Early Grades for the NFL's Biggest Offseason Moves

In today's age of social media, opinions start flying as soon as moves are made. Any time a trade or signing becomes official, judgement is cast instantly. But no one knows anything for sure until players strap on their pads.

While the preseason isn't the best indicator of future success since squads aren't scheming against each other, it's not a useless evaluation tool; it's still active football with head-to-head matchups.

Looking back at what were perceived as the biggest moves of the offseason, how has the preseason changed impressions? Who has performed as expected, below the mark or better?

We will assign letter grades to the moves based on the last four weeks' worth of effort, breaking down why the moves look better or worse on paper than they did in the spring.

The Re-Signing of Randall Cobb

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Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson looks like a genius right now. Leading up to free agency, there were arguments the Packers shouldn't use big money to keep "slot receiver" Randall Cobb. For example, Weston Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazzette noted the past success of slot players given major deals, stated Jordy Nelson (unlike Cobb) was "more than capable" in the slot and insinuated that sophomore target Jared Abbrederis could replace Cobb. The article, titled "Why the Packers might let Randall Cobb leave," ended with this line: "The Packers' wily general manager didn't build his empire in Green Bay by overpaying for it."

When Jordy Nelson went down with an ACL tear against the Pittsburgh Steelers this preseason, that empire started counting its blessings: Cobb was still on the roster and so was sophomore Davante Adams, a standout in his rookie season last year. If Cobb had signed with another team, rookie return specialist Ty Montgomery would now be the second wideout on the depth chart.

The third pass-catcher would either be Abbrederis, who has not caught a regular-season pass, or Jeff Janis, who caught two passes for 16 yards in 2014, his rookie campaign.

The Packers could have collapsed if they'd lost their two best receivers from last year. Thompson, however, once again proved his brilliance by keeping Cobb from the 31 other franchises in the league—and keeping alive Title Town's Super Bowl hopes.

Grade: A

The LeSean McCoy Trade

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All offseason, we heard the Buffalo Bills were going to complicate their run game in an attempt to build around it. Per Connor Orr of NFL.com, head coach Rex Ryan stated they "have probably the biggest playbook in the history of man in our running game." The last thing the squad wanted to do was rely on the arms of quarterbacks EJ Manuel, Matt Cassel and Tyrod Taylor. So Buffalo made an aggressive move by trading for then-Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy.

After making three Pro Bowl rosters and cracking the 1,000-yard mark four times, McCoy was sent to New York for inside linebacker Kiko Alonso, who was touted for his rookie year of 2013 but missed 2014 because of a torn ACL. The Bills haven't had a big issue replacing Alonso, but McCoy is a 27-year-old running back, and Buffalo gave him a five-year deal with $26 million guaranteed.

When looking at the longevity of running backs compared to linebackers, and taking into account that Alonso just turned 25, it appears the Bills and head coach Rex Ryan made a play for immediate impact rather than a down-the-road move. McCoy was bothered by a hamstring issue during the last two weeks of the preseason and might be inactive for the beginning of the season, so there goes some of the immediate splash.

Why would a rebuilding franchise give up so many assets for an aging running back, the position the NFL is telling us was inflated over the past half-decade or so? Why give up a young talent and a good portion of cap for someone who might have dead legs in 30 games? This one could work out for the Bills, but at this point, it looks like the Eagles have won, considering the opportunity cost of McCoy's contract.

Grade: D+

The Signing of Ndamukong Suh

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The biggest free agent of 2015 was Ndamukong Suh, the All-Pro defensive tackle formerly of the Detroit Lions. Suh signed with the Miami Dolphins for more than $100 million, a rarity for a defensive player. He didn't have to switch schemes, either, because in Detroit he also lined up as a 3-technique tackle.

When measuring the impact of defensive linemen, you'd think their pass-rushing and run-stopping skills would be the top two factors. According to Pro Football Focus, the Dolphins finished the preseason near the bottom of the league in both categories. This doesn't solely measure the snaps Suh played, though. He finished the preseason with a plus-2.5 grade, the eighth-best on the squad, but he only faced first-string offenses, unlike some of the players ranked above him.

When watching the Miami defensive line, the combo of Suh, Olivier Vernon and Cameron Wake collapses the pocket, and with young talents such as defensive end Terrence Fede coming off the bench, they'll stay fresh. Suh is playing as expected, and his presence gives the Dolphins an identity, something their defense has lacked in the past.

With three studs on the line, offenses must now scheme around Miami instead of the other way around. Suh came at a high cost, but at this point, he looks to be worth it.

Grade: B

The Signing of Byron Maxwell

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Byron Maxwell might have signed the most inflated contract of the 2015 free-agency period. He's a fine player. The Clemson product started 17 games for the Seattle Seahawks over the last two seasons, and he's a tall cornerback, a valuable commodity in today's NFL. Still, he's relatively unproven and played next to the best free safety in the game in Earl Thomas, the top box safety in Kam Chancellor and one of the best cornerbacks in the league in Richard Sherman.

He's a scheme gamble if nothing else. But the Philadelphia Eagles gave him a six-year, $63 million contract. He's going to be the team's top corner, especially considering the fact the Eagles traded Brandon Boykin away to the Pittsburgh Steelers for what seems like pennies on the dollar.

Without context, Maxwell might seem like a slam-dunk star. He has the track record, contract, height and is still young. There's no one in Philadelphia's secondary who plays like Thomas, Chancellor or Sherman, though. Per Pro Football Focus, Maxwell has performed like the 47th-best cornerback in the league this preseason, and he hasn't made many splash plays by anyone's account.

Maxwell is fine, but for $63 million, he needs to be a star. The Eagles have made plenty of great decisions in the Chip Kelly era, but they've finally made a glaring mistake. Success in today's NFL is based on salary-cap efficiency, and Philadelphia is slated to pay a non-elite No. 1 corner more than $10 million per year.

Grade: D

The Jimmy Graham Trade

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In what might have been a reaction to one play in the Super Bowl, the Seattle Seahawks traded for tight end Jimmy Graham this offseason. Seattle last year struggled to pass the football in the red zone, where Graham, at 6'7", excels. Graham came from the New Orleans Saints, who were strapped for cash at the time and had a hole at center.

The Miami product relocated for the cost of Max Unger and a 2015 first-round pick. It's obvious the Seahawks are pushing checks into the future so they can continue to contend for titles in the present. How is that exchange working so far, though?

The former Saint caught six passes for 75 yards and no scores this preseason, though he didn't play in Week 4 against the Oakland Raiders. He's done poorly in run blocking, according to Pro Football Focus, earning a negative-5.5 grade, the fifth-worst at the position. That's no surprise, though, as his game has always mimicked that of a receiver: He graded fifth overall in Pro Football Focus' pass category this preseason.

Unger has done well with the Saints, notching an overall grade of plus-3.1, which ranks third at the center position. Basically, both players have done what they were expected to do. Nothing has changed the perception of this move. Seattle added a star by filling an immediate need for New Orleans.

Grade: C

Darrelle Revis' Return to New York

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Darrelle Revis' exit from the New York Jets is one of the worst things to happen to the franchise in recent memory. For this generation, Revis is the top cornerback. Richard Sherman makes quarterbacks avoid the players he's covering, but Revis makes quarterbacks avoid his side of the field completely.

By leaving the New England Patriots to come back to New York, Revis gave the Jets an identity. After Rex Ryan was let go, new head coach Todd Bowles, the Arizona Cardinals' defensive coordinator the last two years, needed to make his mark on the squad. By adding defensive lineman Leonard Williams via the draft and Revis via free agency, he's done just that.

Now, the Jets look to have a top-five defense heading into the season. They still lack great players on the edge, but between Bowles' ability to create pressure and Revis' ability to generate coverage sacks, New York should finish better than 4-12, its record in 2014.

Grade: B

The Hiring of Dan Quinn

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As the defensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks, Dan Quinn schemed pressure with four athletic pass-rushers often. At the end of the Mike Smith era in Atlanta, the Falcons couldn't generate a pass rush no matter how hard they tried. But after Quinn was hired to replace Smith, Atlanta's defensive personnel completely changed.

Instead of loading up the line with 3-4 run-stoppers to play in a 4-3 scheme, as they had done previously, the Falcons began to target freak athletes. They signed 2011 first-round defensive end Adrian Clayborn to a one-year, prove-it deal. With the eighth overall selection in the 2015 draft, the squad brought in Vic Beasley, an undersized but speedy pass-rusher.

On multiple occasions this preseason, Clayborn and Beasley ran tackle-end stunts, which allowed Atlanta to push the pocket with only its down linemen.

Young defensive tackles Grady Jarrett and Ra'Shede Hageman also have all-world potential if they can put the pieces together to become consistent forces. Overall, the Falcons defense already looks respectable, which is far from where it was in 2014. Quinn's team still needs to manifest an offensive line, but on his side of the ball, it's hard to imagine things going better than they have already.

Grade: A

The Re-Signing of Devin McCourty

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Last season, the New England Patriots were built around their strong defensive backs. Darrelle Revis was an All-Pro corner, Devin McCourty played at the level of a Pro Bowl free safety and Brandon Browner provided length to the unit on the outside. In the offseason, though, the Patriots lost both Revis and Browner in free agency.

No longer will the unit be able to lock up man-to-man, which also frees front-seven personnel to blitz. New England was able to retain McCourty on a five-year deal, which should help ease the transition to a zone look. At one point during the preseason, he even shifted from his typical free safety role to man outside cornerback, where he played earlier in his NFL career.

Without McCourty, there wouldn't be much of a defensive backs unit in Foxborough. While it's unfortunate the squad lost two quality corners, it'd be in full rebuild mode defensively if it had lost one of the few free safeties in the league worth consistent praise.

This preseason, McCourty has shown he still has the edge to lead a secondary at 28 years old.

Grade: B