NFL free agency grades: The losing teams
The NFL free agency period has all but drawn to a close, and every offseason, there are winners and losers. On Saturday, I wrote extensively about the Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers. All of those teams did a nice job of upgrading their rosters over the past two weeks.
This time around, things aren’t going to be so pretty. The money has been spent, the players have been signed. These four teams left us scratching our heads more than the rest.
Oakland Raiders
Can anybody explain what the heck is going on with Jon Gruden’s team? The Raiders were supposed to be building their team around Khalil Mack and Derek Carr. Although neither seems to be getting much help these days. Instead of getting some additional pass-rush help to take the burden off of Mack, the Raiders signed Tahir Whitehead and Rashaan Melvin, two average players for the back seven.
The offense is even more puzzling. Instead of getting some speedy receivers or a field-stretching tight end in the NFL free agency, Oakland signed Derek Carrier, Lee Smith, Doug Martin, Breno Giacomini and Jordy Nelson. None of it adds up to winning football games come September.
Indianapolis Colts
The Colts had to do something in free agency to upgrade one o the worst rosters in football. Instead, either by design or thriftiness, general manager Chris Ballard watched one fit after another go by the boards, leaving Indianapolis with a worse roster than the one that just finished 2017 with a 4-12 record. The Colts have to figure out what the direction is, because right now, it’s Andrew Luck (maybe) and a bunch of players who ought to rent and not buy.
New York Giants
The Giants didn’t do a ton in free agency, but the one big move was a curious one. New York general manager Dave Gettleman broke the proverbial bank to sign left tackle Nate Solder for four years and $62 million, despite the veteran never making a single All-Pro or Pro Bowl team. Turning 30 years old next month, Solder is a good player paid like a great one. Considering the lack of moves made elsewhere by Gettleman and the Giants, there was no reason to pay that much for a non-contending group.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals had to do better than walk away with Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon at quarterback. Bradford can never stay healthy and Glennon basically plays like he’s injured. Arizona also allowed Tyrann Mathieu to get away, releasing him to the open market. It’s going to be a very long road to contention for the Cardinals, only a few years removed from the NFC Championship Game.
