2017 NFL Free Agency: Chris Simms' Favorite Signings So Far

John Harbaugh wanted to know how I thought my first-ever free-agent workout went.

The answer? About as good as one could expect from someone who was 45 minutes from a football-related death. Baltimore needed a veteran starting option; I still needed time to recover after Panthers end Al Wallace barreled helmet-first into my spleen in 2006. So I was honest with the guy who might've been my next head coach otherwise. 

"Hey, listen," I told Harbaugh. "If you need someone who can suit up for you in Week 1, then I'm not your guy."

You won't find that level of honesty in every free-agent transaction so far. Some players chased contract years, signing bonuses or job guarantees. But the best moves—the ones I feel have the chance to turn teams around—are balanced. Both player and team know they need one another to reach new heights.

Tennessee ended up as the perfect match for me; I could recover at my own pace and learn the playbook. Look where each of these 15 former free agents landed, and you'll notice they found that same snug fit. Each player was honest about what they needed from their next football home, and it'll show this fall.

DeSean Jackson to the Buccaneers

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Dirk Koetter's pass-first-second-and-third offense made for some pretty entertaining football in 2016.

Except when Jameis Winston reared back to throw deep, that is. According to Pro Football Focus, Winston completed just over one-third of his throws targeted 20 or more yards downfield. And that was with a freak like Mike Evans at his disposal.

Enter DeSean Jackson, who built a career on the big plays Koetter and Winston covet. He'll provide the vertical threat a late-career Vincent Jackson never could, forcing safeties to pick between his side and Evans'. He should flourish in an NFC South devoid of viable cover men.

T.J. Lang and Rick Wagner to the Lions

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Assembly lines and offensive lines. That's what Detroit does.

The Lions' 2017 model figures to be its best yet. T.J. Lang and Rick Wagner provide a major upgrade from the Riley Reiff-Larry Warford tandem of 2016. Both those linemen moved on; thanks to some savvy spending, Detroit now fields a top-five blocking unit. It might be the best group this team has ever had.

Matthew Stafford should like the sound of that. He'll have more time to deliver heart-pounding comebacks with Lang, a former Aaron Rodgers protector, keeping his pocket clean. Wagner's prowess as a run-blocker should also come in handy for a team that was ridiculously one-dimensional last season.

Calais Campbell and A.J. Bouye to the Jaguars

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Wave goodbye to the Gus Bradley era.

This show belongs to Tom Coughlin now. And in Calais Campbell and A.J. Bouye, he's found two players who fit Jacksonville's new direction. Size and strength, over everything else, is valued.

Bouye will play taller than his size on the outside, particularly with Jalen Ramsey locking down the other side. His new teammate from Arizona happens to be one of the largest humans in football; Campbell should add the muscle Malik Jackson couldn't provide when he arrived last offseason.

Imagine the possibilities in Jacksonville. I know Coughlin already is.

Brandon Marshall to the Giants

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Big Blue needed a wideout with size. And toughness. And a willingness to say no to any and all future boat trips.

It got all three in Brandon Marshall. From the moment he stepped foot in the other locker room at MetLife Stadium, my former Broncos teammate brought the brand of leadership that was lacking in a young wideout room.

Odell Beckham Jr. can learn a thing or two from his new teammate, like how to channel emotional play into winning football. He'll be better with Marshall both on and off the field; defenses can no longer roll two defensive backs over No. 13 and expect to slow the Giants.

Marshall simply gets open, be it from the outside or the slot. He'll be doing a lot of that as the NFL's best No. 2 receiver.

Lawrence Timmons to the Dolphins

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Ndamukong Suh's on the line.

Reshad Jones roams the backfield.

But between those two levels lies Kiko Alonso and a handful of replacement-level players. Miami couldn't afford to unleash Suh on defenses with uneven and undisciplined linebacker play. So, it smartly brought Lawrence Timmons to clean up the trash.

The ex-Steelers 'backer can lead a culture change in South Beach. Timmons' physicality is overshadowed only by his coverage skills; both keep him on the field for all three downs. Unlike other Miami defenders, he wraps up and tackles, too.

Alshon Jeffery to the Eagles

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And you thought Carson Wentz was impressive as a rookie.

Just wait until he hooks up with Alshon Jeffery, his new No. 1 target from Chicago. Those two are poised to accomplish incredible things together in the NFC East this season—and beyond.

Jeffery is Wentz's dream receiver. He does his best work running the routes his second-year quarterback loves to throw: skinny poses, crossing routes, in cuts and sideline routes. It's no big deal if Wentz's rookie-year mechanical issues spring up again, either. Jeffery is one of the best jump-ball players and can track a high throw.

Ron Leary and Menelik Watson to the Broncos

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Denver's line play begged the same question once posed by an old lady in some famous Wendy's commercials.

But fear not, Broncos fans. The beef has arrived in the form of two awesome signings: Ron Leary and Menelik Watson.

Leary's nastiness would've been useful in blowout losses to the Patriots and Chiefs late last season. He'll bring an edge to a group that lacked an enforcer last season; John Elway had a few of those during his career and knows their immense value.

Watson could end up as a steal, too. He's freakishly athletic but injury prone. If he stays off the trainer's table, Denver will have hauled in two Week 1 starters for its 2017 line.

Kyle Juszczyk to the 49ers

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Grab a do-it-all fullback. Move him around the formation. Repeat.

It's the quinesstential Kyle Shanahan plan. And now it involves a chess piece of a player in Kyle Juszczyk.

The former Raven can and will man multiple positions in Shanahan's scheme. For starters, he'll be a roving fullback/H-back capable of steamrolling any linebacker. When asked, he'll flex out to tight end. He can even function as a third-down back, both as a blocker and as a backfield receiver.

It'll take some time for the new San Francisco offense to kick in. Until then, enjoy watching Juszczyk do his thing.

Stephon Gilmore to the Patriots

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We know one thing: Bill Belichick loves his defensive backs.

So it's no surprise the Patriots coach would import Stephon Gilmore (especially at the expense of a division rival). Few cornerbacks in football are as effective in complete coverage isolation as the South Carolina alum.

His pesky jump-ball problems? Belichick and defensive coordinator Matt Patricia wouldn't be dangling Malcolm Butler in trade talks if it were a serious issue. Expect Gilmore to regain his timing and cover skills under the watchful eye of those two expert coaches.

Martellus Bennett to the Packers

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Remember how awesome Jared Cook was for the Packers down the stretch?

Martellus Bennett is awesome-r. He's a better route-runner, better with the ball in space and so much better as a blocker. The Green Bay offense hasn't had a total package like that since Jermichael Finley. We know how much Aaron Rodgers loved throwing his way.

Bennett's also only one season removed from a tenure with the Bears. That divisional familiarity should streamline his incorporation into the offense; he already knows every move NFC North ends and linebackers like to use. Green Bay's disappearing act of a run game only stands to benefit.

J.C. Tretter and Kevin Zeitler to the Browns

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The Browns' new team-building strategy is more parts Field of Dreams than Moneyball.

The strategy: If they build a line worthy of playoff contention, a playoff-caliber quarterback will come. As a former quarterback, I can't disagree with the logic there.

J.C. Tretter is a big, strong ex-Packer who kept Aaron Rodgers clean. Kevin Zeitler paved the way for season after season of playoff appearances in Cincinnati. Both moves should tell the AFC North that quarterback or no quarterback, Cleveland is ready to engage in big-boy football.