DT Gerald McCoy signs w/ DAL
3 yr / $18.3 million
A move I anticipated a year ago, the former Sooner finally finds himself with a star on his helmet. While not the player he once was, McCoy has the ability to contribute with multiple facets on the interior, further evident with his one year stint with the Panthers. He serves temporarily as an upgrade of what Maliek Collins was able to provide consistently for the Cowboys over the last few years. A very affordable contract, should help Dallas continue to bolster their front seven.
Grade: B+
DT Danny Shelton signs w/ DET
2 yr / $8 million
The former 12th overall pick hasn’t developed into a dominant force in his career, but he has been very good in his runs with both the Browns and Patriots. Billed at 345 pounds, Shelton is extremely difficult to move off his marks. He won’t gobble up massive numbers, but will fortify the interior and will look to do what Detroit hoped “Snacks” Harrison would provide when they traded for him at the 2018 trade deadline at a much cheaper salary.
Grade: A-
S Malcolm Jenkins signs w/ NO
4 yr / $32 million
Jenkins did not have to wait long to find a new home. After a puzzling release by Philadelphia, the three-time Pro Bowler joined a Saints squad for a 2nd time after playing the first five seasons of his career in New Orleans. Jenkins developed into a strong leader for the Eagles defense in recent years and has not missed a game since 2013. At 32 years of age, it is unlikely he will see the four year deal through, but can be a difference maker for a team looking to finally get over the hump in 2020.
Grade: A-
Titans DL Jurrell Casey traded to the Broncos for a 2020 7th round pick
DEN
The Broncos continue to find quality replacements for their recent departures, but perhaps the best of all was adding a player who has made five consecutive Pro Bowls for a box of cookies. Casey manned the nose for the Titans for nearly a decade and never had one season with a PFF grade lower than 70. The additions of Bouye and Casey along with the return of promising young star Bradley Chubb from his ACL injury could propel their defense back to top 10 status. Doing that on a low cost such as a 4th and 7th rounder is a win in of itself.
Grade: A+
TEN
This move reeks of a salary dump. Vrabel seemed to foreshadow moves such as this and the releasing of aging tight end Delanie Walker when he stated he wanted to get younger and cheaper last week. The only thing that saves this grade is the promising young replacement they have rostered. Jeffery Simmons fell to them in the 2019 draft and showed plenty of flashes without playing in his ideal 3-technique position. Moving Casey was the right move in order to give his successor the opportunity to take over, but one would think he should have warranted more compensation.
Grade: C-
Edge Dante Fowler Jr signs w/ ATL
3 yr / $48 million
Huge upgrade by the Falcons to lock down a pass rusher they have been so desperately trying to find in the draft in recent years. Fowler never gained traction as a member of the Jaguars ultimately getting traded in the middle of his third season with the franchise. His option was not picked up, but he broke out in 2019, finishing with his first double digit sack season at 11.5. There is always risk that a great season in a contract year further inflates the value of the player, but the Falcons took a smart risk to see if the soon-to-be 26 year old can continue his success from last year’s campaign.
Grade: B+
Jaguars QB Nick Foles traded to the Bears for a 2020 4th round pick (140)
JAC
When you look at the big picture, it is clear what the Jaguars are setting up for. Their third trade of the off-season (Bouye, Campbell, and Foles) with minimal return, and potentially fourth in the near future with Ngakoue, further suggest the team is throwing all their chips in on the upcoming phenomenon: Tanking for Trevor. It is hard to grade a trade setting up a potential match with a 2021 top draft prospect until the scenario comes into fruition, but if that is indeed the plan, and the current Clemson Tiger quarterback is able to fall into their lap, it will be well worth the 2020 season that looks destined to be a long one.
Grade: C-
CHI
To say Foles’ career has been a roller coaster would be a massive understatement. The unlikeliest of Super Bowl MVP’s was allowed to walk last off-season after the Eagles opted to go with superstar quarterback Carson Wentz and soon netted a four year $88 million dollar deal with Jacksonville. He looked be worth every penny in the opener against Kansas City, but suffered a broken clavicle on a 35 yard touchdown in the first quarter. After Menshew Mania ensued, Foles never managed to regain he his spot permanently and now finds himself changing teams for the fifth time in six years. Foles is the ideal guy for Matt Nagy with the ability to stretch the field and take chances, something former 2nd overall pick Mitch Trubisky has struggled to do consistently in his young career. Foles and Nagy have worked together in both Philadelphia (the first stint) and Kansas City, so I don’t foresee a huge challenge for the two to mesh. Sending a fourth round pick signals to me the Bears could be looking to start him out of the gate, so don’t be surprised if he is able to beat out Trubisky to be the starter day one.
Grade: A
OLB Leonard Floyd signs w/ LAR
1 yr / $10 million
The Rams look to turn the fortunes around of yet another former first round pick on a prove-it deal. Floyd never seemed to gain his footing as a member of the Bears. Even opposite Khalil Mack, Floyd only managed to accumulate seven sacks in 32 games, far from ideal for a former top 10 pick. The Rams remain optimistic he can fill the shoes of recently departed Dante Fowler, but he really needs to work on his craft to become a quality contributor for the Rams, who are in the midst of a transition.
Grade: B-
DT Linval Joseph signs w/ LAC
2 yr / $17 million
Joseph’s release from the Vikings was not a surprise, as the team was looking to shed cap space and due to a decline in play over the last few years he was an easy target. His was fortunate to land in a good situation with the Chargers. Joseph will not be asked to do a lot, but has the potential to be yet another contributor to a suddenly stacked defense. Playing alongside 2019 first round pick Jerry Tillery should benefit the young defensive tackle’s development after struggling significantly in his rookie year.
Grade: B+
CB Desmond Trufant signs w/ DET
2 yr / $21 million
Trufant was a cut as a cap casualty for the Falcons after seven seasons with the franchise. The Lions picking up the former Washington Husky was solid, but likely would have been looked at with higher regard had they kept the disgruntled Darius Slay to pair with him. Trufant has been solid, but not spectacular in recent years. He has played through several injuries, costing him 15 games over the last four years. While four interceptions in nine games last year were impressive, when targeted he allowed a nearly 69% catch rate and 95.8 passer rating, ranking 66th and 25th respectively. He will be turning 30 at the start of the season, so it is clear Detroit needs to continue adding to the secondary to allow Trufant the best opportunity to succeed going forward.
Grade: C+
CB Chris Harris Jr signs w/ LAC
2 yr / $20.25 million
Harris had a bit of a down year in 2019, but he looks to move into a better situation to help further his career. The foursome of Casey Hayward, Desmond King II, Derwin James and now Chris Harris Jr on paper give the Chargers arguably the best secondary going into 2020. Adding the three-time All-Pro gives Los Angeles a chance, if at all possible, to slow down Patrick Mahomes in the division. Coupled with the other additions this off-season, the Chargers have put together quite a string of signings to give themselves plenty of reason for optimism for a turnaround this year.
Grade: A-
S Karl Joseph signs w/ CLE
1 yr / $2.5 million
Joseph has had a rocky start to his career. He made strides, but could never seem to put it all together as a member of the Raiders, which led to his fifth year option being declined prior to the 2019 season. He was having a career year until a foot injury ended that campaign, ultimately leading to a short term deal. The Browns had vacancies at both safety position, but Joseph will likely slide in at strong safety. If he can put together a healthy and successful 2020, look for him to be one of the most intriguing free agents come next off-season.
Grade: A-
CB Anthony Brown re-signs w/ DAL
3 yr / $15.5 million
The Cowboys were smart to bring Brown back with an affordable deal. After losing Byron Jones to free agency, they were at risk of an extreme lack of depth should they have lost the former Boilermaker as well. He is not a game changer, but he has 34 starts under his belt and gives some experience to make up for the loss of Jones. Dallas still needs to bring in a solid replacement, whether that be in free agency or early in the 2020 draft, but overall the team is making all the correct decisions in free agency.
Grade: B
OLB Bruce Irvin signs w/ SEA
Terms undisclosed
After playing for three different franchises in the last two seasons, Irvin finds himself going back to Seattle, where he spent the first four seasons of his career. While the terms of the deal have not been announced, I expect it to a short term deal that will allow the 32 year-old to contribute as a situational pass rusher on a team that needs as much help as it can getting to the quarterback, as they were tied for the second-fewest sacks in the NFL last season.
Grade: B-
LT Andrew Whitworth re-signs w/ LAR
3 yr / $30 million
The Rams re-signing the 14 year pro was a call that had to be made, even if it masks an offensive tackle problem temporarily. Whitworth’s ability to play at a high level in his late 30’s has been nothing short of remarkable. In the modern era, only Jackie Slater has been able to last longer, playing 20 seasons until he was 41 (ironically enough, with the Los Angeles Rams). While the former Bengal has shown an incredible amount of durability, a three year deal was unnecessary. It’s almost certain they will not see that contract through. Considering the Ram’s recent cap woes with long term deals with the likes of Todd Gurley and Brandon Cooks are further evident the front office needs to get a better understanding of these deals. A team that appeared in the Super Bowl just over 13 months ago finds themselves very thin in terms of depth without much wiggle room to add quality players. Without a first round pick, the Rams find themselves in dire need of a strong draft to help ease the burden of a Jacksonville-like drop off.
Grade: C
DT Michael Pierce signs w/ MIN
3 yr / $28 million
A great signing by the Vikings to fill one of the holes of their several departures. Pierce isn’t a perennial Pro Bowl-type, but he has been one of the league’s best young nose tackles in his first four years with Baltimore. He will not replace the production of Linval Joseph, but his ability to stuff the run and plug gaps will be felt. Signing Pierce at a similar annual salary as the former Viking on a decline is a win for a team trying to make the most out of their recent cap casualties.
Grade: B+
Lions CB Darius Slay traded to the Eagles for a 2020 3rd round pick (85) and 5th round pick (166); signs extension w/ PHI
3 yr / $50 million
PHI
The Eagles desperately needed an upgrade at the cornerback position and were able to swing a deal for one of the best in the game. Slay is renowned as a top tier man to man corner, with the ability to travel with the best in the game. He is coming off a relatively down season, but that could in large part be due to a hamstring injury that plagued him throughout the middle of the season. The Eagles ranked 31st in the NFL in coverage in 2019 according to PFF, so taking on an elite corner entering the back nine of his career was the best right now option available. That contract extension may not look as pretty two years from now, but it was the right decision for a team in the upper echelon of the NFC.
Grade: A-
DET
Slay reportedly had rifts with the organization since the hiring of head coach Matt Patricia. Even signing Desmond Trufant was not enough to convince him to stay, after tweeting out “I hope this speeds up my trade process.” For those that play poker, you understand that acts like this further derail the chances of getting a quality return for a play the caliber of Slay, because it shows your hand being a disgruntled star wanting out, purely from a rift with the current organization. Like the Hopkins trade (although not nearly as unforgivable), the Lions likely did not receive what they were hoping for. A tough move for a coach on thin ice and in need of a successful 2020 campaign in order to keep his job.
Grade: D+
S Adrian Phillips signs w/ NE
2 yr / $6 million
Phillips is a safety as versatile as they come. His ability to line up anywhere on the field and contribute is the type of players Bill Belichick covets. A broken arm in Week 3 took away the majority of the 2018 First Team All-Pro’s campaign, which likely allowed the Patriots to bring him in on a discount. He won’t gobble up tons of numbers, but he is the type of gadget player on defense that everyone needs and not enough teams have.
Grade: A-
S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix signs w/ DAL
1 yr / $4 million
After having yet another solid year in his lone season with the Bears, Clinton-Dix was hoping to cash in this off-season with a lucrative deal, but surprisingly had a very low market. Fellow safeties Justin Simmons and Anthony Harris being franchise tagged did not help matters in terms of resetting the market at the position. The Cowboys were able to swoop in and land a quality starter, who has not missed a game in his six year career. His 17 takeaways since 2016 signal an improvement for a defense that ranked tied for last in the NFL in that same category in 2019. The signing provides a major upgrade over recently departed Jeff Heath and allows Dallas room to potentially add another valuable piece this off-season.
Grade: A
RB Todd Gurley released by LAR; signs w/ ATL
1 yr / $5 million
Cutting ties with Gurley on Thusday was expected by the Rams to avoid paying a $10.5 million dollar roster bonus that would have become fully guaranteed, but it remains puzzling how the Rams managed the 25 year-old running back the last year and a half. Instead of using him to his fullest capacity, the franchise instead seemed interested in forcing a limited workload, attempting to stretch out his services as long as they could in order to make the 2018 extension make a little since. It seems as though the Rams overthought it in my eyes. Gurley is still young and the arthritis in his knee is not going to go away. The best way to utilize his services to salvage the remainder of his career is to use him to the fullest while you still can. The Falcons signing the former Bulldog on a one year deal signals to me they intend to return Gurley to his bell cow ways. You may not see that consistent production that leads to All-Pro status, but it is hard to believe that at this stage he cannot be a 1,000 yard back for the next couple of years in the right situation. That is a hell of a bargain for just $5 million.
Grade: A-
TE Eric Ebron signs w/ PIT
2 yr / $12 million
The former Tar Heel signing with the Steelers adds help to a receiving corps that is in desperate need of a chain mover. The first year without Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell, albeit with the novice duo of Mason Rudolph and Duck Hodges under center, was tough to watch on a week to week basis. Adding Ebron to the mix will be a welcoming site for the returning Big Ben, who will look to prove he is not on the wrong side of 38 this season. The tight end has the capability to be a viable red zone threat, evident by his 13 touchdowns in 2018. He has struggled with drops over his career, however, allowing 14 passes to fall through his hands over the last two seasons. If he becomes more reliable as a pass catcher, there is little reason to believe he will not become a solid contributor in Pittsburgh.
Grade: B-
DT A’Shawn Robinson signs w/ LAR
2 yr / $17 million
The signing of Robinson was solid, but makes you wonder if it is an upgrade for the cap-strapped Rams. On the defensive side alone, Los Angeles has allowed quality players in their front seven such as Cory Littleton, Michael Brockers and Dante Fowler walk. Bringing in Leonard Floyd and A’Shawn Robinson, who have been wildly inconsistent in their respective careers thus far bring more questions than answers. Will Robinson get back to his 2018 form, where he posted an 89.7 PFF grade, or will he prove in a full-time starting role that was an anomaly? For a team without a first round pick trying to retool for a playoff run, this does not seem like a step in the right direction.
Grade: C
RB Melvin Gordon signs w/ DEN
2 yr / $16 million
The Broncos continue to make moves, stealing away Gordon from their division foe. Thoughts of how the former Badger has panned out in his career share mixed results, but he is still a running back who can be a quality contributor. His 47 touchdowns in 53 games over the last four seasons are impressive, but leave much to be desired considering his other struggles. His career has been filled with nagging lower body injuries, and his yards per touch have been mediocre at best. He has never possessed the breakaway speed that will give the team game changing plays and that will only worsen with age. Pairing him with Phillip Lindsay, who has begun his career with a pair of 1,000 yard campaigns, is intriguing, but only in the right situation. Gordon can be a solid addition for the Broncos, especially making up for Lindsay’s deficiencies as a pass catcher, but kicking Lindsay to the curve entirely would be a mistake.
Grade: C+
WR Emmanuel Sanders signs w/ NO
2 yr / $16 million
The Saints have struggled to find a quality compliment to Michael Thomas since he was drafted in 2016. It looked as though the Saints would attempt to address the need in the draft, but the shocking addition of Sanders over the weekend was a welcoming site for a franchise looking to get over the hump. He is a long time contributor and has been a part of three Super Bowl runs (Steelers; 2010, Broncos; 2015, 49ers; 2019) during his career. He will not get huge numbers, but will be a reliable threat when the likes of Thomas and Kamara are contained and the Saints need another playmaker. For a team with an NFL low five draft picks, New Orleans has done a great job adding two veteran talents such as Sanders and Jenkins.
Grade: A
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