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+--- Thread: 2021 NFL free agency grades (/thread-27087.html)
2021 NFL free agency grades - Vambo - 03-21-2021
https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2021-nfl-free-agency-grades-browns-buccaneers-jets-vikings-among-smart-deal-makers/
Baltimore Ravens
Notable moves:
Signed OG Kevin Zeitler (3 years, $22M)
Re-signed OLB Tyus Bowser (4 years, $22M)
Re-signed OLB Pernell McPhee
Re-signed DT Derek Wolfe (3 years, $12M)
Losing Matt Judon hurts the pass rush, but bringing back Bowser, McPhee and Wolfe certainly softens the blow, especially at such reasonable prices. Zeitler, meanwhile, could prove to be a steal as better interior protection for Lamar Jackson.
Grade: B+
Cincinnati Bengals
Notable moves:
Signed Saints DE Trey Hendrickson (4 years, $60M)
Signed Cowboys CB Chidobe Awuzie (3 years, $21.75M)
Signed Steelers CB Mike Hilton (4 years, $24M)
Signed OT Riley Reiff (1 year, $7.5M)
Hilton and Hendrickson have lots of upside, but it's hard to praise them for essentially swapping out their own top internal free agents (Carl Lawson, William Jackson III) for comparable or inferior starters at the same spots. Reiff will help protect Joe Burrow but isn't more than a mid-tier, short-term fix.
Grade: C+
Cleveland Browns
Notable moves:
Signed Rams S John Johnson III (3 years, $33.75M)
Signed Raiders DE Takkarist McKinley (1 year)
Signed Rams CB Troy Hill (4 years, $24M)
Signed DT Malik Jackson (1 year)
Re-signed Rashard Higgins (1 year, $2.38M)
Somehow, they got Johnson -- one of the top young safeties on the market -- at great value. Finally, Cleveland has itself a play-making leader for the back end of its secondary. McKinley is just fine as a high-upside flyer, too. Hill helps solidify the secondary as well.
Grade: A
Pittsburgh Steelers
Notable moves:
Re-signed CB Cameron Sutton (2 years, $9M)
Re-signed WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (1 year, $8M)
Re-signed OT Zach Banner (2 years, $9.5M)
Released ILB Vince Williams
This was always going to be a bit of a rough stretch for the Steelers, who are hard-pressed for room while trying to build a win-now team for Ben Roethlisberger. Keeping Banner and Sutton helps, and JuJu at a bargain rate is fine, even if he's not No. 1 material.
Grade: C+