logging 12.5 sacks. However, he was sidelined for 12 games in 2017 because of a knee injury, and he struggled last year because of that reason, as well as the fact that he was moved into a 4-3. Now two years removed from his knee problems, Golden figures to bounce back, especially given that he’ll be in a 3-4 again. Furthermore, he’ll be reunited with his former defensive coordinator, James Bettcher, so he won’t have to transition into an unfamiliar scheme.
This is an easy A+. The Giants are risking nothing on a player who has a high probability of bouncing back to a high level of play.
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March 16 Updates
Broncos sign CB Bryce Callahan (3 years, $21 million): B+ Grade
The Broncos had an elite secondary known as the No Fly Zone a couple of years ago, but that has changed recently. Thanks to the loss of Aqib Talib and the regression of the safeties, Denver’s defensive backfield has been nearly as dominant of late. Things look like they’re changing for the better, however.
Denver has brought in two new talented cornerbacks in Kareem Jackson and now Bryce Callahan. The latter is one of the best slot cornerbacks in the NFL. He comes with some injury concerns – he has never played a full season and recently had a foot problem – but is extremely talented and is well worth this price tag. I thought Callahan would be available for a bit cheaper than this, considering his health woes, but this signing should still be graded favorably.
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Eagles re-sign CB Ronald Darby (1 year, $8.5 million): A+ Grade
Ronald Darby took a visit to the Chiefs earlier in the week, but it must not have gone that well. Darby couldn’t find a buyer on the open market to give him a big contract, so he settled for a 1-year “prove it” deal with the Eagles.
I’ve made it known how much I love 1-year “prove it” contracts, and this one is no different. Darby is a very talented cornerback and won’t even turn 26 until the end of the 2019 season. He would’ve gotten a massive contract this offseason had it not been for injury concerns. Darby has played in just 17 of 32 possible games over the past two years, hence why he had to settle for something like this.
The Eagles won’t complain. They’ll be able to keep their No. 1 cornerback at zero long-term risk. This deserves an easy A+ grade.
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Cowboys sign DT Christian Covington (1 year, $2.5 million): A+ Grade
This is an excellent signing by the Cowboys. Dallas suddenly has some defensive line issues with Randy Gregory getting into trouble again and David Irving smoking his career away, so they needed help up front. They obtained a nice boost with Christian Covington.
Covington is one of the best run-stuffing defensive linemen in the NFL. His pass-rushing skills aren’t very good, but at 25, he has plenty of time to develop those.
Even if Covington doesn’t improve his pass-rushing ability, this is still a steal. Obtaining one of the top run defenders in the league for just $2.5 million is highway robbery. Fortunately, there won’t be any lawsuits stemming from this Covington story.
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Buccaneers sign P Bradley Pinion (4 years, $11 million; $3.6 million guaranteed): D Grade
I just praised the Buccaneers for an excellent signing (see below), so that will help offset this move, which is worthy a poor grade.
I’m not sure why the Buccaneers spend so many resources on kickers and punters. They moved up in the second round a few years ago for a kicker, and now they’re giving a mediocre punter $3.6 million in guarantees for some reason. Bradley Pinion was 10th in net punting average in 2017, but saw that ranking drop to 24th last year. No punter deserves $3.6 million guaranteed, esepcially one in the bottom 10 of net average.
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Buccaneers sign DE/OLB Shaq Barrett (1 year, $5 million): A Grade
Shaq Barrett didn’t get to play very much last year because he was stuck behind Von Miller and Bradley Chubb on the depth chart. Barrett was on the field for a grand total of 276 snaps, but he played well when given the chance. He rushed the passer effectively and was decent in run support. Just 26, Barrett still has plenty of room for growth.
I think this is an excellent signing by the Buccaneers. Barrett has good upside and could potentially become a starting edge player. At the very least, he’ll provide quality depth for a team that needed help as far as their edge rushers are concerned. And at just one year and $5 million, there’s no risk involved.
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Browns sign OT Kendall Lamm (2 years, $7 million): B+ Grade
Kendall Lamm was Houston’s best pass protector last year, as he made 13 starts at right tackle. That’s not saying much because Houston had one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. It actually just goes to show how bad it was, as Lamm was signed on to be a backup for Cleveland.
Lamm should be a solid swing tackle at the very least for his new team. He’s only 26, so he’s still young enough to make some improvements to his game. Lamm needs to add strength to be better at run blocking, but even if he doesn’t, he should be a capable reserve at a reasonable price.
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Broncos re-sign TE Jeff Heuerman (2 years, $9 million): C Grade
Worse tight ends were signed for more during this offseason, so this 2-year, $9 million contract for Jeff Heuerman seems like a bargain in comparison to those other moves. However, the Broncos are still overpaying in this transaction.
Heuerman is a good blocker, but has recorded double-digit receptions just once in his career. He’s young (26), so that’ll change, but the problem with him is that he always seems to be injured. He has never played a full season in his career. That includes the 2018 campaign, when he missed the final five games because of broken ribs.
Though this is an overpay, it’s not an egregious one where a pedestrian tight end is making $6 million per year. This is closer to reasonable, but I still wish someone would send a telegram to all 32 teams, informing them that there’s no reason to overpay for mediocre-at-best tight ends.
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Bengals sign G John Miller (3 years, $16.5 million): D- Grade
Do you think there’s a book out there called Free Agency for Dummies? If so, the Bengals sorely need it in the wake of the Marvin Lewis firing.
Chapter One: Don’t sign mediocre backups to contracts worth more than $5 million per season. This is what the Bengals did with John Miller. The former Buffalo guard can provide somewhat decent depth because of his starting experience, but this contract makes it seem as though the Bengals potentially envision him as a starter. If so, this will end disastrously for the Bengals.
I nearly graded this signing an “F,” but it’s not quite as horrendous as some of the other moves the Bengals have made this offseason, as it doesn’t hit the $6 million-per-year threshold that the others did.
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March 14 Updates
Saints sign QB Teddy Bridgewater (1 year, $7.25 million): A Grade
It was announced that Teddy Bridgewater would re-sign with the Saints early during the unofficial portion of free agency. That changed quickly, as Bridgewater considered signing with the Dolphins. Bridgewater then changed his mind again, citing that he wanted to be like Brees and choose the Saints over the Dolphins.
Bridgewater is obviously no Brees, but he has a chance to be the Saints’ franchise quarterback once the future Hall of Famer retires. Bridgewater was once considered as such for the Vikings before he tore up his knee in a brutal injury prior to the 2016 season. He hasn’t played very much since, but he has the overall talent to be a viable successor for Brees. He struggled in his only start last year in the season-finale loss versus Carolina, but that game meant nothing to the Saints, who sat some of their first-stringers.
This is obviously a great move, worthy of an “A” grade. Had the Saints not been able to retain Bridgewater, they would’ve had to start over to search for Brees’ eventual replacement. Instead, they can continue to groom Bridgewater as their future starter.
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Chargers sign QB Tyrod Taylor (2 years, $11 million; $6 million guaranteed): B+ Grade
Philip Rivers has never missed a single start in his career since taking over for Drew Brees. However, that doesn’t mean he’ll continue to be healthy, especially in his advanced NFL age of 37. The Chargers lacked a viable backup behind Rivers in the past, but that’s no longer the case with Tyrod Taylor on the roster.
Taylor is a major upgrade over the Chargers’ backup last year, Geno Smith. The Chargers wouldn’t have had a chance had Smith needed to make several starts, but Taylor can hold down the fort pretty well for a few weeks if he needs to.
This is a strong signing, especially considering that this is really just a 1-year, $6 million deal. Also, I don’t think this will preclude the Chargers from selecting a quarterback on Day 2 of the 2019 NFL Draft. I still have them taking Ryan Finley in the second round of my 2019 NFL Mock Draft.
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Bengals sign CB B.W. Webb (3 years, $13 million): C Grade
Congratulations to the Bengals, who finally made a signing that hasn’t been graded an “F!” What a joyous day in Cincinnati!
That said, this move isn’t very good. B.W. Webb started most of the games for the Giants last year. He struggled, but wasn’t abysmal. He could provide fine depth for the Bengals, but this is too much money for a mediocre depth player.
There’s one good thing about this signing, and that’s the fact that Webb played for Lou Anarumo, who was his defensive backs coach in New York. The familiarity will allow Webb to transition seamlessly to his new team.
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Jets sign CB Brian Poole (1 year, $3.5 million): A Grade
The Jets had poor play from their slot cornerback position last year, but that will unlikely be the case in 2019. Brian Poole will be a huge upgrade over Buster Skrine.
Poole had enjoyed two solid seasons with the Falcons prior to 2018. Poole regressed a bit last year, possibly because half of Atlanta’s defense was out with injuries. Poole figures to bounce back, meaning he’ll provide a huge boost in the slot over what the team had last year at an extremely cheap price.
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Chiefs sign DE/OLB Alex Okafor (3 years, $24 million): C+ Grade
Alex Okafor had improved each season in his career until 2017. He was having his best year then, logging 4.5 sacks through nine games, when he suffered a torn Achilles and was lost for the season. He returned in 2018, but wasn’t nearly as effective. He didn’t play poorly, but he wasn’t nearly the edge threat that he made himself out to be in 2017.
The Chiefs will be hoping that Okafor can return to 2017 form now that he’s two years removed from his injury. Okafor recently turned 28, so he’s still young enough to do that, but it’s disappointing that the Chiefs weren’t able to get him on a discounted contract, perhaps even a 1-year “prove it” deal. I think this is a bit too much for a player who may not quite be himself, but this signing could definitely pan out.
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Giants sign WR Golden Tate (4 years, $37.5 million; $23 million guaranteed): B Grade
Several members of the bad opinion sports media were quick to jump on the Giants and their inability to run a functional offense without viable wide receivers. This was a foolish hot take, as half of free agency and the NFL Draft were still available for the Giants to find a replacement for Odell Beckham. New York did just that, signing Golden Tate.
Tate struggled to do very much with the Eagles last year, but he was enjoying a very productive season with the Lions before the trade. Tate hauled in at least five passes in all but one game prior to being dealt to Philadelphia. I imagine he would’ve had more of an impact with the Eagles had he enjoyed an entire offseason to develop some chemistry with Carson Wentz. Instead, he’ll be able to do so with Eli Manning or whichever quarterback the Giants select in the opening round next month.
I’m giving this signing a “B” grade. Tate should still be productive going forward despite his age (31 in August), as what he does as a receiver can translate to high-level play into the mid-30s. However, there is a chance of regression, so that must be noted, especially at the price New York is paying for Tate. Still, Tate figures to be a nice weapon, as he’ll help the development of the Giants’ next quarterback.
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Saints sign DT Malcom Brown (3 years, $15 million): B+ Grade
Malcom Brown had been known as a stout run defender prior to 2018, but this past season was a down year for him. He struggled, as he saw his snap count decline in the playoffs. The Saints are using this opportunity to buy low on Brown.
This is a very good signing. The Saints needed a defensive tackle to fill the void created by Sheldon Rankins’ injury, and Brown should be able to do that with a rebound campaign. Brown is still just 25, so there’s no reason to think that 2018 was a permanent decline for him. He almost certainly would’ve earned more than this had he been on the market last spring, so I like the value the Saints are getting with him.
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Bears sign S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (1 year, $3.5 million): A++ Grade
This is EXACTLY what I was talking about earlier when I said that teams were irresponsible for spending tons of early-free agency money on safeties. Ha Ha Clinton-Dix is every bit as good as some of the high-priced safety signings from earlier in the week, yet the Bears got him at a fraction of the price.
I found this to be unbelievable. How could the Bears get Ha Ha Clinton-Dix for just $3.5 million in 2019 when some of the other similar-caliber safeties are set to make eight figures per year? It’s insane.
This is the best signing of the offseason right now, and it’s not even close. I was going to write, “If I gave out A++ grades, this would earn it.” Well, this is my Web site, and I can damn well give out an A++ if I want to. The Bears are getting an A++ for this absolutely absurd signing.
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49ers sign CB Jason Verrett (1 year, $3.6 million): A Grade
I graded a very similar signing minutes ago when I gave the Bills an “A” for obtaining Kevin Johnson for a 1-year deal worth $3 million. This will receive the exact same grade.
Verrett, like Johnson, has a very dubious injury history. He’s played in just five of 48 possible games over the past three years, which is just horrible. There’s a chance he could see the field just once or twice in 2019. However, there’s also the possibility of Verrett finally overcoming his injury woes. I understand this is unlikely to happen, but it could. If it does, the 49ers will have a talented cornerback on the roster at a very cheap price. If not, then San Francisco risked almost nothing.
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Bills sign CB Kevin Johnson (1 year, $3 million): A Grade
Kevin Johnson could possibly be the greatest first-round bust in Texans’ brief history, save for David Carr. He was chosen with the 16th-overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, but he has missed 29 games in the past three years, thanks to many injuries and concussions.
There’s a good chance Johnson will continue to miss action, but Buffalo won’t be penalized if that happens. Given that the Bills signed Johnson to a 1-year, $3 million deal, they’re not taking any sort of risk. If Johnson can’t get healthy, then it’s no big deal. However, if Johnson can overcome his issues, the Bills will have a first-round-caliber cornerback on their roster at an extremely cheap price, so I love this low-risk, high-upside signing.
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49ers sign RB Tevin Coleman (2 years, $8.5 million): A Grade
Tevin Coleman had a golden opportunity to make himself a ton of money when Devonta Freeman suffered an injury last season, but he was very underwhelming. He struggled in most of his games, eclipsing 100 rushing yards twice. The first time was against a Carolina team that didn’t come to play because of the Hurricane Florence distraction. The second was versus the miserable Cardinals, who quit.
There are so many running backs similar to Coleman out there that giving the former Falcon $5 million per season seems unnecessary, especially with Jerick McKinnon and Matt Breida on the roster. I suppose this means San Francisco will move on from McKinnon, but we’ll see.
That said, I don’t think this signing deserves a bad grade because Kyle Shanahan used to coach Coleman. There won’t be any sort of learning process for Coleman with his new team, and Shanahan clearly wanted the back that he used to coach in Atlanta, so I won’t go lower than a B- for this.
Update: This is my second re-grade of a San Francisco signing. I originally gave the 49ers a B- for inking Coleman to a 2-year, $10 million contract. As it turns out, this deal is worth $8.5 million instead, and it doesn’t come with any sort of signing bonus. Because of this, the 49ers will owe Coleman just $3.6 million for 2019, and they can cut him afterward without any repercussion. This is a fantastic improvement over what we once thought this deal was. Given that this signing has no risk, I’m inclined to bump this grade up to an “A.”
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Eagles sign LB L.J. Fort (3 years, $10.5 million; $1.9 million guaranteed): A- Grade
Teams that splurge on the first or second days of free agency often regret the decisions they make. It’s usually better to wait a bit for great bargains, and that’s exactly what the Eagles did by signing L.J. Fort.
Fort is not a game-changing linebacker by any means, but he’s a solid player. He’s particularly effective in run support. He’s a liability in coverage, so he should only play two downs, but the Eagles are paying him as if they’re going to use him in that fashion.
This signing should definitely be in the “A” range. The Eagles are desperate for linebackers after losing Jordan Hicks, so acquiring Fort is a nice step toward filling that need.
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Jets re-sign NT Steve McLendon (1 year, $2.5 million): A Grade
Steve McLendon is a stout run defender who would have been difficult for the Jets to replace this offseason, especially in the wake of the Mike Pennel release. I’m still not sure what that was about, but they are making a great move by bringing back McLendon for one year.
The downside with McLendon is that he’s 33. He’s due for some regression soon, but at just $2.5 million for 2019, the Jets are taking zero risk with this contract.
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Seahawks re-sign OLB K.J. Wright (2 years, $15 million): A+ Grade
The Seahawks lost the Legion of Boom recently, and they were expected to take a hit to their linebacking corps as well this offseason. Seattle has boasted an excellent tandem in Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright for the better part of this decade, but the latter presumably was going to sign a big contract with another team this offseason.
Wright, however, never generated much interest on the open market. I assume this is because he played just five games last year, thanks to a knee injury. Wright turns 30 this summer, so that’s a concern as well. However, Wright had never dealt with health woes prior to 2018. He missed just one game in the prior four seasons. I think it’s more likely than not that Wright will continue to be available for most of Seattle’s games.
Given that, this signing deserves an A+. This contract is a cheap one, and it doesn’t even sound like it’s worth $15 million because the words “up to” were used to describe that value.
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March 13 Updates
49ers sign LB Kwon Alexander (4 years, $54 million; $27 million guaranteed): B- Grade
Ray Lewis, Brian Urlacher, Luke Kuechly, Ryan Shazier, Bobby Wagner… none of these elite linebackers ever earned a contract as large as this one. In fact, no off-line of scrimmage linebacker ever has. Kwon Alexander has officially become the richest non-pass-rushing linebacker in NFL history.
I wish I could show you the face I had when I saw the numbers on this contract. I can’t even appropriately describe it. The disbelief I had would be akin to a situation where my dog walks into my office, stands on his two legs, and says to me in English, “I’m having an affair with the cat from four houses over.” That’s the feeling I had when I saw this deal.
I don’t understand why Alexander would warrant this much money. He’s a decent player when healthy, though he misses too many tackles for my liking. Even worse, he’s been injured so frequently of late. He played just six games last year because of a torn ACL, and he missed a quarter of the 2017 campaign because of balky hamstrings. Paying Alexander this sort of money tells me the 49ers believe he can be both fully available and prolific in 2019, and I’m not sure he can be either.
I considered giving this an “F” grade, but here’s a counterpoint: Alexander has talent, and he’ll turn only 25 in August. He has plenty of potential and could make great strides in his game. Thus, there’s a chance the 49ers won’t regret this signing, though I still think there’s a good chance they will.
Update: Sometimes, announced contracts are not what they seem. This 4-year, $54 million contract has been closely examined, and it turns out that it’s really just a 1-year, $14.53 million deal. If the 49ers opt to part ways with Alexander following the 2019 campaign, they’ll have $3 million in dead cap space.
I still think $14 million for 2019 is too much for Alexander, but this contract looks so much better than what we once thought it would be. It’s a nice safety valve for the 49ers, who can get out of what first appeared to be a bad deal. I’m going to upgrade this move from a D- to a B-.
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Panthers re-sign OT Daryl Williams (1 year, $7 million): A+ Grade
I don’t think the Panthers expected to be able to retain Daryl Williams. Yet, that’s exactly what they did, and at a huge bargain to boot.
Williams is an extremely talented right tackle, but apparently couldn’t find a market because teams were concerned about his knees. He’s played just one full season in his career, and he was available for just a single game in 2018.
Williams, however, is still just 26. He’s young enough to bounce back from his health woes. If so, the Panthers will have a great, very cheap right tackle for 2019. If not, then the Panthers aren’t really risking anything. That makes it easy to grade this 1-year “prove it” deal as an A+.
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Raiders sign WR Tyrell Williams (4 years, $44 million; $22 million guaranteed): D Grade
This is a ton of money for a receiver who has caught 41 and 43 passes in the past two seasons. The Chargers, who had Williams on their roster the previous four years, didn’t even think that he was worthy of being a No. 2 receiver, given that they spent the seventh-overall selection on a wideout (Mike Williams) to join Keenan Allen.
With that in mind, why would the Raiders pay Tyrell Williams this much money? It makes no sense. Williams is a dynamic deep threat who can certainly have some big games, but he disappears far too often. The lack of consistency will frustrate the Raiders while they wonder why they’ve paid Williams so much money.
I don’t think this deserves an “F” grade, as it’s nowhere near as bad as some of the moves the Bengals have made this offseason. Plus, as mentioned, Williams will have some huge performances. That said, this is a colossal overpay that must be criticized.
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49ers re-sign S Jimmie Ward (1 year, $5 million): B+ Grade
Jimmie Ward is a former first-round bust. He’s been very injury-prone, playing in just 16-of-32 possible games over the past two years. He hasn’t been very good when he’s been able to play either, perhaps as a result of all the injuries he has suffered recently.
That said, I like this move. Ward has plenty of talent as a former first-rounder, so perhaps he’ll be able to get over his health woes and perform well for a change. If not, the 49ers aren’t risking anything beyond rolling over some cash on this 1-year “prove it” deal, so this move is worth it with the minimal risk.
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Bengals re-sign LB Preston Brown (3 years, $21 million): FARMER FAIL, GRIGSON GAFFE, CERRATO SUCKAGE, BAALKE BLOOPER, CHIP TRAGEDY, KING CALAMITY, SASHI SUFFERIN SUCCOTASH Grade
When I saw the details of this contract, I literally shouted, “PRESTON BROWN GOT $21 MILLION … WHY!?!?!?”
Preston Brown was one of the worst starting linebackers in the NFL last year before he suffered a season-ending knee injury in November. I thought the Bengals could bring Brown back for a 1-year deal for close to the minimum. That would have made sense. Giving a linebacker as terrible as Brown $7 million per year makes no sense!
It’s almost comical how lost the Bengals appear without Marvin Lewis’ guidance. Their transformation to a perennial two-win team is well underway.
By the way, I added a new name to my “F” grade. I cannot believe I forgot about Sashi Brown. E-mailer Kevin Q. reminded me about Brown, so I hope you all enjoy his addition to the new “F” grade.
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Redskins re-sign RB Adrian Peterson (2 years, $8 million): A- Grade
I have to say that I’m thoroughly confused by this move. I don’t hate it, as you can see via the grade I posted, but it has me utterly perplexed.
I figured Adrian Peterson would do what he did last year, that he would wait until training camp and latch on to a team that saw its running back suffer an injury. That sort of ordeal happens to at least one team every summer, and it will occur again in a few months.
Peterson, by signing this contract, will now have to go to training camp, and he’ll also have to share the workload with promising young running back Derrius Guice. In fact, Guice will likely get more touches as the season progresses. Peterson could remain the ceremonial starter, but at this point in time, Guice might just be the superior runner, provided he can get healthy.
That said, the Redskins have to be thrilled to be getting Peterson back for $8 million for just two years. He and Guice will form a terrific tandem, and they’ll take pressure off Case Keenum or whichever quarterback Washington drafts at No. 15 overall (Daniel Jones via my 2019 NFL Mock Draft.)
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Buccaneers sign LB Deone Bucannon (1 year, $2.5 million): B+ Grade
Deone Bucannon is a former first-round bust. He’s had a couple of mediocre years, but has been horrible on other occasions. That includes the 2018 campaign. In my free agency rankings, I described Bucannon’s 2018 performance as “beyond atrocious.”
That said, I like this move. I’m a fan of 1-year “prove it” deals, and Bucannon will certainly be trying hard to salvage his career. He has talent, so perhaps he can become a late bloomer. I also like the familiarity that Bucannon will have with Tampa’s defense. Bucannon played for new Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles when the two were in Arizona.
I’m giving this a B+ grade. This signing could fail, but even if it does, the Buccaneers won’t be punished for it because this is a non-risk acquisition. The upside far outweighs the downside, hence the positive grade.
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Falcons sign Gs James Carpenter, Jamon Brown (4 years, $21 million; $7 million guaranteed; 3 years, $18.75 million; $12.75 million guaranteed): C+ Grade
The Falcons agreed to sign James Carpenter and Jamon Brown on the second unofficial day of free agency, but contract details weren’t released at that time. They’re now available, with Carpenter and Brown receiving $21 million and $18.75 million, respectively.
These deals are too expensive for both players. Carpenter has flashed some starting ability at times, but he has struggled more often than not. He also dealt with a shoulder injury last year. Brown, meanwhile, has starting experience, but did not play well either. He’s 26, however, so he has a chance to improve his performance.
That said, it’s not all bad for the Falcons. These contracts are deceiving. If you look at the real numbers, the true contracts are two years, $9.5 million for Carpenter and two years, $12.75 million for Brown. Those details make these signings look better, though I still think the Falcons overpaid a bit for both players.
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Colts re-sign CB Pierre Desir (3 years, $25 million; $12 million guaranteed): A- Grade
Pierre Desir did nothing as a former fourth-round pick in Cleveland, but he emerged as a stellar player for the Colts last year. It’s nice to see that Desir made something out of his career with the hard work he put into it.
Desir signed a 1-year “prove it” contract last offseason, so he was appropriately rewarded with this deal. In fact, you could argue that Desir deserved more. Granted, he doesn’t have a lengthy track record of success, but he was one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL this past season. He’s still just 28, so he could continue to improve.
I generally save my A-range grades for bargain deals, and I’d say this qualifies as one. There’s always a chance that Desir turns out to be a one-hit wonder, but I’d say the odds are much better that he continues to perform on a high level.
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Seahawks sign K Jason Myers (4 years, $15 million): D Grade
The Seahawks have a smart front office that typically makes good decisions. This, however, is not one of them.
I won’t ever support a team signing a kicker to this sort of deal unless that kicker happens to possess some sort of a bionic leg, allowing him to drill 80-yard field goals with ease. No such kickers exist, unfortunately, so contracts like these will continue to earn poor grades.
Sure, Jason Myers was solid last year. He hit 33-of-36 attempts, including 6-of-7 from 50-plus. However, he missed three extra points, and he’s not very far removed from getting cut by the Jaguars and Jets. Kickers come and go, so paying them this sort of money is not a good idea.
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Jaguars re-sign G A.J. Cann (3 years, $15 million): C Grade
It was disappointing to see the Jaguars not get a bargain deal on A.J. Cann. The former third-round pick has experienced an up-and-down career thus far, struggling at times and performing well on other occasions. Cann is coming off an awful year, so I thought Jacksonville would be able to retain him cheaply, maybe for $2 million per year or so.
Unfortunately for Jacksonville, the front office overpaid for Cann. This signing could work out if Cann rebounds, and I like that the Jaguars retained a blocker to help Nick Foles, but this should’ve been a cheaper signing.
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Ravens sign RB Mark Ingram (3 years, $15 million): B- Grade
I’m not big on signing near-30-year-old running backs to contracts worth $5 million per season. But that’s exactly what the Ravens did by bringing in Mark Ingram. The Ravens could’ve gotten a possibly slightly lesser option at a cheaper price.
That said, I don’t think this is a bad move. Ingram seems like a great fit in Baltimore. If he stays healthy, he’ll be one of the top rushers in the NFL, given the style of offense and presumptive workload. That could be said of many running backs, but Ingram is a sure thing. And his age (30 in December) isn’t as big of an issue as it normally would be because his workload in recent years hasn’t been very heavy because of Alvin Kamara’s presence in New Orleans.
I’d say this is a B- or C+ signing. I’ll lean toward the former because the 2019 NFL Draft running back class, while deep, isn’t very top-heavy, so I can see why the Ravens would give Ingram this sort of a deal.
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Ravens sign S Earl Thomas (4 years, $55 million): C- Grade
If you’re expecting me to give this signing a C+, like I did with the other top safeties, you’re close. Landon Collins, Tyrann Mathieu and Lamarcus Joyner all earned C+ grades because they were overpaid on an extremely deep safety market. The teams that signed those players could’ve gotten slightly lesser players at the position for far less money. The Packers provided proof of this when they signed Adrian Amos.
Thomas signed for about the same amount as Collins, Mathieu and Joyner, so why the worse grade? Collins, Mathieu and Joyner are 25, 27 and 28, respectively. Thomas is 30. That’s not a huge deal in most cases, but it must also be noted that Thomas has suffered several injuries in the past few years. He missed 12 games in 2018, two in 2017 and five in 2016. Thomas has not been very durable, so given that fact, as well as his age, there’s a serious chance Thomas will regress. It’s not a lock to happen, but this signing comes with way more risk than the Collins, Mathieu and Joyner moves.
I can’t give this an “F” because Thomas has been a great player. However, the “has been” part of that sentence is key. It seems as though this new, presumably worse Baltimore front office is paying on past production with this signing, so I’m not a big fan of it.
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March 12 Updates
Jets sign RB Le’Veon Bell (4 years, $52.5 million): A+ Grade
When supporters of the Jets asked me prior to free agency what I thought about their team signing Le’Veon Bell, I expressed some concern that he would be too costly. Even though the bad opinion sports media chided the Steelers for not paying Bell, the talented running back turned down a 5-year, $70 million contract from Pittsburgh prior to the 2018 season that would pay him more than $40 million over the first three seasons. Thus, I figured he would want to sign for more than that.
With that in mind, I’m absolutely shocked that Bell accepted this contract. He’ll be earning less per year from the Jets on a shorter term than he would’ve gotten from the Steelers, so you have to question his decision-making.
I don’t see the Jets complaining too much, however. They’re getting one of the best running backs in the NFL at a discount. There’s a chance Bell could begin declining soon, but the same could really be said for any player receiving a huge contract. Assuming this doesn’t happen to Bell, the Jets have obtained such a great weapon for Sam Darnold. The young quarterback struggled at times in his rookie campaign because he had no threat in the backfield to draw attention away from opposing defenses. Bell will obviously change that. Teams will have to respect the Jets’ rushing attack. Meanwhile, Darnold will be able to use Bell as a dynamic receiving weapon out of the backfield.
I never thought I’d give the Jets, or any other team, an A+ grade for signing Bell, but here we are. This contract ended up being much less than I thought it would be, and Bell will take the Jets’ offense to another level, all while aiding Darnold’s development.
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Buccaneers sign WR Breshad Perriman (1 year, $4 million): B+ Grade
It was initially reported that Breshad Perriman was re-signing with the Browns, but that all changed when Cleveland traded for Odell Beckham Jr. Perriman has decided to join the Buccaneers for the same deal instead.
Perriman looked like a lost cause while he was in Baltimore. A former first-round pick, Perriman caught just 43 total passes in three seasons with the Ravens. Baltimore ultimately got rid of Perriman, who eventually signed with the Browns. This must have served as a wake-up call for Perriman, who had some nice performances down the stretch. He served as a potent deep threat in some games, logging 233 receiving yards in the final four games of the season.
Perriman is a prime candidate for a 1-year “prove it” deal. This contract should keep him motivated, though I worry about him in Tampa’s party environment. I gave the Browns an “A” for re-signing him, but I feel as though I need to slightly downgrade the signing now that Perriman is joining the Buccaneers.
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Jets re-sign DE/DT Henry Anderson (3 years, $25.2 million): B+ Grade
Henry Anderson had always been known as a stout player against the run who didn’t possess much pass-rushing ability. That changed in 2018. Anderson was still stellar in run support, but his pass-rushing ability improved exponentially, as he racked up seven sacks.
Anderson turns 28 in August, so there’s still a chance he could continue to upgrade his play. It was important for the Jets to retain him, and I feel as though they did so at a very reasonable price.
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Titans sign DE/OLB Cameron Wake (3 years, $23 million): C Grade
This seems like a ton of money for a 37-year-old. Cameron Wake has been a stellar edge rusher in the NFL for a very long time, but he doesn’t have much remaining in the tank. Wake logged 11.5 and 10.5 sacks in 2016 and 2017, respectively, but saw that number dip to six last year. Wake played well at times, but looked a step slower than usual. Given his age, Wake could continue to slow down.
With that in mind, Wake shouldn’t have been given this sort of a contract. He should be playing on 1-year deals from this point forward; not 3-year pacts worth $23 million.
I don’t hate this signing, as Wake should help Tennessee’s pedestrian pass rush, but this contract is just too expensive.
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Steelers sign CB Steven Nelson (3 years, $25.5 million): A- Grade
The Steelers don’t often make huge splash moves in free agency. In fact, they signed one player ranked at three stars or higher in the two offseasons prior to this one, which was Morgan Burnett. They’re making another splash acquisition here with a defensive back by signing Steven Nelson.
Nelson made a huge jump in performance last year, playing on a high level for the Chiefs. Nelson was Kansas City’s best defensive back. I know that’s not saying much, but he’s definitely worth a big contract. In fact, it could be argued that Nelson should’ve been paid more. Not only is he a talented cornerback, but he’s also young. Nelson is just 25, so the sky is the limit for him.
I reserve grades in the “A” range for great bargain deals, and I’d say this qualifies as one.
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Bears sign WR/KR Cordarrelle Patterson (2 years, $10 million): C+ Grade
I listed a receiver low on the list of needs for the Bears. It made sense for them to go after another wideout for depth purposes. While Cordarrelle Patterson will make somewhat of an impact offensively, he was acquired for another reason.
The Bears were dead last in kickoff return average last year, so Patterson will definitely help in that regard. While Patterson has been a complete bust as a receiver, he’s been a dynamic kick returner in his career, so it’ll be a big surprise if Chicago’s kick-returning ability doesn’t improve.
That said, this contract is a bit too pricey. Patterson shouldn’t be getting $5 million per season. I don’t hate this move, but Patterson should’ve been cheaper.
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Packers sign DE/OLB Za’Darius Smith (4 years, $66 million): B Grade
This is one of four big-money signings the usually conservative Packers made on the second unofficial day of free agency. The other three are graded below. We finally have some contract details on the fourth signing.
We don’t know the guaranteed money yet, but Za’Darius Smith is set to earn $16.5 million per year. This is a bit steep in my opinion, but definitely not unacceptable. Smith is a very promising, young edge rusher. He tallied 8.5 sacks in 2018, and he wasn’t even a full-time player. It’s very possible, and almost likely, that with a full-time role, he’ll eclipse double-digit sacks. Smith is somewhat unproven, but he has a great skill set that should allow him to be a terror off the edge in his new home.
The guaranteed amount could change my mind, but I don’t love this move as much as the Preston Smith and Adrian Amos signings. Still, this seems like a good acquisition that will provide a much-needed boost to Green Bay’s defense.
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Vikings re-sign LB Anthony Barr (5 years, $67.5 million; $33 million guaranteed): C- Grade
I have to say I’m disappointed that Anthony Barr didn’t sign with the Jets. I thought that would’ve been an even better fit for him than Minnesota would be even though he’s played for the Vikings since 2014. The reason is the scheme; for those who don’t remember, Barr was an elite edge-rushing prospect coming out of UCLA five years ago. The Vikings don’t run a 3-4, so they’ve been using Barr as an off-LOS linebacker. Barr thrives in run support in that role, but his coverage ability is poor. There’s a reason the Vikings have struggled to cover in space in recent seasons, as Barr is one of the primary culprits.
This is a ton of money to give to a linebacker who struggles to cover. Barr should be in a 3-4, but as long as he’s in a 4-3, he would ideally serve as a two-down player. The problem is that giving $33 million guaranteed to a two-down player is insane, so Barr will have to keep playing all three downs. This will continue to be problematic, given Barr’s issues in coverage.
The only positive here is the continuity. Otherwise, this is not a very good signing. I considered putting this into the “D” range, but because of the continuity, I’m going to elevate this grade to a C-.
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Panthers sign C Matt Paradis (3 years, $27 million): B+ Grade
The Panthers desperately needed a talented center in the wake of Ryan Kalil’s retirement, and they certainly found one. In fact, Matt Paradis was the top center on the market.
Paradis broke his leg late last year, causing him to miss the first game of his career. It sounds like Paradis will be ready by training camp, so the Panthers shouldn’t be worried. Assuming this is the case, Paradis will be a big upgrade over the regressing Kalil from last year.
I usually reserve grades in the “A” range for great bargain signings, but I’d be willing to make an exception here if Paradis weren’t coming off an injury. This seems like a perfect signing otherwise, as Paradis will be able to help Cam Newton stay healthy.
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Titans sign G Rodger Saffold (4 years, $44 million; $22.5 million guaranteed): B+ Grade
I’ve harped on this fact repeatedly in my 2019 NFL Mock Draft, and for good reason: Marcus Mariota was sacked 11 times in a single game last year. I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes. Some of the sacks were on Mariota, but the offensive line played a huge part in that disaster. Taylor Lewan was playing hurt, but the interior blocking was putrid as well, and that needed to change.
Rodger Saffold will make sure that doesn’t happen again. Saffold is an important acquisition, as he’ll help Mariota’s efforts to remain healthy for a full season for the first time in his career. Saffold will also help open up better running lanes for Derrick Henry.
The one minor concern with Saffold is his age (31), but considering that most guards can play well into their mid-30s, Tennessee shouldn’t be worried about regression in the early stages of Saffold’s career. Thus, I’m willing to grade this very favorably.
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Texans sign CB Bradley Roby (1 year, $10 million): A Grade
I’m a big fan of most 1-year “prove it” deals, as the player on such a contract knows that he has to give it his all to earn a multi-year pact during the following offseason. The team, meanwhile, doesn’t take any sort of risk beyond not being able to roll over the money to the following offseason. This 1-year “prove it” deal is not the exception to the rule, as I think it’s an excellent signing for Houston.
Bradley Roby is the epitome of a player who needs a 1-year “prove it” deal. Roby has plenty of talent as a former first-round pick, but he has experienced an up-and-down career thus far. He played well in 2015, struggled the year after, bounced back at a high level in 2017, then performed poorly once again this past season. Roby dealt with some injuries in 2018, so that could explain his regression.
The Texans sorely need cornerback help, and Roby should help with a high-effort 2019 campaign. Given the minimal risk, I’d say this contract is worth a high grade.
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Chargers sign LB Thomas Davis (2 years, $10.5 million; $5.25 million guaranteed): A- Grade
At first glance, I thought it was odd that the Chargers would give a 36-year-old linebacker a contract for two seasons. But upon further inspection, it looks like this is really a 1-year, $6.25 million deal, as the Chargers can avoid giving Davis his $4.25 million base salary for 2020 unless he happens to play at a Pro Bowl level this upcoming season.
I don’t see Davis doing that, but he should be solid for San Angeles. He played well last year, particularly in coverage. He’s a nice acquisition, given Denzel Perryman’s dubious injury history.
I like this move quite a bit after looking over the contract. I’ll give it an A-; it would be an “A” if it weren’t for regression potential.
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Lions sign TE Jesse James (4 years, $25 million; $11 million guaranteed): C- Grade
I don’t understand the contracts these tight ends are getting. This one isn’t nearly as bad as the C.J. Uzomah and Tyler Kroft deals, both of which earned “F” grades, but this is close to the Nick Boyle contract, which was marked as a “D.”
James and Boyle are similar. Boyle is a better run blocker, while James is superior in pass protection. Both have limited receiving skills, as James has never topped 43 receptions for 423 receiving yards in a season. Like Boyle, James will be earning about $6 million per year, which is just far too much for a blocking tight end. It’s nice that James is the better receiver, and unlike the Ravens, the Lions don’t have a log jam at tight end. Thus, this grade will be higher than Boyle’s, but not by much.
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Bills sign OT Ty Nsekhe (2 years, $14.5 million; $7.7 million guaranteed): B Grade
Ty Nsekhe has done a good job of filling in for Trent Williams or Morgan Moses when needed in recent years, so it’s nice to see him get a chance to start. It’s unclear if Nsekhe can handle a full-time role, but the Bills aren’t taking much of a risk by giving him just $7.7 million guaranteed.
Either way, Nsekhe will be an upgrade over the anemic Jordan Mills, so this is a solid signing. The only downside with Nsekhe, aside from his lack of full-time starting experience, is that he turns 34 in October, so he could be in for some regression. Still, he’s worth the minimal risk, so this signing should be in the B+/B range.
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Bills sign WRs John Brown and Cole Beasley (3 years, $27 million; 4 years, $29 million): B Grade
The Bills signed two receivers in the same hour, so I thought I should group the two signings together, given that they are so similar.
John Brown is the better of the two wideouts, which would explain why he’s getting more money per year. Brown has a checkered injury history that nearly caused him to retire, but he was healthy last year and could finally be over his injury woes. Brown is an explosive play-maker who seems like he’d be a great fit in Buffalo’s offense. Brown has great speed, which had to appeal to Buffalo, considering how strong Josh Allen’s arm is.
Cole Beasley, on the other hand, has been a very reliable slot receiver for the Cowboys over the years. He hasn’t produced monster numbers, but he’s a better player than the stats indicate. He’ll be a highly dependable target for Allen going forward.
I like both of these moves, and I think Buffalo deserves a “B” grade for each of them. We’ve seen receivers obtain colossal contracts on the market recently, and neither signing is egregious. Neither is a bargain either, but the Bills made a couple of solid moves to improve their horrendous receiving corps.
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Dolphins re-sign WR DeVante Parker (2 years, $13 million): D- Grade
Sometimes, you just have to let things go. If you’re in a bad relationship, or have a one-sided friendship, or own a stock that’s never going to bounce back, you just have to part ways. This is how I feel about the Dolphins and DeVante Parker. The Dolphins, apparently, did not agree. Rather than getting rid of him, they retained him, signing him to a new 2-year contract!
Parker has been a giant turd throughout his career, refusing to try hard and take his career seriously. Why would he suddenly start doing so with a new contract worth $13 million? If anything, Parker might even be more lethargic.
I won’t give this an “F” because the contract won’t crush the Dolphins in the long term, but this is a horrible move. The Dolphins need players on their team who will try hard, and I highly doubt that Parker will.
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Saints sign RB Latavius Murray (4 years, $14.4 million): C+ Grade
Latavius Murray seems like he’d fit in well into New Orleans’ offense. He’s a decent runner and an effective receiver out of the backfield, so he should be able to fill Mark Ingram’s shoes quite well. Murray turned 29 recently, but he doesn’t have much mileage on his body, so he should be effective for the duration of this contract.
That said, I’m not a huge fan of this signing. I don’t think it’s a bad one, by any means, but giving a good backup running back more than $3 million per season doesn’t seem necessary, especially considering the surplus of depth in the 2019 NFL Draft running back class. I like the fit, but I feel as though the Saints could have waited and obtained a similar runner for less money.
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Cardinals sign LB Jordan Hicks (4 years, $36 million; $20 million guaranteed): A Grade
Jordan Hicks is the third big-name linebacker to be signed by a new team in this unofficial free agency period, and his contract compares very favorably to the other two:
Jets sign LB C.J. Mosley (5 years, $85 million; $51 million guaranteed)
49ers sign LB Kwon Alexander (4 years, $54 million; $27 million guaranteed)
While Mosley and Alexander will get $17 million and $13.5 million per year, respectively, Hicks will receive $9 million per season. He’s also getting less guaranteed money than both. In fact, his guarantee is 40 percent of what Mosley obtained!
And here’s the thing: Hicks is a better player than Mosley and Alexander! Unlike Mosley, Hicks can cover very well, and unlike Alexander, he doesn’t miss tackles. Hicks is a dynamic player and a great leader in the locker room. He has an injury history – he has missed 13 games in the past two seasons – but it’s not like Alexander is always healthy either.
This is a fantastic signing, worthy of an “A” grade. Between Hicks and Terrell Suggs, Arizona has improved its defense tremendously over the past two days.
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Packers sign G/OT Billy Turner (4 years, $28 million): FARMER FAIL, GRIGSON GAFFE, CERRATO SUCKAGE, BAALKE BLOOPER, CHIP TRAGEDY, KING CALAMITY Grade
What the hell happened? The Packers made some terrific signings during the second day of unofficial free agency, obtaining the talented Za’Darius Smith, as well as Preston Smith and Adrian Amos for cheap deals. They were dominating free agency, but then this happened.
Some may describe Billy Turner as versatile because he can play both guard and right tackle. I would describe him as turnstile. Turner cannot block well. He’s an OK backup because he can play multiple positions, but he’s a huge liability as a starter. And given that the Packers are paying Turner $7 million per season, I assume they want him to be a starter.
I think this is a huge mistake, one that the Packers will ultimately regret. This is undoubtedly worth an “F” grade.
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Packers sign DE/OLB Preston Smith (4 years, $52 million; $16 million guaranteed): A Grade
In addition to Adrian Amos, the Packers also signed two talented edge rushers on the second unofficial day of free agency, inking Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith to deals. We don’t have the financial information on the former Smith yet, but we do for the latter one.
Smith will be getting $13 million per season, which may seem excessive to some. However, Smith’s contract contains just $16 million guaranteed, which is a very low number for a high overall figure like $52 million. That puts this signing in the “A” grade range.
The $16 million guaranteed is definitely a bargain for a talented player like Preston Smith. The former Redskin had just four sacks in 2018, but he pressured the quarterback frequently and also clamped down against the run. He’s also just 26, so he should continue to improve his game.
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Texans sign S Tashaun Gipson (3 year, $22 million): B Grade
The safety signings have definitely been more reasonable on the second unofficial day of free agency than the first. This signing isn’t nearly as good as Green Bay’s acquisition of Adrian Amos, but it provides better value than the Landon Collins, Tyrann Mathieu and Lamarcus Joyner deals.
Unlike Amos, Tashaun Gipson is not as talented as the three highly paid safeties. He’s most certainly a step down; whereas Amos was graded as a 4.5-star free agent, Gipson garnered three stars. This makes him a good starter, however, and at about $7 million per year, that seems like an acceptable price tag for him.
I think the Texans could’ve gotten even better value had they waited longer for a safety, but they filled a need with a solid player at a reasonable cost. I definitely think this signing should be graded in the “B” range.
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Packers sign S Adrian Amos (4 year, $37 million): A Grade
I’ve been very critical of all the high-priced safety signings in free agency thus far. I’ve given C+ grades to the Landon Collins, Tyrann Mathieu and Lamarcus Joyner acquisitions. This move is different, however, and I’ll explain why:
Collins, Mathieu and Joyner all received more than $10 million per season, with the former two obtaining deals worth $14 million annually. Amos will be getting a bit more than half of that, yet he’s every bit as good as Mathieu and Joyner, and pretty close to Collins in talent. Thus, the Packers are getting a bargain by comparison.
If that were all, we’d be discussing a B+/B grade, but it must also be noted that the Packers are poaching an extremely integral member of their rival’s defense. The Bears won the division last season because of their prolific defense, but now their stop unit won’t be as potent without the terrific Amos patrolling their defensive backfield. Amos will make plays against Mitchell Trubisky instead, which could turn the tide in the NFC North.
With all that in mind, I believe this is a terrific signing, worthy of an “A” grade.
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Cardinals sign DE/OLB Terrell Suggs (1 year, $7 million): A+ Grade
Fun fact: I had the Cardinals selecting Terrell Suggs sixth overall in my 2003 NFL Mock Draft. It’s hard to believe that I’ve been doing this for nearly 20 years now (as of November.) Where the hell has the time gone!?
It’s also amazing that Suggs is still a highly productive player in the NFL. Suggs should continue to be a dynamic edge rusher in his new, old home of Arizona (he went to Arizona State.) The Cardinals have needed a potent edge rusher across from Chandler Jones for quite some time, and the future Hall of Famer will fill that void.
Suggs will do this for the low price of $7 million in 2019, and that’s it. There won’t be any ramifications for Arizona beyond not being able to roll over this money into the 2020 offseason, but it’ll be worth it. Suggs will improve the defense, allowing Kyler Murray to have more possessions. This is an A+ grade.
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Browns sign DT Sheldon Richardson (3 years, $36 million): A Grade
This is the first move the Browns have made in free agency, and it’s an excellent one. Sheldon Richardson is 19th in my Top 100 NFL Free Agents list, just one spot below new Broncos tackle Ja’Wuan James, and yet he’ll be making less per year on a shorter term than the former Dolphin lineman.
Richardson’s presence on the defensive line fills a huge hole the Browns had as far as an interior pass rusher is concerned. Richardson will join Myles Garrett, Olivier Vernon and Larry Ogunjobi to form one of the top defensive lines in the NFL. It could be argued that the Browns now have the best pass rush in the league.
This is a terrific signing, worthy of an “A” grade. I know I usually reserve “A” grades for bargains, but I’d say this qualifies as one.
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Jets sign LB C.J. Mosley (5 years, $85 million; $51 million guaranteed): C- Grade
Wow, this is a ton of money for a linebacker who is not very good in coverage! I won’t be giving this signing an “F” grade, especially after that Kwon Alexander fiasco yesterday, but this is pretty close.
While Mosley struggles in coverage, he does some things extremely well. He’s a force versus the run, and he’s an excellent blitzer. The latter aspect of Mosley’s game must have seemed appealing to Gregg Williams, who will use Mosley to get to the quarterback. Mosley seems like a great fit for the Jets for that reason.
That said, this is a colossal overpay. High-paid inebackers need to be able to cover very well in today’s NFL, and Mosley simply cannot do that.
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March 11 Updates
Broncos sign OT Ja’Wuan James (4 years, $52 million): B+ Grade
There have been many foolish big-money signings today, but this is definitely not one of them. The Broncos made a terrific move in acquiring Ja’Wuan James even though they’ll be paying him more than any other right tackle in the NFL.
James was the 18th-ranked player in my Top 100 NFL Free Agents list, and he plays a very important position. He also provides a huge, much-needed upgrade on the offensive line. The Broncos had horrible play at right tackle last year, and this signing will change that.
A couple of other things to consider: James is just 26 (27 in June), so he still has plenty of time to improve his overall game. James has been stellar at times for the Dolphins, though not so much last year because of a strained patellar tendon. He should be 100 percent by training camp, so he figures to perform on a high level once again for his new team.
This signing won’t be in the “A” range because it’s not a bargain, but I think a B+ is certainly warranted.
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Raiders sign S Lamarcus Joyner (4 years, approx. $42 million): C+ Grade
The final numbers aren’t confirmed on Lamarcus Joyner’s deal, but Paul Gutierrez of ESPN has reported that Joyner’s 4-year contract with the Raiders is worth about $10.5 million per season, which makes the entire pact worth approximately $42 million. If the real deal is much different, I’ll offer a re-grade.
In the meantime, this deserves the same grade as the Landon Collins and Tyrann Mathieu signings. Joyner, Collins and Mathieu are all terrific players who will improve their new secondaries, but the Raiders, Redskins and Chiefs all could have signed slightly lesser safeties for far less money. This is just a poor value acquisition, as there are tons of talented safeties on the market who will be available for bargain-basement prices in a few weeks. It’s foolish to overpay for one now, yet that’s exactly what three teams have done today.
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Colts sign WR Devin Funchess (1 year, $10 million): B Grade
It was initially reported that Devin Funchess would receive $13 million for his 1-year deal with the Colts. It’s actually $10 million, whereas the other $3 million can be obtained via incentives.
I don’t think this contract is as bad as it looks, as it’s only for one year. It’s a move with upside, as Funchess is a former second-round pick with some good talent. He never lived up to his ability in Carolina, but he’ll be playing with a terrific passer for a change in Andrew Luck. That could make a huge difference. It could be possible that Funchess finally realizes his full potential with Luck, and if so, this short-term deal will seem great. If Funchess continues to disappoint, then the Colts, who have the most cap space in the NFL, aren’t really risking much by signing him to this deal, so I think this deserves a grade in the “B” range.
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Bills sign C Mitch Morse (4 years, $44 million): B- Grade
This may seem like a ton of money for a center, especially one with a history of durability issues, but the Bills absolutely had to improve their offensive line this offseason. Mitch Morse was the second-best center on the market, so he should provide a huge boost for the Bills, who needed to give Josh Allen as much good protection as possible in order to develop him properly.
This has the potential to be a great signing. Morse is very talented, and he’s also young; he turns 27 next month. If he can stay healthy, he’ll have a bright future ahead of him. That could be an issue, however, as Morse has missed 14 games in the past two seasons, so I can’t grade this signing too favorably.
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Broncos sign CB Kareem Jackson (3 years, $33 million; $23 million guaranteed): B- Grade
It was quite obvious that the Broncos sorely missed Aqib Talib last year. Outside of Chris Harris, they didn’t get good play from their cornerbacks. That will certainly change next year with Kareem Jackson on the roster.
Jackson is a late bloomer who had a stellar season in 2018. There’s a good chance he once again plays on a high level in 2019, but age is beginning to become an issue with him, as he turns 31 in April. That said, Jackson should at least come close to living up to his contract for the majority of this term, making this a fine signing. It’s a bit too much for Jackson though, so I can’t go higher than a B- for this.
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Bears sign CB Buster Skrine (3 years, $16.5 million; $8.5 million guaranteed): FARMER FAIL, GRIGSON GAFFE, CERRATO SUCKAGE, BAALKE BLOOPER, CHIP TRAGEDY, KING CALAMITY Grade
The Bears signed Buster Skrine in the afternoon. Contract details would’ve been released earlier, but the Chicago front office had to pick up the flags for Skrine being called for defensive holding while signing this contract.
I wish I could understand the logic of this signing, but I just can’t. Buster Skrine is seeded 39th in the NFL Free Agent Cornerback Rankings, yet Chicago gave him a deal worth more than $5 million annually. Skrine, a walking penalty machine, has some talent, but doesn’t deserve anything close to this sort of money. This signing is undoubtedly worth an “F.”
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Bears sign RB Mike Davis (2 years, $6 million): B Grade
Mike Davis was Seattle’s second or third running back last year, depending on what week it was, and he performed well when given the chance. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry and caught 34 passes.
This is a solid move by the Bears. It’s been rumored that they’d like to trade Jordan Howard, so Davis is a nice insurance policy. Davis seems to be paid fairly, so I’m willing to give this a “B” grade.
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Chiefs sign S Tyrann Mathieu (3 years, $42 million): C+ Grade
Landon Collins received a 6-year, $84 million contract from the Redskins earlier Monday. Tyrann Mathieu received a similar deal, though it was cut exactly in half. Like Collins, he’ll earn $14 million per season from his new team.
I’ll say the same thing about this signing that I did about the Collins acquisition. Mathieu is an outstanding player, but this is just way too much for a safety. The safety market is flooded with talented players, so like the Redskins, the Chiefs should’ve waited for better value.
Mathieu isn’t as good of a player as Collins, but I’m still going to grade these signings identically, as Mathieu’s term is half as long. This is a poor value signing, but there’s little doubt that the Chiefs’ defense will improve exponentially with Mathieu on the roster.
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Titans sign WR Adam Humphries (4 years, $36 million): B- Grade
Maybe I’m getting numb to bad receiver contracts, but I don’t think this signing is as bad as most people think it is. It could also be the fact that it was previously reported that Adam Humphries could command $14 million per year on the open market. Compared to that, $9 million per season doesn’t seem that bad!
Humphries is a stellar slot receiver. He caught 76 passes last year, hauling in 72 percent of his targets. He’s exactly what Marcus Mariota needs besides better protection. Humphries will become a dependable target for Mariota, just as he was for Jameis Winston last year.
While some may argue that this is worth something in the C-/D range, I think it’s closer to a B/B-. There are going to be plenty of horrible contracts given to receivers this offseason that will ultimately make this look like a steal.
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Bills sign TE Tyler Kroft (3 years, $18.75 million): FARMER FAIL, GRIGSON GAFFE, CERRATO SUCKAGE, BAALKE BLOOPER, CHIP TRAGEDY, KING CALAMITY Grade
When this first flashed on the screen, I thought it said, “Bills sign TE Tyler Eifert to a 3-year, $18.75 million contract.” That would have made more sense. It still would’ve been an overpay, but Eifert, despite his injury history, has great talent.
Kroft, on the other hand? Not so much. He was ranked as a 1.5-star free agent, so like C.J. Uzomah, who was just overpaid by the Bengals, he’s an average backup at best. Kroft’s best season in the NFL thus far saw him catch 42 passes for 404 yards. He played in only five games last year, hauling in just four receptions. He’s also not a very good blocker either.
I don’t know why teams are being dumb with tight ends. They should not be paid this much. An appropriate 3-year deal for Kroft would be worth $4-5 million; not $18.75 million!
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Jets sign WR Jamison Crowder (3 years, $28.5 million; $17 million guaranteed): C Grade
The Jets needed a receiver to go along with Robby Anderson to help Sam Darnold develop in his sophomore campaign. They found one, signing Jamison Crowder to a deal worth close to $10 million per season.
I like Crowder as a player, and I think he can be productive for the Jets if he can stay healthy. That, however, is the drawback concerning this signing. Can Crowder remain healthy? He hasn’t been able to over the past two seasons. He missed seven games in 2018. He was absent for just one contest in 2017, but wasn’t at 100 percent for more than half the year because he was banged up. At 5-9, 177, Crowder is small and brittle, and I worry that he will continue to deal with injuries in 2019 and beyond.
This is a high-risk, high-reward signing. I’m skeptical of Crowder reaching his ceiling because of his dubious injury history, however, so I’m going to grade this as a “C” signing.
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Jaguars sign QB Nick Foles (4 years, $88 million; $50.125 million guaranteed): B+ Grade
Jaguar coaches, players and fans are going to be in for a surprise. They’re used to their quarterback not caring about his career, opting to party and neglect watching film instead. Their new signal-caller is going to be someone who actually cares about football. Times are indeed changing in Jacksonville.
This may seem like lots of money to some, but Nick Foles makes the Jaguars a legitimate Super Bowl contender. He was able to lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl victory and would have made another trip deep into the postseason had Alshon Jeffery not been responsible for an interception on Foles’ final throw as an Eagle. Foles is a great leader, a hard worker and a clutch performer. He’s not as physically gifted as Blake Bortles, but he’s a much better quarterback overall. It’s not even close.
I’d ordinarily be a bit skeptical of a team bringing in a high-priced quarterback and being competitive right away – see Kirk Cousins and the Vikings – but Foles seems like a great fit for Jacksonville. He won’t have to learn a new offensive because he’ll be playing for coordinator John DeFilippo, who was Foles’ quarterbacks coach when the two won a Super Bowl together in Philadelphia.
I’m grading this as a B+. It shouldn’t be in the “A” range because it’s not a bargain, but this is a move that could put the Jaguars over the top and thus should be regarded favorably.
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Bills sign RB Frank Gore (1 year, $2.5 million): A- Grade
One of the several things the Bills should focus on this offseason is finding a potential successor for LeSean McCoy. Frank Gore obviously isn’t it… or is he? The way Gore has been playing well into his mid-30s, you can’t count anything out!
In all seriousness, this seems like a very good signing. It’s cheap and comes with no risk, and it also fills a need. McCoy was frequently injured last year, and he wasn’t even that effective when he was on the field, averaging a meager 3.2 yards per carry. Gore, on the other hand, did well for a 35-year-old in 2018, averaging 4.6 yards per clip. I know YPC numbers are often misleading, but Gore was solid for a Miami team that didn’t have the best offensive line. He can be a capable insurance policy for McCoy at a cheap price.
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Titans re-sign S Kenny Vaccaro (4 years, $26 million; $11.5 million guaranteed): B Grade
Kenny Vaccaro did a solid job filling in for the injured John Cyprien this past season. He did so well that the Titans have decided to give him a $26 million contract over four seasons. This goes to show that these 1-year “prove it” deals can sometimes work for NFL players, as Vaccaro was forced into one last offseason.
This is a solid re-signing. Vaccaro is a talented player, and he still has a couple more seasons prior to turning 30. My only concern is Vaccaro’s extensive injury history. It’s not something to take lightly, as he missed nine total games in the two seasons prior to 2018. Vaccaro didn’t have such issues last year, but they could easily re-surface, hence why this is just a “B” signing.
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Bengals re-sign OT Bobby Hart (3 years, $21 million): FARMER FAIL, GRIGSON GAFFE, CERRATO SUCKAGE, BAALKE BLOOPER, CHIP TRAGEDY, KING CALAMITY Grade
I may have to re-name this “F”/new Millen grade to just BUNGLES Grade. I thought Cincinnati re-signing C.J. Uzomah was awful, yet this deal is even worse!
Bobby Hart was one of the worst offensive linemen in the NFL last year. I graded him as a 1.5-star free agent, meaning that he’s an average backup. Why on Earth would Cincinnati pay an average backup lineman $7 million per season? It makes no sense. It would be like paying $50,000 for a pack of gum. Yes, you sometimes need a pack of gum, just like teams sometimes need a backup tackle, but there’s no reason to spend an obscene amount of money on either item!
This is just sad. The Bengals look completely lost without Marvin Lewis, and it’s only been two months since they’ve fired him. I’d say the bad opinion sports media should take some accountability for being responsible for the Lewis firing, but that’s never going to happen because they’ll just move on to other dumb talking points and forget that they did anything wrong here.
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Lions sign DE Trey Flowers (5 years, approx $82.5 million): B+ Grade
The total number on this deal is an approximation, as it’s been reported that Trey Flowers is set to earn between $16 and $17 million per season on his 5-year deal. If the real contract ends up being drastically different than this estimation, I’ll re-visit this grade.
Assuming Flowers will earn about $82.5 million over five seasons, the Lions did well to acquire him. Flowers is not a sexy name by any means, but he’s a very talented edge rusher who happens to be just 25 years old. Flowers is already a dynamic player, yet he could keep improving, given his age. The sky is the limit for him, and he should be a great replacement for Ezekiel Ansah, who is expected to depart via free agency. Flowers also figures to be more reliable than the frequently injured Ansah; he’s missed just three games in the past three seasons.
Even better, Flowers will transition easily into Detroit’s defense because like Justin Coleman – Detroit’s other big signing on Monday – Flowers played for Matt Patricia when the two were in New England together.
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March 11 Updates
Bengals re-sign TE C.J. Uzomah (3 years, $18 million): FARMER FAIL, GRIGSON GAFFE, CERRATO SUCKAGE, BAALKE BLOOPER, CHIP TRAGEDY, KING CALAMITY Grade
The bad opinion sports media got Marvin Lewis fired this offseason, and we’re beginning to see the ramifications of that horrible move. This contract is one of the first of many signs that the Bengals will be transitioning to the miserable Bungles of the 90s and early 2000s.
What in the world did the Bengals see from C.J. Uzomah last year to make them think that he’s worth $6 million per season? Uzomah is worth closer to $600,000 per year than $6 million, and we have evidence of that. Uzomah was given the chance to start when Tyler Eifert and Tyler Kroft suffered injuries last year, and he didn’t produce very much, eclipsing the 50-yard barrier just once. Additionally, Uzomah isn’t even a good blocker, so what is it that he does well?
There really isn’t much else to say about this awful signing. This is a clear “F” grade.
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Redskins sign S Landon Collins (6 years, $84 million; $45 million guaranteed): C+ Grade
Yet another former Alabama player joins the Redskins. If Washington signs C.J. Mosley – the team is reportedly interested in him – you have to wonder when the front office will be able to assemble an entire defense comprised of former Crimson Tide players. Even better, if the Redskins struggle in 2019, they’ll be in position to select Tua Tagovailoa in the 2020 NFL Draft!
I don’t like this signing very much, but there are some positives: First, and most obviously, Landon Collins is a great safety. He’s a dynamic play-maker who will create turnovers. He’s also just 25, so he could continue to improve his game, assuming he doesn’t get too fat and happy from this contract. Second, poaching a key member of a rival’s roster is never a bad thing. The Giants will sorely miss Collins, especially when he’s intercepting Eli Manning/Dwayne Haskins/Daniel Jones/Drew Lock.
That said, I think this contract is too rich for Collins. He’s a great player, but the value of safeties has greatly diminished recently. Just look at all the talent available among the NFL Free Agent Safety Rankings. There’s no reason to overspend like this on a safety; even a great one like Collins.
I think if you average everything together, this grade should be in the C+ range. I definitely don’t like this signing, but the move will definitely help the Washington Crimson Tide have a great defense.
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Lions sign CB Justin Coleman (4 years, $36 million): B Grade
Justin Coleman has become the highest-paid slot cornerback in the NFL in the wake of this contract. That fact alone should make this signing seem dubious, but I don’t think it’s as bad as some may think it is.
First of all, Coleman is a solid player, and he’s only 26. He misses too many tackles for my liking, but he covers well and could improve, given his age. Second, he fills a huge need for the Lions, who have had an atrocious secondary for quite some time. And third, Coleman should fit right into the Lions’ defense, given that he played well for Matt Patricia for a couple of years when the two were together in New England.
That last point is very important, and it upgrades a signing that would normally be in the “C” range to a solid “B” grade.
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Texans re-sign DT Angelo Blackson (3 years, $12 million): D Grade
A year ago, the Texans gutted their front office of their talented scouts and smart decision-makers. The reason they did this is because Bill O’Brien wanted to win a power struggle. In doing so, O’Brien surrounded himself with yes-men. These yes-men, apparently, don’t understand how to properly run a front office.
I don’t understand this contract. Angelo Blackson is a rotational defensive lineman, and not a very good one at that. He’s mediocre in run support, but offers nothing as a pass-rusher. I would’ve considered $2 million per year excessive for Blackson, yet the Texans are giving him double that amount!
This is a horrible contract. I won’t give it an “F” because Blackson is still young (26), so perhaps the Texans see some potential from him, but I imagine that they’ll ultimately regret giving him this deal.
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Eagles re-sign OT Jason Peters (1 year, $10 million; $5.5 million guaranteed): A Grade
The consensus belief in Philadelphia was that Jason Peters would retire this offseason, but it turns out that’s not the case. Peters will return for the 2019 season for $5.5 million guaranteed.
This has to earn an “A” grade, as Peters’ return will help solidify an offensive line that won’t have stud guard Brandon Brooks next year because of injury. Peters’ performance has dipped of late, but he’s still a solid left tackle. Plus, his return will allow the Eagles to have one more year to groom Jordan Mailata, Peters’ eventual successor. Mailata has all-world talent, but is very raw, so having a second year to coach him up without throwing him into the fire seems ideal.
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Rams re-sign DE/OLB Dante Fowler (1 year, $12 million): B Grade
I was curious as to what the Rams would do with Dante Fowler this offseason. Letting him go seemed like a mistake after they surrendered a draft pick for him, but giving him a long-term deal would’ve been an even greater error, given Fowler’s history of lethargy throughout his career.
This contract, however, seems like the sweet spot. Fowler has great potential but an even greater floor, so giving him a 1-year “prove it” deal is ideal. I think the $12 million is a bit too much for a player who had just four sacks in 2018, but this contract is not going to hurt the Rams beyond 2020, so this is certainly not a bad move by any means. Giving Fowler an entire offseason to be coached up by Wade Phillips could really pay dividends.
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Raiders sign OT Trent Brown (4 years, $66 million; $36.75 million): A- Grade
If you rank the reasons why the Patriots were able to win the Super Bowl last year despite not having the most talented roster in the league, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick would obviously be at the very top in some order. After that, however, Trent Brown wouldn’t be too far behind. Brown played very well during the regular season as a first-time left tackle, then really stepped up his play in the postseason. He stymied the Chargers and Chiefs’ elite edge rushers, giving Brady enough time to shred the San Angeles and Kansas City defenses.
Brown is just 26, so it’s possible that he’ll continue to improve his game. Again, he played left tackle for the first time last year, so it’s likely that he’ll perform at an even higher level in the near future. The Raiders need this to happen, as they had poor offensive line play in 2018. Rookie Kolton Miller did well in the early going, but struggled after suffering an injury. Miller’s true position could be at right tackle, so this signing should allow the Raiders to have a strong tandem of tackles for the next four years.
This grade should be in the A-/B+ range. This may seem like a ton of money, but Brown has the potential to be one of the top left tackles in the NFL over the next half-decade, so I wouldn’t agree with that assessment. I’ve also seen the sentiment that this is another “Nate Solder signing” and that teams never learn from signing ex-Patriots, but Brown performed on a high level with the 49ers the year before, so that evaluation is lazy and stupid. If Brown does, in fact, emerge as one of the top left tackles in the NFL, this contract will seem like a bargain.
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Eagles sign DT Malik Jackson (3 years, $30 million): B Grade
Malik Jackson was an outstanding player for the Jaguars in 2016 and 2017, but his performance fell off a cliff this past season. He was so bad, in fact, that he was benched late in the year. Jackson isn’t 30 yet – he just turned 29 – so there’s a chance he bounces back with a strong effort in 2019.
However, this still seems like a ton of money to give to a player who was benched for poor play the previous season. It was initially reported that the Eagles signed Jackson to a 3-year, $10 million contract, which would’ve been a steal, but also would’ve made more sense than $30 million over three seasons.
This is definitely a gamble. The Eagles are willing to bet on Jackson reverting to pre-2017 form, which is possible. If Jackson plays like he did in 2017 – he was a force as a run-stopper and a pass-rusher – the Eagles’ already-talented defensive line will be exponentially better. I like this risk for a team that is one of the top contenders to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, but this signing could certainly backfire, as Jackson’s regression could be permanent.
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Lions sign WR Danny Amendola (1 year, $4.5 million): C+ Grade
It was rumored that Danny Amendola would re-join the Patriots, but he instead signed with an organization attempting to emulate what New England has done over the years.
Amendola makes sense for the Lions, who really missed Golden Tate’s production out of the slot following the trade with the Eagles last offseason. Amendola will be a somewhat decent short-term solution in the slot until Detroit finds someone to take the job over the long haul.
That said, Amendola turns 34 in November, so he’s a declining player who won’t be the same sort of receiver who helped the Patriots during some of their Super Bowl runs earlier in this decade. Amendola caught just 59 passes last year despite playing in a miserable receiving corps, and it could be possible that he continues to regress in 2019. With that in mind, it seems as though paying him $4.5 million for this upcoming season is a bit too much, but it’s obviously not going to break the bank or anything, so this signing should be graded in the B-/C+ range.
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March 10 Updates
Chargers re-sign ILB Denzel Perryman (2 years, $12 million): A- Grade
It was apparent that Denzel Perryman was important to the Chargers last year when he suffered a knee injury and was missed down the stretch. The Chargers’ defense regressed without Perryman, so it was important for them to re-sign him.
Not only did the Chargers retain Perryman, but they did so at a very reasonable price. Giving him just $12 million is a borderline steal. Perryman has a dubious injury history – he’s missed 16 games the past two years – but this contract is cheap enough that it doesn’t come with much risk. Plus, Perryman is still young (26), so he can improve his game and his health.
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Raiders re-sign WR Antonio Brown (3 years, $50.125 million; $30.125 guaranteed): C Grade
I posted analysis of the Antonio Brown deal in the NFL Trade Grades page. The Raiders got a steal in Brown, having to only surrender third- and fifth-round picks for the All-Pro wideout. They clearly won the trade.
But then, there’s the contract. It’s difficult to feel optimistic about this. Brown has become the highest-paid receiver in the NFL, earning north of $50 million for three years with slightly more than $30 million guaranteed. That’s a lot of money for an aging, diva receiver who may not give it his all for his new team. Granted, Brown isn’t that old – he turns 31 in July – but his best days are clearly behind him. In fact, had Brown remained on the Steelers, it wouldn’t have surprised me had JuJu Smith-Schuster out-produced Brown in 2019.
That said, Brown could still be a top-10 receiver in the NFL in 2019 and 2020, so I can at least understand why the Raiders would want to give him this contract. Plus, Oakland had to pay a premium to get a dynamic player like Brown on the roster. Unless Brown puts forth zero effort, he’ll certainly help the development of Derek Carr or Dwayne Haskins, should Oakland select him No. 4 overall. Brown’s presence on the team should also excite the new fan base in Las Vegas, which I’m sure is important to owner Mark Davis.
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March 9 Updates
Chiefs sign RB Carlos Hyde (1 year, $2.8 million): B Grade
Carlos Hyde won the Most Unimportant Player of the Year Award in 2018, as he was absolutely useless for both the Browns and Jaguars last year. The Jaguars traded a mid-round pick for Hyde, and that ended up being a giant waste. Hyde was given the chance to start a couple of games in the wake of Leonard Fournette being hurt, yet he failed to eclipse 50 rushing yards in any contest for Jacksonville.
Hyde, however, is still 28. He used to be a talented running back, so perhaps he can rebound a bit. There’s a decent chance he could serve as a solid backup behind Damien Williams. He could also receive some goal-line work. There’s also very little risk involved – no draft picks were used to acquire him – so for just $2.8 million for one season, I think this deserves something in the neighborhood of a “B” grade.
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Steelers re-sign C Maurkice Pouncey (3 years, $29 million): B Grade
Details of the Maurkice Pouncey extension that happened a couple of days ago are also known, as Pouncey was given $29 million over three years. This will make Pouncey the highest-paid center in the NFL.
Pouncey is a very talented center, but he’s definitely not the best player at his position in the NFL, so I don’t think he deserves to be the highest-paid player at his position. Off the top of my head, I can think of five centers I would rather have than Pouncey.
That said, Pouncey is arguably in the 6-10 range as far as center rankings are concerned. He’s a very important player for Pittsburgh’s offense, so I can’t grade this extension poorly. It was a necessary move to make, so while it was an overpay, I think it’s definitely worth grading in the “B” range.
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Steelers re-sign G Ramon Foster (2 years, $8.25 million): A- Grade
Ramon Foster has been a stout guard for the Steelers throughout this entire decade, and he’ll continue to serve his post for a bit longer, as he was re-signed to a 2-year deal a couple of days ago. Those terms are now known, as Foster will get $8.25 million.
This is a very reasonable deal for Foster. In fact, it could be argued that he deserved more. The only potential downside is Foster’s age, as he turned 33 in January. However, guards can play well into their mid-30s, so there’s a good chance Foster won’t suffer much regression during both years of this deal.
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Dolphins sign TE Dwayne Allen (2 years, $7 million): D Grade
Why does it seem like good Dolphins players go to New England, while bad Patriots players go to Miami? The Dolphins tried this last offseason with Danny Amendola, and that was a failed experiement. Now, they’ll be hoping that another former Patriot thrives for them, as they signed Dwayne Allen to a 2-year, $7 million contract.
Even though this contract isn’t for very much, it still seems like a massive overpay. Allen is just a sixth offensive lineman, as he can’t catch a cold; he logged a grand total of three receptions in 2018. It simply doesn’t make sense to give blocking tight ends $3.5 million per season, as they can be found on the street. Whether it’s the inner city, the suburbs or the farm lands, if there’s a street nearby, you can obtain a blocking tight end.
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March 8 Updates
Rams sign S Eric Weddle (2 years, $12.5 million): A Grade
I wrote in the NFL Free Agent Rumors page that the Rams shouldn’t have to sign Eric Weddle to a big contract, given how high the supply is for safeties this offseason. The Rams thought the same thing, giving Weddle a contract that isn’t even worth $13 million over two years.
It’s worth noting that Weddle’s deal is “worth up to” $12.5 million, meaning he may not even get that much money. With that in mind, this is a slam-dunk signing. The Rams were bound to lose LaMarcus Joyner in free agency, and Weddle seems like a great replacement for the short term. Weddle turned 34 recently, so regression is possible, but he played at a high level last year and should have at least one more strong season remaining in his career. Signing him to a deal like this doesn’t come with much risk, so I’m willing to give it an “A” grade.
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March 7 Updates
Titans re-sign P Brett Kern (4 years, $12.55 million; $2.2 million bonus): C Grade
What is happening today? Why are teams signing punters and blocking tight ends to big contracts? None of this makes much sense to me.
Brett Kern is one of the top punters in the NFL. He’s been in the top eight of net average over the past two years, and he’s excellent at pinning opponents inside the 20. That said, he’s still just a punter, and no, punters are not people like Rich Eisen claims. That is utter nonsense.
I don’t have as much of a problem with this contract as I did with the Nick Boyle deal because this is $3 million per year rather than $6 million. However, I’m confused about why the Titans thought they needed to give Kern a $2.2 million bonus. That just seems completely unnecessary.
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Ravens re-sign TE Nick Boyle (3 years, $18 million): D Grade
If this is how the post-Ozzie Newsome Ravens are going to function, Baltimore will struggle to fight for playoff contention for a while.
This is a major overpay at a position that didn’t need one. The Ravens spent two early draft picks on Hayden Hurst and Mark Andrews last year, so it seems ridiculous to give Nick Boyle $6 million per season. Boyle is a much better blocker than Hurst and Andrews, but blocking tight ends do not deserve this sort of money. Blocking tight ends grow on trees; the Ravens could’ve obtain a capable replacement for Boyle in the late rounds or in undrafted free agency this spring.
I’m not giving this an “F” grade because Boyle is great at what he does, and he’s important for Baltimore’s running game, but he was paid way too much. Boyle should’ve gotten a 2-year deal worth $5 million or so.
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March 6 Updates
Colts re-sign DT Margus Hunt (2 years, $9 million): A Grade
It’s amazing that the Colts just gave far less money to a better player than the Buccaneers did yesterday. It just goes to show how important a smart front office is in the NFL. The Buccaneers are going to have to release some talented players in the wake of the Donovan Smith contract, while the Colts will continue to thrive with Margus Hunt on a cheap deal.
Hunt was once considered a second-round bust, but he has been a late bloomer. He had a stellar 2018 campaign, logging 5.5 sacks and clamping down against the run extremely well. He’s a valuable member of Indianapolis’ defense, so keeping him around on a small contract is a wise move, worthy of an “A” grade.
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March 5 Updates
Buccaneers re-sign OT Donovan Smith (3 years, $41.25 million; $27 million guaranteed): FARMER FAIL, GRIGSON GAFFE, CERRATO SUCKAGE, BAALKE BLOOPER, CHIP TRAGEDY, KING CALAMITY Grade
BUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What the hell is this? Seriously, what the hell? Donovan Smith is one of the worst starting left tackles in the NFL. Not only does he suck; he’s lazy and unmotivated. Why on Earth would the Buccaneers give him $27 million guaranteed!? If they shifted the decimal point over to the left and gave him $2.7 million, it would still be too much! Wow. And what a great idea to give a lethargic player $27 million. Yeah, that’s going to end well. Idiots.
I can’t get over how dumb this contract is. In fact, it was so bad that it motivated me to come up with a new “Millen” grade. Well, here it is. People recommended alliteration with other horrible general managers – Ray Farmer, Ryan Grigson, Vinny Cerrato, Trent Baalke, Chip Kelly, Billy King (he was so bad in the NBA he must be mentioned here) – so I thought, why not just do all of them?
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March 3 Updates
49ers re-sign G Mike Person (3 years, $9 million): A+ Grade
Mike Person won a starting job last summer and performed very well. He surrendered just one sack. He wasn’t as good in run blocking, but he still proved to be a solid starter.
Given that Person is a quality blocker, this contract is a great bargain. Not even paying Person $10 million over three years is a steal. The only downside is Person’s age – 31 in June – but interior linemen can play well into their mid-30s. Thus, I’m willing to give the Person signing an A+.
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March 2 Updates
Eagles re-sign C Jason Kelce (1 year, $11 million): A Grade
There was some speculation about Jason Kelce potentially retiring this offseason, but it sounds like that was never a strong option for him. Either way, the Eagles will make sure Kelce will remain with the team, giving him a 1-year extension worth $11 million.
This grade is simple, as it’s definitely worthy of an “A.” Kelce is one of the top centers in the NFL. He turns 32 in November, but centers can play at a high level well into their 30s. Thus, the Eagles absolutely made the right move in retaining Kelce.
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March 1 Updates
Eagles re-sign DE Brandon Graham (3 years, $40 million): B Grade
There’s no word yet on the guaranteed money on this contract, but the early word is that Brandon Graham will receive $40 million over three years. This is a bit surprising, as it was expected that Philadelphia would allow Graham to leave via free agency. Instead, he’ll be back for the next few seasons.
Graham has been a tremendous player for the Eagles following some bouts with injuries early in his career. He has never registered double-digit sacks, but Graham’s stats are misleading because the Eagles have a deep rotation at defensive end. Graham was excellent last year at getting pressures on the quarterback, and I suspect that’ll continue in 2019 and beyond.
That said, there’s some risk with this contract. Graham turns 31 in April, so he could regress, at least a little bit. That’s why it’s surprising that Philadelphia re-signed him. Still, this is a solid move overall, worthy of a “B” grade.
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Feb. 28 Updates
Cowboys re-sign TE Jason Witten (1 year): A Grade
Let us pause for a second and have a moment of silence in appreciation of Jason Witten’s broadcasting career. Witten had some great moments as Monday Night Football’s color analyst, like the time he said Aaron Rodgers pulled a rabbit out of his head, or when he said Cam Newton is great at the “run after catch.” What a tremendous, storied career in broadcasting. I’ll miss Witten’s voice and analysis.
Witten will take at least a break from announcing to play for the Cowboys for one more year. He’s coming out of retirement to join Dallas again.
This obviously deserves an “A” grade. Dak Prescott looked lost without Witten last year. While Witten is a shell of his former self, he’s still a smart player with reliable hands and great blocking ability. His presence can’t hurt the Cowboys, and I have to imagine that he’s hungry to play football, meaning he’ll be in tip-top shape.
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Feb. 26 Updates
Steelers re-sign DE/DT Tyson Alualu (2 years, $6 million; $1.75 million guaranteed): B Grade
It’s still hard to believe that the Jaguars made such a major reach on Tyson Alualu back in 2010. They selected him 10th overall that year, and he predictably never lived up to that billing. However, he has served as a capable backup. He did a good job in that role last year for the Steelers. He’ll handle those duties over the next two seasons.
This is a fair deal for Alualu. He’ll be getting less than $2 million in guarantees for this 2-year contract, which seems right. I’d say this is worth a “B” grade.
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Feb. 21 Updates
Ravens re-sign CB Tavon Young (3 years, $25.8 million): B Grade
Tavon Young has become the highest-paid nickel cornerback in the wake of this signing. Young, a fourth-round selection in 2016, was great as a rookie and only decent in 2018, but he’s being paid for his upside, as he’s just 25 in March.
Young wasn’t as good in 2018 as he was as a rookie because he was coming off a torn ACL that caused him to miss all of 2017. Young should perform better in 2019 and beyond, so this contract seems reasonable. The Ravens deserve either a B+ or a “B” for this move, as it’s a solid signing, but not a good bargain worthy of something in the “A” range.
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Feb. 19 Updates
Cardinals sign TE Charles Clay (1 year, $3.25 million): D Grade
There was some positive feedback about this signing on Twitter, with one person even comparing the pairing of Charles Clay and Ricky Seals-Jones to what the Patriots planned to do with Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez earlier this decade. Those who praised this signing clearly haven’t seen Clay play recently, especially the guy who compared Clay and Seals-Jones to Gronkowski and Hernandez, as he is just crazy.
Clay is done. He should not be in the league anymore. When he’s not dropping passes, he’s spending time on the injured list. His knees are completely shot, and he has nothing left to offer. He gave the Bills absolutely nothing last year, and I can’t imagine him contributing anything for the Cardinals.
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Feb. 14 Updates
Jaguars re-sign K Josh Lambo (4 years, $15.5 million): C+ Grade
I am generally uncomfortable with teams paying money like this to kickers. Save for a few exceptions, it seems like all kickers have roller-coaster careers, where they get hot for a while, then begin to miss everything, seemingly suffering a mental breakdown in the process.
Josh Lambo has been terrific recently, drilling 38-of-41 attempts in the past two seasons. He’s 6-of-7 from beyond 50 in that span. He’s been one of the better kickers in the NFL as of late, but that could change very quickly. Thus, I can’t grade this signing too favorably.
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Feb. 12 Updates
Bills sign C/G Spencer Long (3 years, $13 million): D Grade
I don’t know why teams believe Spencer Long is worth more than the veteran minimum. They keep signing him to multi-year contracts, yet are always disappointed and release him before his deal expires. I have to believe that the Bills will feel the same way once they see him play.
Long would make for a solid backup because he can play both guard and center, but this contract seems like the Bills are considering him to be a starter, which would be a disaster. This signing is a poor one, though not quite worthy of an “F.”
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Feb. 11 Updates
Browns sign RB Kareem Hunt (1 year): A+ Grade
Wow. Of all the places Kareem Hunt could have gone, I never imagined he’d sign with the Browns. Cleveland has a talented running back in Nick Chubb, so it’s not like Hunt fills a need. Still, this is an A+ signing for obvious reasons.
Hunt is one of the most talented running backs in the NFL. He’s not only an exceptional runner, but also a prolific receiver out of the backfield. While Chubb also is a terrific rusher, he doesn’t have a great receiving skill set, so Hunt and Chubb can complement each other extremely well. Of course, it remains to be seen what sort of suspension Hunt will serve, but considering that he has already missed time, he could be allowed to play at some point in 2019. If so, he’ll help the Browns toward their long-awaited playoff push at the end of the season.
Some will say that the Browns will take a “PR hit” for signing Hunt, but people who worry about PR hits are losers. The Redskins also allegedly took a PR hit for acquiring Reuben Foster, and that worked out quite well for them. Football teams are asked to win football games; not be moral arbiters, and Hunt will certainly help them achieve victories. Plus, I think it says a lot that Browns general manager John Dorsey, who drafted Hunt while serving the same post in Kansas City, is the one to take the leap of faith on him. Dorsey knows Hunt well, so I think this is a good sign that Hunt has made good progress in his rehabilitation and won’t commit horrible actions again.
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Panthers re-sign S Eric Reid (3 years, $22 million): C+ Grade
Carolina’s secondary was largely a mess last year, though there were two players in that group who weren’t complete liabilities. One was rookie cornerback Donte Jackson. The other was safety Eric Reid.
Reid is a physically gifted safety who performed well at times in 2018. However, he was penalized far too often. This hurt the Panthers at times, though Reid made up for it by occasionally making quality plays.
This signing should be in the B-/C+ range. Reid should’ve been retained, but this seems like a slight overpay, given how penalties Reid accumulates throughout a season.
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Feb. 9 Updates
Cardinals sign DE Brooks Reed (1 year, $2 million): A Grade
This is the second former Falcon the Cardinals signed this week. I criticized the first addition, as Arizona overpaid Robert Alford. This acquisition, conversely, deserves a much better grade.
Brooks Reed, 32 in February, is no longer the pass rusher he once was, but he’s still very solid in run support. This is crucial for the Cardinals, who had the fourth-worst DVOA rush defense in the NFL last year. Reed can help the Cardinals improve in that department, provided he doesn’t suffer some major regression.
That said, even if Reed is a shell of his former self in run support, this didn’t cost the Cardinals anything. A 1-year, $2 million contract won’t hurt them at all, so this is no risk, all reward. Plus, it’ll be nice to have Reed back home; he was born and raised in Arizona, and he played for the University of Arizona, so this makes for a nice story.
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Feb. 8 Updates
Cardinals sign CB Robert Alford (3 years, $22.5 million; $13.5 million guaranteed): D Grade
The Cardinals have needed a solid cornerback to start across from Patrick Peterson for years. Well, they finally found one by signing Robert Alf- wait a second. Wait, just one second. I forgot this wasn’t 2016. My bad.
Alford has not played well in recent years. He struggled mightily last season. A worse pass rush can be blamed, but Alford is now in his 30s and likely won’t improve.
With that in mind, this is a huge overpay. Alford should’ve gotten $9 or $10 million over $3 years, yet he got more guaranteed money than that! This deal is absurd, and it could be argued that this should be an “F.”
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Jan. 29 Updates
Colts re-sign G Mark Glowinski (3 years, $18 million): A Grade
This is an outstanding signing. The Colts plucked Mark Glowinski off waivers after the Seahawks inexplicably cut him at the end of the 2017 season. Glowinski took over the starting job in October and was excellent in all facets.
Re-signing Glowinski to a deal worth $6 million per year seems like it could end up being a great bargain. Had Glowinski put together another strong season, he could’ve gotten more on the open market. He’s also just 27 (in May), so his best days could be ahead of him.
The Colts deserve an “A” grade for this signing. They’re retaining a talented player at a reasonable price, and by doing so, they’re keeping their stout offensive line together. That’s obviously very important, especially when considering Andrew Luck’s injury history.
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Jan. 26 Updates
Bears re-sign OT Bobby Massie (4 years, $32 million): B+ Grade
This contract is just an estimation. It’s been reported that Bobby Massie received a 4-year contract worth about $8 million per season. I may have an update when full details are revealed.
As it stands now, this is a solid deal. Massie used to be a sub-par blocker, but he’s improved every year and is now a decent right tackle. He did a great job of protecting Mitchell Trubisky last year, and he’s not 30 yet. It makes sense to give him $8 million per season as long as the guaranteed money isn’t out of control.
I’m giving this a B+ grade. The Bears have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, which is one of the many reasons why they won the division in 2018. The offensive tackle class in both free agency and the draft is very weak, so it was important for the Bears to retain Massie.
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Jan. 25 Updates
Colts re-sign K Adam Vinatieri (1 year): B+ Grade
It’s unclear how much money Adam Vinatieri will earn from this 1-year deal, but considering that he received $3.625 million in 2018, we can assume that he’ll be due the same amount or less for this upcoming year.
Vinatieri isn’t coming off his best season. He went 23-of-27, which is perfectly fine, but he missed three extra points and whiffed on two kicks in the divisional round of the playoffs. Still, Vinatieri, despite his age (46), is one of the better kickers in the NFL, so bringing him back is a solid move.
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Cardinals re-sign WR Larry Fitzgerald (1 year, $11 million): B- Grade
The value on this contract makes me wonder if Larry Fitzgerald would have simply retired had the Cardinals offered to pay him less than $11 million in 2019. There was some speculation that Fitzgerald would retire, amplified by the fact that he had zero chemistry with Josh Rosen last year. While this may seem like a “thank you” payment/retirement gift for all of Fitzgerald’s years of service, it almost seems like Arizona had to pay Fitzgerald tons of money to come back.
Fitzgerald posted his worst yardage total ever in 2018, accumulating just 734 yards and six touchdowns on 69 catches. This wasn’t on Fitzgerald, as Rosen was an abomination. That said, Fitzgerald has succeeded in the past with the likes of Max Hall and John Skelton, so the fact that he wasn’t very productive is an indication that he doesn’t have much remaining the tank. Fitzgerald turns 36 in August, so it shouldn’t surprise anyone if he continues to struggle in 2019.
With that in mind, this is a colossal overpay. It’s only for one year though, so the Cardinals won’t be penalized for this, save for the inability to roll this money over for the 2020 offseason. Plus, it should benefit Rosen to have one of the greatest receivers in NFL history around for another season, so I can’t grade this poorly.
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Jan. 17 Updates
Seahawks sign QB Paxton Lynch: B Grade
Paxton Lynch is a big-time first-round bust from 2016. Lynch was supposed to be the heir apparent to Peyton Manning in Denver, but failed miserably. He was awful in a few starts in his rookie campaign, then lost the job to Trevor Siemian in 2017. The camel that broke the straw’s back – as one Hall of Fame running back once said – was Lynch losing out to Chad Kelly as the backup prior to 2018. Lynch was promptly cut.
There’s no denying Lynch’s talent level, but his accuracy and football IQ are both poor. His worst attribute is his drive. He has shown no willingness to work hard to be a professional quarterback. That has been his greatest downfall.
That said, there’s a chance Lynch has changed. Lynch turns 25 in February, so perhaps he has matured. If so, he could develop into a No. 2 quarterback behind Russell Wilson, whom the Seahawks could trade for something substantial if he shows well in the preseason and some potential starts for an injured Wilson. If not, this won’t hurt Seattle at all.
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