2025 Free Agent Signing Grades

On this page, I’m going to be providing the free agent signing grades for the notable signings and extensions that occur in 2025 (most recent first) based on how good a deal the signing team obtained and the type of impact I expect the player to have. Please note that an offseason signing cannot be made official until the new league year starts on March 12 unless the player is remaining with his current team or his previous team already released him. The page will be updated as more signings are reported. Use control-F (Windows), command-F (Mac), or Find in Page (mobile) to search for a specific player.

April 1, 2025

Ravens Sign CB Chidobe Awuzie:
Awuzie had a good stretch as a cover corner for both Dallas and Cincinnati, and he cashed in with the Titans last year. However, a groin injury limited him to just 8 games, and he was released after 1 season with the team. Now he’s signing with Baltimore on a 1-year, $1.255M guaranteed contract. These are the signings that can pay dividends late in the year. I can’t believe that Awuzie could only get this kind of deal, but the Ravens won’t complain. Yes, he has a checkered injury history, but he has never played less than 8 games in a year, and he should stay healthy as a 3rd CB. Excellent depth or spot starter; it doesn’t even matter!
Grade: A+

Panthers Re-Sign G Austin Corbett:
Once a very good starting guard, Corbett has been hamstrung by knee and bicep injuries, playing in just 9 games over the past two seasons combined. Protecting QB Bryce Young is still a priority though, so Carolina is bringing him back on a 1-year, $3M fully guaranteed contract with $4M available in incentives. A string of terrible luck does not mean that Corbett isn’t good anymore. He’s only 29 and has a good history of strong play. $3M is not very much even for a backup guard. At best, he’s a $7M guard who earned the money. There’s risk to this obviously, but I think re-signing Corbett is a good decision.
Grade: B+

Titans Sign LB Lorenzo Carter:
After 6 solid years, Carter posted a dud with the Falcons last year. It was his only season without a sack, his tackles were down, and he wasn’t as great in coverage. He’s moving on to Tennessee, signing a 1-year, $1.423M contract with $83750 guaranteed. Despite the way 2024 went, I think he still has something left to give. Carter is only 29, and he’s a potent rusher for an off-ball LB. His speed may be waning a bit for coverage purposes, but he could still be a menace near the line of scrimmage. I think he’s better in all phases than the traded Kenneth Murray at a fraction of the price, so this is a good signing.
Grade: A

Lions Re-Sign DE Al-Quadin Muhammad:
Muhammad is a wild card. He has been tossed from a game for throwing a punch and missed the 2023 season in part because of a PED suspension. When he’s on the field, he isn’t bad; as a starter in 2021, Muhammad had 6 sacks and 48 tackles, playing well against both the run and the pass. The problem is that he hasn’t been consistent since then. Detroit is bringing him back on a 1-year, $1.423M contract with $917.5K guaranteed. As a reserve in 2024, he had 3 sacks in 9 games, so he isn’t washed up. I wouldn’t have given this much guaranteed cash, but it’s still a minimum contract overall. It’s not a big deal.
Grade: B

Cardinals Sign DL Calais Campbell:
How is this guy so darn productive still at age 38? If Campbell hadn’t been defying father time for several years, I’d call him an April Fools joke. His 1-year, $5.5M contract with a maximum value of $7.5M is not a joke either. Campbell played his first 9 years for Arizona, and he’s back in the desert for year 18. Somehow, he had 5+ sacks in each of the past 3 years while playing very well against the run. He can line up anywhere along the d-line, and the Walter Payton Man of the Year winner is a fantastic locker-room presence and leader. I rarely give this grade to contracts for players of this age, but Campbell is just different.
Grade: A+

Texans Sign LB EJ Speed:
Poaching from a division rival is always fun, and that’s doubly true when the player you’re stealing is good. Speed is one such example, as the former Colt got better each season he played. He became a starter in 2023 and turned into a tackling machine. Over the past two years, he made 244 tackles and forced 3 fumbles, but he also earned 9 PBUs in coverage. Houston is signing Speed to a 1-year, $3.25M contract with a maximum value of $5M. Last season, you couldn’t get Speed off the field, as he played 98% of Indy’s defensive snaps. For a player who provides that much, even the full $5M this contract could pay is a great value. Speed’s name holds true, and he’ll provide the Texans with quickness on defense while staving the Colts of that trait.
Grade: A+

March 29, 2025

Jets Sign WR Josh Reynolds:
Despite having a poor 2024 season by his standards, Reynolds is signing with the Jets on a 1-year deal worth up to $5M with $2.75M guaranteed. The connection here is clear: new GM Darren Mougey was with Denver last year, where Reynolds had 5 productive games (183 yards). He had 608 yards and 5 TDs for Detroit in 2023, so he’s still a viable WR. I also think he’s one of the better blocking receivers in the NFL. It’s no secret that the Jets need help at the WR position. I still believe they need a legitimate #2, as Reynolds is more of a WR3 to me, but he’s a very good WR3, and this is a pretty good price.
Grade: A-

Patriots Re-Sign LB Christian Elliss:
Elliss has been released by 3 different teams, and he did nothing in 2023 with the Patriots. Last year, he replaced an injured Ja’Whaun Bentley (now released) and earned 80 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 5 PBUs. New England smartly tendered him, but the Raiders signed him to an offer sheet. Those details are now known: $13.508M over 2 years with $7.75M fully guaranteed. The Patriots actually matched this, which is wild. Elliss had one solid year, but three separate franchises saw him in person and said “no thanks”. Even if his 2024 production is the new norm for him, $7.75M guaranteed is a pretty high number. I would’ve let the Raiders take him on that deal, which was designed to discourage NE from matching, and hamstring themselves.
Grade: D-

Chiefs Re-Sign DT Mike Pennel:
You can teach an old dog new tricks! Pennel is an 11-year veteran nose tackle, and in 2024, he learned how to rush the passer. As a prototypical run stuffer, he only played about 30% of the snaps, but I guess lining up next to Chris Jones helped because he earned 3 sacks, more than he had over the prior 10 years combined. KC is re-signing Pennel to a 1-year, $1.423M contract with $396K guaranteed. While he’ll still be playing with Jones, I doubt he’ll be as productive as a rusher again. Pennel is a classic NT who enables the success of others rather than compiling his own stats. He’ll be 34, so his capabilities may wane slightly, but he’s still a good guy to have around.
Grade: B

Broncos Re-Sign FB Michael Burton:
Denver carries a fullback, but they don’t use Burton very often. Under 20% of the snaps in fact. I’d say that’s because Bo Nix came from a spread offense, but Burton’s usage pattern was the same in 2023. He’s back for year 3 on 1-year, $1.423M contract with $125K guaranteed. Presumably, Sean Payton wants to get back to running the football like he did in his Saints days. I’d approve of taking pressure of Nix, but the Broncos will need some sort of RB to implement that plan. In the meantime, Burton is a quality special teamer, so he’ll provide a bit of value no matter what.
Grade: B+

Eagles Sign OT Kendall Lamm:
Apart from his 2018 season with Houston, Lamm has been a swing tackle throughout his 10-year career. With Miami’s Terron Armstead suffering frequent injuries, Lamm got to play around 50% of the snaps the past 3 years. In those appearances, he acquitted himself well. He’s definitely not going to start on Philly’s vaunted line, but he’ll be a great reserve. The Eagles are signing him to a 1-year, $1.505M contract with $750K guaranteed. The 32-year-old Lamm isn’t a reclamation project like Mekhi was last season; he’s simply a plug-and-play option in case either starting tackle goes down. Smart depth addition by a smart team.
Grade: A

Vikings Sign WR Rondale Moore:
Absent from the NFL last season, Moore was traded from Arizona to Atlanta prior to the 2024 campaign, but he missed the entirety of it with a knee injury. He’ll now try to make a comeback in Minnesota on a 1-year, $2M contract with $250K guaranteed. The diminutive (5’7″) receiver was drafted to be a speedy weapon out of the slot, but he never had a chance to reach his potential with Kyler Murray as his QB. He looked to be improving 2022, but he ended that season on IR as well. Moore could provide an intriguing 4th option at WR for new Vikings starter JJ McCarthy, but this is probably a bit too much money.
Grade: C+

Giants Re-Sign G Aaron Stinnie:
For a guard who’s mostly a backup, $475K guaranteed on a 1-year, $1.338M contract is a high number. Stinnie is almost certainly going to remain with the Giants next season, and though he’s not extremely effective, he does well enough in a pinch. His 2023 season spent starting in Tampa Bay demonstrated his peak, which is an average guard who pass protects decently but can’t clear running lanes. Essentially, he’s a weaker version of Greg Van Roten, whose re-signing I just graded below. Stinnie is a fine reserve who’s worth this contract, but New York fans still probably aren’t pleased with their offensive line.
Grade: C+

Giants Sign WR Zach Pascal:
Pascal’s production has been in severe decline since 2021. Prior to that, he had consecutive 600-yard seasons for the Colts, but without starting reps in Philly or Arizona, he never got in rhythm. New York is trying to see what Pascal has left on a 1-year, $1.423M contract with $90K guaranteed. Malik Nabers, Darius Slayton, and Wan’Dale Robinson are entrenched as the top 3 options, so Pascal is going to be a backup yet again. Now 30 years old, he has proven that he can’t really produce in that role. In fact, he had ZERO catches for the Cardinals in 2024 despite appearing in all 17 games. He might not make the roster.
Grade: D

Titans Sign K Joey Slye:
I guess 40-year-old Nick Folk won’t be returning to Tennessee. In his place is Slye, a kicker with a much stronger leg but much worse accuracy. His deal is $1.295 for 1 year with $25K guaranteed. Slye kicked a 63-yard FG last year but converted less than 80% of his FGs over the past two seasons. His PAT accuracy is also under 90% for his career. The Titans clearly opted for range, but you have to make the shorter stuff too. Those more common kicks account for a ton of points, and Slye is one of the worst in the league at executing on those. I wonder if Tennessee has another kicker move (like a rookie) in mind. This isn’t the answer.
Grade: D+

Browns Sign LB Jerome Baker:
Baker has dealt with injuries the past two years, but he did everything for Miami the 5 seasons before that. With his excellent speed, he plays the run, rushes the passer, and covers TEs. The guy just needs some better injury luck. Those availability issues limited Baker to a 1-year, $1.423M contract with $717.5K guaranteed this free agency. Cleveland is stocking up on cheap one-year deals for veteran players, and this is one of their best moves. He’s a lot like a current Brown in Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, whose season ended prematurely with a neck injury. If JOK isn’t quite back, Baker will be great insurance. Even if he is, Baker can play alongside him to create a fearsome LB duo.
Grade: A+

Rams Sign LB Nathan Landman:
Why are the good LBs signing for so little? The Rams are paying Landman just $1.1M for 1 year with $75K guaranteed. A former UDFA, Landman played 3 years with the Falcons, starting the past two. In those latter two seasons, he had 191 tackles, 6 forced fumbles, 2 sacks, and 4 PBUs. He’s an excellent run defender who also plays in coverage. Since he doesn’t have to come off the field on 3rd downs, his value is higher than your typical run stuffer. LA build a brutal front 4, and now they’re working on handling the back 7. Adding a skilled 26-year-old like this will be great for the unit.
Grade: A

49ers Sign ST/DB Siran Neal:
Fine. ONE MORE special teamer. Neal played his first 6 years in Buffalo before heading to Miami last year. As with all of these signings, he rarely plays on defense and is exclusively a special teams ace. This time, we’ve got a 2-year, $4M contract with $2.255M guaranteed. San Francisco couldn’t afford to keep Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga, Charvarious Ward, and many others, but they could pay a relatively high rate for a special teamer? I’ve got nothing against Neal and think he’s a good player, but that’s not how you build a top-tier roster, and it’s a continuation of a puzzling offseason for the 49ers.
Grade: C-

Giants Sign LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles:
With all the injuries San Francisco went through last year, Flannigan-Fowles saw his first consistent action at age 28. I liked what I saw in those snaps, as he had good speed that enabled him to cover effectively while also tracking down runners. While he’s still a backup-quality player, he’s a great option if you can get him on the cheap. New York did, signing him to a 1-year, $1.338M contract with $442.5K guaranteed. The Giants need more talent all across their roster, but the defense was in decent shape. That allows them to focus on depth in the front 7, which in turn makes this a nice signing.
Grade: B+

Dolphins Sign CB Artie Burns:
ANOTHER first-round whiff, this time by Pittsburgh. Burns has a fitting name because all he does is get burnt in coverage. His best year was his rookie season, and even then he was just guessing. Since then, he spent time with 2 other teams as a reserve and was out of the league during the 2020 season. For Miami, he’s a local Hurricane, so they’re hoping that this 1-year, $1.355M contract will pay off. It won’t. Burns is turning 30, so it’s not like he’s improving. He’s the type of backup CB you hope never has to appear in a game. This is about as badly as you can do with a veteran minimum contract.
Grade: D

Commanders Re-Sign CB Noah Igbinoghene:
Adding to our list of former first-round busts, we have a corner who did nothing in Miami over 3 years, got traded to Dallas, and then followed Dan Quinn to Washington. For the first time, Igbinoghene started 10 games in 2024, and he was…not bad. He made 55 tackles and broke up 7 passes. Washington saw enough to re-sign him to a 1-year, $1.5M contract with $500K guaranteed. Although he made plays on the ball, his coverage still wasn’t that good. However, this is the best Igbinoghene has looked as a pro, and he is someone who is only 25 years old and had first-round talent. There’s still development potential, so I like this move.
Grade: A-

March 28, 2025

Steelers Re-Sign WR Scotty Miller:
As a Buccaneer in 2020, Miller had his first and only 500-yard season. That’s no coincidence; he’s a shifty slot receiver, and that was the year Tom Brady came to Tampa. Miller hasn’t touched 200 yards since, and he caught just 5 passes for Pittsburgh last year. Nonetheless, the Steelers are re-signing him to a 1-year, $1.338M contract. I’m really surprised at this. The team just traded for DK Metcalf, and it has become clear that Miller simply got a Brady bump. He’s going to be a bench warmer…assuming he makes the roster at all. I won’t overly penalize a minimum contract, but the roster spot could be used better.
Grade: C-

Giants Re-Sign G Greg Van Roten:
With LT Andrew Thomas missing the bulk of last season, Van Roten was the Giants’ only reliable lineman. The veteran has made 88 career starts and hasn’t missed a game the past two seasons. Knowing they couldn’t afford to lose him, New York is re-signing Van Roten to a 1-year, $3.25M contract with $2.45M guaranteed. The only real concern is his age (35), but even that’s not so bad for a guard. While he isn’t the most stout run blocker, his pass protection skills are valuable. That’ll be doubly true if the Giants draft a QB with the #3 overall pick. I like building the line before developing a passer, so I have to give this a good grade.
Grade: A-

Jets Re-Sign CB Isaiah Oliver:
Oliver has had a quietly solid career; he doesn’t pick off many passes, but he bats them away and is a sure tackler. He played about half of the snaps for New York last year and did well, so the team is re-signing him to a 1-year, $2.5M contract with $2.255M guaranteed. The Jets just lost DJ Reed, so it’s possible that Oliver could take on a more prominent role. Outside corners that can play aren’t usually available this cheaply, particularly ones without checkered injury histories. That makes this signing very good; even if Oliver isn’t at Reed’s level, he’s at least average, which is well worth $2.5M.
Grade: A

Jets Sign DE Rashad Weaver:
If you went by Weaver’s 2022 season with Tennessee, you’d think he was a star in the making. That year, he earned 5.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 6 deflected passes while playing 58% of the snaps. In his other 3 pro seasons, Weaver has 0 sacks and hasn’t topped 25% of his team’s snaps. That makes this 1-year, $1.17M contract an interesting move. Whether it works out depends on whether 2022 was an outlier or proof of potential. The more information we get, the likelier it is that Weaver’s one good year was a fluke. I’m not confident that New York will get anything out of this deal, but it’s so cheap that they may as well try.
Grade: B-

Panthers Re-Sign S Nick Scott:
Scott developed into a good safety across his 4 years with the Rams, but he went to Cincinnati in 2023 and bombed. The results were so poor that the Bengals released him following that season, and he signed with Carolina. If you watched the Panthers’ secondary last year, you’ll know how that went. Nevertheless, Carolina is re-signing Scott to a 1-year, $1.338M contract. Between injuries and poor play, I’m surprised the team wanted him back at any price. Maybe there’s some hope that he can return to the LA version of himself, but I don’t think that’s in the cards. Carolina probably should’ve cleaned house in their defensive backfield.
Grade: C-

Commanders Re-Sign DE Clelin Ferrell:
We’re encountering quite a few first-round busts this week. In Ferrell’s defense, when the Raiders took him 4th overall in 2019, nobody else had him graded so highly. That put undue pressure on him, and if he had been a midround selection, we’d probably view his career through a different lens. As a rotational pass rusher, Ferrell has been solid. He averages approximately 3 sacks a year and had 3.5 for Washington last year. The team is re-signing him to a 1-year, $2M contract with $100K guaranteed, and I don’t blame them. This defense improved dramatically in coach Dan Quinn’s first year, so retaining as many pieces from that unit (while adding more of course) is prudent. I consider this a fair value for what Ferrell provides.
Grade: B+

Patriots Sign IOL Wes Schweitzer:
I must say that I’m pretty disappointed in New England’s offensive line moves given their massive amount of cap space. Schweitzer, coming from the rival Jets on a 1-year, $1.55M contract with $100K guaranteed, is an 8-year veteran with 62 starts to his name. However, he hasn’t been a regular starter since 2020, and his effectiveness has steadily waned since his rookie season. Schweitzer is fine as a depth piece, but that’s not what New England needs. This team needs true starters all over the line, and Drake Maye can’t be thrilled with the work done thus far.
Grade: C

Eagles Sign TE Kylen Granson:
I’m curious why the Eagles are stocking up on TEs, but I’ll grade each on his merits. Granson is an athletic player, and he has two 300-yard seasons on his resume. However, he’s anemic in the red zone, with just 1 TD catch in 4 years. That’s odd for a big TE, and even he knows it based on how he celebrated his lone score. Granson’s new contract, $1.75M for 1 year with $1M guaranteed, suggests that he’s expected to make the roster but not do a whole lot thereafter. I don’t really expect him to take a giant step forward at age 27, so this may be a mere depth signing. If that’s the case, I’m not all that impressed.
Grade: C+

Steelers Sign S Juan Thornhill:
We’ve got another player who excelled with Kansas City but didn’t do as well elsewhere. The last two years with the Browns, Thornhill has alternated between injured and ineffective. Pittsburgh, hoping that Thornhill’s struggles were caused by their rivals’ overall dysfunction, is signing him to a 1-year, $3M contract with $1.83M guaranteed. Chances are, Thornhill will be at least a little better on a more stable team. The question is whether he’ll remain healthy. Based on his past two seasons, this is a little more money than I would’ve given out, especially with all the minimum deals flying around. It could pay off though.
Grade: B

Titans Re-Sign KR/RB Julius Chestnut:
Prior to 2024, Chestnut was exclusively a kick returner for the Titans, and he was pretty good at it. He retained those duties in 2024, but he got a few carries on offense (22) and earned 4.6 YPC. That may have opened some eyes, and Tennessee re-signed him to a 1-year, $1.1M contract. I love this one. Chestnut is only 24 years old, so he has plenty of tread left on his tires. The money would be fair just for the return aspect of his game or his role as RB3. Putting them both together, you’ve got a real steal on your hands. Chestnut remains somewhat unproven in the running game, but he’s shifty enough to believe in his potential.
Grade: A+

Vikings Sign CB Jeff Okudah:
Here we’ve got one of the bigger draft busts in recent memory. Okudah was actually taken 3rd overall by the Lions in 2020, and the poor guy couldn’t stay healthy. That stunted his development, and when he finally played a mostly full season in 2022, he was awful. His two subsequent seasons with Atlanta and Houston weren’t any better, but Minnesota is giving him a shot on a 1-year, $2.35M guaranteed contract. As much as I believe in DC Brian Flores’ ability to get the best out of players, maybe we’ve already seen Okudah’s best. Aaron Glenn and DeMeco Ryans couldn’t make him much better, so I can’t see this working out well.
Grade: C

March 27, 2025

Jets Sign TE Stone Smartt:
Smartt doesn’t have a ton of production in his past, but there’s a reason for that: he was a college QB! He’s still learning the position, and his yardage has ticked up each year. Following the expiration of his Chargers contract, Smartt decided to join the Jets on a 1-year, $1.35M contract with $250K guaranteed. We don’t know if or when Smartt will become an impact player at the TE position. He certainly has the athletic profile to do so, but that will require some patience from the Jets, who are definitely not known for having any. Thus, I’m not convinced that this is the best fit, but I like the idea behind this signing.
Grade: B

Patriots Sign LB Jack Gibbens:
New Patriots coach Mike Vrabel actually signed Gibbens as a UDFA for the Titans in 2022. He had a really nice 2023 season on defense, with 95 tackles and 3 PBUs. Gibbens wasn’t as active on defense last year, but he was a strong special teamer throughout. He’s now following Vrabel to New England on a 1-year, $1.3M contract with $309K guaranteed. I like this fit because we know he can perform in Vrabel’s scheme while also helping him teach his new team. There’s moderate upside on defense, though it remains to be seen whether 2023 was a harbinger or a fluke. Either way, this is a cheap enough deal to try and find out.
Grade: B+

Jets Re-Sign LB Jamin Davis:
Originally a first-round selection by Washington in 2021, Davis was widely written off as a bust. I thought he had a couple of pretty good years in 2022 and 2023, but not in the way he was expected to perform. The Commanders viewed him as a 3-down LB with elite speed to cover, but coverage is his worst trait. Therefore, Washington dumped him. After stints with a couple of other teams, the Jets claimed off waivers. They’re keeping him around on a 1-year, $1.338M contract with $167.5K guaranteed. This is the nadir of Davis’ value, and there’s reason to believe he’ll be better for New York. New coach Aaron Glenn gets the best of out his players, and Davis is just 26 years old, so his development may not be complete. The Jets could see some real upside.
Grade: A-

Dolphins Sign P Ryan Stonehouse:
I remember Stonehouse’s great rookie year with Tennessee. He earned 2nd-Team All-Pro honors during that 2022 season with his big leg, routinely bombing the ball beyond 50 yards. Miami is adding him on a 1-year, $1.725M contract with $75K guaranteed. While Stonehouse’s leg is really strong, it’s often too strong for its own good. He has a 12% career touchback rate, which is actually pretty terrible. As a result, his net punting average was just 38.3 yards last year. If you want someone to flip the field, Stonehouse is your man. Just don’t expect too many coffin corner kicks that back opponents up inside the 10.
Grade: B

Saints Sign WR/RB Velus Jones Jr:
Anyone who watched Hard Knocks knows why I described his position as WR/RB. The Bears tried to convert him to a back so he could just be handed the ball rather than having to catch it. That experiment didn’t take, so Jones was released. The Saints are signing him to a 1-year, $1.5M contract, and I’m guessing they envision him as a WR. Maybe he’s intended to replace Marquez Valdes-Scantling? Jones has a similar speed profile, but he’s very inconsistent. He showed his returning chops as rookie, though I doubt New Orleans wants less touches for Rashid Shaheed. I’m really not sure what the plan is, so this signing isn’t fantastic.
Grade: B-

Dolphins Sign LB Willie Gay Jr:
Following a fruitful 4-year run with the Chiefs, Gay left for the Saints last year and probably regrets it. He only started half the games, and his tackle numbers fell by half as well. As a result, he’s settling for a minimum deal: a 1-year, $1.338M contract with $1.198M guaranteed. Clearly the Saints weren’t a fit, but that doesn’t mean Gay can’t play. He was a good LB in all 3 phases with the Chiefs: rushing, run stuffing, and coverage. That all didn’t simply vanish from an uninjured 27-year-old player. I love this buy-low opportunity. If it fails, Miami spent next to nothing. However, we could be looking at one of the steals of free agency.
Grade: A+

Vikings Sign LB Eric Wilson:
Back where it all started, Wilson is returning to his original team after 4 years away, the last 3 of which were in Green Bay. Despite being 30, Wilson had just his 2nd season as a starter in 2024. His coverage skills are starting to decline, but he was good in run support and had 2 sacks. Minnesota is signing him to a 1-year, $2.6M contract with $2M guaranteed. Wilson’s best year by far came in 2020 with the Vikings, and although he’s not that guy anymore, he still has something to offer. He keeps his defense prepared as the unit’s signal caller, and he does a good job shutting down backs. This is a fine contract for a fine player.
Grade: B+

Vikings Sign OT Justin Skule:
A classic swing tackle, Skule played the last 3 years in Tampa, where he backed up both ends of the line. Minnesota, having seen disaster strike with Christian Darrisaw’s injury last year, doesn’t want to be caught flat-footed again. Thus, they’re signing Skule to a 1-year, $2M contract with $750K guaranteed. Keeping new starting QB JJ McCarthy, who’s basically a rookie, upright is paramount. The Vikings’ season fell apart late in 2024 when they couldn’t keep pass rushers at bay. Skule isn’t an amazing blocker, but he’s good enough in a pinch, which makes him worth the money he’ll be getting.
Grade: B+

Dolphins Sign TE Pharaoh Brown:
Miami has found their Durham Smythe replacement. Brown, at 6’5″ and 246 lbs, is a strong blocking TE, which is the role the Dolphins needed to fill. They’re acquiring the journeyman Brown on a 1-year, $1.355M contract with $20K guaranteed. I say “journeyman” because this will be Brown’s 6th team. He catches even fewer passes than Smythe does, but he brings increased physicality to a team that many accuse of playing with too much finesse. That makes him a better fit for Miami than for other teams, as Jonnu Smith is already there to catch passes. If you can’t upgrade the offensive line, this is the next-best thing.
Grade: A-

Chiefs Sign QB Gardner Minshew:
Kansas City enjoys cycling through premium backups. After using Carson Wentz for the role last year, they’re signing Minshew to a 1-year $1.17M contract for 2025. Las Vegas is paying the remainder of the approximately $4M owed to him since they cut him with guaranteed money remaining (but with offsets). This is an ideal backup for the Chiefs. Minshew has starting experience and had good stretches with both the Jaguars and Colts. He’s one of the better backups in the league, yet KC is obtaining him on a veteran minimum contract. Of all the backup QB signings we’ve seen so far, this might just be my favorite.
Grade: A+

Commanders Sign G Nate Herbig:
This is a better Washington signing. Herbig has played for both Pennsylvania teams and the Jets, starting 30 games over his career. He’s a bit in over his head as a starter, but he’s a very qualified backup. The Commanders are adding him on a 1-year, $1.338M contract with $642.5K guaranteed. You know where I stand on good line depth. Faster interior rushers can get by Herbig, but he’s stout against power moves. He opens run lanes better than he protects the passer, so he’s a good fit with a run-first team like Washington. Nobody will call this the Commanders’ most exciting offseason move, but it’s smart.
Grade: B+

Commanders Re-Sign ST Nick Bellore:
Hopefully this is the last ST-specific signing I have to grade. I’m not even listing Bellore’s other position (it’s LB) because he almost never plays it. He’s a former Pro Bowler as a special teamer, but he’s 35 now (36 when the season starts). For some reason, Washington is signing Bellore to a 2-year, $4.2M contract with $1.75M guaranteed. I know the guarantees make this essentially a 1-year deal, but what are the Commanders thinking? They saw his decline beginning at age 34 live and in person, so they can’t expect better play now. The price limits the grade I can give, but I’m not a fan of this signing.
Grade: D+

Buccaneers Sign LB Anthony Walker:
Tampa basically swapped LBs with Miami in signing Walker to a 1-year, $1.423M contract with $667.5K guaranteed. Walker is a really good player, excelling against both the run and the pass. The reason he was available at such a low cost is that he simply cannot stay healthy. He has missed games every year since 2021, and you can’t count on someone to be a starter if he can’t stay on the field. That limits Walker to a reserve role, which should hopefully keep him healthier. The Buccaneers are getting good upside, but they need to manage him to make sure he’s available to provide that upside. That’s feasible to me.
Grade: B+

Dolphins Sign LB KJ Britt:
Britt is a pure off-ball LB who stops the run on first and second downs. He is not a rusher, and he doesn’t cover. That explains the price tag: $1.338M for 1 year with $1.198M guaranteed. The former Buc became a full-time starter last year, and he responded with 72 tackles. While Britt is solid in run defense, his shortcomings in the other areas limit his playability. He might be a starter in Miami simply because he plays on first down, but he’s a run-of-the-mill run stuffer. Fortunately, unlike some other teams, Miami only paid a minimum salary for that role. Thus, their grade is higher than some of the others.
Grade: B

Jets Sign WR Tyler Johnson:
Poor Johnson hasn’t had much of a chance. He was drafted by TB, who had Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. In 2023, he joined the Rams, who had Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua. However, in 2024, when those two dealt with injuries, Johnson stepped up. He wasn’t prolific by any means, but he was competent. Now, he’ll be in New York on a 1-year, $1.338M contract with $367.5K guaranteed. The Jets need WR help. They dumped Davante Adams and Allen Lazard, so Garrett Wilson has no help. Johnson probably slots in as the 3rd option, but he’s a good fit for that role at a good price. More help is needed though.
Grade: A-

Chiefs Re-Sign WR JuJu Smith-Schuster:
For a couple years in Pittsburgh, Smith-Schuster seemed like he was becoming a great WR. That version hasn’t been seen since, and he had just 231 yards for the Chiefs last year. They are re-signing him to a 1-year, $1.423M deal with $1.198M guaranteed anyway. Perhaps the team remembers his 933-yard 2022 campaign in Kansas City, but that feels like a distant memory at this point. Smith-Schuster is a WR3 at best, but he’s a decent blocker and has contributed to this offense in the past. I don’t expect him to be a reason the Chiefs return to the Super Bowl, but he’s a fine bench option.
Grade: B-

Chiefs Sign DL Jerry Tillery:
Tillery was taken in the first round once to be an interior rusher. He’s a bit undersized for run defense, so he had to produce in the past game. It felt like he turned a corner with 4.5 sacks in 2021 with 4.5 sacks, but that was his high point. Tillery is joining the Chiefs, his 4th team, on a 1-year, $1.79M guaranteed contract. I worry he might not last long with this one either. If he’s not good against the run or the pass, he’s not going to see the field very much. I’ve been critical of many moves made by KC this offseason, and I will do so again. The guarantees aren’t commensurate with the talent, and this signing does very little.
Grade: C-

Lions Sign DB Avonte Maddox:
The 7-year Eagle is finally taking his talents to another team after earning his second ring. Maddox is joining another NFC contender in the Lions, doing so on a 1-year, $1.423M contract with $1.198M guaranteed. He’s a bit boom-or-bust in coverage, just as likely to break up a pass as he is to give up a big play. I consider him a serviceable backup option regardless though, especially because he’s versatile enough to line up at either CB or safety. More defensive depth with championship experience can’t be a bad thing, and this is a very cheap contract for a good backup.
Grade: A

March 26, 2025

Chargers Sign DT Naquan Jones:
Jones doesn’t play very many snaps, but he’s productive with the ones he gets. He’s not exceptional in either role, but he plays the run alright and provides decent push in the pocket. Last season with Arizona, he had 3 sacks and 27 tackles. That’s pretty much all the stat stuffing one should expect from this type of player. LA is signing Jones to a 1-year, $1.835M contract with $250K guaranteed. The Chargers learned in their playoff loss to Houston that they need to get much tougher on the defensive line. They haven’t made any splash signings to that end, but this is another in a line of quality under-the-radar moves.
Grade: B

Jets Sign DT Derrick Nnadi:
A starter for the first 6 years of his career with KC, Nnadi started just 1 game in 2024, which is probably why he left. He didn’t cash in though, signing a 1-year, $1.423M contract with $417.5K guaranteed. With all of the pass rushers the Jets have, they really needed a nose tackle. Nnadi is just that. He has never topped 3 sacks in a season, and he did that only once. But he does play the run well, which the Jets will need against Buffalo. This isn’t a seismic signing, but it’s a nice one nonetheless.
Grade: B+

Rams Re-Sign CB Ahkello Witherspoon:
With this 1-year, $1.255M guaranteed contract, Witherspoon is signing his 3rd consecutive 1-year deal with the Rams. So far, the arrangement has worked out very well for LA. He had a fantastic year in 2023, and although he didn’t make as many starts last season, he was a key reason why many of the Rams’ young secondary players developed so well. Witherspoon will take on that veteran mentor role again, but he should still play more than half the snaps. He comes at a very cheap price for what he provides: a solid CB2 or CB3 and a good locker room presence. These are easy contracts to grade.
Grade: A+

Falcons Sign S Jordan Fuller:
I’m inclined to ignore what anyone in Carolina’s secondary did last year. The unit was awful despite having some quality pieces. One of those was Fuller, who had been an excellent safety with the Rams. He had 3 INTs, 8 PBUs, and 3 forced fumbles in 2023 alone. Atlanta is poaching from their division rival by signing him to a 1-year, $1.335M contract with $80K guaranteed. This is an excellent buy-low opportunity with a great chance to pan out. Fuller is only 27 and should benefit from playing alongside Jessie Bates. The Falcons might make the Panthers look pretty bad with this signing.
Grade: A+

Packers Sign WR Mecole Hardman:
Known only for his time as a Chief and not his partial season with the Jets, Hardman is a speedy receiver with questionable hands and route running. He started his career with three straight 500-yard seasons but hasn’t come close to that total since. Green Bay is taking a chance on his athleticism with a 1-year, $1.5M contract with $150K guaranteed. Obviously, this not the “#1 WR” that RB Josh Jacobs was clamoring for. Hardman is joining a crowded mix of WR2- and WR3-style options, but maybe he can carve out a role with his returning skills. He remains explosive with the ball in his hands, assuming he holds onto it.
Grade: B

Panthers Re-Sign WR David Moore:
This is one more example of a WR3-WR4 who doesn’t get the credit he deserves. Moore has four career seasons with 300+ years, including last year in Carolina. He formed a nice rapport with QB Bryce Young, who is the focus of the franchise. Given that, bringing Moore back on a 1-year, $1.423M contract with $563.5K guaranteed makes a lot of sense. He’ll be the third option behind Adam Thielen and Xavier Legette, but this cost isn’t even at that level. The 30-year-old remains a solid deep threat, and hopefully he’ll be able to further help Young develop.
Grade: A-=

Lions Sign CB Rock Ya-Sin:
Here’s another player whose injuries make me wonder what could’ve been. The difference is, unlike Campbell, Ya-Sin has produced several quality seasons. He had 3 straight seasons with 7+ PBUs from 2020-2022, after which he became a backup for the Ravens and Niners. Detroit is bringing him in on a 1-year, $1.17M contract. As far as a depth signing, I like this move. Ya-Sin isn’t a ball hawk, but he plays well around the ball and covers fairly well. He should remain a reserve with the Lions, which should keep him from further injuries. Clearly, the Lions learned about how important defensive depth is.
Grade: B+

Cowboys Sign WR Parris Campbell:
It seemed like Campbell would be such a good pick for the Colts in 2019. However, he could never stay healthy. His best season, which came in 2022, was the only one in which he played 17 games. He has played just 7, 2, 6, 12, and 5 games in his other campaigns. Philadelphia took a shot on Campbell last year and got nothing, and Dallas, more of a receiver-needy squad, is doing the same, signing him to a 1-year, $1.338M contract with $167.5K guaranteed. I’ve stopped believing in this comeback story, as Campbell’s injuries have also sapped some athleticism. His game is based on speed, and that’s no longer game-breaking. The Cowboys should hope for a solid WR4 at best, as I don’t think they can reasonably expect much more.
Grade: C

Bears Re-Sign KR/PR/WR Devin Duvernay:
Duvernay hasn’t played much WR since 2022, though he did have 407 yards and 3 TDs that season. He’s known as an All-Pro returner with the Ravens, but he didn’t play up to his normal standards with Jacksonville last year. That entire team underperformed, so at just 27 years old, Duvernay probably has better years ahead of him. His next will be with Chicago on a 1-year, $1.338M contract with $167.5K guaranteed. That’s a very low price for someone who could be a game-breaker in the return game. Yes, you’re making an assumption when you sign him that he’ll be back to his normal self, but as far as assumptions go, this is a pretty good one to make.
Grade: A

Lions Re-Sign DT Pat O’Connor:
A 31-year-old who never played 10% or more of his team’s snaps until last year is definitely not going to be a household name. The way O’Connor performed last year though, perhaps he should get a little more recognition. In the midst of Detroit’s insanely bad injury luck, O’Connor was one of the guys who stepped in. The stats (1 sack, 18 tackles) don’t show it, but he was earning pressures fairly often. Detroit’s brass noticed, and they’re re-signing him to a 1-year, $1.355M contract with $300K guaranteed. In all likelihood, that level of play was fluky, as O’Connor had never shown anything like that before. Regardless, if he can be a solid backup who flashes like that on occasion, he’ll be worth this money.
Grade: A-

Bills Sign CB Dane Jackson:
It only took one year apart for Jackson and the Bills to reunite. Playing in Carolina last season, Jackson had a rough time. Injuries limited his effectiveness, and the entire secondary was a disaster. His 2022 season with Buffalo was by far his best, and the team is bringing him home on a 1-year, $1.338M contract with $567.5K guaranteed. Jackson fits better with the Bills’ scheme, which let him play a bit more aggressively in run support. I don’t think this solves Buffalo’s secondary problem; if it did, they wouldn’t have let Jackson walk last year. He’s a quality depth pickup though, and he comes at a nice price.
Grade: B+

Bears Sign WR Olamide Zaccheaus:
A mediocre 2023 season in Philly notwithstanding, Zaccheaus has quietly been a solid #3 receiver. He has two career 500-yard campaigns, including last year for Washington. Chicago, looking to replace Keenan Allen, is signing him to a 1-year, $1.5M contract with $750K guaranteed. I’m not sure why this guy hasn’t gotten more love. Far less productive receivers got triple this salary, and yet Zaccheaus has been a quality player for more than one team. He’ll allow Rome Odunze to step into the WR2 role while providing a nice security blanket for Caleb Williams. This is a steal, plain and simple.
Grade: A+

Lions Re-Sign RB Craig Reynolds:
As the #3 back on the Lions for several years now, Reynolds has proven himself a capable substitute. He averages 4.3 yards per carry, can catch the ball, and blocks solidly. Returning on a 1-year, $1.32M contract, he’ll continue to back up David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs for another season. Once again, this is why I wouldn’t pay RBs big money. You can get a serviceable option for near the veteran minimum. The Lions know that Reynolds fits them, and he provides great injury insurance. No, he’s probably not a high-end starting back for anyone, but he could’ve gotten more money than this without complaint from me.
Grade: A

March 25, 2025

Lions Re-Sign OL Dan Skipper:
You know Skipper for one of two reasons: his height (6’8″) or his trick plays (which he’ll now have to do without Ben Johnson). I think people should know him as a quality swing tackle or 6th lineman for one of the best lines in football. He’s re-signing on a 1-year, $1.423M contract with $75K guaranteed. That’s dirt cheap. At his size, he can play either tackle spot, and he’s a rock-solid veteran blocker. Contenders need line depth, and good line depth is hard to find. Detroit kept theirs, so this is hard not to love.
Grade: A+

Browns Sign G Teven Jenkins:
Jenkins was initially drafted as a tackle, but by year two, the Bears figured out that he fit better at guard. The three subsequent seasons were much better, though Jenkins had injury issues, missing 12 games over that span. With Chicago upgrading the entire interior of their line, Jenkins is off to Cleveland on a 1-year, $3.05M contract with $2.67M guaranteed. I have no idea who’s going to start at QB for Cleveland, but he needs to be protected. The Browns needed a tackle more than a guard, but I think this is still a good move. Young potential building blocks should be the only players Cleveland signs for the next two years. Once the Deshaun Watson contract is gone, they can see which of these guys they want to keep for the long haul.
Grade: B+

Giants Sign QB Russell Wilson:
Both the Giants and Wilson had enough of waiting for Aaron Rodgers. Instead of reuniting with the Steelers, Wilson is signing with New York on a 1-year, $10.5M guaranteed deal with a maximum value of $21M. I really thought Wilson would command more. His 2024 season didn’t end well, but he had a really good stretch and wasn’t quite as bad in Denver as he was made out to be. Wilson is clearly past his prime, but expecting to be a near-average starter sounds right. The Giants are very desperate, as their coach and GM have been given a mandate to win, and the team isn’t equipped to do so. They had to take a swing at the best veteran QB they could get their hands on. I don’t love that strategy, but the owner foisted it upon them.
Grade: B-

Patriots Sign WR Stefon Diggs:
Did Diggs’ workout video showing off his rehabbed knee help get him signed? Maybe not, but he sure got a strong deal: $69M over 3 years with $26M guaranteed. The discrepancy between those two numbers tells me that this is really a 1-year deal with team options, which is fair. Diggs is coming off a torn ACL and is 31 years old. He really should’ve been signed to a prove-it deal, and this is a glorified version of one. The other thing we know is that Diggs has been a prolific #1 receiver when healthy, and the Patriots badly need one of those for Drake Maye. We can’t be certain that the old Diggs will return for 2025 (or ever for that matter), but the commitment here isn’t too bad. $26M for one season still seems high, but NE had cap space to burn.
Grade: B

March 24, 2025

Cowboys Sign DE Dante Fowler Jr:
Long viewed as a bust as a former 3rd overall pick, Fowler has actually carved out a pretty nice career with 5 different teams. Last year with Washington, he had a robust 10.5 sacks for his old DC Dan Quinn. The team he left, Dallas, must’ve seen this because they are signing Fowler to a 1-year, $6M contract with a maximum value of $8M. Fowler’s two years with Dallas were moderately productive, with a total of 10 sacks. He’s a solid signing because we already know that he pairs well with Micah Parsons. This is one of the only signings Dallas has made for some reason, but at least it’s a good one.
Grade: B+

Chargers Sign G Mekhi Becton:
What a difference a year makes. After 4 years with the Jets as a first-round pick, Becton was declared a bust. He missed the entire 2022 season due to injury and struggled at tackle during his other three campaigns. Becton signed with the Eagles this offseason to play guard, and the fit was spectacular. So much so that LA is signing him to a 2-year, $20M contract to pry him away. My main concern here is what happens when Becton isn’t surrounded by 4 other elite linemen. Will he still be as good? In this guard market, $10M per season actually isn’t a lot for a potential answer. This is not a guaranteed smash hit though.
Grade: B

Falcons Sign DL Morgan Fox:
Fox is rarely a starter, but he’s often a producer. He has 15.5 sacks over the past 3 years despite making just 19 starts during that span. Atlanta, who badly needs edge rushers, is signing him to a 2-year, $8.5M contract. Given the dearth of options at the Falcons’ disposal, Fox could be a starter here. He has two seasons with 6+ sacks on his resume, so I could see him producing in that role. Fox doesn’t offer a lot against the run, but that’s not why the Falcons are signing him. Even as a rotational rusher, $4.25M per season would be cheap. Therefore, I can confidently say that Atlanta got a bargain.
Grade: A

Seahawks Sign WR Cooper Kupp:
I had a hard time grading this one. Kupp is signing a 3-year, $45M contract, which has a wide range of outcomes. The Rams essentially said they no longer wanted him, so the Eastern Washington alum is returning to the state to play for their division rivals. If Seattle wanted to pay this much for a receiver, they should’ve just kept Tyler Lockett. Both players are no longer at their peaks, but Lockett is at least healthy. Kupp’s punishing style has made him very injury-prone the past couple of seasons. I still like Kupp a lot in a #2 role; he’s an excellent player when on the field, and maybe Seattle won’t run him into the ground. However, anything beyond 1 year of guarantees would be foolish. As Seattle typically doesn’t guarantee more than 1 year in any contract, I’m grading this deal as such. In that scenario, this is a fairly expensive price for moderate upside, but that upside is real.
Grade: B-

Chargers Re-Sign QB Taylor Heinicke:
Teams still see something in Heinicke to make him their unquestioned backup QB. The Chargers are re-signing him with a 1-year deal worth up to $6.2M. I really don’t get it. He didn’t play more than 22 snaps last season, and he was awful for Atlanta in 2023. Even in his best years with Washington, he threw 21 INTs over two seasons. Justin Herbert doesn’t miss many games, which is a good thing. I’d consider LA doomed if Heinicke has to play a significant number of games, which is not the feeling you want from a backup QB. I’m going to keep asking why teams don’t sign players like Joe Flacco instead.
Grade: D

Chiefs Re-Sign DE Charles Omenihu:
A 6-game season filled with injuries forced Omenihu to return to KC on another prove-it deal: 1 year with a maximum value of $7M. His 2023 season with the Chiefs, also limited to just 11 games, was his best, as he earned 7 sacks. Omenihu is a quality pass rusher who really didn’t have time to ramp up last year, so that 1-sack showing wasn’t indicative of his ability. It’s a bit hard to grade this deal without the exact guaranteed salary, but even at a full $7M, it’s not bad. Pass rushers cost a fortune, and Kansas City isn’t paying that much or taking on any risk. This only made sense for a contender, and KC definitely qualifies as such.
Grade: A-

Saints Sign WR Brandin Cooks:
No longer the great deep threat he once was, Cooks still profiles as a solid #2 or #3 receiver. The Saints have Chris Olave, so Cooks will be the second option. Cooks is coming over from Dallas to rejoin the team that drafted him on a 2-year, $13M contract. He’s coming off his worst year due in part to injury, but he’s one season removed from a 657-yard, 8-TD campaign. Receiver contracts are becoming absurd, so $6.5M per year is not a whole lot of money. I believe Cooks is on the decline at age 31, but there’s not a ton of risk in this deal, and he’s still a quality receiver.
Grade: B+

Giants Sign QB Jameis Winston:
Today we’re grading contracts without guaranteed info, simply because I got tired of waiting. Winston, the very erratic passer who played for Cleveland last year, is signing a 2-year, $8M contract with the Giants. This is not New York’s answer. They’re waiting on a reply from Aaron Rodgers and could select someone at #3 overall. Winston’s contract says that he’s a backup or emergency bridge option, which is good. He can jumpstart an offense, but he can also uplift opposing defenses with his trademark interceptions. Winston remains a good backup, so this is a fine contract. He better not be the starter though.
Grade: B+

Texans Sign OT Cam Robinson:
Now THERE’S a lineman for CJ Stroud! Unfortunately, Robinson is not a pure upgrade; he’s merely a replacement for the (stupidly) traded Laremy Tunsil. He’s joining Houston on a 1-year, $12M contract with a maximum value of $14.5M. This is a below-average price for an above-average tackle. Robinson was traded from Jacksonville to Minnesota during the 2024 season and did well for the Vikings. However, he wasn’t quite at the level of the injured Christian Darrisaw who he replaced. That’ll be true here as well, as Tunsil is definitely better than Robinson. Houston had to get someone, and this is about as well as they could do. I still don’t see Stroud’s blocking as better than the 2024 version yet.
Grade: A-

March 22, 2025

Titans Sign S Xavier Woods:
This is why I’ve been picking on some of the large safety contracts. The market is so depressed that a quality safety like Woods can be had for a 2-year, $10M contract with an $8M base value and $3.49M guaranteed. Carolina’s secondary was terrible overall last season, but you can’t blame Woods for that. He did his part with career highs in INTs (3) and tackles (119). Woods has been good in coverage for years, and any team could use that sort of player. That Tennessee got him at such a bargain contrasts with the teams who overspent on safeties this offseason and should be commended.
Grade: A

March 21, 2025

Chargers Sign TE Tyler Conklin:
As one of the few functioning parts of last year’s NYJ offense, Conklin figured to garner some interest on the open market. Apparently not too much, as he’s signing a 1-year, $3M contract with a maximum value of $4.5M. Since Conklin’s older brother Jack is a lineman, you might expect Tyler to be a good blocker. That’s very true, and he’s one of the league’s better blocking TEs. However, he also earned more than 400 receiving yards in each of the past 4 seasons. A well-rounded TE like this is perfect for Jim Harbaugh’s offense, and it helps address the lack of weapons for Justin Herbert. Excellent signing.
Grade: A+

Bills Sign KR/WR Laviska Shenault:
Shenault had a couple of solid receiving seasons to start his career, but he hasn’t done anything of note on offense since then. He has hung around the league to his value as a returner. While the Bills have Brandon Codrington returning punts, they didn’t have anyone to handle kicks. Now they do, as Shenault is signing a 1-year, $1.21M contract with $15K guaranteed. His RB-like full-steam-ahead return style is perfect for the new kickoff format, and he had one of the few return TDs scored in 2024. This is a no-lose contract, with my only (minor) concern being that Buffalo is now dedicating two separate roster spots to returners.
Grade: A

Chiefs Sign TE Robert Tonyan:
Coasting off his couple of good years with Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay, Tonyan keeps getting signed to contracts despite producing nothing. I mean nothing in a literal sense for 2024, when he appeared in 5 games for the Vikings and caught 0 passes. He’s signing with the Chiefs on a 1-year, $1.255M contract. At least Tonyan will be back with a star QB, which should help a little bit, but he won’t be a top option in the passing game. In fact, I’d still have Noah Gray ahead of him as the #2 TE on the depth chart. KC is making some odd moves this offseason.
Grade: C

Commanders Sign WR Michael Gallup:
Washington made their WR corps 4 deep, but a 5th name is now on board. Gallup, once one of the more promising #2 WRs in the league with Dallas, tore his ACL in 2021 and didn’t look quite right the two years after the injury. He retired after the 2023 season but is now attempting a comeback. Washington is giving him a 1-year, $1.335M contract and an opportunity to compete. This isn’t a great landing spot for Gallup because of the aforementioned WR acquisitions. He could very well have something left in the tank though at just 29 years old. Then again, he might never be the same guy if his knee simply isn’t what it was.
Grade: B

Bengals Sign IOL Lucas Patrick:
Cincinnati just a lost a tackle, so they brought in a new guard. Patrick is a 9-year veteran with starts at all 3 interior line positions for the Packers, Bears, and (most recently) Saints. His blocking grades have been solid, which would make him an upgrade for the Bengals. Patrick’s contract, $2.1M for 1 year, says “backup” to me, but I think he can legitimately beat out Cordell Volson for a starting guard spot. Cincinnati has struggled to run between the tackles and stop talented DTs from assaulting Joe Burrow, so this is a great pickup. Patrick is at worst a versatile depth piece, which would already be enough to justify this contract.
Grade: A+

Texans Sign OT Trent Brown:
When healthy, Brown has been a very good RT and even a passable LT at times. The problem is that he’s rarely healthy. Since 2020, he has played more than 11 games just once (22), and his most recent injury is his worst. Brown tore his patellar tendon, arguably the worst leg injury in football, in week 3 with the Bengals last year. Houston, with their desperation for linemen, is signing him to a 1-year deal worth up to $3M to see if he can make a comeback. There’s little risk to a cheap 1-year contract, and the maximum value with Brown is very high. However, and I really hope I’m wrong about this, players don’t usually bounce back from a torn patellar tendon, especially not in less than a year, and definitely not at 380 lbs like Brown is. The payoff could be really good here, but I’m not optimistic.
Grade: B-

Dolphins Re-Sign G Liam Eichenberg:
What do you do if you draft a right tackle, he struggles, so you move him to guard, but he still struggles? Apparently re-sign him to a 1-year, $2.225M guaranteed contract! That has been the story of Eichenberg for Miami, as he as an abysmal tackle before transitioning to a merely below-average guard. His one redeeming trait is that he’s versatile enough to play all 5 positions on the line…assuming you don’t care about how well he plays them. The contract is clearly backup money, but Dolphin fans probably won’t even like that. I’m a little less harsh, as a guy with 52 starts for your team has to possess a bit of value, but it’s not great.
Grade: C

Eagles Sign RB AJ Dillon:
A neck injury cost Dillon all of 2024 with the Packers, but he says he’s healthy and ready to go. The Eagles, ever on the hunt for a bargain and needing to replace Kenneth Gainwell, are signing Dillon to a 1-year, $1.338M contract with $167.5K guaranteed. Maybe this is insurance in case the Tush Push gets banned, because Dillon is a pure bruiser. He isn’t swift, and he does nothing in the passing game. His YPC average has fallen every season since its peak of 5.3 during his rookie season, plus he’s coming off a major injury. The contract is nearly meaningless, and I suppose upside exists, but I would’ve stayed away.
Grade: C+

Dolphins Sign RB Alexander Mattison:
Raheem Mostert is gone, and Jeff Wilson is likely following him. Thus, Miami needed a new back behind De’Von Achane and Jaylen Wright, preferably a bruiser. They’ve found one in Mattison, who is signing a 1-year, $1.338M contract with $1.198M guaranteed. The issue that since his first two years in Minnesota, Mattison hasn’t been very good. Las Vegas replaced him entirely with Sincere McCormick midway through last season, as he averaged a career-worst 3.2 yards per carry. Cheap backs are the way to go, but this wasn’t the optional pick. Maybe a draft option would help Miami more.
Grade: C-

Commanders Re-Sign RB Jeremy McNichols:
McNichols has just 1 start to his name, but he saw increased usage as the 2024 season progressed. He looked better than he had in the past, averaging 4.7 YPC and scoring 4 TDs for the Commanders. That production has earned him a new 1-year, $1.338M contract with $492.5K guaranteed. Brian Robinson and Austin Ekeler are the lead backs, but every team carries 3 or 4 RBs on its roster. McNichols is 29 but has little wear, so he’s still a young back as far as mileage is concerned. Washington has appropriately pivoted into the “adding depth to a contender” role, and this is another example of that.
Grade: B+

Falcons Sign KR/PR/WR Jamal Agnew:
Speed is dangerous, and Agnew has that. He has produced a tiny bit as a receiver, and he can give you some nice runs on gadget plays. Where he shines most though is as a returner. Jacksonville used him in that role for 3 years, but he spent 2024 on Pittsburgh’s practice squad due to injury. Now healthy, he’s signing a 1-year deal worth up to $2.5M with the Falcons. Different from many returners, Agnew handles both kicks and punts. He’s excellent at both, and he even has a 109-yard missed FG return TD on his resume. I value returners, and this is a great one. You don’t see three A+ grades in a row very often.
Grade:

Commanders Re-Sign WR KJ Osborn:
Osborn was a great WR3 for Minnesota, earning over 1500 yards and 15 TDs from 2021-2023. He joined NE in 2024, and that was a mistake. Nobody produced much in that dysfunctional offense, and Osborn was waived after 7 games. Washington claimed him but didn’t use him. They must’ve seen something they liked, as they’re bringing him back on a 1-year, $1.195M contract. This is a good decision. Whatever the Commanders liked during the waiver claim is still there. With Noah Brown back, Deebo Samuel acquired, and Terry McLaurin starring, Washington is suddenly loaded at receiver.
Grade: A+

Chargers Sign C Andre James:
Phew. Bradley Bozeman won’t be starting at center for the Bolts after all. James is signing a 1-year, $1.17M contract following his release from the Raiders. He’s cheaper than Bozeman, but he’s better than Bozeman. James is coming off a middling year after battling through some injuries, but he was an above-average center the prior 3 seasons. At 27 years old, there’s no reason to think that he’s in decline. There’s nothing but upside in this deal, and other teams with offensive line needs should be embarrassed that they let James be had for a minimum salary. LA certainly doesn’t mind though.
Grade: A+

March 20, 2025

Colts Sign RB Khalil Herbert:
The Colts have been busy, as this is their third signing in a row that I’m grading. Herbert is actually getting an identical contract to the one Ballentine received: $1.338M for 1 year with $482.5K guaranteed. Chicago had Herbert for the first 3 years of his career before trading him to the Bengals in year 4. He had 4.1 yards per carry with Cincy, though he averages 4.8 for his career. Indy needed a backup for Jonathan Taylor, and this is a really good RB2. Herbert is a tough runner and a good blocker. This is a really cheap price for him, and I’m not sure why this was all he could get. Each of these deals is a half-grade better than the last!
Grade: A

Colts Sign CB Corey Ballentine:
Ballentine went to the Packers after a few seasons as a backup with other teams and immediately looked like an improved player. He had 7 PBUs and 43 tackles in 2023 while playing 55% of the snaps. Then, GB cut his snap share to just 8% in 2024. He’s moving on to the Colts, signing a 1-year, $1.338M contract with $482.5K guaranteed. Indianapolis is doing well to see what Ballentine can provide. The deal is cheap enough that if he’s merely a backup, that’s fine. His upside presents a good opportunity to possibly extract really good value.
Grade: A-

Colts Sign K Spencer Shrader:
When a team has an established kicker and signs what seems like a camp leg, I don’t pay too much attention. The Colts have a kicker in Matt Gay, and Shrader has 5 career FG attempts. Look at this contract though: $2.51M for 2 years with $750K guaranteed. There’s guaranteed money, and the deal is for more than one season. In light of that, we may have a real competition. While Gay was an elite kicker for the Rams, his two seasons with Indy have been worse than any he had in LA. Last season, he was perfect inside of 50 yards but just 3/9 from 50 and beyond. Gay has been too flawless with short and medium-range kicks to think he can’t bounce back from deep. The Colts are preparing for that contingency with a promising youngster.
Grade: B

Texans Re-Sign DE Mario Edwards Jr:
One of the most consistent rotational edge rushers in the league, Edwards has earned between 2 and 4 sacks every year since 2017. Last year he had 3 while making 12 starts, so he’s not a big producer. He also gets bulldozed in the running game, so he should really just be playing in 3rd-and-long situations. The Texans are re-signing him to a 2-year, $9.5M contract with $4.5M guaranteed. That’s too much if you ask me. While he provides depth behind Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter, two elite players, Edwards is not impactful enough to give him a consistent role. If he can’t defend the run but also doesn’t earn many sacks, how much value does he provide? Not $4.5M in my opinion.
Grade: C-

Texans Sign WR Justin Watson:
The Texans are stocking up on low-level WRs again. At 6’2″, 215 lbs, Watson is actually built more like a TE. He’s good for a few big catches here and there, and his career-high 460 receiving yards in 2023 suggests a viable WR3, but his blocking skills are what make him useful. Watson is signing with Houston on a 2-year, $5M contract with $3M guaranteed. The fact that he couldn’t produce more with Patrick Mahomes as his QB is a bit of an eyebrow raiser, but he’s probably going to be 3rd or 4th on the depth chart in Houston anyway. Watson is solid enough, and he provides injury insurance.
Grade: B

Jets Sign RT Chukwuma Okorafor:
If this is Morgan Moses’ replacement, I’m underwhelmed. Okorafor has been a starting tackle in this league for a while, but not a very good one. Steelers fans were glad to be rid of him last year, and he lasted just 1 games with the Patriots before riding the bench. His contract, $1.337M for 1 year with $757.5K guaranteed, is cheap, but there’s a reason for that. I’ll stop being harsh to say that he’s probably a decent option as a swing tackle as long as he doesn’t make many starts. His recent play has not been good, but he’s only 27 and has decent tape in his past. A one-year gamble like this can’t hurt too much.
Grade: B-

Steelers Sign CB Brandin Echols:
The Jets have shed another CB, with Echols joining the Steelers on a 2-year, $6M contract including $1.83M guaranteed. While Robert Saleh was New York’s coach, the team had a loaded defense, so Echols didn’t see the field all that often. When I did see him play, I liked him. He had a knack for finding the football, earning 16 PBUs and 5 INTs in 4 seasons (only 19 starts). Pittsburgh needs youth and talent in the secondary, and Echols is just 27. I truly believe that he’ll have a bigger impact if given a larger role, so I’m excited to see whether the Steelers provide that opportunity.
Grade: A+

Saints Re-Sign IOL Will Clapp:
Clapp, a New Orleans native, played for the team from 2018 to 2021, and he’s back on a 1-year, $1.423M contract with a $167.5K bonus. He barely played for Buffalo last year but started a career-high 11 games for the Chargers in 2023. While he has mostly been a depth piece, he has a chance to see meaningful action given the need along the Saints’ line. Either guard position could be a fit, or he could remain a reserve. Either way, a familiar face filling a depth role at a key position is nice.
Grade: B+

Chargers Sign WR Mike Williams:
Williams was a good deep threat for LA over much of his career, but a 2023 ACL tear wrecked him. He joined the Jets for an ill-fated stint last year before being traded to Pittsburgh, where he also did nothing. Williams is coming back home to the Chargers on a 1-year, $6M contract with a $3M guaranteed base salary. Another year removed from the injury, maybe Williams will be better. This team had a massive weakness at the WR position, and a healthy Williams might solve the bulk of the problem. If not, the team is only out $3M, so this is a pure upside play by a playoff team.
Grade: A

Titans Sign DL Dre’Mont Jones:
Another Seattle cut, Jones was signed to a $17M-per-year contract last season after solid pass rushing production in Denver. He continued that with 4 sacks in 2024, but he was typically poor in run support, and the team released him this offseason. Tennessee is signing him to a more manageable deal: a 1-year, $8.5M contract with a maximum value of $10M and $7.99M guaranteed. I list him as “DL” because he has some DT experience, but the Titans figure to use him on the edge, which is the right choice. This contract is a little high for me given that Jones basically can only play half the snaps, but you take pass rushers where you can get them, and there’s little commitment on a 1-year deal.
Grade: B

Dolphins Re-Sign RB Tyrel Dodson:
Seattle dumped Dodson midseason in 2024 because of his struggles against the run. However, he was always a better coverage player, so I’m not sure what the Seahawks expected. Miami played him further from the line of scrimmage and saw much better results. In fact, the Dolphins were so pleased that they re-signed Dodson to a 2-year, $8.25M contract with a $6.25M base salary and $2.605M guaranteed. Dodson picked off 3 passes in just 8 games with the team, demonstrating his coverage skills. Normally, coverage players are the ones making more money while run stuffers get peanuts, so this is an interesting reversal. Either way, it’s a clear win for a Dolphin defense that greatly improved once Dodson joined the team.
Grade: A+

March 19, 2025

Chiefs Sign QB Bailey Zappe:
This one made me a laugh a bit. Already secure at backup QB after signing Gardner Minshew, the Chiefs went and signed Zappe, the former Patriot and Brown who once supplanted Mac Jones. His contract, which is $1.1M for 1 year, suggests that he’ll be a third-stringer at best, which is about right. Zappe does not have NFL arm strength, and his decision-making looked poor last season. There’s little upside to this, though Bill Belichick once thought he could have a career as a solid backup. KC knows Zappe, as he was on their practice squad at the start of last year. They should know how little he can offer them.
Grade: C

Cowboys Re-Sign S Israel Mukuamu:
I don’t often grade players who have played under 20% of their teams’ snaps in 4 straight years. The difference here is that Mukuamu nabbed 2 INTs in those limited snaps last season while also making 19 tackles. He’s back on a 1-year, $1.75M contract with $500K guaranteed, so we’ll get to see if that ball production was a fluke. Based on the way Dallas’ DBs play, it’s probably real. I wonder if he’s going to see an increased role with Jourdan Lewis gone. Lewis is a CB, not a safety, but the Cowboys could get creative with their personnel deployments. Regardless, this is a low-cost deal for a young player who could exceed its value.
Grade: A-

Steelers Re-Sign WR Ben Skowronek:
Skowronek is a rare blocking receiver. I don’t mean that he simply blocks; rather, he provides more value as a blocker than as a pass catcher. He did have 376 yards receiving with the Rams in 2022, but he’s best equipped to play special teams and help seal the edge for the running game. Pittsburgh is re-signing him to a 2-year, $4.5M contract to do just that. Skowronek only played about half the special teams snaps, so this can’t really be called an ST signing. However, he caught just 5 passes in 2024. I really don’t know what the Steelers plan to do with him, which makes this contract dubious.
Grade: C-

Broncos Sign P Matt Haack:
This isn’t the punter the Broncos wanted. I know that because they let Sam Martin walk and went after Dallas’ Brian Anger to no avail. Thus, they settled for Haack on a 1-year, $1.255M contract. Haack has bounced around the league because he doesn’t have a very impressive leg. His yards per punt have been under 40 in 5 of his 8 seasons. He isn’t bad at corner kicking inside the 20, but I have a feeling that Denver views him as a placeholder until a rookie to be named later is acquired.
Grade: C+

Bears Extend G Jonah Jackson:
Jackson was traded to the Bears a few weeks ago, but the team extended him a bit after the transaction went through. He is signing a 1-year, $17M extension, bringing his total to $52.5M over 3 years with $29.75M guaranteed. I don’t understand this. His original 3-year, $51M contract was bad enough, especially after his injury-plagued 2024 season. Now the Bears have bound themselves to Jackson for at least 2 years without even seeing how he meshes with their new line. As Jackson still had two more years on his prior deal, waiting to see how things went would’ve been much wiser than self-imposing a $25M cap hit in 2026.
Grade: D

Texans Extend DE Danielle Hunter:
Throwing funny money at Derek Stingley wasn’t enough, so the Texans also extended DE Danielle Hunter on a 1-year, $35.6M pact, brining his guaranteed money total to $54.1M through 2026. Unlike the Stingley deal, this one doesn’t reset the market, though Hunter will be the 2nd-highest-paid DE if nobody one-ups this contract before it comes due. There’s a bit of a risk in signing an edge rusher through his age-33 season, but at 30 already, Hunter remains a menace. He had 12 sacks in his debut season with Houston, and he has exceeded 10 sacks in each of the past 3 seasons. This is undoubtedly a stellar player, and he is well worth the money. As I often say though, I can’t get into the A range when such a non-bargain comes around.
Grade: B+

Bears Sign TE Durham Smythe:
Known mostly as a blocking tight end, Smythe actually catches some passes now and then. His career high is just 366 receiving yards, but that’s far more than other similar places. In Chicago, the former Dolphin will be asked to stick to his blocking roots. He’ll be doing so on a 1-year, $2.5M contract with $1.5M guaranteed. With Cole Kmet around, Smythe won’t be asked to be a receiving threat. Instead, he will work with the revamped offensive line to keep Caleb Williams upright, something the team couldn’t do last year. This is an excellent fit for a blocking TE, and the contract is reasonable for a change.
Grade: A+

Bengals Re-Sign DE Joseph Ossai:
Ossai missed his entire rookie year with injury and has spent the past 3 seasons as a reserve/rotation player. In 2024, he had a career-best 5 sacks to go along with playing 51% of the snaps, also a career high. Finally making good on some of his potential, Ossai is re-signing on a 1-year, $7M contract with a $6.5M base salary and $3M guaranteed. This was a clear win for the Bengals. As bad as their defense was last ear, one place they didn’t struggle was rushing the passer. Ossai contributed to that, and he’ll be growing into a bigger role with Sam Hubbard’s retirement. Given the low risk and minimal guarantee, Cincinnati did well to retain Ossai. Pass rushers who flash like he did last year usually make more on the open market.
Grade: A

Cowboys Sign LB Jack Sanborn:
New Cowboys DC Matt Eberflus brought a friendly face with him from Chicago. That would be Sanborn, who is signing a 1-year, $1.5M contract with $150K guaranteed in Dallas. Mostly a run stuffer, Sanborn had 5 PBUs over the past two years, showing some surprising coverage ability. For once though, this is all about run defense, as Dallas’ is terrible. Some thumpers were needed, and Sanborn is one of them. He’ll also help teach Eberflus’ defense to the team, which is underrated but valuable aspect of this signing. Most of all, Sanborn is a grinder, and that can be contagious in a locker room.
Grade: A-

Lions Sign QB Kyle Allen:
With Teddy Bridgewater back to coaching high school football, the Lions needed a new veteran backup. Hendon Hooker is already on the roster, but with the way Detroit keeps signing retreads, they’re clearly not thrilled with his development. That gives Allen a legitimate shot to be the #2 on his new 1-year, $1.27M contract with $100K guaranteed. Allen had a notable 12-game starting stretch for Carolina in 2019, where he threw 17 TDs but also 16 INTs. He’s a gunslinger for sure, making him honestly a bit like a less controlled Jared Goff. Perennially a 3rd-stringer, Allen shouldn’t have been Detroit’s first choice. Names like Joe Flacco in particular are still out there, so while this contract has no risk, it’s hard to get excited about it.
Grade: B-

Steelers Extend WR DK Metcalf:
I graded Pittsburgh’s trade for Metcalf a while, but I was waiting for the guaranteed money to be announced before I graded the associated extension. Sorry; that took much longer than I thought. We now know that he is signing a 4-year, $132M deal with $60 guaranteed. Along with the remaining year on his previous contract, he’s officially a Steeler for 5 years and $150M in total. The guarantees were actually worth the wait, as they represent the first two years of Metcalf’s deal. Anyone who knows how the Steelers structure their contracts also knows that the team rarely guarantees more than 1 year in a deal, with exceptions made only for the biggest stars (like TJ Watt). I suspect that helped push Metcalf to approve of the trade. His annual salary is now tied for 5th among WRs, which is about right. Metcalf is an athletic freak who can box CBs out with his size or simply run by them, and he’ll unlock a new dimension in Pittsburgh’s offense…if they ever sign a QB. It’s far from a bargain, but the contract is fair.
Grade: B+

Falcons Re-Sign OT Storm Norton:
Another swing tackle has been re-signed, although Norton actually had one good year as the Chargers’ RT in 2021. Otherwise, he has mostly backed up both tackle spots for the Bolts and Falcons, the latter of whom have re-signed him to a 2-year, $3M contract with $500K guaranteed. I like this swing tackle situation more than most. Atlanta has one of the league’s better lines, and having played in most of the team’s games over the past two years, Norton has been a part of that. Maintaining that continuity is important for young QB Michael Penix Jr, so I’m very pleased with this re-signing.
Grade: A

Chargers Sign CB Donte Jackson:
This signing has also been out in the media for a while, but we now know that Jackson’s 2-year, $13M deal contains $7M guaranteed. I was wondering how much would be guaranteed given that Jackson is 100% boom or bust in coverage. He had 5 INTs with Pittsburgh last year but also gave up a ton of big plays. That’s basically his entire career: great ball production but lackluster performance otherwise. I think he’s just guessing on many routes and coming up fruitful and empty in equal measure. Still, there’s value in someone that generates turnovers, but the Chargers better have safety help over the top.
Grade: B

Panthers Sign Tre’von Moehrig:
It took forever to get the full details of this one. I can see why Las Vegas, Moehrig’s former team, refused to match his new contract. He’s signing a 3-year, $51M deal with a maximum value of $60M and $34.5M guaranteed. Moehrig is a good player, but this is top-5 safety money. He’s now ahead of Xavier McKinney and Jessie Bates, who are both much better players, in terms of average salary. Moehrig is excellent around the ball, notching 5 INTs and 187 tackles over the past two years. However, as badly as Carolina needs defensive help, I wouldn’t have gone to $17M per year. I won’t grade this poorly because Moehrig truly is a valuable piece. I’d call this the opposite of a bargain though.
Grade: B-

Buccaneers Re-Sign CB Bryce Hall:
Injuries are the story of Hall’s career. Otherwise, we’d be saying that he’s pretty good. A 5th-round pick of the Jets in 2020, Hall missed half his rookie year but showed promise. In year two, he had 16 PBUs in 17 games, the only time he’d play a full season. Hall hasn’t played more than 9 games in a year since, and an ankle injury held him to just one game with TB in 2024. The team is re-signing him on a 1-year, $1.17M contract in the hopes he can stay healthy. That seems like a losing bet, but the upside with Hall is very real. I like the idea of retaining him, but expectations should be kept low.
Grade: B+

March 18, 2025

Patriots Sign C Garrett Bradbury:
Selected by Minnesota in the first round of the 2019 draft, Bradbury became a solid (if sweaty) center. However, his pass protection wasn’t good enough for Minnesota to pass on replacing him. New England, who just released long-time center David Andrews, swooped in with a 2-year deal worth up to $12M including $3.8M guaranteed. Bradbury is an athletic center who does well in the ground game, but I would’ve preferred someone whose forte was protecting QBs. Drake Maye, entering just his second year, needs a lot more help. While Bradbury likely offers more than Andrews does at this point, I’m underwhelmed by the Patriots’ offensive line additions given their league-leading cap space.
Grade: C

Bears Re-Sign KR/RB Travis Homer:
As a running back, Homer is a plodder who will get you around 3.9 yards per carry. He’s better as a kick returner, especially with this new format that I think favors sturdier players, but Chicago gave him just 1 KR opportunity all year. That makes this 1-year, $2M contract a bit of a mystery. It’s not a terrible price for an RB3, especially if Homer provides special teams production. I’m hoping that this deal indicates a return to kick returning duties in 2025. Otherwise, it’s not a very impressive signing.
Grade: B-

Eagles Extend RT Lane Johnson:
I guess Johnson isn’t planning to retire soon. After winning the Super Bowl, the Eagles rewarded their long-time RT, signing Johnson to a 1-year, $25M extension (through 2027) with $30M in new guarantees over the course of the agreement. While I hated the move to unnecessarily reward RB Saquon Barkley, this one is more reasonable. Coaxing an elite tackle to stick with you instead of hanging up his cleats is great. Make no mistake: Johnson remains elite at age 34, and tackles can play later than most positions. While this extension wasn’t required, it ensures that the longest-tenured Eagle (with Brandon Graham’s retirement) remains happy and continues to lead the franchise moving forward.
Grade: A-

Lions Sign LB Grant Stuard:
When you’re Mr. Irrelevant, as Stuard was in 2021, you’re either relegated to special teams or cut during training camp. Stuard took that path but finally got involved on defense in year 4, appearing in all 17 games (5 starts) and making 40 tackles for the Colts. He’s now joining Detroit on a 1-year, $1.7M fully guaranteed deal. Based on his ST background, Stuard has no coverage ability but is solid against the run. This is a shrewd signing for the Lions because this team in particular suffered an outrageous number of defensive injuries in 2024. They know how badly they need solid veteran backups, and Stuard is one such player.
Grade: B+

March 17, 2025

Eagles Sign OLB Azeez Ojulari:
What is with GM Howie Roseman signing former Giants at impeccable values? This one has a questionable injury history but tremendous upside. Ojulari has 22 career sacks across 30 NFL starts, including 6 last year even with a reduced role following NYG’s acquisition of Brian Burns. Josh Sweat was too expensive for Philly to keep, but they’re obtaining Ojulari for just $4M for 1 year. Based on Sweat’s role, no one edge rusher is going to dominate snaps for the Eagles. Several guys will continuously rotate in, keeping everyone fresh. Ojulari is well-equipped to excel in that kind of role, and New York is likely to regret his departure.
Grade: A+

Texans Sign CB Ronald Darby:
Derek Stingley wasn’t the only CB signed by Houston today. That’s because Darby is coming over from the rival Jaguars on a 1-year, $2.5M contract. If Darby could stay healthy, I think we’d look at his career with more appreciation. This is a guy with 106 career PBUs and 8 INTs. Unfortunately, he hasn’t picked off a pass since 2019, nor has he lasted 17 games. At 5’11” and 31 years old, Darby’s best role is probably in the slot, and the Texans need help at that position. I’d like to see him split time in an effort to stay healthy, but he’s a good value signing. I don’t know how much he has left, but for one year, I can see this working out.
Grade: B+

Chargers Sign ST/LB Del’Shawn Phillips:
I wasn’t going to grade this one, but then I saw that Phillips got $400K guaranteed on his 1-year, $1.55M contract (worth up to $2M). After looking into it, I see what happened: LA saw Houston sign ST Nick Niemann from them, so they wanted to get a small dose of revenge by taking their special teams player. It’s a good thing too; if I had to grade one more Texans ST signing I might’ve lost it. Other than that, there isn’t much to discuss here: fine contract for a fine special teamer who plays sparingly on defense.
Grade: B

Buccaneers Sign OT Charlie Heck:
Heck had one nice season in Houston (2021), but he has been a swing tackle in the years since. That’s going to be his new role in Tampa, where he’s signing a 1-year, $1.6M contract. There’s not a whole lot new to say, so I’ll repeat myself: I’m going to keep giving positive grades to quality offensive line signings for depth. That unit undergoes a ton of attrition throughout a season, and having capable players who can step in is vital. The reigning NFC South champs expect to play more than 17 games, so Heck is a bit more important to them than he would be to a cellar dweller.
Grade: B+

Jets Sign DT Byron Cowart:
On his third team in 4 years, Cowart had his best season. He started 7 games for Chicago and earned 2.5 sacks, a career high. For the Jets, he’ll be a Solomon Thomas replacement: a DT who can provide a little juice in the pass rush but will struggle against the run. For 1 year and $1.363M with $167.5K guaranteed, you aren’t asking for a perfect player. Run stuffers are common, but interior pocket pushers are more coveted. I’m surprised Cowart didn’t get a better offer after his mini breakout. He’s not going to become a household name, but he could play meaningful snaps this year.
Grade: A-

Commanders Re-Sign IOL Michael Deiter:
The Commanders of 2 years ago would’ve had no need for this type of player. Backup interior linemen are extremely beneficial, but they’re mostly a priority for contending teams that want to ensure that they have sufficient depth. After last year’s NFC Championship game run, Washington counts themselves among that group. Deiter, who will make $1.338M with $492.5K guaranteed for 1 year, is a solid but unspectacular lineman. He was best as Miami’s rookie LG in 2019 but has mostly been a backup since then. Keeping Jayden Daniels upright is paramount, so having a backup plan on the line is good thinking.
Grade: B+

Giants Re-Sign PR/KR Ihmir Smith-Marsette:
Smith-Marsette is technically listed as a receiver, but since he has less than 200 yards in 4 years, I’m sticking with my returner designation. That’s where he brings value anyway; he has a return score in each of the past two years, which is becoming exceedingly rare. At just $1.338M and $75K guaranteed for one year, Smith-Marsette is incredibly cost-effective for what he provides. He hadn’t returned kicks prior to 2024 (just punts), yet he was already good at it. I’ll be checking him out for this year’s returners article for sure!
Grade: A

Browns Sign OT Cornelius Lucas:
Lucas is more or less an average tackle, which would actually be an improvement for Cleveland. Jedrick Wills’ development has fallen off the rails, Dawand Jones is hurt, and the team has little cap space to work with. That makes a deal for Washington’s Lucas, who is signing a 2-year, $6.5M contract with a maximum value of $12.5M and $3.255M guaranteed, enticing. The base value of this pact is pure backup money, while the top end is…also backup money. He can play left or right tackle, though he’s better on the right side. Bolstering the line for a potential rookie QB is crucial, so it’s hard to dislike this move.
Grade: A-

Broncos Sign LB Dre Greenlaw:
It took forever to get the true numbers on this deal, but that’s now two former 49ers coming off major injuries heading to Denver after Talanoa Hufanga signed as well. Greenlaw tore his Achilles in the 49ers’ last Super Bowl and, in my opinion, returned to the field much too quickly. He overworked his calf and was shut down again, but now he should be healthy. Denver, wanting to boost an already great defense, is signing him to a 3-year, $31.5M contract with $13.5M guaranteed and $6M available in incentives. The structure was important for this one because Greenlaw is coming off such a brutal stretch of injuries. The team protected itself by only guaranteeing the first year and a drop more. However, if he’s right, Greenlaw is one of the best LBs in football. He possesses elite speed, hits hard, and is great in coverage. That version is worth twice this contract.
Grade: A+

Panthers Sign DE Patrick Jones:
Carolina sure likes this part-time Viking to full-time Panther pipeline. After betting on DJ Wonnum last year, they’re going back to the well with Jones, who earned 7 sacks despite starting just 1 game last year. He’s joining Carolina on a 2-year, $15M contract with a maximum value of $19M and $10.25M guaranteed. Jones looked really good, though I’m always hesitant about a one-year star during a contract year. That said, he’s only 26, and feels a position of severe need for Carolina. The Panthers still haven’t properly replaced Brian Burns, and they’re hoping that Jones can be the guy. $15M isn’t the biggest risk to accomplish that.
Grade: B+

Texans Extend CB Derek Stingley:
There’s resetting the market, and then there’s this. Carolina’s Jaycee Horn became the highest-paid CB last week at $25M per year. Stingley is now signing a 3-year, $90M extension with $89M guaranteed for an average of $30M per season. Is that $1M that isn’t guaranteed a joke so Houston can say they didn’t fully guarantee the entire contract? For all intents and purposes, Stingley is guaranteed every penny. Make no mistake: Stingley is a fantastic corner. He’s a ball hawk with 10 INTs in the past two years, and his coverage makes QBs actively avoid him. Stingley even played all 17 games last year after going through two injury-plagued seasons to start his career. I could justify making him the highest-paid CB; that’s how the market works, and a salary of $25.25M or even $26M would’ve been fine. Blowing up the entire value of the position in one second is preposterous though.
Grade: C

Bengals Extend WR Ja’Marr Chase:
Cincy had two surprises in store late Sunday night. Along with Higgins, Chase has also been extended with a 4-year, $161M deal containing $112M guaranteed. As promised by the team, he is now the highest-paid non-QB ever, narrowly beating out Browns DE Myles Garrett’s new contract. Chase bet on himself last year and won the receiving triple crown, demonstrating that he may be the very best in the game. He’s the best friend of QB Joe Burrow, both on the field and in life. This was someone who had to remain a Bengal as long as Burrow stays. I can’t give a gargantuan, record-setting deal like this a grade in the A range, especially since the team’s decision to drag out negotiations likely made it much more expensive, but this was a deal that simply needed to be made no matter the cost. Cincinnati is retaining one of the NFL’s elite weapons and deserves credit for finally getting this done.
Grade: B+

Bengals Extend WR Tee Higgins:
They finally did it. After two consecutive franchise tags (one of which is graded as “Incomplete” on this very page), the Bengals finally secured a long-term deal with Tee Higgins. The extension is for 4 years and $115M with the first two years guaranteed, making him the highest-paid WR2 ever. I’m a little torn here. Higgins has earned 900+ receiving yards in 4 of his 5 pro seasons, and he’s a size mismatch in the red zone and on the boundaries. Furthermore, QB Joe Burrow basically demanded his return. Still, I can’t ignore his injury history. Higgins sometimes faces nagging soft tissue problems that either limit him or cause him to miss 5 games in a season, as in 2024. The Bengals’ offense is undoubtedly better with him in it, and he likely would’ve made even more than this on the open market. Therefore, I’m in favor of the signing even though it’s not perfect.
Grade: B

Cowboys Re-Sign P Bryan Anger:
Denver tried hard to nab this 2-time Pro Bowler, but the Cowboys lured him back with a 2-year, $6.4M contract. Though Anger is 36, age doesn’t really matter for a punter; his most recent Pro Bowl came just two seasons ago. Anger wasn’t quite as stellar in 2024, but he was still solid. He comes with an extended track record of success, so I think he’ll back to his normal really good self in 2025. Unlike “core special teamers”, true specialists are actually valuable, and I always say to pay a punter you like. This isn’t even a very expensive agreement, so it was a good one to make.
Grade: A

Jets Re-Sign KR/RB Kene Nwangwu:
If you follow my yearly article on returners, you’ll recognize Nwangwu from the 2023 edition. The only reason he wasn’t on the 2024 version is that Minnesota oddly cut him prior to writing, so I didn’t know if he’d be on a team. He caught on with the Jets and returned 3 kicks; one of them went 99 yards to the house. Naturally, the Jets wanted him back, signing Nwangwu to a 1-year, $2.5M contract. I prioritize return skills, especially under the new kickoff format (which is likely to change further and favor returns more), so having one of the best in the game on your team is an easy call.
Grade: A+

Patriots Sign S Marcus Epps:
Last year, Epps tore his ACL with the Raiders, cutting a decent run with the team short. He had also played well with the Eagles prior to that, demonstrating average coverage ability and strong run defense. The Patriots are taking a chance on him with a 1-year deal worth up to $4.4M. For this contract to have been given out, the team doctors must’ve signed off. Thus, I won’t worry too much about Epps’ knee. I view this is an average contract for a strong safety in today’s market. He isn’t the splash signing I thought New England might make, but he’s a solid one nonetheless.
Grade: B

Lions Re-Sign WR Tim Patrick:
Patrick used to be a very good WR2 for Denver before injury luck went against him. He missed 2022 and 2023 with a torn ACL and Achilles, respectively, but he resurfaced in Detroit as the 3rd option behind Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams. He looked to be back in form, earning 394 yards and 3 TDs. The Lions wisely brought him back on a 1-year, $4M contract. This one’s pretty simple: keep the entire operation (minus former OC Ben Johnson) intact and make another Super Bowl push. Patrick is was an impactful piece of that puzzle, so re-signing him is definitely the correct decision.
Grade: A+

Commanders Sign DE Jacob Martin:
Though they just signed Deatrich Wise, the Commanders are also bringing Martin back on a 1-year deal worth up to $3M. Clearly, they’re going with the edge rusher by committee approach. If so, these aren’t bad names to include. Martin does not play too many of the snaps, but he’s good for about 3 sacks a year. He had exactly that total in 2024, but he’s not stout in the run game. That limits him to 3rd-down packages, thus capping his potential value. Given that Washington specifically needs pass rushers, retaining Martin makes good sense, but I insist upon acquiring a blue-chip edge player sooner than later.
Grade: B+

Commanders Re-Sign WR Noah Brown:
Most famous for catching the Hail Mary in last season’s win over the Bears, Brown didn’t do much the rest of the year due to a kidney injury. However, he already possessed 453 yards through 11 games, bringing his streak of seasons with 400+ yards to 3. Washington is re-signing him to a 1-year deal worth up to $4.5M. With Deebo Samuel in but Dyami Brown out, Noah Brown will still be the team’s WR3. I think I’ve given him more credit than most, and I’m standing by that. When the need arises, he brings his best. As someone who will be facing teams’ weaker DBs, I expect to see a few games where Brown feasts.
Grade: A+

Cardinals Re-Sign WR Zay Jones:
Jones had a few good seasons with several different teams, but Arizona was not one of them. In 2024, he was suspended 5 games for a personal conduct policy violation and caught just 8 passes for 84 yards the rest of the year. For some reason, they wanted him back, signing him to a 1-year, $4.4M contract. Maybe Jones’ chemistry with Kyler Murray will be better next year, but he’s still behind Marvin Harrison Jr, Michael Wilson, and Trey McBride in the pecking order. This deal is for a potentially unreliable 4th option, but Jones possesses upside. Another weapon could be useful if he’s in sync with the offense.
Grade: B-

Buccaneers Re-Sign QB Kyle Trask:
Believe it or not, this is the first QB drafted by Tampa to re-sign with the team after the expiration of his rookie contract. And he isn’t even a starter. Trask is signing a “4-year qualifying player contract”, which is $2.787M for one year but counts for half of that value against the cap. Formerly a 2nd-round pick, he didn’t develop quickly enough to seize the starting job after Tom Brady retired, and now he’s stuck behind Baker Mayfield. Chances are, Trask simply isn’t starter material, but the team is comfortable with him as QB2. This is one where I’ll have to trust the Bucs’ judgment and say this is a fine signing.
Grade: B+

March 16, 2025

Chargers Re-Sign LB Denzel Perryman:
Perryman is one of the better run defenders in the league. However, his 5’11” stature means that he can’t take the punishment of throwing his body around. As a result, he misses at least 5 games every season with injury. That’s how the Chargers could retain him with a 1-year, $3.65M contract. Is 12 games of Perryman worth this money? Certainly, even at 32 years old, as he hasn’t slowed down yet. I’d grade this higher if he were more available though, as a team with playoff aspirations needs someone they can count on to be there late in the season. Nevertheless, this is still a high-quality signing.
Grade: B+

Commanders Sign DL Deatrich Wise:
Some of these part-time sack artists are being had for very little cash. Wise is leaving New England to sign a 1-year deal worth up to $5M with Washington. The Commanders badly need edge rushing production, and Wise provides that consistently. He had 5 sacks last year on just 41% of the snaps, and he’s been producing like this for 8 years. His age (30) will become a concern soon, but not on a 1-year deal. It’s another buy-low opportunity that the Commanders have snatched. I still think they need a star player off the edge, but collecting a few Wise-type guys is a good fallback plan.
Grade: A

Raiders Sign CB Eric Stokes:
If you only saw Stokes’ rookie year with Green Bay, you’d think that the former first-rounder was on his way to being a star. He had 14 PBUs that year and seemed like one of the stickiest coverage men in the league. Then, injuries piled up, and he played just 12 games over 2 seasons before being a part-time starter in 2024. Las Vegas, as they have several times this offseason, are signing a player to a prove-it deal, inking Stokes to a 1-year, $4M contract. That’s the correct approach here. Stokes can be really good, but he needs to show that he can be durable moving forward. Let him rebuild his value, and re-sign him next year if he excels.
Grade: A

Ravens Sign QB Cooper Rush:
Does Dallas plan on re-signing anyone? Not even their backup QB is returning, as Rush is sighting a 2-year, $6.2M contract worth up to $12.2M and including $4.2M guaranteed with Baltimore. While his stats weren’t that impressive, Rush led the team to wins. His record is 9-5 as a fill-in starter, and he only really struggles against the Eagles (who didn’t last year?). The Ravens had a viable backup in Josh Johnson, but they clearly wanted more upside at the position. Honestly, I’m just surprised Rush wasn’t retained by his old team after the job he did. Baltimore hopes they don’t need his services often.
Grade: A-

Chargers Re-Sign DT Teair Tart:
Tart is most famous for being cut by Tennessee due to effort and attitude problems. He followed that up by lasting just 4 months with the Dolphins due to scheme fit issues. His 1-year stay with the Chargers in 2024 went much smoother, as he forced 2 turnovers as a backup. I say it went smoother because he’s back, signing a 1-year, $5.5M contract with a $4.5M base salary and $3.5M guaranteed. Mostly a prototypical nose tackle, Tart had one good season in 2022. Since then, whether effort-related or not, he hasn’t been nearly as effective. I consider this an overpay, but LAC needs run defenders, so I don’t hate this move completely.
Grade: C+

Raiders Re-Sign DE Malcolm Koonce:
In his first year as a starter, Koonce exploded with 8 sacks, seemingly out of nowhere. Alas, he missed all of 2024 with a torn ACL. Had he been healthy, he’d likely be earning more than the 1-year, $12M contract ($10.02M guaranteed) that the Raiders are giving him. After doing next to nothing for two years, he burst onto the scene with 8 sacks in 2023 despite just a 44% snap share. Alas, he didn’t get a chance for an encore, as he tore his ACL and missed the entire 2024 season. That injury should be behind him, but it did require a prove-it deal. I love it in this case, as Koonce can stay in a familiar environment while the team sees if 2023 was a fluke or not. This could go in just about any direction, but the low risk makes this a risk worth taking.
Grade: A-

March 15, 2025

49ers Re-Sign FB Kyle Juszczyk:
The 49ers have sure been busy today. They released Juszczyk earlier in the week due to cap constraints, only to now re-sign him on a 2-year, $8M contract with $7M guaranteed. His prior contract, which had a $4.55M salary but nothing guaranteed remaining, was barely more expensive than this one. Would you rather have a soon-to-be 34-year-old FB on a 1-year, nonguaranteed contract or a two-year pact with a slightly smaller salary but almost the entirety guaranteed? I’d personally choose the former. While I should note that Juszczyk apparently took less than Pittsburgh offered to stay with San Francisco, and he is still the league’s best FB (though few of those remain), this entire exercise seems rather pointless.
Grade: C+

49ers Extend RB Patrick Taylor:
This signing, which didn’t come with details until now, suddenly makes more sense. Taylor was the 49ers’ 4th-string RB, but he was pressed into action when Christian McCaffrey, Jordan Mason, and Isaac Guerendo all got hurt. In his limited carries, he looked like yet another fine UDFA find for Kyle Shanahan, running for 4.7 YPC on 39 totes. He’s re-signing on a 1-year, $1.17M contract with $300K guaranteed. With Mason traded, Taylor is moving up to third string, where he’ll provide welcome depth. I don’t think he’s quite at the level of the other three, but he’s serviceable, which is all you can ask for at this price.
Grade: B+

Vikings Sign RB Jordan Mason:
As part of his trade from San Francisco, Mason got a 2-year contract worth up to $12M with $7M fully guaranteed. Mason was already due $5.3M in guaranteed money from his 2nd-round tender, so this is a minor pay bump and one extra year. He looked fine as a backup in 2023, but when Christian McCaffrey got hurt last year and Mason had to carry the load, he looked excellent. His 5.2 YPC was well above average, and he can a more bruising complement to Aaron Jones with the Vikings. Given that most teams can’t pluck RBs out of thin air like the Shanahans, this is a good signing for Minnesota. Mason can keep Jones healthier while earning the hard yards the team didn’t always get before. Note that I’m grading this separately from the trade aspect.
Grade: A-

Lions Sign DT Roy Lopez:
From a current Cardinal to a former one we go, as Lopez played for the red birds the last two seasons. His best year was his most recent, as he did a good job in run support and swatted 3 passes at the line of scrimmage. Lopez’s best trait is his tenacity, which makes him a fantastic fit for his new team. He’s signing a 1-year, $4.65M contract with a $3.5M guaranteed base salary. Detroit is all about “grit”, which Lopez will surely bring. The money here is a bit high for someone who may just back up DJ Reader, but if he rotates in more, than the value is fairer. He’s definitely a culture match.
Grade: B+

Cardinals Re-Sign OT Kelvin Beachum:
At age 35, Beachum remains a solid RT. He’s no longer the athletic LT he was earlier in his career, but he can still seal an edge and hold off DEs. Jonah Williams’ return from injury might send Beachum to the bench, but it really shouldn’t. Williams has been a first-round bust since he was a Bengal, while Beachum is the reliable performer. Re-signing on a 1-year, $4M deal with $3.49M guaranteed, he’s also a great value. Beachum is worth this money purely as a swing tackle, but he’d become even more of a steal if he were to start more games in 2025. If I were coaching the Cardinals, he probably would be starting.
Grade: A+

Seahawks Sign WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling:
MVS has always brought speed, but he used to drop a bunch of passes as well. He joined the Saints in the middle of the 2024 season, and all of a sudden, he righted himself. The deep threat version we saw at times in Green Bay showed up, and Valdes-Scantling caught 17 passes for 385 yards and 4 TDs. He’s now taking his talents to Seattle on a 1-year, deal worth up to $5.5M with a base salary of $4M and $3M guaranteed. His task will be to replace DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett’s deep routes, which is his specialty. MVS has enough past production to suggest that he’ll be the good version of himself for the Seahawks.
Grade: A

Cowboys Sign RB Miles Sanders:
I guess Sanders just swapped places with Rico Dowdle, as the former was released by Carolina not long ago. He rushed for 1269 yards with the Eagles in 2022 but couldn’t even reach half that total in two years combined with the Panthers. That’s why his price tag is much less than Dowdle’s: $1.338M for 1 year with $1.17M guaranteed. Out of context, this is a good deal. The Cowboys know Sanders from his time in the NFC East, and he punished them, so I see why they’d want him. In context though, Dowdle is currently the better player, and he was home-grown. Unless Dallas has another move coming, this isn’t a good swap.
Grade: C

Panthers Sign RB Rico Dowdle:
Consider me puzzled about why Dallas didn’t re-sign Dowdle. After the Cowboys trudged through part of the season with an anemic rushing attack, Dowdle stepped up. He rushed for 1079 yards at 4.6 YPC and caught 39 passes out of the backfield. All it took for Carolina to grab him was a 1-year deal worth up to $6.25M but only a $2.75M guaranteed base salary. I thought Chuba Hubbard was entrenched as the Panthers’ RB1, so I didn’t get why they’d invest in another. It turns out they barely invested anything. This landing spot isn’t great for Dowdle, but he’s a great pickup for the Panthers! It makes me pessimistic about Jonathan Brooks though.
Grade: A+

Seahawks Sign OL Josh Jones:
Seattle desperately needs to upgrade the offensive line, and this is a start. Jones, who has experience at RG, LT and RT, is a versatile piece who can be a spot starter or provide depth. His deal is for $1 year and up to $4.75M, with a $4M base salary and $3M guaranteed. Jones played sparingly for Baltimore last year, but he was promising with Arizona in 2021. His one issue was penalties, but at least he wasn’t getting his QB killed. By no means does this solve the Seahawks’ problem. It’s merely step one of what (I hope) is a multiphase plan to overhaul the unit.
Grade: B+

Bills Re-Sign RB Ty Johnson:
Exclusively used as a change-of-pace back with the Jets and now the Bills, Johnson has filled that role really well. He had a robust 5.2 YPC on 41 attempts in 2024, and he shined as a receiver out of the backfield with 248 yards and 3 scores through the air. At $5M for 2 years with $2.49M guaranteed, bringing him back was an easy decision. Johnson is just 27 and doesn’t have too much wear and tear. He also has a clear rapport with QB Josh Allen as an outlet receiver and accounted for 0 fumbles last year. These value signing a bit deeper in free agency are always the hallmarks of well-managed teams.
Grade: A+

Jets Sign S Andre Cisco:
In 2022 and 2023, Cisco was a really good safety in Jacksonville. He racked up 15 PBUs and 7 INTs. Then, in 2024, he fell off a cliff. Cisco’s INT total dropped to 1, and he fared poorly overall in coverage. He was beaten by receivers, flagged for penalties, or both for the majority of the season. The Jets are taking a chance with him on a 1-year, $10M contract with a base value of $8.5M and $7.5M guaranteed. New coach Aaron Glenn is noted for his work with DBs, so this was one of the best possible landing spots for Cisco. I wouldn’t have guaranteed that much of the deal, but it’s only one year. That’s a double-edged sword: if Cisco rebounds, he’ll be due a major raise, but if he struggles again, the team won’t be on the hook for any more money.
Grade: B-

Giants Sign OT Stone Forsythe:
I applaud the Giants for adding a tackle. They don’t get much credit for adding this particular one though. Forsythe played his entire rookie contract with the Seahawks, and his playing time increased each season until 2024. This past year, he split time with other players in an unsuccessful quest to fix the RT position. He’s signing a 1-year, $1.338M contract with $140K guaranteed, and even that might be too much. Evan Neal is a problem for New York, but Forsythe isn’t the solution. Poor Geno Smith ran for his life last season, and the right side of the line was the main culprit. Only the cost here limits my wrath.
Grade: C-

Buccaneers Sign P Riley Dixon:
As much as the Bucs love bringing back their own guys, one place they had to upgrade was at punter. They went through 3 different options at the position and are now bringing Denver’s Dixon aboard on a 2-year, $6M contract. I’m not sure this solves their problem. Dixon has been just fine, but he has undoubtedly benefitted from Denver’s thin air. Most of his punting stats are average, which I suppose is an improvement itself for Tampa, but they could’ve done better with a rookie or another free agent.
Grade: C+

Giants Sign DT Jeremiah Ledbetter:
Ledbetter bounced between active rosters in practice squads for several years before finding a stable home in Jacksonville in 2022. He actually got to play beginning in 2023, and he looked like an average DT. His run stuffing was adequate, and last year, he added some pocket pushing to his game with 2 sacks. New York, which has a loaded defensive front, is signing him for depth on a 1-year, $1.775M contract worth up to $2M. As the Eagles taught us, too much depth on the defensive line is never a bad thing. Ledbetter can spell the stars for a few snaps here and there at a low cost, so this is a fine move.
Grade: B

Chiefs Re-Sign RB Kareem Hunt:
We seem to have an interesting RB2 competition brewing in KC. Hunt was there last year, as was Carson Steele, and Elijah Mitchell was added this week. He hasn’t been much more than a plodder the past 3 years, failing to reach 4 YPC in any of them. Thus, he’s available at a discount: $1.5M for 1 year with a maximum value of $2.5M. Hunt has been rather durable, which makes him a good handcuff for Isiah Pacheco. Mitchell is definitely a better runner and is younger, but he’s quite brittle. This signing gives KC a nice balance in the backfield, and Hunt is someone they’re familiar with, so the comfort factor is there.
Grade: B+

Buccaneers Re-Sign WR Sterling Shepard:
Following a good stretch as the Giants’ #2 receiver, Shepard had numerous injuries that seemed to end his time in the NFL. Tampa Bay picked him up, and he caught a bit of fire in the second half of the season. Suddenly, his acceleration was back, and he looked like himself again. The Bucs want more, and they’re re-signing Shepard to a 1-year deal worth up to $2.25M with $500K guaranteed. He’ll likely be the WR4 behind Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Jalen McMillan. Still, this is fair money for a 4th receiver, and the team knows that he’s capable of replacing an injured player if need be.
Grade: A-

Cowboys Sign DT Solomon Thomas:
Thomas never panned out for San Francisco as the 3rd overall pick in 2017, but he has become a good rotational piece with the Jets. He can’t defend the run, but interior rushers are more valuable anyway. Dallas is signing Thomas to a 2-year, $6M contract with $3M guaranteed and $2M available in incentives. With 8.5 sacks over the past two seasons, Thomas can get some pressure on QBs. He doesn’t do anything to help the Cowboys’ run defense problems, so that’s not ideal, but this is a good price for what they’re getting. If he doesn’t translate to another scheme, the team is only on the hook for $3M.
Grade: B+

Vikings Sign CB Tavierre Thomas:
This journeyman corner had one solid season in 2021 with the Texans, when he earned 86 tackles, 2 INTs, and 4 PBUs. Since then, he has been a spot starter and key reserve…except for Tampa Bay in 2024. For the Bucs, Thomas was almost exclusively a special teamer who played 4% of the defensive snaps after logging 60% the prior year with Houston. Perhaps looking to play more at CB, he’s moving to the Vikings on a 1-year, $2M contract with $1M guaranteed. I think 2021 was a flash in the pan, but Thomas is quality depth at a really low price. At worst, he’s a good special teamer, so Minnesota will extract value from this deal.
Grade: A-

Steelers Sign LB Malik Harrison:
I see Harrison listed in many places as an OLB, but considering he earned his first 2 sacks in year 5 last season, I’m counting him as an off-ball linebacker. He’s signing a 2-year, $10M contract with $4.08M guaranteed. Harrison’s best attribute is that he has played in Baltimore his entire career, so maybe he has a bit of intel for the Steelers. He also showed a bit of development in 2024, playing the run better than he did in the past. This is essentially a 1-year deal, so it’s a trial period: if Harrison’s development continues, the Steelers will gladly pick up year 2. If not, they’ll cut bait with no penalty.
Grade: B-

March 14, 2025

Titans Sign LB Cody Barton:
Barton is getting a major raise over last year’s low-money deal with Denver, but he’s also coming off his best season. He earned 106 tackles, 2 INTs, 5 PBUs, and a fumble return TD as part of the Broncos’ stingy defense. That effort earned him a 3-year, $21M contract with $9M guaranteed. Barton is best against the run, but he has improved in the passing game. He used to be terrible in coverage, but over the past 3 years, I’ve seen growth. The money here is a bit on the high side, but the guarantee is really only for one year. If Barton can take another step forward, this will look great. Otherwise, it’s an average value.
Grade: B

Chargers Re-Sign ST/LB Troy Dye:
We’ve got another special teams guy, but this one may be billed for a bit more. That’s because his $5.5M contract with $3M guaranteed has $2.5M in additional incentives. Attaining that much in incentives probably demands more than just ST play. He’s good at that special teams role, but he was also competent at LB last year, earning 57 tackles and 1.5 sacks despite a very limited snap count. Among the ST-centric contracts we’ve seen thus far, this is one of the better ones.
Grade: B+

Lions Re-Sign DT Levi Onwuzurike:
While he struggled to stay healthy early in his career, Onwuzurike was able to make a career-high 10 starts in 2024. His market was depressed because of his very low sack numbers, so he could only muster a 1-year, $5.5M contract with a $4M base salary and $3.5M guaranteed. Onwuzurike’s underlying metrics suggest that he’s better than his QB takedowns suggest. He generates many pressures, creating opportunities for teammates. It would be nice if he could convert more of those into sacks, but perhaps his injury-delayed development trajectory has that in store next. I think this is a fair reunion for both sides.
Grade: B+

Buccaneers Re-Sign DT Greg Gaines:
Our second consecutive former Ram, Gaines started his career in LA before joining Tampa Bay in 2023. Back with the Rams, he started more games and put up a pair of 4-sack seasons doing so. His role with the Bucs has been a rotational one, so his impact has been much more limited. That explains the 1-year, $3.5M contract with $2.245M guaranteed that he’s signing. The Bucs need edge help, but their DT rotation is pretty stout, which keeps Gaines’ playing time low. As insurance for that unit, he’s a reliable option on a reasonably cheap deal, so I like this signing.
Grade: B

Titans Sign WR Van Jefferson:
The son of noted WR coach Shawn Jefferson, Van had one 800-yard season in 2021 but hasn’t come close to that total at any other point. Outside of Sean McVay’s offense, he hasn’t been a viable #3 receiver, but he may be alright as a 4th option. His contract is for 1 year and $2.5M with a base value of $1.67M and $1.17M guaranteed. That’s cheap at least, and I can commend the Titans for trying to acquire receiving options for their potential QB pick at #1 overall. Jefferson’s route running is good because of his lineage, so he’d be able to provide a friendly target for a greenhorn.
Grade: B

Titans Sign P Johnny Hekker:
I keep seeing things about Hekker being in decline, and I’m not understanding it. His punting averages are barely down, and his touchback rate actually decreased. Ryan Stonehouse, their previous punter, had a terrible year. He had an amazing leg but kept outkicking his coverage (and the end zone). Hekker is more controlled, and he’s cheap: $1.423M for 1 year with $1.198M guaranteed (not quite fully guaranteed as originally reported). He’s rejoining his old ST coordinator John Fassel, with whom he has been an excellent fake punt passer. I’m still on team Hekker, and Titans fans should be too.
Grade: A+

Commanders Sign CB Jonathan Jones:
Advancing from a UDFA to a really solid player, Jones had a good 9-year run with New England, but all good things come to an end. For this first time, he’ll be leaving Foxborough. Jones is signing a 1-year, $5.5M contract with $4.5M guaranteed and $1M in incentives as Washington tries to throw as many darts at the secondary as they can in the hopes that a few land. At 31, he’s not too old, but I’m worried about his play around the ball. Once a ball hawk who had 4 INTs in 2022, Jones hasn’t picked off a pass since that season. If he’s going to bounce back, his new HC Dan Quinn, who created the Legion of Boom in Seattle, is his best bet.
Grade: B

Cardinals Re-Sign DE LJ Collier:
It seems like we’re addressing all the first-round busts today. Collier was a first-rounder for Seattle in 2019 and had 3 sacks in 2020. He combined for 0 sacks during his 3 other seasons with the team. Collier went to Arizona and spent most of 2023 on IR before starting in 2024, when he had another 3-sack season. He’ll be back on a 1-year, $3M contract with $1M in additional incentives and $1.5M guaranteed. His best trait is his ability to seal edges on running plays, but maybe he’s figuring out how to rush the passer a bit. That would be odd at 29 years old, but crazier things have happened, and this deal has no risk.
Grade: B+

Commanders Re-Sign QB Marcus Mariota:
It seems as though Mariota has finally found his niche in the NFL: a premium backup. After failing as a starter, he came to Washington and backed up Jayden Daniels extremely well. Whenever he had to play this year, Mariota looked good. In his 3 relief appearances, he had a 77.3% completion rate and 4 TDs with 0 INTs. He gets a small raise this time around: $8M for 1 year with $7.39M guaranteed and $4M in incentives. Mariota’s best work happened behind the scenes: he played a key role on Daniels’ development as a rookie. That lone made him critical to bring back, as he can tutor the rising star once more.
Grade: A+

Chargers Re-Sign WR Jalen Reagor:
Here’s another former first-rounder that made absolutely no sense (fun fact: he was taken 1 pick before Justin Jefferson). Reagor’s role has been diminishing every year. In 2024 for the Chargers, he had just 100 yards receiver and wasn’t even a returner. His deal is cheap: $1.338M for 1 year with $360K guaranteed. But I wouldn’t have guaranteed any of it. Despite how badly LAC needs help at receiver, Reagor still isn’t a roster lock, which tells you what you need to know. This deal is negligible, but it’s dumb anyway.
Grade: C-

Browns Re-Sign LB Devin Bush:
Based on his career to this point, I can’t believe that the Steelers once traded up in round one to draft Bush. He has been with two other teams since, and the most recent one wants an encore. Cleveland is re-signing Bush to a 1-year, $3.25M contract with $2.97M guaranteed and $250K in incentives. Sadly, that’s still too much money. Bush is adequate in run support, but size limitations limit him against bigger bruising backs. He doesn’t cover or rush the passer, so this is more of a veteran minimum type of player to me. These are still the Browns though.
Grade: C

Panthers Sign LB Christian Rozeboom:
Carving out a role for himself after being a UDFA, Rozeboom became an 11-game starter for the Rams last year and racked up 135 tackles and 4 PBUs. He’s a jack of all trades, master of none who is fine in both run support and coverage but not particularly great at either one. Carolina might be hoping he can fill Shaq Thompson’s old role at a lower cost: $2.5M for one year with $1.97M guaranteed and $1M in incentives. I see Rozeboom as more of a platoon player than a bona fide starter. Luckily, this cost is just right for that type of role, and it doesn’t preclude Carolina from finding an upgrade later.
Grade: B+

Jets Sign C Josh Myers:
I can’t believe the Packers didn’t keep Myers. He was often maligned by the fans, but he actually wasn’t that bad. Weirdly, it’s the Jets who are signing him to a 1-year, $3.5M contract with a guaranteed $2M base salary. I say “weirdly” because I’m pretty certain that Joe Tippman will be the team’s starting center. That means nobody valued Myers as more than a backup. Whether the Jets try him out at guard or just keep him as depth, this is a really good signing. A 26-year-old center with decent tape should’ve gotten more than this, but it’s the one OL position that’s still very undervalued.
Grade: A

Chargers Sign CB Benjamin St. Juste:
If LA were signing St. Juste after 2023, I’d totally get it. He had a ridiculous 17 PBUs that season, and he forced 2 fumbles. That player might’ve been a one-year wonder though. The two prior years and in 2024, he wasn’t nearly as effective. His PBUs were still solid, but they were offset by him getting burnt repeatedly. This 1-year, $2.5M contract with $1M guaranteed and $500K in incentives is a small gamble by the Chargers. DC Jesse Minter probably thinks he can fix St. Juste, and he has earned enough clout to be allowed to try. I just don’t think it’ll work.
Grade: B-

49ers Sign SS Jason Pinnock:
Pinnock entered the league as a CB, but in 3 years with the Giants, he found a better spot as a strong safety. Though he earned 2 INTs in 2023, he was much better near the line of scrimmage. Over the past two seasons, Pinnock had 170 tackles and 5 sacks. DB blitzes can be lethal, and run support is always welcome. The Niners are snagging him for 1 year and $2.2M guaranteed, which is a bargain. We saw that he can play in coverage with needed, so he’s versatile. Pinnock also probably becomes the 49ers’ best tackling DB with Talanoa Hufanga gone. Any contract that’s cheap while also filling a need is a good get.
Grade: A

Titans Sign QB Brandon Allen:
With Mason Rudolph heading back to Pittsburgh, the Titans needed a new backup QB (or third-stringer if they take a rookie with the #1 pick). That reserve is going to be Allen on a 1-year, $1.423M contract with $1M guaranteed. Allen hasn’t been very effective as a backup, but he has one thing going for him: he was coached by Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco last year. We saw how that worked out for Darnold, so many are wondering if the Shanahan touch will strike again. Not likely. Darnold was a #3 pick with tons of talent, whereas Allen is a former 6th-round afterthought. He’s fine depth, but don’t get your hopes up.
Grade: B

Chargers Sign DT Da’Shawn Hand:
During this phase of free agency, you find more two-down players who can be had at low prices. That’s exactly what the Chargers are getting in Hand, a run defender who’s signing a 1-year, $3.35M contract with a base value of $2.35M and $1.925M guaranteed. Hand offers nothing as a pass rusher, which is why he’s on his third team in four years. He’s not a special run stuffer, but LA can use any help they can obtain in that department. This is more than I would’ve paid, but it’s alright.
Grade: B-

Panthers Re-Sign CB Mike Jackson:
Once a 5th-round pick who bounces around the league without playing much, Jackson has been a full-time starter during two of the past 3 seasons. Over those two campaigns, one with Seattle and one with Carolina, he was credited with a ridiculous 29 PBUs to go with 3 INTs and 151 tackles. He tallied those seasons before turning 28, so his development trend is reasonable. Similarly, the 2-year, $10.5M contract with $7.7M guaranteed and a maximum value of $14.5M that he’s signing to return to the Panthers also makes sense. A quality starting QB is rarely obtained at this low a cost, and the guarantee means that Carolina only absorbs a 1-year risk with what is essentially a team option for year two. I love contracts that are structured like this.
Grade: A+

Ravens Sign WR DeAndre Hopkins:
We’re finally getting a few of these earlier contracts in their full forms. Hopkins is heading from one AFC power to another, leaving KC for Baltimore on a 1-year, $5M guaranteed deal with a maximum value of $6M. Now 32 years old, Hopkins appears to be starting his decline. While his 2023 season was very strong, 2024 was not up to his standards. Across two teams, he had 610 yards and 5 TDs. You can forgive the pre-trade Tennessee part where Will Levis was his QB, but disappearing in a Patrick Mahomes-led offense worries me. Now he’ll be in a run-first scheme where fewer mouths can be fed. Maybe his hunger for a ring propels him to one more good year, but this doesn’t seem like a great fit for him. His upside is obviously still good though.
Grade: B-

Titans Sign G Kevin Zeitler:
Regardless of whether Tennessee signs a QB or drafts one first overall, they must protect that player. The rookie scenario in particular requires a complete offensive line, and that’s where Zeitler comes in. Having just turned 35, Zeitler was still a very good guard for the Lions in 2024. He’s joining the Titans on a 1-year, $9M contract with $8.745M guaranteed. Ordinarily, I’d advise against a noncontender signing an older veteran mercenary. That’s why I specifically noted the rookie QB possibility. Protecting a young signal caller is paramount regardless of how far along a rebuild is, which makes this signing crucial.
Grade: A

Ravens Re-Sign WR Tylan Wallace:
I liked Wallace coming out of Oklahoma State, but for three years he did absolutely nothing in Baltimore. Some of that was Lamar Jackson’s struggles as a passer during that time, but you’d expect SOMETHING out of a talented WR. He finally showed signs of life in 2024, earning 193 yards and a TD. The Ravens are bringing him back on a 1-year, $2.1M contract with $1.35M guaranteed, and $100K available in incentives. This is fine with me, as Wallace (25) is young enough to improve, but that ship might have sailed with this particular team. It won’t cost Baltimore much or hurt their compensatory pick formula though.
Grade: B

Buccaneers Sign CB Kindle Vildor:
After barely playing for much of last year, Vildor got some serious snaps once other Lions DBs went down. He did nicely if not spectacularly, but he at least proved himself to be a viable depth piece. That’s what he’ll be with Tampa, who is signing him to a 1-year, $1.338M contract with $1.198M guaranteed. When Vildor faced tougher WR assignments, he struggled but not terribly. Against second or third receivers, he actually isn’t bad. Given how many injuries the Bucs’ defense faced last year, I’m all for fortifying the reserves with reasonably talented players.
Grade: A

Colts Sign DT Neville Gallimore:
Gallimore was a moderately impactful player for the Cowboys, but he has been with a couple of teams since and has done basically nothing. In 14 games with the Rams last year, he had 0 sacks and 19 tackles. Thus, he’s a mediocre run defender with no pass rushing ability. The Colts still signed him to a 1-year, $1.27M contract with $400K guaranteed, and the guarantee surprises me. I wasn’t even counting on him to make a practice squad, let alone take home 6 figures with certainty. Sure, maybe Indy gets the Dallas version of Gallimore, and yes, the contract is very cheap. I’m just not seeing the upside.
Grade: C

Bills Re-Sign FB Reggie Gilliam:
While I’m waiting for the details of some bigger deals to come in, I’m grading a few of the smaller ones where the guaranteed money simply doesn’t matter. That’s true for Gilliam, who is returning to Buffalo on a 1-year, $2M contract. Fullbacks are a dying breed, so if you’ve got one you like, it’ll never cost too much to keep him (Kyle Juszczyk notwithstanding). The Bills had a very potent rushing attack last year. Part of that is QB Josh Allen’s legs, but Gilliam’s blocking played a role too. I’m fine with this contract and, perhaps more importantly, the roster spot taken.
Grade: B+

Texans Re-Sign S MJ Stewart:
I’m starting to lose it. The Texans have now signed FOUR players strictly for special teams. Stewart played just 10% of the defensive snaps last year, but he’s signing a 1-year, $2.5M contract with $500K guaranteed to return to Houston anyway. I don’t really care how much the deal is worth. Houston needs a pack of linemen, not special teamers. This one is a shorter contract for less money, so it earns a slightly higher grade. Let me be fair to Stewart: this isn’t about him, and he’s a fine ST option. The Texans are simply signing too many of them; they already had core ST guys as their backups. Now they can probably field a lineup with those players alone.
Grade: D+

Dolphins Sign OT Larry Borom:
If Miami’s plan was to improve their run and pass blocking, taking a lineman from the Bears might not be the best idea. An ankle injury limited Borom to 8 games last year, yet he was somehow credited with 7 sacks and 22 pressures allowed. Clearly, the Dolphins shouldn’t want him starting games. Their guaranteed 1-year, $2.5M contract for Borom suggests that he’ll at least be a key reserve though. I’ve said it before: just because I love line depth doesn’t mean that EVERY lineman is acceptable. The cost is low, so I can’t give too harsh a grade, but poor Tua Tagovailoa if he ever has Borom in front of him.
Grade: C-

March 13, 2025

Saints Re-Sign WR Dante Pettis:
Injuries have been the story of Pettis for his entire career, but he is hopefully on the comeback trail. He appeared in 8 games with the Saints last year, and while he only caught 12 passes, I noticed him getting open. I hadn’t seen that in years to be honest. The Saints’ front office notices as well, as they’re bringing him back on a 1-year, $1.338M contract. We don’t know what to expect from Pettis, and he’s a likely bet to miss games. Still, New Orleans has a dearth of receiving options, with just a concussion-prone Chris Olave and a couple of TEs to speak of. This signing might amount to nothing, but perhaps Pettis can provide a bit of juice.
Grade: B

Bills Re-Sign S Damar Hamlin:
We all know the story by now. Hamlin, who nearly died on the field, came all the way back to not only play but start 14 games last year. His fearless tackling didn’t go away, as he tallied 89 takedowns, but he also earned 2 INTs and 5 PBUs. While he might not be starting safety material, his value as a third safety or fill-in option is immense. I was surprised to see him only receive a 1-year, $2M contract, but I am also extremely happy for him. This is a feel-good signing, but it’s more than that: he’s actually a useful piece for the Bills. You know there’s only one grade to hand out here.
Grade: A+

Falcons Re-Sign WR KhaDarel Hodge:
Hodge is another special teams signing, but this one is far better than the rest. He made the Pro Bowl last year as a special teamer, and he also actually did something on offense. Hodge was the man who made the game-winning OT catch against Tampa Bay in week 5. A 2-year, $6M deal with $2.505M guaranteed is fine for a Pro Bowler at any position, but the 30-year-old is good for 150-200 yards on average per season as well. This is the type of player that you reserve an ST spot for.
Grade: A

Patriots Sign EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson:
As a former first-round pick, Chaisson has been wildly disappointing. He had 5 total sacks in 4 seasons with the Jaguars. Then, he went and had 5 sacks in one year with the Raiders. That intrigued the Pats, who are signing him to a 1-year deal worth up to $5M with a base value of $3M. Either Chaisson turned the corner, or he had a lucky season. For a rebuilding Patriots team, taking a chance on a 25-year-old player with a first-round pedigree and signs of potential is exactly what they should be doing. Whether or not Chaisson works out, it’s worth a try.
Grade: B+

Eagles Sign CB Adoree’ Jackson:
This is a much better value signing for Philadelphia. Health is always the concern with Jackson, but when he’s on the field, he’s a good CB. While he doesn’t take the ball away often, he breaks up passes with regularity. Philly is getting him for cheap: $2.5M for 1 year. The team recently released Darius Slay for cap and age reasons, and Jackson can be part of the solution to replace him. Hopefully he can stay healthy by rotating with the Eagles’ stable of young defensive backs. I should also note that they’re poaching Jackson from the Giants. When has a former NYG player ever done well in Philadelphia?
Grade: A+

Eagles Sign TE Harrison Bryant:
Billed as an ultra-athletic receiving TE when he was drafted, Bryant has never lived up to that billing. He has been forced to play second fiddle to some talented tight ends, but if he were that skilled, his target share would’ve reflected that. Bryant earned less than 200 yards combined over the past two seasons, but the Eagles saw enough to give him a 1-year deal worth up to $2M. Obviously with this price tag, Philly didn’t see TOO much. Even a marginal contribution might be too much to ask for though. Bryant isn’t a good enough blocker to play in many 2-TE sets, so I wonder whether he’ll even see the field. At least he’s cheap.
Grade: C

Raiders Sign RB Raheem Mostert:
Las Vegas shouldn’t expect the Mostert who led the league in rushing TDs back in 2023, but he does have a history of good running. Despite being 33 when the season starts, Mostert doesn’t seem to have lost his great speed. He fell out of favor in Miami last year due to a fumbling problem, but prior to the past couple of seasons, that wasn’t typical for him. The Raiders are taking a chance with a 1-year, $2.1M contract, and I think it’s a good idea. Aside from WR Tre Tucker, this team lacks speed. LV also doesn’t have a lead back, so Mostert could fill that role if the draft doesn’t provide an answer. Age is always a concern with running backs, but Mostert could have at least one good season left in him, which is all that this contract asks for.
Grade: A

Bengals Re-Sign DE Cam Sample:
It looked like Sample was becoming a dependable rotational lineman, but a torn Achilles wiped out his 2024 season. With his Bengals badly needing defensive help, he was able to secure a 1-year, $1.6M contract to return despite the injury. If all goes well, Sample will be a solid edge player who defends the run well and collapses the pocket occasionally. At his age (25), he should be able to make a full recovery, and the injury is far enough in the past that he should be closer to 100% than others with the same surgery. The upside here isn’t immense, but he’s a good fit for that locker room and it’s good to see him back.
Grade: B

Patriots Re-Sign S Jaylinn Hawkins:
One of the few players signed by the previous regime to be re-signed, Hawkins must’ve done something right. He’s returning on a 1-year deal worth up to $2.25M with $650K guaranteed. Hawkins had a modest impact in 2024, didn’t do much in 2023, but excelled in 2022 with the Falcons. That year, he was a do-everything safety with 84 tackles, 2 INTs and 6 PBUs. At 27 years old, I don’t see why he can’t play like that again, but it’s also possible that he had one fluky good season. This contract is cheap enough that it’s smart for New England to explore his skill set more. If it doesn’t work out, not much was lost.
Grade: B+

Commanders Sign DT Eddie Goldman:
This is an odd career path. Goldman retired from the Bears in 2022, sat out for 2023, and then resurfaced with the Falcons in 2024 at age 30. He actually started 10 games (which says plenty about Atlanta’s defensive line) but had a very small impact, earning just 1 sack and 16 tackles. As a nose tackle, he’s not going to pile up stats, but he wasn’t clogging lanes or pushing the pocket like he once did. The time away may have been too much to overcome, but Washington wants to see what he has left on a 1-year, $1.255M contract. There’s no harm in trying this, but I’ll be surprised if he makes the roster.
Grade: B-

Bills Sign S Darrick Forrest:
Forrest is a bit of an enigma. He played his first four years with Washington, and his best was undoubtedly 2022. That year, he had 4 INTs, 9 PBUs, 2 forced fumbles, and 88 tackles. He was everywhere…until he wasn’t. Forrest appeared in just 15 games the following two seasons despite not being injured and barely did anything. A new coaching staff probably had an impact in 2024, but I’m not sure what happened in 2023. He’s now off to Buffalo on a 1-year, $1.337M contract with $167.5K guaranteed to try and rebound at just 25 years old. This is a prototypical low-risk, high-reward move. The Bills need secondary depth and potentially even a starter or two. Forrest should have an opportunity to compete for playing time, and if he looks anything like his 2022 self, he’ll be a fantastic bargain.
Grade: A+

49ers Sign CB Tre Brown:
In his third pro season with the Seahawks in 2023, Brown’s career looked to be taking off. He made 7 starts and was great around the ball, earning 6 PBUs, 2 INTs, and 2 forced fumbles. Injuries led to a reduced role last year, but the 27-year-old should have plenty in the tank. His deal is crazy cheap: just $1.7M for 1 year. I think he has upside, but what I really like is how HE described things. It sounds like he’s very motivated, and the 49ers need his help given the injuries and lost bodies that hit their secondary. Brown might also be eager to show up his former team, which happens to be an SF rival. This could be really good.
Grade: A+

Falcons Sign ST/CB Mike Ford:
We’ve got another multiyear deal for a special teamer. Following two years in Cleveland, Ford is returning to Atlanta on a 2-year, $4M contract. As with most core special teamers, Ford doesn’t play many snaps on defense. He played just 5% of them last season for the Browns. That means he’s being paid just to be on special teams, so he must be pretty good at that. Except…he’s merely above average. There’s nothing wrong with a solid special teamer, and this deal is cheap enough to not matter. I’m just not crazy about reserving the roster spot unless you’ve got a star in that role.
Grade: B

Broncos Re-Sign LB Justin Strnad:
Strnad did practically nothing in his first 3 years with the Broncos, but last year, he played about half the snaps and tallied 3 sacks, 3 PBUs and 73 tackles, including 8 for loss. Denver, hoping that his breakout was for real, is re-signing him to a 1-year, $2.7M fully guaranteed contract. I don’t know how much more development Strnad can have at 28 years old, but if he merely reproduces his 2024 output, this contract is worth it. He appeared to be a well-rounded player: solid in both coverage and at the line. I see no harm in running it back with him another year; the upside looks pretty darn good.
Grade: A

Dolphins Sign S Ashtyn Davis:
While rarely a starter, Davis has been a solid contributor for the Jets over the past few years. The Dolphins are poaching him from their division rival with a 1-year, $2.5M contract that has $500K in additional incentives. This is part of the plan to replace Jevon Holland, and it’s a great start. Solid in run support but best in coverage, Davis had 10 PBUs and 5 INTs over the past two years, looking like a poor man’s Holland. However, he comes at 1/7 the cost, making this an absolute steal. It’s even better that they’re weakening a hated foe in the process.
Grade: A+

Saints Re-Sign DE Chase Young:
The guarantees took a while to come out for this one. Finally, we know that Young’s 3-year, $51M contract with $6M in incentives has $33M guaranteed. I needed to wait because the initial numbers were too hilarious to be true. At least, that’s what I thought. The guarantees back up the notion that Young is making $17M per season, which is ludicrous. He seems to be coasting on his reputation as a #2 pick, but he has never posted more than 7.5 sacks in a season; he had just 5.5 in 2024. I’m not saying that Young is a bad player by any means. He’s merely average, which means he shouldn’t be making close to this money on a team with salary cap problems. This is mismanagement at its finest.
Grade: F

Saints Sign CB Isaac Yiadom:
You don’t see many 3-year contracts with this small dollar amount. After a year away in San Francisco, Yiadom is returning to the Saints on a 3-year, $9M contract with $4.86M guaranteed and a maximum value of $10.5M. He was alright with the 49ers, but his best career season came in 2023 with these very Saints. That year, Yiadom had a whopping 14 PBUs. He’s prone to getting burned on double moves, but he’s otherwise fine in coverage and is being acquired on a very team-friendly deal. This is a surprisingly thrifty move by New Orleans in their wild money-printing operation.
Grade: A-

Steelers Sign QB Mason Rudolph:
Pittsburgh signed a QB! Just not the one you were hoping for (or hoping that they’d avoid). Rudolph is back with the team that drafted him on a 2-year, $8M contract including $4.5M guaranteed. This is average backup money, and Rudolph might be a bit above average. He saved the Steelers in 2023 when Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett failed, helping them reach the playoffs. Things didn’t go as well in Tennessee last year, but Rudolph was still better than Will Levis. This will be a good backup for whichever aging veteran Pittsburgh chooses as the starter, and he fits the team well.
Grade: A

Eagles Sign OLB Josh Uche:
The further we get from 2022, the more I think that Uche’s 11.5-sack season was a major outlier. He hasn’t topped 3 sacks in a season since, and he had 0 with KC in 6 games last year. Teams are still going to kick his tires to see if they can extract whatever Bill Belichick got from him that one year. Philly is next to try, signing Uche to a 1-year, $1.75M contract with $750K guaranteed. I can see the Eagles using him in a cheaper version of the Bryce Huff role as a designated rusher. The Huff experiment failed, and I honestly don’t see this one working out much better, but they only guaranteed Uche $750K, so why not?
Grade: B+

Ravens Re-Sign FB Patrick Ricard:
As one of the few teams in the NFL to still use a fullback, Baltimore has a unique one. Ricard, a converted DT who weights 300 pounds, is a punishing blocker due to his sheer size advantage over LBs. The Ravens are bringing him back for year number 9 on a 1-year, $2.873M fully guaranteed contract. Saving a roster spot for an FB makes sense for this team in particular; nobody runs the ball more, and RB Derrick Henry enjoys traditional-looking formations, which happen to employ a fullback. Ricard makes the Ravens a unique challenge to defend, and that alone makes him a good player to bring back.
Grade: A

Bills Re-Sign RB Darrynton Evans:
For the third time, Evans is a Buffalo Bill. The journeyman back is signing a very cheap deal: $1.21M for 1 year with just $15K guaranteed. Truthfully, this is barely notable. That minimal guarantee suggests that Evans is far from a roster lock, and he’s at least the 4th RB on the depth chart. Even so, I don’t know why the Bills made this move. Evans has a 3.8 YPC average and doesn’t catch passes. I’m only even grading this signing to comment on Buffalo wasting their time.
Grade: C-

Steelers Sign RB Kenneth Gainwell:
Gainwell’s run as the Eagles’ primary backup is over, as the nearby Steelers are adding him on a 1-year, $1.79M contract with $620K guaranteed. He’ll be expected to complement the recently-tendered Jaylen Warren in place of Najee Harris. Gainwell is a decent runner with a 4.2 YPC average for his career, but his touches dropped when Philly signed Saquon Barkley. His best trait is his receiving ability, as he is a good weapon out of the backfield. He’s not exactly the bruiser that Pittsburgh should be looking for, but at such a good price, maybe the Steelers can still acquire a 3rd RB to rotate.
Grade: A-

Buccaneers Re-Sign OLB Anthony Nelson:
Seldom a starter, Nelson has been a consistent contributor to Tampa’s pass rushing rotation. He has earned 3 or more sacks in each of the past 4 years, and his run defense is decent as well. The Bucs are bringing him back on a 2-year, $10M contract with a maximum value of $12M and $5.5M guaranteed. Tampa Bay does not have a potent edge rush, so losing Nelson would’ve been bad. Keeping him on a fair contract, in a place where he knows how to fill his role, was the right approach. I’d call this an average value for what Nelson brings to the table.
Grade: B+

Rams Sign C Coleman Shelton:
Following one year in Chicago, Shelton is turning to the team he was with for the first 6 years of his career. The Rams are facilitating this reunion with a 2-year, $12M contract containing $9M guaranteed. I suppose the team expects him to compete with incumbent Beaux Limmer, but this deal doesn’t exactly scream “backup money”. It’s starting center money. My guess is that the team will try one of them at guard after trading Jonah Jackson, as they’re both slightly-above-average linemen. Assuming that’s the plan, I like this deal, as either player will be an upgrade over what Jackson gave LA last season.
Grade: B+

Cardinals Sign QB Jacoby Brissett:
On to his sixth team, Brissett brings a ton of experience to Arizona’s QB room. Having been both a starter and a backup at various points, he’s the ideal QB2. That comes at a bit higher price tag, with Brissett signing a 2-year, $12.5M contract containing $8M guaranteed. The Cardinals need a better backup than most. That’s because diminutive Kyler Murray is one of the biggest injury risks in the NFL. Brissett is better than Clayton Tune or anyone else Arizona has trotted out there. I don’t think he makes the team a playoff contender, but he’s a good signing nonetheless.
Grade: A

49ers Sign QB Mac Jones:
The 49ers foolishly drafted Trey Lance with the #3 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and now they possess the 15th pick from that class. Jones is leaving Jacksonville to back up Brock Purdy on a 2-year, $7M contract with $5M guaranteed and a maximum value of $11.5M. Following a strong rookie year in New England, Jones fell apart. He hasn’t looked good since, instead resembling the more limited prospect that many of us foresaw. Jones didn’t even inspire confidence as a backup last year, and he was far too tentative. If anyone can fix him, it’s Kyle Shanahan. He was once rumored to be interested in drafting Jones. That proved to be unfounded, but this is his chance to complete another reclamation project. For the team, this is an average backup at a low cost.
Grade: B+

Cardinals Sign DT Dalvin Tomlinson:
Cleveland just released Tomlinson for cap reasons, but he’s making nearly the same amount of money now. He joins Arizona on a 2-year, $29M contract with $16M guaranteed. I really like this commitment by the Cardinals to remaking their lackluster defensive line. Josh Sweat addressed the pass rush, and now Tomlinson is aboard as a pocket pusher and elite run stuffer. The 325-pound behemoth averages 3 sacks a year while shutting down opposing rushing attacks. This isn’t an amazing value for a 31-year-old lineman, but Tomlinson hasn’t slowed down at all and will be a vital piece for defensive HC Jonathan Gannon.
Grade: A-

March 12, 2025—–NEW LEAGUE YEAR BEGINS AT 4 PM EST

Colts Re-Sign G/C Danny Pinter:
A Colts lineman didn’t bolt for Minnesota? I’m shocked! All kidding aside, I love that Indy retained Pinter. They even did so on a dirt-cheap contract: $1.67M for 1 year with $750K guaranteed. Whenever the Colts had an injury at guard or center, Pinter stepped in and acquitted himself well. He’s the quintessential backup lineman: someone who can fill multiple spots while performing effectively when forced to play. To be able to keep Pinter for this little money is stunning, and we know that he’s good in a Colts uniform. Other teams should take this as an example of how to properly build o-line depth.
Grade: A+

Seahawks Sign DE DeMarcus Lawrence:
This is a pretty hefty contract for a player who is coming off a foot injury at 32 years old. Lawrence played in just 4 games for Dallas in 2024 due to the aforementioned injury, but his recovery must be going well, as Seattle is signing him to a 3-year, $42M contract with $18M guaranteed. The 3-year aspect of this deal is concerning, but the guarantee suggests that we should view this as a 1-year, $18M pact with team options. That makes a lot more sense for the Seahawks. While Lawrence hasn’t hit double-digit sacks since 2018, he has been a reliable edge rusher who also plays the run well. When he went down last year, the Cowboys’ run defense collapsed. Seattle needs a player like this, and the value isn’t awful if you take out the funny money.
Grade: B-

Texans Sign ST/LB Nick Niemann:
A THIRD special teamer for Houston?? Niemann played just 5% of the defensive snaps last year, though he notched 40 tackles and a fumble recovery in 2023. Once again, the contract isn’t terrible: 2 years and up to $6M with $4M guaranteed. The guarantee is too high, but that’s not my issue. The Texans are now reserving THREE roster spots for special teamers without significant value on another unit. This is getting ridiculous, and I’m not grading this one as kindly.
Grade: D

Panthers Sign P Sam Martin:
With Johnny Hekker off to Tennessee (I’ll grade that once I have the details), the Panthers needed a new punter. Enter Martin, who is departing Buffalo to sign a 1-year deal worth up to $3M with $1.6M guaranteed in Carolina. Martin averaged a robust 46.7 yards per punt, but his net punting average was just 39.8 yards. He struggles a bit with touchbacks, but he can flip the field with his big leg. After starting his career with the Broncos, he proved in Buffalo that his distance wasn’t just a product of the low altitude. This is a solid pickup for the Panthers, and I expect Martin to have plenty of opportunities in 2025.
Grade: B+

Commanders Sign DB Will Harris:
Credit GM Adam Peters: he knows that the secondary is his team’s weakness, and he’s signing a bunch of guys to try and fix the problem. After losing Jeremy Chinn, the Commanders pivoted to Harris, who is signing a 2-year, $8M contract with a maximum value of $10M and $3.39M guaranteed. While this is a downgrade, Harris isn’t bad. He had a respectable 74 tackles and 5 PBUs last year, and he brings versatility to play corner or safety. That adaptability is part of his appeal, and the contract is cheap enough for me. Harris is a solid value, but I doubt Washington is done with their secondary moves.
Grade: B+

Dolphins Sign S Ifeatu Melifonwu:
Melinfonwu is unfortunately an example of a player who does well when he’s on the field but can’t actually stay on the field. An Achilles injury ended his 2024 season, and those are notorious for lingering an extra season or so. Miami is signing Melifonwu to a 1-year, $4M contract with a $2.45M guaranteed, which means that while they’re taking on almost no risk, they also are signing him for a season when he likely won’t be his best. He offers a unique ability to blitz (3 sacks in 2023) while also covering well (2 INTs that season) when healthy. Though I love the upside with Melifonwu, the Dolphins might not be the ones to see it.
Grade: B

Cowboys Sign G Robert Jones:
Did Dallas watch Miami try to run the ball last year? Jones became a full-time starter for the first time, and the running lanes clogged up. RB De’Von Achane, who starred as a rookie, simply had nowhere to go in 2024. The Cowboys saw that and decided to sign Jones to a 1-year deal worth up to $4.75M with $3M guaranteed. I don’t have a problem with acquiring line depth. Actually, I encourage that. But at least sign players who can perform well if forced into action. Jones shouldn’t even be in consideration for the job vacated by the retired Zack Martin. This signing will be optimized if Jones rides the bench all year.
Grade: D+

Steelers Sign CB Darius Slay:
Slay didn’t have to go far after being released by the Eagles. He’s joining the in-state Steelers on a fully guaranteed 1-year, $10M contract. At 33 years old, Slay still had a good year for the Super Bowl Champs. Now 34, it’s clear that he has lost a step, but he can be an average outside corner. Better still, I think he has the instincts to thrive in the slot, where the Steelers could use an upgrade. The pass defense struggled down the stretch last year, which makes this signing necessary. Should Pittsburgh deploy Slay properly, they might be able to get a really strong season out of him.
Grade: A-

Broncos Sign TE Evan Engram:
Sean Payton finally found his new Jimmy Graham. Since he came to Denver, the veteran coach has been trying to fill his “joker” position, which is basically a big-bodied WR who happens to play TE. Engram, recently released by the Jaguars, is a fit. He’s signing a 2-year, $23M contract with $16.5M guaranteed. Engram had an injury-plagued 2024 season that limited him to 365 yards over 9 games. He was a Pro Bowler with 114 receptions the prior season though, so he might be able to return to form even at age 30. I appreciate the Broncos adding weapons for 2nd-year QB Bo Nix, as he’ll need them to take the next step. The guarantees are a bit high, but this signing could pay off if Engram stays healthy.
Grade: B

Browns Sign DT Maliek Collins:
As always, if you can rush the passer from inside, you’re going to get paid. That’s true for this former Niner, as Williams is receiving a 2-year, $20M contract with $13M fully guaranteed. Cleveland is probably making this move because they promised Myles Garrett that they’d try to build a team around him, but what’s the point? Deshaun Watson is a cloud over the organization for another 2 years, i.e., the length of this contract. Collins is a well-rounded DT who had 5 sacks last year, but all he does for the Browns is hurt their draft pick during 2 seasons where they should tank. If another team gave Collins this deal, I’d like it. For Cleveland though, I can only provide partial credit.
Grade: B-

Bills Sign DT Larry Ogunjobi:
The Bills are really trying to beef up their defensive line, this time importing a former Steeler DT. Ogunjobi is signing a 1-year, $8.3M contract with $8 guaranteed and a maximum value of $10M. In other words, he’s another player who got cut only to be given a raise by his new team. This is another 1-year deal for Buffalo, who seems to be making a big push to win this year without risking anything in the future. Ogunjobi hasn’t been a strong interior rusher in 4 years, but he remains decent against the run. I don’t love this signing since he’s basically a lite version of Ed Oliver, but it can’t hurt.
Grade: B-

Broncos Sign WR Trent Sherfield:
Ever since he had one 417-yard season in 2022 with Miami, Sherfield has been viewed in a different light. However, 5 of his other 6 pro seasons ended with less than 100 receiving yards, and he is on his 6th team in 6 years. Denver still thinks enough of him to provide some guaranteed cash, signing Sherfield to a 2-year, $6M contract with $1.5M guaranteed and a maximum value of $8M. I guess Denver believes that his solid special teams skills and good blocking are worthy of this deal, but I don’t really see it. A non-guaranteed veteran minimum contract would’ve been more appropriate.
Grade: C-

Vikings Sign DT Javon Hargrave:
Many forgot about Hargrave after he missed most of 2024 with a torn triceps. Prior to that injury, which turned him into a cap casualty for the 49ers, Hargrave had 18 sacks in 2 sacks. Interior rushers are critical, and Minnesota was lacking one. Now they have two with Jonathan Allen and Hargrave. The latter is signing a 2-year, $30M contract with $19M guaranteed. If we knew for sure that Hargrave would be healthy and productive, he’d earn way more than this. As of today though, he’s a 32-year-old coming off of a tough injury. The Vikings consider themselves contenders, and the upside with Hargrave is immense. By limiting their risk with just $19M in guarantees, I think Minnesota is making a good move.
Grade: B+

Panthers Sign DT Bobby Brown III:
This is another high-cost contract for a 2-down run stuffer. Brown, who is signing a 3-year, $21M contract with a maximum value of $27M and $9.575M guaranteed, does nothing against the pass. He is a pure nose tackle who uses his 332-lb frame to clog running lanes. The Panthers’ abundant cap space and the low amount of guaranteed money are saving graces. Carolina badly needed to upgrade their run defense, though that was more of an LB issue given the return of DT Derrick Brown in 2025. Bobby Brown did his job well with the Rams, but the Panthers may cut bait after one year when they realize this is too much cash.
Grade: C

Packers Sign G Aaron Banks:
For a QB under so much pressure, Brock Purdy sure is losing a lot of linemen to big deals. The latest to depart San Francisco is Banks, who is signing with Green Bay on a 4-year, $77M contract with $27M guaranteed. I told you the Packers only make massive signings. Fortunately, the guarantees came in pretty low and GB can escape, or else I would’ve failed them. Banks is merely an average guard, yet he’s being paid near the top of his position. I’m big on interior protectors, but was this really the price they needed to pay? If so, they should’ve just drafted a guard. One taken in the 3rd round would be just as good.
Grade: D

Falcons Re-Sign CB Mike Hughes:
Atlanta has seen Hughes the past two years and signed up for more, agreeing to a 3-year, $18M contract with $9.6M guaranteed. Even though he was a first-round pick in 2018, 2024 was his first year as a full-time starter. Maybe that was the key to unlocking him, as he produced his best season to date. He’s had a couple other good years, but he rarely stacks them together. One of his good seasons is worth the $9.6M guaranteed figure he’s getting, so I like this contract. The Falcons get two more bites at the apple in that scenario, and they’re not risking too much if he bombs.
Grade: B+

Bills Sign DE Joey Bosa:
When I graded the Bills’ signing of Michael Hoecht, I stated that Buffalo needed a better pass rush. I think this qualifies. Bosa is a very talented edge rusher, and his ability is worth much more than this 1-year, $12.6M contract with $12M guaranteed and $3M available in incentives. His problem is health. He hasn’t started more than 9 games in a season in 3 years. Despite that, he had 11.5 sacks over his last 14 starts. Assuming 50% availability, Buffalo is valuing Bosa at $25M per season, which is well below the going rate for elite rushers. In Buffalo, he’ll be able to rotate with other players to minimize his injury exposure, which will hopefully keep him healthy for the playoffs. That’s when Bosa will really be needed. Perhaps he’s the guy who can get the Bills over the proverbial hump. It’s looking like Super Bowl or bust for this team.
Grade: A

49ers Sign WR Demarcus Robinson:
A second straight A+ contract! Robinson is criminally underrated. I don’t just say that because he had career bests with 505 yards and 7 TDs last year with the Rams. Whenever LA had an injury, Robinson would step into the WR2 role and perform well. Just as importantly for the 49ers, he has done this for three different teams now. His style of play will age well, so I’m not even concerned that he’s 30 years old. At just $9.5M for 2 years with $6M fully guaranteed, he’s one of the best bargains in free agency. Deebo Samuel is gone, and Brandon Aiyuk is coming off an ACL tear (and possibly on the trade block). Robinson can help SF pick up the slack, and to top it all off, he’s coming over from a division rival. Beautiful.
Grade: A+

Dolphins Sign WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine:
Is anyone more of a touchdown machine than Westbrook-Ikhine? Out of his 32 catches last year, 9 of them went for TDs. That’s obviously an unsustainable pace, or else he’d have gotten more than $6.5M over 2 years with $3.2M guaranteed. As a solid #3 receiver, Westbrook-Ikhine set a career high with 497 yards. That came with Will Levis and Mason Rudolph at QB for Tennessee. Imagine what he can do with someone like Tua Tagovailoa throwing him the ball. Of course, there are more mouths to feed in Miami, but Westbrook-Ikhine is still a good value at this price tag. Worse receivers are earning much bigger salaries.
Grade: A+

Panthers Re-Sign OL Brady Christensen:
I put “OL” as Christensen’s position, but he was only a tackle as a rookie; he has played guard the past 3 seasons. A 2023 injury prevented him from being a starter in 2024, but he still appeared in all 17 games. He’s back on a fully guaranteed 1-year, $2.787M contract, possibly to compete for a starting job. I assume he was promised a chance to earn a starting job because I think he could’ve gotten more money elsewhere. At worst, he’s a great backup lineman with versatility, but he might be an immediate starter for several other teams. Carolina did well to keep him, and we’ll see what he can do at full health.
Grade: A

March 11, 2025

Saints Sign S Justin Reid:
Just like Tyrann Mathieu (who restructured his deal today as well) a couple of years ago, Reid is being imported from KC to New Orleans to fill a safety spot. The Chiefs simply couldn’t match this 3-year, $31.5M contract with $22.5M guaranteed. Reid really should’ve been a priority for Kansas City because he’s a good player. He’s an intelligent and instinctive player who covers and plays the run well. Pass breakups are his specialty, but he has also been known to execute a nice safety blitz here and there. He can even kick off! While I don’t agree with the Saints spending money like this and kicking cap charges into the future forever, there’s no denying that this is money well spent.
Grade: A

Cowboys Sign DE Payton Turner:
We just discussed Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, and this is another high-floor, low-ceiling DE taken in the first round who didn’t pan out. In this case, Turner has just 5 sacks in his entire four-year career. Dallas wants to see if he can improve, and they’re giving him a 1-year, $3M contract with $2M guaranteed to show it. Turner hasn’t even started a single game because he has produced so little. The Cowboys are hoping for at least a rotational player, but he hasn’t even done the bare minimum of staying healthy despite his low snap count. I suppose some upside exists, but it’s not enough for me to justify a roster spot.
Grade: C-

Falcons Sign DE Leonard Floyd:
This may have been the shortest time frame from a player being released to finding a new team. San Francisco just announced Floyd’s release, yet he’s already signing a 1-year, $10M guaranteed contract with Atlanta. This poor guy has been on three teams since 2020 despite producing 8.5 sacks or more in every one of those seasons. At 32 years old, he hasn’t slowed down, and he’s a very durable player. The Falcons had one of the league’s worst pass rushes, and Floyd should be helpful for that. They’re minimizing their risk with a one-year deal, but I’d like to see Floyd retained for more than a single season by somebody.
Grade: A

Saints Re-Sign TE Juwan Johnson:
I considered Johnson a fine but unspectacular TE2. He had a career-high 548 yards receiving last year, but at 28, he’s pretty much maxed out. New Orleans must not agree, as they’re re-signing him to a 3-year, $30.75M contract with a maximum value of $34M and $21.25M guaranteed. NFL Network says this cost was so high because a couple other teams sparked a bidding war for some reason. When I look at similar TE contracts, I can’t say that Johnson is appreciably worse than someone like Noah Fant, but this is too much money nonetheless. He’s a useful player but not a top-10 tight end.
Grade: C-

Browns Sign OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka:
When Tryon-Shoyinka had 5 sacks in 2023, I thought he was figuring things out. It turns out that he may just be a bust for the Buccaneers, as he followed that up with 2 sacks in 2024. Cleveland is kicking his tires with a 1-year, $4.75M contract with $4.19M guaranteed. I really don’t think there’s much upside. Tryon-Shoyinka was selected with a first-round pick as a high-floor player, but that floor wasn’t high after all. I still like this move because Cleveland is in a lost year or two with Deshaun Watson’s contract. Searching for young potential reclamation projects is exactly what the Browns should be doing, and this is a cheap one.
Grade: B+

Cowboys Re-Sign KR/WR KaVontae Turpin:
Our biggest USFL success is now the highest-paid special teamer in the league. Turpin, Dallas’ electric All-Pro kick returner, is signing a 3-year, $18M contract with $5.5M guaranteed. If this is just for Turpin to be a KR, this is a bit too much money. Returns are expected to increase with upcoming rule changes, but even so, this contract tells me that the Cowboys want to get Turpin more touches on offense. The small guarantee suggests that they’ll try to force a pay cut if he doesn’t. I think they really should use him offensively because he’s so fast and shifty. His 420 yards last year were a nice start.
Grade: A

Texans Sign G Laken Tomlinson:
At last, the Texans added a lineman. I’d be happier if this were his Pro Bowl season of 2021, but at 33 years old, he remains serviceable. He’s still a good pass protector, which CJ Stroud desperately needs, but where he fell off last year with Seattle was his run blocking. As a result, his new 1-year, $4.25M contract with a maximum value of $5M and $2.5M guaranteed makes sense. He’s a stopgap solution as the Texans (hopefully) further beef up the line. If he’s a reserve or temporary starter, this is good value. The short-term nature of this deal is important, as I wouldn’t start him beyond this one year. He’s necessary regardless.
Grade: B+

Chiefs Sign CB Kristian Fulton:
Fulton is a talented player who can’t seem to make it through 17 games. He has never done so, but when he’s on the field, he covers well. Kansas City is poaching him from the rival Chargers with a 2-year, $20M contract including $15M fully guaranteed and $500K in incentives. On its face, this contract is fine. Fulton would make more money if he were more durable, and he’ll upgrade the spot across from Trent McDuffie. However, this is probably the move that caused the Chiefs to lose S Justin Reid, who is a better player (more on that later). KC earns points for the actual signing, but the ramifications are troubling.
Grade: C+

Colts Sign QB Daniel Jones:
Another QB domino falls, and it’s a mild upset. Signed by Minnesota during the 2024 season after his release from the Giants, Jones was thought to be in line for the Sam Darnold role this year. Instead, he’ll be competing with Anthony Richardson in Indianapolis on a 1-year, $14M contract worth up to $17.7M with $13.15M fully guaranteed. This isn’t backup money; Jones will have a legitimate chance to unseat Richardson. He’s exactly what the team wanted: young with enough potential to challenge Richardson without being too threatening, which would risk ruining him. I’m curious what would happen if Jones wins the supposedly “open” competition. It would probably end Richardson’s run in Indy if the contest is legitimate, which might be the best part of this deal.
Grade: A-

Bengals Re-Sign CB Marco Wilson:
Most likely known for a thrown shoe that cost his Florida Gators a game, Wilson has been an average corner for a couple of teams. Cincinnati added him last year and apparently liked him enough to bring back. He’s re-signing on a 1-year, $1.52M contract with $150K guaranteed. Wilson hasn’t done much since he was a Cardinal, but he’s a fine reserve. The Bengals can’t possibly think of starting him, but a team that once employed Eli Apple has at least improved their scouting a bit. If Wilson enters a game, the opposing team at least won’t feast as if nobody is covering receivers.
Grade: B

Vikings Sign G Will Fries:
Minnesota is back for seconds from the Colts’ offensive line. Fries is joining former and new teammate Ryan Kelly on a 5-year, $88M contract with $44M guaranteed. To state the obvious, this is a massive contract. Fries is also coming off a leg injury that held him to 5 games in 2024. Before that, however, the former 7th-round pick was on a steady rise. He had become one of the more promising guards in the league before he got hurt, and teams clearly took notice. The Vikings have been revamping their line, and Fries is another good piece. He’ll upgrade a weak spot without resetting the market. I still don’t know Garrett Bradbury’s status.
Grade: B+

Giants Sign S Jevon Holland:
The Dolphins resolved themselves to losing Holland a while ago, and now we know why. New York is signing him to a 3-year, $45.3M contract with a maximum value of $46.8M and $30.3 guaranteed. That was far more than Miami was willing to pay given that Holland is coming off a down season. It was his first year without an INT, and he had a career-low 62 tackles. You have to look past that and recall that just a year ago, he was considered one of the top young DBs in the league. He had a new DC in Anthony Weaver, which affected several players. I can easily see Holland returning to his prior trajectory. Yes, there’s a bit of risk here, but this is a below-market contract if Holland pans out. That’s worth a roll of the dice for a 25-year-old potential playmaker.
Grade: A-

49ers Sign S Richie Grant:
Something happened to Grant between 2023 and 2024. Two years ago, he played 83% of the snaps and earned 103 tackles, 3 sacks, 6 PBUs, and 2 FFs. One season later, he was a backup who played just 13% of the snaps, and his snaps plummeted accordingly. I don’t know what changed, but he understandably moved on, signing a 1-year, $1.5M contract with $200K guaranteed in San Francisco. At 27 years old, Grant has good football left. He’s at least a quality special teamer. There’s no risk for SF here, and the upside is tremendous. This is what free agency is all about from a team perspective.
Grade: A+

Vikings Sign DT Jonathan Allen:
Allen, who Washington just released after 8 seasons, has been picked up quickly. He’s even getting a raise: his contract is for $51M over 3 years with a maximum value of $60M and $31.255M guaranteed. It’s questionable to pay a cut player more than he was receiving with his old team, and Allen is coming off his worst year. Injuries limited him to 8 games, and he had just 3 sacks. Even if we look at prior years, his production has been in decline since 2022. At 30 years old, I don’t think you can say that he’s cooked. A move to Brian Flores’ defense could be what the doctor ordered. Minnesota has a potent rush but little inside, and Allen will immediately rectify that. He’s still a good player, but I wasn’t willing to go this high on the money.
Grade: B-

Falcons Sign LB Divine Deablo:
This is another run-stuffing LB, but Deablo provides a tiny bit in the pass rush and coverage departments. Somehow, that and his age (26) got him more than double what Elandon Roberts will earn. He’s signing a 2-year, $14M contract with $7.66M guaranteed. Deablo has missed 5 games over the past two seasons and has never started all 17, but he plays plenty of snaps when he’s active. Atlanta had a weakness at the LB position, and Deablo certainly helps. However, as we just saw with Roberts, his skill set doesn’t usually command $7M per season. Therefore, this signing is helpful, but the price isn’t.
Grade: B-

Raiders Sign LB Elandon Roberts:
When I envision a run-stuffing LB’s salary, this is what I think of. Roberts is signing a 1-year, $3.01M contract with $2.5M guaranteed. He had less than half of his 2023 tackles last year with Pittsburgh, so at age 30, he might be starting to decline. At this price though, Las Vegas may (correctly) view him as a 2-down player who should play approximately half the snaps to keep him fresh. Roberts could excel in such a role, and he’s being signed to such a cheap deal that it almost doesn’t matter. I really like that the Raiders are not taking big, risky swings, even if they’re merely bringing in solid veterans without high ceilings.
Grade: A-

Chargers Re-Sign C Bradley Bozeman:
Here’s another deal where I needed to see the structure before grading it. Bozeman is returning on a 2-year, $6.5M contract with $5.5M available in incentives and $3.375M guaranteed. The initially reported terms of 2 years and $12M would’ve been horrid, as Bozeman has been one of the worst starting centers in the NFL. His real pact is weighted toward incentives, but even the base numbers are too much for my taste. I actually consider him a fairly good reserve, which is worth just a bit less than this. If the Bolts plan to keep starting him though, I’ll go back to hating this signing.
Grade: C+

Vikings Re-Sign CB Byron Murphy:
I was taken aback by the $66M reported figure, but the true deal is more tame: $54M over 3 years with $12M available in incentives and $34.78M guaranteed. Even at $22M per year, I wouldn’t have hated this deal. Murphy was an above-average CB for Arizona for 4 years, but his two years in Minnesota have been at another level. He earned 9 INTs over the past 2 seasons and provided strong coverage throughout. This is rare for the Vikings, whose secondary has been notorious for years. At $18M per season, this contract is a slight bargain, and he keeps a very important position filled. Minnesota had to get him back.
Grade: A

Chargers Sign RB Najee Harris:
This signing screams “Jim Harbaugh”. The Chargers’ coach loves to run the football, and though JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards performed well last year, they are not durable at all. Harris, conversely, has never missed a game in 4 years with the Steelers despite tallying 250+ carries each year. Despite the heavy workload, he has tread on his tires at 27 years old. Thus, I’m surprised that all he could get was a 1-year, $5.25M guaranteed contract with $4M in incentives. Harris underwhelmed a bit in Pittsburgh with a 3.9 YPC average, but he topped 1000 yards and 6 TDs every year and lost 0 fumbles in 2024. For a run-heavy team, a workhorse back with ball security, good pass protection, and durability is crucial. Harris provides all of that on a bargain-basement contract.
Grade: A+

Dolphins Sign G James Daniels:
How do you get a quality guard for $24M over 3 years with $10.735M guaranteed? It’s simple: Daniels is coming off a torn Achilles that ended his 2024 season after 4 games. If healthy, he is a much better player than anyone Miami possesses inside. He’s a good run blocker in particular, helping Najee Harris rack up 1000-yard seasons in Pittsburgh the past few years. I needed the guarantee before grading this deal because if the number were much higher, I’d frown upon it due to the risk involved. Big linemen might not bounce back as quickly from severe injuries, but if Miami is patient with him, the team might wind up with a steal.
Grade: B+

Giants Sign OT James Hudson:
Each of the past two years, LT Andrew Thomas has missed at least 7 games with injury. RT Evan Neal has been a complete bust. Here, the Giants are signing a swing tackle who can substitute for either of them. Hudson is coming over from Cleveland on a 2-year, $12M contract with $4M in incentives and $5.8M guaranteed. The structure of this contract suggests that New York envisions a slightly bigger role than an average swing tackle. Hudson may be insurance for another bad year from Neal, at which point he could claim the starting job. The former Brown has been inconsistent himself, but at least he’s 25 with some room to grow.
Grade: B

Texans Re-Sign ST/LB Jake Hansen:
This signing wasn’t notable except for the fact that Houston sought out a second pure special teamer. Hansen played just 13% of the snaps on defense but made 28 in kick coverage, earning him a 1-year, $1.7M contract with a maximum value of $2M. I actually like this deal more than the Tremon Smith signing because it’s for half the time and half the price. The Texans clearly wanted to upgrade their coverage units, but this is now two roster spots devoted specifically to that purpose. Houston’s grade is hurt by the odd team-building strategy, but on its own, this re-signing isn’t bad.
Grade: B-

Colts Re-Sign WR Ashton Dulin:
I didn’t expect the Colts to retain Dulin because they barely used him. He had just 67 receiving yards in 2024 (15 games) after missing 2023 due to a torn ACL. Back on a 2-year, $6.5M contract worth up to $8.5 with $2.94M guaranteed, the Colts clearly expect a return to form next year. What is that form though? Dulin has never had more than 207 yards or 15 catches in a season, and he’s already 27 years old. I get wanting depth at WR, but even a #4 receiver should earn more than 19% of the snaps. This is a pretty low-risk deal, but I’m not entirely sure why it was made.
Grade: C-

Cardinals Sign LB Akeem Davis-Gaither:
Never a full-time starter, Davis-Gaither saw his most extensive action with the Bengals last year, and he made 82 tackles to go along with 4 PBUs and an INT. He does best in run support, but he’s not awful in coverage. Arizona, in dire need of defensive reinforcements, is signing him to a 2-year, $10M contract with $1M in incentives and $5M guaranteed. Davis-Gaither racked up these stats while playing only 47% of the snaps, so it stands to reason that he could do even more if used as a starter by the Cardinals. I think this has a chance to be a good under-the-radar signing that fills a need.
Grade: A-

Bills Sign DT Michael Hoecht:
I didn’t know exactly how to label Hoecht, as he has been a movable rotational chess piece for the Rams. Whenever I’ve seen him flash though, it’s been at DT, so that’s what I’m going with. In his lone season as a full-time starter in 2023, he earned 6 sacks and 81 tackles. His numbers dipped last year as rookie Braden Fiske was given his starting job, but he still produced at times. Buffalo is signing him to a 3-year, $21M contract with a maximum value of $24M and $13.43M guaranteed. In their playoff games against Baltimore and Kansas City, the Bills struggled to rush the passer. Hoecht can provide some juice from any spot along the defensive line or even at OLB, mostly like in a committee. That’s worth about $7M per season, so this is a fair signing.
Grade: B

Patriots Sign WR Mack Hollins:
For some reason, Hollins seems to have a few games with every team that intrigue you. That in turn helps him find a job with a new team. This time, he’s switching from Buffalo to New England on a 2-year, $8.4M contract with a maximum value of $10.4M and $3.5M guaranteed. He’s typically a 3rd or 4th WR, and he had 378 yards and 5 TDs last year. A big-bodied deep threat, Hollins should upgrade the Patriots’ receiving corps by default because they possess very little. In that regard, bringing him in on a low-cost deal makes plenty of sense, as he at least gives Drake Maye someone to throw to a few times per game.
Grade: B+

Giants Re-Sign WR Darius Slayton:
I’ve said in the past that Slayton is an underrated receiver. I didn’t mean that the Giants should make up for all of his cheap contracts by overpaying him now. Slayton is signing a 3-year, $36M contract with $22M guaranteed. He has been a very solid receiver, exceeding 500 yards in each of the past 3 years despite poor QB play. Aside from his rookie year, he hasn’t been a major red zone threat, and his best role is as a WR3. It seems as though the Giants view him as a WR2, where Slayton is a bit stretched. This isn’t an awful contract, and maybe Slayton produces more with a better quarterback. The G-Men paid too much to keep him though.
Grade: C+

Jaguars Sign OL Chuma Edoga:
As someone with experience at both tackle and guard, Edoga provides depth and versatility. Jacksonville, needing more linemen than they can count, is signing Edoga to a 2-year, $7M contract with $3.2M guaranteed. Not all depth is great depth. If Edoga plays significant snaps, Trevor Lawrence is in trouble. He’s a middling player in both run support and pass protection, and he was a part of Dallas’ run struggles last season. In all likelihood, this will turn out to be a 1-year deal because I doubt the Jaguars will want to see year 2. I don’t grade cheap contracts too low, so Jacksonville is lucky, as this isn’t a good one.
Grade: C

Giants Sign ST/LB Chris Board:
Teams sure love signing core special teamers. If you’re going to do that though, taking one from Baltimore, where HC John Harbaugh was previously an ST coordinator, is the way to do so. Board has agreed to a 2-year deal worth up to $6M. Unlike most ST signings, Board actually played a bit on defense, earning 30 tackles and a sack as a reserve in 2024. Special teams are underrated, but paying for a kick coverage player is not usually the best use of money. Board is a bit better than the average special teamer because of his contributions on defense, so he gets a grade reflecting that.
Grade: B

Giants Sign DE Chauncey Golston:
It’s always fun poaching from a division rival, and if you’re the Giants, that’s especially true if you take from Dallas. Because of an injury to DeMarcus Lawrence, Golston got to make 13 starts in 2024, and he responded with 5.5 sacks, 56 tackles, and even 5 PBUs. New York liked him enough to hand him a 3-year, $19.5M contract with $12.25M guaranteed. Though he’s not the youngest player at 27, Golston has improved with more playing time. The Giants have a good edge rushing tandem, so Golston will be a rotational player, but he provides nice depth. I think there’s potential here, and grabbing a Cowboy makes this signing better.
Grade: B+

Patriots Sign DT Khyiris Tonga:
I really should’ve put “NT” for Tonga’s position, as the 334-pounder played the classic nose tackle role for Arizona. As a two-down run stopper, Tonga possesses limited value, as evidenced by his new 1-year, $2.7M deal. Christian Barmore’s blood clots sadly make him a question mark, and while Tonga doesn’t remotely replace him as a rusher, he can help fill the void (literally) in run support. This is an inexpensive signing that serves a purpose, which earns it a solid grade.
Grade: B+

Texans Sign OLB Darrell Taylor:
I thought Taylor was a good trade acquisition for Chicago last year, but he didn’t play nearly as well as he did for Seattle. He had a career-low 3 sacks when he never posted less than 5.5 in any prior season. Taylor is now Houston’s reclamation project, signed to a 1-year, $5.25M contract. Among the league’s coaches, I’d bet on DeMeco Ryans to get Taylor right. He’ll be part of a fearsome pass rushing rotation that should keep him fresh and give him plenty of 1-on-1 opportunities. Adding depth with upside like this is smart front seven construction, and Houston seems to have that strategy down.
Grade: A

Bengals Sign LB Oren Burks:
How does Burks keep getting signed for so cheap? This time around, the former Eagle agreed to a 2-year, $5M contract. He has been a rotational reserve for the entirety of his 7-year career, yet he always looks good when on the field. This past year, he subbed for an injured Nakobe Dean and didn’t miss a beat. Cincinnati needs as many talented defenders as their limited cap space can handle, and acquiring someone like Burks for so little is the recipe for success. I can’t figure out why Philly didn’t bring him back, but that’s Cincy’s gain, as they need him more anyway.
Grade: A+

Colts Sign S Camryn Bynum:
Bynum became a starter for Minnesota 3 years ago, and he played especially well the past two seasons. Combined, he notched 19 PBUs, 233 tackles, and 5 INTs. Now, he’s getting paid, but not by the Vikings. The Colts are signing him to a 4-year, $60M contract with $30M guaranteed. This is a hefty sum for a safety, but Bynum might be worth it. He’s a well-rounded player who learned under DC Brian Flores, and he won’t be 30 until this contract is about to expire. Bynum is Indy’s second upgrade in the secondary, which they badly needed. I approve of a team spending money on a young player at a position of weakness.
Grade: A-

Cowboys Sign RB Javonte Williams:
Look at the Cowboys participating in free agency! Williams’ career got off to a promising start, but since a 2022 ACL tear, he hasn’t reached 4 yards per carry in a season. That explains his weak market and how Dallas was able to sign him to a 1-year, $3M contract with a maximum value of $3.5M. The best version of Williams is well worth this money, but we haven’t seen that guy in 3 years. Dallas isn’t taking a big risk, but they need at least one other RB in case Williams doesn’t return to form. In a vacuum, this contract is a nice flier. Relying on Williams alone would be a major mistake though.
Grade: B

Raiders Sign S Jeremy Chinn:
Chinn had his best season during his 1 year in Washington, with 117 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, and an INT. The Raiders, needing a replacement for Tre’von Moehrig, swooped in to grab him. Chinn is much cheaper than Moehrig, coming at at $16M over 2 years with $12M guaranteed. To be honest, he may even be better than Moehrig. The latter is a bit better in pass coverage, but Chinn is far better against the run. At less than half the annual cost, this a great example of improving your team while shedding salary. That will enable the Raiders to address their many other weaknesses.
Grade: A+

Patriots Sign OT Morgan Moses:
It’s not every day that you see a 3-year deal for a 34-year-old lineman, but we have one here. Moses is leaving the Jets for the rival Patriots on a 3-year, $24M contract with $11M guaranteed and a maximum value of $28.5M. The rule is: if you have a young QB, protect him or else. This is a good step in that direction, as Moses has been a good RT for many years. His age could become a concern, but the guarantee here belies the 3-year nature of the deal. At worst, you get 1 year for $11M, which isn’t really a ton. In the best-case scenario, Moses plays well throughout this inexpensive deal. Either way, it’s a value signing.
Grade: A-

March 10, 2025—–LEGAL TAMPERING PERIOD BEGINS AT 12 PM EST

Vikings Sign C Ryan Kelly:
I didn’t anticipate Minnesota signing a center. Garrett Bradbury remains under contract as of this writing. Either somebody has to move to guard, or Bradbury is on his way out. Kelly is certainly the favorite to remain at center given this 2-year, $18M contract with $9M guaranteed. This seems to be a reaction to the Vikings’ pass protection woes in their final two games of 2024. The smaller Bradbury is reliable in the running game but can be overwhelmed by interior rushers. Kelly doesn’t have that problem, which makes him a likely upgrade. I’d be happier with this signing if both guys can play simultaneously, which would truly help the line.
Grade: B

Panthers Sign DT Tershawn Wharton:
Imagine going from a near-dynasty in Kansas City to a losing team like Carolina. That’s the path being taken by Wharton, likely because the Panthers are handing him a 3-year, $45M contract with $30M guaranteed and a maximum value of $54M to make the move. The Chiefs were never going to match this deal because there’s too much risk involved. Wharton is coming off his best season with 6.5 sacks while playing 62% of the snaps. He’s not a run stuffer, which the Panthers needed, and there’s no telling how he’ll perform without Chris Jones lined up next to him. As a 26-year-old DT who experienced good coaching, Wharton could blossom in a true starting role. He could also struggle though, which would be disastrous given the size of this contract.
Grade: C+

Dolphins Sign QB Zach Wilson:
Miami’s first signing is VERY interesting. Zach Wilson is back in the AFC East after a year in Denver, and the Dolphins hope that he can solve their backup QB woes. To obtain his services, Miami is giving Wilson a fully guaranteed 1-year, $6M contract with a maximum value of $10M. The former Jets bust never had a chance given the team that drafted him. Hopefully, a year with Sean Payton got him back on the right track. That said, the Broncos opted for Jarrett Stidham over Wilson, which speaks volumes. Miami needs a good backup because Tua Tagovailoa gets injured on occasion, and I’m not sure they accomplished that.
Grade: C+

Colts Sign CB Charvarius Ward:
Improving the Colts’ lackluster passing defense is a must, and they’re making a big splash to try to achieve that goal. Ward, the 49ers’ #1 CB over the past 3 seasons, is signing a 3-year, $60M contract with $35M guaranteed. He has been an excellent CB over the years, especially in 2023 when he set a career-high with 5 INTs. An injury and the death of his child made 2024 a bit of a down year, which is why I think a change of scenery will be great for him. Ward is only 28, so he should bounce back. The Colts also need to take some big swings, as the current regime could be ousted with another disappointing season.
Grade: B+

Packers Sign CB Nate Hobbs:
Green Bay seems to either make big signings or none at all. Hobbs played his first 4 seasons with the Raiders, where he missed some games due to injury but played well in his role as a slot CB. The Packers hope he does the same for them on his new 4-year, $48M contract with $16M guaranteed. While that seems like a lot of money for a player with an injury history, the low guarantee reveals the true nature of this pact. Green Bay is not taking on much risk, but they’re able to have the reward of Hobbs for up to 4 years if he performs as expected. As he is just 26, he should continue to play well, making this a worthy chance for GB to take.
Grade: A-

Jaguars Sign C Robert Hainsey:
Add another lineman to the Jaguars’ hall! Here, they’ve founder their starting center, signing Hainsey to a 3-year, $21M contract with $13M guaranteed. New coach Liam Coen knows Hainsey from their shared time as Buccaneers, which actually makes this signing curious. Hainsey lost the starting job in 2024 to rookie Graham Barton, and Tampa’s running game improved. I suppose he’s better than anything Jacksonville had, and he’ll upgrade Trevor Lawrence’s pass protection. I wouldn’t have given $7M per year to a player another team demoted, but there’s upside with a center who is just 26 years old.
Grade: C+

Jets Sign CB Brandon Stephens:
New York may have panicked after DJ Reed bolted for Detroit. They’re replacing him with Stephens, who comes over from Baltimore on a 3-year, $36M contract with $23M fully guaranteed. Simply put, this is too much money. Stephens wasn’t a bad cover man for the Ravens, but he was definitely the weakest link in that secondary. Now that he’ll be playing across from Sauce Gardner, teams might pick on him even more. Stephens takes chances in coverage, leading to a plethora of PBUs but also some blown assignments. He’s competent but needs to play much more like he did in 2023 than in 2024, when his gambles worked out.
Grade: C

Jaguars Sign TE Hunter Long:
That’s two blocking TEs for Jacksonville, and they once again didn’t pay a fortune. The former Ram is signing a 2-year, $5M contract with a maximum value of $6M. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t approve of signing redundant players. However, the Jaguars had such poor blocking last year that I really can’t complain. I liked the Johnny Mundt signing better because he at least can threaten teams as a red zone target and blocks a little better, but this signing isn’t bad either.
Grade: B+

Titans Re-Sign DT Sebastian Joseph-Day:
This is a man who has bounced to numerous teams, and I have no idea why. He’s a good run defender who also earned 2.5 sacks last year. Finally, one team is bringing him back for a second year, as Joseph-Day is re-signing on a 1-year, $7.5M contract with $5M guaranteed. I like this fit in particular because of how he slots in next to Jeffery Simmons. The latter is a premier pass rusher, while the former can clog the lanes and clean up opposing rushing attacks. At this price, it was probably an easy decision to re-sign Joseph-Day. Inferior DTs have been receiving more money, but the Titans didn’t overspend.
Grade: A-

Bengals Sign DT TJ Slaton:
Noting their deficiency against the run, Cincinnati apparently went with the biggest body they could find in the 330-lb Slaton. He has agreed to a 2-year, $15.1M contract. The Packers got better in run defense after Slaton became a starter, so that bodes well for the Bengals. He’d better be good in run support because he doesn’t offer anything in the pass rushing department. Any defensive upgrades are going to be welcomed by Bengals fans, as this unit requires a complete overhaul. I can’t say that Slaton solves their problems, but he’s one piece of the puzzle at an average price.
Grade: B

Giants Sign DL Roy Robertson-Harris:
I liked Robertson-Harris when he was with the Jaguars, but he didn’t do almost anything in 11 games with Seattle last year. New York is still giving him a 2-year, $9M contract with a maximum value of $10M. I don’t think this is misguided. First of all, Robertson-Harris can play DT or DE. He’s a good run stuffer at either spot, and though he doesn’t rack up sacks, he applies a decent amount of pressure. Don’t expect him to play a ton as the defensive line is NY’s best position group, but as a reserve who can fill in anywhere up front when needed, Robertson-Harris is a good player to have.
Grade: B+

Patriots Sign QB Joshua Dobbs:
The Passtronaut has landed in Foxborough. Signed to replace Jacoby Brissett, the well-traveled Dobbs is signing a 2-year, $8M contract with $3.8M guaranteed. Brissett might be a better player, but I think Dobbs is a better fit for the Patriots. He’ll have no trouble learning the offense, and he has played well in spurts when called upon. Most importantly, he’ll be a good mentor for Drake Maye. Brissett is not that type, and he’d prefer to take Maye’s job. Dobbs can help Maye learn and develop, which is the most important thing for NE at the moment. In that regard, I believe the Pats upgraded at the QB2 spot.
Grade: A

Jaguars Sign G Patrick Mekari:
I appreciate that Jacksonville is continuing to address their blocking. Trevor Lawrence has been under siege, and the Jags struggle to run the ball. If you want to improve your rushing attack, raiding the Ravens is a good way to start. Mekari is joining on a 3-year, $37.5M contract with $20M guaranteed a maximum value of $39M. I listed Mekari as a guard, but he also has experience at C and OT. Versatility is always great for a lineman, but if he can upgrade just one spot, the Jaguars will be happy. This isn’t even considered high-end money anymore for a guard, which is where I think he should play.
Grade: A-

Bears Sign DT Grady Jarrett:
Mere hours after he was released by the Falcons, Jarrett has landed with a new team. He almost completely recouped his old salary by signing a 3-year, $43.5M contract with $28.5M fully guaranteed. I’ve long been a fan of Jarrett, but the truth is that he hasn’t been quite the same player over the past 2 years. He’s 31 now, so that’s likely the reason, but it also doesn’t provide much optimism that he’ll rebound. A 3-year deal is very aggressive, and while I believe Jarrett will be great for the team’s culture, I’d be surprised if he returned to his prior level of play.
Grade: C-

49ers Sign TE Luke Farrell:
Why is another blocking TE being paid a significant amount of money? Farrell, who had 67 yards with Jacksonville last year, is signing on a 3-year deal worth up to $20.25 with $11M guaranteed. In case the 49ers forgot, George Kittle is one of the best blocking TEs in football. Of all teams, this one needed a blocking TE the least. Yet, for some reason, they handed Farrell almost $7M per year. I want to repeat something: these are good players. Their position is just not very important for teams to spend money on.
Grade: D

Bengals Sign RB Samaje Perine:
You don’t know what you have until it’s gone. Perine was a good complementary back for Cincinnati through 2022, after which he had stints in Denver and KC. In the meantime, the Bengals haven’t been able to completely shore up their backfield. Cincy and Perine are back together on a 2-year deal worth up to $3.8M. Perine brings solid running, good receiving ability, and best of all, stellar pass protection. On this low of a salary, he’ll be a great fit with the smaller Chase Brown and will ideally take some of the load off him. This is why paying RBs big money is rarely smart: quality options can be acquired for peanuts.
Grade: A+

Bills Sign WR Josh Palmer:
Serviceable as a quality WR3 for 4 years with the Chargers, Palmer is leaving for Buffalo on a 3-year, $36M contract with $18M guaranteed. Used as both a possession receiver and a deep threat, Palmer had 500+ yards in each of the past 3 seasons. Injuries have prevented him from making a bigger impact, but he has WR2 upside. This is probably too much money for a player of his caliber, but based on where the WR market is, it’s not terrible. Josh Allen needs as many weapons as possible, and Palmer can be a good one if his body cooperates.
Grade: C+

Cardinals Sign DE Josh Sweat:
Arizona struck out on one Eagles DL (Milton Williams) but landed another. Sweat was arguably the best pass rusher on the market due to his combination of age (27) and production. Despite playing in a rotation, he had 8 sacks last year and 33 over the past 4 seasons. He peaked in the most recent Super Bowl, where he had 2.5 sacks in that game alone. This isn’t even a case where Sweat was shielded by a superior rusher on the opposite side; he merely produced in Philly’s stable. Arizona is signing him to a 4-year, $76.4M contract with 41M guaranteed. I consider this a bargain. The top edge rushers are making well over $30M per year, which Sweat will not touch. This was a desperately needed move too, as the Cardinals had no pass rush. I haven’t seen an Arizona signing this good since they acquired JJ Watt several years ago.
Grade: A

Jaguars Sign WR Dyami Brown:
Sometimes, all it takes is one good postseason to send your value skyrocketing. That’s the case for Brown, who caught 14 passes for 229 yards during Washington’s playoff run last year. It was shocking, as Brown had managed just 308 yards during the regular season, and that itself was a career best. Jacksonville is taking his postseason performance as the sign of a breakout, signing Brown to a 1-year, $10M deal with a maximum value of $12M. Honestly, this feels like a lower-stakes version of last year’s Gabe Davis: a 1-dimensional speedster with spotty production. This could work out the same way, but it’s only a 1-year deal, and Brown could end up developing more than we’ve seen to date.
Grade: B-

Broncos Sign S Talanoa Hufanga:
Back in 2022 with the 49ers, Hufanga was well on his way to being one of the best safeties in football. His 2023 season was looking great, but then he tore his ACL, which cost him the remainder of that season and all but 7 games in 2024. When he returned, he earned 38 tackles but post literally no other stats. Denver is paying him $45M over 3 years with $20M guaranteed, which looks different depending on which version of Hufanga you get. This is a steal for the All-Pro version, but if he’s simply not the same player, it’s an overpay. I’m tempted to believe that San Francisco rushed him back to action too quickly, and so we might see the better Hufanga with some more recovery time. The Broncos must think so as well, or else this deal was misguided.
Grade: B

Jaguars Sign S Eric Murray:
Mere seconds after I commended the Jaguars, I come across a poor move by Jacksonville. The theory behind it is solid: the Jaguars need much more talent in the secondary. Their answer was to sign Murray to a 3-year, $22.5M contract with $12M guaranteed. Murray had by far his best year in 2024, earning 10 PBUs and 75 tackles. However, this is an example of paying for past production. Murray is 31 and has never topped 5 PBUs or 1 INT in any other season. While he might have another solid season in him, he’s going to lose a step soon. Fortunately, the guarantees are low, as a bigger commitment would’ve been downright foolish.
Grade: D+

Jaguars Sign TE Johnny Mundt:
To all the teams paying outlandish sums to blocking TEs: this is what their contracts are supposed to look like. The former Viking is joining Jacksonville on a modest 2-year, $5.5M deal. Though Mundt actually caught 19 passes and 2 TDs last year, his strength is picking up blitzers and keeping edge rushers at bay. Jacksonville needs better blocking however they can get it, and this is a cheap way to do it. By paying Mundt his actual value, the team can preserve their resources to go after major upgrades.
Grade: A

Bears Sign DE Dayo Odeyingbo:
My eyes widened when I saw this contract. Odeyingbo is signing a 3-year, $48M deal with $32 guaranteed despite earning just 3 sacks last year. Keep in mind: this is a pure edge rusher who offers little against the run. His career started slowly before peaking in 2023 with 8 sacks, but that year is looking like a fluke. I wanted Chicago to find a premium edge rusher to pair with Montez Sweat, and I guess they only heard “premium cost“. This signing doesn’t fill the void; in fact, it merely siphons resources that could’ve been used to address the need. Odeyingbo is young enough to still improve, but he didn’t warrant anything close to this contract.
Grade: D-

Jaguars Sign QB Nick Mullens:
If any team needs a solid backup QB, it’s Jacksonville. Trevor Lawrence gets hurt fairly often, and he’ll continue to do so while his line is poor. Mac Jones wasn’t the answer, but perhaps Mullens can be. He’s joining the Jags on a 2-year, $6.5M contract with $3M guaranteed. Mullens is the epitome of a gunslinger, throwing TDs and INTs alike at impressive rates. He’s the opposite of the gun-shy Jones, meaning he can actually spark some scoring when he enters the game. The reason he’s not a starter is his recklessness, which can hurt his team as much as it helps. That’s fine for a backup though, especially after Jags fans saw Jones play.
Grade: B+

Jets Sign QB Justin Fields:
Oh boy. The Jets have gone after another stopgap solution at QB, signing Fields to a 2-year, $40M contract with $30M guaranteed. Fields flamed out in Chicago and was sent to Pittsburgh last year, where coach Mike Tomlin benched him after a 4-2 start. Tomlin learned what I knew: Fields can run, but he’s not a pocket passer. The Steelers opted not to re-sign him for this reason, yet the Jets threw $30M guaranteed at him. Maybe Fields has a higher floor than Aaron Rodgers does at this point because of his running ability. I wouldn’t be pleased if I were WR Garrett Wilson though, and if he decides to leave because of this, the signing of Fields will look even worse than it does right now. Which is already putrid.
Grade: F

Rams Sign DT Poona Ford:
An already-scary defensive line is getting even scarier. Ford is joining the Rams on a 3-year, $29.6M contract with $17M guaranteed. The large man is an elite run stuffer, but he differentiates himself by being a quality pocket pusher as well. He earned 3 sacks last year, and he was smart enough to put his hands up when he didn’t get home, earning himself 5 PBUs. This is exactly the type of player the Rams covet. With the undersized Braden Fiske next to him, Ford will be the guy who can fill inside gaps, making him a great complement. The money is reasonable, and building a great defensive line is a smart strategy.
Grade: A

Commanders Re-Sign TE John Bates:
It took me a couple of days to get the contract details for this one, and they’re…interesting. Bates, a pure blocking TE with 84 total yards last year, is re-signing on a 3-year, $21M deal with $11.52M guaranteed. We’ve established that blocking TEs are worth half this much money. Bates happens to be a particularly good blocking TE, which is nice for Jayden Daniels, so I won’t fail the Commanders for this move. It’s still rather wasteful spending on a superfluous position.
Grade: D

Seahawks Sign QB Sam Darnold:
The biggest QB domino has fallen at last. Darnold will be leaving Minnesota for Seattle, signing a 3-year, $100.5M contract with $55M guaranteed to replace Geno Smith. Some of you may notice that this is nearly identical to the deal Baker Mayfield signed with Tampa Bay after a year reviving his value there. Another less-covered aspect is that Darnold is reuniting with Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak, who was the passing game coordinator for San Francisco in 2023. This is a really fair contract. Darnold clearly cost himself some money during the last 2 games of the Vikings’ season, but he still had over 4000 yards and 35 TDs. That doesn’t happen by accident. Mayfield wasn’t a clear answer himself when he signed his new deal, yet it worked out great. Darnold could be on a similar path, though it’s obviously not without risk. Minnesota HC Kevin O’Connell isn’t coming with him, and he only has one good weapon (WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba) to work with. We’ll see how much of Darnold’s progress translates to a new locale, but Seattle might have found a young-ish QB who could be the guy for numerous years.
Grade: B+

Vikings Sign CB Isaiah Rodgers:
Rodgers has come far since he was suspended a year for gambling while a member of the Colts. He joined Philly as a special teamer and reserve corner, and he played really well when called into action. That intrigued Minnesota, who is signing him to a 2-year, $15M contract with $8M fully guaranteed. Rodgers made only 3 starts, but he has playing experience. I might not have gone this high on his contract, but it’s easy to imagine Rodgers being just as good under DC Brian Flores, in which case he’ll be worth it. Minnesota has been poor at developing CBs, so signing another option from outside like this is probably for the best.
Grade: B+

Bengals Re-Sign OL Cody Ford:
Ford was nearly out of the league before joining the Bengals in 2023. He was merely a reserve that year, but he made 9 starts in 2024 due to injuries along the line. I list him as an “OL” because he can play just about anywhere. Cincinnati is giving him a 2-year, $6M contract (though just $1M guaranteed) because of that versatility. I’ve never seen Ford play better than he did last year. He wasn’t great, but he proved to be a viable swing tackle and spot starter at guard. At only 28, he has a few more good years left in him, so this is a sneaky good depth move by Cincy.
Grade: A

Patriots Sign DT Milton Williams:
The Eagles couldn’t keep everyone. Rumored to be joining Carolina or a few other teams, Williams was scooped up by New England on a 4-year, $104M contract with $63M guaranteed. Williams helped himself immensely during Philadelphia’s playoff run, and he earned himself a fat contract. The question is whether it’s TOO fat. Williams had a career-high 5 sacks last year despite limited playing time, but he has never been seen outside of a dominant DL group. I’m pretty high on Williams’ potential, but making him the 3rd-highest-paid DT in the league is extreme. The Patriots badly need him, but I wouldn’t have gone above $20M at the very most.
Grade: C

Cowboys Re-Sign LS Trent Sieg:
While we’re on the subject of special teamers, I wanted to grade the Cowboys’ Sieg signing to highlight the importance of the position. His 3-year, $4.45M contract is not all that relevant. It’s cheap, as all long snappers are. They get almost no attention, but they’re critical for FG, PAT, and punting operations. Not everyone can do this job as I distinctly recall when the Bengals’ LS got hurt a couple years ago. Keeping the guy you know and trust, specifically when your battery leads to the years like the ones K Brandon Aubrey has been having, is important. This is a small note, but I think it’s one every team should take to heart.
Grade: A

Texans Sign ST Tremon Smith:
This time, Houston is signing a defender from another team, bringing Smith over from Denver on a 2-year deal worth up to $7.5M. Smith actually played for the Texans a few years ago, and he developed into a special teams ace. He barely plays outside of special teams, so this is the highest salary for any special teamer in the league. While Smith is good at his job, I can’t justify spending top dollar on the role. This isn’t a lot of money in the long run, so I won’t go too low with my grade, but every bit of salary adds up, and this wasn’t salary well spent.
Grade: C-

Texans Re-Sign DE Derek Barnett:
Once a first-round pick of the Eagles, Barnett produced a few solid seasons before moving on to Houston. The Texans got 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries out of him in 2024, and they’re bringing him back on a 1-year, $5M contract. He won’t be starting many games with Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter around, but he’s a reliable rotational edge rusher who can produce in spurts. As the Eagles just taught us, depth on the defensive line is critical, and the Texans are keeping a player who performs well for them. The contract is cheap, so this is a quality move.
Grade: B+

New York Giants Sign CB Paulson Adebo:
Adebo was rumored to be receiving a big contract, and this certainly qualifies. He will make $54M over 3 seasons with $36M guaranteed. Last season was an eventful one for Adebo, as he broke his leg after 7 games. While he was on the field, he picked off 3 passes and made 52 tackles but committed 11 penalties (9 accepted). He’s a very boom-or-bust CB who I didn’t think was worth $18M per season. The Giants badly need secondary players, and Adebo is an upgrade for them. However, they’re paying too much for his services. He’ll make some great plays but also frustrate the fanbase with his errors.
Grade: C-

Lions Sign CB DJ Reed:
Detroit recovered from losing Carlton Davis rather quickly! They have poached Reed from the Jets with a 3-year, $48M contract containing $32M guaranteed. As good as Davis was for Detroit, Reed may be better. He arguably outperformed Sauce Gardner in New York last year and seems more equipped to handle Detroit’s CB1 job. Reed has developed into something close to a shutdown corner, and he’ll be making less money than Davis will in NE. The Lions managed to upgrade an already strong spot for fewer dollars. That’s a great way to rebound for another Super Bowl push.
Grade: A

Patriots Sign CB Carlton Davis:
New England came into free agency with the most cap space in the league and a LOT of holes. They’re trying to fill as many of those as possible, and they’ve now addressed their CB2 spot. Carlton Davis is coming over from Detroit on a 3-year, $60M deal with $34.5M fully guaranteed. His 2024 season ended with a broken jaw, but that’s not the type of injury that returns. He was an above-average player to start his career in TB but was playing great for Detroit before getting hurt. With the Lions, he had to be CB1, but with New England, he can line up opposite young star Christian Gonzalez. I think that means you’ll get to see the best version of Davis, so I’m grading this highly, but $20M per season is a LOT to pay for a second corner.
Grade: B+

Broncos Re-Sign OT Matt Peart:
If there’s any position group that requires depth, it’s the offensive line. Denver, clearly understanding this concept, is bringing their swing tackle back on a 2-year, $7M deal. Denver’s offensive line quietly improved over the past couple years, and Peart enabled them to maintain continuity whenever injuries arose. He played in all 17 games last season, starting two of them. When a backup lineman fits your scheme and you can retain him for cheap, it’s a good day. The Broncos did well to retain Peart here; while he’s not a starting-caliber player, he’s an important “break glass” option on a playoff team.
Grade: A-

Tennessee Titans Sign LT Dan Moore:
The better Moore (no relation to Jaylon) has now been signed. He is coming at an absurd price tag, as he’ll be making $82M over 4 years with $50M guaranteed. When I said “better” two sentences ago, I did not mean that he was an elite LT. I guess I wasn’t specific enough for Tennessee. Moore had a nice 2024 season for Pittsburgh, but he was not very good prior to that. In fact, the Steelers spent a first-round pick on Braxton Jones to replace Moore. Moore held him off for a bit, but Pittsburgh was clearly comfortable moving on. I’m a little conflicted here because Tennessee needs blockers badly. They’ve thrown first-round picks at the problem but still haven’t fixed it. Moore helps but at much too high a cost. This is the type of deal that bad teams make in free agency: giving good players elite player money. The Titans are at least getting a useful player, but the contract is awful.
Grade: D+

Jaguars Sign CB Jourdan Lewis:
Jacksonville is finally getting to work upgrading their secondary, signing Lewis away from the Cowboys. With a 3-year, $30M contract containing $20M guaranteed, Lewis is now tied with Indianapolis’ Kenny Moore as the highest-paid slot CB. Lewis has been an underrated player for years, but the Jags might be swinging too far in the other direction. While he had one of his best seasons in 2024, that occurred while playing alongside other quality secondary members. He won’t have that in Jacksonville and thus will have to be “the guy”. Is Lewis equipped to do that? I’m not certain, but he definitely helps Jacksonville even if it cost a lot to bring him aboard.
Grade: B-

Patriots Sign LB Robert Spillane:
Following a slow start to his career with Tennessee and Pittsburgh, Spillane has gotten better each and every year. That culminated with a career-best 158 tackles and 7 PBUs in 2024 with the Raiders. He’s now on the move to New England, where he’s signing a 3-year, $37.5M contract with $26M guaranteed. Spillane is decent in coverage, but he’s far better moving downhill toward the line of scrimmage. That fits Mike Vrabel’s defense really well, and given Spillane’s gradual improvement, his new level of play seems to be for real. This is a little more money than I might have handed out, but it’s not a bad overpay. The Patriots need players like this and have plenty of cap space to execute such deals.
Grade: B

Rams Re-Sign QB Jimmy Garoppolo:
I expected Garoppolo to have some potential starting opportunities, but he enjoyed his time in LA enough to remain as Matthew Stafford’s backup. His new contract, a 1-year, $4.505M guaranteed deal with $9M available in incentives, is also less than I anticipated. In his limited action with the Rams, Garoppolo looked quite good. Coach Sean McVay clearly used his magic touch again, and he wanted Garoppolo back. That’s enough to sell me on the deal. His new teammate might not be thrilled though; Davante Adams didn’t have the kindest words for Garoppolo in the past. Hopefully they can iron that out, as Garoppolo is high-end Stafford insurance. The initial terms of the deal made it look expensive, but the real numbers are fantastic for LA.
Grade: A+

Chiefs Sign RB Elijah Mitchell:
KC continues to sign former Niners, bringing Mitchell in on a 1-year deal worth up to $3.5M to boost their backfield. Mitchell is a good back, but I’ve got a couple of concerns. First, we never truly know how an RB will perform outside of the Shanahan system. Second and perhaps more importantly, Mitchell can’t stay healthy. He played in 16 games over the past 3 years with various ailments, which is a shame because he owns a robust 4.7 YPC average for his career. The Chiefs are hoping he can avoid injury by sharing time with Isiah Pacheco, but he couldn’t do that while in a timeshare in SF. There’s clear upside with Mitchell but also obvious risk. Fortunately, a 1-year deal keeps KC’s exposure low.
Grade: B-

Commanders Sign DT Javon Kinlaw:
The most popular contract terms this offseason, especially for DTs, appears to be 3 years and $45M with $30M guaranteed. That deal also applies to Kinlaw, the former Jet and Niner who never delivered on his first-round pedigree. He’s coming off his best year with 4.5 sacks and 40 tackles, but he did that with a ton of talent along the line with him. There are two possibilities here: either Kinlaw is figuring things out and is going to be better moving forward or he simply benefitted from his surroundings and had an outlier year in 2024. Washington obviously believes the former, while I’m not entirely sure. I wouldn’t have bet $30M guaranteed on finding out. Even though Washington has a lot of cap space, this isn’t the best use of it, but Kinlaw is young and has upside.
Grade: C

Bengals Re-Sign DT BJ Hill:
The Bengals are re-signing as many of their contributors as they can, even if it’s not the big 3 that everyone wants to see putting pen to paper. Hill is returning to Cincy on a 3-year, $33M contract with $16M guaranteed. He’s one of the most underrated defenders on the team with great run defense and solid pocket pushing. Hill finished 2024 with 3 sacks, 56 tackles, and 4 batted passes, and when he was off the field, Cincinnati was much worse. That sort of impact has to be factored into this grade, though I’m growing increasingly concerned about the team’s ability to fund their stars.
Grade: B+

Texans Sign WR Braxton Berrios:
A torn ACL ended Berrios’ 2024 season and apparently his time with the Dolphins as well. He’s joining the Texans on a 1-year, $2M contract. This is a sneaky good signing. Berrios hasn’t had the chance to play a ton at WR with Miami’s loaded group at that position, but he might see more slots in the snaps with Houston. The key aspect of the deal is Berrios’ return skills. He’ll be a big upgrade for Houston’s special teams if he’s healthy. There’s always a chance that his knee won’t return to form, but at this price tag, who cares? This is a very good signing and the exact type of move contending teams should make.
Grade: A

Bears Sign C Drew Dalman:
Chicago has completely remade the interior of their offensive line in a matter of days. They traded for guards Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney, and now they’re signing Dalman away from Atlanta on a 3-year, $42M contract with $28M guaranteed. Dalman is the second-highest-paid C in the league now (KC’s Creed Humphrey ranks first), and he has earned that right. At just 26 years old, Dalman has become one of the league’s better centers. I know Chicago is pumping a ton of money into this line, but that’s exactly what they needed to do. Everything in Chicago is about realizing Williams’ potential, and that starts with keeping him comfortable in the pocket. Any move that pushes the team toward that goal is a positive, and that’s doubly true when you land a great player.
Grade: A+

Buccaneers Re-Sign WR Chris Godwin:
It always seemed like the Bucs and Godwin would find a way to stick together, and they did so. The surprising part is that Godwin supposedly left $20M on the table to stay. He’s not getting chump change though, signing a 3-year, $66M contract with $44M guaranteed. A broken ankle ended Godwin’s 2024 season after 7 games, but he was off to a torrid start with 50 catches for 576 yards and 5 TDs. For many teams, he would be a WR1, but Tampa retains him as the 1B to Mike Evans’ 1A. Based on the current WR market, this is actually a strong value regardless of Godwin’s injury. His presence is a great boost to QB Baker Mayfield, and the Buccaneers’ strong offseason has them in great shape to compete for a 5th-straight NFC South title.
Grade: A

Chiefs Sign OT Jaylon Moore:
This one may shock some people. If you haven’t heard of Moore, that’s not surprising as he has only started 12 games in 4 years. He started a few games in place of an injured Trent Williams last year for the Niners, and he parlayed that into a 2-year, $30M contract with $21.24M fully guaranteed. Kansas City is not spending their money very well. LT is the biggest hole on their roster, and they’re giving a sizeable deal to a 28-year-old who has never been a full-time starter. I’m not sure Moore is much of an upgrade over the second-year version of Kinsley Suamataia. The Chiefs needed to find a high-end solution to protect the league’s best passer, and they didn’t do that here. Moore could be a pleasant surprise, but this is far too risky for my taste.
Grade: C-

Chargers Re-Sign P JK Scott:
As usual, if you like your punter, you should pay to keep your punter. Scott has been one of the better ones, and he’s back with the Bolts on a 2-year, $6M contract including $3.1M guaranteed. While not an elite punter, Scott is plenty good, and the team clearly likes him. This is not a large sum of money to devote to a specialist, so it’s hard to go too wrong with one of these deals. In this case, the Chargers did not go wrong. Actually, they did just fine for themselves.
Grade: B+

Buccaneers Sign OLB Haason Reddick:
Coming off a terrible year with the Jets, Reddick was never going to get more than a 1-year deal. Tampa is giving him just that: a 1-year, $14M contract with $12M guaranteed. Ironically, this was basically the amount of money that remained on Reddick’s Jets contract when he held out in protest of his pay. He had just 1 sack in 10 games for New York, but that’s not who he is. When he’s committed, he’s a great pass rusher; he had 10+ sacks in each of the four seasons prior to 2024. The Bucs might get the most motivated version of Reddick, which would be a fantastic value for them. Low-risk, high-reward signings are always the best.
Grade: A+

Cardinals Re-Sign G Evan Brown:
Two good guard contracts in a row! Brown is returning to the Cardinals on a 2-year deal worth up to $11.5M. I wouldn’t rate Brown as highly as Ben Bredeson, but he’s solid. Better in pass protection than as a run blocker, Brown was a major factor in QB Kyler Murray playing 17 games for the first time in his career. He’s 28 years old and should be an important piece of the line for the next couple of years at least, so I like this signing. It’s not quite as great as the one below, but it’s pretty good. Arizona needs to add more linemen beyond Brown, however, so we’ll see how that goes.
Grade: A-

Buccaneers Re-Sign G Ben Bredeson:
Guard contracts are being given out like candy, but this one is more modest. Bredeson is returning on a 3-year, $22M deal with $12M guaranteed. Signed to a 1-year, $3M deal last year, Bredeson started all 17 games and acquitted himself well. The cost here is the key. Just over $7M per year for a 27-year-old quality guard is a bargain, and we’ve learned over the years that continuity along the offensive line is as important as the talent of the players. Bredeson was a big reason why the Bucs exhibited a massive improvement on the ground, and his pass blocking wasn’t shabby either. This could be one of the key re-signings of the offseason.
Grade: A+

Chargers Re-Sign OLB Khalil Mack:
Upon releasing Joey Bosa, the Chargers needed to keep Mack if they wanted to have any pass rush. They’ve done so, bringing him back on a 1-year, $18M deal that’s fully guaranteed. Mack’s sack total plummeted from 17 in 2023 to 6 last year, but he didn’t look like a very different player. He still played the run well, broke up 9 passes, and got a ton of pressure on opposing QBs. At 34 year old, Mack is close to the end of his time in the NFL, but he’s still really good. On a 1-year deal, the Bolts are minimizing the risk and retaining a key piece. I think this is a fair arrangement for both sides of a fruitful partnership.
Grade: A-

Panthers Extend CB Jaycee Horn:
Carolina has made Horn the highest-paid DB in NFL history, signing him to a record 4-year, $100M contract with $70M guaranteed and a maximum value of $108M. I have no idea why they would do such a thing. Horn is a young, talented corner who just made his first Pro Bowl. However, he is rarely healthy. He did well to play 15 games last year, but he only participated in 22 games over his first three seasons combined. I’m not giving $70M guaranteed to someone with that lack of availability. Additionally, he’s not even as good as players like Pat Surtain when he IS on the field. Therefore, this was an extension that didn’t need to be signed, but I can’t say I’m surprised with the way the Panthers are run.
Grade: F

Broncos Re-Sign DT DJ Jones:
This one confuses me. Jones is a stellar run stuffer. Since he joined Denver 3 years ago, all he has done is destroy RBs. However, he offers little as a pass rusher. That makes this 3-year, $39M contract with $26M guaranteed suspect. At 30 years old, a 3-year agreement with this much guaranteed money is always risky. Even if you look past that though, DTs that only provide value against the run are generally paid $5M per year or less, making this a colossal overpay. I really do like Jones as a player and value his run defense. Clearly I don’t value it like Denver does though, and this deal could hamstring their roster-building efforts.
Grade: D

Texans Sign DT Sheldon Rankins:
Cincinnati cut Rankins for cap reasons and because he played in just 7 games last year due to injury. Houston, for whom Rankins had 6 sacks in 2023, is more than happy to reunite, signing him to a 1-year deal worth up to $7M. Rankins wasn’t particularly effective when he was on the field, though few people on that Bengals defense were. This is a prove-it deal where Rankins has to show a return to form. The Texans need him to do so; while they have stellar edge rushers, their interior defensive line is lackluster. A one-year agreement comes with little risk, so I think this is a wise gamble for a playoff team.
Grade: B

Commanders Re-Sign P Tress Way:
The Commanders are getting all their specialists under contract for another year. They handled their kicker yesterday, and now punter Tress Way is re-signing on a 1-year, $2.8M contract. Way has spent all 11 seasons of his career with Washington, and he has gotten a lot of practice over the years while playing for some bad teams. Last year, with a team enjoying much more success, his skills were more relevant, and he had just 2 touchbacks. I also liked his net punting average and ball placement. My grades are often very good when a quality punter gets re-signed, even if a rookie would be cheaper. This is one such case.
Grade: A

Raiders Re-Sign DT Adam Butler:
How many people really know about Butler? Interior pass rushers are highly coveted players, and Butler earned 5 sacks each of the past two years. Las Vegas knows the value in that, and they’ve re-signed him to a 3-year, $16.5M contract with $11M guaranteed. Interestingly, in his age-30 season, he had his best year against the run, nearly doubling his career high with 65 tackles. I’m a little wary about giving a defensive lineman over 30 a 3-year deal, but this one isn’t all that expensive. Pocket-pushing DTs typically get more than this, and Butler forms a really nice DT tandem with Christian Wilkins. Thus, this is a solid signing.
Grade: B+

Vikings Re-Sign P Ryan Wright:
We don’t forget about punters during the frenzy! The Vikings are re-signing Wright to a 1-year, $1.75M contract with $25K in incentives. Wright is a slightly-above-average punter, and this is a slightly-below-average salary. He was epic in 2022 with just 1 touchback in 73 punts, but that hasn’t held in the two years since. His net average has also dropped in successive seasons, though he remains in a decent spot. I’m not crazy about this reunion, but it’s cheap and for one year. A boring grade for a boring signing.
Grade: B-

March 9, 2025

Cowboys Re-Sign S Markquese Bell:
A core special-teamer like Bell would not be worth a 3-year deal with a maximum value of $12M. The first two years are mostly guaranteed, which tells you that Dallas is also valuing him on defense. Previously an undersized LB, Bell switched to being a large strong safety and thrived in 2023, with 94 tackles, 4 PBUs, and 2 forced fumbles. Injuries limited him to 9 games and 0 starts in 2024 though, and he played just 6% of the team’s defensive staff under former DC Mike Zimmer. With a new coaching staff, Bell is clearly going to be asked to play more on that side of the ball, and I’m curious to see if he recaptures his 2023 form. There’s certainly some risk in this signing, but the upside is really good. I also like that Dallas is actually doing something unlike last year!
Grade: B+

Broncos Re-Sign QB Jarrett Stidham:
If Denver was choosing between Stidham and Zach Wilson as Bo Nix’s backup, it appears that they’ve made their choice. Stidham is the one being signed to a 2-year, $12M contract with $7M guaranteed. This is pretty average backup money, and that’s what Stidham is: an average backup. The fact that he competed with Nix for the starting job last year might be a little awkward, but if he agreed to come back then he must be fine with it. I like what he represents: a nonthreatening reserve who can help Nix grow. He also has some good games on his resume in case he needs to enter a contest. Someone like Wilson would’ve provided more upside, and several other veterans could’ve given the Broncos a higher floor. HC Sean Payton knows Stidham though, and that comfort is important for a backup QB, so I’m fine with Denver’s choice.
Grade: B

Falcons Extend LT Jake Matthews:
Atlanta is making sure new starting QB Michael Penix’s (non)blindside protector (Penix is a lefty) is happy. Matthews had 2 years left on his prior deal, but no guaranteed money was attached. Now, he’s adding 2 years and $45M, with $38M guaranteed. The best ability is availability, and Matthews is one of the most durable players I’ve ever seen. He missed 1 game as a rookie in 2024 and has never missed another start. Beyond durability, Matthews is also a really good left tackle. You rarely hear about him, which means he’s doing his job well! Now he’ll be under contract for the duration of Penix’s rookie deal, easing the latter’s transition. Keeping good linemen in your building is always smart, and Atlanta deserves credit for doing so with this signing.
Grade: A

Bills Extend QB Josh Allen:
On the eve of free agency, we’ve got ourselves a record contract. Josh Allen, the reigning MVP, is extending with the Bills on a 6-year, $330M contract containing $250M guaranteed. The guarantee is an NFL record. Allen’s $55M annual value is second to Dak Prescott’s $60M, but the tradeoff is that the team ripped up his old deal to implement this one, giving him a major boost. Frankly, Buffalo did not have to do this. They had their QB under contract, but they chose to reward him for his accomplishments and leadership. While that may seem really nice, I suspect they are also anticipating a rising market that will make this contract look more team-friendly in the long run. It’s a shrewd move that makes their franchise passer happy while also setting the franchise up for success. Among the QBs making $50M or more per season, many do not warrant that investment. Allen does, as he’s one of the few truly elite signal callers in the league. He is only 28 years old, and all he has done the past several years is win AFC East titles. Buffalo just ensured that they’ll remain in the upper echelon of NFL teams through 2030.
Grade: A

Patriots Sign OLB Harold Landry:
Recently cut by the Titans, Landry has found a new landing spot with his old coach (Mike Vrabel). He’s joining the Patriots on a 3-year, $43.4M contract with $26M guaranteed and a maximum value of $48M. I don’t have a good reason why Tennessee dumped Landry. He was a late bloomer, but aside from an ACL tear that caused him to miss the 2022 season, he rarely misses games, and he has 41.5 sacks over his last 3 played seasons. Landry is going to add serious punch to a lackluster NE pass rush at a very reasonable price. Edge rushers with his level of consistency are generally making $25M or more per year. I always like when a team with loads of cap space doesn’t waste it by overpaying, and the Pats are off to a good start here.
Grade: A+

Jets Re-Sign LB Jamien Sherwood:
New York is experiencing a ton of change this offseason, but Sherwood won’t be part of that. He’s returning on a 3-year, $45M contract with $30M guaranteed, i.e., the exact same deal Nick Bolton signed earlier today. Sherwood was actually voted team MVP by the Jets’ players after a season in which he tallied an NFL-best 97 solo tackles. He had 158 tackles total, along with 2 sacks and 3 PBUs. His role is going to be amplified under the defensive scheme of new HC Aaron Glenn, and stopping the run is a major emphasis. We’re still talking top-5 LB money though, and I’d take someone like Patrick Queen ($13.66M/year) over Sherwood. That means this isn’t a bargain, but it is an investment in a young, home-grown player on the rise, so I still like it.
Grade: B+

Patriots Re-Sign TE Austin Hooper:
Since his nice run with the Falcons to begin his career, Hooper has been a bit underwhelming in his subsequent stops. The 30-year-old caught 45 passes for 476 yards and 3 TDs though, marking his best year since 2019. New England wants him to support young QB Drake Maye, so they’re retaining him on a 1-year, $5M contract with $4M guaranteed and a maximum value of $7M. Hooper never became the red zone threat we hoped he could be, but he’s a fairly reliable target in the middle of the field. I don’t think this signing should preclude the Pats from adding several more premium pass catchers, but it’s a fine, inexpensive, and low-risk start.
Grade: B

Rams Sign WR Davante Adams:
With Matthew Stafford back, the Rams are making a push to win right now. I still don’t know why they’ve soured so much on WR Cooper Kupp and want to move him, but they’ve picked quite the replacement. Following his release from the Jets, Adams is signing a 2-year, $46M deal including $26M guaranteed and $2M in incentives with LA. The Atwell signing below makes even less sense now, but that’s not important for this grade. Adams is 32 now, but his style of play based on smooth route-running is allowing him to age gracefully. Despite chaos in Vegas and New York, he quietly had 85 catches for 1063 yards and 8 TDs in 2024. My sense is that playing with Stafford and Rams coach Sean McVay will rejuvenate Adams and allow him to be more efficient with his targets. The Rams aren’t paying Adams much more than they were paying Kupp, and Adams might be the better player at this point. For a team that’s all in, this signing represents a statement that LA is here to play.
Grade: A

Seahawks Re-Sign LB Ernest Jones:
Another hour, another Jones. This time, it’s Ernest Jones, the LB who joined Seattle midseason and instantly improved their defense. Unwilling to let him reach the market, Seattle is signing him to a 3-year, $33M contract with $15M guaranteed. That’s a low guarantee, but Seahawks generally don’t guarantee very much money in their deals. Jones plays best near the line of scrimmage, but he’s not terrible in coverage. Regardless, Seattle needed him to be a run stuffer because that’s where they struggled, and Jones responded with 94 tackles in 10 games. At just 25 years old, he’s still ascending and could make this already inexpensive contract look even better in time. While the Seahawks have been very confusing this offseason, there’s no ambiguity with this signing.
Grade: A+

Vikings Re-Sign RB Aaron Jones:
Jones’ one-year partnership with the Vikings is being renewed. He’s returning to Minnesota on a 2-year, $20M contract with $13M guaranteed. Jones is an excellent all-around back who rushed for 1138 yards and earned 408 yards receiving in 2024, along with 7 total TDs. He usually deals with injuries but played all 17 games last year. When another RB came into a game, it was a noticeable downgrade. The lone issue with Jones is a bit of fumbling; he had 5 last season. Still, he’s a highly talented back with burst, soft hands, and pass-blocking chops. If the Vikings go with pseudorookie QB JJ McCarthy next year, Jones will be even more necessary. With Saquon Barkley getting $20M per season on his new deal, $10M for Jones looks like a steal.
Grade: A+

Commanders Re-Sign K Zane Gonzalez:
Signed after the Commanders dealt with serious kicker woes, Gonzalez came in and stabilized the position. He knocked through 90.9% of his FGs, and he showed us a bigger leg than we were used to with a career-long 57-yard FG. Washington is re-signing him to a 1-year, $1.17M minimum contract. The small number tells us to expect competition, likely from a rookie. Gonzalez has never been an elite kicker; in fact, prior to 2024, he was well below average. This 1-year contract is smart because the Commanders can see if he really has improved or if last year was a mirage. In the former case, they’ve found their kicker. In the latter case, they can cut bait with no penalty at all. This is how you should manage specialist positions until you acquire your ultimate solution.
Grade: A

Seahawks Extend DT Jarran Reed:
The Seahawks are letting players walk out the door, suggesting a rebuild. However, they’ve now turned around and handed a 3-year deal worth up to $25M to 32-year-old Jarran Reed. Reed is a good interior rusher (4.5 sacks in 2024) and comes with run-stuffing ability, so he’s a pretty complete DT. Those types of players get paid, and this deal is definitely fair for him. It’s tough to grade this though without knowing Seattle’s plan. Assuming the Seahawks adequately address the QB and WR positions, this is a fine signing. If this is as big of a teardown as it looks to be, however, retaining a 32-year old defender doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. I’ll err on the side of caution and grade this deal as its own entity, so Seattle earns a positive grade.
Grade: B+

Chiefs Re-Sign LB Nick Bolton:
As a do-it-all LB, Bolton is a critical part of the Chiefs’ defense. He stars in the run game, but he also had 3 sacks and 6 PBUs last year, showing his well-rounded skillset. Though he seems slightly undersized at 5’11”, Bolton plays much bigger than that. KC needed him back, and they’re getting him on a 3-year, $45M contract with $30M guaranteed. He isn’t amazing in coverage; although he’s competent in that area, in today’s NFL, I want a top-tier coverage LB before I hand out the 4th-highest LB salary. This value is pretty fair, and his intangibles definitely make him worth more to the Chiefs than to anyone else. Re-signing a very good (if not a league-best) LB for money that isn’t crazy should work out well.
Grade: B

Cardinals Re-Sign LB Baron Browning:
Traded midseason by Denver, Browning had a down 2024 year. He entered the league as an ILB before starting to blossom as an edge rusher. However, he had just 2 sacks last year. Still, the Cardinals think his best days are ahead, and they’re signing him to a 2-year, $15M contract with a maximum value of $19M. With more regular snaps, Browning should produce more. That doesn’t mean he was worth $7.5M per year. I don’t know if any team would have put that sort of offer on the table. Browning is young enough to improve at just 26, so this isn’t a massive gamble. Arizona continues to hand out money to lower-level free agents though, and it’s a big reason why they haven’t made the playoffs in years.
Grade: C-

Browns Extend DE Myles Garrett:
It was never about the money…until it was. Garrett, who rebuffed all contract talks and demanded a trade to a winning team, has signed a huge deal, inking a 4-year, $160M extension with $123.5M guaranteed. That $40M/year average is the highest in league history for a non-QB, breaking Maxx Crosby’s record that was set just days ago. It’s also a striking departure from where we were earlier in the week, when owner Jimmy Haslam wouldn’t even meet with Garrett. The question is: while Garrett is a big winner, was this a good move for the Browns? For obvious reasons, this isn’t a bargain. Garrett will also be 34 when this deal ends. However, this is a future Hall of Famer who has posted 10+ sacks every year since 2018. I think he’s basically the only reason Browns fans would want to see the team play, so there’s value in that. The PR image that would’ve come from trading him might have outweighed the sizable return he would’ve commanded. Essentially, Cleveland took the path of least resistance and locked in an elite player at an enormous price. In other words, it’s not a great deal, but I understand why the team made it.
Grade: B-

Commanders Re-Sign TE Zach Ertz:
The 34-year-old Ertz looked completely washed up in his final 2 years with Arizona. Washington took a chance on him to provide rookie QB Jayden Daniels with a friendly target, and the old Ertz showed up. He caught 66 passes for 654 yards and 7 TDs, showing flashes of his prior dominance. The Commanders want to run that back, so they’re signing Ertz to a 1-year, $6.25M contract with a maximum value of $9M. With the arrival of WR Deebo Samuel via trade, Ertz may no longer be a primary option in the passing game. That’s fine; he’ll remain an important target in the middle of the field, and he is a big part of the culture change that took place in DC last year. Continuing that on a modestly-priced one-year deal is good business.
Grade: A

March 8, 2025

Panthers Re-Sign TE Tommy Tremble:
This is quite the overpay. Tremble is a fine player, but his career-high in yardage last year was 234 yards. He’s much more of a blocking TE, which is far less valuable. Somehow, he’s going to make $8M per year, with a 2-year, $16M contract containing $8M guaranteed. I’d call this at least double Tremble’s market value, but there are a couple of mitigating factors. First, bad teams like Carolina usually have to overpay free agents to get them to come. Second, only one year is guaranteed, so the penalty for this signing will be short-lived. It’s still a terrible deal; it just doesn’t earn an F because of its limited impact.
Grade: D

Ravens Re-Sign LT Ronnie Stanley:
The top “available” tackle is done with free agency before the legal tampering period even opens. I put “available” in quotes because he wasn’t really available to other teams, re-signing with Baltimore on a 3-year, $60M contract that includes $44M guaranteed. This deal is 8th among LTs in terms of annual salary, and that is about right for Stanley based on his play. The only real problem with him is his injury history; while he picked a fantastic time to have a healthy season in 2024, that’s more of an exception than the norm. Stanley has missed games in every other season he has played. Unfortunately, Baltimore has to live with that. Retaining Lamar Jackson’s blindside protector was paramount, and I don’t believe any of the tackles in this year’s draft will be as good as Stanley. I think re-signing him early kept the price down, as it’s hard to imagine no other team beating this price for a good LT. As such, the Ravens did what they had to do, and they might have even gotten away with good value.
Grade: B+

Giants Extend P Jamie Gillan:
New York has been busy retaining some of their less expensive guys, and this time it’s the Scottish Hammer who got paid! Gillan is signing a 3-year extension worth up to $10.2M with $4M guaranteed. Nearly half of his punts were downed inside the 20-yard line, so he’s a solid player. Just 2 of his kicks went for touchbacks. To be fair, he got a lot of practice with NYG, but he put the extra work to good use. This contract is essentially a 1-year commitment that shields the Giants from any regression. If you have a specialist you like, you should keep him. A non-elite player should get a non-elite deal, so this pact is very fair,
Grade: B+

Lions Re-Sign DE Marcus Davenport:
Coming off his latest injury, this time a torn triceps, Davenport has managed to strike a deal to return to Detroit. It’s another single-season pact worth up to $4.75M over 1 year. The hyped first-rounder never lived up to expectations, maxing out at 9 sacks in 2021 with the Saints. He earned just half a sack last year in the two games he played before his injury. Detroit needed an edge rusher to pair with Aidan Hutchinson, and with this signing…the Lions still need an edge rusher. Counting on Davenport to remain both healthy and productive is not a winning strategy, and the somewhat low value of this deal reflects that notion. Personally, I would’ve avoided Davenport at almost any price; the potential keeps you attached and prevents you from obtaining a real upgrade. Should Detroit still go after a premium edge player, that worry will be unfounded. Until then, I can’t grade this signing highly despite the low risk level.
Grade: D+

Chiefs Re-Sign WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown:
Once a first-round pick due to his great speed, Brown has only topped 1000 yards in 1 season. He signed with the Chiefs last season but hurt his shoulder and barely played, earning just 9 catches. Even when healthy, he’s a #2 target at best. Brown is signing an eerily similar deal to last year’s contract: 1 year and up to $11M. I wonder if this has to do with Xavier Worthy’s arrest this morning or Rashee Rice’s recovery from knee surgery. Either way, this is too much money. KC is investing their limited cap space the wrong way, and I would’ve given Brown no more than $7M. Still, he’s a useful receiver, so if the only problem is the money on a 1-year contract, I can’t complain too much.
Grade: B-

Bengals Re-Sign TE Mike Gesicki:
At least the Bengals signed SOMEONE Joe Burrow wanted back. While deals with WRs Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase seem hard to come by, Gesicki is back on a 3-year, $25.5M contract with $12M guaranteed. Gesicki came to Cincinnati last year as a bargain signing, and he overdelivered with 65 catches for 665 yards. He offers little as a blocker, but he’s a very good receiving weapon. Guys like Hunter Henry, Dawson Knox, and Noah Fant are all making more money than this, and Gesicki is the best TE of the bunch. I wish one of the long-awaited WR contracts came first, but locking Gesicki in before he reaches the market looks to be smart business based on the terms of this contract. It’s not nearly the steal the Bengals got with Gesicki last year, but it’s a nice signing.
Grade: A-

Bills Extend DE Greg Rousseau:
Rousseau was a question mark in the 2021 draft because of some testing concerns, but he turned out to be a pretty good player. Buffalo wants more, so they’re signing him to a 4-year, $80M contract with $54M guaranteed. Rousseau had 8 sacks last year and has never had more than 9. However, that doesn’t tell the whole story, as his pressure and QB hit numbers are extremely good. In fact, Pro Football Focus ranked him as their 10th-best DE because of those underlying metrics. The tricky part is converting those pressures and hits into takedowns. He’ll need to do that because $20M per season is upper-echelon edge rusher money. Among the guys making more than this, I’m not sure I’d pick Rousseau over any of them. That said, with the glaring exception of Minnesota’s Jonathan Greenard, I’d probably take Rousseau over everyone making less than him. Therefore, this is fair market value, and Buffalo is retaining a young homegrown player with a bit more room to develop. As a result, I like this deal.
Grade: B+

March 7, 2025

Buccaneers Re-Sign LB Lavonte David:
This is just like the Bobby Wagner signing: an older linebacker who remains ultra-productive coming back on a 1-year deal. The difference is that David, a 13-year Buc, means even more to his current squad. Tampa was always going to try and bring David back if he didn’t retire, and they’re doing so on a 1-year, $10M contract with $9M guaranteed. Amazingly, David is coming off one of his best statistical seasons, with 122 tackles. 5.5 sacks, and 6 PBUs. He has lost a bit of a step in coverage, but not nearly as much as you’d expect from a 35-year-old. As with Wagner, the leadership value alone makes David a critical piece. He remains well worth this price tag even if we only look at the production, so the Buccaneers deserve a top grade for this move.
Grade: A+

Giants Re-Sign QB Tommy DeVito:
Another year of Tommy Cutlets! The fan-favorite QB is back on a 1-year, $1.03M nonguaranteed contract. I think we’re past the point of DeVito being a feel-good potential starter; the 26-year-old looked completely overmatched last year, and holding onto the ball forever got him injured to boot. However, with some more seasoning, he could be a competent backup. If we’re being honest, a generic UDFA signal caller returning on a minimum deal isn’t all that notable. DeVito has sparked a fandom though, and they’d hate me if I didn’t grade the signing. I’m adding a half grade for the merchandising prospects on a team with little recent success.
Grade: B

Lions Extend LB Derrick Barnes:
Here we’ve got another team locking up its ascending young linebacker. A 3-year, $25.5M extensions with $16M fully guaranteed is a nice payday for the former 4th-round selection. Barnes was lost for the year with a knee injury after just 3 games, and the Lions’ defense missed him badly. If he were healthy, I wouldn’t have any questions about this deal. Since he’s not, I have to wonder why the Lions went this high on the money. Barnes isn’t particularly active in the passing game or as a rusher, though he has upside in the former case. Run stuffers aren’t usually paid this much, even when they’re not coming off of a shredded knee. Detroit is banking on Barnes continuing his upward trajectory with the hope that his injury is just a blip. If he does, this deal will look prudent.
Grade: B-

Bills Extend LB Terrel Bernard:
Pegged to be the replacement for Terrell Edmunds, Bernard has certainly delivered since he became a starter in 2023. That season was fantastic, and though his stats dipped in 2024, he still earned 104 tackles, 3 PBUs, and a sack in 13 games. His 6.5 sacks in 2023 could prove to be an aberration, but if we consider him just an off-ball linebacker, this 4-year, $50M extension with $25.2M guaranteed is still good. This salary is barely more than Azeez Al-Shaair makes, and Bernard is better in coverage. Plus, Bernard is very young at 25, and only half of the contract is guaranteed. This is a low-risk signing, and one could even call it a small bargain.
Grade: A

Vikings Extend S Theo Jackson:
This is the second time in 3 years that Minnesota has paid a backup safety with the idea that he’d be a good starter the following season. It worked great with Josh Metellus; will lightning strike twice with Jackson? The Vikings hope so, as this 2-year, $12.615M extension is solid money in the current safety market. While I’m fond of the strategy, Metellus had much more playing time before he was extended. This is more of a gamble. You could argue that the Vikings know him better than anyone given that they see him in practice every day. That’s true, and it’s why I’m giving them some benefit of the doubt. However, I don’t even think they’re getting a discount for their early commitment. This is above-average safety money. Therefore, this signing is ok, but it’s needlessly risky.
Grade: B-

Commanders Re-Sign LB Bobby Wagner:
I couldn’t imagine the Commanders letting Wagner walk after what he did for them last year, and sure enough, he’s back. Wagner is signing a 1-year deal worth up to $9.5M with $8M guaranteed. Despite being 34 years old, Wagner was a menace, notching 132 tackles, 4 PBUs, and 2 sacks in 2024. More importantly, he was the culture-setter that Washington so desperately needed. He had a transformative effect on the team’s defense, helping them reach the NFC Championship game. At his age, Wagner will likely be re-signing on a year-to-year basis, which is just fine. I still think he’s worth double this salary, so this is a slam-dunk signing.
Grade: A+

March 6, 2025

Bears Re-Sign LB Amen Ogbongbemiga:
Before free agency truly begins, backup LBs and special teamers are important-enough signings to grade. Ogbongbemiga is both, and he’s receiving a 2-year, $5M contract to re-sign with Chicago. What he can do on defense is honestly a question mark; he had just 13 tackles and 1 sack last year, but he played just 1% of the team’s defensive snaps. He mostly made his mark as a coverage man on special teams, and he was good at that job. I think the upside here is sufficient for the contract, and the cost is low enough that the team won’t get burned if Ogbongbemiga never takes the next step.
Grade: B

Rams Re-Sign WR Tutu Atwell:
I had no clue that the Rams wanted Atwell back. The former 2nd-round pick played sparingly for LA, as he was well behind Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, and Demarcus Robinson in the WR pecking order. I guess the team thinks highly of Atwell given that he’s back on a 1-year, $10M contract with $5M guaranteed. Atwell showed flashes last year while the team went through receiver injuries, and he earned a career-high 562 yards. There are a couple of problems with this deal though. First, the price is too high. Nobody was lining up to pay Atwell this much with what he has produced. Second, is this because LA is trading Kupp? I’d rather have Kupp at $20M than Atwell at $10M, and the gap here isn’t close. Atwell is a fine WR3, and maybe he’s developing into a decent enough #2. The move doesn’t make sense to me though if it comes at Kupp’s expense. In a vacuum, it’s still pretty mediocre.
Grade: C-

March 5, 2025

Texans Re-Sign RB Dare Ogunbowale:
Every team wants depth, and Ogunbowale is an interesting one. He receives a few carries here and there as RB3 on the Texans’ depth char, and he looks fine doing it. However, he plays 56% of Houston’s special teams snaps and even subbed as a placekicker when duty called. Ogunbowale is returning on a 1-year, $2M contract. That’s less than I see pure special teamers make, and I think Ogunbowale is a bit more valuable than one of those. I doubt this signing moves the needle much, but he’s a nice player to have.
Grade: A-

Raiders Sign G Alex Cappa:
Just released by the Bengals this week, Cappa has already found a new home. He has a much lower price tag this time around, as he signed a 2-year, $11M contract with $5.5M guaranteed. Cappa had a bloated contract in Cincinnati, mostly because he performed terribly. The player we saw during his first few years in Tampa never showed up for Joe Burrow. Las Vegas hopes that he’ll be a better protector for whoever their new QB is. I totally get wanting to buy low on a guard whose tape was once really good (and he’s not too old). It has been a few years since we saw that version of Cappa though, so my hopes aren’t the highest. I do like that this is a 1-year deal in essence (he can be cut without penalty in 2026), so the risk is minimized. Investing in the offensive line is never a bad thing, so I’ll look favorably upon this signing.
Grade: B+

Eagles Re-Sign LB Zack Baun:
Who says Howie Roseman doesn’t invest in LBs?? I say that slightly in jest, but this is really the first one he has given a big contract to. Baun came over from New Orleans last year on a cheap deal and was incredible. He was a First-Team All-Pro and keyed a Super Bowl-winning defense. The Eagles know his worth, because they’re prioritizing him over the likes of DT Milton Williams and DE Josh Sweat. Baun is signing a 3-year, $51M deal with $34M guaranteed. My first instinct is to shudder at a one-year wonder receiving a big contract. This situation is different though. Baun hadn’t really been given a chance before, so it’s possible that this All-Pro player is just who he is. He’s also staying with DC Vic Fangio’s defense, which he clearly excels in. Finally, this isn’t a market-setting deal; while it’s no bargain, Baun will be just the 4th-highest-paid inside LB. I thought that Baun was Philly’s most important free agent, and I’m glad that they seem to agree. The Eagles are a DL factory, making Baun a much tougher piece to replace. This is great news for the team’s Super Bowl repeat hopes.
Grade: A

Raiders Extend DE Maxx Crosby:
Many front offices were dreaming about the idea of trading for Crosby, but the Raiders just put that to bed. They signed him to a 3-year, $106.5M contract with $91.5M guaranteed, making him the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history. I can’t grade this an A+ because of the historic contract value, but it’s pretty close. Crosby is one of the best pass rushers in football, and he’s also elite in the run game. The guy is an ironman too, as he missed his first career game just last year. At 27, he isn’t even a regression risk. Few players deserve market-setting contracts, but you can argue that Crosby is one of them. He is the #1 blue-chip talent on a team lacking such players, and ensuring that he plays his entire career with the Raiders should be paramount. This contract takes the sides a step closer to achieving that reality. I just hope the front office puts a team around him that can help him win.
Grade: A

March 4, 2025

Packers Re-Sign K Brandon McManus:
Between the time that Mason Crosby retired and the Packers signed McManus, the team was in the kicking abyss. Throwing a draft pick at Anders Carlson didn’t work, nor did signing Brayden Narveson. Once McManus arrived, Green Bay’s special teams improved dramatically. The Packers weren’t letting him out the door, and they’ve signed him to a new 3-year, $15.3M contract with $5M guaranteed. After a forgettable stint with the Jaguars, McManus proved he could kick somewhere that wasn’t Denver, and that “somewhere” was Lambeau Field no less. He converted on a career-best 95.2% of his FGs and didn’t miss a single extra point. Even if he reverts to his prior form, that still gives Green Bay a good kicker. With just 1 year guaranteed, this contract is one the Packers simply had to give out.
Grade: A

Packers Re-Sign LB Isaiah McDuffie:
In our quietest signing of the day, Green Bay has brought back one of their leading tacklers. McDuffie is returning on a 2-year, $8M contract with a maximum value of $9.5M. The 2021 6th-rounder has developed into a very good two-down LB. He excels in run support but gets lost in coverage and doesn’t rush the passer. That limits his market value, but he’s still a desirable player. In particular, he’s good for Green Bay, a team that prior to McDuffie’s emergence in 2023 had one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. I’ve been projecting $3-4M annual salaries for these run stuffers, and this is right in that range plus some moderate incentives. I consider this a very fair contract that might even lean a bit the Packers’ way.
Grade: B+

Eagles Extend RB Saquon Barkley:
For the first time in NFL history, we have an RB making more than $20M per season. Barkley has signed a 2-year, $41.2M extension with $36M guaranteed and $15M more available in incentives and escalators. This feels like a reward for his truly awesome season, but I don’t think it was a good business decision. First of all, Barkley had 2 years remaining on his current deal. He’ll be 30 before this extension kicks in, and paying huge money to RBs at that age usually doesn’t end well. I also want to know why the Eagles went with such a big payday. Sure, this contract could look a bit better in a couple of years, but only because THEY completely reset the market. As good a player as Barkley is, he still has his dubious injury history, and he’s going to be paid more than double what Derrick Henry gets. That’s ridiculous.
Grade: D

Cowboys Re-Sign DT Osa Odighizuwa:
Let me get this straight. Dallas let all sorts of free agents walk last season, and THIS is who they decide to finally pay? Before having to franchise tag Odighizuwa, the Cowboys struck a 4-year, $80M contract with $58M guaranteed. A former 3rd-round pick, Odighizuwa is coming off his best season, with 4.5 sacks and 47 tackles. Pocket-pushing DTs are highly coveted, but they should at least be competent against the run. The Cowboys were awful in ground defense, and Odighizuwa was at the center of that. I can sort of understand this if you’re paying him for what you think he’ll become as a rusher. However, is this taking money from the Micah Parson fund? If so, that’s a major problem. If not, I still wonder what else Dallas could’ve added for $20M. Odighizuwa is very solid, but this is an overpay.
Grade: C-

March 3, 2025

Bengals Franchise Tag WR Tee Higgins:
Once again, Tee Higgins has been tagged. The tag gives Higgins $26.2M guaranteed for 1 year and keeps him off the free agent market. This number is so high because this is his second consecutive tag. Whether or not this is a good idea depends on what happens next. QB Joe Burrow has not been shy about wanting Higgins back, and the Bengals want to sign him to a long-term deal. I’m just not sure they can afford him given his market value of more than $30M annually. Fellow WR Ja’Marr Chase and DE Trey Hendrickson are higher-priority signings. As much as I love Higgins, his tag number can’t be allowed to block any paths to extensions with those other two guys or prevent the team from upgrading their horrid defense. A team-friendly multiyear deal or a tag and trade for good draft compensation are the best outcomes. I can’t grade this tag properly until something else happens.
Grade: Incomplete

February 28, 2025

Rams Re-Sign LT Alaric Jackson:
This is another early move that I didn’t see coming. Given the dearth of linemen always facing the league, Jackson seemed poised to cash in on the free agent market. He won’t be reaching that phase though, as he’s signing a 3-year, $57M contract with $35M guaranteed to stick with LA. Originally a UDFA, Jackson has morphed into a quality starting tackle. He’s not among the top 10, but I’d rate him as an above-average blindside protector. Jackson is also a good run blocker, so he’s balanced. That’s why I expected a hefty payday. This is certainly such a contract, but I wondered if the Rams would have to pay more to keep him off the market. Instead, we’ve got a very fair deal that benefits both sides. It’s no bargain, but losing Jackson was a nonstarter, so I like this for LA.
Grade: B+

February 27, 2025

Chiefs Franchise Tag RG Trey Smith:
We were expecting few franchise tags this year to begin with, but this is a shocker. Kansas City, who does not have much cap space to speak of, is tagging their elite guard, which comes with a 1-year, $23.4M fully guaranteed contract upon signing. The tag is a placeholder in theory, as the Chiefs are aiming to get a long-term deal done. Even so, this is an awfully large chunk of change for one year. No guard makes more than Landon Dickerson’s $21M per season despite the fact that guard salaries have exploded. The key here is that franchise tag numbers do not distinguish between different positions along the offensive line, so this number would be the same for a left tackle. Smith is a top-5 guard and a current Pro Bowler, and QB Patrick Mahomes certainly wants him back. I can’t really stand by the pay though. A full market reset for a cap-strapped team doesn’t make sense, and it could cause the Chiefs to lose key contributors like S Justin Reid. My grade isn’t lower because in a vacuum, Smith is an extremely good guard, so my complaints aren’t really about him. I simply don’t think this helps KC return to the Lombardi.
Grade: C-

February 25, 2025

Bills Extend WR Khalil Shakir:
Shakir finished 2024, his third year as a pro, with his best season. He caught 76 passes for 821 yards and 4 TDs, and now he’s being rewarded. His new extension is a 4-year deal worth up to $60.2M with $32M guaranteed. For someone without a 1000-yard season, that felt like a lot of money. Then, I remembered two things. First, no other receiver caught a higher percentage of his targets. Second, WR contracts have erupted, and WR2 money is over $20M per season now. Shakir’s salary will be less than those given recently to players like Christian Kirk and Diontae Johnson. With that in mind, I think this contract is fair. Shakir shouldn’t continue to be Buffalo’s WR1, but he’s highly valuable to them and earned this sort of deal.
Grade: B+

Raiders Extend SS Isaiah Pola-Mao:
Far from a household name, Pola-Mao quietly put together a good season last year. In his first campaign as a starter, he tallied 89 tackles, 5 PBUs, and 2 FFs. Clearly, Las Vegas views Pola-Mao as a player on the rise. For a former UDFA, a 2-year deal worth up to $8.5M is a nice little payday! There are two parts to this deal. First, this is insurance in case Tre’von Moehrig signs elsewhere. I totally get that. The other part though is that safety contracts have plummeted, with quality players earning less than $4M per season during the 2024 free agency period. Pola-Mao isn’t a completely proven commodity, but if he continues on his current trajectory, he’ll be well worth this price tag. Even if 2024 was a fluke, this deal doesn’t break the bank. We’ll see how new coach Pete Carroll plans to deploy Pola-Mao, but given the timing of this extension, he’s clearly high on the young safety.
Grade: A-

February 20, 2025

Chargers Re-Sign DB Elijah Molden:
Some of these early signings are good because they’re done before the players can test the market and start bidding wars. Case in point, the Chargers are getting a bargain here by signing Molden to a 3-year, $18.75M contract with $13.5M guaranteed. Molden can play either at safety or in the slot, and he’s effective in both roles. Last season, his first with LAC, he set career bests with 3 INTs, 7 PBUs, 2 fumble recoveries, and 75 tackles. Clearly, he fits DC Jesse Minter’s scheme well, and he’s very young at just 26. Given the value of the deal and the likelihood that Molden will play at a high level throughout it, I’m bullish on this signing.
Grade: A+

Bengals Re-Sign P Ryan Rekhow:
Despite being a rookie last year, Rekhow’s contract was only one year as his initial UDFA deal came with Kansas City. However, that setup allowed Cincinnati to keep him as an exclusive rights free agent, and they have done so with a 2-year, $2.035M contract. Rekhow was the top rookie P last year in terms of several metrics, and he easily beat former 6th-round pick Brad Robbins during camp. Although the Bengals’ great offense meant that they didn’t punt very often, when Rekhow was called upon, he delivered. This is a very cheap contract, so there’s no downside to it. In fact, it’s likely to work out rather well as the Bengals invest big money at other positions.
Grade: A

February 18, 2025

Panthers Re-Sign QB Andy Dalton:
Our first notable signing of 2025 is a backup QB! The 37-year-old Dalton is back on a 2-year, $8M deal with $6M guaranteed and a maximum value of $10M. This is a slight drop from his 2-year, $11M contract that he signed in 2023. Dalton had a surprisingly eventful year in 2024 because the Panthers benched Bryce Young after 2 games. The Red Rifle shined in his first appearance before fizzling due to a lack of surrounding talent. A thumb injury ended his brief time as the starter, but Carolina clearly views him as Young’s mentor moving forward. I am fond of this decision, as Dalton seems to be a very good influence on the former #1 pick. Normally, I’d discuss how well a backup can come in and win games. Dalton is perfectly equipped to do that, but the Panthers are still not ready to truly compete. Their #2 QB has to be a teacher first and a player second, and that’s what makes Dalton a good fit. He has a rapport with Young and the team, which should only improve moving forward.
Grade: A