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Day three of free agency is complete, and I’ve got you covered with grades and analysis for each signing from the day.
If you want to check out my grades for each signing from previous days of this free agency period, click on the corresponding day below.
Pittsburgh Steelers sign Linebacker Elandon Roberts
Contract: Two years
Pittsburgh has completely revamped their off-ball linebacking core, letting Robert Spillane, Myles Jack, and (seemingly) Devin Bush walk out the door, and replacing them with Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts. As it pertains to Roberts, he’s an extremely physical downhill thumper that can stuff the run with hard hits and nice instincts. He adds both special teams and leadership value, too.
My biggest concern here is the pass coverage. Holcomb and Roberts bring lots of good to the table, but both their biggest struggles are against the pass. If both serve as Pittsburgh’s starting off-ball linebackers, the Steelers may get eaten alive over the middle of the field. The Steelers may have to entertain bringing in a better coverage linebacker that can slide next to Holcomb, with Roberts serving as the Holcomb insurance policy, that can play obvious running situations and on special teams in the meantime.
Grade: To be determined once contract details are revealed
New York Giants sign Wide Receiver Parris Campbell
Contract: One year, $3 million ($1.4 million guaranteed, max value of $6.7 million)
Many were very high on Parris Campbell out of Ohio State, but he missed copious amounts of time before last season. 2022 was his first healthy campaign, and Campbell showcased enough to offer some intrigue. He’s an explosive athlete with a solid frame, giving him inside/outside versatility and juice with the ball in his hands.
With that being said, Campbell isn’t a super precise route runner, and he has his fair share of struggles vs press coverage. His 15.9% target share on just a 6.3 aDOT, 15% air yards share, and 1.11 yards per route run last season backs up the film; enticing flashes, but doesn’t currently have the consistency to reach the hopes many had for him when he was a rookie.
He’s viewed primarily as a slot receiver, but I expect the Giants to feature him more on the outside than many seem to anticipate. I’m not the fondest of Campbell, but he’s certainly a nice one-year flier at that cost.
Parris Campbell is viewed as a slot receiver, but he’ll probably split out wide quite a bit for the Giants
W. Robinson/S. Shepard as primary slot options. Campbell has more size & athleticism to succeed outside
Aligned wide over 75% of the time in 2021pic.twitter.com/AqZZaOqS6J
— Aidan Maher (@Aidan_Maher17) March 17, 2023
Grade: B+
Detroit Lions sign Guard Graham Glasgow
Contract: One year, max value of $4.5 million
Evan Brown is out, and after four seasons, Graham Glasgow is back in. He’s been a respectable starter for years now, primarily as a guard (with a bit of center experience). Among both Brown, and Glasgow, Brown is the better center, while Glasgow is the better guard. Making this swap could simply be a cap-saving move for the Lions, as Seattle may have given Brown a more lucrative deal.
However, it’s also possible that Detroit prioritized boosted guard depth over center depth for a reason. Although center Frank Ragnow has had some injury troubles, they don’t compare to the concerns of guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai. He missed all of last season with a back injury, and failed to play a full season in the two years prior. Maybe Detroit just wants an insurance policy, or they could be seriously considering releasing Vaitai. Regardless, I like this addition for Detroit’s stout offensive line that could use some depth.
Grade: A-
Seattle Seahawks sign Center/Guard Evan Brown
Contract: Unknown
The Seahawks have a big need at guard, and a newly created need at center with Austin Blythe’s retirement. Insert Evan Brown, who can play both center and guard, is a seamless scheme transition coming over from Detroit, and offers both a strong anchor as a pass-protector, and some road-grading in the run game. Seattle still has plenty of work to do on their interior, but whether they prioritize center or guard in the draft, Brown will be able to slide into the vice versa (although he’s better at center). Contract is still pending, but I love this signing for the Seahawks.
Grade: To be determined once contract details are revealed
New York Giants re-sign Wide Receiver Darius Slayton
Contract: Two years, $12 million (Max value of $16.5 million)
After a down 2021 season and hardly any playing time to start this season, it looked like Slayton was on his way to potentially fizzling out of the NFL. That all quickly changed, however, as Slayton became a top playmaker in this offense. He’s not a consistent target earner, as he had just a 16.8% target share in a receiving core that severely lacked talent. With that being said, his ability to make plays downfield can make up for that lack of volume. His speed, frame, and ball skills make him an attractive field stretcher, as he tallied a 28.7% air yards share, 12.5 aDOT, and 2.10 yards per route run last season. He’s also developed a great rapport with Daniel Jones.
Grade: B
Indianapolis Colts sign Quarterback Gardner Minshew
Contract: One year, $3.5 million fully guaranteed (Max value of $5.5 million)
The Colts are in dire need of a quarterback, so Shane Steichen reconnects with his backup quarterback from last season. Make no mistake about it, Minshew isn’t the solution, but he does offer some needed short-term insurance. The Colts could draft a rookie in this year’s draft, and if said rookie isn’t ready to go immediately, Minshew can be the stop gap. This gives new head coach Shane Steichen a familiar face, and a relief option to take pressure off a potential rookie quarterback being ready to go ASAP.
Grade: B+
Chicago Bears sign Running Back D’Onta Foreman
Contract: One year, $3 million
D’Onta Foreman has been underrated for a while now. He’s a bully of a runner (Two YAC/att & 20.3 att/BrkTkl in 2022), with the speed to gash through holes and hit on big runs (6.9% breakaway run rate in 2022). I do feel both he and Khalil Herbert lack pass-catching chops, but maybe the plan is for Travis Homer to step-up in that role, especially with how great he is in pass protection. All I know is Chicago needed another runner they could lean on, and Foreman gives them just that at a reasonable cost.
Grade: A-
Philadelphia Eagles sign Cornerback Greedy Williams
Contract: Unknown
Greedy Williams was a highly touted prospect out of LSU, and he had himself a promising rookie season in Cleveland. Unfortunately, Williams has battled with injuries since then, and in the meantime, Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome, and Martin Emerson have solidified themselves as young stars, making reps hard to come by.
Williams is still a lengthy, athletic corner with great ball skills, a high-profile pedigree, and plenty of upside. A starting job may be tough to come by now in the same room as Darius Slay, James Bradberry and Avonte Maddox, but Williams could be the successor to these veterans, or possibly even make a switch over to free safety. Contract details are unknown, but I can’t imagine this deal was all that costly for the Eagles, making this a high-upside flier well worth taking.
Grade: To be determined once contract details are revealed
