We’re more than a day into the unofficial beginning of the NFL’s free agency period, and it’s safe to say that football fans have been given plenty of new activity around the league to follow. A lot of standout players are still available throughout the open market, but dozens of signings have already been announced. Despite the league’s salary cap not only failing to increase by the projected $10-million annually, but flat-out reducing, spending sprees have not been uncommon across the league over the first day-plus. Teams like Jacksonville, Houston, and New England have been breaking out the big bucks in an attempt to capitalize on the low salary cap numbers before the cap space, and with that, player’s contract demands, increase rapidly over the following years.
Earlier today, I posted what I thought were the biggest head-scratchers throughout the first 24 hours of the league’s legal tampering period, which included the likes of the Patriots’ influx of middling pass catchers and the Packers’ tricky running back situation upon Aaron Jones’ return. I will not be continuing the grading aspect for this part, as you can assume that the players below are categorized as an “A”-level acquisition or higher. In this section, I will be looking at some of my favorite signings across the league. Value isn’t the only thing to be factored into my choices below, the player’s overall fit with the roster and franchise, as well as potential for improvement or injuries as their contracts progress. And speaking of potential for improvement, let’s get this list started, shall we?
Joe Thuney, G – Kansas City Chiefs
Contract: 5-years, $80-million ($48M guaranteed)
Everything that the Chiefs needed in the Super Bowl last year, they just got in Joe Thuney. Arguably the best offensive lineman on the market behind Trent Williams, the fifth-year guard has been stellar and available for New England since day one. Thuney has been the model of durability, barely missing as much as a snap over the course of his NFL career. The Chiefs aren’t only getting a guy who’s a solid bet to be consistently available, something former franchise tackle Mitchell Schwartz was also highly-regarded for, but they’re also getting an extremely versatile piece along the offensive line. I wouldn’t be shocked if Kansas City tries out their prized acquisition at the tackle position sometime, just to make sure that if someone has to move from the inside of the line to the outside again, it’s someone who can handle it. Overall, this might not be an underpay, but Thuney is as valuable of a pickup as anyone could’ve been for this team.
Corey Linsley, C, and Matt Feiler, OT – Los Angeles Chargers
Contracts:
Linsley: 5-years, $62.5-million ($26M guaranteed)
Feiler: 3-years, $21-million ($15M guaranteed)
The Chargers are doing their best to ensure Justin Herbert doesn’t fall victim to a poor offensive line, like many talented young quarterbacks before him. Corey Linsley is the big name of the team’s two free agent acquisitions along the O-line, so we’ll start with the former Packer. The former Green Bay center, for starters, was a First-Team All-Pro just this past season. Only missing more than three games in a season once, Linsley comes with the production and availability that every team dreams to replicate in the trenches. Both Herbert and the Chargers’ running game could be slated for an exciting season if Los Angeles’ other acquired blocker proves to hold things up as well.
Starting 40 games over the past three seasons in Pittsburgh, Matt Feiler was another guy who might not be a household name to the average NFL fan, but the undrafted tackle has filled in for 2018-retiree Marcus Gilbert admirably. The Steelers couldn’t keep all of their promising free agents, and thus Feiler ends up a Charger. An instant upgrade at right tackle over Sam Tevi, Los Angeles’ offensive line looks nearly rebuilt with the recent additions of Feiler, Linsley, and Brian Bulaga (in 2020).
Shaquill Griffin, CB, and Rayshawn Jenkins, S – Jacksonville Jaguars
Contracts:
Griffin: 3-years, $44.5-million ($29M guaranteed)
Jenkins: 4-years, $35-million ($39M total if incentives met, $16M guaranteed)
This Jacksonville secondary is going to be dangerous when all three players reach their primes. Pairing with former ninth-overall pick C.J. Henderson, Shaquill Griffin and Rayshawn Jenkins are two young assets that not only take pressure off of the talented young player, but are also just scratching the surface of what they can achieve in the league. Griffin, at worst, was a solid number-two cornerback who filled in capably as a number one when healthy. This past season was neither his healthiest or his best, which is why the Jaguars were able to land the defender for under $15-million per year. With 249 career tackles and 48 pass deflections, the physicality and cover skills are both there.
Rayshawn Jenkins is a lesser-known safety around the league, but has filled in admirably for the oft-injured Derwin James throughout the past two seasons. Jenkins took a step forward as a tackler in 2020 and is adept in coverage, especially for a strong safety. Small names getting big bucks isn’t always a recipe for success, but Jenkins has proven himself worthy of his own starting spot in a secondary somewhere after his impressive tenure in Los Angeles.
Yannick Ngakoue, DE – Las Vegas Raiders
Contract: 2-years, $26-million (Fully guaranteed)
The Patriots signed Nelson Agholor to a 2-year, $26-million deal this offseason as well. Yes, Agholor’s contract is heavily incentive-laden while Ngakoue’s is fully guaranteed, but these two players were in different leagues before the 2020 season. While Agholor was bordering on first-round draft bust-potential who needed to sign the one-year minimum in order to stick around, Yannick Ngakoue had never fallen below 8 sacks in a season, and still hasn’t. His 8-sack season between Minnesota and Baltimore was among the worst seasons of his career, yet the 2017 Pro Bowler remained a prized free agent candidate and was expected to command a contract closer to what Bud Dupree got in free agency. Now, the Raiders get an affordable pass rusher with Pro Bowl potential for the next two years and the rest of the league is left to wonder how Mike Mayock was able to pull it off.
Kevin Zeitler, G, Baltimore Ravens
Contract: 3-years, $22-million ($16M guaranteed)
The Ravens finally landed a replacement for Marshall Yanda. The longtime mauler for Baltimore was missed in the trenches last year after the team overlooked replacing the position in 2020. Here’s a quality guy to fill in moving forward. Kevin Zeitler took a step back in 2020, but largely remained a positive contributor to the Giants’ o-line. Recently turning 31, the veteran guard has plenty of time to right the ship, as guards are capable of playing into their mid-30s. The longtime resident of the AFC North finds himself on yet another squad within the division, and is projected to be a necessary adjustment for the Ravens’ offensive line, especially if they eventually trade away star offensive tackle Orlando Brown.
Cameron Sutton, CB – Pittsburgh Steelers
Contract: 2-years, $9-million ($3.5M guaranteed)
Speaking of the Steelers’ valuable free agents, Cam Sutton only started six games for the Steelers in 2020 and eight over his entire rookie contract, so why does this contract get graded so highly? Well, despite playing behind Joe Haden and Steven Nelson on the depth chart, the former third-rounder picked up 8 pass deflections, 3 forced fumbles, and an interception. Steelers fans are celebrating this re-signing, as they get a solid deal on a promising young player that they seemed likely to lose.
Jason Verrett, CB – San Francisco 49ers
Contract: 1-year, $5.5-million ($6.5M total if incentives met, guarantees unknown)
San Francisco would have been insane to let Jason Verrett walk in the same season as Richard Sherman and even K’Waun Williams, even with Emmanuel Mosely returning. Verrett played at just about a Pro Bowl level for the 49ers in just his second mainly-healthy season of his career. Outside of those two solid seasons in which he played 27 of 32 games, Verrett has played a total of 12 games over his six-year NFL career. While this deal could’ve been risky if it lasted any longer than a season or two, given Verrett’s horrible injury history, the ‘Niners landed a bargain.
John Ross, WR – New York Giants
Contract: 1-year, $2.5-million ($1M guaranteed)
John Ross was largely ineffective for the Bengals since being selected with the ninth-overall pick, but the speedy wideout could be able to turn things around in a big way with a change of scenery. In 2019, Ross showed flashes of what he could do when healthy posting two 100-yard games in the first few weeks before missing time in the middle of the season on IR. The Washington product’s injuries shouldn’t slow him down yet at the young age of 25, so his career could potentially catch wind with a change of scenery. Giving Daniel Jones someone who can go and run under some deep throws would also be ideal, making this nondescript contract agreement capable of surprising some of us in 2021.
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