Best -- and worst -- big-money signing. Team that moved up a tier. Departure that will be felt the most. Bargain signing that will pay off.
We asked our panel of five NFL Insiders to weigh in on the first few days of free agency and answer some hard-hitting questions.
What will be the best big-money signing from this free-agent class?
Matt Bowen, NFL writer: Cornerback Logan Ryan (three years, $30 million) not only fills a desperate need for the Tennessee Titans, but he's also a really good fit for the defensive coaching staff. A technician at the point of attack, Ryan brings on-the-ball production (13 interceptions in four seasons) and toughness to the Titans' secondary. If you are going to spend early in free agency, then land a player like Ryan who is just entering his prime playing years with the arrow pointing up on his overall game.
Dan Graziano, national NFL insider: I don't like any of the "big-money" signings. I like the shorter-term wide receiver deals. My favorite is Brandon Marshall to the New York Giants, but at $5 million guaranteed that's hardly big money these days. I also like Alshon Jeffery's deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, which was reported as a $14 million deal but actually guarantees him only $9.5 million. So if I have to pick a big-money deal, I'll say DeSean Jackson's three-year, $33.5 million deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which guarantees him $20 million at signing and should radically change the Bucs' passing game by forcing defenses to play deeper than they've played so far against Jameis Winston since he entered the league.
Louis Riddick, NFL front office insider: It's A.J. Bouye signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars. His $13.5 million annual average puts him tied for fifth among cornerbacks in 2017, and his $26 million fully guaranteed at signing is fourth at his position. Bouye will be only 26 when the season starts, which means the Jags are set at corner for years to come.
Mike Sando, senior NFL writer: Martellus Bennett's signing with the Green Bay Packers comes to mind. The best teams are usually better able to maximize their investments in veteran players. Aaron Rodgers' presence in Green Bay, coupled with the Packers' clear need for a tight end with versatility, puts the Packers in position to get their money's worth.
Field Yates, NFL insider: The Detroit Lions lost two offensive linemen to lucrative deals elsewhere in Larry Warford and Riley Reiff, but they still improved the right side of their line in a notable way. In adding guard T.J. Lang (three years) and tackle Rick Wagner (five years), Detroit has built a tough, steady, rugged right side that will not only help keep Matthew Stafford well-protected but will re-establish the running game the team desperately lacked last season.
What will be the worst big-money signing from this free-agent class?
Bowen: Matt Kalil's deal with the Carolina Panthers jumps out because of the massive number value (five years, $55 million, $27 million guaranteed) attached to a player with subpar tape and an injury history. Maybe this is a reflection of a below-average draft class coming out at the offensive tackle position, but Kalil's play has declined since his Pro Bowl season as a rookie in 2012, and he is coming off yet another surgery (hip). The Panthers are betting big money that Kalil returns to top form.
Graziano: Cheating here, I'm going with the Minnesota Vikings' tackle signings in tandem. Minnesota handed out $26.3 million guaranteed at signing for Riley Reiff and $10.5 million guaranteed at signing for Mike Remmers. I know the Vikings were desperate, and that the offensive line sank their promising 2016 season. But they overspent for these guys and still don't have much behind them for when the injuries set in. If these two don't overperform, the Vikings' window shortens.
Riddick: I'm going with Kalil signing in Carolina. His play has declined over the past three seasons, and he played just 118 snaps last season before going on injured reserve. I don't see how the Panthers have fixed a clear problem area for them over the past two years. As Matt mentioned, it speaks to just how thin the offensive line class is in this year's draft.
Sando: Kenny Britt's four-year, $32.5 million deal with the Cleveland Browns could wind up being a one-year deal for $10.5 million, so the numbers aren't as bad as they look. But for a team that drafted five receivers in 2016 and had Terrelle Pryor in its grasp, betting even $10.5 million on Britt doesn't look like an ideal investment -- especially without a top quarterback to maximize him. Side note: The offensive tackle market deserves its own category based on all the bad money spent!
Yates: To join the chorus, it's Kalil's deal in Carolina. He has had moments of excellence in his career -- a strong rookie season cast him on the path to stardom -- but inconsistent seasons followed, and he missed 14 games last season. The Panthers are banking on a resurgence in play and a healthy return to form for Kalil, who doesn't have the easy job of protecting Cam Newton's blind side. A change of scenery can sometimes serve a player well and the draft is shallow in terms of tackle options, but the money here felt steep.
Which team moved up a tier after the first few days of free agency?
Bowen: The Eagles upgraded their wide receiver talent and did so at a very reasonable rate with both Jeffery and Torrey Smith (three years, $15 million). In Jeffery, the Eagles give quarterback Carson Wentz a true No. 1 option who has the size, matchup ability and catch radius to go up and get the football. And with Smith, that vertical speed is going to clear out space in the middle of the field while also creating deep-ball opportunities to challenge the top of the secondary. Wentz needed weapons outside of the numbers, and both receivers will facilitate more growth in the young QB.
Graziano: Well, it can't be the New England Patriots, since they already occupied the uppermost tier. I like what the Los Angeles Rams did, adding a veteran tackle in Andrew Whitworth to help keep things calm in the locker room (he's four years older than their new head coach!) and adding underrated receiver Robert Woods, who was well-respected in Buffalo for his all-around game and contributions as a blocker. And I like the Browns investing in the offensive line and getting all NBA-style creative with the Brock Osweiler trade.
Riddick: Look, the rich continue to get richer. What the Patriots are doing by signing Stephon Gilmore and trading for Brandin Cooks is just laughable. If there is any franchise that has the program to be able to integrate and maximize veteran acquisitions, it is the Patriots, who are pulling away from the rest of the league.
Sando: The Indianapolis Colts took a solid first step toward strengthening their front seven by signing Jabaal Sheard and John Simon to deals Indy should be able to live with comfortably. Philly's makeover at wide receiver and fortification of its interior offensive line was impressive. New England also comes to mind. The Patriots were already at the top, but they approached the start of free agency like the team that was down 28-3 in the Super Bowl, not the team that came back to win it.
Yates: Tennessee. General manager Jon Robinson continues to show a dedication toward identifying his roster type and filling holes accordingly. The team had a major need at cornerback and plucked Ryan away from the Patriots. He'll slide right into Dick LeBeau's defensive scheme, which will allow his strong instincts to excel. He's an excellent tackler, too. Beyond that, Tennessee also has gotten faster and tougher on special teams with the additions of Eric Weems, Daren Bates and Brynden Trawick.
Which departure will be felt the most?
Bowen: The Redskins landed Pryor on a one-year deal, and he has a high ceiling, but quarterback Kirk Cousins lost both Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson to free agency, and Pryor can't be expected to fill that void. That's a lot of production walking out the door. Can 2016 first-round-pick Josh Doctson make the second-year jump after playing only two games as a rookie? And how do the Redskins replicate the toughness of Garcon and the deep-ball speed of Jackson?
Graziano: Whitworth is a big loss for the Cincinnati Bengals. Who's more Bengal than him? I doubt Cedric Ogbuehi is ready to take over at left tackle, and even if he is, the Cincinnati locker room will miss Whitworth's steady hand. But I also think not enough is being made of how much Jackson helped Cousins in Washington by stretching the field and forcing defenses to play deep. Cousins is going to feel that absence.
Riddick: The weapons that left in Washington are a concern. Although the Redskins really like what they think they are getting in Pryor, there are always unknowns when it comes to chemistry and the subsequent translation to on-field production. D-Jack and Garcon were legit playmakers in that offense. Time will tell.
Sando: Subtracting Whitworth and especially Kevin Zeitler from the Bengals assures their offensive line will regress further. Worse, the formula for compensatory draft choices works against Cincy in Whitworth's case; he has 10-plus accrued seasons and is 30-plus years in age, which means the Bengals can get no better than a fifth-round compensatory choice in return for him instead of a third-rounder. In the bigger picture, moving on from Whitworth was understandable given his age, but Zeitler ideally would have been a building block for the future. How many subtractions can this offense endure after losing receivers Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones last offseason?
Yates: Back in 2015, the Bengals used first- and second-round picks on offensive linemen, setting the plan in motion to eventually replace Whitworth. Problem is, Whitworth has stayed so reliable, and neither Ogbuehi nor Jake Fisher has fully emerged as a dependable every-down starter. Throw in the loss of Zeitler, too, and Cincy has major work to do along the offensive line.
Which bargain signing will pay off in a big way?
Bowen: I see Bennett as a bargain deal for the Packers at an average salary of $7 million per season (three years, $21 million, only $6.3 million guaranteed). That's a reasonable rate for a starting tight end who can produce on middle-of-the-field throws and win up front as an in-line blocker. Bennett battled through an ankle injury last season, but he still produced seven touchdown grabs for the Patriots. If healthy, he becomes a prime target for Rodgers and a key part of Mike McCarthy's running game as a blocker on the edge.
Graziano: Here's my chance to extol the Marshall signing for the Giants, whose plan in 2016 seemed to be: "defense, defense, defense, Odell, defense." Eli Manning desperately needed another reliable option in the passing game, and Marshall should be that and more. Sterling Shepard gets to continue his development in the slot, and defenses will have to pay attention to someone on the other side from Beckham. The Giants' offense needs more help -- at tackle, running back and tight end -- but Marshall was a sweet get for them at a low price.
Riddick: The Houston Texans' re-signing tight end Ryan Griffin to a three-year deal for $9 million total with $3.225 million guaranteed is a bargain all the way around. His annual average puts him 30th among tight ends, while he is beginning to hit his stride at the age of 27. If the Texans can figure out their quarterback position, this is a young player with tremendous upside at a position of increasing importance in the NFL.
Sando: The Chicago Bears' bargain additions at cornerback come to mind, given the relatively low price tags for Prince Amukamara and Marcus Cooper. While it's fair to wonder whether the Bears will be good enough for these additions to pay off in a big way, we do know Chicago did not pay top-of-the-market money for mid-market performance. The James Develin re-signing in New England also looks like a bargain compared to what Buffalo and San Francisco paid for fullbacks this offseason.
Yates: Talent has never been a question for Alshon Jeffery, but availability and reliability played a part in his departure from Chicago. A base value of $9.5 million -- with the ability to earn up to $14 million in incentives -- isn't exactly cheap, but given some thought Chicago might have used the franchise tag on Jeffery again (which would have incurred a salary of close to $18 million), getting Jeffery at this price makes great sense. He's a useful weapon for Carson Wentz to throw to and should be highly motivated to have a productive season with free agency around the corner in 2018.