NFL free agency is in full force, with every team making splashy signings. As the dust continues to settle, let’s take a look at all of the deals that have already been announced and assign a letter grade based on how the team did:
60. QB Sam Darnold — Minnesota Vikings
Grade: B
Reported Terms: one year, $10 million
Darnold should be given a chance to start here for the Vikings on a short-team deal with doesn’t really impact Minnesota’s cap situation moving forward. If the Vikings strike gold with Darnold, they probably= can bring him back on a team-friendly extension. If it doesn’t work out, the Vikings can wipe their hands clean of the deal since it’ll roll off the books after a year. There’s really no immense downside here. If Darnold doesn’t pan out, and Minnesota tumbles, it could still be in position to take a quarterback in next year’s draft.
59. QB Tyrod Taylor — New York Jets
Grade: B
Reported Terms: two years, max up to $18 million
This signing makes a ton of sense for the Jets. They could not go another season with Zach Wilson operating as the team’s primary backup. With Aaron Rodgers’ advanced age, there’s no telling how many games the Jets will get out of their 40-year-old QB who is coming off an Achilles injury. Tyrod Taylor has been a serviceable backup for years and will provide some stability if he’s called upon in a pinch.
58. S Darnell Savage — Jacksonville Jaguars
Grade: B+
Reported Terms: three years, $21.75 million
Darnell Savage isn’t quite as versatile as some of the other safeties that were available in the free agent pool. However, he has tremendous instincts as a ball-hawk and has a knack for breaking up passes and creating turnovers. He’s still just 26 years old and is as fast as ever. Savage was a game-changer in the postseason for the Packers, recording a 64-yard pick-six during their Wild Card win over the Cowboys. Given the safety market, this is pretty good value for a proven center fielder who can make plays on the backend.
57. QB Jacoby Brissett — New England Patriots
Grade: B
Reported Terms: one year, $8 million
Old friends Brissett and New England link up again. With the Patriots presumably taking whomever is left over from the Caleb Williams-Jayden Daniels-Drake Maye group, getting Brissett on a team-friendly deal was smart. He’s still one of the better backup signal-callers in the league, and as such can function as a very good mentor to whomever is taking the snaps. Additionally, there’s not a huge financial commitment here. The Pats could even flip Brissett for an asset before the trade deadline should another team get desperate.
56. CB Chidobe Awuzie — Tennessee Titans
Grade: B
Reported Terms: three years, $36 million
Awuzie has been a solid corner in his league for years. He’s not an All-Pro type — but he is a starter-level player. Finding quality corners with the ability to defend both against the run and in the passing game can be problematic. Younger guys are more inconsistent, and the position is unforgiving for corners north of age 30. In this case, Tennessee should be able to benefit from Awuzie’s prime years before eventually moving to a younger option.
55. LB Azeez Al-Shaair — Houston Texans
Grade: B+
Reported Terms: three years, $34 million
This is a sneaky-good move by the Texans. Al-Shaiir played under DeMeco Ryans in San Francisco when he was the 49ers’ defensive coordinator. This sort of familiarity and continuity should enable the speedy linebacker to hit the ground running. Al-Shaiir is a very underrated player, and he’s the type of guy just hitting his prime. Don’t be shocked if we see a breakout season of sorts for the Florida native. He notched a whopping 163 tackles last year for the Titans.
54. LB Jordyn Brooks — Miami Dolphins
Grade: B
Reported Terms: two years, $26.25 million
Miami’s defense crumbled down the stretch last year primarily due to the injury situation revolving around Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb. Brooks enters the team as a talented yet somewhat inconsistent linebacker. With Andrew Van Ginkle now in Minnesota, Brooks should get plenty of snaps within the heart of the front seven. A fast and aggressive player, there still seems to be a level for him to reach that we’ve not seen yet. Whether the Dolphins can get that out of him or not is another question.
53. QB Jameis Winston — Cleveland Browns
Grade: B-
Reported Terms: one year, $8 million
Cleveland will have a new backup QB option next season. After spending the last four years with the Saints, Jameis Winston will be joining the Browns as the likely backup for Deshaun Watson. This came as a bit of a surprise considering how well Joe Flacco played in a replacement role. Perhaps the team felt going with Winston was a safer move. If Watson plays poorly next season, the fanbase almost certainly would clamor for Flacco to re-enter the fold. However, Winston could find himself in a similar scenario. The gun-slinging QB has had his moments throughout his career, and had led the Saints to a 5-2 record in ’21 before going down with an injury. Still just 30 years old, Winston is hoping to re-establish himself as a starting quarterback.
52. LB Leonard Williams — Seattle Seahawks
Grade: C
Reported Terms: three years, $64.5 million
This seems like a bit of an overpay. The 29-year-old is coming off a year where he had only 5.5 sacks. Over the course of his career, Williams accrued over 7.0 sacks only once in a single season. From 2021-23, Williams has a combined 14.5 sacks. That’s not terrible, though is that worth paying him over $20 million a year? We’re a bit skeptical that this deal will ultimately be worth it down the line.
51. RB Aaron Jones — Minnesota Vikings
Grade: B+
Reported Terms: one year, $7 million
Aaron Jones will be playing his former team twice next season. The RB carousel has led the former Packer to join a Vikings team that struggled to find a go-to rusher last season. Jones will be the lead-back for an offense that may be led by Sam Darnold. We know how dynamic of a player Jones can be when he’s on the field. He struggled with his health last year, but was dominant down the stretch. Jones rushed for over 100 yards in each of Green Bay’s two postseason matchups.
50. RB Zack Moss — Cincinnati Bengals
Grade: A
Reported Terms: two years, $8 million
The Bengals are moving on from Joe Mixon (who they traded to Houston), and will now hand it off to the Utah product Zack Moss. Moss is coming off a career year with the Colts. He was given the starting job while Jonathan Taylor was out for the start of the season. Moss had two 100-yard performances early, but took a back seat after Taylor returned. Still, Moss ran well for most of the year and carved himself a role within the offense by season’s end. The Bengals got him at a complete bargain, and his production likely won’t be that much of a drop-off (if at all) from Mixon.
49. QB Darnell Mooney — Atlanta Falcons
Grade: B+
Reported Terms: three years, $39 million
This is a solid signing for the Falcons. With Cousins now the starting quarterback, it makes sense to get a sure-handed veteran receiver to put alongside Drake London and Kyle Pitts. Mooney should be the chain-mover in this scenario — and probably will put up better numbers than you’d imagine considering how Cousins likes to methodically move downfield. This is an under-the-radar move, but one that could pay some real dividends this upcoming season.
48. Derrick Henry — Baltimore Ravens
Grade: A
Reported Terms: two years, $16 million
Getting Henry for less than $10 million annually was a major boon. Is it reflective upon the running back position as a whole in today’s NFL? Most likely — though it doesn’t take away from what his acquisition means to the Ravens as a whole. You’re getting a proven commodity to lead your backfield, and one which has demonstrated the ability to be a true game-changer. Baltimore probably will want to lessen the load on Henry from his days in Tennessee. Keeping him fresh and healthy for the playoffs will be key. Assuming he is, Henry adds yet another dimension to an already diverse Baltimore offense. Imagine trying to defend zone-read looks with Henry and Lamar Jackson bearing down on your defense.
47. LB Patrick Queen — Pittsburgh Steelers
Grade: A-
Reported Terms: three years, $41 million
The former Raven is joining the Steelers, as LB Patrick Queen is signing a three-year deal to join his former division rival. Queen is a former first-round pick who enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2023. The 24-year-old was named a Pro Bowler and also made Second-team All-Pro. The worry here is that Queen was a major benefactor of playing next to another elite linebacker in Roquan Smith. Of course, he’ll be surrounded by plenty of high-level talent in Pittsburgh with T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick. However, Queen will be asked to do a ton in terms of patrolling the middle of the field and getting downhill in the run game. We saw major improvements last season, and think this is an ideal fit for both sides.
46. OG Mike Onwenu — New England Patriots
Grade: B+
Reported Terms: three years, $57 million
New England warded off a host of suitors in order to sign Onwenwu. The jumbo interior lineman engulfs defenders at the line of scrimmage with a strong punch and a low center of gravity. With the Patriots presumably set to select a quarterback with the No. 3 Overall pick in this year’s draft, it only made sense for New England to bring back arguably its best lineman from a year ago. Onwenwu won’t even be 30 by the time the deal ends, thus enabling the Pats to get the most out of him during his proverbial prime.
45. K Wil Lutz — Denver Broncos
Grade: C+
Reported Terms: two years, salary TBD
In an early twist during free agency, kicker Wil Lutz spurned the Jaguars and opted to re-sign with the Broncos instead. Lutz had reportedly come to terms on a deal to become Jacksonville’s new kicker. Hours later, the former Saints reneged on his decision and signed a new deal with Denver. Lutz was a Pro Bowler for New Orleans in 2019 and made 30-of-34 (88-percent) of his field goal attempts last season.
44. RB Gus Edwards — Los Angeles Chargers
Grade: B-
Reported Terms: two years, $7 million
With Austin Ekeler gone, the Chargers needed an inexpensive option at running back to help fill the void. Inking Gus Edwards to a reported two-year/$7 million deal is a decent bargain given the running back market. New Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh should be plenty familiar with Edwards, seeing as the former Raven played the last five seasons for his brother, John. Edwards is a tough runner who was one of the league’s best at the goal line last season. The bruising back scored 13 TDs on the ground last year (doubling his career total in the process).
43. RB Antonio Gibson — New England Patriots
Grade: C
Reported Terms: three years, $11.25 million
On the heels of releasing wide receiver DeVante Parker, the New England Patriots signed former Washington running back Antonio Gibson to a three-year deal. Gibson saw his role diminish each of the past two seasons with the Commanders. After starting 24 games his first two seasons, Gibson was the starting running back just eight times in 2023. While he is a capable rusher, Gibson’s value is increased due to his ability in the passing game. With the Patriots likely in the market for a rookie quarterback, Gibson could be a very nice addition to the offense.
42. DT Bilal Nichols — Arizona Cardinals
Grade: B+
Reported Terms: three years, $21 million
Arizona managed to lure Bilal Nichols away from Las Vegas on a three-year deal. He had been the starting defensive tackle for the Raiders prior to his departure. Nichols has been up-and-down from a production standpoint — though he is a player known for his ability to stay on the field. The Cardinals need help at several spots, and building up front through the defensive line is a good start. This is a very good deal for Arizona considering the talent Nichols has.
41. TE Colby Parkinson — Los Angeles Rams
Grade: C+
Reported Terms: three years, $22.5 million
Parkinson is an interesting signing for the Rams. The 6’7″ tight end played high school ball at Oaks Christian — an institution literally right down the road from where the Rams usually practice in Thousand Oaks. He then went to college at a virtual tight end factory in Stanford. He hasn’t put up major numbers throughout his time in the NFL with Seattle. With that said, if Sean McVay wants you to play on his offense, there’s something he sees which can be utilized. Parkinson could ultimately become a major red-zone threat for Stafford considering his impressive frame. He inked a 3-year deal worth nearly $23 million.
40. DT Denico Autry — Houston Texans
Grade: B
Reported Terms: three years, $20 million
With Jonathan Greenard leaving for Minnesota, Autry comes in as more of a veteran replacement. He had a career-high 11.0 sacks last year with the Titans. At age 33, you worry a bit as to how a 3-year deal will age for a defensive lineman. With that said, Autry is a veteran piece with experience in the AFC South. He should further help this young team grow as perhaps the favorite in the division. If DeMeco Ryans deems you good enough for his defense, there’s a strong likelihood Autry could be a real difference-maker this upcoming season.
39. QB Gardner Minshew — Las Vegas Raiders
Grade: B
Reported Terms: two years, $25 million
Minshew is the perfect player for this roster. The Raiders are in transition, and are trying to figure out the eventual direction at the QB spot. Minshew is one of the league’s best backup quarterbacks. As a starter, he has the upside of a ‘decent’ starter. If Las Vegas is aiming to eventually replace Minshew with another player, he’s an ideal guy to use as a temporary solution. He’ll keep you in games, and can even win you a couple of them in the process. He’ll be battling Aidan O’Connell for the starting spot in 2024.
38. EDGE Leonard Floyd — San Francisco 49ers
Grade: B-
Reported Terms: two years, $20 million
This was a smart move by San Francisco. With Arik Armstead and Chase Young leaving in free agency, Floyd comes in with plenty of past experience in the NFC West having previously played for the Rams. He’s coming off a year where he notched 10.5 sacks with the Bills. He’s another veteran player seeking a Super Bowl ring. San Francisco is somewhat limited by its cap situation, and thus this is a relative bargain considering Floyd’s proclivity as a pass-rushing threat.
37. OG Jon Runyan — New York Giants
Grade: B-
Reported Terms: three years, $30 million
After starting all 34 games for the Packers the past two seasons, Jon Runyan has opted to join the New York Giants. Runyan made the switch from left guard to right guard in 2023 and was a consistent performer along Green Bay’s offensive line. As Daniel Jones can attest, the Giants struggled to protect the quarterback last year. Runyan is a nice addition to the group but there is more work to be done.
36. LB Blake Cashman — Minnesota Vikings
Grade: A
Reported Terms: three years, $25.5 million
This is an absolute home run signing for the Vikings given the reported salary figures. Blake Cashman is one of the league’s most underrated off-ball linebackers. A trend across defenses in the league has been asking LBs to do more in pass coverage. Cashman was excellent in that area last year for DeMeco Ryans’ defense in Houston. Now headed to the Vikings, Cashman will be leaned upon in coverage for a blitz-heavy defense led by Brian Flores. Opposing QBs had just a 78.1 passer rating when targeting Cashman last season, which ranked fourth-best among LBs.
35. DT Grover Stewart — Indianapolis Colts
Grade: B
Reported Terms: three years, $39 million
This is a signing that may go under the radar unless you are an avid Colts fan. Stewart has spent his entire career in Indianapolis. Through seven seasons, the defensive tackle has registered a paltry 9.0 sacks. However, Stewart’s lack of success taking down the quarterback doesn’t tell the entire story. With Stewart on the field, Indianapolis’ run defense is far better than it is with him on the sidelines. Additionally, Stewart is a reliable player. Until he missed six games this past season, the DT missed a total of two games through his first six years in the NFL.
34. RB Devin Singletary — New York Giants
Grade: C+
Reported Terms: three years, $16.5 million
Saquon Barkley’s decision to join the Philadelphia Eagles left New York with a hole at running back. On Monday afternoon, the team turned to Devin Singletary. Singletary is coming off a decent year with the Texans. In addition to rushing for a career-high 898 yards, the veteran caught 30 passes for 193 yards. The Giants will likely look to add another back to the mix, but they could have done worse than to snag Singletary following Barkley’s departure.
33. EDGE Andrew Van Ginkel — Minnesota Vikings
Grade: B+
Reported Terms: three years, $20 million
Minnesota’s quest to improve its defense took a big step forward on Monday. In addition to signing Jonathan Greenard, the Vikings signed Andrew Van Ginkel to a three-year deal. The linebacker will join the Vikes after spending the first five years of his career in Miami. Signing Van Ginkel to a very reasonable deal is a solid move for the team. The OLB is familiar with defensive coordinator Brian Flores and should fit into the defense seamlessly.
32. WR Kendrick Bourne — New England Patriots
Grade: C
Reported Terms: three years, $19.5 million
This is an overall fair deal for a receiver who was plenty productive when healthy last season. Kendrick Bourne was on pace for a 79/863/8 season before getting hurt in late October. If those numbers don’t ‘wow’ you, consider Demario Douglas led the Patriots in 2023 with 561 receiving yards. It was an offense that didn’t move the ball with any sort of consistency. A new QB should help shake things up, and Bourne is more than serviceable as a WR3 at that number (only $4.2 million in guarantees, could make up to $33 million if certain incentives are met).
31. RB Tony Pollard — Tennessee Titans
Grade: C+
Reported Terms: three years, $24 million
Pollard got a 3-year deal worth $24 million to be the new featured back in Tennessee. The signing ends the Derrick Henry era in Nashville, though also signals a shift in offensive philosophy to more of an up-tempo, diverse scheme. It could be a tough transition for Pollard. Tennessee is in a clear rebuild, and he’ll be following in the footsteps of one of the most prolific players in the history of the franchise. If Pollard can stay healthy, there’s still a few more years of productivity there. If not, this deal won’t age too well.
30. OC Tyler Biadasz — Washington Commanders
Grade: B
Reported Terms: three years, $30 million
Dan Quinn is hoping not to make the same mistakes he committed during his last head coaching stint. His roster-building strategy is seemingly focused on acquiring familiar faces. Tyler Biadasz is set to leap from division rivals as the former Cowboy intends to sign with the Commanders. The offensive line was clearly a major issue for Washington last season. QB Sam Howell led the league with 65 sacks on the year. Having an experienced, capable center is at the heart of every great offensive line. Biadasz was a Pro Bowler in 2022 and started 49 games for the Cowboys over the last three seasons.
29. OC Andre James — Las Vegas Raiders
Grade: B
Reported Terms: three years, $24 million
New GM Tom Telesco has already made some splash moves in free agency, but his savvy decision to re-sign Andre James on a friendly deal shouldn’t go unnoticed. Reportedly, Vegas had considered moving on from James to make room for LG Dylan Parham to switch to center. However, the team reconsidered after assessing the guard market. Instead of paying top-dollar for two new guards, the Raiders re-signed James to a new deal (two-year, $16 million guaranteed) and will keep Parham at LG. James was ranked as the 8th best center last year per ProFootballFocus.
28. TE Jonnu Smith — Miami Dolphins
Grade: B
Reported Terms: two years, $10 million
One of the league’s best offenses in terms of yards after catch just added another YAC monster. Jonnu Smith is an athletic tight end who will be a perfect fit in Mike McDaniels’ high-powered scheme. With teams having to worry about Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, Smith will be the beneficiary of some soft underneath coverage. When Smith has the ball in his hands, he’s one of the best tight ends in the game at shedding tacklers and picking up extra yardage. This is a bargain price for a player who will surely make an impact for the Dolphins in 2024.
27. S Kevin Byard — Chicago Bears
Grade: C+
Reported Terms: two years, $15 million
Kevin Byard’s stint in Philadelphia didn’t last long, as the team opted not to re-sign the safety after trading for him halfway through the season last year. With a heap of available safeties in the free agency pool, the Bears decided to scoop up the veteran Byard on a two-year deal. Byard is a two-time All-Pro, though his play has declined over the last two seasons. Chicago hopes that the 30-year-old still has some juice left. The Bears’ defense is on the rise and could use a ball hawk on the backend.
26. TE Dalton Schultz — Houston Texans
Grade: B-
Reported Terms: three years, $36 million
The Texans are looking to keep their receiving corps intact. Dalton Schultz was a key weapon for rookie QB C.J. Stroud. Among all TEs, Schultz was one of the very best at converting over the middle of the field. Dominating that area is huge for any offense. Completing passes down the middle will help open up the deep ball for Stroud and the rest of Houston’s wideouts. Keeping Schultz in the fold was a solid move here by the Texans.
25. TE Hunter Henry — New England Patriots
Grade: C+
Reported Terms: two years, $27 million
Another New England pass-catcher back in tow, Hunter Henry will be looking for a bounce-back campaign in ’24. Last year was Henry’s worst season to date. He finished with a career-low 419 receiving yards in 14 games. New England’s QB play can’t get much worse than it’s been. They’ll likely draft a QB with the No. 3 pick. Young quarterbacks lean on TEs in the passing game. All of those factors are working in Henry’s favor as he enters Year 9.
24. LB Frankie Luvu — Washington Commanders
Grade: A-
Reported Terms: three years, $36 million
Washington has done an excellent job of rebuilding its pass rush through free agency. Frankie Luvu is listed as a linebacker on the depth chart, but his best skill is rushing the passer. Luvu collected 12.5 sacks and 20 QB hits over the last two seasons while playing over 90-percent of the snaps for Carolina’s defense. If he’s placed in a more specialized role, Luvu could approach double-digit sack totals.
23. EDGE Dorance Armstrong – -Washington Commanders
Grade: B
Reported Terms: three years, $45 million
Edge rusher Dorance Armstrong will join his former DC Dan Quinn in Washington. The former Cowboy collected 16 sacks over the past two seasons as a part-time player. Anytime a situational pass rusher moves to a new situation, there will always be questions about his ability to produce. Will Armstrong prove to be elite as a full-time starter? Or, was his production merely a byproduct of playing alongside some of the league’s premier pass rushers? How good will Armstrong look when he’s not lined up opposite Micah Parsons? We are interested to find out.
22. OC Lloyd Cushenberry — Tennessee Titans
Grade: B+
Reported Terms: three years, salary TBD
Quietly, the former LSU Tiger had a very good season for the Broncos last year. He allowed only 1 sack in over 1,000 snaps. With the Titans revamping their offense, landing Cushenberry to be the team’s starting center was a smart move. Even though it won’t draw a ton of attention, it’s a winning move — and one which could help position the team toward competing in the AFC South right away.
21. OG Kevin Dotson — Los Angeles Rams
Grade: A
Reported Terms: three years, $48 million
The Rams continued with their strong offseason. Keeping Dotson — one of the game’s best guards — was key. The $48 million deal over 3 years is a bargain for a guy of Dotson’s caliber. When factoring in the signing of Jonah Jackson, LA boasts a tandem of guards that rival anyone’s in the NFL at this point. With the ‘rebuild’ expedited last year, the Rams are in prime position to be very good in the NFL West for the foreseeable future.
20. WR Gabe Davis — Jacksonville Jaguars
Grade: B
Reported Terms: three years, $39 million
The Jaguars signed Davis presumably as a replacement for Calvin Ridley. Ridley appears headed elsewhere — which opened up Davis to land a 3-year deal. He can provide the Jaguars with more of a deep threat than the team is used to having. Trevor Lawrence traditionally doesn’t throw the ball downfield a ton, though that may change with Davis. In what should be a wide-open AFC South, it’s incumbent upon the Jags’ offense to garner more big-chunk plays. As such, it makes sense Davis was brought on board.
19. EDGE Za’Darius Smith — Cleveland Browns
Grade: B+
Reported Terms: two years, $23 million
The three-time Pro Bowler is back in Cleveland after signing a new deal. Za’Darius Smith was a key cog for one of the best defenses in the league last year. He proved to be an ideal fit opposite Myles Garrett, as teams were forced to game-plan for both of Cleveland’s pass rushers. In his first year with the Browns, Smith recorded 5.5 sacks and 60 QB pressures.
18. RB D’Andre Swift — Chicago Bears
Grade: B+
Reported Terms: three years, $24 million
Landing Swift on essentially a two-year deal (only $15.3 million is guaranteed) seems like a savvy move by the Bears’ front office. Swift is more of a change-of-pace back — though he complements Khalil Herbert stylistically. You can use him out of the backfield as a pass-catching threat, and also as an every-down back. Sprinkling him into the offense makes sense, where Swift can be used efficiently as a means to keep him healthy. This is a low-risk/high-reward type of signing — and one which the quarterback, whether it’s Justin Fields or Caleb Williams, should like a whole lot.
17. RB Josh Jacobs — Green Bay Packers
Grade: B
Reported Terms: four years, $48 million
Green Bay apparently is committing to a ground-and-pound attack. With Aaron Jones now released, the combination of Jacobs and AJ Dillon should be a handful for opposing teams to defend against. Jacobs could become even more effective in theory by splitting carries with Dillon. He won’t have to shoulder the load as much, and there’s a world where Jordan Love’s improvement in the passing games allows for the run game to become that much more potent. This wasn’t a ‘need’ acquisition, but it’s one that should help the franchise.
16. QB Russell Wilson — Pittsburgh Steelers
Grade: C
Reported Terms: one year, $1.2 million
Will Wilson start — or be the primary backup to Kenny Pickett? It’s a bit of a weird move for the Steelers. Wilson will be making next to nothing, and technically will be on a short contract. However, this doesn’t signal a whole lot of faith in Pickett. Wouldn’t you want your young quarterback to play freely without a future Hall of Famer lurking over his shoulder? And IF Wilson does become the starter, wouldn’t that essentially end Pickett’s tenure in Pittsburgh? It’s an odd signing, to be sure.
15. S Xavier McKinney — Green Bay Packers
Grade: B+
Reported Terms: four years, $68 million
One of the top safeties on the board is headed to Green Bay. A center fielder was desperately needed in the Packers’ secondary. McKinney fits the bill as a player who is instinctual in pass coverage and is capable of wrapping up ball carriers. The price tag is a bit high, but McKinney is still just 24 years old and coming off a productive year. You never want to see your safety rack up too many tackles, but the fact that McKinney was able to hold up through all 17 games last year while recording 116 tackles certainly showcases his durability and toughness.
14. OG Jonah Jackson — Los Angeles Rams
Grade: A
Reported Terms: three years, $51 million
This was a home run signing for the Rams. Not only does LA improve the interior of its offensive line, but it also weakens one of its biggest competitors in the NFC. Jackson might not get the headlines many players do, but he’s proven to be a very good player. Since 2022, he’s allowed only two sacks in 928 pass-blocking snaps. With the Rams adding Jackson and re-signing Kevin Dotson, the run game should be even better than it was a season ago. Matthew Stafford surely has to be thrilled over the signing as well.
13. OT Dion Dawkins — Buffalo Bills
Grade: A
Reported Terms: three years, $60 million
The Multi-time Pro Bowler inked a 3-year extension to stay in Buffalo. After releasing a host of players (especially in the secondary), the Bills freed up enough cash to keep Dawkins in the fold. This was an imperative move, as the left tackle ranks among the best at his position in the NFL. Keeping Josh Allen healthy is the most important thing possible for this franchise. As such, this signing deserves a high grade based on need, position, and continuity.
12. OG Robert Hunt — Carolina Panthers
Grade: D
Reported Terms: five years, $100 million
That is a huge number for a guard. The Dolphins cannot be faulted for failing to match Carolina’s bid. For the Panthers, the move makes sense from a football perspective. Protecting Bryce Young is a major priority. The offensive line did not do a very good job during Young’s rookie campaign. Especially when it comes to a QB of Young’s stature, having guards who are excellent in pass coverage is invaluable. However, the $100 million tag (with $63 million guaranteed) will raise some eyebrows. Hunt is about to be 28 years old and has yet to make a Pro Bowl or All-Pro team. It will be interesting to see how the Panthers build the rest of the offense moving forward.
11. EDGE Bryce Huff — Philadelphia Eagles
Grade: A
Reported Terms: three years, $51 million
The Eagles stayed consistent with their emphasis on pass rushers by nabbing Huff on a 3-year deal. Huff proved to be the most potent pass-rushing threat for the Jets this past year. A fast and aggressive player, his underlying numbers illustrate a guy who’s just scratching the surface as to how good he’ll be. In Philadelphia’s scheme, one could envision a scenario in which Huff notches double-digit sack totals. Huff had the best pass-rush win percentage in the NFL last year. At only 25, expect him to flourish in the City of Brotherly Love.
10. RB Saquon Barkley — Philadelphia Eagles
Grade: C+
Reported Terms: three years, $37.75 million
At his best, Barkley was an absolute game-changer and possibly the most explosive player in the league. However, the former Giant has had one great season since 2020. Two years ago, Barkley rushed for 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns. Last season, Barkley was held to 3.9 yards per carry and finished the season with 962 yards. Handing a running back with injury concerns a huge contract doesn’t seem like a great move. Barkley can certainly have big games for the Eagles, but the price tag is a bit steep in our opinion.
9. WR Michael Pittman Jr. — Indianapolis Colts
Grade: B+
Reported Terms: three years, $70 million
Indianapolis secured its WR1 by inking Pittman Jr. to a three-year extension. The Colts initially placed the franchise tag on the wideout following the season before agreeing on new terms. Pittman has posted three good seasons in a row for the Colts — highlighted by a 109-catch, 1,152-yard performance last season. With Anthony Richardson returning for his second season at QB in 2024, retaining Pittman was a must for the franchise. Now, the QB/WR duo can flourish for years to come.
8. CB Jaylon Johnson — Chicago Bears
Grade: A
Reported Terms: four years, $76 million
After a season’s worth of contract discussions, the Bears and Jaylon Johnson agreed on an extension. Johnson, one of the league’s top corners, was a Second-Team All-Pro in 2023 despite missing three games. The former Utah Ute had a career-high four interceptions (one pick-six) en route to his first Pro Bowl. At last year’s trade deadline, Johnson’s camp requested a trade after the two sides couldn’t agree to an extension. Just a few months later, Chicago secured its top defensive player for the next four years.
7. QB Baker Mayfield — Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Grade: B
Reported Terms: three years, $100 million
The former No. 1 overall pick found a home in Tampa Bay following an up-and-down start to his career. Mayfield led Cleveland to a playoff victory, but his time with the franchise was ultimately underwhelming. Mayfield was jettisoned to Carolina — he was eventually released after seven games — and made a cameo with the Rams in 2022 before joining Tampa last offseason. In Year 1 with the Bucs, Mayfield posted career-highs in TD (28) and yards (4,044) and led the team to a win over Philadelphia in the Wild Card round. Mayfield is getting a good chunk of change, but Tampa did well to not commit to a long contract.
6. QB Kirk Cousins — Atlanta Falcons
Grade: B-
Reported Terms: four years, $180 million
This is one of the harder grades to determine. Cousins represents the best quarterback Atlanta has had since prime Matt Ryan — and he will be a massive upgrade over Desmond Ridder. If Cousins performs up to his standard, the Falcons could easily win the NFC South. However, relying on a soon-to-be 36-year-old QB coming off a torn Achilles is a lot to ask. The Falcons guaranteed Cousins $90 million over four years — that is a huge bet on an aging player, let alone one returning from a torn Achilles.
5. EDGE Jonathan Greenard — Minnesota Vikings
Grade: A-
Reported Terms: four years, $76 million
With Danielle Hunter likely leaving the franchise, the Vikings made a very good move by signing Greenard. The defensive end spent the past four years with Houston where he posted two good seasons. After an injury-shortened 2022, Greenard notched a career-high 12.5 sacks for the AFC South champion Texans in ’23. Greenard’s 3.6% sack rate ranked fourth among players with at least 200 pass rushes. If he can stay healthy, Greenard can become a star in Minnesota.
4. WR Mike Evans — Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Grade: B
Reported Terms: two years, $41 million
Mike Evans is a very good football player. He is one of the greatest players in franchise history and is likely going to end up in Canton. With that being said, Tampa Bay may have overpaid him. Evans will be 31 by the time the season starts — and the Bucs are now committing a ton of money to both Evans and Chris Godwin. Coupled with the money Baker Mayfield is set to make, Tampa is clearly all-in on 2024. By giving Evans and Mayfield a combined $152 million over the next three years, there is a chance the rest of the roster is weakened as a result.
3. DT Justin Madubuike — Baltimore Ravens
Grade: A
Reported Terms: four years, $98 million
Baltimore had one of the league’s best defenses in 2023 and Madubuike was a big reason why. The 6-foot-3 defensive tackle made a huge jump in his fourth year and became one of the best interior defensive linemen in football. His 13.0 sacks led the team by 3.5 sacks and his 33 QB hits were by far the most on the team — Jadeveon Clowney was second with 9.5 and 19, respectively. The former third-round pick may be considered the game’s top DT soon.
2. DT Christian Wilkins — Las Vegas Raiders
Grade: B-
Reported Terms: four years, $110 million
Congrats are in order for Wilkins — the man got paid. The five-year pro will be joining the Raiders coming off his best season. Playing for Miami in 2023, Wilkins registered a career-high 9.0 sacks across 17 games. Wilkins is a good player, but the Raiders may have overpaid a bit at $110 million. He will be an immediate help along Vegas’ defensive front — although the price tag is more aligned with an elite pass rusher, resulting in a slightly lower grade.
1. DT Chris Jones — Kansas City Chiefs
Grade: A
Reported Terms: five years, $158 million
Kansas City wasn’t going to allow one of its franchise players walk coming off back-to-back Super Bowl victories. 30 years old in July, Jones is one of the NFL’s elite players — and has been so for quite some time. Jones has been named a First-Team All-Pro two years in a row and finished third for the Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. The star has 26.0 total sacks the past two years, and has record 15.5 sacks twice in his career with Kansas City. The Chiefs are making history by guaranteeing $95 million. Once the contract is signed, Jones will have the highest-ever average annual salary for a defensive tackle.