How quickly will Kirk Cousins sign on the dotted line? Is Drew Brees a lock to re-sign with the Saints? What about big names like Ndamukong Suh, Jimmy Graham and DeMarco Murray? Let's get some answers, right now.
1. WR Sammy Watkins signs a 3-year, $48 million deal with the Chiefs.
When Watkins first entered the league as a Buffalo Bill, he looked like he could emerge as a legitimate, all-around No. 1 receiver. However, various injuries and inconsistency of performance have relegated him to more of a WR2. That works out well in this case because blazer Tyreek Hill should remain Kansas City's No. 1 wideout. Watkins fell behind Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp last season with the Rams, but this isn't a bad landing spot for him as Hill, star TE Travis Kelce and emerging RB Kareem Hunt will take plenty of defensive attention away from him.
The plan is clear -- the Chiefs want to make Pat Mahomes' transition to starter as smooth as possible. The more dangerous weapons, the easier the kid's job will be.
CHIEFS GRADE: B-
2. WR Allen Robinson signs a 3-year, $42 million deal with the Bears.
Quick thought - I'd rather have Robinson for $6 million less than Watkins, no?
Robinson is a bit of a wild card, coming off a season-long injury and disappointing year before that, but he's a talented kid who can be particularly good in the redzone. He must be a glutton for punishment, though. During the preseason he was complaining about Blake Bortles' inaccurate passing in Jacksonville, and now he's running routes for Mitchell Trubisky?
This is clearly a financial decision by Robinson, but it could be very frustrating for his football-playing career. It's a no-brainer move from Chicago's perspective, but I don't like it for A-Rob.
BEARS GRADE: B+
Random Hot Take From Our Team: "I love that we (the Jets) have the 2nd-most cap space and we're only rumored to be interested in one player." - DJ Toby, former cornerback at Maritime College and lacrosse captain
3. QB Drew Brees re-signs with the Saints for 2 years, $50 million.
Some "mutual interest" was reported with the Vikings, but most felt that was customary gamesmanship. Brees and Sean Payton have formed an iconic coach-quarterback combo, and Breezy is just too comfortable for change at this point. Besides, New Orleans was one freak Stefon Diggs TD away from another shot at the Super Bowl.
SAINTS GRADE: A+
Random Hot Take From Our Team: "Why would Kirk Cousins' team leak that he's "leaning" in favor of the Vikings? I think they are trying to leverage more money out of the Jets." - Frank Valeriano, former pitcher at Adelphi University
4. QB Kirk Cousins signs a 3-year, $84 million deal with the Vikings.
And like that, all of the drama ends. This deal makes complete sense for both sides -- Cousins escapes losing cultures in Washington and New York, and the Vikings ink a quarterback who gives them far more security than Case Keenum, Teddy Bridgewater or Sam Bradford ever could. The Jets are too far away from winning, so Cousins went with Diggs, Adam Thielen, Kyle Rudolph and Dalvin Cook. Can't blame the guy one bit. The Vikes are once again an NFC Championship contender.
VIKINGS GRADE: A
Random Hot Takes From Our Team: "[The Jets] will be 6-10 next year. No one even MET with us! We're like the kid in high school who ate by himself at lunch every day." -DJ Toby
"Damn, almost $30 million a year...for the 14th-best quarterback in the league." - Steven Summer, legendary first baseman out of Mercy College
"I would love Josh Rosen for the Jets. I want our own franchise guy. Rosen won't need more than one year of development; he is extremely polished. We can add wide receivers for nothing. If not, we'll draft Baker Mayfield." - Billy Valeriano, former right fielder for Dowling College
"Cousins was not worth that price. He's a mid-level quarterback with zero playoff wins. 4-19 record against winning teams. Jets should draft a QB and use their cap space on offensive linemen." - Doug Muhlbauer, former SUNY Cortland lacrosse player
"Part of me enjoys seeing Cousins get $86 million guaranteed. Gets drafted by the same team who mortgaged everything on RGIII in the first round. They don't really give him a chance to compete for the starting job. When he finally does get his opportunity, he performs well. Redskins decide to get cheap and don't pay him. Then he plays under the franchise tag...twice. Kirk Cousins has done everything the right way. He deserves this." - Jimmy Kelly, former all-county shortstop and soccer defenseman
"I WANT REX RYAN BACK!" - DJ Toby
"Re-sign Josh McCown and load up on offensive linemen and skill players." - Doug Muhlbauer
"Cousins is dead to me." - Frank Valeriano
"John Frascella is contemplating if killing himself is the best option." - Chris Dickie, softball cleanup hitter
5. G Andrew Norwell gets 5 years and $66.5 million from the Jaguars.
I'm not going to sit here and act like I'm an expert on individual offensive linemen. I will say, Norwell is coming from Carolina where Cam Newton + whatever running back end up with solid all-around rushing numbers. Doug Marrone clearly knows what he's doing, and I'm sure Leonard Fournette will be happy to have Norwell in front of him. Jacksonville is looking to take another meaningful step forward, and offensive linemen are generally a sound financial and strategic investment.
JAGUARS GRADE: B (price tag seems a bit too high)
6. WR Paul Richardson gets 5 years and $40 million from the Redskins.
Financially this seems like a better contract than Watkins and Robinson, but I'm not sure I like Richardson's skillset in relation to Alex Smith's throwing patterns. Richardson is best deep down the field, and we all know Smith lives on intermediate routes and throws. On the plus side, in the past couple years Smith has opened up a little more due to Tyreek Hill's explosive downfield ability. He'll look to develop a similar (occasional) chemistry with Richardson. Jordan Reed, Jamison Crowder, Josh Doctson and Chris Thompson are Smith's other expected weapons.
REDSKINS GRADE: B
7. QB Sam Bradford gets 2 years, $40 million from the Cardinals.
Looks like the Cards are going to be one of the worst teams in the NFL. Has Sam Bradford ever been a good thing for any organization? How did it go with the Rams, Eagles and Vikings? All he does is get hurt and under-perform. I was never a big Carson Palmer fan, but the recent retiree is definitely better than Bradford. Arizona is in big, big trouble.
And...FORTY MILLION? SERIOUSLY? FOR THIS GUY? COME ON.
CARDINALS GRADE: F
8. QB Case Keenum signs for 2 years, $36 million with the Broncos.
Hahahahaha. Bradford gets 2 years, 40 mil, and poor Keenum gets only 36. That's a travesty. Keenum stayed healthy and played extremely well for the Vikings this past season. He was a legitimate mid-level MVP candidate. Meanwhile, again, Bradford gets hurt every year and doesn't play very well, even when he is out there. I don't feel like looking up the agents, but Bradford's deserves a raise. Keenum's should probably get canned.
Easy move for John Elway and the Broncos. They knew they weren't getting Brees or Cousins, so Keenum is a very reasonable upgrade over Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler and megabust Paxton Lynch.
Wishing Keenum the best of luck because the Vikings had some choice words for him on his way out the door. Totally unprofessional and uncalled for. Show some appreciation for a guy who played his heart out for you.
BRONCOS GRADE: B+
Hot Take From Our Team: "Can't believe Mike Zimmer took a shot at Keenum. He essentially said that he didn't know which version of him he would get -- the one from the Rams, or the successful one he saw this season. That was unnecessary. He questioned if he could be the same type of QB this season." - Matt DeSantis, Director of Marketing
9. QB Teddy Bridgewater is close to signing with the Jets.
This makes perfect sense, as the Jets were unable to land Cousins, and the other ex-Vikings already signed contracts elsewhere. Of course Bridgewater's long-term health is a major concern, but I'd rather have him than Bradford, going forward. His performance level is a total question mark, but the landing spot is a win-win for both sides. The Jets needed a quarterback -- any quarterback, really -- with some upside, and Bridgewater wanted a legit opportunity to be a No. 1 guy. We'll see if the Jets also re-sign Josh McCown and/or draft a QB in the first round this year.
JETS GRADE: B-
Random Hot Takes From Our Team: "I kind of like Teddy -- he has the most upside besides Cousins. He still hasn't peaked yet." - DJ Toby
"This is a good spot for Teddy, considering that he has to rebuild his value. He wasn't bad prior to the injury. Wouldn't mind re-signing McCown, either." - Jamie Garland, former pitcher at C.W. Post
"It would be nice if Robby Anderson could stop driving 130 MPH and running from the cops." - Chris Dickie
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