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USA Today Sports Media Group

Sport

Doug Farrar

2019 NFL free-agency grades: Ranking each signing expected to be made

Throughout the “legal tampering period” into the start of the new league year on Wednesday, we’ll be tracking, adding, and grading every free agent signing that actually happens (with players who have been released) and signings expected to happen (when we can actually report what’s basically already happened. Check back often!

Jordan Hicks, LB, Cardinals

Financial terms: 4 years, $36 million
Old team: Eagles

Certainly one of the more versatile and underrated linebackers in this free-agency period, Hicks will add a ton to Arizona’s front seven, already enhanced with the presence of Terrell Suggs. Hicks’ injury history is the only reason he wasn’t a Tier-1 guy, and the contract numbers reflect that. If Hicks stays healthy in the Valley of the Sun, this is a veritable steal.

Grade: B+

Billy Turner, OL, Packers

Financial terms: 4 years, $28 million
Old team: Broncos

It’s not that Turner is a horrible player—he’s only given up four sacks in the last two seasons—but giving Turner mid-tier offensive line money when he’s basically a swing guard/tackle guy in terms of ideal positioning says that after their defensive spending spree, the Packers are spackling their offensive line together and paying a premium price for it. Ideally, they’ll reinforce their line in the draft, because this isn’t the long-term solution it appears to be.

Grade: C-

Tashaun Gipson, S, Texans

Financial terms: 3 years, $22 million
Old team: Jaguars

The Texans will lose starting cornerbacks Kareem Jackson and Kevin Johnson and starting safety Tyrann Mathieu when free agency becomes official, so they had to do something to stop the bleeding. Taking Gipson for this kind of money is questionable at best—Gipson had a bit of a down year last year, tape showed a decreasing ability to stick and stay with receivers, he’ll be 29 when the 2019 season starts, and one wonders if this deal takes the Texans out of the Earl Thomas market.

Grade: C

Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Saints

Financial terms: TBA
Old team: Saints

Bridgewater had more money on the table from the Dolphins, but reports indicate that he’s happier staying in New Orleans and possibly replacing Drew Brees at some point. Beset by injuries throughout his career, Bridgewater is an above-average quarterback when healthy, one of the best backups in the league, and a nice fit for Sean Payton’s multi-tiered offense. Assuming this is a low veteran deal, it’s a nice get for both sides.

Grade: TBA

Thomas Davis, LB, Chargers

Financial terms: TBA
Old team: Panthers

The Chargers are in need of linebacker help, and Davis—the only player ever to recover successfully from three separate ACL injuries—still has a lot left to offer. Davis missed four games in the 2018 season after violating the league’s policies on performance-enhancing substances, but still managed 56 solo tackles, 29 stops, and solid coverage for the most part. Just as important is Davis’ ability to diagnose offensive tendencies—he’ll be a valued addition on the field and in the locker room.

Grade: TBA

Adrian Amos, S, Packers

Financial terms: 4 years, $37 million
Old team: Bears

The Packers had to upgrade at the safety position after trading Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and limping through the stretch run with Tramon Williams, Kentrell Brice, and Josh Jones. Amos is an immediate upgrade—an outstanding tackler and plus run defender, he can also cover the deep third when asked. This move probably doesn’t preclude the Pack from taking another safety early in the draft, but it’s a great start to revamping a secondary in desperate need–and given the current safety market, this is a relative steal.

Grade: A

Za’Darius Smith, DL, Packers

Financial terms: TBA
Old team: Ravens

After three relatively quiet seasons, Smith busted out at exactly the right time in 2018 with 10 sacks and 61 total pressures. He’s a great fit for a Green Bay defensive line in need of pass-rush help because he can bring it from every gap—an above-average edge guy, Smith is able to move inside and get after the quarterback from there, as well.

Grade: TBA

C.J. Mosley, LB, Jets

Financial terms: 5 years, $85 million
Old team: Ravens

Congratulations to the 49ers’ Kwon Alexander, who was the NFL’s highest-paid inside linebacker for about 15 hours. This is a blockbuster deal, and it assures that the Jets will make the recently-acquired Anthony Barr a full-time edge-rusher, because no team is going to pay two off-ball linebackers this much combined. While Barr has the skill set to be a down-after-down edge guy, Mosley will do for the Jets what he did for the Ravens—provide excellent second-level run defense, boundary-to-boundary pass coverage, and excellent effort at all times. The money’s a bit excessive here, but Mosley’s effect on the Jets’ defense should be similarly transformative.

Grade: B

Sheldon Richardson, DT, Browns

Financial terms: 3 years, $36 million
Old team: Vikings

Wow. The Browns now have a starting defensive line of Myles Garrett, Emmanuel Ogbah, the criminally underrated Larry Ogunjobi, and Richardson, and they can still go deep on the best defensive line draft class anyone can remember. Richardson is an outstanding run defender with some pass-rush ability—he tallied five sacks and 47 total pressures for the Vikings last year—and he’ll anchor the middle with Ogunjobi, bringing serious problems to opposing offensive lines. Given the financials, there’s no downside here.

Grade: A

Ja’Wuan James, OT, Broncos

Financial terms: 4 years, $52 million
Old team: Dolphins

This deal will make James the highest-paid right tackle in the NFL, superseding Lane Johnson of the Eagles. James is a decent enough player, but he’s no Lane Johnson. Per PFF, he allowed seven sacks and had seven penalties last season, and while he’s a pretty good run-blocker, he doesn’t present a dominant trait that makes this contract easy to swallow. In a history of decisions that seem to be very outside the box, John Elway has gone there again.

Grade: C-

Lamarcus Joyner, S, Oakland Raiders

Financial terms: 4 years, $ TBA
Old team: Rams

Pairing Joyner with Karl Joseph gives the Raiders a newly formidable safety duo; both players can play in the box or in deep coverage. Joyner can also move to the slot and has played at linebacker depth at times. Most likely, he’ll be Oakland’s new deep cover man, but he’s the new breed of safety who can do all kinds of things.

Grade: TBA

Anthony Barr, DE, New York Jets

Financial terms: TBA
Old team: Vikings

New Jets defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was going to be in the market for pass-rushers given the overall performance of Gang Green’s line in 2018, and getting Barr is a huge addition if Barr can realize his full potential. Barr managed three sacks and just 23 total pressures in an injury-plagued 2018 season, and he’s proven to be a liability in coverage. We’ll wait to see what the terms are, but if the Jets paid Barr as a premier pass-rusher, they may have fooled themselves here.

Grade: TBA

Kareem Jackson, CB, Broncos

Financial terms: 3 years, $33 million
Old team: Texans

With Chris Harris still in the fold and Bradley Roby possibly on the move, the Broncos needed another top-level cornerback to pair with Harris. Getting Jackson at this rate is a real win, as the veteran had a great season in 2018, both outside and in the slot. Like Harris, Jackson can play both positions very well, and he didn’t give up a single touchdown in 2018 no matter where he played.

Grade: A

Josh Bellamy, WR, Jets

Financial terms: 2 years, $7 million
Old team: Bears

Bellamy hasn’t done a lot through his time with the Bears—he has 76 catches for 996 yards and five touchdowns through five seasons—but he is a good special-teamer, and he has shown some potential as a speed slot weapon. Perhaps in a more expansive passing game, he’ll see more opportunities. The Jets are paying him as a third or fourth receiver, so expect reps in that role.

Grade: C

Devin Funchess, WR, Colts

Financial terms: 1 year, $13 million
Old team: Panthers

The Colts needed a big-bodied receiver to pair with T.Y. Hilton and to give their tight ends more separation, and in that regard, Funchess fits the bill. He caught 44 passes for 549 yards and four touchdowns last season, one year after his career year. Funchess isn’t a dynamic route-runner and his catch rate has been a problem throughout his career, but the obvious hope is that he’ll see more obvious openings and opportunities in Frank Reich’s offense. The one-year amount matches Hilton’s per-year average and puts Funchess in the top 15 in that regard, which he hasn’t yet earned in terms of on-field production. The Colts are seeing something here others aren’t.

Grade: C

Tyrann Mathieu, Chiefs

Financial terms: 3 years, $42 million
Old team: Texans

The Chiefs desperately need reinforcements in their secondary—in talent, versatility, and attitude. Mathieu provides all three in spades. Able to play everywhere from the slot to both safety positions to outside cornerback in a pinch, Mathieu allows new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to unleash heck with his multiple blitz packages, knowing that things are a bit more in control on the back end. Kansas City has a bit more to do with their defense in the draft, but this is an important signing for a team that, had it had an average defense in 2018, could well have made and won the Super Bowl.

Grade: A

Mitch Morse, Bills

Financial terms: Years TBA, over $11 million per year
Old team: Chiefs

The Bills intend to make Morse the league’s highest-paid center depending on what Matt Paradis may do with the Jets, and Morse has enjoyed an excellent career in a Chiefs offense that demands a lot of its center in multiple ways. Morse hasn’t allowed a sack since his rookie season of 2015, and he’ll see a lot of familiar concepts in Brian Daboll’s offense.

Grade: B

Adam Humphries, WR, Titans

Financial terms: 4 years, $36 million
Old team: Buccaneers

In one day, the Bucs lose DeSean Jackson in a trade to the Eagles, and Humphries in free agency to the Titans. More challenges for new head coach Bruce Arians. Primarily a slot receiver with little in the way of deep-threat performance, Humphries is a reliable receiver with a high catch rate, which is mandatory for his type of player.

Grade: B

Terrell Suggs, Cardinals

Financial terms: TBA
Old team: Ravens

One of the better pass-rushers of his generation, “T-Sizzle” comes into his 17^th season at age 36 with plenty in the tank, having amassed 56 total pressures and eight sacks in the 2018 season. Suggs should be a formidable rotational presence opposite Chandler Jones. This is most likely a club-friendly veteran deal, and if that’s case, it’s hard to see any downside.

Grade: TBA

Nick Foles, QB, Jaguars

Financial terms: 4 years, $88 million
Old team: Eagles

You want to see what the guarantees are on this one, but the Jaguars had to do something—they were wasting a top-shelf defense and an above-average run game at the altar of Blake Bortles. Foles is scheme-dependent, but he’ll have offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, who was his quarterbacks coach for a time in Philly. Foles excels in a relatively simple passing offense with a strong rushing attack, lots of play-action and RPO, and good protection upfront. If he’s given all of that, he’ll be at least twice the quarterback Bortles ever was. This should not preclude the Jaguars from taking a developmental quarterback high in the draft.

Grade: A

Frank Gore, Bills

Financial terms: 1 year, $2 million
Old team: Dolphins

Apparently, Frank Gore is going to play running back into the NFL into his late thirties, and why not? The “Inconvenient Truth” gained 722 yards on 156 carries in a dysfunctional Dolphins run game last year, and though he’s lost a lot of his breakaway speed at age 35, he’s still got short-area power and the will to break tackles. He and LeSean McCoy have a combined age of 75, so that’s one point of interest about the Bills’ backfield at this point.

Grade: B

Jesse James, Lions

Financial terms: TBA
Old team: Steelers

James fits your offense if you need a big target with gradual acceleration who can also pass-block. He won’t make Lions fans forget how Eric Ebron succeeded in Indianpolis after he left Detroit, but he’ll be a good value pickup, depending on the contract.

Grade: TBA

Kenny Vaccaro, S, Titans

Financial terms: 4 years, $26 million
Old team: Titans

The Titans liked Vaccaro’s performance over the 2018 season enough to resign him, and it’s a good deal for both sides. Vaccaro was frozen out of free agency last year as the safety market mysteriously plummeted, and he’s now making up for that. The Titans get more seasons with a guy who can play everywhere from hybrid linebacker to slot defender to deep safety.

Grade: A

Jamison Crowder, WR, Jets

Financial terms: TBA
Old team: Redskins

Crowder was Washington’s primary slot weapon last season, catching 21 passes on 32 targets inside for 287 yards and two touchdowns. He’s a smart, tough second or third receiver who can also kick outside, which is exactly what the Jets need.

Grade: TBA

(Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)

Craig Robertson, LB/ST, Saints

Financial terms: 2 years, $4 million
Old team: Saints

Though he’s a decent rotational linebacker, Robertson’s real value with the Saints is as a primary special teams man. Last season, he had five special teams tackles on 384 snaps,

Grade: B

Bobby Hart, Bengals

Financial terms: 3 years, $21 million-plus
Old team: Bengals

NFL teams try—often in vain—to put together a solid offensive line through the draft and free agency. And continuity is more important along the offensive line than it is for most other position groups. That’s the only valid reason I can think of to re-sign, on a three-year deal for decent right tackle money, a guy in Hart who allowed 10 sacks last season, per PFF, and 16 total over the last two years.

Grade: D

Trey Flowers, DE, Lions

Financial terms: 5 years, $16-17 million per year
Old team: Patriots

It was expected that Flowers would get as much money as any player in this free-agent market. He had 11 sacks and 78 total pressures last season, and he gives the Lions valuable and much-needed speed and power off the edge. Flowers can generate pressure from inside and outside, which gives Detroit head coach (and former Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia) all kinds of flexibility.

Grade: A

C.J. Uzomah, TE, Bengals

Financial terms: 3 years, $18 million
Old team: Bengals

Uzomah gets a decent chunk of change to re-up with the Bengals after a bit of a breakout season in 2018 in which he caught 43 passes on 64 targets for 439 yards and three touchdowns. An above-average blocker as well, Uzomah became an important part of Cincinnati’s offense as Tyler Eifert simply couldn’t stay healthy.

Grade: B

Justin Coleman, CB, Lions

Financial terms: 4 years, $36 million
Old team: Seahawks

This is a lot of scratch for a primary slot cornerback, but Coleman was very reliable in that role for the Seahawks over the last two seasons. He’ll be a welcome addition to a Lions secondary that plays a ton of nickel, and he can roll outside in a pinch.

Grade: B

Landon Collins, S, Washington Redskins

Financial terms: 6 years, $84 million
Old team: Redskins

This deal makes Collins the NFL’s highest-paid safety in terms of total value (beating Eric Berry’s $78 million) and total dollars per year ($14 million also beats Berry’s $13 million). The $45 million guaranteed, per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, also goes $5 million past Berry’s. It’s a huge number for a guy who is outstanding against the run and the short to intermediate pass, but has his less than stellar moments in deep coverage. Given the ways in which safeties have been undervalued over the last two seasons, it’s easy to think of this deal as a market-shifter.

Grade: B-

Kwon Alexander, LB, 49ers

Financial terms: 4 years, $54 million
Old team: Buccaneers

One of the league’s most athletic linebackers when healthy, Alexander is coming off a torn ACL that limited him to 366 snaps in 2018. How that affects his formerly elite boundary-to-boundary quickness is yet to be known. If the 49ers are getting the Alexander that patrolled the field for Tampa Bay from 2015 through 2017, he’s a valuable addition. But given the circumstances, this seems like a very high price to pay.

Grade: C

Kevin Johnson, CB, Bills

Financial terms: TBA
Old team: Texans

The grade for this deal is dependent on the financials. Johnson, a first-round pick for the Texans in 2015, has had an up-and-down career with the Texans. He had just 65 snaps last season due to concussions, and he’s been injured in other ways before. The concussion history is the most disconcerting here, and if the Bills are signing Johnson to be anything but a depth guy, this might be a problem.

Grade: TBA

C(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Jason Peters, OT, Eagles

Financial terms: 1 year, $10 million (max)
Old team: Eagles

Still one of the better and more reliable tackles in the league when healthy, Peters played well enough in 2018 to get a contract re-structure/extension that puts him in Philly for one more season. He allowed just three sacks in 970 total snaps last season, and he’s not ceding his position to anyone else just yet.

Grade: B+

Trent Brown, OT, Raiders

Financial terms (TBD): 4 years, $66 million
Old team: Patriots

The only reason this deal isn’t an “F” grade is because Brown is a good player in a vacuum. But aligning himself with legendary New England offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia and the Patriots’ quick passing game made him one of the NFL’s most effective left tackles in 2018. Now, he’s going to become the league’s highest-paid tackle, only to be coached by Tom Cable, which is like checking into the Plaza and somehow waking up in a questionable motel along the freeway. The Raiders are paying Brown as if he’s scheme- and coach-transcendent, which he isn’t.

Grade: D

Eric Weddle, S, Rams

Financial terms: 2 years, $10.5 million
Old team: Ravens

Still one of the better versatile safeties in the league at age 34, Weddle can’t patrol the full field like he used to, but he can read receivers and runners as well as anyone in the league. This is a low-money deal for a team in need of smart, consistent safety play to put its defense over the top, and if Weddle is playing in the Super Bowl next February as a result, don’t be too surprised.

Grade: A

(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Dante Fowler, Jr., DE, Rams

Financial terms: 1 year, $14 million
Old team: Rams

Traded from Jacksonville to give the Rams a boost as edge-rusher for the stretch run, Fowler now re-signs with his newer team. He put up four sacks and 30 total pressures (per PFF) during his time in Wade Phillips’ defense, and while the team will need to augment his efforts in free agency and the draft, Fowler’s a good re-addition—and given the value of the contract, the Rams clearly see potential here.

Grade: B

Danny Amendola, WR, Lions

Financial terms: 1 year, $5.75 million

Old team: Dolphins

Amendola’s been a decent slot and outside receiver since his time with the Patriots, and he had a decent season for the Dolphins in 2018 despite an underwhelming passing game. Look for him to get a ton of short-to-intermediate looks from Matthew Stafford in Detroit’s high-volume passing game, which is exactly what he’s designed to do.

Grade: B+

Malik Jackson, DT, Eagles

Financial terms: 3 years, $30 million

Old team: Jaguars

It seemed as if the entire Jacksonville defense disappointed in 2018 after a torrid 2017, and Jackson was no exception. His sack totals dropped from 10 to four per PFF, and though he maintained a high pressure rate, he wasn’t quite the player he was before. He’ll get a boost as a Michael Bennett replacement in Philly playing alongside a bunch of great linemen, which should boost his production. The down year does bring a bit of worry, though.

Grade: B-

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