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ESPN NFL analysts are grading every big 2024 NFL signing and trade of the offseason, putting each deal into perspective for teams and players. To determine each grade, our experts are evaluating moves based on multiple factors, including on-field impact, salary cap implications, draft compensation, player's age and what they add, and the context of a team's short-term and long-term outlook. How large is the effect of this decision, and how sure are we it's a good or bad choice? How does this affect a team's chance to win the Super Bowl, this season or in the future? Our experts also tell you how the biggest signings and trades impact April's NFL draft. What do the top deals mean for that team's first-round outlook, and how do they impact where the top prospects might be selected? Taking into account team needs, positional value on draft boards and what they're hearing from around the NFL, they break down what it all means. Follow along as our experts evaluate and grade each move, with the most recent grades at the top. We've already weighed in on more than 70 deals. Jump to an interesting move:
Keenan Allen | Arik Armstead | Calvin Ridley
Derrick Henry | Brian Burns | Diontae Johnson
Chris Jones | Danielle Hunter | Saquon Barkley
Christian Wilkins | Russell Wilson
Mike Evans | Jerry Jeudy | Baker Mayfield  coverage:
Best available free agents | Barnwell: Winners, losers
  
Eagles trade DE Haason Reddick to Jets
Eagles get: Conditional 2026 third-round pick (could upgrade to a second-rounder)
Jets get: Reddick Eagles' grade: A
Jets' grade: C After losing 25-year-old pass-rusher Bryce Huff to the Eagles in free agency, the Jets acquire one of the NFL's most productive edge rushers by trading with those same Eagles to add Reddick. Reddick, who will turn 30 in September, is one of two NFL players to record at least 10 sacks in each of the past four seasons (All-Pro DE Myles Garrett is the other). He also has posted 50.5 sacks in the past four years, which is tied for fifth best in the league during that time frame. Those numbers matter, as the conditions placed on the 2026 draft pick are based on playing time and production. If Reddick hits 67.5% play time and has 10 or more sacks, the Jets will send a 2026 second-rounder to the Eagles in exchange. Reddick fills a need for the Jets, who lost a premier rusher when Huff left in free agency. General manager Joe Douglas has used two first-rounders on pass-rushers when adding Pro Bowler Jermaine Johnson in 2022 and Will McDonald IV in 2023, but head coach Robert Saleh loves a good rotation on the edge. Reddick and Johnson will headline that rotation, with Reddick serving as a mentor for the two young pass-rushers. The Eagles side of this is interesting. They replaced Reddick and his $14.5 million salary with a player almost five years younger, with one less sack in 2023, and on a contract that'll average a little more than $17 million annually. Most teams would prefer the younger player -- as free agency is an opportunity to pay for a player's future versus his past production -- and the Eagles get a younger player with greater upside at a premium position via this swap of players along with a conditional draft pick. Philadelphia essentially upgrades at defensive end while gaining at least a third-round pick. And that third-rounder could be very early in the 2026 draft if Aaron Rodgers, who will be 42 years old at the end of the 2025 season, has left the Jets or has seen his skills diminish. The Jets' defensive line will be nasty, and Reddick's production speaks for itself, but Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is one of the best for a reason. The return he gets in this trade is validation of that reputation. Even if Reddick outplays Huff this season, the Eagles won this trade by virtue of the future draft capital and by adding a player nearly five years Reddick's junior. This is a good addition for New York, but the draft pick compensation is steep and the Jets will have to extend Reddick after his contract expires following the 2024 season, at which time he'll likely command a salary higher than Huff's $17 million-per-year average. Why didn't the Jets keep Huff instead of replacing him with an older player who cost a premium draft pick to acquire? -- Matt Miller
 Saints sign DE Chase Young, former No. 2 overall pickThe deal: One year, $13 million fully guaranteed Grade: C+ The Saints had one of the NFL's worst pass rushes in 2023. Young aims to change that. Under defensive-minded head coach Dennis Allen, the Saints collected only 34 sacks last season, ranking No. 28 overall. As a unit, the inability to get to the quarterback was a problem. No player on the team had more than 8.5 sacks, and only two -- defensive end Carl Granderson and linebacker Demario Davis -- had more than five. The desire to upgrade the pressure coming off the edge explains why GM Mickey Loomis agreed to give Young a fully guaranteed, $13 million deal. Young, the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 draft, was traded from Washington to San Francisco last year. He did flash at times before struggling down the stretch and having noticeably poor performances in the 49ers' playoff run. But the flash and speed that made him a top prospect coming out of Ohio State are still there when he's healthy. In 2023, Young posted 7.5 total sacks but had only 2.5 in nine games with the 49ers after being dealt. Still, the Saints need an outside rush presence and know Young can work in a rotation with Granderson, Cameron Jordan and 2021 first-rounder Payton Turner to provide the spark the defense has been missing since Trey Hendrickson left for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2021. Paying $13 million for a one-year deal -- especially for a player who has played 15 games in a season only twice (his rookie season and last year) -- is risky, though. It's especially risky considering that the Saints started the month $80 million over the cap. This isn't a team with ample spending room, so forking over a fully guaranteed payment for an oft-injured pass-rusher reeks of desperation. Young might surprise and prove me wrong, but after watching his lack of interest in stopping the run in the playoffs and his lack of pass-rush production despite having Nick Bosa, Javon Hargrave and Arik Armstead lined up alongside him, it's hard to see him becoming the 10-sack player the Saints need on the edge. -- Miller
 
Bears trade QB Justin Fields to the SteelersSteelers get: Fields
Bears get: 2025 conditional sixth-round pick Steelers' grade: A
Bears' grade: D+ Whatever you think of Fields as a player, the Steelers just got a backup quarterback who has started 38 games over the past three years. And they landed him for almost nothing. The 2025 sixth-round pick that the Bears got back converts to a fourth-rounder if Fields plays more than half of the Steelers' offensive snaps in 2024, in which case the Steelers will have landed a starting quarterback for a fourth-round pick. As with the Russell Wilson signing, the move has practically zero risk for the Steelers yet boasts plenty of upside. As for the Bears, it seems fairly clear they misread the Fields market early on and ended up taking far less in return than they were initially seeking. The Bears could have traded Fields for more than this last year, and they probably could have done better than this if they'd moved him a month ago. They kept waiting for someone to meet their terms. No one ever did, and it cost them. Read the full grade of the Fields trade here. -- Dan Graziano
Jets find their new left tackle in Tyron SmithThe deal: One year, up to $20 million
Grade: B Ask any Jets fan what the team needed to do this offseason, and the first answer would have been solving the problem at left tackle. Mekhi Becton, who was drafted in the first round of the 2020 draft to be the team's long-term blindside protector, did not have his fifth-year option picked up and has not been re-signed this offseason. Becton's injuries and struggles -- he missed the entire 2022 season and only played one game in 2021 -- meant moving on at left tackle in order to protect 40-year old Aaron Rodgers in his return from a torn Achilles. Becton, who allowed 17 sacks last season, wasn't going to be that person. Now the Jets have Smith ... for at least a season. The 33-year-old is coming off a strong season as he returned to the field after playing just four games in 2022. Smith allowed eight sacks, but three of those were in one game against the Chargers. Smith is also a strong run-blocker, as his run block win rate of 79% ranked fourth among all tackles in 2023. After adding guard John Simpson and Morgan Moses previously in free agency, the Jets will have three new starters in front of the future Hall of Fame quarterback. Their 64 sacks allowed were fourth most in the league, and they have to improve their line ahead of Rodgers' return. Drafting a tackle at No. 10 overall in April is no longer a lock, but it shouldn't be ruled out given Smith's age, one-year contract status and injury history -- he hasn't played a full season since 2015 and has played 30 games in the past four years. The signing of Smith not only gives the team protection for Rodgers but frees up the front office to go in multiple directions with its top pick.-- Miller
Steelers send former starting QB Kenny Pickett to EaglesSteelers get: 2024 third-round pick (No. 98) and two 2025 seventh-round picks
Eagles get: Pickett, 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 120) Steelers' grade: C+
Eagles' grade: C After signing Russell Wilson to a one-year deal worth a relatively modest $1.2 million, Pittsburgh is moving on from 2022 first-rounder Kenny Pickett. The Eagles sent a third-rounder and two future seventh-round picks for Pickett and a fourth-round pick this year, but most importantly the team gets two more years of a cheap backup. Pickett is on the books for just $1.9 million in 2024 and $2.6 million in 2025. For context, this is very similar to the deal the Seahawks made Thursday when trading for Sam Howell. Seattle gave up picks Nos. 78 and 152 to the Commanders in exchange for Howell, pick No. 102 and pick No. 179. Pickett, who started 24 games for the Steelers after being drafted in the first round in 2022, posted a 14-10 record while throwing 13 touchdown passes to 13 interceptions. The 2023 season saw the Steelers finish with the sixth-worst passing offense with 3,421 yards and 13 touchdown passes, the second-fewest in the league. Pickett started 12 games before being sidelined with an ankle injury, throwing only six touchdown passes to four interceptions as the Steelers averaged only 15.1 points per game. Pittsburgh's passing attack was more productive after Pickett was sidelined, averaging 20.3 points per game en route to the team winning its final three games to get into the playoffs. Now he is off to Philadelphia, where he'll back up Jalen Hurts. And that might be valuable, as Hurts was banged up in 2023 even though he didn't miss much game action. The Eagles' depth chart consisted of Hurts and Tanner McKee, a 2023 sixth-rounder, before adding Pickett. Now the Eagles have an experienced backup who could maintain their Super Bowl aspirations if Hurts misses time. Even though they lost some draft value, the Eagles were able to pick up a proven backup QB for cheap and still have nine draft picks. For a roster with few clear-cut needs or holes, having insurance at quarterback is well worth dropping 22 spots. The Steelers have to pick up another signal-caller after this trade, as Wilson is the only one currently on the roster. He signed only a one-year contract, is entering his age-36 season, and has struggled the past two seasons after leaving Seattle. Moving on from Pickett once it was obvious he wasn't the team's long-term starter is smart, as they got some value from him. With a quarterback draft that's lacking after Round 1, Pittsburgh is seemingly all-in on Wilson in 2024, although the door might remain open for Justin Fields to land here or for Pittsburgh to make another trade to add a backup quarterback and potential developmental option. Any quarterback trade is newsworthy, especially when said quarterback is the lone first-rounder from the 2022 draft class. But Pickett's time in Pittsburgh felt over as soon as the offense improved after his injury. A fresh start was needed, for the QB and for the Steelers. -- Matt Miller
 Rams signing S Kamren CurlThe deal: Two years, $8.75 million up to $12.75 million Grade: B A somewhat quiet but very productive free agent period for the Rams saw another underrated move with the addition of this strong safety. If the draft class were stronger at safety, they could have targeted one in Round 1. But signing Curl, a fourth-year player, fills the team's need for a starter at one safety spot now. (The free safety position remains an opening.) Curl, a seventh-rounder in the 2020 draft, has been a force for Washington since his first season. As a rookie, he collected three interceptions. In 2023, he had 74 solo tackles. And with Jordan Fuller and John Johnson III not re-signed by the Rams, his ability to play downhill as a run and pass defender is badly needed in that secondary. The Rams are in place to contend in the NFC West (and the NFC in general) after a strong 2023 season. Curl's addition fills one big hole off for the Rams with an above-average starter at a very low cost in a depressed safety market. It's a great value to get a starter at a core position and fill the team's biggest weakness before the draft. -- Miller
Bears land WR Keenan Allen in trade with ChargersBears get: Allen
Chargers get: 2024 fourth-round pick Bears' grade: A-
Chargers' grade: C- It was speculated that the Chargers would have to release or trade one of their veteran receivers -- Mike Williams and Allen -- to get under the 2024 salary cap before the new league year began. And Williams was released, clearing $20 million in much-needed space. But then Allen was traded, leaving the Chargers without either starting wideout from the 2023 season and putting pressure on Joshua Palmer and last year's first-rounder Quentin Johnston as the team's primary targets at the moment to start the Jim Harbaugh era. Not ideal. The Bears, meanwhile, land a veteran for the wide receiver room. Allen is one of the league's best route runners and a great complementary pass-catcher to speedy DJ Moore. Allen, 31, does come with a $34 million cap hit, but the Bears can absorb that number for the 2024 season. And assuming the Bears go ahead and draft USC quarterback Caleb Williams (or another rookie passer) at No. 1 overall, this move shows a commitment to developing him the right way. The offensive line is solid, with interior additions Ryan Bates and Coleman Shelton further improving to an already promising unit that is headlined by last year's No. 9 overall pick, Darnell Wright. With two picks in the top nine selections this year, Chicago could have an offensive cast of Williams, running back D'Andre Swift, tight ends Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett, wideouts Moore and Allen and perhaps another receiver in LSU's Malik Nabers or Washington's Rome Odunze. That's an impressive unit! Allen is coming off a 108-catch season in which he totaled 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns. The Bears ranked No. 27 overall in passing offense last season with 3,096 yards, and Moore was the only wideout with more than 450 receiving yards. While Allen may not see the same targets and numbers on a potentially loaded Bears offense, he's still a highly productive player. This is a one-year deal for Chicago, as Allen's contract expires at the end of the 2024 season. It's possible he could sign an extension that gives the Bears some cap relief and himself some long-term security, but for now, this is a fourth-round pick for one year of a veteran wideout. The Chargers feel like a team in complete rebuild mode to get cap healthy and look to the future under Harbaugh and GM Joe Hortiz. With a draft class rich with wide receiver talent -- I have 15 ranked in the top two rounds; the Chargers can add starting-level players there -- they have the No. 5 and No. 37 picks. The cap hit for Chicago is huge, no doubt, but the team had $58 million in cap space before this trade, per Roster Management System. Adding a player with Allen's experience, leadership and savviness to help a rookie quarterback -- assuming Justin Fields is eventually dealt -- is worth it. For Los Angeles, losing a legend like Allen is painful even if necessary to cure old cap problems. And the 2024 product won't be pretty for quarterback Justin Herbert, especially if a replacement isn't added early in the draft. -- Miller
 Bills adding slot WR Curtis SamuelThe deal: Three years, up to $30 million with $15 million guaranteed
Grade: C The Bills lost Gabe Davis to Jacksonville in free agency on a three-year, $39 million deal. They replace him with Samuel, a speedy, versatile playmaker in the passing game who gives them the underneath option they had previously lacked. In 2023, Samuel had 62 catches for 613 yards with four touchdowns while averaging 9.9 yards per reception. It's likely he will work in the slot and four-wide receiver sets in tandem with Stefon Diggs, Khalil Shakir and recently added deep threat Mack Hollins, but the Bills also have two solid pass-catching tight ends in Dawson Knox and 2023 first-rounder Dalton Kincaid. Samuel's skill set is unique to what Buffalo has on its roster, and offensive coordinator Joe Brady might be putting his stamp on the roster by asking for a gadget-type offensive threat. Still, this fit on paper seems crowded at $8 million per year. The Bills' seasons have ended prematurely since 2020 in large part because the offense was too often one-dimensional. If Samuel can give a boost in the postseason with his skills in making defenders miss, he'll be a worthwhile addition. If he can replace Davis' 45 catches, 746 yards and seven scores from last season at a discounted price to what Davis got on the market, it could turn out as a win. Getting Samuel to seven touchdowns would be a career best, though. Buffalo needed to shake things up offensively and find a more reliable WR2 than Davis. Hollins is a depth player and a core special teamer. Shakir is an ascending talent but is far from proven. Samuel gives the Bills a proven player with 317 career receptions and 22 touchdowns since he was drafted in the second round in 2017. Still just 27 years old, he has a window of production that will hopefully boost the creativity and explosiveness of this offense. But will he really live up to the cost? -- Miller
 Jaguars add bulk in the middle with DT Arik ArmsteadThe deal: Three years, $51 million Grade: C+ The Jaguars made their third signing of a veteran defender with Armstead, a first-round selection in the 2015 NFL draft. He has the versatility to play end or tackle across multiple fronts, and now he's reunited with general manager Trent Baalke, who drafted him in San Francisco. During his tenure in San Francisco, Armstead was an above-average starter when healthy, but he missed 13 games the past two seasons and missed four and six games, respectively, in his second and third seasons in the league. At 6-foot-6, 315 pounds, he'll likely line up on the inside of the Jaguars' defensive line, but he has experience playing in a 5-technique alignment over the tackle as well. The Jaguars finished last season with just 41 sacks, good for the eighth worst in the league. And while Armstead has only been a double-digit sack artist once (2019), he did have five takedowns in 2023 and will prevent offensive lines from focusing on edge rusher Josh Allen. Armstead generated a pass rush win rate of 13.4% last season, good for 10th in the league among defensive tackles. The Jaguars' Roy Robertson-Harris was the team's most productive interior rusher with a win rate of 9.5%, which ranked 25th among DTs. Defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen loves versatile defenders, and he'll have a plan for how to best use Armstead. The Jaguars getting him for $51 million over three years is a fair value for defensive tackles, given how much the position demands on the open market now. The $17 million average per season will rank 14th overall in the league, which is tied with Buffalo's Ed Oliver. If Armstead can stay healthy, the deal is a good value despite his age -- he turns 31 in November. The risk comes with Armstead's injury history, though finding impact pass-rushers at defensive tackle is what every team covets. With the draft light on defensive tackles with a Round 1 grade, locking up Armstead now is a win for the Jaguars as long as his prior injury history doesn't follow him to a new team. -- Miller
 
Commanders send QB Sam Howell to SeahawksCommanders get: 2024 third-round pick and 2024 fifth-round pick
Seahawks get: Howell, 2024 fourth-round pick, 2024 sixth-round pick Commanders' grade: B
Seahawks' grade: B+ The Seahawks started the day with only Geno Smith under contract at quarterback. Now the Seahawks have a potential challenger to Smith as their starting QB. A fifth-rounder in the 2022 draft, Howell played 17 games for the Commanders last season. In an odd twist, he netted one draft asset (No. 78 overall) that is higher than his original draft slot (No. 144). After a red-hot start, Howell faded down the stretch before being benched for Jacoby Brissett, only to return to action after an injury to the veteran. Howell ended the season with 21 touchdown passes to 21 interceptions, was sacked 65 times and completed 63.4% of his passes for a QBR of 42.4 -- No. 24 in the league. An offense marred by poor offensive line play and Howell's inexperience ultimately led to a complete regime change in Washington. Now he's in Seattle, where new offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb may be looking to spice up the offense. Smith, returning for his third season as Seattle's starter, was No. 23 in the league in air yards per attempt at 7.0 yards. Grubb, who comes to the Seahawks from the University of Washington, loves the deep ball. Interestingly enough, Howell's QBR of 98.2 on outside deep routes was fourth best in the league. Fun fact: Smith had the NFL's worst QBR in the same situations (2.6). If Grubb plans to bring his three-wide, vertical offense from Washington to the Seahawks, Howell's deep ball touch and power are actually good fits. For Washington, all signs should now firmly point to selecting a quarterback at No. 2 overall if they didn't already. The Commanders signed veteran Marcus Mariota and have Jake Fromm on the roster. With the second overall pick in a draft that could potentially have four quarterbacks selected in the top 10, GM Adam Peters can go get his quarterback. And he now has some extra draft capital to build a team around that signal-caller, as this trade gives Washington six of the top 100 picks. And maybe, just maybe, that's enough draft capital to entice Chicago to switch places so the Commanders can pick hometown quarterback Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall? -- Miller
 Dolphins sign CB Kendall FullerThe deal: Two years, $16.5 million
Grade: B- After releasing veteran Xavien Howard in a cap-saving move before free agency, the Dolphins brought in a potential starting cornerback in Fuller. Fuller, a 29-year-old who has played eight NFL seasons, spent the past four years with the Washington Commanders, where he grabbed two interceptions last season and had 10 picks in his four years with the club. He'll look to boost a Miami secondary that finished 15th in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game (221.2 ypg) and had 15 interceptions but saw Howard, Brandon Jones and DeShon Elliott depart this offseason. Fuller will be given a chance to start opposite Jalen Ramsey at outside corner, with Kader Kohou locked in as the team's starting nickelback. That's an ideal fit for Fuller from a scheme perspective, as he only took 26 snaps at slot cornerback in 15 games last season. Corner was a big need in Miami, and Fuller allows a contending Dolphins team to roll out veterans at each of the three starting positions next season while giving them flexibility to draft a young outside cornerback prospect in April. Financially, paying a little more than $8 million per year on average is a solid deal for a starting-level cornerback. Fuller would rank as the fourth highest paid cornerback on the open market -- slotting behind Chidobe Awuzie, Kenny Moore II and Sean Murphy-Bunting -- while edging out Darious Williams, who signed with the Los Angeles Rams for an average of $7.5 million per year. All in all, this is a good move by Miami. Fuller is a scheme and alignment fit. The money fits with his ability and experience. And most importantly, the defending AFC East champions fill a core need on the roster without feeling pressured to use their first-round pick (No. 21 overall) on the position. -- Miller
 
Cardinals trade for QB Desmond Ridder in player swap with FalconsCardinals get: Ridder
Falcons get: WR Rondale Moore Cardinals' grade: B
Falcons' grade: B- It's a rare player-for-player NFL trade, as the Falcons and Cardinals swap backup offensive players. But wait ... this deal is actually good for both teams! The Cardinals needed a No. 2 quarterback with only 2023 fifth-rounder Clayton Tune on the roster behind Kyler Murray. We're learning that a team's backup position is pretty important, as 66 different quarterbacks started at least one game last season. But this is especially important in Arizona, where Murray is still relatively fresh off the ACL injury that caused him to miss all but the final eight games of the 2023 season. And Murray missed two, five and nine games, respectively, over the past three seasons. Ridder is no threat to Murray's status as the franchise quarterback, but he does provide insurance in case Murray is injured for some period of time. In his short time as a starter in Atlanta, Ridder was uneven with an 8-9 record, 14 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions. He was benched late last season for Taylor Heinicke, and once Kirk Cousins was signed, his time with the Falcons seemed short-lived. Meanwhile, the Falcons are ... kind of loaded with speedy receivers? Moore, a 2021 second-rounder, is a burner from the slot and was a highly productive return man in college. Lost on the Cardinals' depth chart at times, he caught 40 passes for 352 yards and one score last season but had 41 catches in 2022 and 54 in his rookie year. Moore was a better fit for former coach Kliff Kingsbury's Air Raid-style system, and it showed in his lack of targets last season. The good news for Atlanta is that Moore does fit well with offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, who is coming from the Sean McVay school of spacing. Given that the Falcons had only Drake London and Darnell Mooney on the roster as legitimate wide receiver options prior to this trade, it bodes well for Moore's chances to crack the lineup as a third or fourth receiver -- and likely the return man. The trade of a legitimate backup quarterback for a depth wide receiver might seem out of balance, and Arizona slightly wins this trade based on positional value, but it's fair to be excited about the potential of Moore in Atlanta's offense with a quarterback like Cousins getting him the ball. -- Miller
 
Texans trade for RB Joe MixonBengals get: 2024 seventh-round pick
Texans get: RB Joe Mixon Bengals grade: B
Texans grade: B- Given the uptick in the running back market, I was surprised when it was initially reported that the Bengals would cut Mixon. If someone is willing to pay D'Andre Swift $8 million per year with $15 million guaranteed, surely someone would want to pay Mixon roughly $6 million for one year? Indeed, someone did. From Cincinnati's perspective, I'm good with their running back changeup. They got a younger player (Zack Moss) for cheaper. Moss also ran more efficiently than Mixon in 2023 with 0.7 rush yards over expectation, per NFL Next Gen Stats, compared to Mixon's 0.0. Mixon is declining, but he still has value as a receiver. Last year he caught 52 passes -- ninth most among running backs -- for 376 yards. And he scored well in ESPN's receiver tracking metrics with an 81 overall score, sixth best among running backs. Given where the market was, it made sense for Houston to go after him, especially after losing their leading rusher (Devin Singletary) in free agency. -- Seth Walder
 Titans splash the cash for WR Calvin RidleyThe deal: Four years, $92 million with $50 million guaranteed Grade: B- Ridley's return to the NFL last season fell short of the high expectations some -- myself included! -- had for him, but it wasn't altogether a disappointment. In a hot-and-cold season in Jacksonville, he managed 1,016 yards on 76 receptions. In order to justify this contract, he has to be better. Is there hope for that? Despite his age -- 29 -- there is. Here are three reasons why: Rust. Ridley hadn't played since October of 2021, so I don't think it's unreasonable he wasn't fully his old self last season. That amazing 2020 season featured 90 open score in ESPN's receiver tracking metrics, essentially flashing the best attribute a receiver can have, the ability to get open. Even though he was down at a 59 last season, we know he's capable of that kind of a season. I've seen Matt Harmon talk about this and our numbers back it up: Ridley really struggled against press coverage last season, and he faced a lot of it. He recorded 1.2 yards per route run vs. press as opposed to 2.0 vs. other coverages, per NFL Next Gen Stats. He faced press coverage 36% of the time, the third-most among all wide receivers who ran at least 300 routes. In Tennessee, that should change because he'll be playing opposite DeAndre Hopkins, who can be the receiver on the line of scrimmage and take some of that press coverage. Hopkins was one of the two wide receivers who faced more press than Ridley last season (37%).
Counter-intuitive as it might seem, I actually think this is the right time for the Titans to make sure they have a full slate of offensive playmakers. Neither we nor they know what they have in second-year quarterback Will Levis, but they have to operate as if he will work out. If they wait to find out, the rookie QB window will close before you know it. (As an aside: If I'm Tennessee, I'm absolutely keeping the door open on a rookie first-round QB or Justin Fields, but the point would largely remain). If the Titans suddenly have a hit at quarterback, they should want to have the pieces to capitalize on that. Does that mean Ridley is worth this contract, which is a bit pricier than I thought he would command? Looking at comps, it's a little steep. Using historical contracts from OverTheCap and adjusting for salary cap inflation, some other contracts with a modern-day equivalent of a $23 million average per year are Brandin Cooks in 2018 with the Rams or T.Y. Hilton in 2015. Neither of those players got nearly as much fully guaranteed money as Ridley. The best true comparison is probably Mike Evans in 2018, with a 2024 equivalent of $23.8 million in APY and $55 million fully guaranteed. Ridley today is not Evans then. There's significant risk to Ridley. Any player at his age who has shown decline has a good chance to not bounce back. If I were the Titans I would have tried for a higher APY and lower guarantees. Because of the Titans' timeline, the fact they have cap space and the lack of other veteran receiver options, I don't mind this deal ... even if it is rich. But we shouldn't forget this isn't their only avenue for adding wideouts, because an excellent receiver draft class awaits. -- Walder What this means for the 2024 draft: With the No. 7 overall pick, I had been thinking left tackle or best wide receiver available for the Titans. Now, it seems clear they need to take a tackle. They might have a chance at the first one off the board, too, likely either Joe Alt (Notre Dame) or Olumuyiwa Fashanu (Penn State). Building a core group of skill players around second-year quarterback Will Levis was an offseason priority, and now Tennessee has solid wideouts for the duration of Levis' contract. -- Miller
Bengals look for pass-rush boost from DT Sheldon RankinsThe deal: Two years for $26 million
Grade: B- Trey Hendrickson can't rush the passer alone, so it makes sense the Bengals would try to bolster their pass rush in other ways. That's surely why they're bringing in Rankins, a seven-year veteran who is coming off a season in which he not only recorded 6.0 sacks, but posted a career-best pass rush win rate at defensive tackle at 15%, well above average for the position. That's really strong! So why only a B- if he was so good last year? I'm a little skeptical that he had a break out at age 29 and think it might have been an outlier. Don't get me wrong: Rankins is a solid, useful player who has probably been underrated in the past. But he also has averaged a 10% pass rush win rate prior to 2023, and that's a more realistic number for him going forward. I like bringing in Rankins for pass rush if I'm Cincinnati, but $13 million per year feels a shade expensive. -- Walder
Cardinals sign OT Jonah WilliamsThe deal: Two years for $30 million, with $19 million guaranteed
Grade: C After releasing D.J. Humphries -- who suffered a torn ACL late last season -- the Cardinals had an opening at tackle. Enter Williams, who has experience at both left and right tackle and could potentially play either in Arizona, depending on where the team thinks he and 2023 first-round pick Paris Johnson Jr. fit best. The issue I have with this signing is pretty simple -- he's never pass protected well in the NFL, according to our metrics. And that's a pretty big problem! Williams' pass block win rate in Cincinnati has been consistent, between 83% and 85% in each of the four seasons he played. Average for tackles is roughly 88%, and his 84% PBWR this past season ranked 53rd out of 69 tackles. His run block win rates have been better, consistently average for the position throughout his career. Now, it's not like the Bengals are paying Williams franchise left tackle money. But $15 million per year is still real money, and I suspect they would be able to find below average pass protection for less. -- Walder What this means for the 2024 draft: I'll have to change my mock draft after Arizona signed Williams. The Cardinals were a very popular destination for a right tackle at No. 27 overall. Williams, and his versatility to play either tackle spot, allows last year's first-rounder, Johnson, to potentially move to the left side. Either way, this is a huge addition that checks a must-have need for the Cards. -- Miller
Commanders add veteran LB Bobby WagnerThe deal: One year, $8.5 million with 6 million in guarantees Grade: A The Commanders continue to add talented defenders for new coach Dan Quinn, and they added one of the best linebackers of the past decade in Wagner. Can he still play? The 33-year old had 96 solo tackles for the Seahawks last season -- after a one-year hiatus away from Seattle with the Rams -- good for fourth most in the league. He also added 3.5 sacks. Quinn's defense needs front-seven defenders who are instinctive and can make plays, and while Wagner is no longer in his prime, he's still a highly valuable two-down middle linebacker. Pairing him with recent free agent addition Frankie Luvu and 2021 first-rounder Jamin Davis gives Quinn the trio of linebackers to effectively run a base 4-3 defense. The middle of the Washington defense has a completely new look now, and it's one that's ready to hang with the rest of the NFC East. The Commanders struggled under Ron Rivera last season, ranking 32nd in points allowed per game (30.5), 31st in QBR allowed (57.2) and 31st in yards per play allowed (5.9). They also gave up the sixth most rushing yards (2,155). Wagner will immediately impact both numbers while giving the defense a leader in the middle. Financially, this is about as low-risk as a team can get. The one-year deal for $6 million guaranteed will be the 11th-highest among inside linebackers, well behind Tremaine Edmunds' $22.4 million that set the high-water mark for off-ball linebackers. Sure, Wagner is slowing down and will be played his age-34 season, but his ability to secure the middle of the field and be an on-the-field coach for the young Washington defense is worth the $6 million guaranteed alone. Now we'll see if Washington shores up the secondary to better fit Quinn's standards. A cornerback is very much in play in Round 2 of April's with one of the its two second-round selections. -- Miller
Texans trade DT Maliek Collins to 49ersTexans get: 2024 seventh-round pick
49ers get: DT Maliek Collins Texans' grade: B-
49ers' grade: A- Though he's never accrued more than five sacks in a season, Collins has always been a feisty pass-rusher, which shows up in the win rates. His 13% pass rush win rate at defensive tackle last season ranked 12th at the position last year, allowing him to pick up the career-high five sacks. But just one year prior Collins ranked third in PRWR at defensive tackle behind only Chris Jones and his new teammate, Javon Hargrave (Aaron Donald didn't qualify that year). With Arik Armstead expected to be released, there's room for Collins alongside Hargrave, Nick Bosa and free agent pickup Leonard Floyd on the 49ers' defensive line. That's a strong group. The 49ers are bringing in Collins for pass rush as opposed to run-stopping, but they're not paying him like a complete-package defensive tackle -- he will cost them $8.5 million this season and, if they want, $10 million in 2025. For the Texans, I'm wondering if they plan to play Denico Autry more inside -- in the past he's played more edge but Houston is stacked there with Will Anderson Jr. and free agent pickup Danielle Hunter. Folorunso Fatukasi is the team's other defensive tackle but is mostly a run-stopper. -- Walder
Ravens trade OT Morgan Moses to JetsJets get: Moses and a 2024 fourth-round pick
Ravens get: 2024 fourth-round pick and 2024 sixth-round pick Jets' grade: A
Ravens' grade: C+ The Jets simply had no choice but to upgrade their offensive line -- if you're going to be all in with Aaron Rodgers in 2024, you have to give him a chance to throw the ball. Entering the offseason, only two players were really secured on that line: versatile lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker and second-year center Joe Tippmann. Both tackle spots were a major concern, especially if the team wanted to put Vera-Tucker back at guard. Trading for Moses is a good solution. He's 33 years old and only has one year left on his contract, but he's cheap and -- more importantly -- solid at tackle. Before missing three games with a shoulder injury in 2023, Moses had played 16 or 17 games in eight consecutive seasons. Crucially, he's a reliable pass-blocker. His 90% pass block win rate at tackle last season ranked 20th among 69 tackles. His PBWR has been between 90-91% in each of the past three seasons, too. And while his run block win rate has been slightly below average since 2017, Moses ranked in the top 15 there last season in Baltimore. That's why it was surprising that the Jets let him go for so cheap in 2022 (and that no other team would pay him more than the $5 million per year that Baltimore did to land him in free agency that year). Giving up the equivalent of a borderline fifth-/sixth-rounder is perfectly palatable for the Jets, considering their big tackle problem and the immediacy of their winning window. And there's a ripple effect. If the Jets can draft a first-round rookie left tackle and start Moses on the right side, it frees up Vera-Tucker to play guard ... and suddenly the Jets' line doesn't look so bad anymore (though rookie tackles usually are below average, even first-rounders). From Baltimore's perspective, I'm surprised the Ravens couldn't squeeze a little more value out of him if they felt like trading him, considering how weak the available tackle market is at the moment. Coach John Harbaugh did say after the season that Moses was considering shoulder surgery, so health might have been a factor. But dealing Moses means the Ravens have a lot of change coming to their offensive line, which poses real risk. Guard John Simpson already signed with the Jets, and fellow guard Kevin Zeitler is a free agent. -- Walder What this means for the 2024 draft: Even after signing Simpson and trading for Moses, the Jets' first order of business at pick No. 10 overall should be selecting a long-term left tackle prospect. Penn State's Olumuyiwa Fashanu and Oregon State's Taliese Fuaga each fit the bill as impact rookies who should be available at this slot. The Jets' moves so far help a beleaguered offensive line, but left tackle remains the team's biggest need. -- Miller
Steelers trade WR Diontae Johnson to PanthersPanthers get: Johnson and a 2024 seventh-round pick
Steelers get: CB Donte Jackson and a 2024 sixth-round pick Panthers' grade: A
Steelers' grade: C- Carolina had a receiver problem without a foreseeable fix. For some reason, Pittsburgh came to the rescue. Adam Thielen, 33, was previously their best option, and an offense simply cannot function without quality wideouts -- there's no way quarterback Bryce Young could succeed without them. This was happening in an offseason devoid of quality free agent wide receivers and in a year when the Panthers lack a first-round pick. That's why the Steelers dealing Johnson is such a blessing for Carolina. And to put it simply, Johnson is good! He's certainly better than his boxscore stats indicate, though he does have one 1,000-season (2021). Johnson stands out to me for his exceptional ability to get open. In fact, here are Johnson's open scores in ESPN's receiver tracking metrics (on a 0-99 scale, with 50 being roughly average) in every season of his career starting in 2019: 91, 92, 87, 99 and 78. Heck, he was one of the focuses of our video explaining the metric! He's not perfect -- he had an alarming 8% drop rate in 2020, though it has been under 5% every other year -- but generating openness is the most important quality for a receiver. It's the most stable year-to-year and the most likely to lead to production. It's what Carolina and Young need. To get Johnson, the Panthers had to part with Jackson, a fine starting cornerback who will line up opposite Joey Porter Jr. in Pittsburgh. Jackson allowed 1.3 yards per coverage snap as the nearest defender last season (average for an outside corner) and has been between 1.2-1.5 yards in that stat in each of the past four seasons, per NFL Next Gen Stats. He allowed 12.4 targeted EPA and has only had a negative targeted EPA season once (negative is better for defenders). Both players have one year left on their deals and will cost their respective new teams roughly $10 million in 2024, making this a fairly straightforward evaluation. The Panthers got the better player at the more important position for an easy win. The trade also leaves Pittsburgh with a crucial hole at receiver. While they still have George Pickens, that is not enough to sustain an offense, particularly one that currently lacks a top-tier quarterback. The Steelers have a reputation for finding receivers in the draft, and maybe they will, but I'd be awfully wary about relying on something that is quite likely just variance. If the Steelers were set on trading Johnson, they should have netted more in return. -- Walder What this means for the 2024 draft: Johnson doesn't eliminate the Panthers from selecting a pass-catcher at No. 33, but the trade might inform us on what type of receiver they add at the draft. Texas' Xavier Worthy or Oregon's Troy Franklin may be out of the running given their similar builds to the 5-foot-10, 183-pound Johnson. But a big-bodied outside receiver like South Carolina's Xavier Legette could be in play here. For Pittsburgh, my top need heading into the offseason was cornerback, so the addition of Jackson is notable. And while he's most likely expected to make an impact from the slot, his versatility could allow the Steelers to bypass the position in Round 1 in favor of a right tackle or even a wide receiver to replace Johnson. -- Miller
Texans agree on terms with DE Danielle HunterThe deal: Two years, $49 million with $48 million guaranteed
Grade: B+ After losing Jonathan Greenard to Minnesota, the Texans didn't wait long to fill the edge rusher spot opposite Will Anderson Jr. In fact, Greenard and Hunter simply switched places, with Hunter receiving a slightly larger contract in terms of per-year average and guarantees. Players with a sack production record like Hunter don't often reach free agency, which is why this is maybe a $1-2 million less than I would have guessed Hunter would receive. In Hunter, Houston is receiving a bona fide No. 1 edge rusher with consistent sack production. He is coming off a 16.5-sack season but has also had double-digit sacks in four of the past five seasons that he played (he missed 2020 with a neck injury) -- and he only played seven games in the one year he didn't hit double-digits. Oddly -- given that production -- Hunter does not fare as well in other pass-rushing metrics. His 14% pass rush win rate at edge last season is slightly below the 16% average for the position. It wasn't an outlier, either. Hunter's pass rush win rate at edge has been between 12-15% in every season he has played since 2017, when the metric began. His pressure rate, similarly, is unremarkable at 10% -- average for qualifying edge rushers. And Hunter consistently fares poorly in run stop win rate. While that all would give me major pause if he had only a single season of strong sack performance, he has made a career of generating more sacks than you'd expect for someone with his underlying performance. Some pass-rushers are better finishers, excelling in the latter half of a pass rush as opposed to getting a quick jump or beating their block right away -- and that's OK! They are related but different skills. Hunter is like the reverse Jadeveon Clowney in this respect (Clowney wins right away but struggles to bring down the QB). So I would expect Hunter's sack production to continue. Hunter is 29 years old, though it's not unreasonable to expect him to continue to perform over the next two years. He has played 17 games in back-to-back seasons, but neck and pectoral injuries limited him to just seven games over 2020-21. I'm grading this deal just for the situation Houston found itself in Tuesday (post-Greenard loss), but I would be more critical if I included choosing Hunter over Greenard. This is a take, granted, but I would prefer Greenard to Hunter because he's younger, has better advanced metrics and is the better run defender. And that's before looking at the difference in price. But with Greenard gone, Houston did well to add Hunter at a time when the team's rookie QB contract winning window is wide-open. -- Walder
 Vikings set to add QB Sam DarnoldThe deal: One year, $10 million with $8.75 million guaranteed
Grade: B Darnold spent a little time in the warm glow of 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, and now he might be a Week 1 starter. With Kirk Cousins out the door, the Vikings have to find a new future at quarterback, and that will almost certainly come in the draft next month. But in the meantime, they need a veteran to bridge the gap and be a solid backup -- assuming all goes well, and Minnesota drafts and gets a rookie on the field. Enter Darnold. A year ago, Darnold received a one-year, $4.5 million deal from the 49ers. Over a very small sample (63 action plays), he recorded a 49 QBR -- better than his career average and fine for a backup, but not anything to really change our opinion of him. Still, the league seems to value him more today than it did 46 pass attempts ago. Darnold has been disappointing since entering the league in 2018, posting a career 42 QBR. That's not good, but it is a step above other recent quarterback busts such as Zach Wilson (career QBR of 34) and Josh Rosen (career QBR of 23). And to be fair, Darnold actually had his most efficient season in six games with Carolina in 2022, when he posted a 51 QBR. I'm skeptical of Darnold's supposed upside because, to be frank, he has yet to be good at the job in six years in the NFL. But I'm also a believer in the value of backup quarterbacks, and this is an acceptable price for a good one. As long as Minnesota views Darnold as only that -- a player who can transition the team to a 2024 rookie -- he is a fine option. -- Walder What this means for the 2024 draft: At pick No. 11, it's unlikely one of the top four quarterbacks in the class will fall to Minnesota. But general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah should be aggressive in trying to move up the board for a passer. Expect the connections between Minnesota and Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy to intensify as we get closer to the draft. -- Miller
 Buccaneers re-sign long-time LB Lavonte DavidThe deal: One year, $9 million
Grade: B- Linebacker coverage numbers are noisy from year to year, which is why I've always found David's consistency impressive. From 2019 to 2022, David allowed 0.6 to 0.8 yards per coverage snap as the nearest defender in each season, all below the 0.9 average for off-ball linebackers. And in each of those years he also recorded double-digit negative EPA. In 2023, his coverage numbers dipped a bit to 1.0 yards per coverage snap and only minus-2 EPA. But still, solid as ever. And he added a very strong 30% pass rush win rate when sent after the passer and a slightly better than average 37% run stop win rate. David is a stalwart, having played in at least 12 games in all 12 seasons of his NFL career, all with Tampa Bay (and at least 16 games in seven of those seasons). He returned to the Bucs last year on a one-year, $4.5 million deal. He's an important part of the Bucs defense, so I'm all for bringing him back, it's just that doubling his price from last year -- at age 34 -- seems a little much. -- Walder
 Patriots set to return OLB Josh UcheThe deal: One year, $3 million (with incentives up to $8 million)
Grade: A Do you know who has the highest single-season pressure rate since ESPN began tracking pressures in 2017? It's not Micah Parsons, Myles Garrett or Aaron Donald. Nope, it's Uche at 19% in 2022, when he also recorded 11.5 sacks and a 20% pass rush win rate at edge (above average). And because of that, I'm always going to be intrigued by him. Don't get me wrong, we're talking about a situational pass-rusher who is on the field 33% of the time (much more in passing situations than early downs) and scored poorly in run stop win rate last season (20%). But situational pass-rushers can be awfully valuable if they are good at their job -- just go look at Bryce Huff's contract! Outside of 2022, Uche's numbers aren't as strong. His pass rush win rate dropped to 10% at edge in 2023, well below average, and he only recorded 3.5 sacks. But interestingly, his pressure rate stayed high at 16%, only behind Parsons. I don't know if Uche will put it all together or not, but at just $3 million, it's a slam dunk for the Patriots to find out. -- Walder
Eagles bringing back DB C.J. Gardner-JohnsonThe deal: Three years, up to $33 million
Grade: B And they say you can't go home again! Gardner-Johnson returns to Philadelphia after a one-year stint with the Lions. He played just three games for Detroit in 2023 after tearing a pectoral muscle in Week 2, which opened the door for rookie Brian Branch to slide into the starting lineup. Now Gardner-Johnson returns to Philly, where he helped form a dominant secondary during the 2022 season. A fourth-round draft choice in 2019 by the Saints, he has become one of the league's best slot defenders. His 2022 season with the Eagles saw him grab six interceptions, tied for most in the NFL. The ball skills to flip the field will come in handy, as the Eagles tied for 25th in team interceptions last season with nine. A revamped secondary is a huge priority for the Eagles this offseason, and bringing back a familiar face should be a huge boost to the overall talent of the group. Doing so at a maximum average value of $11 million per season is also a win for Philly. While the deal is slightly north of the three-year, $30 million contract given to nickel defender Kenny Moore II by the Colts, it's in line with the player Gardner-Johnson was before injury in 2023. Now the Eagles will bet on the 26-year-old to lead a defensive backfield that could feature four new starters. -- Miller
Saints to sign former Chiefs LB Willie GayThe deal: One year for a maximum of $5 million
Grade: B The Saints add a rangy linebacker with great run-and-chase speed and the skillset to play multiple alignments in Gay. A second-round draft pick in 2020, Gay was a highly used rotational linebacker in Chiefs coordinator Steve Spagnuolo's 4-3 defense. During his four seasons in Kansas City he had 5 sacks, 4 interceptions and 233 tackles. He became known for his explosive range as a tackler and versatility lining up opposite Nick Bolton. The Saints' defense needed a strongside linebacker with the speed to make plays outside the hashes, and that's Gay's specialty. He'll be asked to immediately boost a defense that was the 11th worst in the league, allowing nearly 120 yards per game on the ground and 4.4 yards per carry. Coming in at a $5 million maximum value, Gay is a value add who has a chance to prove himself outside of the Kansas City scheme. He'll likely be given more opportunities as a playmaker on the outside of the defense in New Orleans, which is something that could boost his value. This is the typical low-risk signing we typically see toward the end of the second day of signings. Adding Gay doesn't affect any draft plans for the Saints, but does fill a hole at a needy position with a low-cost, one-year trial. -- Miller
 Colts re-sign Kenny Moore IIThe deal: Three years, $30 million
Grade: B+ A slot corner who never leaves the field, Moore is a valuable part of the Colts' defense. And the numbers back it up -- among slot corners with at least 300 coverage snaps, Moore's 1.0 yards per coverage snap allowed ranked seventh-best and his EPA allowed ranked fifth-best, per NFL Next Gen Stats research. Given his reputation, those are surprisingly the strongest nearest defender numbers of his career -- even better than his 2021 Pro Bowl season. Moore ranked 19th on my colleague Matt Bowen's list of the 100 best free agents this offseason. Slot corners are always going to be cheaper, and at $10 million per year, Moore does not cost a ton. In fact, that's slightly cheaper in terms of APY than the extension he signed in 2019 after adjusting for salary cap inflation, according to OverTheCap data. -- Seth Walder What this means for the 2024 draft: Another Colts re-signing and another draft need checked off the list. Moore fulfills the need of a CB1 while allowing Indianapolis to keep an eye on offensive playmakers with the No. 15 pick as it builds an offense around second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson. Depth adds at corner wouldn't be a surprise in the middle rounds. -- Miller
49ers agree to sign DE Leonard FloydThe deal: Two years, up to $24 million
Grade: B With Chase Young presumably out the door in San Francisco, the 49ers filled the edge rusher role opposite Nick Bosa with a veteran who might be coming off his sneakily best season. Floyd, 31, recorded 10.5 sacks for the second time in his career -- but this time he did it without Aaron Donald playing next to him and while playing only 54% of defensive snaps for the Bills. Floyd posted a 16% pass rush win rate at edge, his second-highest mark since 2018, and suddenly showed more burst in his get-off. From 2018 to 2022, Floyd crossed the line of scrimmage when pass rushing in 0.84 seconds on average, per NFL Next Gen Stats data. That number dipped to 0.77 seconds last season, his best mark since 2017. At this price, signing Floyd to help with a pass rush that wasn't quite as good as it should have been on paper is totally fine, as long as the money makes it essentially a year-to-year contract, given his age. -- Walder
Steelers to sign LB Patrick QueenThe deal: Three years, $41 million Grade: C+ The beginning of Queen's career was rocky to the point that the Ravens declined to pick up his fifth-year option last year. Then he broke out in 2023, suddenly became a top free agent linebacker and will now join the Steelers. The lingering question with Queen as he heads to Pittsburgh: Was his breakout for real, or was it a product of playing next to Roquan Smith? It's truly hard to know, but Queen had some impressive numbers. Among off-ball LBs with at least 30 pass rushes with a pass rush win or loss, Queen had the second-highest pass rush win rate at 34%. His 0.7 yards allowed per coverage snap was better than average (0.9) for the position, per NFL Next Gen Stats. However, his run stop win rate (30%) was below average for the position. Queen recorded 3.5 sacks, had one forced fumble and was named an AP second-team All-Pro. In Pittsburgh, Queen will presumably team up with Elandon Roberts and Cole Holcomb (who will be coming off a season-ending knee injury suffered last November) on a defense that ranked ninth in EPA per play last season. Queen did not make as much money as I thought he might. Tremaine Edmunds broke the bank last year on an $18 million per year deal after only one strong season of play, but Queen did not reach that mark even with a substantial rise in the cap. Still, I'm wary of paying this much to an off-ball linebacker -- a non-premium position -- without a long track record of exceptional play. And it's also something of red flag that former Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald (now in Seattle), decided to pass on Queen despite a need at linebacker and money to spend. -- Walder
Ravens to sign RB Derrick HenryThe deal: Two years, $16 million with $9 million guaranteed
Grade: A- How could you not be excited about this? As skeptical as I am of paying running backs, if you're going to do it, do it in a Lamar Jackson offense with a transcendent running back talent -- while guaranteeing only roughly one year's worth of money, less than some of the other free agents in this class. Henry might be close to done, sure. He's 30 years old, an age when running backs often are well into retirement. And his play has clearly declined. He recorded just 4.2 yards per carry last season and just 0.3 rush yards over expectation per carry, per NFL Next Gen Stats data. Actually, that last part has been on the decline for a while -- the last time he exceeded 0.3 RYOE/C was in 2020 (1.0). But he also still recorded 2.2 yards per carry after contact, the most of any running back with at least 100 carries last season. But unlike the Josh Jacobses or Tony Pollards or D'Andre Swifts of the world, Henry was once a truly special player, which means there's at least a chance of recapturing that magic. Normally I'd say that's not the case at his age, but there's one factor working in his favor: a reduced workload. Somehow Henry still led the league in carries last season with 280. If he were to bring that number down, he possibly could be efficient again. Plus, the contrast between Henry, the battering ram, and speedy Keaton Mitchell (who averaged an insane 4.3 yards over expectation per carry on his 47 attempts last season) should make them perfect complements to one another once the younger back returns from an ACL tear suffered last December. Henry still commands attention from opposing defenses. When the Titans were in 11 personnel without Henry on the field last season, they faced a light box 92% of the time. But in 11 personnel with Henry that number dropped to 55% (some selection bias might apply -- it's possible Henry could be in only when the threat of running is higher). It's enticing to imagine him in this Baltimore offense, which ranked fourth in run block win rate and could allow him to get his momentum going. And of course, having Henry play with Jackson -- an elite running threat in his own right -- should make life difficult for opposing defenses (but result in great viewing for the rest of us). -- Walder
Titans address secondary with CB Chidobe AwuzieThe deal: Three years, up to $36 million with $19 million guaranteed at signing
Grade: B- The Titans continue to spend big in general manager Ran Carthon's second free agent class. The secondary in Tennessee took a hit this offseason with Sean Murphy-Bunting signing with the Cardinals and Kristian Fulton still a free agent. Securing Awuzie to pair him with Roger McCreary checks one need at corner off the team's list, but more additions via the draft or free agency would be welcomed here. The 28-year-old veteran brings toughness and versatility to the Titans' defense, as well as a familiarity with new coach Brian Callahan, who was the Bengals offensive coordinator since 2019. Awuzie has just six career interceptions in seven seasons but is an effective cover man with 25 pass breakups in three years with the Bengals. He will be tasked with boosting a Titans secondary that allowed the seventh-highest QBR in 2023 at 53.6 and collected a league-worst six interceptions. Financially, this is a solid all-around deal. Awuzie will be the 14th highest-paid corner in terms of annual average at $12 million. That's good money, but with only $19 million guaranteed, it's not going to strap the Titans should he struggle to stay healthy -- which has been an issue at times. Awuzie tore his ACL during a fantastic 2022 season and didn't look the same in 2023. If he's back to that '22 form, the Titans have upgraded at one starting corner spot without breaking the bank. There is risk involved here given his age and injury history, but he's a potential top-tier starter. -- Miller
Falcons agree to sign WR Darnell MooneyThe deal: Three years, $39 million with $26 million fully guaranteed
Grade: B After Atlanta signed Kirk Cousins on Monday, I noted that although the Falcons have a solid foundation, they needed to add a few offensive playmakers -- most notably at wide receiver. With them signing Mooney, I would not call the receiver box "checked," but it's a step in the right direction. A year ago at this time, I would have been reasonably bullish on the move. At the time, Mooney was coming off back-to-back seasons with 1.9 yards per route run and 2.2 or higher yards per route run against man coverage. His open score via ESPN's receiver tracking metrics had been strong: 63 in 2021 (tied for 28th among WRs) and 67 in a smaller sample in 2022 (tied for 21st). And he recorded 1,055 receiving yards in 2021. But in 2023, his numbers plummeted. His yards per route run dipped under 1.0 (and under 0.8 vs. man coverage), his target rate fell from 23% in 2022 to 14% in 2023, and his open score dropped all the way down to 40 -- a career low and tied for 89th. It's hard to know exactly what went so wrong for Mooney last season, but the Falcons are betting they can figure it out and prompt a rebound. One thing to note is the Bears changed coaching staffs after his biggest season (2021), and Mooney's route tree changed quite a bit. From 2021 to 2022, his hitch routes, go routes, slants and comebacks all declined in frequency and were replaced with corners, flats and seams. Was that a contributing factor? Potentially. I imagine the Falcons would view Mooney as a WR3 and draft an immediate-impact rookie at the position in April to be the true complement to Drake London. The per-year average for Mooney is fine here, but this deal is not nothing, because $26 million is fully guaranteed. Although I think we can imagine a world where Mooney returns to form, it's also quite easy to see him continuing his level of play from last season and the Falcons regretting having to also pay him in 2025. Still, I have some sympathy for Atlanta's situation here. There's very little receiver talent available, and the one thing the Falcons can't do is waste the Cousins signing by not trying to add more playmakers. -- Walder
Seahawks bringing back DL Leonard WilliamsThe deal: Three years, $64.5 million with $48.85 million guaranteed
Grade: C- After using a second-round pick to acquire Williams at the trade deadline last season, the Seahawks re-signed the interior defender to a deal that the numbers just don't support. Williams has long been a solid player paid like a great one, and the tradition will continue in 2024. His 11% pass rush win rate at defensive tackle last season was 11%, just a shade above average (yet a career high since 2017, when the metrics began). He recorded 5.5 sacks, and outside of his one 11.5-sack season in 2020, he has never gone over 6.5 sacks in a season. His run stop win rate is typically strong but took a step back last season (32%, a shade below average). And he'll be 30 years old when the season kicks off in September. Is that a player worth signing to a deal at $21.5 million per year (with significant guarantees)? The deal puts him roughly on par with Cameron Heyward and Arik Armstead in 2020 and a shade above Grady Jarrett in 2022, after we adjust for cap inflation, according to contract data from OverTheCap. I think I would take all three of those players at those times than Williams right now. Maybe -- just maybe -- he can be Mike Macdonald's new Justin Madubuike in Seattle, but I'm not giving that kind of benefit of the doubt to the veteran defensive lineman. -- Walder
Patriots set to bring back OL Mike OnwenuThe deal: Three years, $57 million
Grade: A- Considering the explosion of money at guard so far and how few tackles are available, I figured Onwenu -- who is an established good guard but has the ability to play tackle, too -- would make even more than this. Heck, compared to the five-year, $100 million deal (with $63 million guaranteed) that Robert Hunt received from the Panthers, Onwenu's three-year, $57 million deal seems like a bargain. Onwenu's numbers actually took a hit in 2023, but from 2020 to 2022, he recorded a 95% pass block win rate at guard (roughly top-10 level) and an average 71% run block win rate. His tackle numbers in that span were solid, too, with his pass block win rate slightly above average (91%). Onwenu's pass block win rates at tackle and guard plummeted to 81% (bottom five) and 89% (below average), respectively, in 2023, but his run blocking was actually stronger. Given the weakness of the market, Onwenu's track record of strong play prior to 2023, the Patriots' changing coaching staff and the need to put a competent offensive line in front of a possible rookie quarterback, I'm willing to give a pass on last season as a possible outlier. The Patriots had the worst pass block win rate in the league in 2023, so I don't think they should be in the business of letting a good offensive lineman walk. -- Walder
Titans agree to sign C Lloyd CushenberryThe deal: Four years, $50 million with $26 million guaranteed at signing
Grade: A The No. 1 need on the Titans' offseason list was the offensive line, and the anchor of that line is now in place with Cushenberry. A 2020 third-rounder, Cushenberry quickly emerged as one of the league's top young centers with 57 starts over the past four seasons. In the past two years, the 6-foot-4, 315-pounder allowed just two sacks and 16 total pressures. With a young quarterback in place in Will Levis, the Titans made a strong move in adding a core player to the wall in front of him. They took 64 sacks last season, tied for fourth in the NFL. The middle of the Tennessee offensive line was an issue with Aaron Brewer allowing 34 pressures, but Cushenberry is an immediate upgrade with All-Pro potential working under offensive line coach Bill Callahan. He will join 2023 first-rounder Peter Skoronski -- who played left guard in his rookie season -- and what could be another offensive line addition via the No. 7 overall pick in the draft. Cushenberry cashes in at the third-highest AAV among centers at $12.5 million. But with the way the salary cap continues to rise, the value for Cushenberry is strong but certainly in line with the market. -- Miller
Patriots agree to sign QB Jacoby BrissettThe deal: One year, $8 million
Grade: A I'm not sure how the Patriots signed Brissett to this cheap of a deal. A year ago, he earned $8.5 million with the Commanders as a sought-after backup. After quarterback injuries around the league highlighted the value of a No. 2 QB in 2023, I'm fairly certain Washington could have reaped a draft pick for him in a midseason trade. Then the cap rose in 2024. And somehow all Brissett got was $8 million ... again. That's about half of what Gardner Minshew was guaranteed. And Brissett is a backup at worst with bridge starter upside. That's just good business for the Patriots. New England lands Brissett as a starter-for-now with the team appearing poised to draft a rookie passer in the draft. But even as a backup, he would be worthwhile on this deal. The last time we saw Brissett in real action was in 2022 with the Browns, when he significantly outplayed Deshaun Watson to the tune of a 62.0 QBR that ranked eighth best in the NFL that season. Given how important the position is and that Brissett has at least shown an ability to play at a starter level, I'd want him on my team at this price, easily. -- Walder
Lions trade with Buccaneers for CB Carlton Davis IIILions get: Davis, 2024 sixth-round pick, 2025 sixth-round pick
Buccaneers get: 2024 third-round pick Lions' grade: B-
Buccaneers' grade: B Acquiring a previously great cornerback at a low cost tends to be pretty good business. The position is so volatile from year to year that players can ascend and descend without warning, so sometimes the thing to do is bet on the player you know can be a No. 1 cornerback and hope the variance swings in your direction. That's what the Lions are doing here with Davis, off a season in which he had some rough numbers, allowing 1.9 yards per coverage snap (average for an outside CB is 1.2) and plus-19 EPA, per NFL Next Gen Stats. It's a far cry from what he posted in 2021, when he allowed 0.9 yards per coverage snap and minus-9 EPA (negative is good for a defensive back). The downside is that by sending a third-round pick to pay Davis $14 million on a one-year deal Detroit is not buying that low, however. Consider: a year ago the Dolphins traded a third-round pick for Jalen Ramsey, who was making roughly the same amount of money -- the Lions will owe Davis $14 million in 2024 -- with an extra year of guarantees ... but Ramsey is a better player. On the other hand: the Lions received two sixth-round picks back and that actually, according to our draft pick valuations, brings the compensation down to something like a late-fourth-round pick (the third-round selection they are sending is already later in the round at No. 92 overall). But it's clear that the Lions had to make moves to upgrade their secondary. They tried a year ago but to no avail -- injuries derailed C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Emmanuel Moseley's seasons and Cameron Sutton wasn't great -- allowing 1.4 yards per coverage snap and plus-18 EPA. The Lions allowed 0.08 EPA per play -- fifth-worst among all teams and a significant weakness to their title hopes. They had to do something. The Bucs invested in Jamel Dean last offseason and are now very much choosing Dean over Davis -- a move I would agree with. By taking Davis' $14 million off the books the team can invest those resources elsewhere, either this season or beyond, which seems wise given his lower level of play. Despite how their season finished the Bucs aren't actually contenders and recognize that it makes less sense for them to gamble on the final year of Davis' contract than it does the Lions. Instead, they grab a draft resource that can has the upside of paying dividends for years. -- Walder
 Chiefs keep DT Chris JonesThe deal: Five years, $158.75 million with $95 million guaranteed
Grade: A The most important player of the Chiefs' dominant 2023 defense returns, and it's a massive win for all defensive players. Jones' "practical guarantee" of $95 million dollars ties Aaron Donald's contract, and the annual average of $31.75 million per year is the highest for defensive tackles. Jones posted 10.5 sacks in 2023 and had the NFL's second-highest pass rush win rate for defensive tackles. His 19.6% win rate was just behind Donald's 19.9%. Jones was also credited with creating 19.5 sacks, the most among all NFL players. Jones' production anchored the Chiefs' defense en route to a second straight Super Bowl win, and it seemed both sides were committed to getting a deal done early in free agency after Jones held out through Week 1 of last season. Now, with Jones signed, the Chiefs' front office can turn its attention and cap space toward other holes on the roster -- including left tackle and receiver -- before the NFL draft. Kansas City was not equipped to lose Jones with no clear successor on the roster. Versatile defensive lineman Charles Omenihu joined the Chiefs last year, but an ACL injury suffered in the postseason will likely delay his 2024 start date. And while the Chiefs have drafted very well on the defensive side of the ball, GM Brett Veach hasn't selected a defensive tackle in the first two rounds since 2018 and has taken just two interior defenders since 2019. Unlike the situation with franchise-tagged cornerback L'Jarius Sneed -- the Chiefs have depth at corner -- Kansas City really had no other option if Jones were to leave beyond investing multiple draft choices at the position. And that's hard to do while selecting No. 32 overall, and especially hard in a weak DT draft class. But this is a big win for Jones, who bet on himself last year by holding out throughout training camp and into the regular season. Jones proved his value with double-digit sacks and first-team All-Pro honors, and now he gets a contract that beats the bar Donald had set for annual salaries at the position. With Jones back, it's fair to say the Chiefs are again among the favorites to win the Super Bowl. That's why this deal gets an A for the club and the player. -- Miller
Commanders agree to sign RB Austin EkelerThe deal: Two years, up to $11 million Grade: B After losing Antonio Gibson in free agency, the Commanders manage to upgrade their third-down running back situation with Ekeler at just $5.5 million per year. He will turn 29 before the season begins, and he had 628 rushing yards and six total touchdowns in 2023 (14 games). That's a drop-off for the talented back who had more than 1,550 scrimmage yards in back-to-back seasons (2021-22) and 38 touchdowns during that span. Ekeler struggled to stay on the field and averaged only 3.5 yards per carry in 2023, and with the Chargers' offensive philosophy changing under new coach Jim Harbaugh, Ekeler was available in free agency. Despite previously signing a four-year, $24.5 million deal before the 2020 season, Ekeler is seeing the reality of the running back market with a much lower offering this time around. The Commanders needed a second back to run behind Brian Robinson Jr. and work as the team's primary receiving option out of the backfield. Washington ranked 27th in rushing yards last season (93.6 per game), though it ranked in the top 10 for running back targets in the passing game (109). Ekeler likely won't see the volume in offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury's offense that he once did in Los Angeles, but he does have an opportunity to be a valuable playmaker thanks to his speed and receiving skills. He has the tools to be among the league's better third-down backs in this setting. -- Miller
Panthers trade DE Brian Burns to GiantsGiants get: Burns and 2024 fifth-round pick
Panthers get: 2024 second-round pick, 2024 fifth-round pick and 2025 fifth-round pick Giants' grade: A
Panthers' grade: F At the 2022 trade deadline, the Rams offered two first-round selections to Carolina in exchange for Burns. The Panthers' regime at that time said, "No, thanks," thinking Burns would be a cornerstone of the defense for another five years. Now he's a Giant, and the return is much less than two first-rounders, as Carolina receives a second-rounder this year and a 2025 fifth-rounder (along with a pick swap of 2024 fifth-rounders). The Giants will also pay Burns $150 million over five years with $87.5 million guaranteed. That puts him second among defensive ends at $30 million per season (behind Nick Bosa's $34 million average) and guaranteed money (once again trailing Bosa's $88 million). But Burns also has 46 career sacks over five seasons, and he has had at least 7.5 in all five seasons. His sack count dropped from 12.5 to eight in 2023, but his 21.8% pass rush win rate ranked seventh in the NFL. The Giants' defensive line now features Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux and Dexter Lawrence II. In an NFC East that once again seems wide open, the Giants have a legitimate strength on one side of the ball. Defensive end is arguably the second-most important position in football, and while the Giants gave up draft assets and spent big on Burns, having to pay a good pass-rusher is a good problem to have. We saw the same thing play out with the Bears at last season's deadline when they dealt for Montez Sweat and immediately gave him a big contract. It's much better than not having a premier player at the edge position. And that's where Carolina is now. The Panthers are without a first-round pick in 2024 and just lost Burns and Frankie Luvu. It's a total rebuild at this point, and Carolina must use the added resources to build an offense around 2023 first-overall pick Bryce Young at quarterback. But can the Panthers also find a replacement for the pass-rush production that Burns brought to the team? With eight total selections in the 2024 draft (and four picks in the top 100), the pressure is on GM Dan Morgan to find immediate impact players. That's the one silver lining of this trade from a potential standpoint. The Panthers need more draft capital, and Burns was seen as expendable -- whether we agree with that sentiment or not. -- Miller
Commanders agree to terms with LB Frankie LuvuThe deal: Three years, up to $36 million
Grade: B The Commanders need an identity at linebacker with new coach Dan Quinn bringing his intense 4-3 scheme to town. They'll get that in the versatile Luvu. In 2023, Luvu had 5.5 sacks, 125 tackles and 2 forced fumbles playing in the middle of the Carolina Panthers defense. Now he'll have the protection of big defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne keeping blockers off his frame while he runs down ball carriers. Linebacker wasn't a top-three need on my board for the Commanders, but it was paramount they brought in someone who could handle openings at weak and strongside linebacker, and Luvu has the ability to play all three linebacker spots. Could we see the Commanders use him in ways similar to how Quinn used Micah Parsons in Dallas? His pass-rush traits say it's possible. And at just $12 million per year, he would be signed on a value contract if he produces similar pass-rush numbers in 2024. At that AAV, he's the seventh-highest-paid linebacker, which speaks to his ability and upside in Quinn's defense. -- Miller
 QB Gardner Minshew to sign with RaidersThe deal: Two years, $25 million with $15 million guaranteed
Grade: B This doesn't totally solve the question of who will be the Raiders' starting quarterback in 2024, but it does tell us who a Raiders quarterback will be. Minshew appears destined for a bridge quarterback role here, to presumably be paired with a rookie drafted next month. It's a role he has earned after he ranked 13th in QBR (59.6) playing in relief of Anthony Richardson for most of last season in Indianapolis. Some of the help might have come from Shane Steichen's system or, frankly, a lack of respect for the passing game -- he faced a light box only 67% of the time, the fourth-lowest rate among QBR qualified quarterbacks. Still, we've see plenty of quarterbacks flop in that spot, and he did not, even with a high drop rate from his receivers. Minshew had severe man/zone splits, putting up a 74 QBR against man coverage and 42 against zone coverage. The guaranteed money here -- $15 million -- sounds like a decent amount for Minshew, but I'm on board with it. If he had been a $10 million backup for a contender, I'd have said that's worth it. Ask fans of the Jets, Vikings or Chargers just how important it is to have a competent backup quarterback on the depth chart. Minshew's role will likely be more than that, and he still has perhaps a modicum of upside, given his 2023 play. I'll be curious to see how much Jacoby Brissett makes in comparison, but I don't think one year of Minshew for $15 million is unreasonable. -- Walder
 Packers to sign RB Josh JacobsThe deal: Four years, $48 million with $12.5 million guaranteed
Grade: C- The Packers decided to pay Jacobs approximately $12 million instead of paying Aaron Jones approximately $11 million, and that is a trade I would make zero days per week. I'm usually the first to choose a younger running back -- and Jacobs is three years younger than Jones -- but there's just one problem: Jones is better. Jacobs is coming off a disastrous season in which he accrued just 3.5 yards per carry and minus-0.4 yards per carry over expectation, per NFL Next Gen Stats data. His total minus-86 rush yards over expectation was the sixth-worst mark by any running back in the league last year. Although part of that can be attributed to the Raiders' lack of a consistent passing threat, that hindrance is somewhat accounted for in the expectation metric. If defenders are loading the box, that lowers the expectation. Jacobs was good in 2022 by any measure, including RYOE (plus-158 that year). But after last season it looks as if that was the outlier year, not 2023. Jacobs has accrued negative rush yards over expectation in three of the past four seasons. Dating back to 2018, Jones has never recorded a negative RYOE season. Jones has long been heralded for his receiving abilities, but Jacobs makes an impact there, too. If I'm choosing one of these backs, it is Jones, but in reality I'm picking neither. I would try to get Jones back on a cheaper deal, and if that doesn't work, just go cheap. The one saving grace here is that this is really a one-year deal with team options, as the guarantees are minimal. -- Walder
Bengals lure S Geno Stone away from RavensThe deal: Two years, $15 million
Grade: A+ This is the steal of the free agent class so far. Stone will be tied for the 11th-highest-paid safety in the game. Stone, who was drafted in the seventh round of the 2020 draft, gets rewarded after four years of league minimum pay. The 24-year-old has eight career interceptions ... but notched seven in 2023 alone, playing in new defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald's scheme. Now in Cincinnati, Stone will line up at free safety in a young secondary. To steal Stone from a division rival only adds to the high grade for the value of the Bengals being able to bring him in. In a weak safety draft class -- we might not see one drafted in the first two rounds -- the Bengals check off their defense's biggest need with a savvy signing of an ascending player. -- Miller
Colts to re-sign DT Grover StewartThe deal: Three years, $39 million
Grade: B The Colts have retained one of the best run-stuffing defensive tackles in the NFL in re-signing Stewart. His 43% run stop win rate as an interior defender ranked third in 2023, and he was inside the top 10 in 2022 as well. He's not there for pass rush, but Stewart is actually coming off of a career-high 7% pass rush win rate (which is below average but, again, any pass rush from a run-stuffer like him is basically gravy). The Colts ranked sixth in run stop win rate (33%) last season but were only 16th in terms of expected points added allowed per designed carry. Stewart signed a previous extension in 2020 worth $10.25 million per year, which is almost perfectly in line with the $13 million he signed for this time after adjusting for cap inflation. Looking at comps aside from his past self, Stewart is cheaper than Damon Harrison was in 2016 when he signed for the modern-day equivalent of $15.2 million APY, per OverTheCap data. -- Walder
Packers shore up secondary with Xavier McKinneyThe deal: Four years, $68 million
Grade: B+ The safety market was uncertain heading into free agency after players such as Jamal Adams, Eddie Jackson and Justin Simmons were released by their respective teams. But McKinney just jump-started it with $17 million per year over four seasons. The 24-year-old is one of the game's best safeties and certainly one of the most versatile. The 2020 second-round pick has nine interceptions over the past four years, including five in 2021, and he has an ability to play in man or zone situations. Under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, the Packers needed a free safety with center-field range and vision. McKinney brings those traits, and he will be the cornerstone of a remade secondary that should be much more physical at the line of scrimmage. McKinney's $17 million per year average comes in third-highest in the league behind those of Derwin James Jr. and Minkah Fitzpatrick -- and just slightly lower than the franchise tag rate of $17.1 million. That's a win for the Packers, who check off a huge team need at a reasonable cost. -- Miller
Panthers sign G Robert HuntThe deal: Five years, $100 million with $63 million guaranteed
Grade: C- This is the first set of numbers that made me literally say, "Wow!" Even in a strong guard market I did not see $20 million per year for Hunt coming -- and I think that's for good reason. In paying Hunt at this level Carolina has deemed him a truly elite guard. After adjusting for salary cap inflation this puts him at the same realm as deals signed by Elgton Jenkins (2022), Brandon Scherff (2022) and Zack Martin (2018 and 2023), according to historical contracts from OverTheCap. And I don't see it. Over the past three years, Hunt's pass block win rate has been almost exactly average for a guard at 92% and was below average at 90% in 2023. Run block win rate tells a similar story -- his numbers have been average for the position over the past three years. Now, I'll recognize our numbers aren't gospel and clearly others like Hunt more, as PFF ranked him sixth among guards with a career-best 76.4 grade and my colleague Matt Bowen ranked Hunt fifth among free agents this year. To be clear, Carolina needed offensive line help. It ranked 23rd and 30th in pass block and run block win rate, respectively, last season and one way or another probably needed to upgrade at guard. But at this high of a price for a nonpremium position, there's a strong chance of regret. -- Walder
Vikings keep building defense with Andrew Van GinkelThe deal: Two years, $20 million with $14 million guaranteed
Grade: B The Vikings continue to add to the pass rush. After signing pass-rusher Jonathan Greenard to a four-year, $72 million deal, they added a versatile pass-rusher in outside linebacker Van Ginkel. A Rock Valley, Iowa, native who played his college football at Wisconsin, Van Ginkel heads back to the Midwest on a deal that pays him well at 28 years old. The 2023 season was his best yet, with six sacks in 11 starts; he worked primarily as a rotational player in previous seasons. He also had one interception -- which he returned for a touchdown -- and six pass breakups. The Vikings were tied for 19th in sacks last season (43) and entered the offseason with four defensive ends set to hit free agency. Even after signing Greenard, more of a presence was needed coming off the edge of the line. Van Ginkel has familiarity with current Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores from their time together in Miami, and now he has a pay day that's worthy of a top-three pass-rusher and likely starter in Minnesota. This is a low-risk signing for the Vikings and allows the team to cross off a priority need without exhausting draft capital to do so. And that has become much more important with Kirk Cousins signing in Atlanta earlier Monday -- Minnesota will likely have to use a high pick on a quarterback, or package picks to move up in the draft to select one. -- Miller
Falcons add QB Kirk Cousins in $180 million dealThe deal: Four years, $180 million with $90 million fully guaranteed
Grade: B The Falcons just fully guaranteed $90 million to a 35-year-old non-elite quarterback coming off an Achilles injury, and yet ... I don't hate it. We'll come back to Cousins himself, but I want to start this with where the Falcons are, because that's why this deal is both palatable and logical. When new Falcons coach Raheem Morris said last month, "If we had better quarterback play last year in Atlanta, I might not be standing here," that was very much the truth! Read the full grade of the Cousins signing here. -- Walder What this means for the 2024 draft: The Vikings tried desperately to move up in the 2023 draft to add a successor to veteran Kirk Cousins. That ultimately didn't materialize and now 11 months later, the only quarterbacks on their roster are Jaren Hall and Nick Mullens. The time is now to aggressively attempt to move up from No. 11 overall in April's draft to add a quarterback. With star receiver Justin Jefferson needing an extension to his contract soon, Minnesota must prove to him it has a plan at quarterback. -- Miller
Eagles to sign RB Saquon BarkleyThe deal: Three years, $37.75 million with $26 million fully guaranteed
Grade: C Investing real money in a free agent running back seems like a philosophical shift for the Eagles -- and probably not for the better. While I think Barkley is more attractive than some of the other free agent options (like Josh Jacobs, D'Andre Swift or Tony Pollard), more than $12 million annually with $26 million fully guaranteed is a steep price to pay for any running back -- let alone one entering his seventh NFL season. In order to justify that kind of money we'd have to believe Barkley is transcendent. While he's a huge name, the numbers don't suggest that he's that level of player anymore. Barkley managed 0.4 rushing yards over expectation per carry in 2023 -- a metric that at least partially controls for run blocking -- with the Giants. He was good, not great. With better run blocking I'd bet his box score numbers improve in 2024, but they would for most backs headed to the Eagles. The problem in paying heavily for him is that the difference between Barkley at this stage of his career and an average starter is small -- just due to the nature of the position -- and Barkley is in decline. Given that reality, it makes it tough to justify guaranteeing so much money not just in 2024, but in 2025, too. -- Walder
Eagles sign DE Bryce HuffThe deal: Three years, $51.1 million
Grade: A- Huff is the poster child of an uncovered gem that has long shone in advanced metrics and finally broke out to the tune of 10.0 sacks in 2023. He has an elite get off -- his 0.75-second average to cross the line of scrimmage ranked fifth-fastest among all players with at least 200 pass rushes, per NFL Next Gen Stats. And his pass rush win rate at edge (22%) ranked eighth, which was actually slightly down from where he has been in the past, as his 31% pass rush win rate in 2022 at edge would have led the position had he qualified. But can he be used more? The Jets clearly had some concerns about his run-stopping ability, as he only played 30% of early downs. Run-stopping matters, but also, in a way, who cares? Huff would hardly be the first high-end pass rusher to not be an asset against the run. But if the Eagles put him on the field 65% of the time instead of the 42% the Jets played him, that sack total should go up and up. At $17 million per season, the Eagles are paying Huff real money. But like we wrote with Jonathan Greenard -- this is not a star edge rusher price. That leaves upside for the Eagles if Huff can parlay increased playing time into more production. Just reading the tea leaves, I'd have to imagine Huff will replace one of the Eagles current edge rushers -- Haason Reddick and/or Josh Sweat -- who could be headed out the door via trade. It's a little ironic because the same metrics I touted for Huff have also long been strong points for both Reddick and Sweat, but the Eagles presumably were not pleased with how their pass rush collapsed down the stretch last season. -- Walder
Jaguars find a No. 2 WR in Gabe DavisThe deal: Three years, $39 million with $11 million guaranteed at signing
Grade: B- I appreciate any player doing a little statistical analysis, as Davis did on social media last month, touting his numbers in Buffalo. The problem is he wasn't making the point he thought he was making. Davis noted his own strong yards per reception, touchdown rate and first down rate despite a fairly weak 16% target rate. But for receivers, targets are earned! That he wasn't being targeted is a major red flag. If the case is that one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL wasn't finding an open Davis ... the evidence isn't really there for that, either. He had just a 39 open score -- a metric measured on all routes, not just targets -- which ranked 91st out of 109 qualifying wide receivers last season. Davis has flashed at times. Who can forget his eight-reception, 201-yard and four-touchdown performance against the Chiefs in the 2021 divisional round? He probably will provide some extra value as a deep threat; a very high 25% of his targets came 20-plus yards downfield in 2023. Three years for $39 million feels like a lot for Davis. But if we look back at past contracts and adjust for salary cap inflation, I don't think it's ridiculous, especially if the guarantees are low. Plus, there's very little wide receiver talent available and the Jaguars need help. I can't blame them too much. -- Walder What this means for the 2024 draft: The Jaguars had a need at wide receiver no matter what happened with Calvin Ridley in free agency. Signing Davis moves that need slightly down the list of draft weekend priorities, but the Jaguars could still be in play at the position at No. 17 overall, especially after signing center Mitch Morse. If the team can find a starting cornerback before the draft begins, a wideout such as Brian Thomas Jr. (LSU) makes a ton of sense for the long-term. -- Miller
Rams add another lineman in G Jonah JacksonThe deal: Three years, $51 million
Grade: A The Rams are doubling down on the interior of the offensive line after they re-signed Kevin Dotson to a contract extension last week. Now the Rams have one of the NFL's best and highest-paid guard duos. The money on this deal is great news for the guard market. Coming in at $17 million annually, the deal ties Elgton Jenkins for No. 5 overall at the position. The former third-rounder in the 2020 draft doesn't reset the market -- after Landon Dickerson did that earlier in an extension with the Eagles -- but he gets respectable starter money after four years in Detroit. For the Rams, this puts an emphasis on the offensive line unlike any we've seen in the Sean McVay era. Protecting 33-year old Matthew Stafford is important, as is opening rushing lanes for Kyren Williams, and the Rams are putting money into those areas. What does this mean for 2023 second-rounder Steve Avila, who started at left guard last year? It could mean a move to center, a position multiple scouts believed he had the talent to play coming out of TCU. After three moves, the Rams' offensive line once again looks like a strength. The last time that unit was dominating, the Rams won a Super Bowl. -- Miller
Raiders agree to terms with DT Christian WilkinsThe deal: Four years, $110 million with $84.75 million guaranteed
Grade: C+ Whew, Wilkins got his money. Was it worth it? The Raiders certainly need to upgrade their roster, but this strikes me as a shade rich. Wilkins is very well regarded, but at $27.75 million APY, this deal puts him in the same ballpark as Quinnen Williams in 2023 or DeForest Buckner in 2020, and I'd consider him a level below those players, because Wilkins' strength is run defense. In 2021 and 2022, Wilkins ranked first and second, respectively, in run stop win rate before his ranking dropped to 39th in 2023. Perhaps some of that can be attributed to, as my colleague Bill Barnwell noted, Vic Fangio's gap-and-a-half scheme -- which also could have dampened his pass-rushing numbers. Still, the 2021 and 2022 numbers can't be ignored -- he's been an elite run-stopper in the past. Wilkins broke out with 9.0 sacks this season (after never accruing more than 4.5 previously), but his 13% pass rush win rate (also a career-high) was above average, not spectacular -- ranking 13th out of 50 qualifiers and well below elite pass-rushers such as Aaron Donald, Chris Jones or Dexter Lawrence. Don't get me wrong, Wilkins is a good player that instantly upgrades the Raiders defensive line. But they paid a great-to-elite price. -- Walder What this means for the 2024 draft: Throw out your mock drafts that had Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II going to Las Vegas at No. 13. The Raiders just checked off the biggest non-quarterback need of the offseason. The quarterback issue still looms, and they could still be in the discussion to take one in the first round. -- Miller
Titans land RB Tony Pollard on three-year dealThe deal: Three years, $24 million
Grade: C This is a steep price to pay for a running back coming off a bad season. Pollard managed a paltry 4.0 yards per carry with minus-0.2 rush yards over expectation per carry in 2023, according to NFL Next Gen Stats, after he had been extremely efficient during the 2022 season (1.2 rush yards per carry over expectation). It was a huge drop-off in a year in which Ezekiel Elliott was gone and Pollard became the lead back. There is one scenario where this all works out, where Pollard's recovery from a fractured fibula suffered the previous January was the main hindrance to his 2023 performance and that he is able to put that behind him in 2024. In that instance, the Titans might have gotten an efficient runner for a good price. But I'm hesitant. Given the incredibly short careers of most running backs, the baseline expectation for a back off a bad season is probably that they will never reach their previous heights again. The money here -- $8 million per year -- is a bet against that standard expectation, especially if some is guaranteed after Year 1 (we'll learn the details later). It's also somewhat of an odd pairing with Tyjae Spears. I'd have guessed the Titans would have wanted a larger, more bruising back to pair with him. -- Walder
Vikings add DE Jonathan Greenard to boost pass rushThe deal: Four years, $72 million with $42 million guaranteed
Grade: A The Vikings are (presumably) letting Danielle Hunter walk out the door, but in Greenard they are replacing him with another very good pass-rusher -- and at a good price, too. Greenard is a metrics darling, recording a 22% pass rush win rate that ranked sixth among edge rushers last season, ahead of stars such as Haason Reddick, Brian Burns and Trey Hendrickson. And he's a solid run defender, too, with a 37% run stop win rate at edge that would have led the position had he played enough to qualify. (That he played a little less on early downs and didn't qualify is perhaps a sign he wasn't as strong as the figure implies, but Greenard was consistently above average in the metric in both 2021 and 2022.) Oh, and did I bury the lede? Greenard brings more than under-the-hood production, as he had 12.5 sacks too. And he did it on only 345 pass rushes. Among players with at least 200 pass rushes, Greenard ranked fourth in sack rate (3.6%). This is not a move without risk. Greenard has struggled to stay on the field at times -- he played 12, eight and 15 games per year in 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively. The Vikings are buying the breakout, as Greenard's pass rush win rates were solid in the past but not on the level of his 2023 play. He did have eight sacks in 2021, though. But the $18 million APY price tag is not that of a superstar edge rusher. After adjusting for cap inflation, that makes this deal in the same realm as Alex Highsmith's extension with the Steelers last year or Matthew Judon's contract with the Patriots in 2021, per OverTheCap. And it pales in comparison to top-of-the-market deals like Olivier Vernon's free agent deal with the Giants in 2016 ($28 million in today's dollars) or Montez Sweat's extension with the Bears ($27 million), let alone T.J. Watt's deal ($39 million). While there's risk in buying high, to me this is a gamble easily worth making. This isn't just a single year of sack production. All the signs are there of Greenard being a very high-level edge player. Those don't come around on the free agent market at age 26 often. -- Walder What this means for the 2024 draft: Looking at the Vikings' roster before free agency, the expectation was that if the team didn't re-sign Hunter, selecting a pass-rusher was in play early in the draft, potentially at No. 11 overall. With Greenard signed, pass-rusher can now move down the team's list of needs. The focus in Minnesota now is all on quarterback. -- Miller
Bears add RB D'Andre Swift to lead their backfieldThe deal: Three years, $24.5 million with $15.3 million guaranteed
Grade: C- I don't get the urgency to pay Swift real money. The Bears wanting to add a running back this offseason is fine, but to justify this price Swift would have to be a difference-maker. The evidence suggests he is not. After being traded from the Lions to the Eagles last offseason, he averaged 4.6 yards per carry, but that was buoyed by a strong pass-protecting offensive line (and perhaps the threat of Jalen Hurts' legs, too). In fact, Swift's yards over expectation per carry from NFL Next Gen Stats -- based on the positioning and movement of all 22 players on the field at the time of the handoff -- was minus-0.3. In other words, he gained less than the blocking indicated he should last season in Philadelphia. And also less than Khalil Herbert (0.3), who remains on Chicago's roster. What Swift does bring is experience in the receiving game, with 195 receptions over the past four seasons, and that does have value. Even there, though, I have some concerns. Swift's 29 overall score in our receiver tracking metrics ranked 44th out of 49 running backs last season (though, to be fair, he ranked sixth in the same metric the year before). In a world in which it's easy to find mediocre running back play, there's little reason for Chicago to pay for it. -- Walder
Colts sign WR Michael Pittman Jr. to three-year extensionThe deal: Three years, up to $71.5 million with $46 million guaranteed
Grade: B+ Take away Pittman from the Colts, and their offense looks anemic. That made their franchise tag decision easy, but it was also a good reason for them to try to lock up Pittman for the long term -- especially as they try to develop second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson. They did that with this deal, and at a fair price, too. In a season in which the Colts managed to have an average offense with Gardner Minshew at quarterback, Pittman's value was evident. Among wide receivers with at least 300 routes run, he ranked 10th in target rate and 21st in yards per route run. His route tree is shorter, with a lot of drags and hitches -- routes on which he produces efficiently -- and a low 7.6 air yards per target. Our receiver tracking metrics viewed him as strong but perhaps not elite with 67/66/42 open/catch/YAC scores. The 67 open score -- the most important of the three -- was tied for 21st among all wide receivers. Pittman's $23.3 million average annual value is fair. After adjusting for salary cap inflation, it's a shade higher than Christian Kirk's 2022 deal with the Jaguars ($22 million in 2024 dollars, per OverTheCap), but I would consider Pittman a slightly better player than Kirk, too. It's in line with Sammy Watkins' free agent deal with the Chiefs ($23 million in 2024 dollars) from 2018 and Brandin Cooks' ($23.3 million in 2024 dollars) extension with the Rams in 2018. All of this is to say: This is a worthwhile move for Indianapolis. -- Walder What this means for the 2024 draft: The Colts' top need on my list was wide receiver with Pittman scheduled to hit free agency. And now, with Richardson returning from injury next season, building a marquee cast of wide receivers around their quarterback was a priority. Pittman, Josh Downs and Alec Pierce are a solid trio of pass-catchers. The Colts can now shift gears to shoring up the secondary or defensive line with No. 15 overall pick.-- Miller
Jaguars sign C Mitch MorseThe deal: Two years, up to $10.5 million
Grade: B+ One of the reasons the Jaguars came up short in 2023 was their offensive line simply wasn't good enough to protect Trevor Lawrence. Center Luke Fortner was part of that problem. He recorded an 88% pass block win rate last season, second worst among qualifying centers. He wasn't an asset in the ground game, either, with a below-average run block win rate (67%). In signing Morse -- who was cut from a slightly pricier contract by the cap-tight Bills last week -- the Jaguars should be able to immediately patch that pass protection weakness. At 31 years old, Morse isn't quite the same player he once was. From 2018 to '21, Morse cracked the top 10 in pass block win rate three times and finished 12th the other year. But he's still solid and ranked 14th in the category last season (and 22nd in 2022). Jacksonville doesn't need a star here -- just a reliable player who won't hold the offense back. And the price paid reflects that fairly. -- Walder What this means for the 2024 draft: The Jaguars entered free agency with a noticeable need at center, which made it a popular selection in mock drafts at No. 17. But Jacksonville can now pivot to wide receiver (depending on Calvin Ridley's free agency decision) or cornerback in Round 1. -- Miller
Steelers bring in QB Russell WilsonThe deal: One year, $1.2 million
Grade: A Yes, you read that right. One year, $1.2 million. That's the veteran minimum, and Wilson will play on that for the Steelers while collecting $38 million from the Broncos to not play for them next season. That's an immediate win for Pittsburgh, and a little revenge from Wilson on Denver for the way his exit went down. Now let's evaluate this on the football field. Wilson is 35 years old. He's a Super Bowl-winning quarterback, a nine-time Pro Bowler and the 2020 Walter Payton Man of the Year. But he has also struggled since leaving Seattle before the 2022 season with 42 touchdown passes to 19 interceptions and a record of 11-19. It's why he's available just two years after signing a five-year deal for over $242 million in Denver. The Steelers needed an upgrade at quarterback after watching 2022 first-rounder Kenny Pickett struggle in his first two seasons. They brought in a new offensive coordinator in Arthur Smith, and Wilson is expected to take over as the starting QB, with Pickett moving to a developmental/backup role. At this time, they are the only two quarterbacks under contract (Mason Rudolph is hitting free agency). Getting Wilson for $1.2 million is a steal. Even if he's not the quarterback he was during his prime in Seattle, consider that the Steelers won 10 games and made the playoffs last season with the NFL's sixth-lowest passing yardage (3,163) and second-fewest passing touchdowns (tied at 13). If Wilson can do better than a 13-9 touchdown-to-interception ratio -- which is what the Steelers had in 2023 -- you have to feel good about Pittsburgh's chances. This is a chance at redemption for Wilson, a player who looked like a first ballot Hall of Famer two seasons ago. And it's a chance for Pittsburgh to have above-par quarterback play once again. This is a win-win for both Wilson and the Steelers. -- Miller
WR Kendrick Bourne re-ups with PatriotsThe deal: Three years, up to $33 million
Grade: B A torn ACL limited Bourne to just eight games during a tumultuous 2023 season in New England, but now the team's most reliable receiver returns on a deal with an average salary of $11 million. That will make him the No. 26 highest paid wide receiver in the league, based on annual average value. It's good money for a 28-year old receiver coming off a knee injury. And it keeps a familiar face in New England amid considerable turnover on the offense. Bourne, who caught 37 passes and four touchdowns before his injury last season, will break in a new starting quarterback after the Patriots traded Mac Jones to the Jaguars earlier Sunday. With the No. 3 overall selection in the 2024 draft, the Patriots could select a rookie passer, and they will want to pair that rookie with a reliable veteran presence at wide receiver. Bourne provides that. With more than $80 million in cap space, according to Roster Management System, New England had money to spend. Signing Bourne isn't a top-flight move like adding Calvin Ridley or making a move for a starting receiver on the franchise tag such as Tee Higgins, but bringing back a core veteran will make the life of a rookie quarterback that much easier if the Patriots opt to draft one in the Round 1. -- Miller
Bucs bring back QB Baker Mayfield with $100 million dealThe deal: Three years, $100 million with $50 in total guarantees
Grade: B The Tampa Bay Buccaneers struck gold by signing Mayfield to a one-year, $6.8 million contract last season to compete to be the starter. He won the job and led the Bucs to a 9-8 record, a playoff berth and win over the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles. Now, he is being rewarded with legitimate starter money. Mayfield, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft, threw 28 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions to lead Tampa Bay in its first season post-Tom Brady. The drop-off wasn't that noticeable. Signing Mayfield to a three-year deal before free agency kicks off is smart. The Bucs are paying him a lot of money but aren't locked into a long-term deal as we've seen starters sign in the past on extensions. If Mayfield can't recreate his strong 2023 season, Tampa Bay would be able to get out of this deal quickly. He's owed $40 million in guaranteed money over the first two seasons, with another $10 million guaranteed against injury. That's cheap for a proven starter. If Mayfield does build on last season's performance, Tampa Bay will have a starting quarterback for $33.3 million per season over the life of the deal. That's on par with Jared Goff, who makes $33.5 annually with the Lions (but is a free agent in 2025). The other key here is the Bucs answer the quarterback question before having to bid against other teams for free agents. They don't have to battle with the New England Patriots or Atlanta Falcons for Mayfield. They also don't have to head into the first round of April's draft needing a quarterback. With the No. 26 overall pick, they aren't in range to get one of the top QBs, anyway. After re-signing star wide receiver Mike Evans to an extension and placing the franchise tag on safety Antoine Winfield Jr., I wrote that Tampa Bay is in win-now mode. This move keeps the franchise there for at least the 2024 season -- as long as Mayfield can continue to build on what he showed last season. -- Miller
Patriots send former starting QB Mac Jones to JaguarsPatriots get: 2024 sixth-round pick
Jaguars get: Jones Patriots' grade: C-
Jaguars' grade: B+ The No. 15 overall pick from the 2021 NFL draft now joins the No. 1 overall pick from that same class in Jacksonville. Why does this make sense for the Jaguars? Jones has one year left on his original rookie contract at $2.7 million. It's unlikely his fifth-year option will be picked up by Jacksonville in early May. This is a one-year rental for a good backup in a draft class that is incredibly weak at backup quarterback. Why does this make sense for Jones? He gets to rehab his career under a proven quarterback developer in Doug Pederson. He also will back up a quarterback who missed a game last season with a shoulder injury and also played through a high ankle sprain. Jones goes to a team where there is zero pressure to play and can work on development and unlearning bad habits he picked up over the past two years in New England. Why does this make sense for the Patriots? They were never going to pick up the fifth-year option on Jones, so getting any return on investment is better than nothing in one year -- even if they're writing off Jones for a Day 3 flier selection. It will hurt to say goodbye to a player the franchise believed was its future just three years ago, but New England is washing its hands of the end of the Bill Belichick era, and Jones is part of that. The optics are worse than the reality of getting something for Jones, but part of the calculus here is they needed to take what they could get for him to start over at the position. The Patriots own the No. 3 overall pick and could get their starter of the future there. Getting a proven backup for $2.7 million and a late-round pick is a decent value for Jacksonville, and we've increasingly seen the importance of having a decent backup quarterback option. Now Jacksonville can keep its late-round picks to fill out the wide receiver corps or secondary without spending one on a quarterback who wouldn't be ready if called upon this season. -- Miller
Patriots agree to re-sign TE Hunter HenryThe deal: Three years, $27 million with $17 million guaranteed
Grade: B- We reward teams for keeping good players, which is what the Patriots did with one of Bill Belichick's signings from the 2021 free agency class. Henry never became the go-to receiving option many thought he would when the Patriots signed him away from the Chargers, but he did post three solid seasons of at least 40 receptions and scored 17 touchdowns over that time. Now New England has him for another three-year stretch with mid-market money coming his way. Henry, who turns 30 in December, comes in under the average annual salary of Dalton Schultz, who signed an extension earlier this week with the Texans. Schultz grabbed $12 million per year with $23.5 million guaranteed, while Henry -- who is two years older and less productive -- gets $9 million annually. The Patriots are without an identity on offense. There's no quarterback, no left tackle and no No. 1 receiving option. Even with the No. 3 overall pick and seven overall selections in the 2024 draft, keeping a solid starter is a must for a team with more needs than draft assets. The Patriots entered the weekend with nearly $90 million in cap space (per Roster Management System), so we're not worried about the dollars here as much as the move to plug a hole in the starting lineup with a player who would be a starter for more teams than not. That's something in short supply on the Patriots' offense at the moment. We might not know who the quarterback will be yet, but we do know that signal-caller will have at least one good option in the pass game with Henry returning. And while Henry isn't the long-term answer at tight end, having him on board for three more seasons is a winning move. -- Miller
 
Browns trade for WR Jerry JeudyBrowns get: Jeudy
Broncos get: 2024 fifth-round pick, 2024 sixth-round pick Browns' grade: B
Broncos' grade: C The Browns made a run at Jeudy during last season's trade deadline but couldn't get a deal done. Now, days before free agency begins, general manager Andrew Berry secures a running mate for receiver Amari Cooper and another pass-game target for quarterback Deshaun Watson. Jeudy, who turns 25 in April, posted 54 receptions for 758 yards and two touchdowns in 2023. The No. 15 pick in the 2020 draft has shown promise but seemingly fell out of favor in Denver once new coach Sean Payton arrived. A 57-game starter in four years in Denver, Jeudy will play on a fifth-year option deal worth $13 million before hitting free agency after the 2024 season. The Broncos are bailing water out of a sinking ship this offseason. The team cut quarterback Russell Wilson, taking on an $85 million dead money cap hit, and star safety Justin Simmons before trading Jeudy. Perhaps Payton realizes he needs to tear the roster down to the studs in order to renovate it, and Jeudy was one of few players on the team with a legitimate trade market. Shedding talent on a roster that's quickly looking like the worst in the NFL before free agency for a pair of Day 3 picks gives the Broncos a low mark for us -- even if the return was higher than his expected 2025 compensatory selection would have been if he simply left in free agency next offseason. Wide receiver was my top need for the Browns entering the offseason; the team has struggled to put a viable WR2 opposite Cooper. With Watson returning from a shoulder injury next season, he'll have the best pass-catching duo of his career. For the Browns, this is a low-cost investment that could pay off huge for a team that made an improbable playoff run in 2023. -- Miller
Ravens give big money to DT Justin MadubuikeThe deal: Four years, $98 million with $75.5 million in total guarantees
Grade: B+ The 2024 defensive tackle market has been set. After franchise-tagging Madubuike before the deadline earlier this week, he's now locked in for four years at $24.5 million per year, with a huge guarantee of $53.5 million due at signing. Compare that with Javon Hargrave's four-year, $84 million with $40 million guaranteed and the 26-year-old has moved the recent market forward (though Aaron Donald blew it out of the water in 2022). Madubuike broke out in 2023, recording 13 sacks and emerging as one of the best young interior pass-rushers in the NFL. The 2020 third-round pick is now set up as one of the league's elite defensive tackles with the second-highest average annual value, behind only Donald's $31.6 million. The deal does add $7 million more due at signing than Donald's, however. No interior defender is going to top Donald's contract, but to walk away with more cash at signing is a win for Madubuike. Baltimore has long been one of the league's best teams at keeping its own and does so again. In a draft that is not loaded with 3-technique pass-rushers, the Ravens now lock up a core player of the defense at one of the most important positions on that side of the ball. The key for Baltimore will be getting this production from Madubuike consistently, as he had just 8.5 sacks in his career before last season. Keeping one of the game's best pass-rushers is a win for the team, and getting this amount of money is a win for Madubuike. -- Miller
Chiefs bring back LB Drue TranquillThe deal: Three years, $19 million with $13 million guaranteed
Grade: A Not every free agent signing can be a Pro Bowl player signed to a record-setting deal. Sometimes you have to sign your glue guys. That's what the Chiefs did in re-signing Tranquill. After a one-year, $1.4 million deal last year as a free agent, Tranquill became an integral part of the Chiefs' defense. A fourth-round pick by the Chargers in 2019, Tranquill emerged as a vital linebacker in the Kansas City nickel defense. And because fellow linebacker Willie Gay is also a free agent and not expected to re-sign in Kansas City, Tranquill will take on a larger role in the team's two linebacker alignments. The 28-year-old Tranquill doesn't reset the market but sees a bump in pay of nearly $5 million annually while bringing in $13 million in guaranteed funds. He bet on himself by signing with Andy Reid and defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo for what's close to a veteran minimum deal last offseason, and now he's a well-paid veteran on a back-to-back Super Bowl champion. Reid and Spags love Tranquill, and they've rewarded him. Considering the draft class is light on linebacker talent, the Chiefs did well here. They keep a core part of the starting defense and a valuable veteran who excels on third down and in pass coverage. It's not a headlining contract, but Tranquill had 79 tackles, two forced fumbles and 4.5 sacks last season. Great move for K.C. -- Miller
Rams bring back G Kevin DotsonThe deal: Three years, $48 million with $32 million guaranteed
Grade: B After acquiring Dotson from the Steelers during an offseason trade that involved multiple Day 3 picks last year, the Rams now lock up the 27-year-old right guard with a three-year extension. Dotson, a 2020 fourth-round selection, started 14 games for Los Angeles, allowing three sacks. He is a powerhouse run blocker at 6-foot-4 and 321 pounds but has the agility to be an effective pull and trap blocker. With center Coleman Shelton also set to hit free agency, locking in Dotson to secure the right side of the line was a must. Coming in at $12 million per year, Dotson jumps the 2024 market set earlier this week when the Jaguars extended Ezra Cleveland (three years, $28.5 million). With $32 million guaranteed he sets a high mark compared to last year's top earner (Ben Powers, $28.5 million guaranteed). It's unlikely to last long, with Michael Onwenu set to hit free agency next week, but Dotson moves the recent needle for interior offensive linemen seeking a pay day. The Rams are back to building through the draft and smart free agent signings, like this one, after years of ring chasing by acquiring pricey veterans via trades and free agency. Dotson is the type of cornerstone linemen savvy teams acquire for cheap and re-sign at market value contracts. Instead of going after an Onwenu-type player, the Rams stay in-house with an ascending veteran who proved his worth in 2023. -- Miller
Bears reach agreement with CB Jaylon JohnsonThe deal: Four years, $76 million with $54 million guaranteed
Grade: A+ It's a rare win-win in free agency, as the Bears keep a 25-year-old top-tier cornerback, and Johnson gets paid with a hefty guarantee and top-of-market salary. Cornerback was the Bears' biggest need with Johnson set to hit the market, but getting the deal done after temporarily placing the nonexclusive franchise tag on their CB1 is a huge win for Ryan Poles' front office. Now the Bears can move into free agency and the draft knowing full well where the team's needs lie -- and cornerback is crossed off the list for the next four years. Johnson had his best season in 2023, grabbing four interceptions and running one back 65 yards for a score. The first-team All-Pro was the backbone of a young Bears secondary, and retaining Johnson keeps the best player on a unit that created 22 interceptions last season -- tied for most in the NFL. After making $6.4 million over his first four seasons, Johnson is now set to earn $54 million guaranteed ($43.8 million guaranteed at signing). Compare that to Trevon Diggs' contract from July 2023, when he signed a five-year, $97 million contract with $42.3 million guaranteed and an average annual salary of $19.4 million. The Bears are right in line on both of those numbers, and his $19 million average pretty much matches the amount tendered on the franchise tag for cornerbacks ($19.8 million). Johnson is one of the league's best young cornerbacks, and after a trade request from his camp was made at last season's trade deadline, this is a win for Poles' staff and the Bears to get a long-term deal done. Good teams find a way to draft and develop stars and then keep them in-house, and the Bears were able to do that to get an early win in what should be an exciting offseason. -- Miller
Jaguars bring back G Ezra ClevelandThe deal: Three years, $28.5 million with $14.5 guaranteed
Grade: B- The Jaguars traded for Cleveland last October, sending a sixth-round pick to the Vikings for a player Minnesota had benched in favor of Dalton Risner. Now Cleveland gets paid, and the Jaguars have a three-year answer at left guard to fortify the offensive line in front of Trevor Lawrence. Cleveland's mobility and movement skills as a blocker were a perfect fit in Jacksonville for coach Doug Pederson's scheme. It also helps that in a pinch he was able to play left tackle when Cam Robinson was injured. Entering his age-26 season, Cleveland started 11 games last season and was attributed with three sacks allowed while adding a pass block win rate of 90.9% at guard (39th at the position). He's a solid player with upside in the scheme and helps provide continuity at a position group where chemistry is imperative. That's especially so in a year that is very light on starting guards in the draft. My immediate reaction was that the Jaguars overpaid for a player before allowing him to hit the market. But in looking at last year's free agent signings, this would have been the third-most total dollars and guaranteed money at the position -- $3.5 million more than Connor McGovern got from Buffalo at 25 years old. With the marked increase in the 2024 salary cap, a small bump from last year's No. 3 guard contract is a solid deal financially for Jacksonville if Cleveland is once again an every-game starter. Given Cleveland's inconsistency in Minnesota before finding solid footing in Jacksonville, I'm hesitant to lavish praise on this signing but do credit clubs for keeping their own players. The only reason the grade gets dropped to a B-minus is the fact that the free agent guard class does feature a good amount of talent that could be had at a lower cost. For example, Risner signed for just $3 million in Minnesota last year and took Cleveland's job. I like the player, and I love consistency along the offensive line, but Jacksonville probably slightly overpaid to keep a player it hopes is ascending. -- Miller
Texans keep TE Dalton Schultz with extensionThe deal: Three years, $36 million with $23.5 guaranteed
Grade: B+ Keeping a strong collection of skill players around quarterback C.J. Stroud is a great way to build a winning team, and the Texans prioritized his favorite middle-of-the-field target. Schultz, who will be 28 in July, is fresh off a resurgent season in which he caught 59 passes for 635 yards and five touchdowns during his first season in Houston. Schultz, the best tight end on the market this offseason, is a quick-hit playmaker off play-action. With both the free agent crop and the draft class thin at tight end, the Texans make the smart move to lock up one of Stroud's favorite targets before having to spend valuable draft capital on a replacement; I only have two tight ends in draft carrying starter-level grades. With limited needs offensively -- running back remains a hole to fill -- and a quarterback only one year into his rookie contract, Houston can and should be aggressive to keep talent around Stroud and to keep players with whom he has a clear connection. Schultz is both of those while offering a steady, veteran presence in a young locker room. For every free agent signing, I look at the players and draft capital required to replace the player if he walked. The Texans would have to use pick No. 24 overall in Round 1 to replace Schultz's value as a receiver and in-line target. Now the front office is free to use that pick shoring up the defensive line or secondary while keeping its No. 2 receiver locked up.-- Miller
Bucs bring back WR Mike Evans with two-year dealThe deal: Two years, up to $52 million, with $35 million guaranteed
Grade: B- The Buccaneers' biggest need heading into the new league year is quarterback, where Baker Mayfield is set to hit free agency. The team's second-biggest need was at wide receiver, with Evans -- a future Hall of Famer -- scheduled to hit the open market after last signing an extension with Tampa Bay in 2018. Bringing Evans back on a two-year deal allows the Bucs to shift focus to retaining Mayfield. Evans, entering his age-31 season, is coming off another brilliant campaign. In 2023, he grabbed 79 passes for 1,255 yards and 13 touchdowns while extending his streak of 1,000-yard seasons to 10 and posting his best year since 2018 in terms of yards and catches. A true WR1, Evans helped propel the Bucs to a surprise NFC South title and a playoff victory over the Eagles in a resurgent season for Mayfield and the Tampa offense. But does that mean this was a good signing? The Bucs are clearly attempting to load up for another run through a weak division. Evans is an all-time franchise great and still a very good wide receiver, even at his age, because his game is predicated on size more than speed. However, paying $52 million for a wide receiver over 30 has more feeling of sentimentality than of true team-building -- especially when fellow wideout Chris Godwin has a cap hit of $27.5 million. With an expanding salary cap in the modern NFL, it's possible to pay two receivers big money, and replacing a legend isn't easy, but considering that the 2024 draft class is loaded at the position, a "run-it-back" mentality might be a dangerous one for the Bucs. Tampa Bay could have instead used this opportunity to get cap healthy and add a younger go-to target opposite Godwin. And so this is very much a boom-or-bust signing at this dollar amount, even if we're happy to see Evans get the kind of per-year money his résumé suggests he should. The key to making this signing work is now re-signing Mayfield or going after another starting quarterback who has similar immediate impact. The Bucs are all-in on 2024 with this deal and must make sure Evans has a reliable quarterback getting him the ball. So although it might seem harsh given that Evans is one of the top available free agents, this gets a B-minus. Keeping a legend in your home uniform is fun for the fans, but the pressure is now on Tampa Bay to get it right at quarterback. -- Miller
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