2017 NFL Free Agents: Grades for Day 2 Signings and Trades

Thursday's first day of free agency was hectic. It was frenetic.

It was off the chain.

There was a trade the likes of which is more common to the NBA than the NFL. A handful of contracts paying well in excess of $10 million a season. The beginning of what's becoming an annual spending spree on defense in Jacksonville.

And that was all before dinner.

Bleacher Report NFL Analyst Brad Gagnon rode the whirlwind, grading all of those whoppers and wheelings and dealings.

But we're only getting started. As Day 2 dawned, there was still plenty of meat on the bone, including the decisions of a veteran signal-caller and a tailback who nearly broke the single-season rushing record not too long ago.

The day started out, um, slow. If Thursday afternoon was the equivalent of a Black Friday electronics sale, Friday dawned like a midnight madness clearance at a used sock warehouse.

That isn't to say nothing happened. Just that it took a while to get rolling.

Let's jump in anyway and see who found new homes, beginning with the latest defensive back to strike it rich this week.

Logan Ryan to Tennessee Titans

George Gojkovich/Getty Images

Three years, $30 million [Terry McCormick of Titans Insider]

When the New England Patriots signed Stephon Gilmore to a $65 million contract on Thursday, the writing was on the wall that Logan Ryan wasn't coming back to Beantown.

It didn't take long for Ryan to find work, however—as well as a nice payday of his own.

The 26-year-old Ryan, who started 13 games for the Pats last year while moving between the No. 2 and No. 3 spot on New England's depth chart, actually paced the Super Bowl champions with 92 tackles in the regular season.

Oftentimes, high tackle totals with cornerbacks can be a sign of coverage deficiencies. In other words, he keeps making stops after allowing completions.

However, with Ryan it's more a testament to his willingness to get dirty in run support. In fact, Ryan ranked inside the top 25 corners in the NFL in coverage grades at Pro Football Focus in 2016.

I don't know that I'm prepared to call Ryan a "shutdown" cornerback. I am, however, prepared to say that he'll become the best corner the Titans have as soon as he steps off the plane in Nashville.

Improving the secondary was a priority this offseason for a Titans team with aspirations of making noise in the AFC South in 2017. This signing accomplishes that, and while $10 million a season isn't chump change, it's also not an overpay given the importance of Ryan's position in today's NFL.

I hear teams throw a lot nowadays.

Grade: B+

Martellus Bennett to Green Bay Packers

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Three years, $21 million [NFL Media's Ian Rapoport]

Stop the presses. Alert the media.

Repent, for the end is nigh.

The fifth sign of the Apocalypse happened Friday.

Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson spent money in free agency.

Given that tight end Martellus Bennett was reportedly seeking $9 million a season, per NFL Media's Mike Garafolo (via Rotoworld), it was originally thought Thompson probably spent a whole bunch of money.

Thompson does that about as often as politicians tell the truth.

Turns out, not so much.

For every rule, there's an exception, and the "Black Unicorn" was a fine time to exercise one. Jared Cook demonstrated last year in Green Bay the damage Aaron Rodgers can do with a big-bodied, athletic tight end.

And Bennett is a better player than Cook ever thought about being.

The reality is that Rodgers isn't getting any younger. It may have been well and good to be judicious in free agency in the past, but the argument can be made that too much wheel-spinning in recent years has wasted at least a couple of years of Rodgers' prime.

When negotiations with Cook on an extension bogged down, Thompson faced a choice: More of that wheel-spinning or get aggressive and procure not just a replacement but an upgrade.

Thompson took what is (for him at least) the road less traveled. And not only was he able to bring Bennett to Titletown, but he also did so (per ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky) for less than what Cook wanted.

Rapoport's number is slightly higher, but even if the latter's right, we're talking about a marginally bigger annual salary for a significantly better player.

The day's best signing...hands down.

See what happens when you pry that wallet open?

Grade: A

John Simon to Indianapolis Colts

Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Three years, $13.5 million [Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star]

The Indianapolis Colts need a little help on defense. Nothing major. Just some help on the defensive front, at inside and outside linebacker and at cornerback and safety in the secondary.

Other than that, they're all set.

The Colts added some of that defensive help Friday, adding an unsung but rising young outside 'backer in John Simon.

Simon played in the shadow of J.J. Watt, Whitney Mercilus and Jadeveon Clowney in Houston, and his 51 tackles and 3.5 sacks last year aren't eye-popping stats. But as Texans head coach Bill O'Brien told Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, Simon is a hard-nosed defender who is always grinding.

"He is kind of an unsung hero type of player," O'Brien said. "He's a guy who personifies doing your job. He does a good job every week of going out and doing what he's coached to do. John loves playing the game. He's in here all the time. He just loves being around it. He's tough."

Simon's arrival probably spells the end of Erik Walden's time in Indy, and the 26-year-old isn't going to single-handedly fix the Colts pass rush.

But Simon has had at least 49 stops in each of the two years, with 8.5 sacks over that span. If his stats increase to go along with the increased workload he'll likely see in Indianapolis, it's possible we'll look back on this as one of the better bargains of free agency this year.

Grade: B

Matt Barkley to San Francisco 49ers

Hannah Foslien/Getty Images

Two years, terms not disclosed [Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area]

It was back to the Windy City well for the San Francisco 49ers on Friday.

OK, late Thursday...if you want to get all technical about it.

After bringing in journeyman veteran Brian Hoyer as the team's presumptive 2017 starter, the 49ers agreed to terms on a two-year deal with the quarterback who entered the Chicago Bears' lineup as starter after Hoyer got hurt last year.

Let's be honest—Matt Barkley isn't an especially good NFL quarterback. As Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle pointed out, Barkley's 63.7 passer rating ranks dead last among the 63 signal-callers who have attempted at least 250 passes since 2013.

In his last three starts in 2016, Barkley threw 10 interceptions. His touchdown-to-interception ratio in 2016 was minus-six.

These are not stats that inspire confidence.

But we also have to be honest about why Barkley was signed. He isn't (hopefully) ever going to start a game for the Niners. If the team drafts a young quarterback early in 2017, it's possible Barkley will open this year just as he did the last—as a third-stringer.

Barkley does, however, provide the 49ers with depth under center and the experience that comes with last year's six starts.

Assuming that the money involved isn't significant (a safe assumption), the Niners could do worse.

Grade: B-

Prince Amukamara to Chicago Bears

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

One year, $7 million [NFL Media's Ian Rapoport]

The Chicago Bears, much like their compatriots at the top of the 2017 NFL draft, need roster help in more places than not, including the secondary.

The team addressed that need on Friday, signing six-year veteran Prince Amukamara to a one-year, fully guaranteed $7 million contract.

On one hand, this deal inspires about as much enthusiasm as the other signings the Bears have made this year, which is to say, "yawn." Amukamara failed to tally an interception in his lone season with the Jacksonvlle Jaguars last year, and the 27-year-old ranked a so-so 44th among NFL corners in 2016, per Pro Football Focus, while allowing a passer rating against of nearly 109.

However, takeaways have never been Amukamara's thing (he has more than one in only one season), and he's a big-bodied corner who has a positive grade in pass coverage at PFF in each of the past five seasons.

That ranking of 44th was also almost 20 spots higher than any qualifying cornerback in the dumpster fire that was the defensive backfield for the Bears in 2016.

It's rare that I'll find fault with a "prove-it" deal, and this is no exception.

The best signing the Bears have made so far.

Grade: B+

Terrelle Pryor to Washington Redskins

Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

One Year, $8 million [Tom Pelissero of USA Today]

Speaking of "prove-it deals."

The Washington Redskins badly needed some good news after a brutal first day of free agency during which the team lost its top two wide receivers and fired its general manager amid a flood of ugly rumors.

On the day that quarterback Kirk Cousins signed his $24 million franchise tender for 2017, both he and the team finally got some.

Friday, the Redskins agreed to terms on a one-year, $8 million contract with Terrelle Pryor, who piled up over 1,000 receiving yards for the Cleveland Browns in 2016.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported the deal contains a $3 million signing bonus, $3 million salary and $2 million in easily attainable performance bonuses.

Of course, Pryor will be aiming to do more than just make an extra $2 million in 2017. After the long-term deal he sought failed to materialize (in Cleveland or anywhere else), Pryor went the Alshon Jeffery route, hoping that another 1,000-yard season will lead to a prodigious paycheck a year from now.

Washington, on the other hand, was able to staunch the bleeding on offense with a reasonably priced contract for a player who was arguably the best remaining option in a rapidly dwindling pool of receiver talent.

Grade: A

Lawrence Timmons to Miami Dolphins

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Two years, $12 million (ESPN's Adam Schefter)

This was easily the most surprising deal of Friday.

It's not that the Pittsburgh Steelers would let inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons depart. The Steelers have long been coldly realistic where aging veterans are concerned. Get too old and/or expensive, and it's bye, Felicia.

Even James Harrison left. Then came back to play forever and ever until the end of time.

The surprising part of this is that Timmons' deal is only for $12 million over two seasons—a reasonable price for a capable vet with 100-plus tackles in each of the last five seasons.

It would appear that with an in-house replacement waiting in Vince Williams, the Steelers just weren't interested in bringing the 30-year-old back.

You won't hear the Dolphins complaining about that decision. Adding Timmons at middle linebacker means Miami can move Kiko Alonso to the weak side, where his agility will be more of a plus and his lack of physicality can be disguised better.

Even with $11 million of the $12 million guaranteed and Timmons the wrong side of the big 3-0, I like this deal a lot for the 'Fins.

It hasn't been done with splashes or fanfare, but the Miami defense (especially in the front seven) has gotten better this week.

Grade: A-

TRADE: Kony Ealy to New England Patriots

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

Kony Ealy and 3rd-round 2017 pick to New England Patriots for 2nd-round 2017 pick [Schefter]

It wasn't Thursday's Brockbuster (see what I did there?), but there was another trade on Friday.

One that's just another example of the Patriots being the Patriots.

A year ago, Kony Ealy's star appeared on the rise. After a monstrous, three-sack performance in Super Bowl 50, it appeared the lightbulb had finally come on for the former second-round pick.

However, as Joe Person wrote for the Charlotte Observer, after another season of frustrating inconsistency from Ealy, the Panthers had had enough, moving him for an eight-spot jump in this year's draft.

"It’s a stunning fall from grace for a player who might have been the MVP of Super Bowl 50 had the Panthers beaten the Denver Broncos," Person said. "He had five sacks all of last season and frustrated coaches with a stubborn streak that general manager Dave Gettleman compared to Josh Norman’s early in the cornerback’s career."

It can't really be argued that outside one game Ealy's production hasn't met his potential. And I'm not going to slam the Panthers for deciding to get what they could.

The problem is that while the Patriots got a young pass-rusher entering a contract year, the Panthers didn't even move up 10 spots in this year's draft. They essentially gave Ealy away.

Watch. The Pats will coach him up (or he'll buckle down chasing a check), Ealy will pile up 11 sacks in New England, and a year from now I'll be writing about whether the Patriots should tag him or not.

They won't.

Like I said—just the Patriots being the Patriots.

It's so annoying sometimes.

Grade: D (Panthers); A (Patriots)

TRADE: Brandin Cooks to New England Patriots

Norm Hall/Getty Images

Brandin Cooks and 4th-round 2017 pick from Saints to Patriots for 1st- and 3rd-round 2017 picks [ESPN's Diana Russini]

OK, this is getting ridiculous.

The talent-starved New England Patriots made their third trade in the last two days Friday, dealing their two remaining picks on the first two days of the 2017 NFL draft to New Orleans for speedster Brandin Cooks and a fourth-rounder.

Seriously.

The Patriots get a young receiver who has topped 1,100 yards in each of the past two seasons to pair with Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman and recent arrival Dwayne Allen.

Because poor Tom Brady was so deprived of guys to throw to.

The Saints get an extra first-rounder (albeit the last one) and another Day 2 pick and rid themselves of an unhappy player who probably would have bolted after the 2017 season anyway—a move the team could afford to make given Mike Thomas' stellar rookie season.

Everybody wins, including the razzle-frazzing Patriots, who have now added a No. 1 receiver, an athletic tight end, a shutdown corner and a young pass-rusher in the first two days of free agency...

To a team that just won the Super Bowl.

Of course, the Pats now have now traded three of their first four picks in this year's draft and only received Carolina's third-rounder in return.

But please, tell me more about how Jimmy Garoppolo is no-way-no-how going to get dealt to Cleveland in a few weeks for a bucket full of picks.

Nah. The Patriots would NEVER do something like that.

Grade: B+ (Saints); A (Patriots...this is getting old)

Jabaal Sheard to Colts

George Gojkovich/Getty Images

Three years, $25.5 million [Garafolo]

Just in case you were wondering why the Patriots pulled the trigger on acquiring Ealy.

It's not a surprise that Jabaal Sheard is on his way out the door in Boston. The 27-year-old appeared to fall out of favor in New England as the season progressed, eventually losing his starting job on the defensive line to youngster Trey Flowers.

What is a bit surprising is that the Colts were willing to offer Sheard over $8 million a season anyway.

Yes, the Colts need pass-rush help as bad as any team in the NFL. And Sheard has shown more than a little upside in that regard, averaging six sacks per season and notching eight as recently as 2015.

However, those eight sacks have just about represented Sheard's ceiling as a pass-rusher (he's never hit nine), he's spent the majority of his career playing with his hand in the dirt, and Sheard is coming off an uneven contract year in which his effort level drew the ire of Darth Hoodie.

It isn't a terrible signing, but $13 million in guarantees for Sheard feels like the latest in a long and growing list of attempts by the Colts to generate a pass rush that isn't going to pan out.

Grade: C-

Julius Peppers to Carolina Panthers

Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

One year, $3.5 million [ESPN's Josina Anderson]

Kony Ealy must feel like Eric Forman in that episode of That 70's Show where he gets replaced at Price Mart by his dad.

OK, so Julius Peppers isn't old enough to be Ealy's father. However, at 37 years young Peppers is nearing the end of the proverbial line in the NFL. In fact, when Peppers last played for the Panthers (who drafted Peppers No. 2 overall in 2002), Ealy was still in school.

Junior high school.

However, old or not, teammate Thomas Davis (who played with Peppers back in the olden days) didn't hide his happiness about playing with him again. "Had to come all the way to Miami," Davis tweeted Friday, "and bring my big brother Julius Peppers back home."

Davis has reason to be pleased. Peppers' 7.5 sacks last year with the Green Bay Packers would have ranked him second on the Panthers, and while Peppers might not be the dominant every-down defensive force he was a decade ago, he hasn't tallied fewer than seven sacks since 2007.

Per Anderson, Peppers can pick up an extra $750,000 from the Panthers this year by hitting certain performance incentives.

I wouldn't bet against him.

Grade: A-

Mike Adams to Carolina Panthers

Tom Dahlin/Getty Images

Two years, terms not disclosed [Max Henson of the Panthers' website]

The Carolina Panthers are apparently shooting to get 10 percent off defensive team dinners at Denny's.

That is not a joke safety Mike Adams would find especially funny.

As Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer wrote, Adams bristled at questions about his age during his introductory press conference.

“Slow down. No, no, no. You guys pay attention to that,” Adams said. "So what I have to say to that is, ‘Stop looking at my bio and watch the film.’ That’s what I have to say to everybody. My body of work speaks for itself. If you see my film and watch my film, now look at my bio, you won’t know how old I am.”

Adams then mumbled something about the reporters being "whippersnappers" and yelled at them to get off his lawn.

Kidding aside, Adams has a point. The 13-year veteran has posted 75 or more tackles in each of the past three seasons, and Adams was a Pro Bowl invitee in 2014 and 2015. He ranked a respectable 20th among NFL safeties at Pro Football Focus last season.

None of that changes the fact that in two weeks Adams turns 36 years old. Father Time is undefeated in the NFL, and for every player who declines gradually there's one where the bottom falls out.

Carolina general manager Dave Gettleman has done a solid job of patching together a safety corps in Charlotte consisting mostly of veteran castoffs the past few years. So assuming the money isn't wonky, I'm inclined to give the benefit of the doubt.

But there's risk involved here, no doubt.

Grade: B-

Mike Remmers to Minnesota Vikings

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Five years, $30 million [Garafolo]

If you watched the Minnesota Vikings play in 2016, you are keenly aware that offensive line was probably the team's biggest area of need this spring.

Maybe not as aware as Sam "GET THEM OFF ME!" Bradford, but aware.

Well, for the second straight day the Vikings were on the case in that regard, bringing over tackle Mike Remmers of the Panthers on a five-year pact at $6 million a year.

Now, neither the acquisition of Remmers on Friday nor Riley Reiff the day before is a move that will have anyone celebrating in the streets—except maybe Bradford. Both tackles ranked outside the top 50 at the position last year, per Pro Football Focus.

However, mediocre though they may be, Reiff and Remmers are at least as good as the tackles the Vikings had on the roster. And Remmers has been durable, topping 1,100 snaps for the Panthers in each of the past two seasons.

Offensive tackles with a pulse who have a history of staying healthy are going to fetch big money on the open market. There are any number of buyers and not much on the shelves.

Are the Vikings' line woes fixed? Nope. But in a year where the draft class at tackle is weak, Minnesota is at least treading water. And with Remmers it did so without overpaying.

Sometimes that's the best you can do.

Grade: B-

Menelik Watson to Denver Broncos

Brian Bahr/Getty Images

Three years, $18.3 million (Cam Wolfe of the Denver Post)

Know how I just mentioned that a lack of free-agent options at tackle combined with a poor draft class could be a problem for NFL teams looking to upgrade there this year?

Yeah—that was a segue.

After losing Russell Okung to the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday, the Denver Broncos were in just such a bind. If all the smoke-blowing in regards to Tony Romo is to become more than that, it would probably be a good idea not to get him killed in his first game in Denver.

The rub with that is that adding Menelik Watson on a three-year deal at just over $6 million a season doesn't necessarily do that.

At all.

Watson has missed a staggering 37 of a possible 64 games since joining the NFL four years ago, including the entirety of the 2015 season. In the one year where Watson managed to stay on the field for 12 games (2014), the former Oakland Raiders tackle ranked 70th at his position among qualifiers at Pro Football Focus.

To recap, the Broncos just dropped six million and change per season on a tackle who can't stay healthy even half the time and isn't especially good on those rare occasions when he can.

I think Romo just had a back spasm, and he's still in Dallas.

Grade: D

Other Signings

Dave Reginek/Getty Images

Here's a look at the signings on Friday that made more ripples than waves.

S Nate Allen to Miami Dolphins: One year, $3.4 million [Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald]

Allen inked a four-year, $23 million contract with the Oakland Raiders two years ago, but he struggled both to stay on the field and with his level of play while with the Silver and Black. The Dolphins need bodies opposite Reshad Jones, but over $3 million is a lot to pay just a guy.

Grade: D+

CB Nolan Carroll to Dallas Cowboys: Three years, $10 million [Pelissero]

With both Morris Claiborne and Brandon Carr hitting free agency, the Cowboys needed to have a relatively inexpensive Plan B at the ready at cornerback. One problem—the reason Carroll is inexpensive is that he can't cover anyone.

Grade: C-

CB D.J. Hayden to Detroit Lions: One year, $5.25 million [ESPN's Adam Caplan]

That $5.25 million is in a best-case scenario in which Hayden hits the incentives in this "prove-it" deal with the Lions. Hayden's done next to nothing at the NFL level since being drafted 13th overall back in 2013, but given his age and potential, it's hard to fault the Lions for taking a flier on the 26-year-old.

Grade: B+

TRADE: DE William Hayes and 7th-round pick to Miami Dolphins for 6th-round pick [NFL.com]

The Los Angeles Rams were reportedly set to cut Hayes, so at least they were able to get something for the 31-year-old. However, it's the Dolphins who would appear to have gotten the better end here, acquiring a rotational pass-rusher with 34.5 sacks for the equivalent of a bag of Funyuns.

Grade: C (Rams); B+ (Dolphins)

WR Charles Johnson to Carolina Panthers: One year, $2.2 million [Henson]

The Panthers just made things rather confusing around the locker room, as they now have both the NFL's Charles Johnsons. Carolina can use all the wideout help it can get, but a player who hasn't even hit 500 receiving yards in four NFL seasons may not provide much.

Grade: C-

DT Stephen Paea to Dallas Cowboys: One year, $2 million [ESPN.com's Todd Archer]

After losing Terrell McClain to the Washington Redskins, the Cowboys needed to find a one-technique big body who wouldn't break the bank. Paea fits that bill, but this makes four teams in seven seasons, and Paea has just 31 stops and two sacks over his last two seasons combined.

Grade: C

WR Terrance Williams re-signs with Cowboys: Four years, $17 million [Rapoport]

The good news is that the cap-strapped Dallas Cowboys were able to acquire a No. 2 receiver to line up outside opposite Dez Bryant for less than $5 million a season. The bad news is that in 2017 that receiver will once again be Terrance "Mittens" Williams.

Grade: C

OT Eric Winston re-signs with Cincinnati Bengals: One year, terms not disclosed [ESPN.com's Katherine Terrell]

The 32-year-old Winston tweeted Friday that he'll be headed back to the Queen City in 2017. After losing guard Kevin Zeitler and tackle Andrew Whitworth Thursday, the Bengals at least stopped the bleeding, but the notion of the veteran starting isn't one Andy Dalton wants to think about too much.

Grade: C