NFL Signings 2011: Grading the Top 20 Massive Free Agent and Trade Acquisitions

Looking at trades hours or days after they are announced is always a risky thing to do—a quick reaction is not always the best reaction.

That's why we've waited four or five hours to digest the last three days' worth of NFL trades and acquisitions before letting it all out in one glorious information dump.

Sounds amazing, doesn't it?

While you will never win a trophy for the best offseason (sorry, Daniel Snyder), it is always fun to take a look at which teams have done the best work improving their teams thus far.

Who will come out on top? Will it be the Texans for breaking the market by signing the second-best cornerback available in Johnathan Joseph, or does a team like New England—who made two shocking trades today—come out on top?

A quick breakdown of our grading system inside:

Market: The grade assigned to the available talent at the player's position.

Value: The grade assigned to the value of compensation awarded, whether in contract or what was traded.

Fills a Need: A grade based on if the new player fills a need and/or fits the scheme of his new team.

Overall: The bottom-line, final grade.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Re-Sign Linebacker Quincy Black

Deal: Quincy Black signed a five-year, $29 million contract with $11 million guaranteed.

Market: C

The outside linebacker position was average this year. Players like Clint Session, Justin Durant and Black were all considered promising young players worth signing and continuing to develop.

Black was the fourth-best outside linebacker prospect available on my board—behind Durant, Session and Stephen Nicholas.

Value: D

Tampa Bay unfortunately overpaid for Black's services. Giving a second- or third-tier linebacker roughly $6 million per year was out of range for his talents. Yes, NFL teams must spend more on veterans now, but this figure seems too high. 

Fills a Need: A

Tampa Bay was banking on re-signing Black to a long-term deal. The team is bracing for the loss of middle linebacker Barrett Ruud and needed to keep some consistency at the linebacker position with a young defensive line in place.

Overall Grade: C

Keeping Black on the roster is a good move, but the Buccaneers overpaid for what Black can do for them.

Philadelphia Eagles Trade for Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

Deal: Philadelphia trades QB Kevin Kolb to Arizona for CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and 2012 second-round pick.

Market: B

The 2011 free-agent class is full of talented cornerbacks, many of whom the Eagles were rumored to be considering at one time or another.

However, moving a backup quarterback for a starting cornerback and a second-round draft pick is an amazing deal. The trade value for Kolb skyrocketed this offseason. 

Value: A

Again, continuing from above, the fact that Philadelphia received a player who could be a top-10 cornerback in this league and what will most likely be a top-50 pick in the 2012 draft for a backup quarterback is genius. 

Fills a Need: A

With the potential retirement of Ellis Hobbs, Philadelphia needed a cornerback to start opposite Asante Samuel.

They got one, and more.

DRC may be better than Samuels already. There's not telling what he will be able to do on a defense as talented as the Eagles'. 

Overall Grade: A+

I may end up looking like an idiot two years from now, but as of tonight, I would say the Eagles pulled one over on Arizona.

Washington Redskins Sign Defensive End Stephen Bowen

Deal: Washington signed Bowen to a five-year, $27.5 million deal, including $12.5 million guaranteed.

Market: D

Finding defensive ends to fit the 3-4 defense takes patience. It's much easier to find a player three or four years into his NFL career and then make a move to grab him.

That's what Washington did here, and it should pay off. 

Value: B+

Stephen Bowen was one of my favorite defensive players to watch last season. He's one of those under-the-radar guys who could blow up if on a winning team. 

Fills a Need: A

With the trade of Albert Haynesworth to New England and Jeremy Jarmon to Denver, the Redskins needed to add bodies on the defensive line. Bowen will be a starter from Week 1. 

Overall Grade: B+

Washington needed a steady, three-down defensive end to replace Haynesworth and also to give the entire defense an upgrade at a key position.

Giving a player with less than one full season of starting in the NFL a $27.5 million contract may seem foolish, but only $12.5 million of that is guaranteed.

San Diego Chargers Re-Sign Safety Eric Weddle

Deal: San Diego Chargers re-sign safety Eric Weddle to five-year, $40 million contract, including $19 million guaranteed.

Market: C

The Chargers were smart to approach Weddle as their priority re-signing this offseason, as the market at safety in this particular class is weak. Weddle was the best available safety, and San Diego needed to keep him on a defense with high turnover expected. 

Value: C

While Weddle was the best safety in the free-agent class, he's not $40 million good. 

Fills a Need: A

San Diego definitely needed to keep Weddle, as finding a comparable player in the open market would have been impossible. If you can picture the Chargers secondary with Weddle and Bob Sanders, San Diego should feature a punishing combination at safety. 

Overall Grade: C

The Chargers did need to keep Weddle, but at this price? If Eric Weddle is worth $8 million per season, then I need a raise.

Philadelphia Eagles Sign Defensive End Jason Babin

Deal: Philadelphia signs Jason Babin to five-year contract worth $28 million, with $6 million guaranteed.

Market: B

The 2011 defensive end class is strong, but when you consider the top players, Philadelphia made a good move in picking up Babin. Ray Edwards is not a dominant pass rusher, Osi Umenyiora will not be traded within the division and Mathias Kiwanuka might be a better linebacker than end.

Babin was the best available for Philadelphia. 

Value: A

Compared to the deal given to Charles Johnson, this is a steal. The Eagles are taking a gamble on signing a defensive end with one good season, but at least the contract is team-friendly.

Fills a Need: A+

With Brandon Graham looking more like a health-related bust, the Eagles needed to get a consistent pass rusher to complement Trent Cole. 

Overall Grade: A

Philadelphia targeted defensive end as an area where it felt it could go out and find someone better than what it has on the roster right now. It did that, picking up Babin to play opposite Cole.

The addition of Babin and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie will give Philadelphia an impressive lineup on defense.

Tennessee Titans Sign Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck

Deal: Tennessee signs Matt Hasselbeck to undisclosed multi-year deal.

Market: B

The 2011 free-agent and trade class featured at least five quarterbacks better than Matt Hasselbeck and younger too. The desperation in Tennessee to find a veteran quarterback to mentor Jake Locker forced them into this position. 

Value: F

The details of Hasselbeck's new contract are only being called "multi-year" at this time, but even that is too much for a quarterback who will turn 36 in September. 

Fills a Need: C

On this front only, I'll give Tennessee credit.

Yes, Hasselbeck is a quarterback, and the Titans needed one. That's the only way he fits there.

Hasselbeck is a career West Coast offense quarterback though. The Titans' offensive coordinator is Chris Palmer, who doesn't run anything close to a West Coast system. 

Overall Grade: F

This may have been the worst free-agent signing of the week, and that's saying a lot.

Minnesota Vikings Trade for Quarterback Donovan McNabb

Deal: The Minnesota Vikings trade a 2012 sixth-round pick and 2013 conditional sixth-round pick to the Washington Redskins for QB Donovan McNabb.

Market: B

There were quarterbacks to be had this offseason, but few fit the Vikings' needs as well as McNabb. The team wanted a veteran who could run a West Coast system for the next two years while Christian Ponder learns the system. McNabb fits that bill well. 

Value: A

When the Philadelphia Eagles traded McNabb to the Redskins last summer, they received a second- and fourth-round pick for him.

The Vikings gave up two sixth-round picks. That's what I call depreciation. 

Fills a Need: A

The Vikings used their first-round pick in the 2011 draft to select quarterback Christian Ponder, a player many expected to be able to start right away—and then all hell broke loose, the lockout lasted four months and Minnesota needed a quarterback who could start right now. So it got one.

Overall Grade: A

McNabb may not like this trade, but I do. The Vikings roster is better than they showed in 2010, and with a solid hand at quarterback, they could make a push for a wild-card berth.

Miami Dolphins Trade for Running Back Reggie Bush

Deal: Miami Dolphins trade special teams player Jonathon Amaya and undisclosed considerations to New Orleans Saints for RB Reggie Bush.

Market: B+

There were starting-caliber running backs available via trade or free agency this offseason; Miami just didn't want to pony up for them. Ahmad Bradshaw and DeAngelo Williams were both possibilities.

Instead the Dolphins will rely on a small running back who couldn't produce in one of the best offenses in the NFL. 

Value: INCOMPLETE

Until it is known exactly what Miami gave up for Bush, this is a hard one to judge. Conventional wisdom would suggest a conditional draft pick, perhaps in the third- or fourth-round range. 

Fills a Need: A

Bush does fill a need, hypothetically. The team would like to give him 15-20 touches per game as a runner, receiver and return man. He will also be a mentor to rookie Daniel Thomas as he learns his way around an NFL offense. 

Overall Grade: B (for now)

Until the Dolphins or Saints announce what was exchanged for Bush, we can't put a final grade on this one, but it is likely Bush had to restructure his massive contract to get the deal done—which will help the Dolphins in the grade department.

Jacksonville Jaguars Sign Linebacker Clint Session

Deal: The Jacksonville Jaguars signed Indianapolis Colts LB Clint Session to a five-year, $30 million deal, including $11.5 million guaranteed.

Market: B

The market for outside linebackers, as mentioned before, was decent this year. I do consider Session to be one of the better available players. The Jaguars' options were either Session, re-signing Justin Durant or targeting Quincy Black of Tampa Bay. 

Value: B-

At $6 million per season, Session needs to produce in a hurry. In comparison to the Black deal, the Jaguars got a better deal than the Buccaneers, as Session is a better overall player.

Fills a Need: A

Jacksonville identified linebacker as an area of need, and they aggressively pursued the position through free agency. Session is a violent, aggressive outside linebacker who will bring instant credibility to the Jaguars defense. 

Overall Grade: A-

Coupled with the signing of Paul Posluszny, Jacksonville has had a great opening week of free agency. Session and Poz are what the Jaguars need to keep up with Peyton Manning and Matt Schaub. It also helps when you can steal a player from a hated rival, as Jacksonville did here in getting Session from Indianapolis.

Jacksonville Jaguars Sign Linebacker Paul Posluszny

Deal: The Jaguars signed Buffalo Bills LB Paul Posluszny to a six-year, $42 million contract.

Market: A

The best middle linebacker on the market now plays in Jacksonville. Paul Posluszny was quite easily ranked as the best available middle linebacker. This was a steal.

Value: A

It may seem like a lot of money, paying a linebacker $7 million per season, but if Posluszny can anchor this defense and become the leader the Jaguars think he can become, he'll be worth every penny.

Fills a Need: A

Jacksonville thought Kirk Morrison would be the answer at middle linebacker when it acquired him from Oakland last year. While Morrison was adequate, he is not the player right now or long-term that Posluszny is and can be. 

Overall Grade: A

Jacksonville pulled off one of the biggest steals of the free-agent period thus far in convincing Poz to leave Buffalo for Florida.

Carolina Panthers Trade for Tight End Greg Olsen

Deal: Carolina Panthers trade a 2012 third-round pick to Chicago Bears for TE Greg Olsen.

Market: A

Trading a third-round pick for a Pro Bowl-caliber tight end is a no-brainer—especially when that tight end played college ball in your offensive coordinator's system.

Greg Olsen would have been the No. 2 free agent available had he hit the open market, behind only Oakland's Zach Miller. 

Value: A

Look back at the history of the NFL draft, and you will see that around 33 percent of third-round picks become quality starters. The Panthers just bet that their 2012 third-rounder would be in that 66 percent who fail, a pretty safe bet. 

Fills a Need: B

The Panthers did not need a No. 1 tight end after they signed Jeremy Shockey before the lockout began, but they will find a way to make their offense work with two athletic tight ends on the field together. 

Overall Grade: A

The Panthers fleeced the Bears on this one. Chicago gave up its best pass-catcher for a measly third-round pick.

Atlanta Falcons Re-Sign Offensive Tackle Tyson Clabo

Deal: Atlanta Falcons re-sign OT Tyson Clabo to a five-year, $25 million deal, with a possible $27 million maximum.

Market: A

The Falcons could have found another right tackle available in free agency, but none as good as Clabo. The priority in Atlanta this entire offseason was to re-sign their stud right tackle. 

Value: A

Paying a Pro Bowl offensive tackle just $5 million per year is an absolute steal. I even double-checked the numbers just to make sure they were right and I wasn't missing a digit, but they are accurate. 

Fills a Need: A

The Atlanta offensive line remains in flux with guards Justin Blalock and Harvey Dahl still out in free agency. Keeping Clabo was considered the building block to keeping the offensive line together and guaranteeing consistency on offense in Atlanta. 

Overall Grade: A

This move, not signing a defensive end, was the one Atlanta had to make happen. Keeping Clabo will make Matt Ryan very happy.

Carolina Panthers Re-Sign Running Back DeAngelo Williams

Deal: The Carolina Panthers re-signed RB DeAngelo Williams to a five-year, $42 million deal, including $21 million guaranteed.

Market: B

The Panthers did re-sign the best running back on the open market, but there is a lot more to this story, as you will see below.

Based on pure market value, Williams was the best running back available.

Value: C

Signing a running back who shares carries and is coming off an injury-shortened season to an $8.4 million per season deal seems foolish. Williams is a good running back, but the amount of money given here doesn't match his value on the field. 

Fills a Need: F

The Panthers were expected to lose Williams largely because they don't need him. With Jonathan Stewart and Mike Goodson on the roster, Carolina is set at running back. Bringing Williams back creates too much crowding in the backfield. 

Overall Grade: D

Keeping a talented player is normally a great move, but re-signing Williams for $42 million seems excessive, especially when the Panthers have major holes on defense.

Carolina Panthers Re-Sign Defensive End Charles Johnson

Deal: Carolina Panthers re-sign defensive end Charles Johnson to a six-year, $76 million deal, including $32 million guaranteed.

Market: A

There was, and is, a lot of talent available at defensive end. Charles Johnson ranked in the top three or four players available, but that rank is based on a good 2010 season and the hopes that he will continue to develop.

Other players, like Ray Edwards or Osi Umenyiora, are more proven and would have been cheaper too. 

Value: C+

Picking up a young defensive end for $76 million in today's NFL might not be a bad deal. Due to the rookie wage scale, the Panthers will save around $25 million on Cam Newton's deal, and they put that money back into the roster by locking up Johnson. 

Fills a Need: A

Carolina would have been scrambling to find a starting defensive end if Johnson left town. He is the best player on a young defensive line and someone it can build around. 

Overall Grade: B

Keeping a defensive end who put up double-digit sacks in 2010 is a smart move, especially for a team that went 2-14 last season and struggled on defense. Johnson's contract is the only question mark when evaluating this deal.

Arizona Cardinals Trade for Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Kevin Kolb

Deal: The Arizona Cardinals traded cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second-round pick to Philadelphia for quarterback Kevin Kolb. Kolb agreed to a five-year, $63 million contract, including $20 million guaranteed.

Market: B+

The market at quarterback was solid this offseason, giving Arizona options at the position if the Eagles' asking price went too high. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, they were dead set on Kolb. 

Value: F

I'll say the Eagles rhymes with "aped" the Cardinals. Without remorse.

Giving up a Pro Bowl cornerback and a second-round pick in the 2012 NFL draft for a backup quarterback? And this wasn't like trading for Steve Young when he was with the 49ers backup; this is a real backup.

Fills a Need: A

The Cardinals passed on drafting a quarterback in the 2011 NFL draft, leaving them with Derek Anderson, Max Hall and John Skelton on the roster. They had to bring in a legitimate option at quarterback. They just paid way too much for him. 

Overall Grade: C

I wanted to make this grade worse, but Kolb does have potential, so I'll grade on the curve a bit. Arizona needed to make a move to appease its players and its fans—but was this the right move?

Seattle Seahawks Sign Wide Receiver Sidney Rice

Deal: Seattle signed Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Sidney Rice to a five-year, $41 million contract, with $18.5 million guaranteed.

Market: A

Sidney Rice ranked as the best available free-agent wide receiver once Vincent Jackson signed his franchise tender in San Diego and Santonio Holmes re-signed with the Jets. The Seahawks wanted an option opposite Mike Williams, and they got the best player available. 

Value: B+

If Sidney Rice continues to show the ability he flashed in 2009, the Seahawks may have underpaid him. However, Rice was out for most of 2010 with a hip injury that could be a problem down the road. The hip injury is the only reason for concern. 

Fills a Need: B

Did Seattle need another receiver? Yes and no.

If the team had properly developed Golden Tate in his rookie year, it wouldn't need Rice, as the two are very similar players. Rice will be an immediate upgrade, but the need for him could have been avoided. 

Overall Grade: B

Adding Sidney Rice definitely swings the power in the NFC West back to the Seahawks after a questionable draft class.

New York Jets Re-Sign Wide Receiver Santonio Holmes

Deal: The New York Jets signed WR Santonio Holmes to a five-year, $50 million deal, including $24 million guaranteed.

Market: A

The market for wide receivers in the 2011 free-agent class was very good, especially considering the lack of talent in recent years. Santonio Holmes ranked as the best of the available receivers, including franchise tag designee Vincent Jackson. 

Value: A

The Jets had no trouble offering Holmes No. 1 wide receiver money, and Holmes had no trouble accepting $10 million per season. This is the type of money an established veteran should make in the NFL under the new CBA. 

Fills a Need: A

New York entered the offseason with three free agents at wide receiver and little left on the roster behind them. Re-signing Holmes will give New York a familiar face opposite Jerricho Cotchery next fall. 

Overall Grade: A

The move to re-sign Holmes, and to do it early in the free-agency process, was a great one. Holmes was the No. 1 priority in New York, and with him safely back next season, the Jets can start focusing on improving other areas.

Houston Texans Sign Cornerback Johnathan Joseph

Deal: The Houston Texans signed Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Johnathan Joseph to a five-year, $48 million contract.

Market: A

No position this offseason was as loaded with talent as the cornerback position. Multiple Pro Bowl players became available once free agency started, and Johnathan Joseph ranked as the second-best on the market. 

Value: A

Paying a starting cornerback an average close to $10 million per season will become par for the course in the NFL now that teams must spend on veterans. Houston had to make a move to secure a true No. 1 cornerback, and it did here. 

Fills a Need: A

No team needed a cornerback more than Houston. The Texans were plagued with bad defensive play last year, especially in the secondary. This move puts Houston in the running to be favorites to win the AFC South in 2011. 

Overall Grade: A

The Texans were supposedly in on talks to sign No. 1 cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, but signing Joseph allows the Texans to get their star cornerback in camp early. They also saved money, considering Asomugha should command around $12 million annually.

New England Patriots Trade for Defensive Tackle Albert Haynesworth

Deal: New England traded a 2013 fifth-round pick to the Washington Redskins for Albert Haynesworth.

Market: D

Quality defensive tackles were not available in the 2011 free-agent class, a belief shared by every other team in the NFL attempting to fix its defensive line with players like Brandon Mebane and Aubrayo Franklin. 

Value: A

There are not many former All-Pro defensive linemen becoming available these days, especially for the low price of a fifth-round pick two years from now. Even if Haynesworth plays like the malcontent the Redskins dealt with last season, New England has very little invested in him.

Fills a Need: A

The Patriots released defensive lineman Marcus Stroud hours after trading for Haynesworth, basically swapping one player for another. Many think the Patriots run a 3-4 defense 100 percent of the time, when in truth it is closer to 60 percent. The four-man front has been used by Bill Belichick recently, which gives the team a perfect fit for Haynesworth's best position in the three-technique at defensive tackle. 

Overall Grade: A

Low-cost, high-reward potential. If this were a stock, it would be one you buy low with a strong feeling it will rebound.

New England Patriots Trade for Wide Receiver Chad Ochocinco

Deal: The New England Patriots trade a fifth-round pick in 2012 and a sixth-round pick in 2013  to the Cincinnati Bengals for WR Chad Ochocinco.

Market: B

The market for wide receivers was unusually strong this year, but many receivers went off the board quickly by re-signing with their existing teams. Once Ochocinco became available, he was considered one of the best receivers on the market.

Value: B+

The Patriots surrendered just two late-round draft picks for the services of a Pro Bowl wide receiver with a huge chip on his shoulder. Much like the Albert Haynesworth trade, there is very little at risk here, but a huge potential reward. 

Fills a Need: A

Since trading Randy Moss last season, the Patriots were in search of a receiver who could stretch the field and open things up underneath for Wes Welker, Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski. Now they have that player. 

Overall Grade: A

In the rush to judge this trade, too many were overly excited and started envisioning a rebirth of the 2007 Patriots with Tom Brady firing bombs to a malcontent wide receiver—only this time it was Ochocinco, not Randy Moss.

That's unrealistic.

Ochocinco is not Moss. This deal is more like the Patriots trade for running back Corey Dillon—which still proved to win them a Super Bowl.