NFL Report Card: Grading the Top Free-Agent Acquisitions at the Quarter Mark

Now that the 2011 NFL season is at the quarter mark, it's time to give out grades on some of the top free-agent acquisitions of the offseason.

Free agents are often referred to as "fool's gold" because teams often overpay for a player and don't receive many dividends on the field.  Basically, they're either busts or don't live up to expectations.

However, that's not always the case, as there are some players who come through and perform well.  Heck, some may even exceed expectations and outperform their free-agent contracts.

There were many players to change teams during the hectic 2011 free agency period.  Here's a look at 10 of the top free-agent players to change business addresses and how they've graded out so far.

CB Johnathan Joseph, Houston Texans

Johnathan Joseph was widely considered the second-best cornerback available on the free-agent market.  He signed a five-year, $48.75 million contract with the Houston Texans with the expectations he would help improve a porous Texans pass defense.

At the end of 2010, Houston ranked dead last in pass defense.  Now?  They're currently ranked No. 10.  That's a pretty good improvement, and Joseph has been a large part of that.

Through four games, Joseph has 13 tackles, two INTs, five passes defensed and one tackle for a loss.  That's pretty good production, and those stats project well over the rest of the season.

What's even more important is that the Texans are 3-1, largely due to an improved defense.

Grade: A

LB Paul Posluszny, Jacksonville Jaguars

Paul Posluszny was brought in to Jacksonville to provide a little more youth and athleticism to the middle linebacker position.  The Jaguars defense ranked No. 22 against the run last season, and that is the area in which Posluszny excels.

So, how are things coming along four weeks into his six-year, $42 million contract?  I would say they're simply okay. The Jags' defense is now ranked No. 16 against the rush after Week 4.

The "Poz" is not a flashy player who will make highlight-reel plays.  He'll just give you 110 percent on every play and make a lot of tackles.

His stats so far are about par for the course for him: 30 tackles, one sack and three passes defensed.  However, I will note that he is actually on pace to have his best statistical season of his career (with the exception of total tackles).

Grade: B

DE Ray Edwards, Atlanta Falcons

Ray Edwards was generally considered the second- or third-best defensive end on the free-agent market.  There were many mixed opinions about him, though.

Many people thought he was a good player and defended the run and pass equally well.  Others felt he just benefited from playing across from Pro Bowl DE Jared Allen in Minnesota.

The past two seasons, Edwards collected a total of 16.5 sacks and was a staunch run defender.

Atlanta's defense ended the 2010 season ranked No. 10 against the rush and No. 20 in sacks.  They viewed Edwards as the perfect complement to RDE John Abraham and thought he could also provide some oomph in the pass-rush department.

So far, Edwards has been doing one of the two.  He still plays the run well, but, other than his 64-yard fumble return for a TD against Philadelphia, he hasn't been much of a factor.

Through four games, Edwards has a total of nine tackles and not much else.  That is, unless you want to highlight his one tackle for a loss (and only a one-yard loss at that).

Edwards signed a five-year, $30 million contract that included $11 million guaranteed.  Run-stuffing defensive ends are good to have, but most teams want some pass-rushing production as well.

Edwards has yet to deliver in that department.

Grade: C 

DE Jason Babin, Philadelphia Eagles

Jason Babin was also generally viewed as the second- or third-best defensive end available on the market.  Many people actually debated about who was better: He or Ray Edwards (Charles Johnson was considered the consensus No. 1 until he re-signed with Carolina).

The knock on Babin was that many thought he was just a one-year wonder in Tennessee.  He flourished under defensive line coach Jim Washburn and his "wide-nine" scheme.

The Philadelphia Eagles signed him to a five-year, $28 million contract in hopes that he would provide an excellent pass rushing complement to DE Trent Cole.

So far, he has delivered!  Through four games, Babin has already totaled seven sacks and one forced fumble.

Babin is almost the polar opposite of Ray Edwards in that he is a better pass-rusher than run defender.  However, in the NFL, sacks equal money.  Babin is on pace to break the NFL record for sacks in a season (22, by Michael Strahan). 

To boot, he received less money than Ray Edwards did.  It appears the Eagles got the more productive player for less cost.

Grade: A+

WR Sidney Rice, Seattle Seahawks

Sidney Rice had a break-out performance in 2009 while with Minnesota when he caught 83 passes for 1,312 yards and eight TDs.  He had a down year in 2010 due to a hip injury and missed most of the season.

The Seattle Seahawks signed him to a five-year, $41 million contract in hopes he'd give them a legitimate receiving threat.

Most observers weren't sure what to expect from Rice this year since he would have to catch passes from underwhelming QB Tarvaris Jackson.  Plus, he injured his shoulder and missed the first two games this season.

However, in the last two games in which he has played, he's caught 11 passes for 188 yards and a TD.  That's pretty good for his first two games as a Seahawk.

With a steadily improving Jackson at QB, Rice looks to live up to his expectations and deliver a good season for Seattle.

Grade: B+ (Would probably be higher if he played in all four games so far)

DT Barry Cofield, Washington Redskins

Barry Cofield was coming off of the best year in his career in 2010 when he recorded 54 tackles and four sacks.  The problem was, it just happened to be in the last year of his contract.

When a player performs his best in what's known as a "contract year," it becomes buyer beware for that player.

Cofield was mostly seen as a run-stuffing, block-eating type of defensive tackle.  However, in 2010, he showed he could get after the QB a little bit, too.

That is why the Washington Redskins signed him to a six-year, $36 million contract to play nose tackle in the Redskins' version of the 3-4 defense.

So far, the jury is out on Cofield.  His stats are less than impressive with only three tackles and no sacks.  Though, he has made some plays here and there.  At times, he has been able to get some good penetration, be disruptive and have an impact on plays.

Grade: C+

DT Cullen Jenkins, Philadelphia Eagles

Cullen Jenkins was widely considered the best available DT/DE on the market.  He had a good career with the Green Bay Packers, where he started out as a defensive tackle but switched over to defensive end when they went to a 3-4 defense.

Jenkins was known more for his pass-rushing skills than his prowess as a run-stopper.  What made him a little more attractive on the open market was that he was deemed as scheme-versatile.

The Philadelphia Eagles signed him to a five-year, $25 million contract to play defensive tackle in their 4-3 defense.

The Eagles also mainly brought him in to be a pass-rushing force in the middle.  They wanted someone who could penetrate and provide pressure on opposing QBs from the inside and therefore allow sack-meisters Trent Cole and Jason Babin do their thing.

So far, it's worked well in that area. 

Jenkins himself has four sacks already, just three shy of his total from all of last season.  He's been a major part of the Eagles' league-leading 15 sacks through four games this season.

Grade: A

LB Stephen Tulloch, Detroit Lions

Stephen Tulloch had a great year in 2010.  He recorded a whopping 160 tackles, including 111 solo stops.  He recorded just one sack and one INT but was generally regarded as a very good middle linebacker.

I wouldn't go as far as saying he was a "complete" player, since his weakness is in coverage, but he is certainly a stout and physical presence in the middle. 

The Detroit Lions signed him to only a one-year, $3.25 million contract.

His tackles are a little down this year so far, but he does have a sack and interception.  He is also part of the reason that the Lions' defense has been playing so well and ranked No. 11 overall this season.

Grade: B

QB Matt Hasselbeck, Tennessee Titans

Matt Hasselbeck was coming off of a down-year in 2010, even though he led Seattle to the playoffs and even beat New Orleans in the wild-card round.  The problem was mainly that he appeared old and brittle.

However, he seems to have found new life in Tennessee.

Through four games, he has completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 1,152 yards and eight TDs.  His quarterback rating is a nice 104.7 so far.

Even better, he has the Titans at 3-1 right now and fans are excited, even with the loss of WR Kenny Britt.

The Titans are getting more than they bargained for after signing the veteran QB to a three-year, $21 million deal with only $6 million guaranteed.

Grade: A+ 

CB Nnamdi Asomugha, Philadelphia Eagles

Nnamdi Asomugha was hands-down the No. 1-rated free agent at any position this past offseason.  He was the top prize available and the apple of many teams' eye.

Asomugha was universally considered one of the two best cornerbacks in the league, right up there with Darrelle Revis.  His lack of stats (INTs) were considered to be due to the fact nobody would ever throw in his direction because he was that good.

He had his choices for suitors in the offseason, but eventually chose to sign with Philadelphia for five years and $60 million.

So, how has this highly touted, God's gift to cornerbacks, been doing so far? 

Not so hot.

He has given up more plays this year so far than supposedly all of last season combined.  He only has one INT to his credit and has generally been lost in the Eagles' defensive scheme.

To his defense, part of his lack of productivity is due to the scheme change for how he is expected to play.  Asomugha is a press corner by nature and the Eagles have him playing in a zone.

He has struggled mightily with it so far and doesn't show any signs of getting better.  He certainly hasn't been living up to his billing, at least not yet.

Grade: D (would be an F if not for the one INT and giving him leeway for the difference in scheme)