Ranking the Top 50 Player Offseason Acquisitions Across the NFL

With the big moves from the league's free-agency period all but finished, it's worth taking a look back on the final month across the National Football League. What a crazy few weeks it's been.

The Philadelphia Eagles, led by head coach Chip Kelly, have stolen the show with an insane roster turnover that has resulted in changes at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, linebacker and cornerback. In fact, 11 of the 50 players listed are either coming from Philly or heading to Philly.

But it's not just the Eagles who have been making noise this free-agency period. The Bills, for example, have added Matt Cassel, LeSean McCoy, Percy Harvin, Charles Clay and Richie Incognito by either trade or free agency in the last month. The Colts signed the best player in the history of their biggest division rival, former Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson. The New York Jets brought back the best player in their own history, Darrelle Revis, on an enormous five-year contract. 

Some of the more fascinating individual trades have included Brandon Marshall to the New York Jets, Mike Wallace to the Minnesota Vikings and Jimmy Graham to the Seattle Seahawks. Oh, and Ndamukong Suh signed with the Miami Dolphins in what will go down as the second-largest contract by a defensive player in NFL history. 

I will rank the 50 biggest offseason acquisitions across the NFL, a combination of both the best players and the biggest names. This will not include players who re-signed with their old team. It's only players who went to a new team. They are ranked from best to worst per position group, with trades included with free-agent signings. The grade I gave heavily factors in the contract the player received.

For example, I think Ndamukong Suh was the best defensive lineman on the free-agent market, but the Dolphins didn't receive the best grade for signing him because they drastically overpaid. He's a better player than Haloti Ngata, but the Ngata acquisition is ranked ahead because it's a better overall deal for the team.

Basically, each position group is ranked from the best overall deal to the worst overall deal, including the contract and the player, and they are in order by position group.

Quarterbacks

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Nick Foles, St. Louis Rams (traded to St. Louis from Philadelphia)

After five seasons of proving he clearly is not the franchise quarterback to take the Rams to the promised land, the Rams should consider themselves extremely fortunate for how much Bradford was valued on the open market.

Although the Browns reportedly offered a first-round pick for the former No. 1 overall pick, the Rams decided on a second- and fourth-round pick from the Eagles, plus a potential franchise quarterback in Nick Foles. Foles, who enjoyed a breakout 2013 season before regressing in 2014, has also struggled with injuries in all three seasons.

But it's a low-risk, high-reward deal because if Foles plays great for the Rams in 2015, they can extend him after the season, and if he doesn't, they can simply allow him to walk in free agency. Oh, and they also cleared themselves of Bradford's enormous yearly salary. And they could still land Oregon's Marcus Mariota in the draft, let him sit for a year behind Foles and then decide on the two before the 2016 season.

After years of finding themselves in an ugly predicament regarding the quarterback position, the Rams are sitting pretty entering the 2015 campaign.

Grade: A+

Ryan Fitzpatrick, New York Jets (traded to NY Jets from Houston)

On to his fourth AFC team in the last four years, Ryan Fitzpatrick will likely compete with Geno Smith, and possibly Marcus Mariota, for a starting spot. But if Smith fails, Fitzpatrick is a pretty good veteran option to start half a season or more.

I'd actually call Fitzpatrick underrated. He'll throw 20 touchdowns to 15 interceptions with a decent passer rating over a full season, and he'll have some nice weapons in New York in Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker. He was also acquired for just a conditional late-round pick. That's practically nothing. The Jets still have a very shaky quarterback situation with Fitzpatrick and Smith, but adding a veteran stopgap makes a lot of sense in case Smith fails in year three.

Grade: B+

Brian Hoyer, QB, Houston Texans (two years, $10 million, $4.75 million guaranteed)

Bill O'Brien might have been the most underrated coach in the NFL in 2014, winning nine games despite extremely subpar quarterback play. With a mid-first-round pick and an opportunity to upgrade at the game's most important position, let's hope O'Brien isn't relying on Brian Hoyer to be his next starter.

Yes, O'Brien worked with Hoyer during their time in New England, but Hoyer really just isn't a good quarterback. He threw 12 touchdowns against 13 interceptions in 2014, and the Browns ranked just 27th in scoring offense. He also turns 30 years old in October. Hoyer, who got a deal very similar to Mark Sanchez's, makes for an above-average backup but a poor choice as the starter. 

Grade: C

Matt Cassel, Buffalo Bills (traded to Buffalo from Minnesota)

It's obvious that Matt Cassel is just a one-year stopgap for the Bills while they look for their next franchise quarterback in the 2016 draft. They put themselves in this situation by drafting E.J. Manuel a round or two too early in the 2013 draft. They forfeited their 2014 first-round pick by trading up for Sammy Watkins, which looks even worse in retrospect considering Odell Beckham Jr.'s historic rookie season.

They also made this move knowing that Manuel clearly wasn't their future, and then they benched him early in the 2014 season. Now they're stuck with either Manuel or an 11-year veteran in Cassel for 2015. Cassel, 33 this offseason, has thrown 30 touchdowns against 34 interceptions during the last four seasons. It's really hard to see this move panning out for Buffalo. 

Grade: C-

Sam Bradford, Philadelphia Eagles (traded to Philadelphia from St. Louis)

Trading Nick Foles for Sam Bradford makes absolutely no sense for the Philadelphia Eagles. Bradford has torn his ACL in each of the last two seasons, meaning a head coach who said that durability is the best ability will be relying on a signal-caller who has missed 25 straight games to lead his team in 2015. Bradford also has a ridiculous cap hit of $12.985 million, and the former No. 1 overall pick really hasn't shown much since winning Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2010.

Bradford's weak supporting cast certainly hasn't helped, but Heisman winners and former No. 1 overall picks need to be able to win games even without much help from their teammates. Clearly, Kelly is looking at what Bradford was in college, when he ran a spread offense and led Oklahoma to more than 700 points in 2008.

But it's just mind-boggling that Kelly, who clearly viewed Nick Foles as widely replaceable, would trade for another quarterback who can best be described as mediocre. Bradford is older, more injury-prone, much more expensive and not much better than Foles. When you remember that Kelly also gave up a fourth-round pick in 2015 and a second-round pick in 2016 while only receiving a fifth-rounder in 2015 in return, it's obvious the Eagles were fleeced by the Rams in this trade.

The only way this trade makes any sense for the Eagles is if Kelly uses Bradford to move up in the draft and select his former college quarterback, Mariota. But if the Eagles really do stick with Bradford, Kelly better have found his version of Drew Brees for what he gave up. 

Grade: D

Josh McCown, Cleveland Browns (three years, $14 million, $6.25 million guaranteed)

It's simply mind-boggling that an NFL franchise handed Josh McCown, a quarterback who turns 36 in July, a three-year deal with almost half in guaranteed money. McCown turned an extremely impressive five-game showing in Chicago into a starting gig in Tampa Bay, where he predictably failed. He won just one of 11 starts and threw more interceptions than touchdowns.

He's been a backup virtually his entire career, so it's just jaw-dropping that the Browns are giving him $14 million. The Browns need serious help at the quarterback position with last year's first-round pick Johnny Manziel looking like he might be a bust, but they should have just re-signed journeyman Brian Hoyer, who actually received less money than McCown. 

Grade: F

Running Backs

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Justin Forsett, Baltimore Ravens (three years, $9 million, $3 million guaranteed)

A journeyman who bounced around among four teams over the first six seasons of his career, veteran Justin Forsett emerged as a star with a Pro Bowl season in 2014. His 5.4 yards per carry was probably more a factor of the Ravens' dominant offensive line than anything else, although in fairness, he had an impressive career yards per carry of 4.9 before last year. He does turn 30 this fall, but his low workload throughout his career justifies the extremely cheap three-year deal the Ravens handed him. 

Grade: A

C.J. Spiller, New Orleans Saints (four years, $16 million, $9 million guaranteed)

A former top-10 pick by the Buffalo Bills, C.J. Spiller showed flashes of greatness when he averaged more than 6.0 yards per carry in 2012, but inconsistency caused the Bills to let him walk via free agency after his fifth season. With the Saints, Spiller will be part of Sean Payton's running back by committee that will also include Mark Ingram and Khiry Robinson. Expect Spiller to play much better under Payton, an offensive guru, than he did in Buffalo. Paying $4 million per season for a player with Spiller's ceiling is a fair price too. He may be 27, but he has lots of mileage left.

Grade: B+

Ryan Mathews, Philadelphia Eagles (three years, $11 million, $5 million guaranteed)

As a starting running back behind a top-five offensive line, veteran Ryan Mathews' contract would be considered a steal. Pairing Mathews with veteran Darren Sproles and Chris Polk would give the Eagles a dynamic three-headed attack at running back. But with DeMarco Murray now expected to handle the majority of the carries for the Eagles, it's unclear how much Mathews will carry the ball in Philly. He's 27 and very injury-prone, but he's still a former Pro Bowl player who can handle eight to 10 carries a game. He's also skilled at playing in a shotgun-style offense. 

Grade: B+

Reggie Bush, San Francisco 49ers (one year, $2.5 million, $1 million guaranteed)

I'd like this signing a lot more if Jim Harbaugh were still the head coach for the 49ers, but at one year and just $2.5 million, Reggie Bush is worth taking a chance on for San Francisco. Although he's 30, Bush has carried the ball just 1,266 times during his nine-year career. He's still good for 100 carries and 50 catches in 2015, which should make him a nice complementary piece next to Carlos Hyde. 

Grade: B+

Frank Gore, Indianapolis Colts (three years, $12 million, $6.5 million guaranteed)

The Indianapolis Colts desperately need to find a decent running back to play behind the league's best young quarterback. I'm just not sure that a veteran turning 32 this offseason is the right direction to go. The Colts could have dipped into one of the richest running back draft classes in years. Instead, they're relying on a 10-year veteran with 2,442 career carries to help Luck take the Colts to the next level.

Gore has played in 64 straight games over the last four years, and he's still effective enough to average 4.3 yards per carry. But it'll be interesting to see how he responds playing behind one of the league's worst run-blocking offensive lines after years playing behind San Francisco's dominant run-blockers. The breakdown of his contract also insists that he provide at least two years before the Colts can part ways with him. 

Grade: C

DeMarco Murray, Philadelphia Eagles (five years, $40 million, $21 million guaranteed)

After trading LeSean McCoy, the general consensus was that Chip Kelly was planning to draft a running back and use the rookie, Darren Sproles and Chris Polk as part of a three-headed running back combination. So overpaying for DeMarco Murray doesn't make a lot of sense for a head coach whose offense seems to be able to manufacture talent in the ground game.

Murray did lead the NFL in rushing in 2014, but he also benefited greatly from perhaps the best offensive line in the league. He's never completed a full season without an injury, even playing through a broken hand last December, and his 497 total touches, including the postseason, ranks as the sixth-most for a season in league history.

Consider his age, 27, and the well-publicized Curse of 370, and it's hard to see Murray ever coming close to his 2014 performance again. Then again, it'll help with Murray sharing carries with Mathews, Sproles and Polk. It's unlikely that Murray will last all five seasons of his new contract, but if he can give the Eagles three years, he can be cut with just $2 million in dead money. 

Grade: C-

LeSean McCoy, Buffalo Bills (traded to Buffalo from Philadelphia)

This move doesn't make a whole lot of sense for the Buffalo Bills. New head coach Rex Ryan has been fascinated by veteran running backs, and he got some productive years out of Thomas Jones and LaDainian Tomlinson in New York.

But giving up a star linebacker for a veteran definitely in the second half of his career is a risky move. McCoy, who turns 27 in July, has played six seasons, and he's touched the ball more than 700 times in the last two seasons. He also appeared to have noticeably lost a step in 2014, although injuries to the Eagles' offensive line early in the year didn't help.

Clearly the Bills are trying to establish a dominant running game since they won't have any form of competent quarterback play in 2015. Trading for McCoy was questionable, but the insane contract they also gave him, which includes $26.5 million in guaranteed money, is mind-boggling. He'll need a minimum of three elite seasons to be worth that type of production. And if the Bills want to cut him after three seasons, they'll owe $5.25 million in dead cap money. 

Grade: C (trade), D (including new contract)

Darren McFadden, Dallas Cowboys (two years, $3 million, $200K guaranteed)

The former top-five pick is finally out of Oakland after seven inconsistent, injury-plagued seasons. It's tempting to call this a low-risk, high-reward signing, but with McFadden turning 28 in August, he likely doesn't have much left in the tank. Running behind Dallas' talented offensive line will definitely help, but it's fair to expect McFadden to get injured, as he has in six of his seven seasons. He's also averaged 3.3, 3.3 and 3.4 carries over his last three years, respectively. Every scenario in the world points to Dallas drafting their starting running back. Giving McFadden guaranteed money, even if it's only $200K, doesn't make sense either.

Grade: D

Trent Richardson, Oakland Raiders (two years, $3.85 million, $600K guaranteed)

Just 24 years old, Trent Richardson has now been a first-round bust for two different teams: the one that drafted him, Cleveland, and the one that traded a first-round pick for him, Indianapolis. He's averaged just 3.3 yards per carry for his career, a number that was just 3.1 during his two seasons in Indy. He's a plodder and a fumbler, and he doesn't even have a love for football. It's simply mind-boggling that an NFL franchise would give him a multi-year deal that includes guaranteed money. This is a low-risk, no reward signing. 

Grade: F

Wide Receivers

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Andre Johnson, Indianapolis Colts (three years, $21 million, $10 million guaranteed)

The best player in the history of the Houston Texans joined his biggest division rival, yet it really hasn't received much talk considering all of the crazy moves made through the NFL offseason. Johnson, 33, is past his prime, and it'll be interesting to see whether he can revive his career playing with one of the game's best quarterbacks. Credit the Colts for the contract breakdown, as they can cut Johnson after 2015 with no cap penalty at all. 

Grade: A-

Brandon Marshall, New York Jets (traded to NY Jets from Chicago)

It's hard to dislike this move, as the Jets acquired one of the league's best receivers over the past decade for just a fifth-round pick. Now, Marshall's 2014 season was the worst since his rookie year, and he'll have to show that he can rebound to 100-catch form. Even if he's never the dominant presence he was in Chicago, he can be cut after 2015 with no cap hit to the Jets. He's a big, reliable weapon who will team with Eric Decker to give Geno Smith a formidable duo heading into his third season. 

Grade: B

Mike Wallace, Minnesota Vikings (traded to Minnesota from Miami)

Mike Wallace never had a chance in the world of living up to the five-year, $60 million deal he signed before the 2013 season. A change of scenery was needed for him, and in Minnesota, expectations are that he will team with Teddy Bridgewater to form one of the best deep threats in the game, like he did in Pittsburgh but never could do in Miami. Minnesota has to pay Wallace almost $33 million over the next three seasons, but the former Pro Bowler should help Bridgewater quickly develop into a top-12 quarterback. The price of the trade was also fantastic, as Minnesota gave up just a fifth-round pick to receive Wallace plus a seventh-round pick. 

Grade: B

Torrey Smith, San Francisco 49ers (five years, $40 million, $22 million guaranteed)

Consider Smith's ability as a deep threat and he'll fit nicely with the quarterback who throws one of the best deep balls in the National Football League. Last year, Smith set a career-high with 11 touchdowns despite catching just 49 passes. But the San Francisco 49ers gave a lot of guaranteed money to a receiver who is best suited as a No. 2 receiving target, even if he is a great deep threat. 

Grade: C+

Percy Harvin, Buffalo Bills (one year, $6 million, $5.9 million guaranteed)

On a one-year, relatively cheap prove-it deal, signing a player with Percy Harvin's skill set feels like a great move. Harvin has the ability to be one of the most electric, explosive weapons in the league. But for a 26-year-old to be on his fourth team in the last four seasons? Yeah, that's a major red flag. His character concerns far outweigh his impressive skill set.

Grade: C+

Kenny Stills, Miami Dolphins (traded to Miami from New Orleans)

In an attempt to stock up on draft picks, the Saints traded wide receiver Kenny Stills to the Dolphins for linebacker Dannell Ellerbe and a third-round pick in this year's draft. In two seasons with Drew Brees, Stills averaged 47 catches for 786 yards and four touchdowns, including a league-leading 20.0 yards per catch in 2013. He'll essentially be the deep threat replacing Mike Wallace, and along with tight end Jordan Cameron, he's one of two new weapons for Ryan Tannehill in 2015. Giving up a player and a third-round pick seems like a steep price to pay for a player who might not have the same success with a lesser quarterback.

Grade: C

Jeremy Maclin, Kansas City Chiefs (five years, $55 million, $22.5 million guaranteed)

It was no secret that the Kansas City Chiefs desperately needed help at the wide receiver position, as they became the first team to complete an entire season without a receiver catching a touchdown pass. But it's obvious they drastically overpaid for Jeremy Maclin, who is best suited as a good No. 2 receiver. Although Maclin rebounded from a torn ACL in 2013 to catch 85 passes for 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns as the go-to guy in Kelly's offense, he played four seasons under Andy Reid in Philadelphia and never reached 1,000 yards in a season. With a mediocre passer in Alex Smith as his quarterback, don't expect Maclin to be worth $11 million per year through his age-31 season.

Grade: C-

Dwayne Bowe, Cleveland Browns (two years, $12.5 million, $9 million guaranteed)

Is there any scenario in which Dwayne Bowe, 31 this coming season, will be worth $9 million guaranteed over two seasons? He failed to score a single touchdown in 2014, despite catching 60 passes for 754 yards. With the Browns, he'll be catching passes from either veteran Josh McCown, last year's first-round pick Johnny Manziel or a rookie. It's hard to see a scenario where Bowe is a difference-maker on this offense. He's the definition of a blah signing.

Grade: D

Tight Ends

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Jordan Cameron, Miami Dolphins (two years, $15 million, $12.5 million guaranteed)

Jordan Cameron has the potential to be one of the game's top tight ends, especially with former first-round pick Ryan Tannehill developing into a franchise quarterback. But Cameron has scored just three total touchdowns and missed 16 games in the three seasons besides 2013. Clearly, the Dolphins see the potential he showed in 2013, when he caught 80 balls for 917 yards and seven scores. Cameron's unusual contract is just two years and $15 million, but 83 percent of his contract is guaranteed. 

Grade: B+

Jimmy Graham, Seattle Seahawks (traded to Seattle from New Orleans)

In a trade that likely would have been rejected had it been proposed in a Madden video game, the New Orleans Saints traded star tight end Jimmy Graham and their 2015 fourth-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for center Max Unger and a 2015 first-round pick. Consider the way the Seahawks lost the Super Bowl to the New England Patriots, and it's likely they would have repeated as champions if they had Jimmy Graham to throw a fade pass to in the corner of the end zone. He's exactly the playmaker the Seahawks need on an offense that previously featured Doug Baldwin as the No. 1 target.

From a fantasy football standpoint, Graham's numbers will take a major hit. Drew Brees had more completions in 2014 than Russell Wilson had pass attempts. Now giving up a top-10 center in his prime as well as the first-round pick is a big cost. But if Graham can give Seattle five or six seasons of elite production, and the bet is that he can, this overall trade makes sense for a Seahawks team that should be among the league's best for the next several seasons. 

Grade: B

Julius Thomas, Jacksonville Jaguars (five years, $46 million, $24 million guaranteed)

It's hard to see Julius Thomas living up to the big deal he signed in Jacksonville. Thomas, who turns 27 this summer, has scored 12 touchdowns in each of the past two seasons. He's also caught passes from Peyton Manning, arguably the greatest regular-season quarterback in history. In Jacksonville, Thomas will be catching passes from Blake Bortles, whose first season was definitely disappointing. Thomas has also missed five games in the past two seasons and, minus the touchdowns, has averaged 54 catches for 639 yards. Those are good numbers. They're not $46 million numbers.

Grade: D

Charles Clay, Buffalo Bills (five years, $38 million, $24.5 million guaranteed)

What in the world were the Bills thinking when they gave Charles Clay $24.5 million in guaranteed money? Seriously, is there any chance in the world that the 26-year-old will justify this amount of money? By comparison, before the 2014 season, Jimmy Graham got a four-year deal worth $40 million, with $20.9 million in guaranteed money. But that's Jimmy Graham, one of the best receiving threats in the game. This is Charles Clay.

Now, Clay is a very good tight end. Over the past two seasons, he's averaged 64 catches for 682 yards and 4.5 touchdowns. Those are solid, respectable numbers. But in Buffalo, Clay has no quarterback and an offense that will be built on a heavy rushing attack. It's almost impossible to envision a scenario where he's worth $24.5 million, which amounts to at least three great seasons, in guaranteed money. 

Grade: D

Offensive Linemen

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Mike Iupati, OG, Arizona Cardinals (five years, $40 million, $22.5 million guaranteed)

Annually one of the league's worst offensive lines, the Arizona Cardinals did what they had to do, signing the top free-agent offensive lineman to a long-term deal while crippling a division rival, the San Francisco 49ers, in the process. Iupati, a first-round pick in 2010, turns 28 this offseason, so he should be able to play out his entire contract in Arizona.

He's earned three straight Pro Bowl selections, with a well-deserved reputation as one of the best run-blocking offensive linemen in the NFL. That will come in handy for a Cardinals offense that averaged just 3.3 yards per carry in 2014, the worst mark in the NFL. Now imagine if they can also draft Todd Gurley with their first-round pick. 

Grade: A-

Orlando Franklin, OG, San Diego Chargers (five years, $36.5 million, $20 million guaranteed)

Orlando Franklin heading to San Diego both strengthens the Chargers and weakens the Broncos, and his deal is about what you'd expect for the second-best offensive lineman on the free-agent market. Franklin played three years at right tackle for Denver before switching to left guard in 2015. He's the starting right guard for San Diego, per Ourlads, and his presence will greatly improve an offensive line that was perhaps the biggest reason why the Chargers missed the postseason in Mike McCoy's second season as head coach. 

Grade: B+

Rodney Hudson, C, Oakland Raiders (five years, $44.5 million, $20 million guaranteed)

Credit the Raiders for using their cap space to improve the interior of their offensive line for their future franchise quarterback, Derek Carr. Hudson, just 25, rated as the third-best center in the league in 2014, per Pro Football Focus. His contract is also structured so the Raiders can cut him in any of the next four offseasons without any dead-money hit. For once, the Raiders made a pretty intelligent free-agent signing. 

Grade: B

Max Unger, C, New Orleans Saints (traded to New Orleans from Seattle)

The blockbuster trade between the Saints and the Seahawks sent tight end Jimmy Graham and a fourth-round pick to Seattle for center Max Unger and a first-round pick. The Saints gained one of the top centers in the league, as Unger has earned two Pro Bowl selections in the last three years. That'll give franchise quarterback Drew Brees more protection as he enters the final stretch of his career.

But Unger also turns 29 in April and is under contract for just two more seasons. The extra first-round pick will also help as the Saints try to improve a defense that ranked 28th in scoring in 2014. It's difficult to evaluate a trade in which both teams end up giving up so much, but on paper, it looks like the Saints, whose franchise is moving in the wrong direction, lost this trade. 

Grade: C+

Richie Incognito, OG, Buffalo Bills (one year, $1.1 million, $100K guaranteed)

After his involvement in the Bullygate scandal of 2013, Richie Incognito went unsigned and missed the entire 2014 season. The soon-to-be 32-year-old guard signed a one-year deal with the Buffalo Bills with less than 10 percent in guaranteed money.

A low-risk signing, the move is medium-reward, as Incognito is nearing the end of his career. The best-case scenario is that the 2012 Pro Bowler plays like an average guard in 2015, which earns him a multi-year extension to finish out his career in Buffalo. The worst-case scenario is that Incognito is clearly past his prime as a productive NFL player and his off-the-field issues fracture the Bills' locker room.

Grade: C+

Jermey Parnell, OT, Jacksonville Jaguars (five years, $32 million, $14.5 million guaranteed)

The Jermey Parnell contract might be the worst by any NFL team this offseason, and it's contracts like this that sum up the Jacksonville Jaguars organization over the past decade. Parnell, who turns 29 this summer, has started just seven games throughout his four-year career. Now he's getting paid more than $6 million per season to start at right tackle. It's an incredible leap of faith for a franchise that has won just seven games in the last two seasons. 

Grade: F

Defensive Linemen

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Vince Wilfork, DT, Houston Texans (two years, $9 million, $5 million guaranteed)

Many thought the Texans had the steal of the draft in 2014 when they selected big nose tackle Louis Nix in the third round. But three knee surgeries cost Nix his entire rookie season, and the signing of veteran Vince Wilfork clearly shows that the Texans don't think Nix is ready to be the starter in the middle of their defensive line. Wilfork, who turns 34 during the 2015 season, rebounded from an Achilles tear in 2013, playing at a high level yet again in 2014. The addition of Wilfork to the Texans' defensive line should help take some pressure off of the game's most dominant defensive player, J.J. Watt.

Grade: A

Haloti Ngata, DT, Detroit Lions (traded to Detroit from Baltimore)

The Baltimore Ravens traded one of their franchise cornerstones, nose tackle Haloti Ngata, to the Detroit Lions for a pair of mid-round draft picks, one in the fourth round and one in the fifth. The move makes sense for the Ravens, who owed Ngata $8.5 million in 2015 and have instead received two picks for a player they may not have brought back in 2016, when he'll be 32 years old.

For the Lions, Ngata clearly is the replacement for franchise cornerstone Ndamukong Suh, who headed to the Miami Dolphins via free agency. If the Lions sign Ngata to an extension beyond the 2015 season, and they will, this trade makes a lot of sense for Detroit.

Grade: B+

Jared Odrick, DT, Jacksonville Jaguars (five years, $42.5 million, $22 million guaranteed)

Jared Odrick is a good defensive tackle. He rated 19th at the position by Pro Football Focus in 2014, and he's collected 16.5 sacks over the past four years. But Odrick, 27, is worth about half of the massive contract he just signed with the Jaguars. It's hard to see a scenario in which Odrick is worth as much guaranteed money as the top offensive lineman on the market. 

Grade: D

Ndamukong Suh, DT, Miami Dolphins (six years, $114.37 million, $59.95 million guaranteed)

The Miami Dolphins are paying Ndamukong Suh like a franchise quarterback. In fact, they're paying him like a top-three quarterback in the league. As a defensive tackle, and not a quarterback, there's basically no chance he lives up to his insane contract. For the 28-year-old Suh to be worth $114 million over six seasons, he'd need to win multiple Defensive Player of the Year awards and establish himself as the best defensive tackle in NFL history.

This is a player who has maybe two years left in his prime. He can still be a great player, but it's unlikely that he'll come close to earning that $22 million value in 2018 or $28.645 million in 2019. Suh's contract makes the six-year, $100 million deal signed by J.J. Watt look like an absolute steal. Per the breakdown on Spotrac, the Dolphins also won't be able to get out of the deal without a hefty dead-cap penalty until the conclusion of the 2019 season.

It's great for Miami that they'll have a top-notch interior pass-rusher to chase down Tom Brady and draw double-teams. It's just going to be a move they grow to heavily regret in about three seasons when they're unable to add any additional pieces around Ryan Tannehill. 

Grade: D

Greg Hardy, DE, Dallas Cowboys (one year, $11.3116 million)

From a football standpoint, signing Greg Hardy is a great move. The 2013 Pro Bowler collected 15 sacks before a domestic abuse allegation cost him 15 games in the 2014 season. Clearly, the Cowboys don't care about Hardy's past issues, as shown by their willingness to hand $11.31 million dollars to a troubled yet talented player who could still receive a hefty suspension by the NFL in 2015. 

Grade: D

Linebackers

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Kiko Alonso, ILB, Philadelphia Eagles (trade to Philadelphia from Buffalo)

One of the most fascinating player-for-player swaps in recent NFL history, the Eagles swapped their all-time leading rusher in franchise history, LeSean McCoy, for a stud linebacker who is recovering from an ACL tear. While Alonso's recent injury is definitely a concern, he also will have more than 14 months of recovery from the time of the injury to the start of the 2015 season.

ACL tears are clearly not what they used to be, so there's little reason to believe Alonso won't return to the same player he was in 2013. And as a rookie, he was amazing. He collected 159 tackles, four interceptions, two fumble recoveries and two sacks. He also has two more years remaining on his rookie contract.

The foursome of Alonso, Mychal Kendricks, Connor Barwin and Brandon Graham gives the Eagles one of the best sets of linebackers in the game. As for parting ways with McCoy, running back is a replaceable position, and the Eagles are better off with a pair of downhill runners than a shifty back like McCoy, which wasn't Chip Kelly's preferred style. Think about it this way: The Eagles are paying DeMarco Murray, Ryan Mathews and Alonso the same amount they'd pay McCoy in 2015. 

Grade: B+

Pernell McPhee, OLB, Chicago Bears (five years, $38.75 million, $15.5 million guaranteed)

Pernell McPhee might have been the best pure pass-rusher available on the free-agent market. A player who started just six games during his four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, McPhee collected 17 sacks and regularly rated as one of the best situational pass-rushers in the game, per Pro Football Focus. He's a liability in coverage, and he's nothing special against the run, but as far as getting after the quarterback, he has double-digit sacks written all over him for the next few seasons. 

Grade: B+

Trent Cole, OLB, Indianapolis Colts (two years, $14 million, $8 million guaranteed)

Even on just a two-year deal worth $14 million, it's hard to see Trent Cole justifying his contract with the Indianapolis Colts. He's collected eight and 6.5 sacks over the past two seasons as a 3-4 outside linebacker, the same position he'll be playing in Indy. Although veteran Robert Mathis is out while recovering from a torn Achilles, Cole, 33 in October, may still just be a rotational pass-rusher with the Colts. 

Grade: C+

Brian Orakpo, OLB, Tennessee Titans (four years, $31 million, $13.5 million guaranteed)

Although Brian Orakpo can still be an effective pass-rusher when healthy, he's missed 23 games since 2012 with two separate season-ending pectoral tears. Orakpo turns 29 this offseason, and the big question is whether his injuries were flukes or if they will become a pattern. Although he was a three-time Pro Bowl linebacker with Washington, it's hard to see Orakpo living up to his contract in Tennessee. 

Grade: D+

Cornerbacks

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Antonio Cromartie, CB, New York Jets (four years, $32 million, $7 million guaranteed)

For some reason, Antonio Cromartie didn't generate a lot of interest on the free-agent market. Although he's 31 this spring, he's earned three straight Pro Bowl selections and has missed just one game during his nine-year career. He's collected multiple interceptions every year he's been in the league, with at least three for the last six seasons. Four years is a lot for a player of Cromartie's age, but at $7 million, this is a very team-friendly deal. In fact, the Jets can cut Cromartie after 2015, 2016 or 2017 with no cap penalty at all.

Grade: B+

Brandon Browner, CB, New Orleans Saints (three years, $15 million, $7.75 million guaranteed)

Brandon Browner is a difficult player to evaluate. On one hand, he's a good corner with incredible physicality that will come in handy against big NFC South receivers like Mike Evans, Julio Jones and Kelvin Benjamin. But he's also a penalty machine, committing a ridiculous 19 in 12 games last season. He also turns 31 before the start of the season, although he's only been in the NFL since 2011. But on a three-year deal worth just $15 million, the Browner signing should pay off well for New Orleans, who needs more physical players on its defense.

Grade: B

Darrelle Revis, CB, New York Jets (five years, $70.12 million, $39 million guaranteed)

Consider it the NFL's version of LeBron James, now with a ring, heading back to Cleveland, as Darrelle Revis, who earned a ring in 2014 with the New England Patriots, will begin his second stint in New York. But Revis, who turns 30 in July, will have a cap hit of more than $15 million in each of the next three seasons.

To be sure, $39 million in guaranteed money is an awful lot for a 30-year-old cornerback. Then again, Revis' production hasn't dropped off in recent years, so it'll be interesting to see whether he can continue to perform at an elite level through his age-34 or -35 season. If not, he's in danger of becoming the next Nnamdi Asomugha. 

Grade: B-

Cary Williams, CB, Seattle Seahawks (three years, $18 million, $7 million guaranteed)

Although Cary Williams' tenure in Philadelphia won't be remembered as a success, it really wasn't as bad as his reputation. Expect him to play much better in Seattle as the No. 2 corner instead of the No. 1. In fact, in Seattle's Legion of Boom, he'll be the fourth-most important starter. His physicality and ability to play up to his competition should contribute to a defense that has helped the Seahawks reach the Super Bowl in each of the past two seasons. Even though he'll be 31 in December, he should be able to play out all three years on his new deal.

Grade: C+

Byron Maxwell, CB, Philadelphia Eagles (six years, $63 million, $25.5 million guaranteed)

It's hard to see a scenario in which Byron Maxwell lives up to the insane contract the Eagles gave him. The third-largest contract on the free-agent market saw the 27-year-old Maxwell handed more guaranteed money than the Eagles gave veteran Nnamdi Asomugha in 2011. But Maxwell, unlike Asomugha, has never been a star in this league. In fact, he's made just 17 career starts, all as the fourth-most important member of Seattle's Legion of Boom.

He's played well, holding opposing wide receivers to just four touchdowns while recording six interceptions over the past two seasons, but he's never been a No. 1 cornerback in the National Football League. It'll be a major challenge for him to cover Dez Bryant, Odell Beckham and DeSean Jackson without Earl Thomas helping at safety. The Eagles desperately needed an upgrade at cornerback, but it's obvious they drastically overpaid for Maxwell.

Grade: D

Tramon Williams, CB, Cleveland Browns (three years, $21 million, $10 million guaranteed)

The Cleveland Browns handed out $10 million in guaranteed money to a 32-year-old cornerback who allowed eight touchdown passes with a passer rating over 100 in 2014. Williams is a durable veteran who has had a solid career, but it's hard to see him continuing to live up to expectations—especially after he didn't perform in 2014—as he approaches his mid-30s. Clearly, the Browns, who already have Joe Haden, don't have a lot of confidence in 2014 first-round pick Justin Gilbert turning into a starter anytime soon.

Grade: D

Safeties

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Rahim Moore, FS, Houston Texans (three years, $12 million, $4 million guaranteed)

One of the top free-agent safeties, Rahim Moore went largely unnoticed before signing just a three-year deal worth $12 million with the Houston Texans. Only 25 years old, Moore could play well enough with the Texans to earn one more payday in his NFL career. Moore didn't rate particularly well by Pro Football Focus' metrics in either of the last two seasons, but with safety play at an all-time low right now, it's surprising that Moore earned just $4 million per year. This is the definition of a low-risk, high-reward signing.

Grade: A

Nate Allen, FS, Oakland Raiders (four years, $23 million, $11.8 million guaranteed)

The Oakland Raiders have to be out of their minds paying Nate Allen $23 million with more than half of that money guaranteed. Allen, 27, struggled during his five seasons in Philly, and although he did record seven turnovers in 2014, he definitely did not take a step toward becoming a legitimate starter in this league.

He still allowed a 106.2 passer rating, per Pro Football Focus, and he's never been a great tackler, either. It's really hard to see a scenario in which the Raiders don't regret paying him $23 million. In fact, Walter Football called the move the worst by any NFL team during free agency.

Grade: F