NFL training camps start later this month, and we are just over two months away from the start of the NFL season. Many teams don’t look the same as they did last year thanks to major blockbuster trades, as well as some flashy free agent signings. Let’s grade the NFC free agency moves by team.
NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys: There were some positives for Dallas like re-signing DE Demarcus Lawrence, WR Michael Gallup, and tagging TE Dalton Schultz. Losing DE Randy Gregory, OT La’El Collins, and WR Cedrick Wilson stings. Grade: B –
New York Giants: Nothing flashy here. The big loss is CB Logan Ryan who was released for salary cap reasons. They added Tyrod Taylor to their QB room, but nothing blew me away. Grade: C –
Philadelphia Eagles: My favorite move here was LB Haason Reddick while bringing back DT Fletcher Cox can’t be overlooked. There weren’t too many losses either. Grade: B –
Washington Commanders: The new-name Washington club had to release some of their more prominent players while watching G Brandon Scherff, TE Ricky Seals-Jones, and DT Tim Settle walk away. Grade: D
NFC SOUTH:
Atlanta Falcons: If I read you off the names of players who they gained versus who they lost like WR Russell Gage and TE Hayden Hurst, you would not be impressed. Grade: D
Carolina Panthers: The Panthers phones were never on the hook, adding a boatload of players and a lot of guys who want to prove themselves. My favorite move was the addition of S Xavier Woods. Grade: B
New Orleans Saints: Anytime you can add S Tyrann “the Honey Badger” Mathieu to the secondary, it’s not a bad offseason. They did however lose S Marcus Williams which feels like a wash. Grade: C
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The only name that really matters here is Tom Brady, which was likely the biggest move all offseason. The Bucs also added at wide receiver and added depth. Grade: A
NFC NORTH
Chicago Bears: The Bears and QB Justin Fields will hurt without WR Allen Robinson II. They didn’t do much to make this team better and lost a whole lot. Grade: D
Detroit Lions: Losing LB Trey Flowers is a bummer, but the Lions brought back key pieces and added at wide receiver. This is a rebuild where not much was going to be done. Grade: C +
Green Bay Packers: It was great to keep Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay but losing LB Za’Darius Smith and failing to add a top wide receiver from a loaded class will stick out. Grade: C –
Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings are the team that added Za’DariusSmith, but they lost two big starters for no reason. Minnesota didn’t impress. Grade: C –
NFC WEST:
Arizona Cardinals: The Cards lost four starters this offseason. They did re-sign RB James Conner and TE Zach Ertz, but for a team close to being a one-seed, this was lame. Grade: D
Los Angeles Rams: The Rams continuing to get better is not good for the league. They added WR Allen Robinson II and signed LB Bobby Wagner. Grade: A+
San Francisco 49ers: Here is how I look at their offseason, they didn’t lose WR Deebo Samuel, and they added CB Charvarius Ward. It stinks to lose OG Laken Tomlinson, but it could’ve been worse. Grade: B
Seattle Seahawks: The Hawks didn’t add any valuable pieces in free agency but did see DE Carlos Dunlap go, LB Bobby Wagner was released, and CB D.J. Reed fled. Grade: D –