NFL Free Agency 2011: Grading the Biggest Signings After Their First NFL Season

The 2011 NFL regular season is in the books, and it's time for the fruits of a season's work to be picked in the playoffs. For some teams, the playoffs are a time to make use of the moves they made that got them there in the first place; for others, it's time to review where they went wrong.

With one season in the books, there is now enough film and time to evaluate the signings made during last year's free agency period that helped to mold this NFL season.

Here are grades for the biggest 20 free agent signings from last year.

Nnamdi Asomugha

Grade: C-

Asomugha's stock was never higher than when he entered free agency last year. The fact that most teams had thrown away from him purposely in Oakland allowed Asomugha's status as a shutdown corner to remain intact.

Whether he suffered a decline in play before signing for Philadelphia or not is unknown, what is obvious is that Eagles defensive coordinator Juan Castillo didn't use him properly to get the best out of his skill set.

Asomugha is a man-coverage specialist and looked lost in zone schemes. That said, Asomugha didn't do enough under his own initiative to back up his status as the marquee signing from last year's free agency.

Many teams are probably wondering why they never tested Asomugha more in Oakland, then again, they probably didn't need to. The huge investment in Asomugha will have fans clamoring for an F grade, but Asomugha wasn't that bad this year. He was still a legitimate No. 1 corner, which is something not every team has.

Johnathan Joseph

Grade: A+

There is absolutely nothing not to like about this deal for Houston Texans fans. Joseph was a star in Cincinnati and hasn't missed a beat moving into Wade Phillips' defense.

Joseph is just entering the prime of his career, which gives the Texans his best years for their investment. Unlike Asomugha, Joseph has proven himself equally adept whether it be in zone or man coverage. He routinely takes opposing teams' first-choice receivers with great success.

Joseph's toughness was particularly pleasing to Texans fans this year. He is physical at the line of scrimmage with receivers and can come up to hit running backs with his stern frame in the running game.

Joseph was a major part in the Texans' first division title in franchise history.

Santonio Holmes

Grade: F

This may seem a little harsh on first glance, but Holmes has done nothing to represent value to the Jets this year. Holmes deal gives him just under $10 million per season, which is nowhere near the level of production he offered to them this year.

Statistically, Holmes had less impact this year in 16 full games than he did 10, with two partial, last season. That was largely due to the dysfunctional offense that the Jets ran this year, but the investment in Holmes was what cost them the chances to better the players around he and Mark Sanchez.

Holmes wasn't able to overcome the limitations of the receivers around him that allowed defenses to key in on his routes. Ultimately, a season of frustration saw Holmes boil over, as he finished the season on the bench for attitude issues.

Holmes' season has even had some fans calling to have him released. That wouldn't be a cheap alternative either, but it is not the first time Holmes has had attitude issues with his employers.

Charles Johnson

Grade: B

Essentially, this grade is an incomplete. Johnson wasn't re-signed for this season. The key injuries to the Panthers defense ultimately rendered his chances at a successful season impossible. Losing Ron Edwards in preseason, then Thomas Davis and Jon Beason early in the regular season, handcuffed Johnson.

He still managed nine sacks, which is why his B grade is a fair evaluation. The impressive thing about Johnson is that his nine sacks are spread out over 10 games. He did play in 16 games this year, but what I mean by that is each sack, or half sack, came in a separate game.

This tells you that Johnson is consistently getting pressure opposed to just feasting on one or two poor tackles to pad his statistics. At 25 years of age, on a defense that is sure to improve around him, Johnson will likely be a smart investment for the Panthers.

In a division of passing attacks, paying your premiere pass rusher a lot isn't a problem.

Zach Miller

Grade: C+

It would be so easy to look at Zach Miler's horrible numbers this year and give him a terrible grade, but then again, that is why I hate statistics. Miller has indeed not had a huge impact as a receiver during his first season in Seattle, but that doesn't mean he hasn't been reliable in his role.

Miller is a complete tight end. He is not a Jimmy Graham or Antonio Gates whereby he is essentially a big wide receiver. Miller is a tight end more similar to his namesake Heath in Pittsburgh or Jason Witten in Dallas.

He has been a very reliable blocker for Marshawn Lynch in the running game despite not featuring in the passing game. Being a pass catching tight end in Darrell Bevell's offense, with Tarvaris Jackson at quarterback, is like being a fullback in a Peyton Manning led offense, you're just not needed.

Bevell's offense is designed on establishing the run and using play action. As such, Jackson, who also suffered through injuries this year, instead looked to gain chunks of yardage to his deep receivers opposed to working with his tight end.

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll is at least happy with his addition from last year.

DeAngelo Williams

Grade: B-

Williams may not have been the prominent figure that we expected, as the Panthers, behind Cam Newton, exploded into a passing offense rather than run first unit. Despite that, Williams quietly had an impressive season in Carolina.

He only had 155 attempts but played in all 16 games and played a vital role in the offense as Cam Newton's stable mate. With Newton, Williams and Jonathan Stewart all fully healthy and running the ball, Williams was never going to put up huge numbers. He still managed over 800 yards with seven touchdowns.

Williams and Stewart may be losing their touchdowns to Newton, but their class and abilities are what forces defenses to play Newton straight up. On the team's option plays, defenses have to respect the explosive ability of both Williams and Stewart. They are vital cogs in the Panthers system.

Cullen Jenkins

Grade: B

Cullen Jenkins' only problem throughout his career has been staying healthy. This season was no different. Jenkins is a versatile pass rusher from the middle and excelled in the Eagles' front four despite the porous defense around him.

Jim Washburn and Juan Castillo asked a huge amount of Jenkins with the team's defensive ends playing the wide-9 technique. Jenkins could still handle double teams and even triple teams at time because of Jason Babin's inability in the running game.

Jenkins was easily the Eagles' best defensive addition of the offseason.

Marshall Yanda

Grade: A

There are many offensive linemen that make it to the Pro Bowl on merit who do not deserve to be there. Marshal Yanda is NOT one of those players. Yanda was re-signed by the Ravens last year and became the franchise's first ever Pro Bowl guard this year.

Yanda's biggest issue is staying healthy, but he started all 16 games this year despite playing through pain on occasion. His versatility, which allows him to play both tackle and guard, makes him the Ravens' most valuable offensive linemen.

He displayed great feet and power this year as both a pass protector for Joe Flacco and a mauler for Ray Rice. The Ravens rushing attack asks a lot of Yanda, and he is able to do everything and anything that is required. Unlike most mauling guards, Yanda is rarely ever found out in the passing game.

Every time Ray Rice burst through a hole in the defense this year, there was a high probability Marshal Yanda had something to do with it.

Ahmad Bradshaw

Grade: B+

Ahmad Bradshaw only had 205 total touches for the New York Giants this past season, but most crucially for Bradshaw, he had only one fumble. Bradshaw, when healthy, was a pivotal player for the Giants offense.

With Kevin Boss and Steve Smith leaving in free agency, Bradshaw's ability to come out of the backfield was huge for opposing defenses' game-planning against the offense. Victor Cruz may receive a huge amount of credit, and rightfully so, but Bradshaw's impact on the offense as a whole was also important for the team's playoff run.

His ability to catch passes from Eli Manning out of the backfield diversified the offense despite their offensive line issues and transition early in the season. The Giants were 9-4 with Bradshaw this season and 1-3 without him. That is not a coincidence.

Sidney Rice

Grade: C-

Sidney Rice signed a five-year $41 million contract before this season. Rice was somewhat of a risk for the Seahawks for two reasons. Undoubtedly, he has talent; however, he hadn't really proven his longevity on the field for the Minnesota Vikings.

Rice had only one season of production under his belt while also struggling with injuries before signing his deal. Those problems reared their heads in Seattle this past year.

As part of Darrell Bevell's offense, Rice's role was to take the top off the defense and catch the deep ball. His 15.1 yard per reception is not what the team was hoping for when they brought he and Tarvaris Jackson to town.

What is most worrying for Seahawks fans, though, is Rice's inability to stay on the field. He only featured in nine games this season and wasn't part of the offense as it grew later on in the season.

Tyson Clabo

Grade: A

Tyson Clabo is one of those players that you write down atop your depth chart and never have a reason to take him off. Clabo can seemingly do it all as a right tackle in Atlanta. After years of blowing open holes for Michael Turner, he re-signed with the Falcons to protect Matt Ryan more this year.

The Falcons knew what they were getting with Clabo. He is the type of player who you never have to worry about and who you probably won't notice unless you go looking for him. While Julio Jones will receive a lot of the praise in Atlanta for diversifying the offense, the return of Clabo was just as important.

Just ask Philip Rivers how important having good tackles is.

Braylon Edwards

Grade: D

The only reason this signing is not an F is because the 49ers didn't spend much on him and he wasn't missed. Edwards never really got going in San Francisco, whether it be because of injury or not fitting in the system.

The 49ers didn't miss him and released him before the season finished, as Michael Crabtree and company kept the 49ers field goal machine on track.

Ray Edwards

Grade: D+

Ray Edwards talked about being a team-leading pass rusher in the offseason. The Atlanta Falcons believed the hype. Edwards was given a five-year deal in the offseason after coming over from Minnesota.

You can either look at his lack of production in Atlanta, although he was a reliable run stuffer, or Jared Allen's assault on the sack records in Minnesota without him. Edwards wasn't missed in Minnesota and probably wouldn't be missed if Kroy Biermann went back to being a full time starter.

Falcons fans can hold out hope that his first season was severely hampered by missing training camp, but somehow, I doubt that is the case.

Ike Taylor

Grade: A

Ike Taylor had an outstanding season after re-signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers this year. Taylor returned to his form of 2008 as he once again trailed opposing team's best receivers.

With Carnell Lake coaching the secondary, Taylor excelled to elite corner status. He is one of the biggest snubs in the Pro Bowl this year, but then again, the Pro Bowl put Chris Kemoeatu down as an alternate, the same Kemoeatu that cannot start on one of the worst offensive line interiors in the league.

Vonta Leach

Grade: A+

Vonta Leach had an All-Pro year last year, blocking for Arian Foster during his breakout all-pro season. Vonta Leach had an All-Pro season this year blocking for Ray Rice during his all-pro season. See the similarities?

Leach is the best pure blocking full back that the NFL has seen since Tony Richardson. Leach dominates his opposition at the point of attack by physically overwhelming them without limiting the offense in the passing game. Leach excelled for the Ravens, repeatedly blowing open holes in the tough AFC North.

Eric Weddle

Grade: B

Eric Weddle was paid as an elite safety during last year's free agency. Weddle had elite numbers this year for the Chargers, but wasn't exactly dominant at the position as, say, an Ed Reed, Brian Dawkins or Eric Berry would be.

His seven interceptions came against Matt Cassel, Mark Sanchez, Chad Henne, Blaine Gabbert and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Whether it be because of the struggling defense around him or his own lack of performance, Eric Weddle wasn't able to truly make the impact on the team's season that the Chargers were hoping to.

Jason Babin

Grade: C+

For most people, Jason Babin's sack numbers will automatically make this grade an A+. Most people don't pay attention to how poorly Babin plays the run. By scheme, the Eagles don't ask their defensive ends to do too much in the running game; however, they don't ask them to do absolutely nothing either.

Babin never showed the desire to shut down the running game and repeatedly ignored the running game completely. Just because he was playing the wide-9 technique didn't excuse him from being able to avoid traps or overcome fullbacks or tight ends. Babin obviously had the ability but personal glory was more important to him than winning as a team.

The real star in Philadelphia at defensive end remains Trent Cole despite Babin's sack statistics.

Darren Sproles

Grade: A+

Darren Sproles left San Diego and arrived in New Orleans relatively quietly. Sproles led the league in all-purpose yards and was a key part of Sean Payton's offense. Sproles found the perfect home in New Orleans, as he and Jimmy Graham have become their biggest threats.

Replacing Reggie Bush in New Orleans was a vital task that many didn't realize the importance of. The difficulty of defining Sproles as a receiver or running back allows the Saints offense to have a huge strategic advantage over their opponents.

Matt Hasselbeck

Grade: B

Matt Hasselbeck was undoubtedly a success in Tennessee for the short term. Hasselbeck was brought in in order to steer the Titans to the playoffs ahead of the Jake Locker era. Ultimately, he couldn't manage that feat, but in reality, it wasn't something that he could control.

With Chris Johnson's holdout stalling his season and Kenny Britt being lost for the year, Hasselbeck lost his chances at winning the AFC South early on. Hasselbeck established a good rapport with Nate Washington and led the team with the veteran nous that the team was hoping for.

The one knock against the Hasselbeck signing is that Jake Locker may have benefited from being on the field during his rookie season. Locker looked good in limited action this year, but they likely wouldn't have won with him starting.

Stephen Tulloch

Grade: B+

Many said that Stephen Tulloch wasn't an impactful player when the Detroit Lions brought him in from Tennessee last year. They were right then, but they're not anymore. Tulloch proved his doubters wrong with a career-high three sacks and two interceptions this year while also tallying 111 tackles for the Lions.

Playing behind a defensive line that often struggled against the run, Tulloch showed good physicality and tackling ability, as well as a previously underrated ability to cover receivers, at the heart of Detroit's defense. Tulloch was part of the improvement in the Lions that allowed them to make the playoffs this year.

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