With the primary wave of free company over, some groups have considerably upgraded their roster (Commanders) whereas others (Cowboys) have left us stumped over what they’re doing.
As decided by Yardbarker NFL writers, listed below are free-agency grades for all 16 NFC groups. The subsequent main team-building effort will come on the NFL Draft in Detroit from April 25-27. (Full free-agency signees could also be accessed by clicking on the “key additions” hyperlink.)
NFC East
DALLAS COWBOYS | Grade: D | Key additions: LB Eric Kendricks | Dallas deserves partial credit score for getting assist for linebacker Micah Parsons, however with meager cap house, there’s little the Cowboys can do with out considerably adjusting the contracts of WR CeeDee Lamb and/or QB Dak Prescott. With left offensive sort out Tyron Smith gone in free company to the Jets, the NFC East could possibly be up for grabs in 2024.
NEW YORK GIANTS | Grade C | Key additions: RB Devin Singletary, G Jon Runyan Jr., OL Jermaine Eluemunor, QB Drew Lock | Eluemunor and Runyan are instant upgrades for an offensive line that gave up a league-high 85 sacks final season. Singletary won’t ever match Saquon Barkley’s athleticism, however he presents extra consistency (one sport missed over the previous 4 years). Don’t be stunned if Lock takes over at quarterback sooner or later because the staff prepares for all times after Daniel Jones.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | Grade B | Key additions: RB Saquon Barkley, EDGE Bryce Huff, LB Devin White, S C.J. Gardner-Johnson | The Eagles spent $37M for an injury-prone working again (Barkley), $51M for a situational pass-rusher (Huff), $33M to carry again a security (Gardner) who trashed Philadelphia on his approach out the door throughout the 2023 offseason and $7.5M for a linebacker (White) who was benched for a sport whereas his staff fought for the playoffs. All are proficient and Philadelphia deserves credit score for stepping out of its consolation zone, however the danger is simple for a staff already adjusting to new coordinators for 2024.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | Grade: A | Key additions: EDGE Dorance Armstrong, LB Bobby Wagner, RB Austin Ekeler, C Tyler Biadasz, TE Zach Ertz | Armstrong had 21 sacks in three seasons beneath Dan Quinn, the defensive coordinator for Dallas final season, and Wagner led the NFL final season with 183 tackles for Seattle. They’ll assist Washington’s Thirty second-ranked protection whereas the additions of Biadasz, Ekeler and Ertz ought to shorten the educational curve for quarterbacks Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye ought to the staff take both with the No. 2 decide within the NFL Draft on April 25. — Bruce Ewing
NFC West
ARIZONA CARDINALS | Grade B | Key additions: DT Justin Jones, OT Jonah Williams, DE Bilal Nichols, CB Sean Murphy-Bunting, RB DeeJay Dallas, LB Mack Wilson | The Cardinals completed the 2023 season thirty first within the league in factors in opposition to and Thirty second in opposition to the run, leaving the protection as a serious level of concern. They addressed that in an enormous approach in free company by beefing up their line of defense with Jones and Nichols and complementing them with Wilson at linebacker and Murphy-Bunting at nook.
LOS ANGELES RAMS | Grade B | Key additions: G Jonah Jackson, CB Darious Williams, TE Colby Parkinson | Enhancing the secondary was a main concern for the Rams, in order that they signed veteran Williams (a Ram from 2018-21) away from Jacksonville after a 2023 season during which he intercepted 4 passes. Jackson is the largest addition, signing a $51 million contract. He is likely one of the greatest guards within the league.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | Grade: C | Key additions: OLB Leonard Floyd, DE Yetor Gross-Matos | The 49ers wanted to deal with their line of defense and move rush, so the additions of Floyd and Yetor Gross-Matos make sense. Floyd, nonetheless, is 32 and extra of a situational pass-rusher than an every-down participant. Gross-Matos had simply 13 sacks in 4 seasons with Carolina.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | Grade: B | Key additions: DE Leonard Williams, TE Noah Fant, SS Rayshawn Jenkins | The 2 greatest signings for Seattle had been re-signings of Williams and Fant. Each gamers had been among the many greatest out there at their positions — Seattle was unlikely to seek out higher upgrades at cheaper costs. — Adam Gretz
NFC North
CHICAGO BEARS | Grade: C | Key additions: RB D’Andre Swift, TE Gerald Everett, S Jonathan Owens, S Kevin Byard | The Bears have had a good offseason on paper, including 1,000-yard rusher D’Andre Swift and buying and selling for veteran wideout Keenan Allen. Nevertheless, going past the hype, the additions of a backup tight finish (Everett), a middling security (Owens) and a veteran DB (Byard) on the downswing aren’t a lot to get enthusiastic about.
DETROIT LIONS | Grade: B | Key additions: DE Marcus Davenport, DT D.J. Reader, CB Amik Robertson | Bringing in Davenport, a veteran rotational piece, and standout nostril sort out Reader ought to assist star edge-rusher Aidan Hutchinson. In the meantime, the addition of Robertson and a commerce for Carlton Davis III bolsters the secondary after the Lions whiffed on enhancements within the again finish final offseason.
GREEN BAY PACKERS | Grade: B | Key additions: RB Josh Jacobs, S Xavier McKinney | Whereas the Packers had been primarily busy locking up their very own free brokers, the few strikes they did make on the open market ought to have the remainder of the NFC North shivering. Inexperienced Bay added not one however two influence gamers, signing arguably one of the best working again (Jacobs) and one of the best security (McKinney). They need to change the dynamic on either side of the ball.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS | Grade: B | Key additions: DE Jonathan Greenard, LB Blake Cashman, LB Andrew Van Ginkel, RB Aaron Jones, QB Sam Darnold | The Vikings had been busy on protection, including Greenard, who led the Houston Texans with 12.5 sacks in 2023, and Cashman to switch free brokers Danielle Hunter, Marcus Davenport and D.J. Wonnum. It is a stable begin to free company, however till Minnesota is aware of who will begin at quarterback, many of the staff’s strikes might be moot. — Mike Santa Barbara
NFC South
ATLANTA FALCONS | Grade: C+ | Key additions: QB Kirk Cousins, WR Darnell Mooney | The Falcons obtained their quarterback, however they’re seemingly paying Cousins (4 years, $180 million) for his previous performances, not what he must be anticipated to do from his age 36-39 seasons and coming off a torn Achilles. Mooney’s payday (three years, $39 million) additionally suggests Atlanta thinks his greatest days are forward of him after he totaled solely 907 receiving yards over the previous two seasons with the Bears.
CAROLINA PANTHERS | Grade: B | Key additions: G Robert Hunt, G Damien Lewis, EDGE D.J. Wonnum | Carolina gave Hunt the league’s second-highest-value contract to a guard (5 years, $100 million), however at 28, he’s younger sufficient to play at a excessive stage all through his deal. The Panthers additionally shored up their different guard spot with the Lewis signing (4 years, $53 million) and changed edge-rusher Brian Burns by including Wonnum on a cap-friendly two-year, $12.5 million contract.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | B+ | Key additions: LB Willie Homosexual, WR Cedrick Wilson, EDGE Chase Younger | The Saints added high quality depth with their first two main signings, former Chiefs linebacker Homosexual Jr. and former Dolphins and Cowboys wideout Wilson, however it was Monday’s addition of Younger that turned this class from common to nice. Younger, who might be 25 in the beginning of the 2024 season, had 74 complete pressures final season, displaying he has moved previous accidents that restricted him to 12 video games from 2021-22.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | Grade: A | Key additions: SS Jordan Whitehead | The Bucs largely get an “A” for what they didn’t want so as to add after re-signing their very own free brokers, huge receiver Mike Evans, quarterback Baker Mayfield and security Antoine Winfield, who acquired the franchise tag. Tampa additionally upgraded at sturdy security after agreeing to a reunion with Whitehead on a two-year deal, setting the staff up effectively to increase its NFC South dynasty. — Eric Smithling