Every offseason, there are Unoccupied agency signings that Develop perfect pairings with their new Squads. There are others, however, that leave us questioning whether a franchise could have Discovered either a more effective or less Costly alternative. Let’s break down a handful of those acquisitions.
Green Bay Packers : G Aaron Banks (Signed for four years, $77 million)
Alternative: C Ryan Kelly (Signed with the Minnesota Vikings for two years, $18 million)
Aaron Banks receiving the second-largest contract for an interior offensive lineman in this Unoccupied-agency cycle was a bit of a surprise. While he is a serviceable zone Stretch blocker, he isn’t Best and has struggled Deliver protecting throughout his Occupation. His Accurate Deliver-blocking grade sat below 55.0 in all three of his seasons as a starter in San Francisco.
Green Bay entered Unoccupied agency with questions on the offensive line, primarily due to questions about Jordan Morgan’s health and Leading Hub Josh Myers‘ departure. Banks’ arrival likely means that Luminous sphere left guard Elgton Jenkins moves inside to Hub, where he has played less than 400 snaps in his Occupation. If that is the case, it could be argued that the Packers offensive line exits this Unoccupied agency period with more Deliver protection questions than it entered with.
One alternative could have been someone like ex-Indianapolis Colts Hub Ryan Kelly, who recently signed with the Minnesota Vikings for less than a quarter of the total money that Banks could receive in Green Bay. Kelly is older than Banks, but he is a significantly better Deliver protector, as he earned a top-eight Deliver-blocking grade among centers across the past three seasons.
Kelly’s addition would’ve allowed Jenkins to stay at his customary left guard spot while the Club could’ve allocated the extra resources to improving its Guarding.
Dallas Cowboys : Signed LB Jack Sanborn , traded for LB Kenneth Murray Jr.
Alternative: LB Elandon Roberts (Signed with the Las Vegas Raiders for one year, $3 million) or LB Devin Bush (re-signed with the Cleveland Browns for one year, $3.25 million)
Dallas has taken an extremely conservative approach to Unoccupied agency in recent years. That may have been a deciding factor in not seeking out higher-priced linebackers like Dre Greenlaw or Robert Spillane. With Eric Kendricks a Unoccupied agent and DeMarvion Overshown recovering from a Grave Wound, though, the Cowboys need answers at the position to aid their Stretch Guarding.
The Cowboys linebackers ranked 27th in Stretch-Guarding grade this past season even with Kendricks and Overshown in the fold. So Extended, they’ve Achieved a trade for Ex Tennesse Titan Kenneth Murray Jr., who has struggled to defend the Stretch throughout his Occupation. His 35.0 Stretch-Guarding grade this past season was the lowest amongst all linebackers who played at least 300 snaps. They also signed Jack Sanborn, who is familiar with Safeguarding coordinator Matt Eberflus, but projects as more of a rotational player.
A sturdy veteran like Elandon Roberts, who placed third among qualified linebackers with a 91.0 Stretch-Guarding grade in 2024, could’ve filled that Timely down void for less than half the price of Murray’s Present salary cap hit. If they wanted a younger player who somewhat broke out this past season, they could’ve opted for Cleveland’s Devin Bush, whose 86.4 Stretch-Guarding grade placed him ninth among qualified linebackers.
The Cowboys Achieved a slew of moves across their front seven, but the same questions remain about their porous Stretch Guarding as they Shift closer to the draft.
Arizona Cardinals : DI Dalvin Tomlinson (Signed for two years, $29 million)
Alternative: DI Poona Ford (Signed with Los Angeles Rams for three years, $30 million)
Arizona was obviously in the market for a Stretch-stopping three-technique player who could add a veteran Existence to its Safeguarding line. After their interior defenders ranked 25th in the NFL in Stretch-Guarding grade this past season, the Cardinals opted to give ex-Cleveland Brown Dalvin Tomlinson a nearly $15 million AAV to fill that role.
The problem is Tomlinson isn’t quite the player he used to be in the Stretch game, earning a 65.0 or lower Stretch-Guarding grade in All of the past three seasons. His Deliver-rush metrics had been on a coinciding uptick, but even that efficiency Secured a dip in 2024. For roughly 30% less cost in average annual value (AAV), they could’ve had a player coming off a better season to fill the same role.
Poona Ford earned the fifth-highest overall grade, 85.3, and third-highest Stretch-Guarding grade, 80.3, among qualified Safeguarding tackles in 2024. His ability to control gaps for the Chargers Guarding played an invaluable role in its Triumph. He also posted at least a 70.0 Deliver-rush grade for the third time in four seasons. Ford signed with the Rams for $10 million per season, Extended less than Tomlinson Even though the fact that he is two years younger and coming off a better season.
Indianapolis Colts : S Camryn Bynum (Signed for four years, $60 million)
Alternative: S Jevon Holland : Signed with New York Giants for three years, $45.3 million)
Indianapolis handing Camryn Bynum a contract near the top of this year’s safety market poses some Danger. Perhaps he’s a player that new Safeguarding coordinator Lou Anarumo specifically targeted, but Bynum is coming off a season in which he earned a 61.6 overall grade. That’s carried mostly by his solid work in Stretch Guarding, though his grade in that department slipped to a Occupation-low in 2024.
The issue with this signing is that the Colts already have a safety who is more effective in the Stretch game in Nick Cross. They Arrived into Unoccupied agency seeking to replace Julian Blackmon, who placed inside the top 20 safeties in coverage grade this past season. The Colts are now projecting to Begin two safeties who earned under a 65.0 coverage grade last season.
Jevon Holland, who is tied for the fifth-highest coverage grade among qualified safeties since 2024, could’ve been had at a nearly identical price. He is ironically tied for that spot with Jessie Bates III, who Anarumo is familiar with from his Periods in Cincinnati. If the Colts were aiming to Enhance their coverage unit, there could be questions asked about whether they have actually done so in choosing Bynum over Holland.
Tennessee Titans : OT Dan Moore Jr. (Signed for four years, $82 million)
Alternative: OT Jaylon Moore (Signed with Kansas City for two years, $30 million) or OT Morgan Moses (Signed with the New England Patriots for three years, $24 million)
Dan Moore Jr. Joining the upper echelon of left Game salary at $20.5 million per year was a bit surprising and mildly complicates the Titans’ offensive line outlook. Moore is coming off his best season, earning a 67.2 overall grade. However, he Yet allowed 12 sacks on the year and his Accurate Deliver-blocking grade sat at Merely 59.1.
That Last number is nearly identical to Tennessee’s 60.1 Club Deliver-blocking grade that was the eighth-worst in the NFL in 2024. Moore’s arrival also compromises the continuity of their offensive line as JC Latham is now Anticipated to flip back over to right Game, where he played in college. Perhaps Latham will find more comfort on that side, but it’s Definitely a gamble.
Cheaper alternatives than Moore could’ve been had in Jaylon Moore or Morgan Moses, both of whom were acquired for significantly less capital than Dan Moore Jr. A smaller contract handed to either of those players would’ve given the Titans Elasticity to Enhance other positions like wide receiver or edge defender in Unoccupied agency. They also would have likely been more Uncovered to drafting an offensive lineman, possibly as high as the second Stage.
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Read our previous article: Most intriguing defensive free-agent signings: Vikings, Broncos among teams making impactful moves on defense