Keeping Up With NFL Free Agency
Free agency has finally kicked off football fans. Boy, it sure has started with some fire right out of the gate. There has been big baller trades and some very questionable and overpriced contracts given out. There are some prime time names off the board already, some gone just minutes into free agency. There are still dozens of great players left for teams to bid on though. We are giving you every single player gone in free agency thus far, right here on PigSkin Nut.
By team, we will lay out who is gone thus far.
Arizona Cardinals
Signed:
CB Robert Alford, age 30. Former team- Atlanta. New contract- 3 year, $22.5 million. $13.5 million guaranteed. Sidenote: In six years with Atlanta, Alford has started all sixteen games just twice, but has 10 interceptions and 298 tackles. Grade- B-
TE Charles Clay, age 30. Former team: Buffalo. New contract- 1 year, $2 million. $350k guaranteed. Sidenote: Clay’s last season with the Bills are not one he wants to remember. He only played in 13 games and caught 21 passes. He should have much better numbers if he is healthy. Grade- C
DE Brooks Reed, age 32. Former team- Atlanta. New contract- 1 year, $1,625,000. $250k guaranteed. Sidenote: The Cardinals pick up another defensive player the Falcons deemed too old to produce at a high level. Reed will likely be a rotational player. Grade- C+
OLB Terrell Suggs, age 36. Former team- Baltimore. New contract- TBD. Sidenote: The long-time Raven is looking to make a name for himself out of Baltimore. Grade- B+
Buffalo Bills
Signed:
C Mitch Morse, age 26. Former team- Kansas City. New contract- 4 year, $44 million. Sidenote- Morse will help protect Josh Allen as the quarterback continues to mature and develop. Grade- A-
TE Tyler Kroft, age 26. Former team- Cincinnati. New contract- 3 year, $18.750 million. Sidenote: Kroft is a major upgrade compared to Clay. Grade- B
C Spencer Long, age 28. Former team- Jets. New contract- 3 year, $12.6 million. $1.2 million guaranteed. Sidenote- Bills are doubling down on center as they try to give Allen the best shot possible. It might be a risky move with two decent centers now signed in free agency. Grade- B-
RB Frank Gore, age 36. Former team- Miami. New contract- 1 year, $2 million. Sidenote: Gore is beloved and gives the Bills an exciting one, two punch with LeSean McCoy. Grade- A-
CB Kevin Johnson, age 27. Former team- Houston. New contract- N/A. Sidenote- Miami gets a great young DB to start rebuilding their team. Grade- A-
Chicago Bears
Signed:
CB Buster Skrine, age 30. Former team- Jets. New contract- 3 year, $16.5 million. $8.5 million guaranteed. Sidenote: The Bears upgrade one of the weaker links in the defense, but it is not a long term plan. Grade- B-
RB Mike Davis, age 26. Former team- Seattle. New contract- 2 year, $6 million. Sidenote: Davis will replace Jordan Howard as the backup to Tarik Cohen, but it is still a big test for the former practice squad player. Grade- C+
TE Ben Braunecker, age 25. Resigned. New contract- 2 year, TBD. Sidenote: Bears wanted to keep a piece on the team who could mature into a future starter. Grade- B-
Cincinnati Bengals
Signed:
RT Bobby Hart, age 25. Resigned. New contract- 3 year, $21 million. Sidenote: The Bengals keep a key piece to their line as they look for a possible new quarterback. They will need the help up front to help with his progress. Grade- B
TE CJ Uzomah, age 26. Resigned. New contract- 3 year, $18 million. Sidenote: Uzomah has been a nice filler for the often injured Eifert. With Kroft gone, he doesn’t need to compete as hard for reps. Grade- B-
S Brandon Wilson, age 24. Resigned. New contract- 1 year, TBD. Sidenote: Wilson has been strong on special teams for the Bengals. Grade- C+
Cleveland Browns
Signed:
RB Kareem Hunt, age 24. Former team- Kansas City. New contract- 1 year, $1.1 million. Sidenote: This one does not technically count yet. Hunt could still be suspended and unable to play at all next year. Grade: N/A
Denver Broncos
Signed:
S Kareem Jackson, age 31. Former team- Houston. New contract- 3 year, $33 million. $23 million guaranteed. Sidenote: Another elite safety is off the board. Jackson is older, but worth the deal. Grade- B+
Detroit Lions
Signed:
CB Justin Coleman, age 26. Former team- Seattle. New contract- 4 year, $36 million. Sidenote: On his third team in five years, Coleman had a breakout season last year. Doesn’t warrant a contract this size though. Grade- C
WR Danny Amendola, age 33. Former team- Miami. New contract- 1 year, $5.75 million. $4.5 million guaranteed. Sidenote: Amendola gets to be reunited with fellow Patriot Matt Patricia. Amendola is aging, but with a quarterback like Stafford, can end his career on a high note. Grade- B-
TE Jesse James, age 25. Former team- Pittsburgh. New contract- TBD. Sidenote: It is unknown how much Detroit paid for James, but it will be well worth it. James is worthy of being a starter. Grade- A-
DE Trey Flowers, age 26. Former team- New England. New contract- five year, TBD. Sidenote: Trey Flowers left the Patriots for big payday that I am sure the Lions are giving him. Anything under $80 million is a steal. Grade- A-
Indianapolis Colts
Signed:
WR Devin Funchess, age 24. Former team- Carolina. New contract- 1 year, $13 million. Sidenote: This price seems to high for just a decent receiver. Andrew Luck is a better passer than Newton and he could help make Funchess better. Don’t count on it. Grade- C
Jacksonville Jaguars
Signed:
QB Nick Foles, age 30. Former team- Philadelphia. New contract- 4 year, $88 million. $50.125 million guaranteed. Sidenote: The Jags made a big splash getting their quarterback. Can Foles live up to the hype and the payday though? Tough call and risky decision. Grade- C+
Kansas City Chiefs
Signed:
FS Tyrann Mathieu, age 27. Former team- Houston. New contract- 3 year, $42 million. Sidenote: The Chiefs went out and got the best player at the weakest position on their defense. Grade- A+
RB Carlos Hyde, age 27. Former team- Jacksonville. New contract- 1 year, $2.8 million. Sidenote: Hyde is an experienced runner and will be needed. The current backfield lacks the experience. Grade- B+
Los Angeles Rams
Signed:
FS Eric Weddle, age 34. Former team- Baltimore. New contract- 2 year, $10.5 million. $5.25 million guaranteed. Sidenote: Weddle is talented and made the choice to go after a ring rather than a bigger payday. Grade- B-
Miami Dolphins
Signed:
TE Dwayne Allen, age 29. Former team- New England. New contract- 2 year, $7 million. Sidenote: Allen was brought in a bit above market price. The issue is his last two years in New England are not worth mentioning. Grade- C-
Minnesota Vikings
Signed:
DT Shamar Stephen, age 28. Former team- Seattle. New contract- 3 year, TBD. Sidenote: This isn’t a terrible signing. The Vikings have a need at nose tackle. Stephen is a former Viking and knows the playbook. Smart move for a rotational player. Grade- B-
New Orleans Saints
Signed:
ILB Craig Robertson, age 31. Resigned. New contract- 2 year, $4 million. Sidenote: The Saints keep their special teams captain around for likely the rest of his career. Grade- B-
New York Jets
Signed:
WR Jamison Crowder, age 26. Former team- Washington. New contract- 3 year, $28.5 million. $17 million guaranteed. Sidenote: Crowder gets his first big payday and is needed for the Jets. Sam Darnold needs someone to help get coverage off of Robby Anderson. Grade- B
WR Josh Bellamy, age 29. Former team- Chicago. New contract- TBD. Sidenote: The Jets bring in more depth at receiver, but more so a special teams star. Grade- C+
OLB Anthony Barr, age 27. Former team- Minnesota. New contract- TBD. Sidenote: Barr has been a solid player in Minnesota’s stellar defense. He will hopefully be able to bring some talent and tricks to New York. Grade- B
Oakland Raiders
Signed:
LT Trenton Brown, age 26. Former team- New England. New contract- 4 year, $66 million. $36.25 million guaranteed. Sidenote: Raiders keep making big moves with big money. They traded Osemele and got Brown. He was one of the first free agents signed and is an instant difference maker. Grade- A+
Philadelphia Eagles
Signed:
DT Malik Jackson, age 29. Former team- Jacksonville. New contract- 3 year, $30 million. Sidenote: Jackson broke out as a Jaguar. He can easily outplay his contract. Grade- A-
Traded for:
WR DeSean Jackson, age 32. Former team- Tampa Bay. New contract- 3 year, $27 million. Restructured deal. Sidenote: The Eagles gave up a sixth-round pick to get back a player that should have never been traded. Jackson gets to retire with his former team. He should be happy to be out of Tampa Bay and could still produce. Could. Grade- B-
San Francisco 49ers
Signed:
ILB Kwon Alexander, age 25. Former team- Tampa Bay. New contract- 4 year, $54 million. $27 million guaranteed. Sidenote: Very risky choice. Alexander is coming off of a torn ACL and also has the tendency to miss big tackles. There is a slight chance he bounces back from the injury. Grade- D+
Tennessee Titans
Signed:
WR Adam Humphries, age 26. Former team-Tampa Bay. New contract- 4 year, $36 million. Sidenote: Humphries showed can play while being in Tampa. His quarterbacks though made it hard for him to find much success. He gets paired with Mariota and will likely be a new favorite target. Grade- A-
SS Kenny Vaccaro, age 28. Resigned. New contract- 4 year, $26 million. $11.5 million guaranteed. Sidenote: The Titans decided to pay Vaccaro instead of losing him to the market. Smart choice. Grade- A-
Washington Redskins
Signed:
FS Landon Collins, age 25. Former team- Giants. New contract- 6 year, $84 million. $45 million guaranteed. Sidenote: The Redskins got the best safety on the market and from a rival. Collins is elite in the league and will be a great addition. Grade- A
Stay tuned as PigSkin Nut continues to cover every inch of the NFL Free Agency.