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 other and some were down right brutal. In the future we will grade and analyze the contracts as they come, but for now we are recapping. Lets grade the lineman contracts and because there is a lack of exciting lineman gifs enjoy these thumbs up thumbs down gifs.
Ravens re-sign OT Eugene Monroe (5 years, $37.5M; $19M guaranteed): Ravens got the best deal on the best available tackle. Nothing more to say here. Bravo Baltimore. Grade: A
Colts sign DE/DT Arthur Jones (5 years, $33M; $16M guaranteed): Jones is a former player of Chuck Pagano in Baltimore and will fit in immediately and was the best DT in free agency. Jones fits the Colts and although he came a lithe pricey, he will be worth every penny in Pagano’s system.
Grade: A
Buccaneers sign DE Michael Johnson (5 years, $43.75M; $24M guaranteed): Johnson declined over the past year and only amassed 3 sacks in 2013. He is a nice piece to par with Gerald McCoy, but not for that money. He could find better luck in the Tampa-2, but again thats a lot of money to gamble on a rebound.
Grade: C
Dolphins sign OT Branden Albert (5 years, $46M; $25M guaranteed): Dolphins preferred Albert to Monroe for reasons I can’t imagine. Albert has only played a whole season once, but just got $25 million guarenteed? This move baffles me considering Monroe's avaliablity.
Grade: C+
Cardinals sign OT Jared Veldheer (5 years, $35M; $17M guaranteed): Veldeer is the most underrated tackle in the league. He will be the cornerstone to a much improved Cardinal line. Rememeber Jonathan Cooper is debuting this year as well. The Cardinals line isn’t miserable anymore.
Grade: A-
Bears sign DE Lamarr Houston (5 years, $35M; $15M guaranteed): Bears missed on Michael Bennett and settled for Houston. Houston isn’t the pass rushed Julius Peppers is, but he is close and is much better against the run. Houston is a better fit for Chicago overall. Nothing wrong with that, especially when Peppers is being released. This is the Bears being the Bears and reloading the defensive line.
Grade: B+
Raiders sign G/OT Rodger Saffold (5 years, $42.5M; $21M guaranteed) & sign OT Austin Howard (5 years, $30M; $15M guaranteed): Saffold is the worst signing of day one and Howard isn't far behind. Overpaying for a right tackle is one thing, but then say hes playing guard? Madness. Austin Howard can’t play left tackle either, but is a good at right tackle. For the money the Raiders have spent they could have been productive and resigned Lamarr Houston and Jared Veldheer. I will never understand the method to the Raiders madness.
Grade: Saffold F; Howard: C
Falcons sign DE/DT Tyson Jackson (5 years, $25M; $11M guaranteed): Don’t like this signing for Atlanta. For a team that has dire issues in the pass rush they sign many run stoppers. Jackson is one of the best run stoppers in the league but has no pass rush skill at all. It’s a lot of money for a guy that doesn’t serve a need and frankly I don't get it. If the Falcons do switch to the 3-4, I’m more inclined to like the move.
Grade: C-
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