DT Jordan Phillips signs w/ ARI
3 yr / $30 million
Phillip’s breakout year as a spot starter earned himself a sizeable pay raise. The near 350 pounder has struggled with consistency issues throughout his career and he has never finished a season with a grade higher than 59.9 according to Pro Football Focus. Already 27 years old, you have to wonder if his 9.5 sack year in 2019 was merely an oddity, but the Cardinals paid top dollar to find out.
Grade: C
QB Drew Brees re-signs w/ NO
2 yr / $50 million
Brees has been playing on a year by year basis for a few seasons now, but the NFL’s all-time passing leader ultimately decided to return to New Orleans for a 15th time at a massive discount. With a cap hit of just $15.9 million in 2020, the cap-challenged Saints will be able to bring back the former MVP to avenge a third consecutive heartbreaking end to their season. Questions will remain if the Saints missed their window, but nobody gives the Saints a better opportunity to maximize their potential than Brees.
Grade: A+
DE Emmanuel Ogbah signs w/ MIA
2 yr / $15 million
The spending spree for the Dolphins continues with the addition of Ogbah. The short term deal gives Miami another upgrade on a defensive front that was utterly atrocious as a unit last year. Low risk option for a team undergoing a complete makeover so far in free agency.
Grade: B+
DE Robert Quinn signs w/ CHI
5 yr / $70 million
Quinn was mightily impressive as a weak side pass rusher in his lone year with Dallas. While the soon-to-be 30 year old is a slight upgrade over recently released Leonard Floyd in Chuck Pagano’s scheme, $14 million annually is a huge reach for a second-tier pass rusher. Considering the lack of cap space coming into the off-season, it is almost a guarantee that Quinn does not see the end of that contract, which is a bad sign for an organization going into a new deal.
Grade: C-
LB Cory Littleton signs w/ LVR
3 yr / $35.25 million
Littleton to the Raiders is potentially the biggest steal of free agency thus far. He is one of the best coverage linebackers in the NFL and is entering his prime at just 26 years old. Las Vegas did a fantastic job addressing a key need, while paying well below top dollar for former Ram. Littleton will reunite with Lamarcus Joyner and will become the centerpiece of a suddenly budding defensive unit.
Grade: A
LB Joe Schobert signs w/ JAC
5 yr / $53.75 million
The Jaguars look to solidify their linebacker core with a reasonably priced player who is solid in all areas defensively. Schobert has been a formidable tackler since he took over the starting inside linebacker gig in 2017 and even showed off his abilities in coverage last season, finishing 2nd among his position with four interceptions. The five year deal was a bit surprising, but the Jaguars are hoping Schobert’s presence can light a fire under Myles Jack, who struggled last season in his first year without Telvin Smith.
Grade: B
RB Jordan Howard signs w/ MIA
2 yr / $10 million
The addition is uninspiring largely due to Howard’s limitations as a running back. He is a bruising runner that lacks explosiveness and the ability to catch out of the backfield. He may be able to step in and produce as a goal line back, but he is best served as a backup to a more versatile one. This could signal the Dolphins using one of their many picks on a top running back in the draft.
Grade: C-
DE Vic Beasley signs w/ TEN
1 yr / $12 million
A one year prove-it deal with the Titans is exactly what the former first round pick needed after posting so-so numbers over the last few years. A scheme change will provide Beasley a fresh start, but will require him to become more a much more versatile player in Mike Vrabel’s system. He will likely be manning the outside linebacker position opposite Harold Landry and will occasionally be forced to drop into coverage. It is unclear if Beasley will be able to get back close to his 2016 production, where he led the league in sacks, but the deal provides no long term risk to find out that answer.
Grade: B+
QB Philip Rivers signs w/ IND
1 yr / $25 million
Rivers to Indy was long rumored, but the pair were finally able to come to terms for the 38 year-old to land a new home. Many love the move, but I remain skeptical due to the quarterback’s drastic regression in 2019. The gunslinger remained trigger happy, but even with several quality weapons, the former Charger was very careless with the football. He inherits a much better line, however the quality of weapons do not compare and I am unsure opting for Rivers instead of Brissett is really an upgrade at all. Brissett was given the starting gig last year after the shocking retirement of Andrew Luck in late August, but left the team scrambling to prepare him for the full-time job. I would have loved seeing what he could have done with a full off-season of preparation of work, instead of putting faith into a guy on his way out of the league.
Grade: C-
QB Teddy Bridgewater signs w/ CAR
3 yr / $63 million
Bridgewater to the Panthers was the best possible fit of all the teams in my eyes. The journey to get back to a starting job for the first time since 2015 was a long strenuous wait, but well worth it for the guy who stepped in during Brees’ absence last fall to wheel off five wins in five starts. It is clear Carolina is in transition, as they look to move on from their franchise cornerstone and former MVP Came Newton, but have enough pieces for Bridgewater to thrive early on. D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel were able to make Kyle Allen look like a temporary stud, while superstar running back Christian McCaffery has the ability to be a scrimmage yards monster for the foreseeable future after becoming the 3rd player in history to enter the 1,000-1,000 club in 2019. For a player that doesn’t take a lot of chances, Bridgewater steps into a situation with the tools to succeed.
Grade: B+
T Bryan Bulaga signs w/ LAC
3 yr / $30 million
The Chargers are putting out all the stops to revamp their offensive line and solidified the right side with the addition of Bulaga. Signing him to pair with recently acquired Pro Bowler Trai Turner was a very smart move. Los Angeles still needs to address the left side, but are in a prime position to do so with the sixth overall pick and a strong draft class of tackles. Even with losing out on the Tom Brady sweepstakes, whoever they choose as their 2020 signal caller will be set up for success coming in with a talented offense all-around.
Grade: A
DT Maliek Collins signs w/ LVR
2 yr / Undisclosed Amount
Collins will be following newly christened defensive line coach and former defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli to Las Vegas. The former Cornhusker has 55 starts under his belt and will be just 25 years old once the 2020 season gets underway. The interior pass rusher will add to a budding unit that has gone under an extreme makeover since the departure of Khalil Mack.
Grade: B+
TE Jason Witten signs w/ LVR
1 yr / $4.75 million
The longtime Cowboy will leave after 16 seasons to join the Raiders. While there will not be much of an impact from a statistical standpoint, Witten is a fantastic locker room guy that will join a young team to provide leadership role. At the very least, the soon-to-be 38 year old can mentor fellow tight end and break out star Darren Waller, who could benefit and become one of the best complete tight ends in the game.
Grade: B+
DE Mario Addison signs w/ BUF
3 yr / $30.45 million
Buffalo continues to make their case for the new best in the AFC East after bringing the nine year pro in to replace Shaq Lawson. Addison has been a solid contributor with 39 sacks over the last four years. He will however be 33 years old at the start of the season and opting to go with him over Lawson, who is seven years younger and was coming on strong towards the end of the year at a similar price is something I would have not done. Nevertheless, it is great for deal for Addison. Earning over $29 million with a $30 million dollar deal on the way isn’t too bad for a former undrafted free agent, huh?
Grade: C+
CB Kendall Fuller signs w/ WAS
4 yr / $40 million
Fuller will re-join the Redskins after being traded away to the Chiefs two years prior. He struggled for the most part during Kansas City’s recent Super Bowl run, but could look to revamp his career in a new situation. His most recent season in Washington saw him finish with a PFF grade above 90, and the team’s recent secondary woes signal a much needed upgrade. Fuller may never develop into an elite corner, but the addition will help improve matters on the back end.
Grade: B
DT D.J. Reader signs w/ CIN
4 yr / $53 million
Reader cashed in with the Bengals, becoming the NFL’s highest paid nose-tackle in the process. Cincinnati finished dead last in the league in rush defense, so the former Texan was a big upgrade in the middle. Scheme fit will be a question, as he will switch techniques to a 4-3 base, where he will be lining up in a different gap. The move does not fix all the Bengals’ issues, but it is a step in the right direction.
Grade: B+
CB Trae Waynes signs w/ CIN
3 yr / $42 million
The Bengals made a second big move on Day 2, bringing in the former Viking on a lucrative deal. Improving the secondary was necessary for the organization, but much too rich for my tastes. Waynes will now be paid as a top six corner over the next three years and has never proven to come close to that from a talent prospective. A big reach for the Bengals as they look to get back to relevance.
Grade: C-
S Tre Boston re-signs w/ CAR
3 yr / $18 million
Boston will not have to wait until the summer to sign a new deal, as he re-upped with the Panthers on a three year deal. The safety has long been overlooked, but he has garnered 11 interceptions since the 2017 season and did not finish with a PFF grade below 74 in that span. The deal was all the more necessary after Carolina decided to release fellow safety Eric Reid. Very low cost and a smart move for the Panthers to bring him back.
Grade: A-
DE Carl Nassib signs w/ LVR
3 yr / $25 million
Nassib was a solid situational contributor for the Buccaneers over the last two seasons after being cut by the Browns in 2018. As a spot starter, he accumulated 12.5 sacks and 25 quarterback hits in 29 games with his most recent team. He has the potential to be an excellent complement on the edge behind second year pros Clelin Ferrell and Maxx Crosby. Very smart addition to their pass rush.
Grade: B+
C Conner McGovern signs w/ NYJ
3 yr / $27 million
McGovern developed in to a quality center with the Broncos in recent years. After being in a positional flux his rookie year as a guard, he took over the starting center gig following the injury and then departure of Matt Paradis in 2018. McGovern has only allowed four sacks in his first three seasons and did not commit a penalty last year. The Jets have holes across the offensive line and bringing Ryan Kalil out of retirement last year to play Center did not pan out as they had hoped.
Grade: B+
Rodney McLeod re-signs w/ PHI
2 yr / $12 million
McLeod has been a solid contributor since joining the Eagles in 2016 as a tandem with Malcolm Jenkins. Bringing him back at an affordable price is good for a secondary that has been a train wreck in recent years, though it does not solve their weakness at corner. McLeod will have big shoes to fill in terms of leadership after Jenkins was released.
Grade: B-
QB Tom Brady signs w/ TB
Terms undisclosed (reportedly $30 million annually)
TB to TB. We have heard the rumors of the six-time champion being unhappy in New England for about a year now, but no one took it seriously enough that he would consider a departure from the only home he has ever known. Now that he has taken his talents down south, let the hype train begin for the Buccaneers. The franchise should be elated to potentially make a trip back to the playoffs for the first time since 2007, although I am unconvinced that this is a match made in heaven. He has two elite wide receivers and a promising set of tight ends to work with, but I believe he would have been a much better fit as a member of the Chargers. His ability to throw the football will be tested, as Bruce Arians’ system will allow Brady to take more chances. Whether or not he will be able to make them on a consistent basis in a strong NFC will be the big question going forward.
Grade: B
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