Grading every NFC team after 1st wave of free agency
With over a week of free agency in the rear-view mirror, theScore evaluates how well every team has fared so far and dishes out grades.
AFC I NFCNFC EastDallas Cowboys
Harry How / Getty Images Sport / Getty| Key players signed | Key players lost |
|---|---|
| QB Dak Prescott (tag) | CB Byron Jones |
| WR Amari Cooper | C Travis Frederick |
| S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix | OT Cam Fleming |
| DL Gerald McCoy | TE Jason Witten |
| LB Sean Lee (re-sign) | DE Robert Quinn |
| DT Dontari Poe | S Jeff Heath |
| CB Anthony Brown (re-sign) | WR Randall Cobb |
| K Kai Forbath (re-sign) | DT Maliek Collins |
The Cowboys couldn't keep everyone. They perhaps rightfully prioritized their starting quarterback and his top wideout over Jones, who was always going to command top dollar as a coveted corner. How Dallas replaces him remains to be seen.
The Cowboys painted themselves into a corner with their cap situation, and they've now taken on Cooper's $100-million contract over five years. The team is also continuing its extension talks with Prescott.
America's Team lost Quinn and his 11.5 sacks in 2019, and Dallas is dealing with the surprise retirement of All-Pro center Frederick. And for now, Poe and McCoy are patchwork defensive solutions.
Grade: B-
New York Giants| Key players signed | Key players lost |
|---|---|
| DL Leonard Williams (tag) | S Antoine Bethea |
| CB James Bradberry | LB Alec Ogletree |
| LB Blake Martinez | TE Rhett Ellison |
| RB Dion Lewis | OL Mike Remmers |
| TE Levine Toilolo | LB Markus Golden |
| WR Corey Coleman (re-sign) | |
| QB Colt McCoy | |
| S Nate Ebner | |
| OT Cam Fleming |
The Giants were active this past week while building around their foundation of Saquon Barkley and Daniel Jones, though they failed to land a true difference-maker.
Bradberry, Martinez, and linebacker Kyler Fackrell are nice defensive additions. But even after placing the tag on Williams, the Giants failed to address their need at pass-rusher, a hole that became larger following the departure of Golden and his 10 sacks in 2019.
New York added Cam Fleming as a placeholder at right tackle until the club likely uses its fourth overall pick on an offensive lineman.
With this group, the Giants aren't much further ahead after a 4-12 season.
Grade: C-
Philadelphia Eagles| Key players signed | Key players lost |
|---|---|
| CB Darius Slay | T Jason Peters |
| S Will Parks | S Malcolm Jenkins |
| LB Jatavis Brown | CB Ronald Darby |
| DT Javon Hargrave | T Halapoulivaati Vaitai |
| CB Nickell Robey-Coleman | RB Jordan Howard |
| QB Nate Sudfeld | WR Nelson Agholor |
| LB Nigel Bradham | |
| QB Josh McCown |
The Eagles, who suffered plenty of injuries in 2019, entered the new league year wanting to get younger. Out are respected vets Peters and Jenkins, and in comes a 29-year-old cornerback in Slay, a 26-year-old linebacker in Brown, and 25-year-old Philly native Parks.
Philadelphia is hoping to be more durable amid the rigors of an NFL season. The team will pass starting responsibilities at running back and left tackle to Miles Sanders and Andre Dillard, respectively.
One decision still hanging in the air is whether to trade wideout Alshon Jeffery, who's reportedly seeking a change of scenery. Philly is far from done this offseason.
Grade: B
Washington Redskins| Key players signed | Key players lost |
|---|---|
| G Brandon Scherff (tag) | CB Quinton Dunbar |
| CB Kendall Fuller | CB Josh Norman |
| G Wes Schweitzer | QB Case Keenum |
| LB Thomas Davis | QB Colt McCoy |
| RB Peyton Barber | S Montae Nicholson |
| QB Kyle Allen | CB Coty Sensabaugh |
| S Sean Davis | G Ereck Flowers |
| DE Nate Orchard (re-sign) | TE Jordan Reed |
| WR Paul Richardson | |
| TE Vernon Davis |
The end of the Bruce Allen regime meant many Redskins mainstays were shown the door. The list of departures is long, and it's expected to soon include left tackle Trent Williams.
Washington failing to trade its top asset affects this grade. A rebuilding club greatly needs the resources the Redskins would recoup in a Williams deal.
Until then, the team's job is incomplete this offseason. Right now, Washington has only secured the return of its stud guard Scherff, the additions of Schweitzer and Fuller, and a number of depth signings since the opening of free agency.
Grade: D
NFC NorthChicago Bears
Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images Sport / Getty| Key players signed | Key players lost |
|---|---|
| QB Nick Foles (trade) | LB Leonard Floyd |
| DE Robert Quinn | S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix |
| CB Artie Burns | CB Prince Amukamara |
| TE Jimmy Graham | DT Nick Williams |
| LB Barkevious Mingo | LB Nick Kwiatkoski |
| OL Germain Ifedi | QB Chase Daniel |
Task one was to find competition or a replacement for Mitch Trubisky at quarterback. That was completed, though Foles came at a cost, with the Bears giving up a fourth-round pick to take on the veteran's exorbitant contract. However, he's the perfect option to either usurp Trubisky or mentor him.
Though the Bears' defense dropped off significantly under Chuck Pagano, the free-agent losses on that side of the ball are a cause for concern.
By picking up Quinn, Burns, and Graham, Chicago is also taking shots in the dark on aging veterans.
Grade: C-
Detroit Lions| Key players signed | Key players lost |
|---|---|
| CB Desmond Trufant | CB Darius Slay |
| DT Danny Shelton | LB Devon Kennard |
| LB Jamie Collins | T Rick Wagner |
| DB Duron Harmon (trade) | DT Damon Harrison |
| DT Nick Williams | DT Mike Daniels |
| T Halapoulivaati Vaitai | G Graham Glasgow |
| QB Chase Daniel | DT A'Shawn Robinson |
| CB Rashaan Melvin |
For the second time in as many offseasons, general manager Bob Quinn and former Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia are recruiting players from New England. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
Shelton, Collins, and Harmon were all major pieces of the league's top-ranked defense, but the list of players to leave Foxborough and thrive elsewhere is short.
The Lions lose Slay, a disgruntled employee and one of their best players, for third- and fifth-round picks. Trufant should be able to fill the void, if he remains healthy.
Detroit also lost starting offensive linemen Wagner and Glasgow. The team responded by handing $50 million over five seasons to Vaitai, a career backup with 20 starts over four years.
Grade: D
Green Bay Packers| Key players signed | Key players lost |
|---|---|
| LB Christian Kirksey | LB Blake Martinez |
| T Rick Wagner | T Bryan Bulaga |
| WR Devin Funchess | LB B.J. Goodson |
| TE Marcedes Lewis (re-sign) | TE Jimmy Graham |
| LB Kyler Fackrell |
After the Packers went against their history and were active participants in free agency last year, it was probably wrong to believe they'd go all-in again in 2020.
All has been quiet in Green Bay. The Pack added Kirksey and Wagner to open strong, then waited until the second week of free agency to address their need at receiver. After losing out on Emmanuel Sanders, they instead signed Funchess, a former second-round pick who disappointed in Carolina and broke his collarbone a game into his stay in Indy.
Though Wagner dulls the loss of Bulaga, and Kirksey does the same for losing Martinez, both former Packers were key contributors on a team that earned the second NFC seed in the 2019 playoffs.
Grade: C
Minnesota Vikings| Key players signed | Key players lost |
|---|---|
| S Anthony Harris (tag) | WR Stefon Diggs |
| DT Michael Pierce | DE Everson Griffen |
| K Dan Bailey (re-sign) | CB Xavier Rhodes |
| WR Tajae Sharpe | CB Trae Waynes |
| DE Anthony Zettel | DT Linval Joseph |
| CB Mackensie Alexander | |
| S Andrew Sendejo | |
| WR Laquon Treadwell |
The Vikings' secondary and receiving corps were decimated during free agency, with the team hard up against the cap.
Though they underperformed recently, Rhodes, Waynes, and Alexander leave gaping holes in Minnesota's back end, voids the team has yet to fill.
Offensively, the Vikings are down to Adam Thielen and Olabisi Johnson at wideout following the departures of Diggs and Treadwell. Minnesota was already thin at receiver, even with the Pro Bowl-pairing of Thielen and Diggs.
At least the Vikings pocketed an extra first-round pick from the Diggs trade.
Grade: C-
NFC SouthAtlanta Falcons
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty| Key players signed | Key players lost |
|---|---|
| RB Todd Gurley | CB Desmond Trufant |
| DE Dante Fowler Jr. | RB Devonta Freeman |
| TE Hayden Hurst | TE Austin Hooper |
| WR Laquon Treadwell | LB Vic Beasley |
| OL Justin McCray | OL Ty Sambrailo |
| G Wes Schweitzer |
It's been an offseason of change in Atlanta, as should be expected for a team that needed to win its last four games to finish at 7-9 in 2019. Three of the team's biggest recent names - Trufant, Freeman, and Hooper - are gone.
Losing a Pro Bowl talent in Hooper only to trade second- and fifth-round picks for Hurst and get a fourth is a downgrade. Swapping out Freeman for Gurley is a short-term upgrade, especially since the latter is only signed for one season and no one knows if he can rediscover his 2017 Offensive Player of the Year form.
One can't help but feel as though Atlanta's plan to this point has been to put a Band-Aid on a broken leg.
Grade: C
Carolina Panthers| Key players signed | Key players lost |
|---|---|
| QB Teddy Bridgewater | QB Cam Newton |
| WR Robby Anderson | LB Luke Kuechly |
| LT Russell Okung (trade) | TE Greg Olsen |
| WR Pharoh Cooper | CB James Bradberry |
| WR Seth Roberts | S Eric Reid |
| LB Tahir Whitehead | RG Trai Turner (trade) |
| G John Miller | DT Gerald McCoy |
| QB P.J. Walker | LB Mario Addison |
| DT Vernon Butler | |
| DT Dontari Poe |
A new era of football is upon those in the Carolinas. Gone are former franchise stewards Cam Newton, Luke Kuechly, and Greg Olsen, signaling the close of a competitive window that featured a Super Bowl 50 appearance.
Enter new head coach Matt Rhule, who appears to be trying to get the 2015 Temple Owls back together. That team featured P.J. Walker and Robby Anderson, as Rhule's Panthers do now.
But Carolina's biggest move was handing a $63-million contract to Teddy Bridgewater, making him the quarterback of the team's immediate future.
The rebuild begins in earnest at the 2020 draft, and more reinforcements are coming.
Grade: B-
New Orleans Saints| Key players signed | Key players lost |
|---|---|
| QB Drew Brees (re-sign) | QB Teddy Bridgewater |
| WR Emmanuel Sanders | CB Eli Apple |
| S Malcolm Jenkins | LB A.J. Klein |
| DE Noah Spence | S Vonn Bell |
| G Andrus Peat (re-sign) | |
| S D.J. Swearinger (re-sign) | |
| QB Taysom Hill (tender) |
The Saints entered the offseason with decisions to make on all three of their quarterbacks. The team chose to run it back with Drew Brees, slap a first-round tender on Taysom Hill, and let Bridgewater leave to lead a division rival.
The next big-ticket item was finding a wideout to complement Michael Thomas. The Saints won the services of Emmanuel Sanders, who was also in talks with the Packers and Cowboys. The deep threat should fit perfectly in New Orleans' high-volume passing attack.
And speaking of fits, safety Malcolm Jenkins returns to the Big Easy after six seasons in Philly. The Saints are retooling for another run at the Super Bowl.
Grade: B+
Tampa Bay Buccaneers| Key players signed | Key players lost |
|---|---|
| QB Tom Brady | QB Jameis Winston |
| LB Shaq Barrett (tag) | WR Breshad Perriman |
| LB Jason Pierre-Paul (re-sign) | LB Carl Nassib |
| OL Joe Haeg | RB Peyton Barber |
| DT Ndamukong Suh (re-sign) |
The Buccaneers win the offseason after swapping out turnover-machine Jameis Winston for the most accomplished quarterback of all time, even if Tom Brady is in his final seasons.
Tampa Bay lost very little from its roster while focussing on re-signing key pieces, including Ndamukong Suh and pass-rushers Shaq Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul.
The grade would be bumped up to an A+ if, after signing Brady, the Bucs were able to add one of the top offensive linemen, running backs, or defensive backs available. The only other new face is an offensive lineman signed for depth.
Grade: A
NFC WestArizona Cardinals
Tim Warner / Getty Images Sport / Getty| Key players signed | Key players lost |
|---|---|
| WR DeAndre Hopkins (trade) | RB David Johnson (trade) |
| WR Larry Fitzgerald (re-sign) | LB Cassius Marsh |
| LB Devon Kennard | |
| LB De'Vondre Campbell | |
| DT Jordan Phillips | |
| RB Kenyan Drake (tag) | |
| C Max Garcia |
The Cardinals came away with the surprise addition of this free-agent period. Already mulling discarding David Johnson, Arizona managed to turn the declining running back, a second-round pick, and a future fourth-rounder into DeAndre Hopkins.
That trade and Larry Fitzgerald's decision to return for another season will make the Cards a popular pick to be a 2020 contender.
However, general manager Steve Keim didn't rest there, making several under-the-radar defensive front-seven additions that should help turn around a dead-last defense in 2019.
Bringing Kenyan Drake back for another season after he scored eight touchdowns in eight games with the team was also a savvy move. He's making top-five running back money though on an $8.4-million transition tag.
Grade: A
Los Angeles Rams| Key players signed | Key players lost |
|---|---|
| OT Andrew Whitworth (re-sign) | RB Todd Gurley |
| DT A'Shawn Robinson | LB Clay Matthews |
| LB Leonard Floyd | LB Cory Littleton |
| C Austin Blythe (re-sign) | S Eric Weddle |
| CB Nickell Robey-Coleman | |
| LB Dante Fowler Jr. |
The Rams just missed the playoffs in 2019 - and would have made it under the new format - and, as a result, Sean McVay and Les Snead have been busy shedding talent and salary. And they may not be done, with wideout Brandin Cooks also reportedly on the trade block.
Retaining tackle Andrew Whitworth was a priority, but who's he going to be blocking for after the release of Todd Gurley?
It appears L.A. has also made little headway while trying to ink star corner Jalen Ramsey to an extension.
It's been a rough offseason for the Rams. At least their grade isn't as low as the one they received from the public for their revised logo.
Grade: D
San Francisco 49ers| Key players signed | Key players lost |
|---|---|
| S Jimmie Ward (re-sign) | DT DeForest Buckner (trade) |
| WR Travis Benjamin | WR Emmanuel Sanders |
| DL Kerry Hyder | OL Mike Person |
| OL Tom Compton | |
| LB Joe Walker | |
| C Ben Garland (re-sign) |
Forgive the 49ers for being quiet this offseason. They're likely still licking their wounds after coughing up a fourth-quarter lead in the Super Bowl.
San Francisco did make one major move, trading DeForest Buckner for the 13th overall pick in next month's draft. The Niners lost an elite interior defensive lineman, but the team likely recognized it couldn't afford the cost to keep him considering the going rates for Dee Ford and Arik Armstead, and Nick Bosa when he lands a rich extension.
Nonetheless, the 49ers made out well in the deal, and they could turn the pick into Buckner's replacement or a top-flight wideout.
The Niners also made sure to re-sign key contributors such as Jimmie Ward, Ben Garland, and Kyle Juszczyk.
Grade: B
Seattle Seahawks| Key players added | Key players lost |
|---|---|
| CB Quinton Dunbar (trade) | DT Al Woods |
| TE Greg Olsen | DE Quinton Jefferson |
| WR Phillip Dorsett | T George Fant |
| DT Jarran Reed (re-sign) | G Mike Iupati |
| T Brandon Shell | T Germain Ifedi |
| OL B.J. Finney | |
| G Chance Warmack | |
| T Cedric Ogbuehi | |
| DE Bruce Irvin |
No longer content to see Russell Wilson run for his life, the Seahawks have been busy during free agency, nabbing a number of offensive linemen and also trading for corner Quinton Dunbar.
The team is opting for quantity over quality, but any help on its O-line will go a long way.
After seeing their division rivals represent the NFC in the Super Bowl the past two seasons, the Seahawks are taking an aggressive approach to this offseason. A reunion with Jadeveon Clowney could put this free-agent class over the top.
Grade: B+
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