Whether it was at the start of the new NFL year at 4:00 p.m. or late last night, free agency hasn’t stopped and is in full swing. Some deals were better than others and some were downright brutal. In the future we will grade and analyze the contracts as they come, but for now we are recapping and grading the skill player contracts.
NFL Free Agency Rankings: Secondary
Broncos sign CB Aqib Talib (6 years, $57M; $26M guaranteed) & sign S T.J. Ward (4 years, $23M; $14M guaranteed): Rebuilding your secondary comes a huge cost. Ward's deal allowed for Talib to be signed as well as allowing DeMarcus Ware to come to town. Ward’s deal is great and Talib’s is “only” very good.
Grade: Ward: A+; Talib: B-
NFL Draft Team Preview: Seattle Seahawks
Saints sign S Jairus Byrd (6 years, $54M; $28M guaranteed): Where did the Saints find this money? It was believed the purge of cap space on offense was to sign Jimmy Graham long term, but that doesn’t seem possible now. Byrd was the top free agent on the market so its hard to hate the deal, but Saints need to get their priorities straight.
Grade: C+
Buccaneers sign CB Alterraun Verner (4 years, $26.5M; $14M guaranteed): Love these moves by Tampa Bay. Verner is 25-years old and took a contract that was a fraction of his fellow corners. He fits Lovie Smith’s Tampa-2 incredibly well and will be an adequate Darrelle Revis replacement.
Grade: A
Colts re-sign CB Vontae Davis (4 years, $39M; $20M guaranteed): Davis’ deal is identical to Sam Shields, but Davis has more guaranteed money. With Verner taking only $6.5 million a year, it’s hard to give any corner grade more than a B.
Grade: B
Browns sign ILB Karlos Dansby (4 years, $24M; $14M guaranteed) & sign S Donte Whitner (4 years, $28M; $11M guaranteed): Browns fans have to love the team spending money after the roller coaster ride of an offseason they had. They paid more for these replacements then they would have for D’Qwell Jackson and T.J. Ward. Guess that's the price of having to play for Cleveland. Nice fits though.
Grade: Dansby: B-; Whitner: C+
49ers Trade for Jonathan Martin. Is Bully Gate Over?
Jaguars sign RB Toby Gerhart (3 years, $10.5M; $4.5M guaranteed): Too much money for an unproven running back. The money is similar to what the Titans gave Shonn Greene last season, but Green was established as a low top running back.
Grade: D
Titans sign WR/KR Dexter McCluster (3 years, $12M; $4.5M guaranteed): McCluster is in store for massive change. Gone is the wide receiver and in is the Danny Woodhead/Darren Sproles running back who could possibly end the Titan special teams woes. Ken Whisenhunt will have fun with McCluster’s potential.
Grade: B
Did you like your teams signings? Who is out there that you still want? Tell us @SportsWN
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