Grading 2024 NFL Free-Agency Signings and Trades for Friday's Latest Moves
It has been quite the week across the NFL. The free-agency frenzy that has engulfed the league has changed many teams for better or worse.
Thursday's action was a microcosm of the week's madness. We saw a pair of starting quarterbacks from last season get dealt, with Sam Howell heading to Seattle and Desmond Ridder going to Arizona. Superstar wideout Keenan Allen was stunningly dealt to the Chicago Bears for a fourth-round pick. Defensive lineman Arik Armstead got a huge payday to join the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Philadelphia Eagles bolstered their linebacker corps with the addition of Devin White.
And that was just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
Now that we're several days into free agency (and the legal tampering period that came before it), plenty of players have found new homes. Teams have spent hundreds of millions of dollars. But just because teams have been shopping like it's Black Friday doesn't mean that there's no stock left on the shelves. Quite a few impact players remain available.
Just as we have all week long, Bleacher Report will be tracking all of Friday's personnel moves and offering an opinion on which teams got a bargain and who may wind up with buyer's remorse down the road.
Jets Sign OT Tyron Smith
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Contract Terms: 1 year, $20 million (max)
Source: ESPN's Adam Schefter
There isn't a team in the NFL that wishes 2023 hadn't happened more than the New York Jets. And as the franchise tries to wash off arguably the most Jets season ever (and all that came before it), there was a clear, glaring need in the offseason.
The offensive line—specifically, tackle.
Filling that need with first Morgan Moses and now Tyron Smith is a move that could backfire spectacularly. Smith is 33 and has missed at least a month in each of the past four seasons. It's reasonable to assume he'll miss at least a few games in 2024, too.
But 70 percent of Smith is a sizable upgrade in New York. When healthy, Smith remains a borderline elite tackle. He's been to eight Pro Bowls, and at some point in the not-too-distant future, his Hall of Fame credentials will be hotly debated.
Smith's age and injury history are the only reasons he was ever available to begin with. The Jets are all-in on contending. That's no secret.
Might as well see it all the way through.
Grade: A-
Steelers Trade QB Kenny Pickett to Eagles
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Eagles Get: QB Kenny Pickett, 2024 fourth-round pick (No. 120)
Steelers Get: 2024 third-round pick (No. 98), two 2025 seventh-round picks
Source: ESPN's Adam Schefter
Well, so much for the quarterback competition in Pittsburgh.
If there was any question that Russell Wilson would be starting under center for the Steelers in 2024, it was laid to rest Friday when they shipped Kenny Pickett to the Philadelphia Eagles for a package headlined by a late third-round pick.
For the Eagles, it's a chance to add an established backup behind Jalen Hurts for the price of a compensatory pick and two seventh-rounders. Were Pickett what the Steelers hoped he'd be when they spent a first-round pick on him in 2022, this deal never would have happened. But Jalen Hurts has missed time in two of his three seasons as Philly's starter, and Pickett should be able to manage the Eagles' loaded offense for a game or two if needed.
This is more of a curious move for the Steelers. Pickett may have disappointed over the past two years, but it's not like Wilson exactly lit the world on fire over that same timeframe.
Pittsburgh just put its eggs squarely in Wilson's basket—and barely got a pick inside the top 100 in return.
Eastern Pennsylvania won this one.
Eagles Grade: B+
Steelers Grade: C-
Rams Sign S Kamren Curl
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Contract Terms: Two years, $13 million (max)
Source: NFL Network's Tom Pelissero
The Los Angeles Rams were a surprise playoff team last season, but they had been quiet on defense in the first few days of free agency. General manager Les Snead finally entered the fray with an excellent value signing in the secondary.
The Washington Commanders were a mess defensively in 2023, but young safety Kamren Curl quietly had the best season of his career, tallying a career-best 115 total tackles. The 24-year-old also added a sack, five pass breakups and a fumble recovery.
Curl is a versatile safety who played everywhere from in the box to the slot last season. While his coverage stats weren't stellar—he allowed a passer rating above 108 in each of the past two years—the fifth-year pro is an ascending young player and quality addition to the back end of the Rams defense.
At a maximum of $6.5 million per season, there's not much to dislike about this signing.
Grade: A-
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Dolphins Sign DT Jonathan Harris
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Contract Terms: One year, terms undisclosed
Source: NFL Network's Mike Garafalo
Last year, defensive tackle Jonathan Harris saw the most extensive playing time of his career. He played more snaps in his fourth season with the Denver Broncos (511) than in his first three seasons combined (360).
That additional playing time translated into the best numbers of Harris' career (43 total tackles and a sack), but it wasn't enough to get him a restricted-free-agent tender from the Broncos. However, it was enough to land the 27-year-old a one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins.
Harris may be better served as a rotational player than as a full-time starter. But after losing both Christian Wilkins and Raekwon Davis in free agency, the Dolphins need bodies on the interior of the defense.
The Dolphins have been adding big men all week in an effort to address that in a quantity-over-quality approach. Assuming the terms of this deal are reasonable, it's hard to fault the cap-strapped Dolphins for attempting to patch the middle of their defensive line on the cheap in 2024.
Grade: C+
Vikings and Texans Swap Draft Picks
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Texans Get: 2024 second-round pick (No. 42), 2024 sixth-round pick (No. 188), 2025 second-round pick
Vikings Get: 2024 first-round pick (No. 23, via Cleveland), 2024 seventh-round pick (No. 232)
Source: NFL Network's Tom Pelissero
After watching Kirk Cousins depart for Atlanta earlier this week, it was hardly a secret that the Minnesota Vikings need a quarterback. On Friday, the Vikings made a trade that suggests they're going to aggressively pursue trading up in April's draft to get one.
The Vikings were already sitting on the 11th pick in this year's draft. But with the real possibility that four quarterbacks will be off the board by then, they sent a package that includes a pair of second-rounders to the Houston Texans for the 23rd overall pick and a seventh-rounder.
This was arguably a trade born out of necessity for Minnesota. Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels probably aren't making it past the top three, and J.J. McCarthy could go in the top 10 as well. For the Texans, this is an opportunity to parlay one of the picks that they obtained in the Deshaun Watson deal into a pair of (likely) top-50 picks, although it also means that Houston no longer has a first-round pick this year.
Considering how many players the Texans have added in free agency, general manager Nick Caserio apparently no longer feels like he needs a first-rounder.
Texans Grade: B-
Vikings Grade: B+
49ers Re-Sign OG Jon Feliciano
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Contract Terms: One year, terms undisclosed
Source: Peter Schrager of Fox Sports
The San Francisco 49ers advanced to Super Bowl LVIII last year in no small part because of an excellent offensive line. On Friday, the Niners made an effort to maintain continuity on that line, re-upping veteran guard Jon Feliciano on a one-year deal.
After allowing three sacks and committing six penalties as a full-time starter for the New York Giants in 2022, per Pro Football Focus, Feliciano joined San Francisco in free agency last year. The nine-year veteran didn't begin the 2023 campaign as a starter, but he didn't allow a single sack in the seven starts that he did make.
These are the sorts of signings that good teams make to stay good. The money likely isn't exorbitant. Feliciano is familiar with the scheme in San Francisco. And he played some of the best football of his career after entering the starting lineup last year. He's also versatile, with the ability to play both guard spots and center.
As it turns out, John Lynch is pretty good at being a general manager.
Grade: A-
Rams Sign QB Jimmy Garoppolo
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Contract Terms: One year, terms undisclosed
Source: NFL Network's Mike Garafalo
Jimmy G is going back to California, albeit under different circumstances.
Back in February 2020, Jimmy Garoppolo was starting for the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LIV. Just over four years later, he's signing a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams to hold Matthew Stafford's clipboard.
Life comes at you fast in the NFL.
Are there starting quarterbacks in the league who are worse than Garoppolo? Probably. (Or at least there were.) But when you combine his mediocrity with the durability issues Garoppolo has had throughout his career, it's hard to see him as any kind of viable starter. Add in a two-week suspension to start the year, and the 32-year-old was always headed toward a one-year, prove-it deal in 2024.
That it wound up being with the Rams is actually good news for Los Angeles. Stafford used to be as durable as they come, but injuries have become an issue as he's gotten older. Garoppolo may not be starter material, but the Rams could do a lot worse as short-term fill-ins go.
Grade: B
Panthers Sign S Jordan Fuller
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Contract Terms: 1 year, $5.25 million (max)
Source: NFL Network's Ian Rapoport
The Carolina Panthers have a number of problems. Among them are holes at safety after the release of Vonn Bell and departure of Jeremy Chinn and the "bad team premium"—i.e., how the NFL's tomato cans often need to overpay to lure high-end free agents to town.
It appears that new Panthers general manager Dan Morgan is reluctant to do the latter, so he went a bit deeper into the pile to address the former.
Mind you, this isn't to say that Jordan Fuller is a nobody. The former Ohio State standout started 16 regular-season games and racked up 113 tackles during the Rams' march to a victory in Super Bowl LVI. He also posted 94 stops last season while starting all 17 games. He has allowed a passer rating below 90 in each of the past two seasons, too.
While Fuller may be a very good safety, he isn't a great one. He isn't the sort of player who will change the trajectory of a defense.
Still, getting a quality starter at a position of need for no more than $5.25 million is a solid acquisition.
Grade: B+
49ers Sign LB De'Vondre Campbell
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Contract Terms: One year, terms undisclosed
Source: NFL Network's Ian Rapoport
When San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw suffered an Achilles tear in Super Bowl LVIII, the team was left with a dilemma. Not only was Greenlaw out for the rest of that game, but his availability for the early part of the 2024 season was in jeopardy as well.
The 49ers tried to sign Eric Kendricks to serve as insurance, but Kendricks changed his mind and went to the Dallas Cowboys instead. A few days later, they found their Greenlaw fill-in.
Like Kendricks, De'Vondre Campbell has shown he can be a quality linebacker and productive player. The 30-year-old has topped 90 total tackles six times and eclipsed 100 stops twice. Campbell was a first-team All-Pro with the Green Bay Packers in 2021.
The ninth-year veteran isn't the player he once was, and durability is a legitimate concern, as Campbell has missed 10 games over the past two seasons. But he's an experienced linebacker with 110 career starts who should be able to hold down the fort until Greenlaw returns.
It's another solid signing by a team that generally doesn't make mistakes in free agency.
Grade: B
Buccaneers Sign OG Sua Opeta
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Contract Terms: One year, terms undisclosed
Source: J.C. Allen of BucsGameday
Teams can't have too many quality players at some position in the NFL.
On defense, it's cornerbacks and edge-rushers. On offense, it's the big men up front. High-end starters are great, but experienced reserves who can step in when injuries strike can be just as important.
The latter is where Sua Opeta's one-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers would appear to have him headed. But with the departure of Aaron Stinnie in free agency, the 6'4", 305-pounder has a real chance to be Tampa's Week 1 starter at one of the guard spots.
The former undrafted free agent made 10 starts over four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, including six last year. In 528 snaps for the Eagles last season, Opeta allowed a pair of sacks and committed three penalties, per Pro Football Focus. Those aren't great numbers, but they aren't terrible, either.
Tampa's offensive line was good-not-great last year, and guard was the weakness of that unit. If Opeta can shore up that weakness on a prove-it deal, he could be one of the bigger bargains of free agency this year.
Grade: A-
Panthers Sign EDGE K'Lavon Chaisson
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Contract Terms: One year, $5 million (max)
Source: NFL Network's Ian Rapoport
After trading Brian Burns to the New York Giants, the Carolina Panthers were left the task of overhauling their pass rush. The Panthers began that overhaul Thursday with the signing of edge-rusher D.J. Wonnum, and they continued it Friday with a one-year flier on a wildly disappointing 2020 first-round pick.
The Jacksonville Jaguars took K'Lavon Chaisson with the 20th overall pick in 2020 in the hope that he and Josh Allen would form a fearsome duo of pass-rushers for years to come. Four years and only five sacks later, Chaisson will try to start over with the Panthers.
Is it likely that Chaisson will suddenly morph into the pass-rusher whom the Jags hoped they were getting? No. After four years, the former LSU star probably is who he is.
But the available talent on the edge has dried up quickly in free agency, and the Jaguars drafted Chaisson in the first round for a reason. It's worth up to $5 million to take a one-year gamble that the lightbulb comes on for him with a change of scenery.
Grade: B
49ers Sign CB Isaac Yiadom
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Contract Terms: 1 year, terms undisclosed
Source: Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports
The San Francisco 49ers made it all the way to Super Bowl LVIII last year. But the team's vaunted defense scuffled somewhat in the postseason—including in the secondary.
Inking Issac Yiadom to a one-year deal isn't going to magically fix the back end in San Francisco, but it's the sort of quietly solid signing that really makes "winners" of teams in free agency.
Yiadom has bounced around—and then some. San Francisco will mark his fifth team in six seasons. But the 6'1", 188-pounder had a coming-out party of sorts last season with the New Orleans Saints.
In 17 games (and eight starts), Yiadom amassed 37 tackles, intercepted a pass and piled up a whopping 14 passes defensed in just 515 snaps. His completion percentage against was stellar—just 48.9 per Pro Football Reference.
Yiadom may well wind up starting in 2024. But even if he doesn't the 28-year-old would be valuable depth at a premium position.
John Lynch strikes again.
Grade: B+
Buccaneers Sign OG Ben Bredeson
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Contract Terms: One year, up to $3.5 million
Source: NFL Network's Mike Garafalo
Given that the New York Giants allowed a league-high 85 sacks last season, being a 16-game starter for the G-Men in 2023 isn't exactly a badge of honor. Offensive guard Ben Bredeson was responsible for five of those sacks, and he committed six penalties over 1,014 snaps as well, per Pro Football Focus.
With the Giants overhauling their offensive line this offseason, they seemingly didn't make much of an effort to re-sign Bredeson. Instead, he landed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a one-year pact that could be worth up to $3.5 million.
While Bredeson may not be a starting-caliber player, he just turned 26 in February and has experience playing at both guard and center. He even played a handful of snaps at left tackle as a rookie with the Baltimore Ravens in 2020.
The Bucs may not want Bredeson on the field every week. But signing a versatile depth piece for no more than $3.5 million isn't a bad deal.
Grade: B-
Rams Re-Sign LB Christian Rozeboom
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Contract Terms: Undisclosed
Source: NFL Network's Ian Rapoport
Los Angeles Rams fans likely started the weekend early. Star defensive tackle Aaron Donald's surprise retirement announcement is cause both for celebration of a fantastic career and drowning of sorrows at his departure.
If it makes them feel any better (it doesn't), it appears the team's linebacker corps will return relatively intact. Los Angeles elected not to tender restricted free agent Christian Rozeboom, but the two sides agreed to terms on a contract that will bring the 27-year-old back in 2024.
Terms were not disclosed, but the deal is reportedly fully guaranteed.
In 17 games (including five starts) last season, Rozeboom amassed 79 total tackles, two tackles for loss and an interception. The fourth-year pro isn't an every-down player—almost 80 percent of the passes thrown in his direction last year were completed, per Pro Football Reference—but he's a capable two-down "thumper" type.
Grade: C
Other Signings
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Cardinals Sign WR Chris Moore
After trading Rondale Moore to the Washington Commanders and watching Marquise Brown depart for Kansas City on Thursday, the Arizona Cardinals are suddenly paper-thin at wide receiver. The Redbirds attempted to add some depth in that regard by signing veteran Chris Moore to a one-year deal, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafalo.
Moore played in all 17 games for the Tennessee Titans last year, but his 22 catches for 424 yards hardly inspire much confidence. Moore did post a 48/548/2 line on 74 targets with the Houston Texans in 2022, though, so at least there's that.
Grade: C
Bengals Re-Sign WR Tanner Hudson
The Bengals added veteran tight end Mike Gesicki earlier this week, but that didn't preclude Cincinnati from bringing back sixth-year journeyman Tanner Hudson on a one-year deal, per ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler.
The 29-year-old had his moments last season as the primary pass-catching tight end in his first year in Cincy, setting career highs in catches (39) and receiving yards (352) while finding the end zone for the first time in his NFL career. This is a sensible depth signing for the Bengals, even after the addition of Gesicki.
Grade: B-
Buccaneers Sign CB Bryce Hall
After trading Carlton Davis earlier this week, cornerback is an area of need for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa looked to add some depth at the position Friday by agreeing to terms with fifth-year cornerback Bryce Hall on a one-year contract per ESPN's Jenna Laine.
The 26-year-old was a 17-game starter with the New York Jets in 2021, tallying a career-high 79 tackles. But he struggled in coverage that year and saw less playing time on defense over the past two seasons. The Buccaneers likely view Hall more as depth and a special teams contributor than a potential starter.
Grade: C+
Bengals Re-Sign Trenton Irwin
The Bengals have agreed to terms on a one-year, $2 million contract with sixth-year wide receiver Trenton Irwin, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The 28-year-old had the best season of his career in 2023, hauling in 25 passes for 316 yards and one touchdown with Tee Higgins on the shelf for five games.
Irwin isn't an elite talent by any stretch, but he's a capable veteran wideout. With Higgins recently requesting a trade and Tyler Boyd still a free agent, it's possible that Irwin could be set for a larger role next year.
Grade: B
Chargers Sign LB Troy Dye
The Los Angeles Chargers have inked former Minnesota Vikings linebacker Troy Dye to a one-year deal, according to Rapoport.
The Bolts have hemorrhaged talent on both sides of the ball this season, including losing both of their starting inside linebackers. However, Dye has spent most of his four NFL seasons on special teams. He's logged only 80 total tackles on defense.
If this is just a depth/special teams signing, it's fine. But if the Chargers are looking for a cheap starter opposite youngster Daiyan Henley, they should probably keep looking.
Grade: C-
Giants Sign TE Chris Manhertz
The New York Giants landed an insurance policy Friday in case tight end Daren Waller decides to retire. They signed tight end Chris Manhertz to an undisclosed deal, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Frankly, this hardly qualifies as even an "other" signing. While Manhertz has kicked around the NFL for eight years, he spent much of that time on practice squads.
Across his career, Manhertz has reeled in 26 catches for 271 yards and a pair of touchdowns. In 16 games (and four starts) with the Denver Broncos in 2023, Manhertz caught two passes for 16 yards. He's a special teamer and not much more than that.
Grade: C-
Chargers Sign QB Easton Stick
According to Mike Garafalo of the NFL Network, the Chargers have agreed to terms on an undisclosed contract with backup quarterback Easton Stick.
A fifth-round pick of the Chargers back in 2020, Stick made the first four starts of his career last year in place of an injured Justin Herbert, throwing for 1,129 yards, three touchdowns and one interception—numbers that appear to have earned Stick another go-round as Herbert's understudy.
Well, either that or the Bolts are planning to unload Herbert, too.
OK, Chargers fans. I apologize. That was kicking a fanbase when they are down.
Grade: C
Giants Sign C Austin Schlottmann
After allowing a league-high 85 sacks in 2023, no NFL team needed O-line help more this offseason than the Giants.
Signing center Austin Schlottmann to a two-year contract (via ESPN's Jeremy Fowler) isn't going to single-handedly fix the problem. But the G-Men don't just need upgraded starters. They need depth for when injuries inevitably happen during the season.
Schlottmann has started games at both guard and center for the Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos. That versatility is a plus for Big Blue as well.
Grade: B
Texans Re-Sign OT Charlie Heck
The Texans have been one of the league's biggest spenders in free agency, and Friday the team spent a little more coin on keeping some offensive line depth in the fold.
Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, Houston inked tackle Charlie Heck to a deal that could be worth up to $3.3 million. The fifth-year veteran was a fourth-round pick of the Texans in 2020, making four starts for the team in 2023.
This is an understated signing, but a solid one nonetheless. Heck knows the offense. He's shown he can fill in when needed. And $3 million and change isn't a bad price tag at all for a reserve tackle.
Grade: B
Steelers Sign WR Van Jefferson
Per Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team, the Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to terms with wide receiver Van Jefferson on a one-year contract. The fifth-year pro caught 20 passes for 209 yards last year, splitting the season between Atlanta and Los Angeles.
There was actually a time with the Rams when it looked like Jefferson was an ascending young talent—in his second season he reeled in 50 passes, topped 800 yards and found the end zone six times. But his numbers have dropped in each of the two seasons since.
Still, the Steelers have a sizable need at wide receiver after trading Diontae Johnson, and Jefferson is still only 27. At worst, he's a low-risk flier who won't pan out ala Allen Robinson. At best, he'll recapture some of that 2021 magic.
Either way, the Steelers aren't done adding at wide receiver.
Grade: B
Vikings Sign OG Dan Feeney
Per Peter Schrager of Fox Sports, offensive guard Dan Feeney is headed across the NFC North, joining the Minnesota Vikings on a one-year deal (rather a lot of those on Friday) after a season in Chicago where he started one game.
From 2018-2020, Feeney was a full-time starter at guard and center for the Chargers. Bur he's started just eight games since, and Vikings will mark the 29-year-old's third team in four seasons.
Feeney is who he is—look up "reserve guard" in the offensive line dictionary (B/R's Brent Sobleski has one—book it.) and you'll see his smiling face. But there's also a reason he's been in the NFL for seven years. He's pretty good at that role.
Grade: B-
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