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Grading notable non-QB deals in NFL free agency
NFL free agency has arrived, with teams taking advantage of the legal tampering period before the start of the new league year March 12.
Deals abound, so let's grade the more notable non-quarterback agreements so far.
DT Milton Williams | New England Patriots
Contract: four years, $104M ($63M guaranteed), per Adam Schefter of ESPN | Grade: B-
It's hard to knock the Patriots for overpaying in free agency considering they entered the offseason with the most cap space in the NFL, but this is a hefty contract for an interior defensive lineman.
Williams finished last season with just 24 combined tackles, five sacks, seven tackles for loss and 10 quarterback hits. The former Philadelphia Eagles DT raised his price tag with two sacks, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble in the Super Bowl, but he alone won't be able to fix a Patriots pass rush that recorded the fewest sacks in the NFL last season (24).
LB Josh Sweat | Arizona Cardinals
Contract: Four years, $76.4M ($41M guaranteed), per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network | Grade: C+
Arizona was always the favorite to land Sweat because Jonathan Gannon was his defensive coordinator in Philadelphia for two seasons (2021-2022). The Cardinals needed to invest in an edge after no one on the defense recorded more than five sacks in 2024, but there's no evidence Sweat can be a premier pass-rusher in the NFL.
The 27-year-old has just one Pro Bowl appearance and one season with more than eight sacks, and he had the luxury of playing on one of the best — and deepest — defensive lines in the league. He'll need to take a big step forward to justify this contract.
WR Davante Adams | Los Angeles Rams
Contract: Two years, $46M ($26M guaranteed), per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network | Grade: A-
With Cooper Kupp likely leaving Los Angeles this offseason, the Rams entered free agency needing another wide receiver. All they did was snag the best option of the bunch to upgrade their WR2 position.
Adams has recorded at least 1,000 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns in five straight seasons. He's the perfect veteran target for Matthew Stafford.
CB D.J. Reed | Detroit Lions
Contract: Three years, $48M ($32M guaranteed), per Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports | Grade A
The Lions desperately needed a shutdown cornerback, especially after Carlton Davis decided to sign with the Patriots. Detroit ranked 31st in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game last season (247.1). The former Jet has double-digit passes defended in three of the past four seasons. He has a ton of upside at CB, and the Lions grabbed him for $12M less than the Patriots gave Davis.
Safety Camryn Bynum | Indianapolis Colts
Contract: Four years, $60M, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network | Grade: A-
Bynum checks a lot of boxes as a strong free-agent pickup. The former Minnesota Viking is still young (26), has a knack for the ball (five interceptions, 19 passes defended, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries over the past two seasons) and is as reliable as they come (played all 17 regular-season games in three straight years).
More must-reads:
- Despite injury concern, keeping WR Chris Godwin could be right move for Buccaneers
- Najee Harris' Steelers departure harkens back to debate prior to 2021 NFL Draft
- The 'Season rushing TD leaders by NFL team' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
Shane Steichen dropped a big hint about the Colts’ QB battle
The Indianapolis Colts have yet to name their starting quarterback for the 2025 season, but coach Shane Steichen may have dropped a big hint about who the choice may be. Steichen said Saturday that he was close to making a decision between Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson in the ongoing camp battle. He may have tipped his hand, however, when answering a question about what traits he was looking for in his starter. “I think it’s the most consistent guy,” Steichen said, via Joel A. Erickson of the Indianapolis Star. “I really do, because at the end of the day, you’ve got to be able to move the football consistently up and down the field, and making good decisions. You know what I mean? I mean, at the end of the day, you can have splash plays, but if you’re doing that sparingly and up and down. … I think it’s got to be on a consistent basis, to get to where we want to go.” The knock on Richardson all along has been his inconsistency, and it is a bad sign for his prospects that Steichen put such an emphasis on that as part of his answer. Richardson’s physical talents are undeniable, but his decision-making has left something to be desired, and the offense has at times stalled out with him at the helm of it. Jones does not bring Richardson’s big-play potential, but would likely leave the Colts with a better idea of what they will get every Sunday. Richardson has put in extra work to try to win the job, but has been sidelined for a large part of the offseason with a shoulder injury, coupled with a dislocated pinky suffered during the preseason opener. It has also been suggested that Jones entered camp as the favorite, so Richardson had to play well enough to supplant him. Jones started Saturday’s preseason game and went 7-of-11 for 101 yards. Richardson went 6-of-11 for 73 yards, but he had one big play negated due to a penalty. The Colts ultimately lost 23-19 to the Green Bay Packers.
Milwaukee Brewers: Craig Counsell Blasts Former Team’s 14-Game Winning Streak, Gets Caught Lying
Saints' QB picture remains unclear with end of preseason nearing
New Orleans Saints rookie head coach Kellen Moore still doesn't seem to love his quarterback options heading into the season. After a 17-17 home tie against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Moore refused to name a starting QB in his postgame news conference. "We'll see," the coach said when asked if he would announce a starter this week. Perhaps Moore wants to use the preseason finale against the Denver Broncos on Aug. 23 to make the best decision for the team, or he still has doubts about both of his QBs. Saints rookie QB Tyler Shough started Sunday, while Spencer Rattler was the backup. The 2025 second-round pick out of Louisville wasn't awful, but he wasn't outstanding. He completed 9-of-12 passes for 66 yards and was sacked twice. When Shough exited after the second quarter, the Saints trailed 17-3 and had punted three times. New Orleans could've been losing by more if Jaguars starting QB Trevor Lawrence hadn't fumbled a handoff in the red zone on the game's opening drive. Rattler entered the game in the third quarter and played better. The South Carolina product spurred a 14-point comeback and led a nine-play, 82-yard drive late in the fourth quarter. At the end of the drive, Rattler tossed a 20-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dante Pettis. The QB then scrambled for a two-point conversion, tying the game at 17-17. Rattler finished 18-of-24 passing for 199 yards, one TD and one interception. While the comeback was impressive, he probably can't pull off the same magic against a first-team defense in the regular season. Plus, the Saints had struggled to score in the red zone until the final drive—two of Rattler's five drives ended in field goals. The offense looks slightly better with Rattler, which could give him an edge in the competition. However, he has yet to prove he's a viable starter. The 2024 fifth-rounder had a 0-6 starting record during his rookie season. It's easy to see why Moore is delaying his decision. His options don't seem to give him a chance for immediate success in New Orleans.
Proposed Arena Deal Puts Brady Tkachuk in Different Jersey
The Ottawa Senators’ long-awaited push to move downtown has revived more than just arena talk—it has also sparked speculation about the future of captain Brady Tkachuk. On episode 400 of the DFO Rundown podcast, NHL analyst Jason Gregor suggested that the timeline for the Senators’ new home at LeBreton Flats may not line up with Tkachuk’s contract, potentially influencing whether he stays in Ottawa. Tkachuk’s deal, an eight-year, $57.56 million pact signed in 2021, runs through 2028. By then, the Senators’ proposed arena—still facing construction and approval hurdles—might only just be opening. According to reports from the Ottawa Citizen, the building is expected to take at least two years to complete once the land is ready. That mismatch in timing could prove crucial. “Is that building done in three years? Probably not,” Gregor said. “So I’m going to actually sell [on him staying]. By the time that building is done, he’ll have moved on. I get a sense that he might be going to the USA.” Which Team Would Brady Tkachuk Join? It’s key to point out that Brady has never said he has intentions on leaving Ottawa. He’s excited about the upcoming season and working with the team to get better and become a legitimate playoff contender. His contract also includes a full no-move clause. It’s the control over any trade scenario he has that makes this interesting. In the past, he’s been loosely linked to the New York Rangers. In December, “The Post’s Larry Brooks reports the Blueshirts have been in trade talks with multiple teams — with Senators forward Brady Tkachuk their primary target.” The article added, “The 25-year-old Ottawa captain would bring a jolt to the lifeless Rangers lineup and in multiple ways.” Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen later ruled out there being any truth to the speculation. Of course, there is also the Florida Panthers, where Brady’s brother Matthew plays. Matthew loves Florida and is signed until 2030. Could bringing in the younger brother be one of the things that gets both players to sign team-friendly deals and extensions? The Senators have made it clear that Tkachuk remains central to their long-term plans, but without a finished arena to market as a franchise reset, Gregor wonders if Ottawa could face a challenge convincing its captain to stick around for the next chapter.
End of the Line for Mazi Smith: Former 1st-Round Pick Faltering
An ugly preseason for the Dallas Cowboys has only been made worse by the struggles of former first-round pick Mazi Smith. His performances have shattered any hope remaining from the fanbase for a career revival. It’s been a bumpy road from the jump for Smith: he wasn’t a popular pick to begin with, partially due to some Michigan-Taco Charlton PTSD. The on-field showing failed to pop in his rookie year, which was also clouded by a weight controversy that I’m sure Cowboys fans would love to forget. Things improved slightly in 2024, but the major jump he needed to take in 2025 is simply not happening. Smith’s preseason performance has been a major part of a larger problem with the Dallas defensive line, and I don’t know how much longer the front office can hold on. Could this be the end of the line for Mazi Smith? Would the Cowboys actually move on from a first-rounder just three years in? Let’s talk about it. The Facts: Mazi Smith Is Not Needed In Dallas If you haven’t watched these preseason games, you’re going to have to trust me when I say this: Smith might be playing his worst football to date right now. If you have been watching, you know I’m right. He is getting blown off the line of scrimmage, swallowed up by the interior offensive line, and has failed to do much of anything to prevent the run. Now, I know that doesn’t sound too uncommon; why would Dallas suddenly move on from Smith now if it’s the same struggles they’ve experienced before? The answer lies in the rest of the depth chart. The Cowboys do not need Smith anymore. His absence would not leave a hole in the roster; he is the hole in the roster right now. Smith, thanks to his status as a former first-rounder, is taking snaps away from guys who are playing well. Guys like Jay Toia and Perrion Winfrey are earning high praise, and at this point, they deserve to play over Smith. These are the facts. When you look at it, cut and dry, Dallas should cut Smith when the rosters go down to 53. The only problem is, they might not care to consider the facts. Why Mazi Smith Could Stay: Hesitant Front Office Holding On For Dear Life If there is one thing the Dallas Cowboys front office struggles with, it’s admitting mistakes. Often, they’ll have a bad decision right in front of their face, and they will turn a blind eye. Whether that stems from ego, hesitancy, or unyielding hope in their decisions, I don’t know. What I do know is that trait is the only thing keeping Mazi Smith afloat right now. For Dallas to cut him, it would mean admitting defeat after just two full seasons on a first-round pick, in favor of a late-round rookie in Toia, and a journeyman in Winfrey. That isn’t really the Cowboy way. Not to mention, Smith would carry nearly $3.5M in dead cap if released. That is also not the Cowboy way. They don’t take financial hits like that if they can avoid it. In this case, they can avoid it. It would not surprise me in the least if they hurt the on-field product to save a little money and keep the dream alive that Smith suddenly turns this ship around. Nothing is guaranteed right now, and you never know, maybe Smith does improve before the regular season starts. However, it should be a long shot for him to remain a Cowboy beyond these next few weeks; it is just time to flip the page.
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