NFL Free Agency came up fast and grabbed a punch. Sean Payton landed in Denver and immediately began to build offense when the Broncos signed right tackle Mike McGlinchey and guard Ben Powers. The Broncos also made an intriguing signing in quarterback Jarrett Stidham. The Chicago Bears, on the other hand, focused on defense and snapped up linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and TJ Edwards.
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As every year, some of these new deals looked good and others… not so good. Some players are easily identifiable as instant-hit guys, while others have more mysterious fits. Sometimes these supplements work and sometimes they don’t. Remember when the Jacksonville Jaguars went on that shopping spree last year? Doug Pederson is glad they did.
Below, we’ll break down the five best and what we think are the five worst signings in NFL free agency so far.
Preferably
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
DET • SAF • #23
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CJGJ had a somewhat dramatic week that included deleted tweets and blackballing allegations. Spotrac’s market value tool projected that Gardner-Johnson would sign a five-year, $66,658,780 contract, which includes a $13.3 million AAV. Instead, he got a one-year, $8 million contract with the Detroit Lions. Not only is this a bargain, but Dan Campbell and Aaron Glenn know CJGJ from their time together in New Orleans. Even though it’s a one-year deal, I feel like the Lions are building the kind of culture that will end up attracting players. Depending on how 2023 goes, CJGJ may want to stay in Detroit.
The Lions had to address the defensive side of the ball in the free hand and they did a good job of it. More on that later.
Orlando Brown
CIN•OT•#57
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Needing to improve the offensive line, the Cincinnati Bengals grabbed a Pro Bowl left tackle from a rival. After the Kansas City Chiefs replaced Orlando Brown Jr. with a REAL tackle, he decided to bring his talents to the Chiefs’ main postseason rival! It’s a four-year, $64.09 million deal, CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones said confirmed. The contract is brought forward according to NFL media, and includes a signing bonus north of $31 million — the largest ever awarded to an offensive lineman. So there’s a lot of guaranteed money in the contract, but Brown’s AAV ranks 10th among left tackles. His projected AAV was $22.4 million. His new AAV with Cincinnati is $16 million.
In Brown, the Bengals and Joe Burrow get a legitimate left tackle motivated to prove the Chiefs wrong. What more do you want?
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to continue my father’s legacy and be a left tackle,” Brown said said NFL Media in a statement. “It was important to be able to play that position and play for a successful team and quarterback. Who Dey!
Javon Hargrave
SF•NT•#97
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“Grave robbers.” Despite the fact that he will soon be 30 years old, there was no doubt that Hargrave would become one of the most popular free agents. So the San Francisco 49ers quickly pounced on him and signed him to a four-year, $84 million contract. That sounds pretty expensive, but Pro Football Talk reports that it’s basically a two-year, fully guaranteed deal that will see Hargrave earn up to $40.75 million. The next two years reportedly represent options held by the team. Bottom line, pairing Hargrave with Arik Armstead, Nick Bosa and Javon Kinlaw is an incredible move. Hargrave recorded 11 sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 16 QB hits from inside last season. One of the first thoughts I had when I saw this move was, “Steve Wilks is getting a head coaching job next year.”
Cameron Sutton
DET•CB•#20
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Another Lions contract? Yes. Not only did Detroit do the smart thing and sign multiple defenders early in free agency, they signed one of the best — and definitely one of the most intriguing names — in Sutton. The University of Tennessee product was Pete Prisco’s all-time No. 26 free agent in that class, and he comes off a career campaign in which he recorded 15 pass defenses and three interceptions. Sutton can play in the slot or on the outside and could be poised for another career year under Aaron Glenn and Dre Bly. Also, Sutton didn’t exactly break the bank. He ranks 17th among cornerbacks with an AAV of $11 million.
Mack Hollins
ATL • WR • #10
TAR94
REC57
REC YDS690
REC TD4
FL0
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Let’s make a deep cut here. Hollins transitioned into a fantasy football sleeper early last season, and when the dust settled, he was having by far the best season of his NFL career. Hollins caught 57 of 94 goals for 690 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games played. Previously, he had not recorded more than 226 yards in a single season.
As Hollins turns 30 in September, I know I’m not the only one who thinks there would be interest in him this offseason. The fact that the Atlanta Falcons landed him a one-year, $2.5 million contract is outstanding — especially considering his special team skills. Great signing.
worst
Jimmy Garoppolo
LV • QB • #10
CMP%67.2
YDS2437
TD16
INT4
YD/Att7.91
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The Las Vegas Raiders have found their new quarterback while Jimmy G heads to Sin City. He signed a three-year, $72.75 million contract with an AAV of $24.25 million. It’s not a “massive” contract, but I have two concerns: Can Jimmy G stay sane? He only played a full season once. And more importantly, can he succeed without offensive mastermind Kyle Shanahan?
Jimmy G looked pretty good in his two career starts with the New England Patriots, but is he the quarterback who will take the Raiders to the next level? I’m not sure.
Zach Allen
DEN • DE • #94
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The former cardinal agreed to a three-year, $45.75 million deal that includes $32.5 million guaranteed with the Broncos — who have quickly thrown money into the spare. Allen averaged 2.8 sacks a year in four seasons with Arizona but recorded a career-high 5.5 QB takedowns in 13 games last year. This contract is obviously playing on its upside. Allen is only 25 years old, but is he worth $17.25 million in cash in 2023? His AAV market value was estimated at $9.3 million. His new AAV in Denver is $15.25 million.
JoshOliver
MIN • TE • #84
TAR25
REC14
REC YDs149
REC TD2
FL0
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Congratulations to Josh Oliver on getting paid. He received a three-year, $21 million contract from the Minnesota Vikings, while Dalton Schultz received a one-year, $6.25 million contract from the Houston Texans. Yes, Schultz’s deal includes incentives that can kick-start him, but that’s it at face value. Oliver Earns Top 20 Tight End Money To Play Alongside TJ Hockenson The deal is backloaded and his 2023 cap hit is only $2.55 million in 2023, but even so, Minnesota must have really wanted him.
Javan Taylor
KC • OT • #75
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Jawaan Taylor is a big winner in the free hand. Not only is he getting a nice raise and getting to join the reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs, but he’ll reportedly switch from the right flank to the left to serve as Patrick Mahomes’ blindside blocker. Good for Taylor, but this is clearly a gamble for the Chiefs. Four years and $80 million for a player who didn’t play left tackle in the NFL. That’s top tier left tackle money! Taylor was a good right tackle, but will he be better than Orlando Brown Jr. was?
Robert Wood
HOU•WR•#2
TAR91
REC53
REC YDs527
REC TD2
FL1
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The Texans actually made that move before free agency officially began. To be honest, the Tennessee Titans’ decision to release Woods was an easy one. It saved north of $12 million against the cap, and he had the worst season of his otherwise impressive NFL career in 2022, catching 53 passes for 527 yards and just two touchdowns. Woods came off a cruciate ligament tear in 2022 and it remains to be seen if that was the main issue behind last year’s struggles. The Titans’ terrible passing attack certainly contributed to his poor year as well.
Anyway, Woods turns 31 in April, and it came as a surprise to sign him on a two-year, $15.25 million deal that has a total of $10 million guaranteed.