NFL Free Agent Tracker:
Top 100 | QB | RB | FB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | OLB | ILB | CB | S | K/P | 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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Aug. 31 Updates 
Vikings re-sign TE T.J. Hockenson (4 years, $68.4 million): C+ Grade
I’ve done research on how highly paid tight ends have always disappointed their teams unless they happened to be in an elite group like Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews. The question is if T.J. Hockenson belongs in that group. Based on how he performed down the stretch in 2022, the case could be made for Hockenson to be in the upper echelon of his position.
However, I’m still not a big fan of this contract. This is a ton of money for a tight end, especially when compared to the contracts that Kelce and George Kittle have received. Hockenson will be making $3 million per year more than them, so this is an overpay by that standard.
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Aug. 27 Updates 
Dolphins sign DE/DT Zach Sieler (3 years, $30.8 million; $20 million guaranteed): B Grade
I’d say that Zach Sieler has been a success after being chosen in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He fought hard to work into the starting lineup, and he rewarded the Dolphins for promoting him recently. Sieler was terrific in run support and generated some pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
A contract worth about $10 million per season seems about right for Sieler. This isn’t a bargain by any means, but the Dolphins did well to retain their emerging defensive lineman.
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Aug. 19 Updates 
Ravens sign DE Jadeveon Clowney: A- Grade
The Ravens have been busy signing aging has-beens this week. Days after adding Ronald Darby, they obtained Jadeveon Clowney to strengthen their front seven.
If Baltimore thinks its pass rush will improve markedly with Clowney, it’s sorely mistaken. Clowney logged just 2.5 sacks last year and hasn’t been great at rushing the passer in years. Clowney can, however, hold up very well against the run, so he’ll at least help in that regard.
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Aug. 16 Updates Ravens sign CB Ronald Darby (1 year, $3.2 million): A- Grade
It’s not a surprise that the Ravens signed a cornerback, given that Marlon Humphrey is dealing with a foot injury. Baltimore opted to bring in Ronald Darby, a journeyman veteran who previously played for the Broncos.
Denver, however, didn’t get to see much of Darby last year because he tore his ACL in Week 5. This was one of many injuries Darby has suffered over the years. It’s unlikely that he’s 100 percent, and there’s a very good chance he’ll get hurt again this season, but he’s a cheap, viable replacement for the short term.
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Aug. 14 Updates 
Patriots sign RB Ezekiel Elliott (1 year, $6 million): C Grade
Ezekiel Elliott has had quite the fall from grace. He was considered an elite back a few years ago, but he suffered a sharp decline and never recovered. The Cowboys finally gave up on him, and Elliott remained a free agent for months.
Elliott finally found a buyer in the Patriots, but I’m not a fan of this signing. Elliott will help at the goal line to fill the void that Damien Harris left behind, but he won’t improve the team otherwise. New England doesn’t have much of a chance to compete in a loaded AFC, so this seems like a wasted signing. The Patriots should have just taken swings on younger backs with more upside.
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Jets sign RB Dalvin Cook (1 year, $8.6 million): B Grade
The Dalvin Cook drama has finally come to an end. The former Viking has joined his former rival, Aaron Rodgers, in New York on an $8.6 million contract for 2023.
It was almost inevitable that the Jets would sign a running back. Breece Hall is coming off a torn ACL, and the front office would have drafted Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 15 overall had he been available. Cook isn’t as talented as Gibbs, but he’s a solid runner who could be a fine replacement until the second-year back is ready to play.
Having said that, there are a few concerns with Cook. One, he has been involved in some off-the-field trouble, so it’s not out of the question that he could be suspended at some point. Two, he’s dealing with a shoulder injury, though he’s still expected to be ready by Week 1. And three, he’s coming off a down year, but he’s young enough to rebound.
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Aug. 8 Updates 
Rams sign S John Johnson: A Grade
The Rams have some serious problems in their defense, which includes the secondary. It made sense that they would address it, and they did so by signing a player who once performed at a high level for them.
John Johnson is a talented safety, but is coming off two down years with the Browns. He missed one too many tackles in Cleveland, but could revert to performing well with the Rams once again. Johnson is just 27, so there’s no reason to think he’s washed up at all.
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Aug. 6 Updates 
Panthers sign DE/OLB Justin Houston: A Grade
Anyone who believes the Panthers had a great defense last year is suffering from the Mandela Effect. Carolina was 24th in defensive EPA last year, as the team struggled to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The 2021 version of the Panthers was terrific defensively, but the team suffered a major decline on that side of the ball this past season.
The major difference between the 2021 Panthers and 2022 Panthers was Haason Reddick’s departure. Carolina still had Brian Burns on the roster, but Reddick’s absence created a huge void in the pass rush. Justin Houston won’t completely fill that hole because he’s 34, but he was still good enough to generate 9.5 sacks for Baltimore last year. His presence will definitely help, though he won’t be nearly as good as Reddick. Still, he’ll be an upgrade for the short term.
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Eagles sign LBs Zach Cunningham and Myles Jack: A- Grade
The Eagles made a pair of linebacker signings Sunday as insurance for Nakobe Dean. They obtained Zach Cunningham and Myles Jack, both of whom are attempting to rebound from down 2022 campaigns.
Of the two, Cunningham seems more viable. Cunningham had an injury-ravaged 2022 season, but he performed well beforehand. Jack, on the other hand, seems to be completely washed up after suffering so many injuries throughout his football career. Still, these are fine signings, as one of them should be able to crack the 53-man roster.
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Aug. 4 Updates 
Bengals re-sign LB Logan Wilson (4 years, $37.3 million): B+ Grade
Logan Wilson had a rough start to his career as a third-round pick, but he has improved his game every season. He became a terrific linebacker last year, especially in coverage. It was just a matter of time before Cincinnati offered him a big contract.
The financials of this deal make sense for Wilson, who figures to continue to bolster his game. This isn’t a bargain, but it was certainly a move the Bengals should have made.
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Bears sign DE Yannick Ngakoue (1 year, $10.5 million): A Grade
The Bears have made some nice improvements to their roster this offseason, but prior to this signing, they had not addressed their pass rush. Their inability to generate pressure on the quarterback was quite apparent last year when they finished 31st in pressure rate. Clearly, Chicago needed to find replacements for Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn.
This signing should help the Bears generate some pressure. Yannick Ngakoue is coming off a down year in Indianapolis because he was nursing an injury, and yet he still recorded 9.5 sacks. Given that he’s still just 28, Ngakoue should be able to rebound with a nice season in Chicago. He also comes with very little risk because this signing is just for one year.
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July 29 Updates Dolphins sign CB Eli Apple: B+ Grade
The Dolphins had high hopes for their secondary when they traded a third-round pick for Jalen Ramsey, but an unfortunate injury will sideline the stud cornerback until at least December. Miami, as a consequence, had to sign a replacement.
Eli Apple might fill in Ramsey’s shoes well, but he could also be a disaster. Apple has been very feast-or-famine throughout his career. For example, he had an excellent season for Cincinnati in 2021 as the team’s No. 2 corner, but he struggled last year. It’s unclear which player Miami will get, but it’s not like the front office had much of an alternative.
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July 27 Updates Jets re-sign QB Aaron Rodgers (2 years, $75 million; $75 million guaranteed): A+ Grade
Quarterbacks chosen in the 2018, 2019 and 2020 NFL Drafts have been re-signing for record deals lately. Aaron Rodgers is obviously not part of that group, yet he received a new contract as well. His is fully guaranteed, as he’ll be earning $75 million fully guaranteed for the next two seasons in New York.
It’s odd to grade a fully guaranteed contract as an A+, but that’s exactly what this is. That’s because this new deal for Rodgers is actually a $30 million pay cut. Rodgers has opted to take less money in New York so that the Jets can sign better talent around him. This has to be a dream come true for the Jets, who will have a great chance to build upon their already-stacked roster next offseason.
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Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here! Bears re-sign TE Cole Kmet (4 years, $50 million; $32.8 million guaranteed): C- Grade
My eyes nearly popped out of my head when I saw these numbers. Cole Kmet getting $50 million? Why would this ever happen!?
There’s a long history of failed contracts given to non-elite tight ends. Players like Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews have not disappointed, but every other tight end hasn’t been able to live up to the big money in their deal, and I suspect Kmet will be the next name on that extensive list. Kmet has plenty of talent, but he’s nowhere near the top tier at the position, so he definitely did not deserve this sort of cash.
That said, I won’t fail the Bears because Kmet has lots of potential, especially now that the Bears have improved their offensive line. This means Kmet will have to block less, so he’ll be able to run more routes and see a greater number of targets.
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July 26 Updates 
Giants re-sign OT Andrew Thomas (5 years, $117.5 million; $67 million guaranteed): A- Grade
I’m old enough to remember when Andrew Thomas was the worst of all the first-round tackles in his class, and the Giants were considered absolute fools for drafting him before anyone else at his position.
My, how the turntables have … turned. Thomas is now one of the best left tackles in the NFL, and yet he won’t even be 25 until after the 2023 regular season. The Giants obviously had to re-sign Thomas, given that his presence is instrumental in Daniel Jones’ continued development. I won’t go full “A” with this grade because the signing isn’t a bargain, but it was an important transaction for the Giants.
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Texans re-sign OT Tytus Howard (3 years, $56 million; $36.5 million guaranteed): B Grade
I’m bullish on the Texans’ chances of improving markedly this year, and one of the reasons is the offensive line. Tytus Howard is a part of that, as he is coming off his best year as a pro. He wasn’t great, or anything, but he was a quality pass protector for Houston’s horrible quarterbacks. Thus, it makes sense to sign him to this sort of deal.
I won’t grade this signing in the “A” range because it’s not a bargain, but it’s definitely not an overpay either. Howard should continue to improve, as he has just four years of experience under his belt.
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Cowboys re-sign CB Trevon Diggs (5 years, $97 million): B- Grade
I wouldn’t blame anyone for considering this to be a major overpay. Trevon Diggs is a great ballhawk who is a year removed from snatching 11 interceptions in a single season. However, he tends to get beaten in coverage more than the media will ever admit, and he also misses his fair share of tackles. Diggs is a dangerous playmaker, but he can also be a liability at times.
That said, Diggs is extremely talented, and he’s only 24 to boot. He should be able to improve his game, so I don’t mind this contract too much. It’d be a different story if Diggs were 28, but there’s plenty of potential for him to fix his weaknesses.
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Chargers re-sign QB Justin Herbert (5 years, $262.5 million): A Grade
Lamar Jackson was awarded $260 million over five years in a contract he signed a few months ago. It makes sense that Justin Herbert’s deal would surpass that, and it has, as Herbert will be making $262.5 million over the same five seasons.
I graded Jackson’s contract as a “B,” but I like this one much more. The concern with Jackson is his durability, as he hasn’t been able to finish the past two seasons due to injuries. Herbert, conversely, has not shown any signs of being injury prone. Herbert has yet to miss a single start in his NFL career.
I should note that I’m often wary of big-money contracts handed out to quarterbacks because they can really hurt the team’s salary cap. However, I’m always on board to pay an elite signal-caller tons of money, and Herbert can qualify as such. Herbert has thrown for more passing yards (14,089) than any other quarterback in his first three NFL seasons, and yet he hasn’t always had a healthy supporting cast at his disposal. Herbert will continue to improve at his young age, so perhaps we’ll eventually recognize that this contract was a steal, with Herbert getting “only” 2.5 million more than Jackson.
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July 24 Updates 
Seahawks re-sign DE/OLB Uchenna Nwosu (3 years, $59 million; $32 million guaranteed): B Grade
The Seahawks struggled defensively last year, and one issue was their inability to generate a consistent pass rush. They were below average in pressure rate, but one player who was able to hound oppposing quarterbacks was Uchenna Nwosu, who logged 9.5 sacks. Thus, it makes sense that the Seahawks would want to re-sign him.
This seems like a lot of money for Nwosu, who has topped five sacks just once in his NFL career. However, Nwosu is only 26, so there’s a chance that this could seem like a good deal a couple of years from now.
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Raiders sign CB Marcus Peters (1 year): A Grade
Marcus Peters is a very talented cornerback, but isn’t coming off his best year. That can be attributed to an ACL tear he suffered in 2021. Peters is 30 now, but he should still have one or two more great years in the tank, provided he can put the injury behind him.
I like this signing for the Raiders, but not so much for Peters. The Raiders have immense issues in their secondary, and Peters will go a long way in fixing that. He’ll esepcially be useful against Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert. That said, I was hoping Peters would go to a Super Bowl contender. The Raiders are not one, especially when considering Jimmy Garoppolo’s health.
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July 21 Updates Ravens sign RB Melvin Gordon (1 year, $3.1 million): D Grade
Wow, Melvin Gordon is still in the NFL? I completely forgot about him until I saw this signing happen, and then I remembered all of his fumbles last year. There were five of them, prompting his release from Denver. The 3.5 yards-per-carry average didn’t help either.
I don’t understand this signing. There were better options available like Dalvin Cook, Ezekiel Elliott, and Leonard Fournette. Gordon is completely washed up, so why does that warrant a $3.1 million price tag?
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July 19 Updates 
Steelers sign DE/OLB Alex Highsmith (4 years, $68 million): A Grade
The Steelers’ pass rush took a huge hit last year when T.J. Watt missed seven games, but they were still able to generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks because of Alex Highsmith. The 26-year-old edge rusher had a breakout season with 14.5 sacks.
I’m a big fan of this contract. The name of the game in the AFC, at defensively, is generating lots of pressure because of the crazy quarterback talent in the conference. Highsmith will allow Pittsburgh to do that along with Watt. Highsmith being so young also means he has the potential to improve even more, so there’s a chance this deal looks like a bargain in a couple of years.
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July 16 Updates 
Titans sign WR DeAndre Hopkins (2 years, $32 million): C Grade
So much for DeAndre Hopkins signing with a contender. I don’t blame him for chasing the money because this almost certainly his final large contract in the NFL, but it’s still a disappointing outcome for a talented receiver who could have put another team over the top.
The Titans will obviously benefit from this signing, and it’ll make them very relevant in a weak division this season, but Hopkins will not lead them to a Super Bowl because there are so many great teams in the conference. The Titans would have been better off blowing up their team and going after Caleb Williams. Instead, they’ve just delayed the inevitable.
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Jaguars re-sign TE Evan Engram (3 years, $42.5 million): B Grade
Evan Engram was seen as a disappointment ahead of the 2022 season, so this sort of a contract would have seemed ridiculous just 12 months ago. Things can apparently change in just one year! Engram emerged as a great weapon for Trevor Lawrence, especially down the stretch. He finished with career-high numbers: 73 catches, 776 yards and four touchdowns.
Engram was franchised and then re-signed to this deal. It seems like a solid one. Obviously, there is some risk that he’ll regress, but with upgraded coaching and quarterback play, Engram seems to have found a home in Jacksonville. Lawrence loves throwing to him, so it was important for the Jaguars to retain him.
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July 15 Updates Jets sign DT Quinnen Williams (4 years, $96 million; $66 million guaranteed): B+ Grade
I’ve made it known that I’m often not a huge fan of paying massive defensive linemen this sort of money. There’s a long history of these players getting fat and happy with their new wealth, causing them to regress. It’s certainly possible that this could occur with Quinnen Williams.
Williams, however, is currently one of the top defensive tackles in the NFL. He just logged 12 sacks, and he’s young enough (25) that he could continue to improve. I’m going to make a rare exception and grade this favorably, but it should be acknowledged that there is some risk involved.
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June 29 Updates Patriots re-sign LB Ja’Whaun Bentley (2 years, $18.75 million; $9 million guaranteed): B+ Grade
I hated the contract the Patriots gave to DeVante Parker earlier this week. This contract is much better, as New England re-signed Ja’Whaun Bentley to a 2-year pact worth $18.75 million.
Unlike Parker, Bentley was a consistent contributor for New England last year. He fit in well into Bill Belichick’s defense and thrived in all regards, particularly in run support. He’s also just 26, so he could improve his game in the coming seasons. I think this is a fair price for Bentley, so this signing should be graded accordingly.
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Bill Belichick is obviously one of the greatest coaches in NFL history, but even he has a weakness. That would be his poor evaluation of receivers. Outside of a couple of examples, Belichick has a horrible track record when it comes to the position. It’s almost like Matt Millen has infected Belichick’s mind. I’d like to speculate how this occurred, but I got queasy just thinking about the possibilities.
I don’t know what drugs Belichick was smoking when he re-signed DeVante Parker to a 3-year deal worth $33 million. Parker is a decent receiver, but he caught only 31 passes in 2022. At 30 years old, Parker will only regress from this point. If you told me he signed a 3-year contract, I would have guessed that it would be for anywhere between $9 and $12 million.
I understand that part of the reason for this deal is for the Patriots to open some salary cap space, but a signing like this seems detrimental for the long term.
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June 15 Updates Texans re-sign DT Maliek Collins (2 years, $23 million; $20 million guaranteed): B Grade
The Texans didn’t have much going for them defensively last year, though Maliek Collins was an exception. Collins wasn’t very good versus the run, but did a good job of putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks, logging 3.5 sacks.
It makes sense for Houston to re-sign Collins. He’s 28, so he should be able to continue to perform on a high level. I’m not a big fan that most of this money is guaranteed, but given that this is a 2-year contract, that shouldn’t be a big deal.
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June 8 Updates 
Broncos sign DE Frank Clark (1 year, $5.5 million): A- Grade
Frank Clark was released by the Chiefs in March, yet received very little interest on the open market until now. He was finally signed by a divisional rival in what looks like a solid move.
This signing makes sense for two reasons. First, Baron Browning may not be ready for the start of the regular season because of an injury. Second, teams need as many potent pass rushers as possible to take down Patrick Mahomes. Clark can still be a potent pass rusher, though his best days are behind him now that he’s 30. He’s coming off a down year, but could still have one or two more strong seasons remaining in the tank.
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June 5 Updates 
Bills sign DE/OLB Leonard Floyd: A Grade
Given that Leonard Floyd had recorded 10.5, 9.5 and nine sacks in the past three years, it was surprising that he had been a free agent for three months. The Bills certainly lucked out, as they were able to sign him to improve their pass rush.
The Bills had an elite pass rush early in 2022, but that changed when Von Miller suffered an injury on Thanksgiving. Buffalo’s defense was never the same after that. There’s a chance Miller will miss some of 2023, so signing Floyd as an insurance policy was crucial. Floyd should continue to play well, though there is some concern with him turning 31 in September.
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June 3 Updates Bills extend DT Ed Oliver (4 years, $68 million; $45 million guaranteed): B- Grade
There was some speculation that the Bills would use their first-round pick on a defensive tackle because most of the players they have at the position have expiring contracts in the near future. That included Ed Oliver, who was signed to a 4-year extension with $45 million in guarantees.
Oliver was regarded as a blue-chip defensive tackle prospect when he was chosen in the first round of the draft four years ago. Oliver, however, has just been above average. Based on his past production – 9.5 total sacks in the previous three years – he’s not worth this sort of money. However, he won’t even be 26 until December, so there’s still plenty of room for growth. I don’t hate the Bills extending Oliver, given his potential, but it’s not like I can give this signing a high mark either.
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May 13 Updates Texans sign CB Shaq Griffin (1 year, $4.5 million): A Grade
Shaq Griffin is coming off a down year for the Jaguars, but only because he dealt with a back injury. He’s a candidate to have a bounce-back year, though it’s no surprise that he had to sign a “prove it” contract to play for someone in 2023.
The Texans will have a better defense this season with Will Anderson and some veterans joining the unit, but they needed cornerback help across from Derek Stingley Jr. Griffin will provide an upgrade at a cheap price, making this an excellent signing.
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May 11 Updates Texans re-sign G Shaq Mason (3 years, $36 million; $22 million guaranteed): B- Grade
Shaq Mason was once one of the top guards in the NFL. That was not the case last year, as he struggled with the Buccaneers. There’s a chance he could bounce back with a solid 2023 campaign, but he’s now in his 30s. There’s a chance that his performance last season was the beginning of a permanent decline.
We’ll see what happens with Mason, but I don’t blame the Texans for re-signing him to this deal. They may regret it, but having someone like Mason around for the next few years could give them the chance to protect C.J. Stroud well. As David Carr very well knows, protecting a franchise quarterback is paramount, so I won’t grade this signing poorly, despite the obvious potential downside.
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May 4 Updates Giants re-sign DT Dexter Lawrence (4 years, $90 million; $60 million guaranteed): B+ Grade
I’m always cautious when teams give large players this sort of money. I guess I’m still vividly recalling the Albert Haynesworth days, but if large players get fat and happy as a result of earning so much money, it’s harder for them to get into shape.
That said, Dexter Lawrence is a phenomenal talent. He’s stout as a pass rusher and a run defender, and he’s only 25. It would’ve been foolish for the Giants not to retain him, even at this price.
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Chiefs sign OT Donovan Smith (1 year, $9 million): A+ Grade
NFL teams will often sign veterans after draft weekend if they can’t fill certain positions during the NFL Draft. The Chiefs had a hole at right tackle that they didn’t address, which would explain this signing.
Donovan Smith had been playing on a Pro Bowl level for the Buccaneers until this past season. He struggled in 2022, but he dealt with an elbow injury, which likely affected his performance. He’s only 30, so it’s not like he’s definitely washed up. Smith could easily rebound and have a great season with the Chiefs. If not, Kansas City won’t lose much because this is just a 1-year deal.
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Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here! Ravens sign CB Rock Ya-Sin (1 year, $6 million): A Grade
The Ravens needed a cornerback heading into the 2023 NFL Draft, but opted for a receiver in the first round and a linebacker with the next pick. They didn’t end up with a corner until the middle of Day 3, so they had to obtain one after the draft.
I really like this signing. Rock Ya-Sin hasn’t played a full season in his career – he has missed 10 games in the past two years – but he’s a very talented cornerback. The Ravens aren’t taking much of a risk because this is just a 1-year deal. It’s always possible that Ya-Sin’s injury luck will turn around, but even if it doesn’t, Baltimore won’t stand to lose much.
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May 1 Updates Jets sign OT Billy Turner (1 year, $3.15 million): B Grade
The poor Jets wanted one of the top four offensive linemen in the 2023 NFL Draft, but all of them were snatched off the board by No. 14, thanks in part to the Steelers trading ahead of them. New York drafted Will McDonald instead of reaching for the fifth-rated tackle in this class.
Not reaching was the right thing to do, but the Jets still had a hole at tackle that had to be addressed. This signing makes sense for that reason. Billy Turner is as sub par as it gets as far as being a starting right tackle, but he has lots of experience and will be relatively cheap on this deal. With very little risk, this is a fine signing.
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April 27 Updates Ravens re-sign QB Lamar Jackson (5 years, $260 million; $185 million guaranteed): B Grade
There was speculation that Lamar Jackson would be traded to the Colts or sit out the entire 2023 season, but none of that will come to fruition. Instead, Jackson will be playing in Baltimore next year on a 5-year deal with $185 million in guarantees.
Jackson wanted the $230 million guaranteed Deshaun Watson obtained from the Browns, but fell short by $45 million. The Ravens deserve credit for not caving to Jackson’s demands and not paying Watson-type money to their franchise quarterback. Granted, $185 million is a ton for a scrambling quarterback who hasn’t been able to finish the past two seasons because of injuries, but Jackson is still young (26), so I can understand why Baltimore would want to retain him on this sort of deal.
We’ll have to see exactly how the cap hits work for Jackson. The Eagles used cap voodoo to structure a great contract for Jalen Hurts, so there’s a chance this deal could be very similar to that one. Given that Jackson lacks a real agent, there’s a good possibility that this is a very team-friendly contract for the Ravens.
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DaVon Hamilton was a third-round pick from the 2020 NFL Draft. He didn’t play very well in his first two seasons, but exploded last year with some great performances. It would make sense that the Jaguars would extend him, given his youth and upside. That said, I think this might be a bit too much for Hamilton at the moment. He could certainly pay off this contract if he continues to improve, but more than $11 million per season seems a bit too rich for a player who doesn’t have much of a history of success.
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April 24 Updates Giants sign DT A’Shawn Robinson (1 year, $8 million): B Grade
It’ll be interesting to see the exact details of this contract because $8 million for A’Shawn Robinson is an overpay. Robinson is a solid run defender, but offers nothing as a pass rusher. He has just seven career sacks in as many seasons in the NFL.
That said, if this deal is really for $3 million or so, and the rest of the financials are incentive-based, this will look pretty good. Robinson isn’t a huge difference-maker, but he can be a solid role player for the Giants when they need to clamp down on opposing ground attacks.
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April 17 Updates Eagles extend QB Jalen Hurts (5 years, $255 million; $179.3 million guaranteed): A- Grade
So much for being the worst draft pick in NFL history. Jalen Hurts has proven everyone wrong, putting together an MVP-caliber season and taking the Eagles to the Super Bowl this past year. He was rewarded by becoming the highest-paid player in NFL history. He’ll make $179.3 million in guarantees, and he’ll have the incentive to make $54 million per season in “new money.” This deal also comes with a no-trade clause.
These contracts are always difficult to grade. On one hand, do the Eagles allow the best quarterback in the NFC to depart by not paying him this obscene amount of money? On the other hand, do the Eagles take a huge risk by paying a mobile quarterback this sort of cash? To quote a Hall of Fame running back, Philadelphia was caught between a rock and a rocky place.
There is some merit to the first scenario, as the Eagles traded away Carson Wentz – albeit after giving him a huge contract and then seeing him struggle – and began anew with a new quarterback. Part of me wondered if they would do the same thing with Hurts, but they deemed Hurts too valuable to repeat this process. I can understand that, but Hurts comes with more risk than most quarterbacks because he’s more likely to suffer an injury because he scrambles so often. Just look at what the Cardinals are dealing with right now in the wake of Kyler Murray’s constant injuries. Also, Hurts won’t be surrounded with such great talent in the coming years, as this contract will be prohibitive toward signing great talent. He might be put at even higher risk if the Eagles can’t maintain a great offensive line like they have during his tenure thus far.
In summary, this is a B/B- sort of signing. Hurts was amazing last year, and I don’t blame the Eagles for giving him this huge contract, but it’s impossible to ignore the major downside.
Update: I’d like to give a shotout to Kenny (from the WalterFootball YouTube channel – please give us a follow) for showing me these numbers: 
That’s amazing, though I can’t say I’m surprised that Howie Roseman found a way to circumvent the salary cap yet again. I’ve bumped this grade up to an A-. For more on how the Eagles have legally abused the NFL salary cap, check out this video (and please subscribe!):
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April 14 Updates 
Falcons sign DE Bud Dupree (1 year, $5 million): A- Grade
The Falcons have maintained the worst pressure rate in the NFL over the past couple of years. That must change if they are to make a run at the divisional crown. They bolstered the interior of their defensive line by signing Calais Campbell and David Onyemata, but they still had a huge need for two edge rushers.
Bud Dupree might be good enough to be a temporary solution. Titans fans might disagree because Dupree was such a huge bust in Tennessee, but he was coming off a torn ACL. The Titans signed him to a huge deal despite this fact, and then they released him once he’s potentially ready to rebound. Dupree could have a resurgence next year now that he’s a couple of seasons removed from this ACL tear, and Atlanta will be able to benefit from that. There’s a chance Dupree could continue to struggle, but this 1-year, $5 million contract comes with almost no risk, so this is all upside for the Falcons.
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April 9 Updates Ravens sign WR Odell Beckham Jr. (1 year, $18 million; $15 million guaranteed): B Grade
Odell Beckham was favored to join Aaron Rodgers in New York, but he decided to take the better deal. That would be a 1-year contract worth at least $15 million with Baltimore.
There is no doubt that this is an absurd price for Beckham. This wouldn’t have been the case a couple of years ago, but Beckham is now a 31-year-old receiver coming off an ACL tear. He could have a quality season, but we won’t see the same player who once posted three consecutive 1,300-yard seasons to begin his career. Jackson, however, will draw attention from opposing defenses and give the Ravens a legitimate downfield threat. Best of all, he could provide some incentive for Lamar Jackson to accept a reasonable deal. That possibility forces a “B” grade; otherwise, we’d see something in the “C” range.
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April 7 Updates 
Buccaneers sign S Ryan Neal (1 year, $1.23 million): A+ Grade
I would ordinarily be against the Buccaneers strengthening their roster because they should be tanking for Caleb Williams or Drake Maye in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, signing someone like Ryan Neal to a very cheap deal is a great decision. Neal won’t be 30 for a while, so he could continue to perform on a high level like he did last year for the Seahawks. He’ll be filling a need for a Tampa secondary that lost some safeties this offseason, and he’ll be doing so at an extremely low price.
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The Titans have to rebuild, which entails trading Derrick Henry, Ryan Tannehill and Kevin Byard. Jeffery Simmons, however, is not part of that group. Simmons is only 25, so he still has a very bright future ahead of him. He’s one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL, and he will likely continue to improve in the coming seasons.
I’m definitely a fan of the Titans re-signing Simmons, even to this huge contract. I won’t grade this in the “A” range because there’s a bad history of giving big defensive linemen contracts worth around nine figures, but Simmons seems like a special case.
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April 6 Updates Bills sign S Taylor Rapp (1 year, $1.77 million): A+ Grade
The Bills have enjoyed great safety play in recent years, but that changed last year when Micah Hyde missed all but two games with a neck injury. With Hyde and Poyer both 32 entering the 2023 season, Buffalo needed some young blood at the position.
Enter, Taylor Rapp, who is 25. Rapp has been a talented player for the Rams, especially in run support. He’s a solid starter who could eventually take over for one of the Buffalo starters. In the meantime, Rapp will offer excellent depth. Given how small this contract is, I can’t find anything wrong with this signing.
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April 1 Updates Bengals sign TE Irv Smith Jr. (1 year, $1.75 million): A- Grade
The Bengals really want to add talent at tight end. They were targeting Trey McBride in the second round of last year’s draft, but the Cardinals beat them to the punch. With Hayden Hurst gone, the need for a tight end was greater than ever.
With that in mind, Irv Smith Jr. is a great insurance policy. If the Bengals can’t obtain the tight end(s) they want in the 2023 NFL Draft, they can lean on Smith for a season. Smith has an extensive injury history, but has upside and can be productive when healthy. I like this move as a low-risk signing.
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The Ravens seemingly plan to select a quarterback early in the 2023 NFL Draft, but that doesn’t mean that they didn’t need to sign a veteran. With that rookie and Rashad Bateman, Baltimore was projected to have a very young receiving corps, so some veteran leadership was needed at the position.
Nelson Agholor isn’t the most exciting signing, but this is a fine move. He hasn’t produced much since he was with the Raiders in 2020, but he’s also been stuck in a run-heavy, Mac Jones-led offense in New England. If Lamar Jackson returns to Baltimore for another year, Agholor will be able to contribute by catching some deep passes.
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April 1 Updates Falcons sign DT Calais Campbell (1 year, $7 million): A Grade
I’m disappointed in this signing. I like it for the Falcons, but not so much for Calais Campbell, who could have gone to a Super Bowl contender and potentially put them over the top. He may very well put Atlanta on top of the NFC South, but all that will generate is a first-round playoff exit against a superior No. 5 seed.
Still, Campbell remains a very good player at 37. He’s not the force he once was in Arizona and Jacksonville, but he can still perform at a high level. He’ll help make sure the Falcons don’t have the worst pressure rate for the third year in a row. I also like that he comes on a 1-year deal, meaning this signing comes with very little risk.
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Browns re-sign LB Anthony Walker (1 year, $1.23 million): A+ Grade
The Browns had one of the worst defenses in the NFL last year. If you’re wondering why, Anthony Walker’s absence had something to do with it. Walker suffered an injury in Week 3 – yet another Thursday night casualty, thanks to Roger Goodell – which created a huge void in Cleveland’s defense. Walker was one of the leaders of that stop unit, and he was missed after he tore his quad.
I’m shocked Cleveland was able to retain Walker at this price. Sure, he played in only three games last year, but he was mostly healthy throughout his career prior to the injury. He’s way better than this current contract, so this is an easy A+ grade.
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March 29 Updates 
Lions sign WR Marvin Jones (1 year, $3 million): B Grade
I’m surprised Marvin Jones generated interest from anyone this offseason. He was one of the worst regular receivers in the NFL last year, struggling to get open and failing to produce consistently despite being paired with Trevor Lawrence. At 33, Jones’ career seems finished.
I guess the one good thing I can say about this signing is that Jones can be a veteran in the receiver room to help mentor some of the young wideouts on Detroit’s roster. It also helps that he’s obviously familiar with the Lions, given that he played in Detroit for five years. I don’t hate this signing because the Lions won’t be hurt by it if/when it fails, but it’s hard to be optimistic about it.
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Duke Shelley played well late last year for the Vikings. He had struggled earlier in his career, so it remains to be seen if this was a fluke. I like that the Raiders are taking a chance on him because he could pan out and be a needed upgrade in their troublesome secondary. Shelley could easily regress, but even if he does, the Raiders won’t be penalized for signing him because of how small this contract is.
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As with the D’Ernest Johnson signing, we had to wait some time for the financial details of this deal. And as with the Johnson signing, I’m a big fan of this acquisition. It has huge upside because David Edwards is a talented blocker who will be an enormous upgrade in a weak interior. There is, however, downside, because Edwards has an extensive concussion history. There is no risk, however, because of this contract. If Edwards fails, the Bills won’t be financially penalized for signing him.
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We finally have financial terms on the D’Ernest Johnson signing. He was acquired for one year and just $1.23 million. Given that figure, I love this signing for Jacksonville. Travis Etienne doesn’t seem like he’ll consistently be able to remain on the field for an entire year, so the Jaguars needed to obtain a solid backup running back. Johnson can be that player. He showed off his talent in relief of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt during a national TV game a couple of years ago. He doesn’t exactly have a proven track record, but he definitely has some promise, and at this price, there is absolutely no risk.
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March 26 Updates Eagles sign S Terrell Edmunds (1 year, $2 million): A+ Grade
The Eagles lost some key free agents this offseason, but they happened to have viable replacements for most of them. For example, Cam Jurgens will replace Isaac Seumalo in 2023, while Nakobe Dean will take T.J. Edwards’ place. The one lost free agent who didn’t have someone to take his spot was Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, who just agreed to a deal with the Lions. Thus, Philadelphia had to find a new safety to take his spot.
Terrell Edmunds could fill Gardner-Johnson’s shoes well. He had a rough start to his career as a former first-round pick, but he finally lived up to expectations last year. There’s a chance this could have been a fluke, but Edmunds also could have been a late bloomer. If the latter is true, Edmunds will be an incredible bargain at $2 million. I’m shocked he wasn’t able to get more from another team.
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March 25 Updates Seahawks sign LB Bobby Wagner (1 year, $7 million): A Grade
Bobby Wagner played in Seattle for a decade before taking a year off in Los Angeles. He’s back, which is great news for a Seahawks team that desperately needs help in its front seven. This includes the need for a linebacker, which was not satisfied by the signing of Devin Bush. Wagner is a great solution, at least in the short term.
While it’s true that Wagner, 33 in June, is not the elite player he once was, he is still coming off a stellar season with the Rams. He could continue to regress, but even if he does, the Seahawks won’t suffer much of a penalty as a result of this signing. This move is almost all upside, so it’s difficult to find anything negative about it.
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March 24 Updates Panthers sign WR D.J. Chark (1 year, $5 million): A Grade
D.J. Chark is coming off a disappointing season in which he caught only 30 passes for 502 yards and three touchdowns. However, Chark missed a chunk of the year with an injury. He got off to a nice start, hauling in four receptions for 52 yards and a score versus the Eagles, but got hurt in his next full game. He was then out until Week 11 and was never 100 percent after that.
Chark can rebound next year for the Panthers, as he’s still young (26) and has plenty of talent. He profiles as a better No. 1 receiver than the 33-year-old Adam Thielen, which will be key for whichever quarterback Carolina selects atop the 2023 NFL Draft. If Chark continues to get hurt again, then the Panthers don’t stand to lose much, as this is just a 1-year deal.
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Colts sign WR Isaiah McKenzie (1 year, $1.23 million): A- Grade
The Colts have two talented receivers in Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce, but they lost their third wideout, Parris Campbell, who played in the slot. Campbell signed with the Giants, so Indianapolis had to find someone to replace him. Isaiah McKenzie will be a solid replacement at a cheaper price. There’s a $3.5 million difference between McKenzie and Campbell, yet there’s not much of a disparity between the two players. Campbell is more talented and younger, but he has a very dubious injury history, while McKenzie has been way more reliable. I’m a fan of this signing, as McKenzie will bring some much-needed experience to the position at a low price.
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Greedy Williams was a second-round pick out of LSU in 2019, but he has disappointed thus far. Injuries have been a big factor. He missed all of 2020, and he didn’t play much this past season because of a hamstring injury. There’s a good chance Williams will continue to stay hurt, but there’s also a possibility that he’ll finally live up to expectations if he can remain on the field. It’ll certainly help him that he’ll be paired with Philadelphia’s great pass rush. So, with that in mind, I’m a fan of this no-risk signing because it has some upside.
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Damien Harris was an overrated fantasy commodity heading into 2022 because he scored 15 rushing touchdowns the prior year. Harris was due for some major regression, which is what happened when he scored just thrice in 11 games. However, his 15 touchdowns makes this signing very appealing. Buffalo struggled in the red zone last year, and Harris’ ability to convert short-yardage situations makes him a nice fit for the team. He’s also comes with absolutely no risk, so the Bills are getting an effective goal-line hammer at a great price.
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49ers sign CB Isaiah Oliver (2 years, $6.75 million): B+ Grade
Isaiah Oliver was a second-round pick five years ago, but never really lived up to his potential. He played somewhat well last year, but didn’t get many snaps. That said, I think this is an interesting signing for a couple of reasons. One, Oliver has never been paired with the sort of great pass rush he’ll see in San Francisco. The Falcons routinely ranked near the bottom of pressure rate during Oliver’s tenure with them, so he should perform better with the 49ers. Two, Oliver can play outside and in the slot, so he’ll give the 49ers some needed versatility at the position. I like this signing for those reasons.
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Ronald Jones is a former second-round pick, but he hasn’t exactly lived up to his draft billing. He rushed for 978 yards in 2020, but has barely done anything since, as he fell out of favor with the Buccaneers. He ultimately failed in both Tampa Bay and Kansas City, as he was inactive for half the season with the Chiefs. Jones is still young (26 in August), but this seems like a waste of a signing. There’s no downside, but I don’t see much upside either with Jones, who is probably an underdog to make the final roster.
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The Buccaneers tried Akiem Hicks as a replacement for Ndamukong Suh, but that didn’t work very well because Hicks couldn’t stay healthy last year. This is Tampa Bay’s second attempt to replace Suh, though it remains to be seen if this one will be more successful.
Gaines has collected 8.5 total sacks in the past two years for the Rams, but is coming off a down year. That said, the Rams were miserable in 2022, so there’s a potential excuse. Gaines is also young enough to bounce back, so this seems like a solid signing for Tampa Bay.
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March 23 Updates Jets sign WR Mecole Hardman (1 year, $6.5 million): B Grade
Mecole Hardman was once considered a viable replacement for Tyreek Hill, but as we saw him play, it was quickly apparent that wouldn’t be the case. Hardman enjoyed some big games with the Chiefs, but there have been many more performances where he’s done nothing. If Hardman were paired with a mediocre or worse quarterback and were getting an upgrade with Aaron Rodgers, I’d be more bullish on this signing. However, going to Rodgers is a rare downgrade, as Hardman has spent his entire career with Patrick Mahomes.
That said, there are two things to consider. First, Hardman can help on special teams and also serve as a gimmick player. He’ll be an upgrade over what the Jets had in the Braxton Berrios role last year. Two, Hardman is still only 25, so he could be a late bloomer.
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If you want to see Denzel Perryman’s impact in run support, check out how the Raiders did versus the rush last year when Perryman was on the field versus when he was absent. It’s a huge difference, and Perryman will bring that element to Houston. This is essential for the Texans, given how bad they’ve been against the run in recent years. Derrick Henry has been almost a lock to rush for 200 yards every time he has battled Houston, but that will now change with Perryman on the field. The Texans still have a lot of work to do to stop Henry, but Perryman will be a big factor in that regard. That’s why I’m a big fan of this signing, especially given the cheap, low-risk deal.
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It was not a surprise that Jalen Mills was released a week ago because Mills struggled last year, and the move saved $6 million in cap space. It was also not a surprise that the Patriots re-signed Mills to a 1-year deal. Mills is coming off a brutal season, but had played well the prior year for New England. Mills may have been dealing with an injury last year, so he could rebound, given that he’s not yet 30. I’m not crazy about the $6.1 million, but there could be lots of incentives tied into that.
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The Bills lost Isaiah McKenzie to the Colts, so this signing makes sense because Trent Sherfield could replace McKenzie in the slot. Sherfield is coming off his best season in Miami, catching 30 passes for 417 yards despite not seeing much volume because of the other two receivers on the roster. Sherfield should be a steady target for Josh Allen, but he’s not going to make big plays. Ideally, the Bills will be able to find someone better than him, but if they can’t, he’d be a fine option out of the slot. The price makes sense as well.
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We’ve been waiting on Maurice Hurst’s contract for some time, and we finally have it. He was signed to a 1-year deal worth only $1.08 million, which is a nice bargain for him. Hurst showed a lot of promise as a pass rusher earlier in his career, recording 7.5 sacks in his first two seasons with the Raiders. However, injuries have derailed his career since. He even missed all of 2022 with torn biceps. Hurst still has time in his 20s though, so there’s a chance he could rebound and help a Cleveland pass rush that was lackluster last year. Hurst could also be a flop, but even if he is, the Browns won’t be penalized for that.
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March 22 Updates Seahawks sign LB Devin Bush (1 year, $3.5 million): B Grade
Devin Bush had a ton of promise when he entered the NFL in 2019. However, he’s been a huge disappointment. He’s been sub par in both run support and coverage, but there still is some upside because he’s only 25. There’s a chance he could be a late bloomer, and it makes sense for the Seahawks to sign him because they lost Cody Barton to the Redskins in free agency. Barton is better against the run than Bush, but Bush is slightly superior in coverage, so it’s probably a wash overall. That said, there’s no doubt that Bush has more potential, so this is a decent signing.
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Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here! Dolphins sign S DeShon Elliott (1 year, $1.77 million): A+ Grade
The Dolphins are having a great offseason once again, though their 2023 outlook will ultimately depend on Tua Tagovailoa’s ability to stay healthy. Still, this is a crucial signing, as Miami had major issues stopping the pass last year. DeShon Elliott is a talented player, though he has a dubious injury history. That, however, is mitigated by this extremely small contract. There is absolutely no downside to this deal, so it should be graded as an A+.
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March 21 Updates Bears sign TE Robert Tonyan (1 year, $1.29 million): B Grade
If Robert Tonyan didn’t get to catch passes from Aaron Rodgers, no one would’ve ever heard from him. Tonyan had a big fantasy year a couple of seasons ago, but hasn’t done much since because either he or Rodgers has been injured.
I don’t see Tonyan bouncing back, especially now that he’ll be in an offense where he’s paired with a run-first quarterback. He’s also not the No. 1 tight end with Cole Kmet on the roster. Tonyan at least provides the Bears with some insurance at the position at a reasonable low price.
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Saints sign DT Khalen Saunders (3 years, $12.3 million): D Grade
I don’t get what the Saints are doing sometimes. They need to blow things up and rebuild; not overpay for veterans so they can hover around .500. This is what they’re doing with this signing.
Khalen Saunders is definitely an overpay. He was a part-time rotational defensive tackle for the Chiefs last year who specialized in run support. I would have given him something like two years and $6 million; not the $12.3 million deal he received.
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This signing occurred several days ago, but we didn’t have the contract details until now. Azeez Al-Shaair, who played for the 49ers since 2019, signed a 1-year deal worth $5 million.
Tennessee lost a key player in David Long this offseason, so he had to be replaced. Al-Shaair isn’t as good as Long, but he’ll be a fine substitute on the first two downs because he’s an excellent player in run support. Al-Shaair isn’t very good in coverage, but he blitzes well, so he’ll help in that regard as well.
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March 20 Updates Texans sign RB Devin Singletary (1 year, $3.75 million): B+ Grade
Devin Singletary never earned the complete trust of the Buffalo coaching staff, but he’s not a terrible running back by any means. Singletary is a decent player who is better served as a No. 2 back who happens to be a change-of-pace runner. He’ll have that role in Houston behind Dameon Pierce. Singletary can be a fine replacement if Pierce gets hurt as well, so I think this is a fine signing for the Texans.
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Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here! Texans sign TE Dalton Schultz (1 year, $9 million): A+ Grade
The Texans already needed to find talented play-makers before the Brandin Cooks trade. With Cooks gone, they had nothing as far as viable pass-catchers were concerned. Receiver is still a huge issue, but Dalton Schultz will at least provide a nice security blanket for whichever quarterback the Texans select No. 2 overall.
I’m a big fan of this signing. Schultz will be a reliable intermediate threat, and he won’t really hurt the Texans in the long term because this is a one-year deal.
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With Calvin Ridley joining the Jaguars, Tennessee had to upgrade its secondary if it wants to keep pace with the 2022 AFC South winner. The Titans now have to worry about Ridley in addition to Christian Kirk, who lit them up in the season finale, catching six passes for 99 yards and a touchdown.
Sean Murphy-Bunting is an excellent slot corner who can deal with Kirk, at least when he’s healthy. The one issue with him is his durability; he has missed 12 games in the past two years. However, this contract mitigates that downside, as there is barely any risk with this 1-year deal. I love this move, as it provides nothing but upside for Tennessee.
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March 19 Updates Lions sign S/CB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (1 year, $8 million; $6.5 million guaranteed): A+ Grade
I can’t believe this contract, especially compared to the one I graded previously. How in the world is a 33-year-old rapidly declining receiver making more than triple compared to a talented, 25-year-old defensive back who can play multiple positions?
I don’t understand why Chauncey Gardner-Johnson didn’t receive a larger contract. He’s coming off a strong year for the Eagles, he’s young, and he’s versatile. He’s going to be a great addition to Detroit’s secondary on this low-risk deal. I already loved my 33/1 bet on the Lions to win the Super Bowl, and now I wish I bet even more on it.
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I tweeted that this had a strong possibility of being graded as a Millen, and here we are. When I saw that Adam Thielen was signed for three years, I feared the Panthers gave him this sort of a contract.
For those who haven’t really paid attention to Thielen recently, he’s washed up. There’s a reason the Vikings were quick to cut him this year. Thielen, who turns 33 in August, can’t separate anymore. He’s in the twilight of his career and deserved no more than $2.5 million per season at this stage of his career. If the Panthers gave him $9 million over three years, I would have thought that would have been an overpay. Handing Thielen $25 million over three years is ridiculous.
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The Falcons really had nothing at receiver beyond Drake London, so they absolutely had to address the position. Mack Hollins won’t be a big difference-maker, but he’ll be an upgrade over what the Falcons had across from London last year. Hollins performed well for the Raiders in 2022, particularly when the team was dealing with injuries to other players at the position, so Hollins should be able to embrace the larger role. He also should have been paid more than this.
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For the second time in his career, Laremy Tunsil has become the highest-paid offensive tackle on an annual basis. I wouldn’t say he’s the best left tackle in the NFL – that distinction belongs to Trent Williams – but Tunsil is definitely in the top five. Thus, I have no issue with giving Tunsil this sort of money, especially now that he’ll be charged with shielding the blind side of whichever quarterback Houston drafts with the No. 2 overall pick.
If the Texans had no future option at quarterback, I’d suggest trading Tunsil because he’ll be 30 soon, but it’ll be important that Houston’s new franchise signal-caller will have a great left tackle at his disposal.
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The Steelers had one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL two years ago. It improved last season, but it still didn’t give Kenny Pickett very good protection. Pittsburgh had to make two more improvements to the front, and this certainly qualifies.
Isaac Seumalo has emerged as one of the top guards in the NFL. He’ll be a huge upgrade in the interior to both bolster Pickett’s protection and open up running lanes for Najee Harris. I feel like he easily could have been paid more, so the Steelers deserve a high grade.
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March 18 Updates Patriots sign OT Calvin Anderson (2 years, $7 million): B Grade
The Patriots already had offensive line issues, and now they’re set to lose Isaiah Wynn and Marcus Cannon in free agency. They had to make multiple acquisitions to bolster their poor blocking, so Calvin Anderson, along with Riley Reiff, have to be considered just the starting point for New England’s offensive line plans this spring.
Taking the glaring need out of the equation, this is a fine signing. Anderson was fairly compensated for how he performed in Denver last year, when he performed at a mediocre level with Garett Bolles out of the lineup. Ideally, he’ll be a backup in New England.
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The Dolphins tried multiple options as their third receiver last year, yet no one was able to seize the role. Cedrick Wilson and Trent Sherfield both failed in that regard, so it made sense for Miami to sign someone else to compete for that position.
Braxton Berrios is not anywhere close to being an electric player like Tyreek Hill or Jaylen Waddle, but he’s a decent slot receiver who can provide some stability for the Dolphins in that area. He’s not Julian Edelman or Wes Welker, but he can be a very poor man’s version of that for the Dolphins at a cheap price.
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The Bengals lost both of their starting safeties this offseason. They had Daxton Hill waiting to take over for one of them, but the other spot had to be filled. That was done by signing Nick Scott, who previously played for the Rams.
While the Bengals are filling a need, they’re also overpaying for Scott. The 28-year-old was a first-time starter last year and did incredibly well in run support. However, he was often torched in coverage. Unless he improves in this area, the Bengals will likely come to realize that they’ve overpaid him.
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March 17 Updates Chiefs sign LB Drue Tranquill (1 year, $5 million): A Grade
It’s not often that the Chiefs have a great linebacking corps, as Andy Reid has a history of taking the position for granted. With this signing, however, the Chiefs bolstered their group and may have ensured positive play from the position in 2023.
Drue Tranquill took on a larger role last year for the Chargers and was able to reward his coaching staff. Tranquill wasn’t very good in run support, but he covered very well and was a capable blitzer. He’ll be a nice addition to Kansas City’s linebacking corps on a fairly priced, low-risk deal, so I will be grading this signing favorably.
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The Jets lost a couple of interior offensive linemen this offseason, and a third could walk away as well. Depth was needed in this area, which explains this signing. Wes Schweitzer is a nice depth player because he can play both guard and center. He’s not a good blocker by any means, but he’s not a major liability either.
I see this signing as mostly an insurance policy. It seems as though the Jets really want to bolster their blocking in the first couple of rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft. They’ll select the prospect they want if they can get him. If not, it’s not the worst thing if they have to use Schweitzer as one of the starters in the interior of the offensive line.
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It wasn’t too long ago that Dean Lowry signed a $20.3 million extension with the Packers. Lowry rewarded Green Bay with a five-sack season in 2021, but he regressed horribly last year. He was so bad that he was benched by the end of the year.
Lowry isn’t 30 yet – he turns 29 in June – so he could rebound with another solid season. He’s a good bet to do so under Brian Flores, so he could provide the Vikings with an interior pass-rushing presence they were lacking last year. Lowry was signed to a fair deal, so I think this is a solid move.
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It’s not a surprise that the Chiefs signed a safety. They lost a valuable member of their secondary with Juan Thornhill joining the Browns. They had to replace Thornhill, though I imagine they’ll be trying to do better than Mike Edwards as a substitute.
Edwards was thrust into Tampa Bay’s starting lineup last year, but did not perform well. He missed a ton of tackles and didn’t do much better in coverage. I don’t hate this signing because it’s a cheap, no-risk deal, but Edwards shouldn’t be anything more than a depth player.
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Evan Brown began last season as a backup on the Lions, but was forced into action very early when Detroit had a number of injuries on the front line. Brown played guard and center at times, doing so very well. He deserved a chance to start elsewhere, and he could have that opportunity with the Seahawks, who had a need at center.
I love this signing. Seattle had great tackle play from its two rookies, but needed help in the interior. Brown will provide that with this no-risk, low-priced contract.
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The Steelers have had issues with their linebacking corps ever since Ryan Shazier suffered a horrific injury. They’ve signed two players to help the group thus far, obtaining Cole Holcomb and now Elandon Roberts. I gave the Steelers a B+ for signing Holcomb to a 3-year, $18 million contract. Roberts will earn the same grade despite being signed to a lesser price.
Whereas Holcomb is a three-down linebacker, Roberts is a two-down player who excels in run support. He also thrives as a blitzer, but struggles in coverage. That’s fine, as the Steelers needed a player to help with the run defense, which has been a problem for some time. Roberts will help fill a void at a very reasonable price.
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Chris Board isn’t much of a defensive player – he had just 160 snaps at linebacker in Detroit last year – but his primary role will be that of a special teamer. In fact, Bill Belichick called Board the best special teams player he went against during the 2022 season.
The Patriots desperately needed special teams assistance. After all, their special teams killed their playoff chances last year when they surrendered two kickoff return touchdowns to Buffalo in the season finale. Board will help make sure something like this doesn’t happen again.
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Jordan Poyer was re-signed yesterday, but we didn’t receive the numbers until now. This is why this grade is showing up right above Jordan Love. I was a big fan of the Love signing, and yet Poyer, who is better than Love, is getting $2 million less on his 2-year deal. I know Love is younger, but this still doesn’t seem quite right.
Given that, I can’t assign anything other than an A+ grade to this signing. Poyer will turn 32 soon, so he could regress in the coming years, but he should still be able to perform on a high level in 2023 and perhaps 2024. The Bills are getting a great bargain.
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The Seahawks are set at safety, so on the surface, this might be a confusing signing. However, Julian love is a very versatile defensive back, capable of playing anywhere in the secondary. The Seahawks had a big need at slot cornerback, and Love played a bunch of snaps there last year, so perhaps that’s where he will start in 2023.
With that in mind, I’m a big fan of this signing. Love is coming off a great year, and he’s only 25. He still has upside, and his versatility will be very useful for the Seahawks in the event that there are injuries to other defensive backs.
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With Marcus Mariota and Gardner Minshew signing with teams in the past 24 hours, Cooper Rush was the top quarterback on the market. Rush filled in very well for the Cowboys last year, going 4-1 in relief of an injured Dak Prescott. There was even some of talk of keeping Rush in at quarterback before he lost his first game, which was to the Eagles.
Average backup quarterbacks tend to make around $4 million per season, so this is a terrific deal for the Cowboys. Rush proved that he can perform like a high-end reserve, so he should have been able to make more money this offseason.
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Perhaps the Patriots have learned their lesson. Two years ago, they paid huge money to a pair of non-elite tight ends, Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith, which proved to be a huge mistake. Here, they’re also overpaying another tight end, but only doing so on a 1-year deal, which will be far less painful in the long run.
I’m shocked Mike Gesicki is getting what seems to be $9 million, given that he barely did anything last year. However, he caught 70 passes in 2021, so there is some potential for him to rebound and be productive again. Despite this being an overpay, I’m fine with this signing because there isn’t much long-term risk.
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The Eagles lost Gardner Minshew this offseason, so they were looking for another premium backup to play behind Jalen Hurts. This is necessary because Hurts runs so much that he puts himself in a position to get injured and miss time. Marcus Mariota, arguably the top quarterback still available on the market prior to this signing, can step in and win some games if needed. He’s a mobile quarterback, so the Eagles won’t lose that aspect of their offense if he’s forced into action.
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March 16 Updates Giants sign WR Parris Campbell (1 year, $3 million): A- Grade
Parris Campbell had severe issues staying healthy earlier in his career. That changed this past season, when he caught 63 passes for 623 yards while enduring some miserable quarterbacking. Campbell has some potential, so I like this signing for a Giants team that doesn’t have much receiving talent. Campbell will be able to compete for playing time and could get it despite the cheap price tag.
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It’s a tough time to be a running back in the NFL. D’Onta Foreman stepped in for a traded Christian McCaffrey and had some strong performances down the stretch. Yet, all he could garner this offseason was a 1-year, $3 million contract.
This is a great signing for the Bears, who just lost David Montgomery. There’s not much of a difference between Montgomery and Foreman as runners, yet Foreman will be making much less in 2023. He currently projects as the backup behind Khalil Herbert, so he’ll be a nice insurance policy in case Herbert gets injured.
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It wasn’t too long ago that Darius Slay tweeted out a thank you to Philadelphia, with the added note that it would be time to find his new team. Now, we know that Slay won’t have a new team because he’ll be back in Philadelphia on a 2-year, $42 million extension.
This is a bit of a tough one to grade. Slay is an excellent cornerback, and if he continues his high level of play, this will be a great re-signing. After all, the idea of keeping Slay and James Bradberry together is great for Philadelphia’s Super Bowl aspirations. However, Slay turned 32 recently. There’s a chance Slay will regress, and it could be argued that the Eagles are paying on past production. Still, the Eagles have a quarterback on a rookie deal, so this is the time to take risks like this.
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The Colts didn’t have a viable quarterback on their roster prior to this signing. They obviously plan on drafting a quarterback at No. 4 overall, but what if that signal-caller isn’t ready to play right away? Indianapolis needed another option, preferrably one with a decent amount of starting experience.
Gardner Minshew checks that box. He’s one of the top No. 2 quarterbacks in the NFL right now, and he’ll be able to help mentor whichever quarterbacks the Colts choose. He’ll be doing so at a cheap price, so there’s nothing bad to say about this signing.
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Darius Slayton has had quite the roller coaster career. He began with a solid rookie campaign, but then struggled for the better part of two years. The Giants then demanded for Slayton to take a pay cut. He was barely used to begin the 2022 season, failing to catch a pass prior to Week 4. However, he went on to have his best year yet, as he and Daniel Jones developed some nice chemistry.
Slayton has shown that he can be a viable No. 2 receiver in the NFL, so I like that the Giants re-signed him to this deal. New York still needs a No. 1 wideout, but it’s nice that Jones will have some proven rapport with at least one of his starting targets.
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Clelin Ferrell was one of Mike Mayock’s many first-round draft failures. Mayock would often find gems in the middle rounds, but he made way too many horrific choices in the opening round, which ultimately led to his firing. Ferrell was just as bad as any of them, as Mayock passed on so many talented players to select Ferrell No. 4 overall. Ferrell has just 10 sacks in four NFL seasons.
Despite this draft blunder, I don’t mind this signing for the 49ers. Ferrell still has some potential, yet he’s a no-risk, lowly priced signing. The 49ers lost Charles Omenihu and Samson Ebukam in free agency, so they needed to replenish their depth. Perhaps they’ll be able to get more out of Ferrell than the Raiders did.
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Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here! Bears sign DT Andrew Billings (1 year, $3.5 million): A- Grade
When I wrote in my 2023 NFL Mock Draft that the Bears have needs at almost every position, I wasn’t kidding. Their defensive line was especially devoid of talent entering the offseason, as evidenced by their 31st ranking against the run, as measured by net adjusted EPA. They had to obtain multiple big bodies to remedy this issue, and Andrew Billings definitely qualifies as such.
This is a solid move by the Bears. The 311-pound Billings has done a good job of stuffing running lanes, so he should handle that role well in Chicago. He was obtained at a cheap price on a low-risk deal, so it’s hard not to like this move.
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The Lions have one of the top offensive lines in the NFL, but that doesn’t mean that they didn’t need to address their depth. It was smart of them to do so, signing Graham Glasgow to a 1-year deal.
Glasgow was a nice signing for the Lions. He can provide solid depth at multiple positions because of his ability to play both guard and center. He also used to play in Detroit, so that should be considered a plus as well.
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When I was on the Play Like a Jet Podcast, but Scott and I agreed that the Nathan Shepherd signing was minor and insignificant. The only reason it was brought up was because Shepherd played for the Jets. As it turns out, the Saints disagreed with both of us because they gave Shepherd a $15 million contract.
I don’t understand this deal. Shepherd is a decent rotational player, so I was expecting him to sign for something like two years and $6 million. He has six career sacks, after all, and it’s not like he’s a young player; he turns 30 in October. I can’t find any reason why the Saints believed that giving Shepherd $15 million over three seasons was a good idea.
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Riley Reiff is exactly what Bill Belichick looks for in a running back. He’s very versatile, capable of playing any spot except center on the front line. I’m sure Belichick would have liked to have Reiff on his roster earlier in his career, as Reiff is now 34. Still, Reiff will be useful for the Patriots, who have multuple holes on their offensive line that must be filled. Their blocking was atrocious last year, so Reiff should help this upcoming season at a low-risk, reasonably priced deal.
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Anyone surprised by this grade hasn’t been reading the site for very long. I wrote a report a couple of years ago that delved into all the horrible tight end signings in the past decade. Every single big-money tight end signing failed unless the tight end in question was an elite player at his position like Travis Kelce, Rob Gronkowski, or Mark Andrews. This was in response to the Patriots shelling out lots of cash to both Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith. New England fans were not happy to see poor grades for those signings, but the grades turned out to be correct.
I feel similarly about this signing. Hayden Hurst is a solid player, but he’s not worth nearly as much as he’s getting on this deal. Furthermore, Hurst is now 30, so the Panthers are paying a bit on past production. Hurst could regress now that he’s in his 30s, so this was just a poor signing overall.
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The Steelers have endured issues at linebacker ever since Ryan Shazier’s devastating injury. They’ve tried many options, including Myles Jack and Devin Bush, but nothing has really panned out. This signing, however, might finally be the answer.
Cole Holcomb has been a solid, three-down linebacker for the Redskins. He’s not a great player by any means, but he’s a quality starter who won’t be a liability at all. This seems to be a fair price for him, so I think a B+ grade is warranted.
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There’s only one fullback signing worth grading this offseason, and it would be this one. Jakob Johnson was the top player on the open market at his position, yet the Raiders managed to re-sign him to a 1-year deal worth only $1.625 million. I know fullbacks are very undervalued right now, but this still seems like a great deal for a player who was instrumental in Josh Jacobs’ success last year. Johnson is a tremendous blocker, so it was wise for the Raiders to re-sign him because they lean so much on Jacobs.
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With Leonard Fournette likely gone, the Buccaneers needed a veteran running back to pair with second-year Rachaad White. Signing Chase Edmonds makes sense, but isn’t very exciting. Edmonds is an effective receiver out of the backfield, so he could be used on third down, but he doesn’t really provide anything else. I don’t mind this signing, but the Buccaneers should have shelled out a bit more money for Alexander Mattison or Kareem Hunt.
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March 15 Updates Bengals sign OT Orlando Brown (4 years, $64 million): A Grade
The Bengals tried desperately to improve their offensive line last offseason, signing three key free agents. The plan somewhat worked, but the problem was that one of those free agents, La’el Collins, didn’t come close to living up to expectations. Collins struggled mightily, likely because he wasn’t 100 percent. As a result, Joe Burrow still saw way too much pressure.
Cincinnati’s front office took a mulligan with its tackle upgrades, opting to sign Orlando Brown this offseason. Brown has a long track record of performing on a high level at left tackle, so it’s likely that the Bengals will use him on the blind side and move Jonah Williams to right tackle. This should pay dividends and make the Bengals the favorite to win the Super Bowl. I don’t often grade huge contracts in the “A” range because they’re seldom bargains, but I’m doing so for this move because Brown may have put Cincinnati over the top.
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This is an interesting signing because it’s impossible to tell what the Patriots will get out of James Robinson. The former Jaguar and Jet had a great start to his career, but was so dreadful last year that he couldn’t crack the starting lineup over someone named Zonovan Knight.
With that in mind, this contract may seem like a colossal overpay despite the fact that an $8 million contract won’t break the bank. That said, Robinson may not have been 100 percent last year because he was coming off an injury he suffered during the prior season. Robinson could rebound, and if so, he’ll be a fine replacement for Damien Harris.
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Now, here’s a running back contract I love. Alexander Mattison is a very talented running back, but he doesn’t have much experience starting because he’s been trapped behind Dalvin Cook on the depth chart. However, the Vikings have never suffered any sort of regression when Mattison has had to start in place of an injured Cook. In fact, Mattison tends to play more than most backup running backs because the Vikings want to get him on the field.
With that in mind, this is an excellent signing. It’ll allow the Vikings to move on from Cook if they want to save money. They can then pair an extremely cheap Mattison with a running back obtained via a pick in the third or fourth round.
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I’d love this signing if the demand for running backs weren’t so low. Miles Sanders is an extremely talented running back, and he’s only 26 (as of May). He’s capable of going the distance on any play, and despite what we saw last year, he’s a stellar receiver out of the backfield. Even better, Sanders will be reunited with Duce Staley, his former running backs coach.
The problem is that it’s foolish to overpay for any non-elite running back because players at the position grow on trees these days. As good as Sanders is, he’s not elite. Thus, it’s difficult to give the Panthers a positive grade for this signing. I don’t hate it, but I can’t go above a “C” grade.
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Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here! Saints sign RB Jamaal Williams (3 years, $12 million): B- Grade
It can’t surprise anyone that the Saints signed a running back. Alvin Kamara is on the verge of being suspended for his off-the-field antics, meaning New Orleans’ top back was set to be either Dwayne Washington or Eno Benjamin. Adding someone like Jamaal Williams made a lot of sense.
Williams is famous for scoring 17 rushing touchdowns with the Lions last year. Touchdowns tend to be fluky, however, so the Saints shouldn’t expect anything like that again. Williams is a rather mediocre runner, as he was able to benefit from Detroit’s elite offensive line the past few years. I think this is a bit too much money for him, considering the very low demand at the position.
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Though the Browns just endured a miserable season, they still consider themselves a Super Bowl contender, based on the amount of money they paid Deshaun Watson. They scored plenty of points last year, but needed to shore up the defense. They’ve done a good job thus far, signing Juan Thornhill after adding Dalvin Tomlinson the previous day.
Thornhill is stellar in coverage. He misses more tackles than you’d like, but he’s still a very good player. The Browns needed someone like him in their secondary to help them contend with the Chiefs, Bills, and most importantly, the Bengals. Thornhill was signed to a very reasonable contract, so I like this move.
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When I read off the 12 key free agents to Eagles fans ahead of the free agency period, it was a foregone conclusion for them that Fletcher Cox would return. I agreed with that sentiment, though this wouldn’t have been as exciting as it would have been two years ago because Cox took a step back in 2022.
Cox is now 32, so it’s natural that he’s not as good of a player as he was in prior seasons. Cox was beaten up against the run last year, and that could continue to be the case in 2023. Still, Cox can be a key contributor as a rotational pass rusher, so it was a good decision to retain him. I think this is an overpay, based on how Cox performed last year, but he could bounce back a bit this season.
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Redskins sign QB Jacoby Brissett (1 year, $10 million): B+ Grade
It doesn’t get any better than Slingin’ Sammy Howell as far as a young quarterback prospect is concerned, but the one liability with him is his inexperience. Howell has just one career start, so the Redskins needed to sign a veteran quarterback to guide him as he ascends through the NFL quarterback ranks and wins countless games.
Jacoby Brissett is an excellent quarterback to do that. I thought the Redskins would settle for Matt Ryan, but Brissett is much better. Brissett is a premium backup, as he showed us last year. The Browns scored more points per game with Brissett than Deshaun Watson, as Brissett completed 64 percent of his passes on a 7.1 YPA. Brissett can certainly win some games if called upon next year.
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Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here! Colts sign DT Taven Bryan (1 year, $4.5 million): C+ Grade
Taven Bryan is a bust as a former 29th-overall pick of the NFL Draft. He was drafted by the Jaguars and then went to Cleveland last year, where he was just a mediocre rotational player. He’ll take on the same role in Indianapolis.
I don’t mind the Colts kicking the tires on Bryan. He’ll probably be a minor disappointment for them because they likely believe that there’s a chance they can get him to play up to his previous potential. This is a bit more than what I would have given him, but it’s not an egregious overpay or anything.
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Sheldon Rankins has a dubious injury history, so it’s not a surprise that he had to take a 1-year “prove it” deal. However, Rankins was solid for the Jets last year in all regards. In a vacuum, he’s a nice signing for the Texans, who really needed to improve their atrocious run defense. Rankins will help in that regard.
That said, this seems like too much money for Rankins. I’m sure this overall number is inflated, but it’s difficult to guarantee that Rankins will be on the field for most of the games in 2023. There’s not any long-term risk, but the Texans will lose out on a bit of money to roll over into the following offseason, so I’m not sure Rankins will be worth it.
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Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here! Patriots sign WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (3 years, $33 million): MILLEN Grade
I was shocked when I saw these numbers. JuJu Smith-Schuster was an electric play-maker when he began his career in Pittsburgh, but he has regressed every single year since. There was some hope for him when he signed with the Chiefs, but he proved to be a pedestrian possession receiver despite being paired with Patrick Mahomes.
Smith-Schuster hasn’t deserved this sort of money for quite some time, so I don’t know what the Patriots are thinking by signing him to this deal. I even have to question if they’ve watched Smith-Schuster play in the past few seasons. Sure, this is Bill Belichick making this move, but Belichick, despite his brilliance, has a mostly dubious track record when it comes to identifying receiving talent.
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Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here! Buccaneers re-sign LB Lavonte David (1 year, $7 million): B+ Grade
I’m torn on this signing. On one hand, there’s nothing wrong with retaining Lavonte David. The long-time Buccaneer is still a fantastic player, and at just $7 million for the year, he’s a great bargain who comes with extremely low risk. He should be able to put together another great year.
On the other hand, I feel like it’s in the Buccaneers’ best interest to completely blow everything up. They can tank for Caleb Williams, which is what I project in my 2024 NFL Mock Draft. This will be better for the long haul. Instead, it seems as though the Buccaneers are content to remain in 8-9 purgatory.
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The Bills want to add some downfield play-makers, but I don’t think this is what their fans have in mind. Deonte Harty is incredibly fast, but doesn’t have much experience as a receiver. His career-high numbers are 36 catches, 570 yards and three touchdowns. Then again, he played in a limited, Jameis Winston-led offense when he generated those numbers.
This is more than what I would have paid Harty, but the upside can’t be ignored. Harty could break out with Josh Allen as his quarterback, and at the very worst, he’ll be a dynamic kick returner.
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Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here! Buccaneers sign QB Baker Mayfield (1 year, $8.5 million): C Grade
This seems like a death sentence for Baker Mayfield’s career. Sure, he’ll have a chance to start because his only competition at the moment is Kyle Trask, but he’ll be playing behind an offensive line that was so bad last year that it forced Tom Brady into retirement. Actually, the offensive line will be even worse because Donovan Smith was released and Shaq Mason was traded.
Mayfield’s only great season occurred in 2020 when he played behind an elite offensive line in Cleveland. He has regressed ever since, and he was utterly atrocious in Carolina last year. The Buccaneers saw this closely because they happen to be in Carolina’s division, and yet they decided to sign Mayfield anyway, which seems like a ridiculous decision.
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Compared to what David Montgomery received from the Lions yesterday, this is the steal of the century. Not only did Rashaad Penny receive fewer years on his deal; he’s also making way less, despite the fact that he’s a much more talented runner than Montgomery!
Obviously, there’s an issue with Penny, and that would be his durability. That is a concern, but it’s mitigated by this microscopic contract. When healthy, however, Penny has shown that he can be extremely productive. He was an unstoppable force late in 2021 when he attributed his great finish from Adrian Peterson’s mentoring. He then averaged 6.1 yards per carry early in 2022, holding off Kenneth Walker from starting in the process. Penny got hurt again, but he should be 100 percent to start 2023. Assuming this is the case, Penny will give the Eagles an excellent rusher for an incredibly low price.
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March 14 Updates Vikings sign CB Byron Murphy (2 years, $22 million): A Grade
Viking fans can breathe a sigh of relief. Cornerback was seen as such a colossal need for them heading into the offseason, and yet the front office spent the first day of free agency spending money on a backup tight end. It took nearly 48 hours, but the Vikings finally found someone who can cover a receiver.
Byron Murphy is a terrific cornerback. He’s coming off a down year in which he spent plenty of time on the injury report, but this was likely fluky because he had missed only two games prior to 2021. Assuming he can rebound, he’ll be an excellent player in Minnesota’s secondary. Even better, Murphy’s deal doesn’t carry that much risk because it’s only a 2-year pact at a very reasonable price.
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I’m a bit surprised that Arden Key received a $24 million contract. Just a bit, though. Key has been a situational pass rusher in recent years, but he has 11 combined sacks in the past two seasons. He’s also just 26, so he still has potential to improve.
I think the Titans are overpaying a bit, but I don’t hate this signing. Tennessee had to bolster its pass rush, and it’s doing so by stealing a component of their biggest rival at the moment.
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The Bears just lost David Montgomery to the Lions in free agency, so they needed to find a replacement. They still need to do so in the wake of this signing, though the player in question will have an impact in 2023.
Travis Homer will be Chicago’s new third-down back. Homer had 16 catches in 10 games last year, but he wasn’t going to do much with Rashaad Penny and Kenneth Walker in front of him. He doesn’t have such talent to compete with on the Bears unless an early draft choice is used on the position, so Homer will have a greater role in 2023.
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The pass-rushing depth players who have played for the 49ers are having a great day. Samson Ebukam signed with the Colts a few hours ago, and now Charles Omenihu agreed to terms with the Chiefs.
Omenihu is a talented pass rusher who logged 4.5 sacks last year despite playing about 60 percent of the snaps. He should be able to be more productive in a greater role, which he could have in Kansas City with Frank Clark gone. Omenihu will be able to benefit from the opposition paying attention to Chris Jones and George Karlaftis. I think this price is a bit too steep, but I imagine we’ll see that the real money is far less than initially reported.
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Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here! Lions sign RB David Montgomery (3 years, $18 million): MILLEN Grade
I’m a big fan of the Lions’ 2023 outlook, and I’ve enjoyed their offseason thus far. I graded their cornerback signings very favorably. Unfortunately, I’m going to change my tune here because I hate this signing.
David Montgomery sucks. The Bears even knew it because they began giving carries to Khalil Herbert over Montgomery last year until Herbert got hurt. Montgomery is just like a million other running backs on the market, so there was no reason to pay him more than the minimum. An $18 million contract is insane for Montgomery.
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Cardinals re-sign G Will Hernandez (2 years, $9 million): B Grade
I mentioned earlier when I was writing up Kelvin Beachum that it was imperative for the Cardinals to bolster their offensive line, given that the already injury-prone Kyler Murray is coming off a torn ACL. Re-signing Will Hernandez is key as well, given that he is a versatile player who can start at both guard and center. Hernandez is a sub-par blocker, however, so I think this might be a bit too much for him. It’s not egregious or anything though, so I’m OK with this move.
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Aaron Stinnie was set to start the 2022 opener, but he tore his ACL and MCL. This was part of the problem with Tampa Bay’s offensive line last year, which was so bad that it forced Tom Brady into retirement. It remains to be seen if Stinnie will be 100 percent heading into 2023, but this allowed the Buccaneers to re-sign him to a microscopic contract.
I’m a big fan of this move. Obviously, it may not pay off at all, but there’s zero risk. Stinnie hurt his knee early enough last year that he’ll have a chance to return by the 2023 opener. If so, the Buccaneers will have a potential solid starter at a very cheap price.
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Jarran Reed spent his first five years in Seattle. He has since wandered the NFL, roaming from Green Bay to Kansas City, but he’s back in Seattle on a 2-year deal. Reed is a Jack of all trades, master of none. He can play on both running and passing downs and won’t be a liability at any point, but he’s not much of a difference-maker either. Still, this is a decent signing, as Reed will slide back into his former position, so there won’t be any sort of transition.
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Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here! Colts sign DE Samson Ebukam (3 years, $27 million): B Grade
Samson Ebukam has been a solid rotational pass rusher with the 49ers, recording 9.5 sacks in the past two years and 18 sacks in the previous four seasons. He played about half the snaps, so his sack numbers could increase on his new team.
Based on this contract, the Colts believe that Ebukam is ready for a larger role. We’ll see if that pans out, but the Colts had to take a risk, as they maintained a mediocre pass rush.
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The Raiders had one of the worst run defenses in the NFL, ranking 27th in that department. Measures needed to be taken to improve that element, and this certainly qualifies.
Robert Spillane is a two-down player who struggles in coverage, but he’s strong in run support. The Raiders needed a role player like Spillane, and it seems as though they paid him appropriately.
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Kaleb McGary looked like a first-round bust for quite a while, but that completely changed last year. McGary made huge strides in his level of play. His pass protection improved, and he also became a mauler in the running game. Losing him would have been painful, so it was wise for a rebuilding team like the Falcons to re-sign their young tackle.
This is probably a fair price for McGary. It’s way more than he would have been paid a year ago, but he’s still a young player, so he could continue to improve. If so, this signing may look like a bargain a couple of years from now.
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One NFL team removed Leighton Vander Esch from their draft board ahead of the 2018 NFL Draft. Charlie Campbell reported this and then was slammed for it by pedestrian draft writers, who refuted the report by quoting Vander Esch’s agent. It was some shoddy journalism, to say the least, but both Charlie and the team that removed Vander Esch were both predictably vindicated when the linebacker’s neck injuries persisted throughout his playing time in the NFL.
It really is a shame that Vander Esch hasn’t been able to stay healthy because he’s a fantastic player when he’s 100 percent. The Cowboys undoubtedly recognize that, opting to re-sign him despite his injury woes. I really like this deal, as it protects Dallas if Vander Esch’s neck problems worsen. This is all upside, so I’m grading the move appropriately.
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Welp, I guess the Panthers aren’t drafting a quarterback first overall anymore. Maybe they moved up for Bijan Robinson or Jalen Carter. I guess we’ll have to see what they do come April 27.
I’m kidding, obviously, as Andy Dalton will be holding the clipboard behind C.J. Stroud, presumably, this season. Dalton will be an incredibly useful player on the roster because he’ll be a veteran voice in the quarterbacks room, and he’ll be able to guide Stroud as he enters the NFL. Dalton is also even a bit underpaid. Average backup quarterbacks are worth about $4 million in the NFL, and Dalton is definitely a high-end reserve.
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Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here! Eagles re-sign CB James Bradberry (3 years, $38 million; $20 million guaranteed): B+ Grade
What the Eagles are experiencing almost reminds me of the 2021 Buccaneers’ offseason. Like Philadelphia now, Tampa Bay had a ton of free agents that spring, yet it managed to retain all of them. The Eagles have seen a couple of players slip away, but they’ve been able to maintain their core players for the most part, and that now includes James Bradberry.
Perhaps known best for the bogus holding call in the Super Bowl, Bradberry is a shutdown cornerback. He’ll be paid like one, which carries risk, given his age. Bradberry is now 30, so there’s a chance he could regress in the near future. However, the Eagles are built to win now, and with Jalen Hurts still on a rookie deal, their Super Bowl window is still open. It would’ve been a mistake to allow Bradberry to walk, so the Eagles deserve a positive grade for retaining him. The risk has to be weighed in, however.
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I imagine most running back contracts are going to look great this offseason because there’s such a high supply at the position that the demand is extremely low. Thus, you’ll get deals like this where Samaje Perine, who was challenging Joe Mixon for snaps in the second half of the year, signed for just $7.5 million.
Perine will be a useful weapon for Russell Wilson in 2023. The only other viable running back on the roster is Javonte Williams, and he’s coming off a torn ACL. Even if Williams can play right away, Perine will be a capable third-down threat.
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This is way more than I thought Larry Ogunjobi would receive from anyone during this free agency period. Ogunjobi is as mediocre as it gets as far as defensive tackles are concerned. He’s a decent run defender, but provided nothing as far as a pass rush was concerned last year; he notched just 1.5 acks.
I don’t get why the Steelers believe Ogunjobi is worth nearly $10 million per year. Then again, maybe I’m missing something because the Bears offered him a 3-year, $40.5 million contract last spring before he failed his physical. Ogunjobi has a history of putting better pressure on the quarterback, so perhaps he’ll be able to match that in 2023 if he’s healthier.
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It’s amusing that the Jets suddenly have interest in Allen Lazard, Marcedes Lewis, and Randall Cobb. It’s like the nerdy kid inviting the hot chick’s friends over for a party, hoping she’ll attend. It’s sad, but it just may work.
This is an “F” grade in a vacuum. There’s no reality in which Allen Lazard deserves $11 million per season. He’s a mediocre possession receiver who struggles to separate, so I wouldn’t have given him more than $20 million over four seasons, and even that seems like too much money. But, if signing him means Aaron Rodgers will join the team, it’ll all be worth it.
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Right tackle was considered a big need for the Chargers – by everyone excluding the Chargers, apparently. Somehow, the Chargers believe that Trey Pipkins is worth more than $7 million per season, which is one of the most shocking developments of the 2023 NFL free agency period.
I had Pipkins ranked as a 1.5-star free agent, so if the Chargers re-signed him to a 3-year deal, it should have been for $7 million overall; not $7 million per year! I’m all for continuity on the offensive line, but that’s the only positive element to this contract.
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The Cardinals have struggled to defend the middle of the field for some time. Anyone playing DFS knows that targeting tight ends versus Arizona is a great strategy. Perhaps that’ll change now in the wake of this signing.
White is a solid linebacker with no weaknesses. He’s not a great player, but he’s definitely going to be an upgrade over what Arizona has had at the position next to Zaven Collins. White was signed cheaply, and he’ll transition smoothly because he’ll be playing for his former defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon again.
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The Lions earn two consecutive B+ signing grades. The first was for their acquisition of Emmanuel Moseley. The second is for their retention of John Cominsky.
This signing won’t move the needle or anything, but Cominsky was a solid rotational player for the team last year. He recorded four sacks despite playing about half the snaps. He doesn’t have much experience, so he could continue to improve. This price is about right for him, so I think a B+ is warranted.
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Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here! Lions sign CB Emmanuel Moseley (1 year, $6 million): B+ Grade
Cornerback was seen as a primary weakness for the Lions entering the offseason, so it’s no surprise that they’ve signed two players at the position. Cameron Sutton was obtained yesterday, followed by Emmanuel Moseley, who was added on a 1-year “prove it” deal.
I’m a big fan of these sort of “prove it” deals because the player in question will try their hardest to get a long-term contract the following spring. The problem here is that Moseley is coming off a torn ACL. Moseley is a very talented slot cornerback when healthy, but it’s unreasonable to expect him to be 100 percent in 2023. Still, the Lions aren’t taking much of a chance by signing him.
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Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here! Dolphins re-sign RB Jeff Wilson Jr. (2 years, $8.2 million): A- Grade
The Dolphins re-signed Raheem Mostert a few hours ago to a 2-year deal worth $7.6 million. Those holding him in dynasty leagues were disappointed to see Miami re-sign Jeff Wilson Jr. to a contract worth $600,000 more.
Wilson has tons of experience in Mike McDaniel’s offense, so it wasn’t a surprise to see him come in right away and perform on a high level. Given that the Dolphins surrendered a draft pick for him, it would have been a mistake to allow him to walk, so it made sense to re-sign him, even after retaining Mostert. I like this deal just as much as the Mostert re-signing, so I’m going to give the Dolphins the same grade.
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Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here! 49ers re-sign C Jake Brendel (4 years, $20 million): B+ Grade
Things looked a bit grim for the 49ers’ offensive line entering the 2022 season because Alex Mack announced his retirement. This didn’t have a huge impact, however, because Jake Brendel stepped in and performed extremely well. It would hurt the 49ers if they lost starting centers in consecutive offseasons, so it makes sense that they would re-sign Brendel. This is a good price for Brendel, so San Francisco’s re-signing should be graded favorably.
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This is not an exciting signing by any means, as it won’t really improve Pittsburgh’s offensive line. However, it was the type of move the Steelers had to make because they didn’t have much depth on the offensive line. Herbig, who was a below-average replacement last year when starting late in the year for the Jets, will provide the depth the Steelers are looking for at a reasonable price.
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Garrett Bradbury struggled to start his career, but has since improved markedly. He was so good, in fact, that the Vikings’ offense sputtered late during the 2022 season when he was injured. Things improved when he returned for a playoff start, but the defense couldn’t hold up its end of the bargain.
Given how important Bradbury became for Minnesota’s offense, the team absolutely had to re-sign him. I’m actually surprised Bradbury didn’t get more than this, so this signing deserves to be graded very highly.
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This contract is emblematic of the Saints’ situation. Like the Saints, Michael Thomas is desperately attempting to hang on to relevancy, but he should probably move on and begin anew. Thomas had an amazing 2019 season, but has played just 10 games since. In those 10 games, Thomas has looked like a shell of his former self. He’s now 30, so it seems very likely that we won’t see the old Thomas again.
Still, this deal won’t kill the Saints. It’ll only hurt their spending for next offseason, but if they think they can make some noise in the playoffs after winning the worst division in football, I guess this signing is worth it because it doesn’t really have any long-term ramifications.
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Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here! Bears sign G Nate Davis (3 years, $30 million; $19.25 million guaranteed): A+ Grade
It’s not often that I’ll give an A+ grade to a contract averaging $10 million or more per season. There are exceptions, however, and this is one of them.
I love this signing. The Bears had to do everything in their power to shore up Justin Fields’ putrid pass protection from last year. Signing Nate Davis is a huge step toward doing so. Davis is one of the top guards in the NFL, and he’s only 26, so getting him for “only” $10 million per season seems like a great bargain to me.
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The Panthers didn’t have great play out of their safeties last year, as they were more exposed with the pass rush being diminished in the wake of Haason Reddick’s departure. Signing Vonn Bell should help, as Bell is a well-rounded safety with no weaknesses in his game.
This is a solid signing, and I’m fine with giving it a B+. Bell will be 30 or younger throughout the duration of this deal, and he’ll certainly help against both the run and the pass at what seems to be a reasonable price.
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I’ve seen way too many people make too much out of this signing. Every other post about it is speculating which of the young quarterbacks will be traded in the wake of this transaction. The answer is probably neither.
The 49ers signed Sam Darnold to a 1-year, $4 million deal because they don’t have a healthy quarterback on the roster at the moment. They need someone to handle the snaps in practice, and that’ll be Darnold until Trey Lance gets healthy. And when that happens, Lance will need some reps off, so Darnold will come in and operate the offense. That’s all there is to it.
There’s even a chance that Darnold won’t make the final roster. He will if Brock Purdy is placed on the PUP list, but if Purdy is healthy enough to start the year, Darnold could easily get cut. Even still, this is a fine signing because it’s a decent insurance policy if Lance and Purdy take longer to recover than expected.
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The Redskins have endured issues at linebacker for what seems like centuries, so they absolutely had to address the position this offseason. Signing Cody Barton won’t move the needle too much, but it was a solid move that will improve the run defense.
Barton is a two-down player because he tends to get lost in coverage. However, he’s stout in run support, so he’ll help Washington’s defense, which was 15th versus ground attacks last year. He’ll do this on a very cheap contract that carries no risk, so I think this signing deserves an A+ grade.
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The Cardinals need to make sure their offensive line is as great as possible because Kyler Murray has yet to play a full season in his professional career. Retaining Kelvin Beachum was just a piece of the puzzle, but it was a move that had to be done.
It’s a move that was done very cheaply. I thought Beachum would get more than this – perhaps two years, $9 million – so this is an incredible bargain for the Cardinals. I know that Beachum will turn 34 soon, so his best days are behind him, but the Cardinals are not risking anything by re-signing him.
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If only Jimmie Ward could stay healthy. If so, he’d be recognized as a much better player right now, and he also would have received a much larger contract. Ward, however, has played only two full seasons in his career. He missed five games in 2022, and he’s now 32. Something tells me his injury luck won’t improve.
That said, this is a fine signing for the Texans. They needed an upgrade at one of their safety spots, and Ward will provide this until he gets hurt again. I don’t know about adding an injury-prone defensive back to a secondary that is already comprised of the injury-prone Derek Stingley Jr., but it’s not like Houston is taking much of a risk with this contract.
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Kaden Elliss is a former seventh-round pick from the 2019 NFL Draft. He played sparingly in his first three-and-a-half seasons before taking on a big role in the second half of 2022. Despite barely playing to start the year, Elliss racked up seven sacks for the Saints, and he also thrived in run support.
While there is some concern that Elliss doesn’t have an established track record of success beyond the second half of 2022, this signing is still promising because Elliss is a fairly young player who can still continue to develop. Plus, stealing a talented player from a divisional rival is always a plus.
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Eric Kendricks was once one of the top off-ball linebackers in the NFL. That changed last year when he struggled in coverage. Kendricks was still stout in run support, but he was constantly burned over the middle of the field.
Kendricks is now 31, so there’s a chance the old version of himself could be lost forever. However, there’s a chance that he could bounce back with a solid season in coverage, which makes this signing extremely intriguing. But even if he doesn’t, he’ll serve a valuable role with the Chargers, a team that has struggled to defend the run for several years now. Kendricks, at the very worst, will be a huge help in this regard, so I love this low-risk signing.
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How can this signing not be an A+? Jason Kelce is arguably the best center in the NFL. The Eagles drafted his replacement in Cam Jurgens, but with Isaac Seumalo all but gone, Jurgens could start at guard in 2023 before moving to center the following year if Kelce chooses to retire then.
The Eagles should be thrilled to have Kelce back to solidify their elite offensive line. They’ve retained him on a 1-year deal that doesn’t have any sort of long-term ramifications, so this is an easy A+ grade.
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Raheem Mostert is still a talented running back who can go the distance whenever he touches the ball, thanks to his incredible speed. However, he’s now 31 and still happens to be very injury-prone. It would have been a big mistake for any team to give him a big contract, or even a moderately sized one.
With that in mind, this deal makes lots of sense. The Dolphins are paying Mostert less than $4 million per year on a short-term deal, so they’re not taking on any sort of risk. In doing so, they’re allowing themselves to find a better No. 1 runner so that Mostert can serve as a change-of-pace backup, which is what his role should be at this stage of his career.
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Donovan Wilson has made some amazing strides since being chosen in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He’s become a very effective safety with no weaknesses, so it’s nice to see him be appropriately compensated.
The Cowboys would have been left with a big hole at safety had they not retained Wilson, so they were smart to do so. This is a fair price for Wilson, so this signing should be graded favorably.
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I was excited to see where Jakobi Meyers would land this offseason because he’s been a talented receiver stuck in a run-heavy offense with some underwhelming quarterbacks ever since Tom Brady departed. It doesn’t matter who the quarterback has been for New England, however, as Meyers has been productive regardless. He was the No. 1 in New England, but better projects as a great No. 2 possession receiver.
The Raiders are a strange team to sign him. I like that Josh McDaniels used to coach Meyers, so there will be a smooth transition, but the Raiders already had a ton of talent on offense. I would have rather seen them use this money to bolster their defense. I don’t think this is a bad signing, as Meyers is fairly paid and will be a useful target for Jimmy Garoppolo, but I’m disappointed with the pairing.
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What a disappointing offseason for the Falcons. I thought they would be in on Lamar Jackson and then use their remaining cap space to add another receiver and solid defensive players, allowing them to dominate a horrible division. Instead, they’ve decided to pay Taylor Heinicke $10 million per year to compete with Desmond Ridder.
Heinicke has proven to be a strong backup, so I thought a team like the Chiefs would sign him so they’d have someone to win games if Patrick Mahomes were to miss a few weeks. A team like the Falcons has no business signing Heinicke; let alone paying him $7 million per year. They’re not a contender of any sort, so they don’t need a high-priced backup at all. What a dumb signing.
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I was not a fan of the Browns signing Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, citing that they needed much better options to fix their porous defensive line. Dalvin Tomlinson is that type of defensive lineman. Cleveland’s run defense was woeful last year, so Tomlinson will be a huge help in that regard.
Tomlinson can also generate good pressure on the quarterback, so he’ll be able to benefit from teams focusing on Myles Garrett. I’m a big fan of this signing even though it’s not any sort of bargain.
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You could make the old Seinfeld joke about how there’s nothing wrong with signing Matt Gay, but that wouldn’t be true. There definitely is something wrong with this Gay signing, and that would be the financial element involved. Gay has received the most money for any free agent kicker in NFL history.
Gay is a great kicker, drilling 87.8 percent of field goals in his career. However, he previously kicked in domes, so his numbers are inflated. I know he’ll continue to kick in domes, but he won’t receive any sort of boost from moving inside. So, I’m not arguing that the Colts signed a bad player. What they did sign was an expensive kicker, which is a poor use of resources. Kickers grow on trees and can be obtained anywhere, so there’s no need to allocate this many resources to them. The Colts would have been better off spending this cash on a real player.
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March 13 Updates Vikings sign DE Marcus Davenport (1 year, $13 million): A- Grade
I criticized the Vikings for giving a big contract to a tight end, so I automatically have to like this contract more. The secondary is a disaster, but a better pass rush will help the team’s ability to stop the pass.
Anyone looking at Marcus Davenport’s stats might be confused about how he could help a pass rush, given that he logged just half a sack last year. However, Davenport played better than that stat indicates, and Davenport had nine sacks in 2021. He should be able to rebound, and I like that he’ll be trying his hardest so he can get a long-term deal next offseason.
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Patrick Peterson was a huge surprise for the Vikings last year. He had struggled in prior seasons, but he thrived for an otherwise poor Minnesota secondary. There’s a chance he’ll regress again at 33, but it’s not impossible to repeat how he performed in 2022.
Given that the Steelers had some dire cornerback issues, it’s hard not to like this signing for them. Peterson will benefit from T.J. Watt’s terrific pass rush, and he should provide some stability at cornerback. He’ll be doing so at a fair price on a contract that doesn’t carry much risk.
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When I saw a few days ago that Dre’Mont Jones would receive lots of interest in free agency, I was confused. Jones recorded 22 sacks in four seasons with the Broncos, but he wasn’t a very good player because he was a huge liability in run support. The Broncos have gotten steamrolled versus ground attacks in recent years, and Jones is a big part of that.
I would have liked Jones as an addition to a team needing a rotational interior pass rusher. However, the Seahawks are paying Jones like a three-down player. He’ll be great on passing downs, but teams with strong rushing attacks will run right at him successfully.
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DeMarcus Walker was just a part-time player in Tennessee last year, as he was used on about a quarter of defensive snaps. Despite this, he logged seven sacks, so some team was bound to take a chance on him to play a larger role.
It makes sense that the Bears would pull the trigger. They had a ton of money to spend, and they were devoid of talent on the defensive line after losing many talented players in recent years. This is a bit more than I would have given Walker, but I don’t think this is a bad signing.
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Zach Allen has made great strides since being a third-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. He’s coming off his best season, recording 5.5 sacks and playing well against the run in 13 games. He deserved a big contract, so no one should be surprised by this contract.
I like this signing for the Broncos. They needed to get better on the defensive line, especially with Dre’Mont Jones set to leave the team. Allen is a great fit, given that he thrived under Vance Joseph in Arizona, so there will be a smooth transition.
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Considering some of the massive contracts given to off-ball linebackers today, I can’t believe how little David Long will be making in Miami. I would have expected something in the neighborhood of three years, $30 million or four years, $40 million. Instead, he’ll be making less than $6 million per season with the Dolphins.
Long is a bit undersized, but he’s a talented player who can serve as a three-down player. He’ll be an upgrade for the Dolphins at an incredibly cheap price, so I’m grading this as an A+.
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I don’t understand this move. Bradley Bozeman struggled last year, performing like a below-average starting center. I considered center to be a need for the Panthers, but they apparently disagreed, re-signing him Bozeman to a 3-year deal worth $18 million.
I suppose one could make the argument that Bozeman is coming off a down year because he missed time with an ankle sprain to start the season. This is why I won’t fail the Panthers for this. Besides, this isn’t an egregious sum of money.
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Alex Singleton was solid in his first season with the Broncos. He thrived against the run, though he wasn’t as good in coverage. It made sense for the Broncos to re-sign him as a two-down player. This is a bit more than I would have paid Singleton, given that he isn’t functional on third down. However, I don’t consider this to be a poor signing, as Singleton should continue to serve as a solid role player.
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The Giants have needed help at linebacker for eons. Perhaps that is coming to an end in the wake of this signing. They’ve added Bobby Okereke, who is coming off the best season in his career.
This is a bit of an overpay for Okereke, but it’s not too bad. Okereke is a soild, but unspectacular linebacker who excels more against the run. He’ll be an upgrade for the team in the middle of the field, though I would have given him a bit less.
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Marcus Epps was the weakest link of Philadelphia’s secondary last year. He wasn’t a terrible player, but was a liability in tougher matchups. Thus, I’m surprised that the Raiders are giving him $6 million per season.
This is definitely an overpay, though it’s not an egregious one. The Raiders had a big need at safety entering the offseason, yet that’s still the case.
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I never understood Philadelphia’s decision to draft Andre Dillard back in 2019. They had Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson in place as their tackles of the future, so Dillard didn’t seem to have a place with the Eagles. Dillard was able to make nine starts during his time in Philadelphia as a replacement for injured players, and he looked good when given the opportunity. Thus, it’s not a surprise that a team signed him to be a starter.
However, Titans supporters may become frustrated with Dillard’s durability. Tennessee just got rid of Taylor Lewan, who couldn’t stay healthy, and yet they signed a replacement who has a dubious injury history as well. That history is preventing me from going above a “B” for this grade.
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Case Keenum is going back home. Keenum played at Houston during his collegiate days and then began his professional career with the Texans. He’s now back with the Texans to serve as a high-end backup for whomever the Texans end up drafting at No. 2 overall.
Average backup quarterbacks are worth about $4 million per season, so it’s curious that Keenum took a deal that pays him a bit more than $3 million on average. Keenum is five years removed from leading the Vikings to the NFC Championship, so he can definitely perform well if needed. More importantly, he’ll provide a veteran presence in the quarterbacks room to help develop C.J. Stroud or Bryce Young.
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I’ve been slotting a cornerback to the Buccaneers in my 2023 NFL Mock Draft every week because I’ve assumed that Jamel Dean would leave via free agency. That turned out not to be the case, as Tampa Bay re-signed Dean to a $52 million contract.
Dean is a stellar, young cornerback, so retaining him will allow Tampa Bay to be competitive in its dreadful division. This is a fair price for him – in fact, he probably should have gotten a bit more – so I will be grading this favorably.
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Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here! Browns sign DE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (3 years, $19 million): D Grade
Despite Myles Garrett being on the roster, the Browns struggled to generate pressure on the quarterback last year. They had to sign some other pass rushers to complement Garrett, and that remains the case despite this transaction.
I don’t understand why the Browns believe Ogbonnia Okoronkwo is worth $19 million over three years. Okoronkwo is a situational pass rusher who recorded a career-high five sacks for the Texans in 2022. He would have been a fine signing for a couple million per year, but $19 million for three seasons is obscene.
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Detroit had one of the worst linebacking corps in the NFL last year, but Alex Anzalone was not the reason for that. He was the one steady presence at the position, so losing him would have been devastating. The Lions did well to retain Anzalone on a contract that is fair for both him and the team.
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Safety has been a big need for the Falcons for years. Keanu Neal’s prime was probably the last time this wasn’t considered a blight on the roster. That has changed in the wake of this signing.
Jessie Bates is an extremely talented safety with no holes in his game. He’s also just 26 despite seeming like he’s been in the NFL for ages. This is a big contract for a safety, but the Falcons are in position to pay Bates like this, so I’m grading this move favorably.
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Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here! Bears sign LB Tremaine Edmunds (4 years, $72 million; $50 million guaranteed): B- Grade
It’s remarkable how quickly things can change. The Bears had one of the worst linebacking corps in the NFL entering today. Yet, in a span of about four hours, Chicago can now say it has one of the best linebacker tandems in the NFL.
We’ll have to see if that comes to fruition. I don’t have doubts about T.J. Edwards. Tremaine Edmunds, on the other hand, was awful to start his career before enjoying a terrific 2022 season. It remains to be seen if he can continue his high level of play, but there’s no doubt that the 25-year-old Edmunds has huge upside. This signing certainly comes with a high level of risk, which is why I’ve given the move a B-, but it could certainly pay off if Edmunds continues to develop.
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The Texans have been famously dreadful against the run over the years. Signing Hassan Ridgeway should help. Ridgeway won’t be a huge difference-maker, but he’ll be a steady body in the interior of the defensive line. He also has experience playing with DeMeco Ryans, so he’ll have a smooth transition on his new team.
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As if the Deshaun Watson suspension wasn’t devastating enough, all hope seemed lost for the Browns last year when they lost their top two centers from the prior season. They were forced into starting Ethan Pocic, who had a rocky start to his career in Seattle. However, Pocic was terrific in Cleveland, helping the offense thrive despite all of its challenges.
Pocic was justly rewarded for his great 2022 season. This is a great deal, considering how Pocic played. There’s a chance Pocic will regress, but even if that happens, it’s not like Cleveland paid a high price for him.
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I liked the Redskins’ signing of Andrew Wylie, but I can’t say I support this other offensive line signing. This is far more than I would have paid for Nick Gates, who was just a 1.5-star free agent in my NFL Free Agent Rankings.
The good thing about Gates is that he’s extremely versatile. He can play center, guard, and even tackle, so he can perhaps save a roster spot. However, he’s not a good blocker by any means, and he also has a dubious injury history. I thought he would receive a couple million per year; not $16.5 million over three seasons.
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I can’t believe the Patriots were able to retain Jonathan Jones at this price. Perhaps other teams thought that Jones could regress if he didn’t receive Bill Belichick’s amazing coaching, but this is a great re-signing for New England regardless.
Jones is a superb cornerback who can play outside or in the slot. He turns 30 soon, but he won’t be older than that for the duration of this deal, so there’s no downside. This signing is worth an easy A+ for New England.
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What in the world are the Vikings doing? This is a horrible signing, and it has nothing to do with the talent of Josh Oliver. I’m actually an Oliver fan; he’s an excellent blocker and an underrated receiver. He was buried on Baltimore’s depth chart, so I liked him as an under-the-radar signing for a team that needed a tight end.
The Vikings, however, did not need a tight end. I get that they can use two-tight end formations with T.J. Hockenson, but the Vikings had so many other pressing needs, particularly on defense. For a team with as many defensive holes as the Vikings possess, making a move like this is il-responsible, as my sixth-grade English teacher used to say.
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The Bengals waited quite a bit for Germaine Pratt’s career to take off. He struggled initially in the NFL, but took a huge step last year. He was stellar in coverage, so it would have been a shame for Cincinnati had it lost him.
Cincinnati, however, managed to re-sign Pratt, and it did so at a great price. Unless Pratt regresses, he’ll continue to be a stellar linebacker, so I love this re-signing.
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This is a perplexing signing. I never would have imagined that the Chiefs would move on from Orlando Brown, just to pay Jawaan Taylor $80 million over four years. Taylor struggled mightily to start his career, but made improvements last year. Still, he did not perform nearly as well as Brown did for Kansas City.
Still, I have to say that I’m intrigued because the Chiefs plan on moving Taylor to left tackle. Andy Reid has a great eye for offensive line talent, so perhaps he knows that Taylor can really excel on the blind side. I still think this is an overpay, but I don’t believe it to be a bad signing.
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Perhaps no team needed a backup quarterback more than the Dolphins. Tua Tagovailoa hasn’t been able to play a full season in the NFL, so Miami had to ensure that it possessed a great alternative option when Tagovailoa gets hurt again. Teddy Bridgewater was the option last year, but he was a poor choice because he’s injury-prone as well.
That is why I don’t love this signing. Mike White, when healthy, is a premier backup quarterback, but he hasn’t been able to stay healthy either! He has gotten banged up quickly in the past two years, so I have no confidence that he can stay on the field when Tagovailoa gets hurt again.
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Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here! Redskins sign OT/G Andrew Wylie (3 years, $24 million): B Grade
Andrew Wylie was not someone I had on the Redskins’ radar for them to improve their putrid interior blocking because he’s a tackle, and Washington is set at the position. However, this signing seems to indicate that the Redskins deem Wylie a better fit at guard.
With that in mind, I like this signing for Washington. The team had some major issues at guard last year, and Wylie, who has experience playing for Eric Bieniemy, figures to offer a decent upgrade at a reasonable price.
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The Bills absolutely had to bolster the interior of their offensive line this offseason. They really struggled to block last year, thanks to Rodger Saffold being such a bust signing.
Connor McGovern will be able to serve as an upgrade over Saffold at a reasonable price. He’s not a strong run blocker, but he’s much better in pass protection, and that’s exactly what the Bills are looking for.
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Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here! Raiders sign QB Jimmy Garoppolo (3 years, $67.5 million): B Grade
First things first: This signing will not preclude the Raiders from drafting a quarterback in the first round. The 49ers selected a signal-caller at No. 2 overall with Garoppolo on the roster, so the Raiders could certainly do so at No. 7, or even at No. 3. This contract isn’t big enough to deter the Raiders from doing so.
As for this actual signing, I think it’s fine. Garoppolo, who knows Josh McDaniels’ offense, is an excellent game manager, but can’t win games on his own. The Raiders will have some great talent around him in Las Vegas. The question is if the defense will get enough stops, especially against the elite offenses in the AFC West.
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Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here! Panthers sign DT Shy Tuttle (3 years, $19.5 million): C- Grade
I’m shocked Shy Tuttle received this sort of a contract. I had him ranked as a 1.5-star defensive tackle. He’s a half-decent run-stuffer, but provides nothing in terms of a pass rush. I thought he would get two years and $6 million at the very most.
This isn’t a huge contract, so I won’t fail the Panthers. I can understand why they signed Tuttle, as they needed to improve their run defense. However, players like Tuttle grow on trees, so there was no need to give him this sort of a contract.
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The Lions had a putrid defense in the first half of the 2022 season, but that changed as the year progressed. The team was much better on that side of the ball to close out the season, yet it still needed a big upgrade at cornerback. The Lions obtained that by signing Cameron Sutton.
Sutton is a great signing for Detroit at a reasonable price. He’s coming off a fantastic season despite not having T.J. Watt aiding him for half the year. He’ll fill a big need as a big upgrade for one of the best teams in the NFC.
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When I saw this signing, I immediately thought, “I should bet the Broncos to win the Super Bowl.” And then I remembered how bad Russell Wilson was last year, and so I haven’t pulled the trigger. Not yet, anyway.
Wilson really struggled behind a putrid offensive line in 2022. But with Garett Bolles returning from injury, and Mike McGlinchey and Ben Powers joining the front, Denver could have some of the best blocking in the NFL. McGlinchey is a terrific right tackle, and with two more years in his 20s, he’s worth every penny of this deal.
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Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here! 49ers sign DT Javon Hargrave (4 years, $80 million): B- Grade
Javon Hargrave was a beast of a pass rusher last year, recording 11 sacks for Philadelphia’s devastating pass rush. Hargrave will enter a similar system in San Francisco, so there will be a smooth transition.
That said, I’m not a huge fan of this signing. This is a ton of money given to a big body, which has a dubious track record. Also, Hargrave is 30, so the 49ers could be paying on past production. This move has plenty of upside, but there’s a ton of risk involved as well.
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Russell Wilson’s 2022 season was a disaster. There were several reasons for this, but it could be possible that Wilson is just done. We’ll certainly find out soon enough, but the Broncos needed to have a viable backup as an insurance policy.
There were rumors that the Broncos would sign Jameis Winston, but Jarrett Stidham is a solid option as well. Stidham was incredible last year in a shootout with the 49ers late in the year when he supplanted a benched Derek Carr. Perhaps this was a fluke, but Stidham is a young quarterback with some potential.
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It feels like I’ve been saying that the Falcons need a talented defensive tackle to start next to Grady Jarrett for decades now. Well, that is finally finished, as Atlanta signed former Saints lineman David Onyemata to a large contract.
Despite this, I’m not a big fan of this signing. It could definitely pan out, but Onyemata is coming off a down year and is now on the wrong side of 30. It’s possible that Onyemata’s 2022 struggles could be a sign of things to come, and it seems like the Falcons are paying on past production.
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Russell Wilson was a colossal failure in Denver last year, but there were several reasons for that. Nathaniel Hackett was a primary catalyst for Wilson’s struggles, but the offensive line play was a big factor as well.
It was crucial for the Broncos to upgrade the offensive line, and signing Ben Powers is a great start. Powers has been a tremendous pass protector for the Ravens, and he’s only 26. This signing has a ton of upside for Denver’s offense.
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Follow me @walterfootball for more hiring/signing grades and updates. Also, you can Support Us on Patreon here! Bears sign LB T.J. Edwards (3 years, $19.5 million; $12 million guaranteed): A+ Grade
The first signing during the 2023 free agency period is a slam dunk. When I saw that the Bears immediately agreed to terms with T.J. Edwards, I was concerned that they highly overpaid. That is definitely not the case.
This is a great price for Edwards, who has quietly become one of the top off-ball linebackers in the NFL. Edwards will be a huge, yet cheap upgrade to a position vacated by the trade of Roquan Smith. Linebacker was already a need with Smith on the roster, so this is just the beginning of the defensive rebuilding process for the Bears.
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This may seem like a ton of money for a guard. The common reaction you’ll find on social media is, “$21 million for a guard!?” I don’t think this is correct, however. I’ve always felt as though interior offensive linemen have been underpaid. Many quarterbacks hate interior pressure more than a heavy edge rush, so fortifying the inside blocking is always a great strategy.
That said, there are only a handful of guards who are worth this sort of money. Chris Lindstrom is one of them. He’s one of the best guards in the NFL, and he’s only 26. He’ll be a major component in protecting Atlanta’s quarterback for the next half-decade.
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March 12 Updates Jets re-sign LB Quincy Williams (3 years, $18 million; $9 million guaranteed): C- Grade
I can’t say I understand this contract. Quincy Williams is a pedestrian player at best, so why did he warrant $9 million in guarantees? I rated him as a 1.5-star free agent, and inside linebacker was considered a need with him on the roster. Sure, he’s fairly young and has upside, but he hasn’t accomplished anything yet.
This isn’t an egregiously bad contract because Williams wasn’t given an obscene amount of money, but I still feel like I’m missing something. Does Williams have nude pictures of the owner? Did he see the general manager in a compromised situation? Did he catch one of the coaches with another guy in a truck at a North Jersey construction site? Something weird’s going on here, but I get the feeling I shouldn’t ask any questions.
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I’m old enough to remember when the Redskins signed Albert “The Hamstring” Haynesworth to an unprecedented nine-figure deal. This signing proved to be disastrous, as Haynesworth spent plenty of time slacking off and nursing injuries. He lasted just two years in Washington.
It appears as though the Redskins have not learned their lesson. Da’Ron Payne was incredibly productive last year, registering 11.5 sacks, but he didn’t have a great season overall because he was trampled in run support. He could continue to post high sack totals, but there’s a long track record of heavy guys struggling after signing big contracts. It’s very easy for them to get fat and happy, so these sorts of deals are often a bad idea. You’d think the Redskins would know this from the Haynesworth debacle, but apparently not.
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March 10 Updates Eagles re-sign DE Brandon Graham (1 year, $6 million): A+ Grade
The Eagles have more key free agents than any other team in the NFL. With 12 key names set to enter the market, Philadelphia has to be pleased to be welcoming back at least one of them.
Brandon Graham is 35, but his age concerns are mitigated by this contract being for only one year. With no risk involved, this signing is excellent. Graham was terrific last year, recording 11 sacks. He was a huge factor in Philadelphia’s No. 1 pass rush, so welcoming him back is very important.
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The Titans made two poor decisions regarding Robert Woods. The first was acquiring him when he was coming off a torn ACL. The second was releasing him after a predicable down year as a result of that torn ACL. Now two years removed from that injury, Woods should be able to rebound.
With that in mind, I like this signing for the Texans. They were devoid of talent at receiver, and Woods should be a dependable veteran presence for either Bryce Young or C.J. Stroud. Tennessee fans may think this price is too high, but it could be deemed a bargain if Woods is much healthier, as expected.
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March 7 Updates Giants re-sign QB Daniel Jones (4 years, $160 million): C Grade
No one would have thought that Daniel Jones would receive a mega contract like this a year ago. Jones, however, just enjoyed the best season of his career, completing 67.2 percent of his passes, rushing for 708 yards, and throwing just five interceptions. Brian Daboll’s coaching certainly helped, as did the improvement of the offensive line. Jones had struggled mightily earlier in his career because he had miserable blocking in front of him. That changed in 2022.
Given the improvement to the coaching staff and the offensive line, Jones’ 2022 output wasn’t fluky. However, this could still be seen as a lot of money for him. I don’t hate this deal like the Derek Carr signing because Jones is only 25 and has a bright future ahead of him, but big contracts like this to non-elite quarterbacks often crush a team’s salary cap situation. This move will force the Giants to cut some valuable pieces in the future, and it’s likely that they will regret signing Jones to this deal. Franchising him would have been the better decision.
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A year ago, the thought of Geno Smith receiving nearly as much money per year as Derek Carr would have been preposterous. Yet, here we are. Smith is coming off a season in which he posted much better numbers than Carr, completing 69.8 percent of his passes on a 7.5 YPA, while Carr maintained a 60.8 completion rate with a 7.0 YPA. Smith’s touchdown-to-interception ratio was 30:11, while Carr’s was 24:14. Smith also rushed for nearly 300 more yards.
Despite all of this, Smith is receiving $2.5 million less per year than Carr on a shorter-term deal. To be fair, Smith doesn’t have as much of a proven track record, but I like this signing more than New Orleans’ addition of Carr.
That said, I believe the Seahawks would be better served blowing everything up and beginning anew. It feels like the Seahawks are just spinning their tires with their current regime, and with the No. 5 overall pick, they’re in a position to move up for a franchise quarterback.
Update: I’m upgrading this grade from a “C” to a B+, and not just because this is a contract the Seahawks can get out of after one year. I thought about it, and I realized that I failed to recognize that the Seahawks have a ton of young talent on their roster. I don’t know why I still considered them to have a veteran roster, but they’re built for the future, so they don’t need to completely rebuild.
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March 6 Updates Saints sign QB Derek Carr (4 years, $150 million; $100 million guaranteed): D Grade
Wow. The financials of this deal are shocking. It’s a ton of money for a mediocre quarterback who cried during a press conference and then abandoned his team when he was benched.
I can understand why the Saints signed Derek Carr, so I’m not going to fail them for this move. They have a veteran roster, so they’re trying their best to stay competitive, which isn’t too difficult in such a terrible division.
However, I disagree with the strategy and believe the Saints would be better served starting over from scratch. Carr is not going to win a Super Bowl with this aging roster, and it’s not like he’s a young quarterback with upside. He’s 32 and is as average as it gets. Carr could get the Saints a divisional win this year, but even if that happens, the Saints will have a quick exit in the playoffs.
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Feb. 27 Updates Jaguars re-sign DT Roy Robertson-Harris (3 years, $30 million): B- Grade
Despite having a quarterback playing under a rookie contract, the Jaguars have some cap issues that must be addressed, thanks to last year’s spending spree. This extension will help in the short term.
Roy Robertson-Harris is not worth $10 million per year. He’s a solid player – a jack of all trades, master of none – but he’ll be overpaid on this deal. However, it’s not a horrible signing because it’ll provide some relief this offseason.
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Jan. 16 Updates Ravens re-sign LB Roquan Smith (5 years, $100 million; $45 million guaranteed): C+ Grade
When the Ravens traded for Roquan Smith, it was assumed that they would sign their new linebacker to a long-term deal. The two parties agreed to terms on a contract a few days ago, with Smith obtaining $100 million over five years with $45 million guaranteed.
Smith is an excellent player, but I am not a huge fan of this contract. I don’t think Smith is on an elite level, at least when it comes to coverage. He’s a Pro Bowl-caliber player, but I wouldn’t say he’s in the argument to be the best linbeacker in the NFL. Furthermore, giving non-pass-rushing linebackers enormous deals like this doesn’t seem like very good management.
That said, I don’t hate Baltimore’s decision. Wasting the second-round pick used to acquire Smith wouldn’t have been smart, and there’s no doubt that Smith has made Baltimore’s defense a much better unit.
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