NFL Free Agency 2015: Grades for Tuesday Signings and Trades
Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines.
After three days of legal tampering that saw the rumors and speculation flying fast and furious, 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday marked the official beginning of the 2015 league year.
And then all hell broke loose.
An NFL usually not known for trades saw a flurry of blockbuster deals in literally the first hour of its year. At least one big star changed his mind in free agency, flipping to another club at the last minute. It was enough to give even the most grizzled fan vertigo. I'm still seeing double.
By the time the dust settled, well over a dozen star players had new homes. Which teams got a steal? Who should file a police report after being robbed? We've got the answers to those questions and more, with a blow-by-blow look at a very wild day around the NFL.
TRADE: Jimmy Graham (and Pick) to Seahawks for Max Unger (and Pick)
1 of 16
Boo-yah! Told you there were some blockbuster trades Tuesday.
It was no secret that the New Orleans Saints came into 2015 with one of the worst salary-cap situations in the league. Per Over the Cap, no team in the NFL is deeper in red ink than the Saints. However, no one thought that in shopping parts to parse salary the Saints would trade arguably their best player.
That's exactly what happened, though. The Saints traded Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham and a fourth-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for center Max Unger and a first-round pick (No. 31 overall) in the 2015 NFL draft.
Yes, you read that right.
Granted, Unger is a fine player. The 28-year-old ranked fourth at his position in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus. He's also the only thing stopping this from being an "F" trade for the Saints. Even the first-round pick doesn't do much when it means losing a true difference-maker to get it.
You need to cut salaries, fine. But if you've dug a hole so deep that your only recourse is to trade the team's best receiver, a player whom you just handed a four-year, $40 million contract, then perhaps it's time to consider a change at general manager.
The Seahawks get a player who is possibly the NFL's best at his position in his prime, a guy who has averaged over 1,000 receiving yards and double-digit scores over the past four years.
That should bolster the Seattle passing game just a little.
Saints: D-
Seahawks: A-
TRADE: Haloti Ngata to Lions for 4th- and 5th-Round Picks in 2015 Draft
2 of 16
There's been more than a bit of speculation about Haloti Nagta's future with the Baltimore Ravens, in large part because of Ngata's $16 million cap hit in 2015. Well, that situation has been resolved. It just wasn't in the way most people expected.
The Ravens dealt Ngata (and a seventh-round pick in 2015) on Tuesday to the Detroit Lions for a pair of Day 3 draft picks (fourth- and fifth-round selections).
For the Ravens, it's a money dump. The team had tried to get Ngata to redo his deal, but when that fell through, general manager Ozzie Newsome apparently decided to get what he could. For the Lions, Ngata will slide into the void left by Ndamukong Suh's departure.
Ngata isn't the caliber of player Suh is (who is?), and he's three years older at 31. But Ngata is also a five-time Pro Bowler with extensive experience playing everything from 3-4 nose to 4-3 tackle and some 3-4 end.
It's a decent consolation prize. But Ngata isn't going to be a cheap one. Even if the Lions re-up Ngata to lessen his 2015 cap number, a large portion of the cap space Detroit freed when Suh bolted just went buh-bye.
I don't love the deal for either side, but I don't hate it either, especially should the Lions follow through on a rumored switch to a three-man front in 2015.
Ravens: C
Lions: B
TRADE: Sam Bradford (and Pick) to Eagles for Nick Foles (and Picks)
3 of 16
You have to give Chip Kelly this: he isn't sitting on his hands. No team has made more headlines in the early days of free agency than the Philadelphia Eagles, and Tuesday was no exception.
Kelly sent quarterback Nick Foles to the St. Louis Rams in exchange for quarterback (and former No. 1 overall pick) Sam Bradford. The teams also made a pick swap, with the Eagles dealing a fourth-rounder in 2015 and a second-rounder in 2016, while the Rams included this year's fifth-rounder.
Confused? Join the club.
Kelly's caught quite a bit of flak from the media in recent days over the flurry of moves that he's made. As Deadspin's Barry Petchesky pointed out, this trade isn't going to help in that regard:
"Bradford has been serviceable when he hasn't been hurt, which is rarely. Is he better than Nick Foles? Does this mean the Eagles won't go after Marcus Mariota? Should we stop assuming Chip Kelly knows what he's doing?
"
Is Bradford a better "arm talent" than Foles? Probably. But Foles accomplished more in 2013 than Bradford has in five NFL seasons. Bradford has missed 25 games over the past two years alone thanks to a pair of ACL tears.
Oh, and Bradford is set to make $13 million for 2015. That's a lot of money for a quarterback with a career winning percentage well below .400.
The Eagles will all but certainly extend Bradford to lower that number—while wriggling onto the hook for more money in the process. The same hook that the Rams thankfully, mercifully just wriggled off.
Eagles: D
Rams: B
.jpg?w=256 "Chiefs Giants Football")
Torrey Smith to 49ers: 5 Years, $40 Million; $22 Million Guaranteed
4 of 16
Speaking of teams that have been catching flak recently.
March has not been kind to the San Francisco 49ers. Running back Frank Gore signed with the Indianapolis Colts. Guard Mike Iupati already bolted for the Arizona Cardinals (more on that in a second). Linebacker Patrick Willis stunningly announced his retirement Tuesday.
Added to the messy departure of head coach Jim Harbaugh and trade rumors swirling around quarterback Colin Kaepernick, it's been rough. Still, the sun poked through the clouds for at least a moment Tuesday when free-agent wide receiver Torrey Smith agreed to terms on a five-year, $40 million contract with the 49ers ($22 million in guarantees).
Smith, 26, had 49 catches for 767 yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns in 2014 for the Baltimore Ravens. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, some have questioned the fit:
"Smith, as the source explained it, specializes in deep routes. One of Kaepernick’s biggest weaknesses arguably is accuracy on the deep ball. In San Francisco, Smith’s specific talents could be wasted, unless of course the quarterback is someone other than Kaepernick.
Of course, in this chicken-and-egg dynamic, it could be that Kaepernick simply needs a deep threat like Smith to unlock the deep passing game. The concern for now, however, given Kaepernick’s recent history and Smith’s skill set is that it may not work.
"
That may well be, but with Michael Crabtree a free agent and Stevie Johnson potentially the victim of a cap-cutting move, the 49ers were desperate to upgrade their pass-catchers.
Smith was one of the best options left on the market, he's just entering his prime, and the 49ers acquired him at a fairly reasonable salary.
All in all, it's a solid pickup.
Grade: B
Mike Iupati to Cardinals: 5 Years, $40 Million; $22.5 Million Guaranteed
5 of 16
As I said, it wasn't all sunshine and puppies for the 49ers on Tuesday.
The team gained a wide receiver, but in the process it lost a key component of its offensive line when veteran guard Mike Iupati signed a five-year, $40 million deal to join the division-rival Arizona Cardinals.
The 27-year-old Iupati is one of the NFL's premier run-blocking guards, making the Pro Bowl in each of the past three seasons. It also marks yet another step in the Arizona O-line overhaul. Last year, it was tackle Jared Veldheer in free agency. Now it's Iupati.
Granted, Iupati struggled in pass protection a year ago, ranking outside the top 50 in that regard, per Pro Football Focus. However, Pro Bowl offensive linemen don't usually hit free agency at all, and stealing one from a division rival just makes this deal all the more sweet for the Redbirds.
Grade: B+
Byron Maxwell to Eagles: 6 Years, $63 Million; $25 Million Guaranteed
6 of 16
Over the past two seasons, the Philadelphia Eagles have ranked 32nd (2013) and 31st (2014) in pass defense, so it's not surprising that improving the secondary was a priority in free agency. However, it is a bit surprising that the Eagles would hand over $10 million a season to a player based mainly on what his teammates have accomplished.
That's what happened Tuesday when the six-year, $63 million deal between the Eagles and free-agent cornerback Byron Maxwell came to pass. And $25 million is guaranteed.
Yes, Maxwell started for the Seattle Seahawks opposite Richard Sherman in their vaunted Legion of Boom defense. Yes, at 27, Maxwell is in his prime, and at 6'1" he has the size many NFL teams covet in the secondary.
However, Maxwell's performance is another story altogether. Last year, the four-year veteran graded 45th at his position at Pro Football Focus. Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated went so far as to call Maxwell one of this year's most overrated free agents:
"Stick with me here. Maxwell is by most accounts the top available cornerback, maybe even by a significant margin. He's big and fast and physical. Here's the rub, though: Maxwell has been playing in the brilliant Seattle system, opposite Richard Sherman.
He will be paid as a No. 1 cornerback, and he might be able to handle those duties, but it is a wait-and-see proposition. Considering the price tag Maxwell is going to carry, that's a little worrisome.
"
I thought Chip Kelly was supposed to bring a new way of thinking to the Eagles?
Overpaying cornerbacks? They've been doing that for years.
Grade: D
Bryan Bulaga to Packers: 5 Years, $35 Million
7 of 16
Sometimes the best way to make a splash in free agency is to keep the fish in your own pond.
The Green Bay Packers have done an excellent job of that in 2015. The team has already extended wide receiver Randall Cobb, and now the Packers have also locked up offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga on a five-year pact worth just under $35 million.
As Bleacher Report NFC North Lead Writer Zach Kruse reported Tuesday, it's just another example of general manager Ted Thompson's modus operandi in Titletown:
"New deals for Cobb and Bulaga complete the circle of Thompson's roster philosophy. Start by drafting good players. Next, develop those young players into core assets. Finally, secure the assets with long-term deals. The Packers have spent over $70 million over the last few days, but the money has gone to known commodities critical to Green Bay winning games—not unknown castoffs from other clubs with red flags galore.
Some teams create cap space to fix roster holes opened by poor drafting. The Packers manage the cap to ensure deals for players such as Cobb and Bulaga can be completed. One method is obviously preferable to the other.
By retaining Bulaga, the Packers will return all five starters on the offensive line from an offense that led the NFL in scoring a season ago. In fact, the Packers now have every major player on offense under contract through the 2016 season.
"
That should make quarterback Aaron Rodgers very happy and the rest of the NFC North very sad.
Grade: A
Orlando Franklin to Chargers: 5 Years, $36.5 Million; $20 Million Guaranteed
8 of 16
Some positions are much easier to fill than others in free agency. For instance, teams looking for a running back this year have boatloads of options. Along the offensive line, however, it's a different story. Simply put, impact players (or even capable ones) usually don't hit the open market at all or aren't available for very long.
Such was the case Tuesday. For the Arizona Cardinals it meant grabbing Iupati. The San Diego Chargers went the same route (obtaining a starter from a division rival) with a different player.
The Chargers inked offensive guard Orlando Franklin to a five-year deal worth $36.5 million, with $20 million guaranteed. The 6'7", 320-pound mauler played his first four seasons in Denver, starting at right tackle before moving to guard last year.
It's a welcome addition in the opinion of Tom Krasovic of U-T San Diego:
"Plunging a reported $20 million guaranteed into guard-tackle Orlando Franklin, a physical, durable blocker with some stiffness to his movements, the Chargers strengthened themselves at guard, while also gaining an option at right tackle.
The Chargers know a lot about Franklin, 27. As a Broncos starter he went against them in nine games, at left guard and right tackle, and played two seasons under Mike McCoy after arriving a second-round draftee from Miami.
"
At 27, Franklin is in his prime, the financial terms of the deal aren't overly burdensome and Franklin should help fortify a San Diego O-line that was awful in run blocking and only so-so against the pass in 2014, according to Football Outsiders.
Oh, and the Chargers weakened the team they're trying to catch in the AFC West. Then there's that.
Grade: A-
Julius Thomas to Jaguars: 5 Years, $46 Million, $24 Million Guaranteed
9 of 16
When free agency kicked off, no team had more gold coins in its war chest than the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Of course, there also may not be a team more in need of an infusion of talent than the Jags. Well, they didn't waste any time dipping into their wallets by signing free-agent tight end Julius Thomas to a five-year, $46 million contract (just over half the deal is guaranteed).
After exploding into NFL prominence in 2013, an ankle injury caused Thomas' yardage to drop considerably a year ago. But for the second straight season, the 26-year-old reeled in 12 touchdown passes.
Of course, the $64,000 question with Thomas is how much of that production will carry over to playing with Blake Bortles as opposed to Peyton Manning.
Scott Kacsmar of Football Outsiders has his doubts, tweeting recently that "Julius Thomas seems like a guy destined for free agency where he could get paid a lot to put up seasons with 700 yards & 6 TD." However, the Jaguars needed to improve Bortles' targets, and Thomas has been a monster in the red zone the past two seasons.
A few years from now, this deal may seem much different, but Tuesday it looks like a good move by Jacksonville.
Grade: B+
Owen Daniels to Broncos: 3 Years, $12 Million
10 of 16
It didn't take the Denver Broncos long to find a replacement for Orange Julius. Gonna need a new nickname there, bud. And Teal Julius just sounds silly.
With the Broncos anticipating Julius Thomas' departure, Denver acted quickly to replace him, coming to terms with veteran tight end Owen Daniels on a three-year, $12 million contract.
It's a safe bet that new Denver head coach Gary Kubiak put in a good word for Daniels. The two have been together for the past half-decade, first in Houston and then in Baltimore last year.
Daniels, who had 48 grabs for 527 yards and four scores for the Ravens in 2014, is no spring chicken at 32. He's also developed a habit of getting nicked up, missing time in each of the past six seasons. However, when he's on the field, Daniels is a steady veteran with intimate familiarity with Kubiak's offensive scheme.
Besides, not every team gets to open free agency by trading for Jimmy Graham.
Grade: B
Frank Gore to Colts: 3 Years, $12 Million; $8.5 Million Guaranteed
11 of 16
Psych!
It's not just an annoying thing that children say. It's also made its way to NFL free agency in 2015.
After being linked to the Philadelphia Eagles for most of the weekend, veteran running back Frank Gore got cold feet.
Former Eagles and new Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy jokingly took credit for convincing the former 49er not to go to Philadelphia in an NFL Network segment, saying, "We talked on the phone I said, 'Frank, man, do not go to Philly, man. I will be angry with you.'" He then clarified his remarks:
"Nah. We talked about Philadelphia. He did ask me a lot of questions. It was mutual. ... He asked me about Chip and the offense. ... I told him he'd get the ball a lot and he'd love it. Chip is a mastermind. He finds way to get the ball in space with the running backs. I was honest with him, for the most part.
"
By the time Tuesday rolled around and Gore could actually sign on the dotted line, his landing spot ended up quite a ways west of the City of Brotherly Love.
The 31-year-old signed a three-year, $12 million contract with the Indianapolis Colts. Gore will receive $8.5 million in guarantees over the first two years of the deal.
And so ends the Trent Richardson (giggle) era in Indy.
If there was one glaring issue with the Indianapolis Colts offensively in 2014, it was in the run game. Richardson was awful (again), and while Dan Herron did the best he could, he's, well, Dan Herron.
Yes, Gore is the wrong side of 30. He doesn't seem to realize that, though, as he topped 1,100 yards on the ground last year. He's now gained over 1,000 yards in four straight seasons and eight of the last nine. For $4 million a season, it's a no-brainer for a team trying badly to keep up with the Joneses in the AFC.
Your move, Bill Belichick.
Grade: A-
Buster Skrine to Jets: 4 Years, $25 Million, $13 Million Guaranteed
12 of 16
The New York Jets signed one of free agency's top available cornerbacks Tuesday. No, not Darrelle Revis.
The Jets were indeed able to lure Revis Island back to the Big Apple (hang on, it's coming), but the team was able to add even more to the secondary by signing cornerback Buster Skrine to a four-year, $25 million contract that includes $13 million in guarantees.
At first glance, this is the sort of deal that elicits a Bronx cheer. Of 108 qualifying cornerbacks at Pro Football Focus last year, Skrine ranked 82nd.
A world-beater, he isn't.
However, Skrine is durable (he's played in every game of his four-year career) and a sure tackler (60-plus stops the past three years), and the fact is the Jets didn't need just one cornerback. Gang Green needed bodies in the back end, and $6 million and change isn't bad for a capable young cornerback.
Even one who gets torched with occasionally alarming regularity.
Grade: B-
Trent Cole to Colts: 2 Years, $16 Million; $8 Million Guaranteed
13 of 16
Apparently the Colts like their new meat a bit grizzled.
In addition to Gore, the Colts went the 10 percent-off-at-Denny's route in the pass rush as well, signing outside linebacker Trent Cole to a two-year, $16 million contract. Half of it is guaranteed.
I wouldn't call it a great deal (Cole is 32 and hasn't hit double digits in sacks since 2011), but it's a good one.
Cole hasn't set the world on fire the past two seasons playing outside linebacker in Philadelphia, but he's at least been solid. In each of those seasons, Cole has topped 50 total tackles and recorded at least five sacks.
They aren't great numbers, but they're not terrible, either. Neither is Cole's salary or the commitment the Colts are making. It's not an acquisition that inspires cartwheels, but it's at least worth a hearty golf clap.
Grade: B
Darrelle Revis to Jets: 5 Years, $70 Million; $39 Million Guaranteed
14 of 16
Now, this is the sort of deal that gets fans doing cartwheels.
When free agency opened Tuesday, Steve Serby of the New York Post had one bit of advice for new Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan. Go get Darrelle Revis:
"I lobbied against a Revis-Jets reunion a year ago in large part because the Jets were hardly one Revis away from a Super Bowl. And, of course, they still aren’t.
But now that these second-tier options can’t help the Jets … now that he has recaptured his Revis Island form … now that he is another year removed from his devastating ACL surgery … now that there is an opportunity to steal him away and damage the Patriots … and now that Maccagnan has the financial wherewithal ($38,875,468) to strike (a shoutout here to John Idzik) …
It is time for the owner to put his money where his mouth is.
And bring Revis home.
"
Mission accomplished. As Bleacher Report's Jason Cole reported, the Jets snatched Revis away from the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots, returning the eight-year veteran to the team where he spent his first six NFL seasons.
It certainly wasn't a cheap reunion. The deal pays $70 million over five years, including a staggering $39 million in guaranteed money. It's the largest deal for a cornerback in NFL history, but Revis has set that benchmark so many times it's starting to lose all meaning.
That, for a player who in recent years has made receiving huge new contracts an annual rite. It's a hobby that has endeared him tremendously to his agent. And accountant. And jeweler.
In fact, as Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News wrote Tuesday, "Worst-case scenario for Darrelle Revis: He will earn a minimum of $123 million over his career with potential to earn $154 million."
It's good work if you can get it.
Still, at 29, Revis has more than a bit left in the tank. He remains arguably the NFL's top player at a premium position, and given that Jets secondary has been a 14-alarm dumpster fire since the moment Revis left, his return is, shall we say, welcome.
Who says you can't go home again?
Grade: A-
Roy Helu to Raiders: 2 Years, $4 Million
15 of 16
Heading into free agency, only the Jacksonville Jaguars had more cap space than the Oakland Raiders, per Over the Cap. Fans were champing at the bit for general manager Reggie McKenzie to start making splash signings.
"Tampering weekend" was slow in Oakland. However, the Raiders have at least dipped a toe in the water by signing free-agent running back Roy Helu, who racked up just under 700 total yards with three touchdowns in Washington a year ago.
The deal is for $4 million and change over two seasons.
By no stretch of the imagination is Helu going to single-handedly fix all that ails the Oakland backfield. The 26-year-old has never topped 650 rushing yards in a season, and Helu hasn't touched the ball 100 times in a season since his rookie year.
However, in that first year, Helu also went over 1,000 total yards. He's an excellent receiver out of the backfield and an underrated ball-carrier.
If all Helu winds up being is depth and a third-down back, $2 million a year isn't a bad deal. Anything else would be gravy.
Grade: B+
Brooks Reed to Falcons: 5 Years, $22 Million
16 of 16
There isn't a team in the NFL that needs more help on defense in 2015 than the Atlanta Falcons. It's one of the main reasons the team hired Dan Quinn as its new head coach.
Quinn's overhaul of the Falcons' leaky defense began Tuesday, and it didn't take long for eyebrows to start going up after the team came to terms with linebacker Brooks Reed on a five-year, $22 million contract.
On one hand, that appears a rather large sum to pay a middle-of-the-pack linebacker. Last year for the Houston Texans, Reed managed only 41 tackles and three sacks, despite significant playing time.
However, Reid Ferrin of the Falcons' website touted Reed's versatility:
"Quinn has preached the significance of adding versatile players, and Reed fits the bill. During his time with the Texans, Reed’s played a wide variety of positions, embracing the challenge at each spot.
In 2014, he played middle linebacker full-time but was prepared to play outside at any given time. That very type of versatility makes Reed’s spot in Atlanta all the more exciting, entering 2015.
"
The Falcons may have overpaid a bit for that versatility, but given a defense facing more questions than answers (especially with Sean Weatherspoon signing with Arizona), desperate times may have called for desperate measures.
Grade: C+
.jpg?w=480 "Chiefs Giants Football")
.jpg?w=480 "Browns Monken Football")
.jpg?w=600 "Jahmyr Gibbs' Back Tattoo 🎨")
.jpg?w=600 "Chiefs GM's Draft Prediction")
.jpg?w=600 "WR's Message to NFL Teams 🗣️")