In case you don't have an Insider account, here is ESPN's grade for the Skins in 2014 free agency:
http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/mike-sando/post?id=7907Washington Redskins
Grade: C+
Key signings: CB Tracy Porter, DT Jason Hatcher, G Shawn Lauvao, S Brandon Meriweather, WR Santana Moss, WR Andre Roberts, LB Darryl Sharpton, LB Akeem Jordan
Key subtractions: DE Darryl Tapp, DL Adam Carriker, LB London Fletcher
The Redskins were quiet when the big money was spent early in free agency and have signed players to relatively modest deals. They went for quantity over quality, perhaps counter to expectations for a team with significant needs and a history of imprudent spending. I was fine with the approach. If we're going to blast Washington for overpaying in past years, we can’t downgrade the Redskins too much for showing restraint.
"Not bad," Polian said. "This one is a little bit like Jacksonville. They added people who can play for them who are system fits at reasonable prices. And they got rid of some guys who really could not play."
The Redskins also managed to retain the rights to Brian Orakpo via the franchise tag.
"They really like Jason Hatcher and feel like, if they get two years out of him, they are good, and three would be awesome," Riddick said. "What scares me is he has only one year of production. He just never previously got the kind of production he got this year, which speaks to how good Rod Marinelli is as a defensive line coach. Look at Henry Melton and Julius Peppers after Marinelli left Chicago."
The Redskins got a good special-teams value with Akeem Jordan, but they needed help in their secondary and didn't get enough of it. Porter is basically a nickel corner with injury concerns.
"I like the Hatcher, Jordan and Roberts signings," Riddick said. "They can get out of the Hatcher deal in the third year with minimal problems."
And here is the rest of the NFC East for your enjoyment:
Philadelphia Eagles
Grade: B
Key signings: FS Malcolm Jenkins, SS Nate Allen, RB Darren Sproles (acquired via trade)
Key subtractions: WR Jason Avant
The Eagles went into free agency without many objectives after re-signing left tackle Jason Peters, center Jason Kelce, and receivers Riley Cooper and Jeremy Maclin. They will go into the draft with relatively few needs after re-signing Allen and adding Jenkins from New Orleans.
"I was praising them before free agency even opened," Williamson said. "They kept their own, including a bunch of guys familiar with that offense now. I don't like Jenkins that much, but safety was their biggest need and it is filled now. They are set up to take the best defensive player available throughout the entire draft. That is how I look at it."
Adding Sproles from New Orleans seemed like a luxury buy, but, with Chip Kelly there, the Eagles can get great value out of Sproles' skill set.
"That one will be interesting to see," Riddick said. "There are some down there in New Orleans who thought Darren's best days were long behind him and the wall was approaching faster than outsiders think. They made a calculated bet, and we'll see which team is right there. You just know the Saints know more about him than anybody else knows about him."
New York Giants
Grade: C+
Key signings: CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, S Quintin Demps, G Geoff Schwartz, CB Walter Thurmond, RB Rashad Jennings, WR Mario Manningham, LB Jon Beason, CB Trumaine McBride, LB Jameel McClain, G John Jerry
Key subtractions: C David Baas, G Kevin Boothe, DE Justin Tuck, TE Brandon Myers, WR Hakeem Nicks, S Ryan Mundy, DT Linval Joseph, LB Keith Rivers
The Giants were busy, and they needed to be after a disastrous 2013 season shined light on just how bad the team has drafted recently.
"They have made some good signings, but it is usually not a recipe for immediate success and that is what it sounds like they need there," Riddick said. "I do like what they've done in the secondary even though I don't like DRC's contract. I really like Thurmond. They need to draft some offensive linemen they can develop because they have missed on so many. They have so many needs."
Rodgers-Cromartie is a 27-year-old cornerback with a Pro Bowl on his résumé, but that is only part of the story. He's also on his fourth team in six years, a reflection of his inability to consistently meet expectations. Rodgers-Cromartie seemed like an ideal candidate for a pay-as-you-go contract. Instead, he got a $10 million signing bonus that will create a cap burden if the team needs to sever ties in the next couple of seasons.
The Giants did get better on their offensive line. "I'm a fan of Schwartz," Williamson said. "Jennings is a quality player -- not young, but with a lot of tread left. They did not go big in terms of money, but they got quality guys. With the moves they made, they said, 'Yeah, we are not a piece or two away. We need five starters in free agency and none will be Pro Bowlers, but give me a lineman, a corner, etc.' They are not huge winners or losers, but I approve of their approach."
Dallas Cowboys
Grade: D
Key signings: DT Henry Melton, DE Jeremy Mincey, QB Brandon Weeden
Key subtractions: DE DeMarcus Ware, WR Miles Austin, DT Jason Hatcher
Getting Melton on a one-year deal carrying little risk to the team provided at least some light in a dark offseason for the cap-strapped Cowboys. However, there are some rumblings that Melton could be a bit behind schedule in his rehab. Overall, the Cowboys lost more than they gained. Releasing Ware would have made more sense in retrospect if the team could have re-signed him to a more reasonable deal. Instead, the Cowboys watched their most accomplished pass-rusher bolt for Denver while Hatcher, their leading sacker in 2013, signed with Washington.
We could applaud the Cowboys for showing welcome restraint in player valuation, but the reality is that Dallas was hamstrung.
"I lump Carolina and Dallas into a similar category because they're so strapped under the cap that there is little they could do, but the critical difference is that the current Carolina regime is picking up the pieces from Marty Hurney while the Cowboys are dealing with self-inflicted cap woes," Yates said.
The Cowboys have continually bought flexibility in the short term by pushing cap charges into the future. It caught up to them in this free-agent signing period when the team ran out of contracts to revisit.
"It's amazing how many bad deals they have done over the years," Riddick said.
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