Rams play it safe in free agency by re-signing their own

Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/27646/rams-playing-it-safe-in-free-agency-by-re-signing-their-own

Though it was expensive to keep Trumaine Johnson, he gives the Rams some security at cornerback.
A breakdown of the first week of free agency for the Los Angeles Rams.

Most significant signing: CB Trumaine Johnson — The Rams simply couldn’t afford to lose both of their starting cornerbacks in free agency, especially after spending the past four years developing them. They opted for Johnson in part because he’s a bit younger and brings more size. It took the franchise tag and a nearly $14 million price tag to make it happen, but the Rams would have faced a major dilemma and plenty of competition had both starters hit the open market.

Most significant loss: CB Janoris Jenkins — Yes, keeping Johnson softens the blow of losing Jenkins to the New York Giants, but that doesn’t mean losing Jenkins doesn’t hurt. The Rams wanted to keep both cornerbacks, but Jenkins’ price soared to a place the Rams weren’t willing to go. Although he has had his warts, Jenkins has been one of the defense’s top playmakers for the past four years and is coming off his best season in 2015. The Rams have some depth, and if E.J. Gaines returns to full strength, they should be able to get by — but think of how well-stocked they would have been at cornerback had they been able to keep Jenkins.

Player they should have signed: S Rodney McLeod — Though the Rams were equipped to deal with the loss of one of their cornerbacks, the same can’t be said of free safety. They signed McLeod as an undrafted free agent and molded him into a solid NFL starter at a position where those are hard to find. By the time McLeod hit the open market, his price went above what the Rams were comfortable paying. But this is one instance when the Rams should have been willing to extend themselves a bit to keep a solid player who still has upside. Instead, free safety can now be added to the list of team needs heading toward the draft.

What’s next: The first wave of free agency is over and teams are now bargain-hunting for players who can help, but certainly won’t transform the franchise. The Rams aren’t going to find the substantial offensive help they need, but locating cheaper, short-term options for depth at all levels of the defense and at tight end would be a good place to start. It would also allow them to mostly focus their draft efforts on bolstering an offense in serious need of help.

Overall grade: C — It’s hard to blame the Rams for staying out of the fray on overpriced free agents who might have been marginal upgrades over what they have in place, at best. Keeping key pieces like Johnson, Mark Barron and William Hayes was important, but losing Jenkins and McLeod balances out those re-signings. After losing that duo, it would have made sense for the Rams to reallocate some of those funds to someone like tight end Ladarius Green, a young player with upside who didn’t break the bank.

Prisco’s NFL Mock Draft 4.0: Broncos pull the trigger on Connor Cook

PETE PRISCO

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/pete-prisco/25517722/priscos-nfl-mock-draft-40-broncos-pull-the-trigger-on-connor-cook.

When the Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles made a deal that included exchanging first-round picks, it meant it was time for a new mock draft.

Why?

The bosses demanded it and you crave it.

OK, so maybe just the first part.

This is my Mock 4.0 and it takes into account the trade between Miami and Philadelphia and also the free-agent happenings. You will notice I now have four quarterbacks in the first round, with the top three being Jared Goff, Carson Wentz and Paxton Lynch.

The newcomer is Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook. I have him going to the Denver Broncos after they lost Brock Osweiler to the Texans in free agency. They have to get somebody.

There are several other changes from my last mock based on free agency. There’s a little over a month to go until the draft, so the changes will keep on coming.

1. Tennessee Titans
Laremy Tunsil, T, Mississippi: They didn’t get a tackle in free agency, but did land a center in Ben Jones. If they take Tunsil, they can really improve their line next year.

2. Cleveland Browns
Jared Goff, QB, California: Even if they make a deal to get Colin Kaepernick, I can’t imagine that would take them out of the quarterback sweepstakes. Goff seems like the guy to me for now.

3. San Diego Chargers
DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon: They suffered some hits in free agency on their line, and Brandon Mebane is only a little bit of a help, so they have to get help up front. Buckner is a power player who would fit what they want from their down players.

4. Dallas Cowboys
Jalen Ramsey, S, Florida State: They need a playmaker in the secondary. Ramsey can play both corner and safety, which offers versatility that the Cowboys need.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars
Myles Jack, MLB, UCLA: They addressed the front and secondary in free agency, but they need speed at linebacker. Jack would bring that and more. He is a three-down player.

6. Baltimore Ravens
Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State: He would be playing more stand-up in their scheme, but Terrell Suggs made the transition when he came out. Bosa would be a nice addition with Suggs coming off injury.

7. San Francisco 49ers
Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State: They don’t have an answer at quarterback, so they have to get one. This kid is raw, but talented. He is athletic, so he would fit in Chip Kelly’s scheme.

8. Philadelphia Eagles
Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis: Sam Bradford isn’t the long-term answer. Chase Daniel isn’t either. The word is they are eying a quarterback, which this move up helps. They can take a player who can learn for a year or so.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
William Jackson III, CB, Houston: They added a smaller corner in Brent Grimes in free agency, so they can get a taller corner here in Jackson. I think he could also play inside, and the Bucs need help there too.

10. New York Giants
Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State: They really helped their front with Damon Harrison and Olivier Vernon. And they got a good corner in Janoris Jenkins. But the linebacker spot is still a mess. Lee can fly and they need speed.

11. Chicago Bears
A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama: They have issues up front and this is a power player who would really help in the run game. He won’t be much of a pass rusher, but he is powerful.

12. New Orleans Saints
Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville: They have to get push inside from their pass rush and Rankins is that type of player. He was impressive at the Senior Bowl.

13. Miami Dolphins
Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State: They signed C .J. Anderson to an offer sheet, but the Broncos might match. So I will put a back here until we know for sure. They clearly want help there.

14. Oakland Raiders
Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame: If they were able to land him here, they could keep Kelechi Osemele at guard, which is his better spot. They could really be good on the offensive line if that were to happen.

15. Los Angeles Rams
Josh Doctson, WR, TCU: They have to get a threat down the field in the passing game, no matter who starts at quarterback. This is the best receiver in the draft.

16. Detroit Lions
Laquon Treadwell, WR, Mississippi: They added Marvin Jones to Golden Tate in free agency, but they need more. Neither one of those guys is a No. 1 receiver. Treadwell looks like Dez Bryant.

17. Atlanta Falcons
Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson: They took Vic Beasley last year, so now they add his former college teammate. They have to get more from their pass rush, and even with the signing of Derrick Shelby they have to get another body.

18. Indianapolis Colts
Taylor Decker, T, Ohio State: They have issues on their offensive line and this kid could play both tackle and guard. He is a tough, physical player.

19. Buffalo Bills
Robert Nkemdiche, DE, Mississippi: He has some off-field issues, but that’s why he’s down here. He has a ton of talent and would be worth the risk in this spot.

20. New York Jets
Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky: He has a lot of pass-rush ability and would help the outside pass rush in a big way. He would have to adjust to standing up more, but he is capable.

21. Washington Redskins
Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida: They have to get better outside in coverage and this is a player who excels in man coverage. He would step in and start right away.

22. Houston Texans
Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama: I know they signed Tony Bergstrom from the Raiders, but Kelly is the best center by far in this draft. Bergstrom might be little more than a backup.

23. Minnesota Vikings
Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame: They got line help in free agency in Alex Boone, so they can get some speed outside for their passing game. Fuller is one of the fastest in this draft class.

24. Cincinnati Bengals
Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor: They lost both Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu to free agency. They have to get a threat to go opposite A.J. Green.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers
Mackenzie Alexander, CB, Clemson: He is projected to go higher than this, but his size might force him to slip some. The Steelers have to get help at corner.

26. Seattle Seahawks
Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State: He is a self-made player who would really help a line that needs it. Conklin could play guard or tackle.

27. Green Bay Packers
Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama: They are moving Clay Matthews back to the outside, so getting a run-thumper inside would make a lot of sense

28. Kansas City Chiefs
Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State: They lost Sean Smith to the Raiders, and even with Philip Gaines coming off injury I think they could use another. Apple is a talented player who could be the nickel as a rookie.

29. Arizona Cardinals
Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson: They have said that fixing the pass rush was a top priority. This is a player who impressed rushing from the left side for the Tigers.

30. Carolina Panthers
Le’Raven Clark, OT, Texas Tech: They have to get better at the tackle spots, and this kid has a ton of skill. He looks more like a right tackle to me, and the Panthers need help there.

31. Denver Broncos
Connor Cook, QB, Michigan State: They are forced to take him here now. Why? Who do they have? What’s the plan? Cook might be NFL ready right away. The issue is what’s his ceiling

I think this article is as superficial as the one Snow critiques in another thread (here: http://theramshuddle.com/topic/wrs-in-the-draft-thread-combine-after/#post-40613 ).

It might be a while before the southern cal writers know enough about the team to write anything with informed nuance in it.

The Rams have a mixed record in free agency. Long, Wells, and Finnegan were injuries. Cook IMO was a dud and I never warmed up to him. Britt is serviceable, and not expensive. Fairley and Ayers were good signings, as were Hayes and Reynolds. Basically they do better in mid-range free agency, but then as I said 3 of the big signings were just injury casualties. I know they have the recent Demoff remarks as fodder, but then real knowledge of the team would allow someone to put those remarks in context and work around those statements instead of acting like they are the alpha and omega “big reveal” on the issue.

Rams seek upgrades at wideout, a position of trouble dating back to Torry Holt’s departure

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/rams-708240-season-receiver.html

To truly understand how dire the Rams receiver shortage has become, consider this: In his final season in St. Louis in 2008, past-his-prime wideout Torry Holt grinded his way to a pedestrian 64-catch, 796-yard season.

It was a forgettable year for the seven-time Pro Bowler and potential Hall of Famer – his first sub-1,000-yard campaign since his rookie season.

That was 2008. Here’s the sad reality: Since Holt’s final season in St. Louis, no Rams receiver has managed to eclipse even 750 receiving yards.

In a golden era for passing offenses, that’s some truly remarkable futility. Last season, 47 NFL players eclipsed 750 receiving yards. Eight were tight ends. One was a running back. In all, 30 of 32 NFL teams had a player who surpassed the 750-yard mark. The Vikings were the only other team without one, but in their case, you only have to go back to 2013 to find that baseline of receiver production.

For the Rams, it has been seven long years of receiver-less drought, marked by failed draft picks and unfulfilled potential. And this season, as the franchise looks to reinvigorate its NFL-worst passing game on the West Coast, the team desperately needs to invest in playmakers for whomever ends up starting at quarterback.

“It almost doesn’t matter what type of receiver they’d draft,” Pro Football Focus analyst Sam Monson said. “They don’t have anyone on the roster that’s going to prevent you from taking a specific type of receiver. They just need to add some quality young talent there in the draft.”

Not that recent drafts have treated the Rams all that well. From Holt’s final season on, the organization selected 11 receivers, hoping to find a viable playmaker. Most often, those investments came in the later rounds. Only one – Tavon Austin at eighth overall in 2013 – was drafted in the first round. Donnie Avery (second round in 2008), Brian Quick (second round in 2012) and Austin Pettis (third in 2011) are the only other wideouts drafted by the Rams in rounds two or three.

Avery, who was drafted before Jordy Nelson and DeSean Jackson, flamed out after two years in St. Louis. Pettis lasted three seasons. Quick re-upped with the Rams on a one-year deal for 2016, but he has just 935 yards over four seasons. And Austin, despite flashes of star potential, has yet to break out. Next season, he could cost the Rams upwards of $12 million, if they choose to pick up his fifth-year option and can’t negotiate a long-term deal.

The Rams still have hope in Austin, with Coach Jeff Fisher conceding recently that they “have to do more as a staff to get him the football.” But at 5-foot-9, Austin’s best suited as a secondary option in the slot. That leaves Kenny Britt as the de facto No. 1, and while he has led the group in receiving in each of his two years in St. Louis, the team clearly needs a true No. 1 talent at the position.

“I don’t want to give too many cards away,” General Manager Les Snead said, “but we do like some wide receivers in this draft.”

That could mean investing the 15th pick in a wideout and not a quarterback. In a class light on talent at the top, Mississippi receiver Laquon Treadwell is a first-round lock and has consistently been linked to the Rams. At 6-foot-2, he’s not a deep threat, but his athleticism and ball skills remind some of Dallas Cowboys wideout Dez Bryant.

“He’s so strong at the catch point,” CBS Sports draft analyst Dane Brugler said. “For a kid that doesn’t turn 21 until June, he’s so physically mature the way he plays the game. If he’s there at 15, it’s a no-brainer pick.”

Not everyone is in agreement on that evaluation. Monson suggested that Treadwell, at his best, could become a clone of Chicago Bears’ red-zone maven Alshon Jeffery. At worst, he offered a familiar comparison: Britt.

Beyond Treadwell, the pickings get far slimmer. There might be value in the second round, when the Rams have two selections. Baylor’s Corey Coleman and TCU’s Josh Doctson might not fall that far, but could be steals as the Rams’ second pick. Ohio State’s Michael Thomas and Braxton Miller and Notre Dame’s Will Fuller could also be options.

Regardless, the Rams desperately need to add talent any way they can. And in free agency, there isn’t much to go around.

The Detroit Lions paid $8 million per year for the top prize at wideout, Marvin Jones. The Atlanta Falcons, meanwhile, spent $7 million on his former teammate in Cincinnati, Mohamed Sanu. Neither has finished a season with more than 825 yards.

Thus is the free-spending nature of free agency, and it has burned the Rams in the past. They signed Jared Cook to a contract that made him the fourth-highest paid tight end in the NFL last season. He finished 21st in receiving yards at the position and didn’t score a touchdown. He was cut this offseason.

Free agent receiver Rueben Randle, who has played four seasons with the New York Giants, was scheduled to visit the Rams. He had 57 receptions for 797 yards and eight touchdowns last season.

The rest of the Rams’ receiver rebuild will come elsewhere – bit by bit.

And after seven long seasons of futility at wide receiver, there’s no time left to waste.

Breaking down Eugene Sims’ new deal with Rams

Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/27636/breaking-down-eugene-sims-new-deal-with-rams

EARTH CITY, Mo. — The Los Angeles Rams struck a deal with defensive end Eugene Sims over the weekend, bringing him back for a third contract with the team.

Sims’ deal is for three years and includes a guarantee of $3.75 million, most of which comes in the first year and essentially means the Rams can move on after one year if they choose.

Here’s a year-by-year breakdown of Sims’ new contract with all numbers courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information:

2016
Base salary: $2.25 million (guaranteed)
Roster bonus: $750,000 (fully guaranteed, paid out on Tuesday)
Cap charge: $3 million
Cash: $3 million
Notes: Can earn up to $750,000 in not likely to be earned incentives based on sacks, playing time and postseason achievements.

2017
Base salary: $2.75 million ($750,000 guaranteed for injury only at time of signing, total becomes fully guaranteed on fifth day of 2017 league year)
Roster bonus: $500,000 (to be paid on fifth day of 2017 league year)
Cap charge: $3.25 million
Cash: $3.25 million
Notes: Can earn up to $750,000 in not likely to be earned incentives based on sacks, playing time and postseason achievements.

2018
Base salary: $3.25 million
Roster bonus: $500,000 (to be paid on fifth day of 2018 league year)
Cap charge: $3.75 million
Cash: $3.75 million
Notes: Can earn up to $750,000 in not likely to be earned incentives based on sacks, playing time and postseason achievements.

Agamemnon wrote:

oples flamed out with the Dolphins last season after three-plus underwhelming campaigns with the Jets

Another Waufle/Wms reclamation project?

On a different level, it’s kind of like Ayers and Fairley. Or, the intent is. We don’t even know if they will sign him.

====

http://www.sportsmedia101.com/newyorkjets/2016/02/22/miami-dolphins-release-former-new-york-jets-linebacker-quinton-coples/

Coples had a $7.8 million option this coming season, something the Dolphins felt was too rich for their blood. Coples did not produce the great numbers the Jets had hoped and did not fit in at all on new head coach Todd Bowles’ defense.

The Jets moved Coples to OLB from defensive end when they brought in Sheldon Richardson in 2013. Coples, 6’6″ and 290 pounds played fairly well at linebacker, but he was clearly too big physically for the job. He is much better suited for defensive end in a 4-3 scheme. Bowles’ instituted that in 2015 but Coples just did not fare well.

NFL Free Agency Grades: 32 grades for 32 teams but only one big, fat F

Pete Prisco

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/pete-prisco/25516088/nfl-free-agency-grades-32-grades-for-32-teams-but-only-one-big-fat-f

The 2016 NFL free-agency period will be remembered as one for wild spending, good, not great, players getting contracts with generational money and seeing a Super Bowl team get picked apart like road kill by vultures.

The first week is in the books and most of the top free agents are gone, so I thought it a good time to look back on this crazy flurry of activity, which was highlighted by mega-deals for players like Olivier Vernon and Malik Jackson, two players who weren’t exactly household names when the 2015 season opened.

It’s tough to hand out grades for free agency, since there are teams, such as the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers, who sit and watch as the activity unfolds in front of them. That’s easy to do with their elite passers and good drafting, but for other teams it’s an opportunity to supplement their rosters.

Just remember that these grades can look bad a year from now. Remember when everybody was raving about the Eagles’ free-agency haul last spring? Now look. It turned out to be a disaster. So take the grades for what they are, an immediate reaction to the moves because nobody really knows how they will turn out.

Right, Chip Kelly?

Arizona Cardinals
The Skinny: They wanted to add a pass rusher, and were in on Jason Pierre-Paul, but he opted to go back to the Giants. The only addition was safety Tyvon Branch from Kansas City. They did re-sign backup quarterback Drew Stanton, but lost right tackle Bobby Massie.

C-: Not getting a pass rusher has to hurt, but they were mostly inactive, which is a sign of a good team.

Atlanta Falcons
The Skinny: They were aggressive in free agency and added players at need spots. They landed center Alex Mack from the Browns and he will be the anchor they need inside. They paid him a lot, but he’s a good player. Defensive end Derrick Shelby comes over from the Dolphins and he’s an underrated player who will help the pass rush. They did pay receiver Mohamed Sanu too much, but he will be their No. 2 to Julio Jones.

B-: Mack fills a big need, but he’s on the decline. Shelby was a nice signing. Solid, not special.

Baltimore Ravens
The Skinny: They had cap issues, so they couldn’t do a lot in free agency. They did lose guard Kelechi Osemele to the Raiders, which is a hit. The only outside free agent they signed was tight end Ben Watson. This isn’t a team that usually gets involved early in free agency.

C: They didn’t make any moves, but they were kind of hamstrung by the cap.

Buffalo Bills
The Skinny: They did the smart thing and made sure to keep the left side of their offensive line in tackle Cordy Glenn and guard Richie Incognito. They had some cap issues, so they did suffer a few losses like Mario Williams (released), corner Leodis McKelvin (released) and linebacker Nigel Bradham.

B: Keeping your own is important and they kept the players they wanted to keep.

Carolina Panthers
The Skinny: They didn’t do much, other than bring back veteran defensive end Charles Johnson and fullback Mike Tolbert. They did sign center Gino Gradkowski for depth, but that’s it for outside signings. They lost punter Brad Nortman.

C-: Not much here, but again this is a talented team that doesn’t need a lot and has some cap issues.

Chicago Bears
The Skinny: I like both of their top free-agent signings. They landed linebacker Danny Trevathan, who John Fox had in Denver. He will bring speed to a unit that needed it. Right tackle Bobby Massie will allow the team to move Kyle Long back to his natural spot of guard. That’s a smart decision there. Jerrell Freeman is another solid signing at linebacker.

B+: They didn’t get a lot, but what they did get was two important pieces and potentially a third.

Cincinnati Bengals
The Skinny: They didn’t sign anybody outside of their team, but they brought back three key free agents in safety George Iloka, corner Adam Jones and linebacker Vincent Rey. That’s big for the defense. They did lose receivers Marvin Jones, who they wanted back, and Mohamed Sanu, which creates a void there.

B: Keeping the key defensive players was big for them. Losing Marvin Jones hurt.

Cleveland Browns
The Skinny: They let so many good players get out the door, and did little in terms of replacing them. I get the idea that they didn’t want to overpay for some of their own, but all of them? They let Mitchell Schwartz, Tashaun Gipson, Alex Mack and Travis Benjamin all leave. I would have kept a couple, especially Benjamin since his deal with San Diego isn’t that much. They added tackle Alvin Bailey and linebacker Justin Tuggle, but that’s not a lot.

F: I get not overpaying, but keep some of the guys. Or go get some others.

Dallas Cowboys
The Skinny: The only player of note outside the team they added was defensive lineman Cedric Thornton from the Eagles. He is a good player, and that’s a good signing. They did re-sign some of their own in corner Morris Claiborne and linebackers Kyle Wilbur and Rolando McClain.

C: They weren’t active, but still landed a solid player in Thornton. The draft will be big in April.

Denver Broncos
The Skinny: Super Bowl teams usually get targeted in free agency, but the Broncos suffered the worst hit of all: They now have no quarterback. Yes, they traded to get Mark Sanchez from the Eagles, but he is stopgap at best. Allowing Brock Osweiler to sign with Houston is a major fail — no matter what the price. They also lost Malik Jackson and Danny Trevathan, two key defenders. But you can’t keep them all. That’s understandable. They did sign tackle Donald Stephenson from Kansas City.

D: This is a bad grade for having no plan at quarterback after Peyton Manning retired. They lost some talented players.

Detroit Lions
The Skinny: They needed to sign a receiver with Calvin Johnson retiring, so landing Marvin Jones was a solid move — even if he’s more of a No. 2 receiver. They added two safeties in Rafael Bush and Tavon Wilson to give them a chance to compete on the back end after losing Isa Abdul-Quddus. They also were smart in re-signing defensive tackles Tyrunn Walker and Haloti Ngata and linebacker Tahir Whitehead.

B: It was a solid class for the Lions, especially re-signing their own. Jones will make or break this class.

Green Bay Packers
The Skinny: The Packers are a team that won’t usually dive into the market. That’s not Ted Thompson’s style. So it’s tough to grade them. They did re-sign Nick Perry and inked Mike Daniels before he hit the market. Those are solid moves. But as far as diving in, they just don’t do it.

Incomplete: They just don’t get involved with other team’s free agents, so it’s hard to give them any grade. This grade can be the same every year.

Houston Texans
The Skinny: They made one of the biggest splashes of the period by landing Denver quarterback Brock Osweiler. They paid him a ton at $18 million per season, but it was a move they had to make. They also added a solid back in Lamar Miller, even if it’s not something I would have done. They lost guard Brandon Brooks and center Ben Jones, but replaced them with Jeff Allen and Tony Bergstrom.

A: They had to get a quarterback, and they got the best in this class. This could end up being their marquee free-agent class if Osweiler becomes what they think he will be.

Indianapolis Colts
The Skinny: They didn’t do much of anything, other than re-signing tight end Dwayne Allen and letting Coby Fleener leave to sign with the Saints They also re-signed kicker Adam Vinatieri. There wasn’t much activity for the Colts.

C-: It was a pretty blah free-agency period for them, but they’ve tried spending big in the past and it’s failed. They also have a big deal coming up with Andrew Luck.

Jacksonville Jaguars
The Skinny: They went into free agency with the idea of upgrading their defense, which they did. They landed defensive lineman Malik Jackson on a mega-deal and then added free safety Tashaun Gipson. They also signed Giants corner Prince Amukamara to a one-year deal. That’s three starters. They missed on the pass rusher, but tried. They paid too much for running back Chris Ivory, but that’s my personal bias against paying backs.

B+: They added three starters on defense, which was a must. The only knock is missing on the edge rusher, but they tried hard with Vernon. He just wanted to go to the Giants.

Kansas City Chiefs
The Skinny: The Chiefs did a really nice job of keeping their own. They re-signed edge rusher Tamba Hali, linebacker Derrick Johnson and defensive end Jaye Howard, a rising player. They added Mitchell Schwartz to play right tackle, and he’s an upgrade over Donald Stephenson, who went to the Broncos. They did lose corner Sean Smith and guard Jeff Allen, two quality starters.

B+: I like the idea of keeping that defense intact for the most part. Schwartz is an upgrade.

Los Angeles Rams
The Skinny: They franchised corner Trumaine Johnson, but lost corner Janoris Jenkins. They picked the right corner. They were also wise to bring back defensive ends William Hayes and Eugene Sims. They paid way too much to keep linebacker/safety Mark Barron. Losing Jenkins and safety Rodney McLeod were hits to the secondary. They didn’t do anything about the offense.

C: Keeping Johnson and Hayes were smart moves, but they didn’t do a lot outside of their own.

Miami Dolphins
The Skinny: Give general manager Mike Tannenbaum credit for trying to improve his team. But trading for two big contracts from the Eagles in Byron Maxwell and Kiko Alonso is risky. Defensive end Mario Williams could be a steal if he decides he wants to play hard. Safety Isa Abdul-Quddus is a solid signing who will be a nice complement to Rashad Jones. If the Broncos don’t match the offer to running back C.J. Anderson, that would be five starters out of this class. Not bad, but time will tell.

B-: They took on some risk with the Eagles contracts. But they feel like they’ve added good players to their defense.

Minnesota Vikings
The Skinny: The addition of 49ers guard Alex Boone gives them a nice addition to the offensive line. He will toughen that group up. Safety Michael Griffin will come in and compete with others for the job next to Harrison Smith. Linebacker Emmanuel Lamur played for Mike Zimmer with the Bengals and had his best year under him. He is an athletic kid coming off an injury. Re-signing Mike Harris was a solid move as well for the offensive line.

B-: It wasn’t a big haul, but landing Boone will really help.

23. New England Patriots
The Skinny: The Patriots are another team that usually waits until the big-ticket items are gone, and then they jump into the mix. The only major signing so far was tendering an offer to Bills restricted free-agent receiver Chris Hogan. That’s it. They also added outside linebacker Roman Humber from the Saints.

C: As usual, they draft and develop. The odd thing is the offer sheet to Hogan. Why not a deep threat?

New Orleans Saints
The Skinny: They didn’t have a lot of cap room, so the only major addition was tight end Coby Fleener from the Colts. They paid a lot of money for him, but he should be a nice fit in their passing offense. They re-signed some of their own, including backup quarterback Luke McCown, but the cap situation didn’t help their chances to land top players.

D: They got themselves into this mess, so it’s on the front office. They have a lot of needs and did little to help fix them.

New York Giants
The Skinny: General manager Jerry Reese spent money like he prints it this year. Desperate moves or smart ones? Whatever the reason, they added some good players, but it cost a bunch. I love the signing of Olivier Vernon to help the pass rush, but there is no way he should be paid what he’s getting. That’s the system though. I also like the additions of corner Janoris Jenkins and nose tackle Damon Harrison. That’s three quality starters for a defense that needed it. They also kept Jason Pierre-Paul on a one-year deal.

A: I love what they did, but was it out of desperation for Jerry Reese?

New York Jets
The Skinny: The biggest uncertainty is what they plan to do with quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. So far, there is no deal. But it’s still possible. They did put the franchise tag on defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, which was a wise move. They brought in running backs Matt Forte and Khiry Robinson to help offset the loss of Chris Ivory. They also re-signed Bilal Powell. They made a push for pass rusher Olivier Vernon, but that will have to be addressed in the draft. Losing Damon Harrison on the nose will hurt.

C+: Keeping Wilkerson was smart, but the quarterback uncertainty drives down the grade for now.

Oakland Raiders
The Skinny: They were the in the race to be the champs of the free-agency period. That doesn’t always mean you win, but they killed it. They had money to spend and spent it on good players. They landed Ravens guard-tackle Kelechi Osemele, which will really help their line. I also like the addition of tough-guy Bruce Irvin as a linebacker on the defense. Sean Smith is a nice man-cover player who fills a need.

A: Reggie McKenzie and Jack Del Rio added some good pieces to a team on the rise.

Philadelphia Eagles
The Skinny:They had a great free-agency period. General manager Howie Roseman dumped some bad deals from a year ago, re-signed Sam Bradford and also added some good players in guard Brandon Brooks, corner Leodis McKelvin and safety Rodney McLeod. They also traded to move up five spots in the first round with Miami, dumping two Chip Kelly players in corner Byron Maxwell and Kiko Alonso. They also traded DeMarco Murray to the Titans, dumping his big contract.

A+: Ridding themselves of the bad Kelly deals in those trades and moving up in the first round makes this grade. But then they also added some quality players and others for depth. But this grade is about the Chip dump.

Pittsburgh Steelers
The Skinny: Like the Packers and Patriots, the Steelers usually sit out free agency for the most part. I did like the signing of Chargers tight end Ladarius Green, a pass-catching player who will fit perfectly into their offense. Bringing back guard Ramon Foster was also a nice move.

C+: They added one key component in Green, which I liked. But, as usual, they sat back and watched — which isn’t always a bad thing.

San Diego Chargers
The Skinny: I really liked the signing of receiver Travis Benjamin, giving them a nice down-the-field threat. He can fly. They also added Brandon Mebane up front on defense, which is a good move, and Casey Hayward, a good corner, who should start. Bringing back Antonio Gates and tackle Joseph Barksdale were good moves.

B-: Benjamin will be the guy who defines their class, and I think he’s a heck of a signing.

San Francisco 49ers
The Skinny: They were relatively quiet, but re-signing nose tackle Ian Williams was a smart move. They did lose guard Alex Boone to the Vikings, which is a hit. The only outside guy they brought in was backup quarterback Thad Lewis.

C-: There just wasn’t a lot of activity and the Colin Kaepernick situation still hasn’t unfolded yet.

Seattle Seahawks
The Skinny: They suffered two big hits, losing guard J.R. Sweezy and linebacker Bruce Irvin. But both can be replaced, especially for a team that drafts well. They also lost defensive tackle Brandon Mebane. Bringing back receiver Jermaine Kearse, corner Jeremy Lane and defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin were good moves. They didn’t sign one player from another team.

C: Losing players is always tough to handle, but that’s what happens to good teams.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Skinny: They were aggressive in free agency and landed three players at need positions. They got guard J.R. Sweezy from Seattle, a solid player who probably got too much money. But he’s a tough guy, and they need that. They then helped the defense with corner Brent Grimes and defensive end Robert Ayers. The big move was re-signing running back Doug Martin, which is OK since he’s their back and not another team’s discard.

B: They had issues they needed to address and they did so. Not with stars, but solid football players. Getting Martin back was big.

Tennessee Titans
The Skinny:They added three pieces for the offense in running back DeMarco Murray, who came in a trade from the Eagles, center Ben Jones, who comes over from Houston, and receiver Rishard Matthews, who comes over from Miami. They had to get better on the offensive line, and Jones will help that. I don’t like trading and paying backs, even if Murray is an upgrade. Re-signing nose tackle Al Woods was also a good move.

B-: When a team can pick up three starters for a young quarterback, it’s a solid class.

Washington Redskins
The Skinny: The only outsider they added was defensive lineman Kendall Reyes from San Diego. They also paid out $20 million to keep quarterback Kirk Cousins on a franchise tag, which limited what they could do. They did re-sign several of their own, including backup quarterback Colt McCoy.

C: I think they were smart to put the franchise tag on Cousins and not give him a long-term deal. But that limited what they could do. He is playing for his future in 2016.

Agamemnon wrote:

Eugene Sims Rams deal $10 million, $3.75M gtd, salaries $2.25M (gtd), $2.75M, $3.25M, $750K roster bonus this week

So 3 M this year.

I forget where that leaves the cap.

from off the net

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Riverumbbq

Some don’t like PFF’s scoring, but Zach Miller graded #8 for all TE’s out of 67. Cook graded at 53 and Kendricks at 56. Harkey was graded # 7 out of 22 FB’s, but Miller had an overall score over 15 points higher in total over Harkey, although his run blocking is markedly worse. Anyway, big upgrade over Cook.