It can be tough finding very many great signings in NFL free agency with so much bad, desperate money floating through the air. Teams have put away their wallets this far into the process, however, and that makes this a good time to single out 10 deals I liked for various reasons.
1. Alex Mack, C, Atlanta Falcons
General terms: five years, $45 million ($28.5 million guaranteed at signing)
Why I like it: Mack is 30 years old and getting gobs of guaranteed money, which would typically raise red flags in abundance. Indeed, this is a strong deal from Mack's perspective. He can earn $4.5 million above what Cleveland was going to pay him before he opted out of that deal. Better yet for Mack, this deal forces the Falcons to guarantee in full $8.5 million of third-year money if Mack is on the roster in May 2017, which is only the second year of the deal. That's a player-friendly structure.
This deal ranks No. 1 on my list because Mack can be a force multiplier not only for a Falcons offensive line that has lost its way, but also for quarterback Matt Ryan, the team's No. 1 investment. Drew Brees, Derek Carr and Russell Wilson all recently benefited or suffered from changes at center. Todd McClure's presence helped Ryan earlier in his career. Dan Koppen made a big difference for Tom Brady years ago. Kevin Mawae helped Vinny Testaverde revive his career years ago.
Adding Mack up front and veteran Matt Schaub in the quarterback meeting room arms Ryan with a couple of smart, experienced allies.
2. Jaye Howard, DE, Kansas City Chiefs
General terms: two years, $10 million ($8.26 million guaranteed at signing)
Why I like it: Featuring Mack and Howard in the top two shows there's no single template for evaluating these deals. In re-signing Howard, the Chiefs get good value for a well-rounded 27-year-old starting defensive end coming off a 5.5-sack season. They did not spend anywhere near Malik Jackson money for a defensive lineman they liked. The market for 3-4 defensive ends can be underwhelming. The Chiefs also have a good thing going under coach Andy Reid, which makes Kansas City an attractive spot for players already on the roster. Those circumstances might have worked against Howard commanding a longer-term deal to his liking. Howard does get some financial security, while staying within a familiar scheme that should help him continue to produce at a high level. Howard also gets a chance to test the market again before age 30.
3. Ladarius Green, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
General terms: four years, $20 million ($4.75 million guaranteed at signing)
Why I like it: The 25-year-old Green never realized his potential in San Diego while playing behind Antonio Gates. He should have ample opportunities to produce as a receiving tight end in Pittsburgh after the Steelers lost tight end Heath Miller to retirement and receiver Martavis Bryant to a year-long suspension. Those developments give Green an opportunity to emerge as a red zone threat for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Adding Green and signing Darius Heyward-Bey to a team-friendly deal allowed Pittsburgh to protect itself at least somewhat from its personnel losses.
4. George Iloka, SS, Cincinnati Bengals
General terms: five years, $30 million ($5 million guaranteed at signing)
Why I like it: Iloka is young (25) and a proven fit for the Bengals' defense. The Bengals should love the deal in the first year for the low guarantee. Iloka will collect $12.4 million of the $30 million total value -- a solid 41 percent -- through the first two seasons if the Bengals bring him back in 2017, which seems likely. The final three years of the deal are relatively flat, which means the Bengals will be in great shape if Iloka blossoms into a front-line player at the position.
5. Casey Hayward, CB, San Diego Chargers
General terms: three years, $15.3 million ($6.8 million guaranteed at signing)
Why I like it: Hayward is a young player (26) whose career could be on the rise. The deal Hayward signed allows the Chargers to reassess on a year-by-year basis because none of the money is guaranteed beyond the first season. That is good for the team and not horrible for Hayward, who would hit the market at age 27 with 44 percent of the contract's full value already in his pocket if San Diego tore up the deal after one season. Hayward is a proven slot corner with the potential to become more.
6. Russell Okung, LT, Denver Broncos
General terms: five years, $53 million ($0 guaranteed at signing)
Why I like it: This is a one-year deal for $5 million, with a four-year team option that amounts to window dressing. The Broncos assumed zero risk while adding a left tackle with the potential to play near a Pro Bowl level when healthy. If Okung gets healthy following shoulder surgery and performs well, the Broncos will have a $10 million player for half price, with the ability to reassess after the season. If Okung struggles to get healthy and/or plays poorly during camp, the team can move on from him without paying much, if anything. The Broncos could even be in position to draft a tackle and then decide how prominently Okung fits into their plans.
7. Chris Hogan, WR, New England Patriots
General terms: three years, $12 million ($7.5 million guaranteed at signing)
Why I liked it: The best teams are typically the ones in position to maximize their investments in free agency. New England should be able to maximize Hogan's value as long as Tom Brady is the one playing quarterback for the Patriots. Hogan was a restricted free agent, which explains why this contract is quite player-friendly. Hogan gets $8.5 million of the deal's total value in the first two years, which equates to better than 70 percent, a high number. But as one longtime general manager put it, that's not a bad price to pay for a player who was arguably Buffalo's second-best receiver.
8. Jermaine Kearse, WR, Seattle Seahawks
General terms: three years, $13.5 million ($6.3 million guaranteed at signing)
Why I like it: Kearse sounded resigned to leaving the Seahawks this offseason, but he returned for a deal that stood out to contract negotiators as team-friendly in nature. I'd argue that this deal can make sense for Kearse as well. He's a good player, but is he good enough to succeed in any offense across the league? Some receivers disappear outside their comfort zones. Kearse should remain a productive player in Seattle, giving him a better shot at keeping up his value.
9. Steve McLendon, NT, New York Jets
General terms: three years, $10.5 million ($4 million guaranteed at signing)
Why I like it: The Jets lost run-stuffer Damon Harrison to the New York Giants on a five-year, $46.25 million deal with $24 million guaranteed. That's a huge price for a player who typically logs about half the defensive snaps. The Jets sought a cost-effective alternative and found one in McLendon. The market for 30-year-old nose tackles is not robust, which makes this a good deal from McLendon's perspective as well. Jets coach Todd Bowles seemed to get the most from Dan Williams and Paul Soliai in years past. This could be a good landing spot for McLendon, who can earn $12 million if he maxes out the deal.
10. Lamar Miller, RB, Houston Texans
General terms: four years, $26 million ($14 million guaranteed at signing)
Why I like it: The Texans needed a replacement for Arian Foster to take pressure off newly acquired quarterback Brock Osweiler. Miller is young (24), has low miles (638 career carries) and has never missed a game to injury in four NFL seasons. Miller's contract fits with room to spare into the $7 million opening created when the Texans released Foster, but the deal is substantive enough for Houston to feature Miller prominently in its game plans. That should make Miller more valuable to Houston than he was to Miami.