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Our "Hot Takes Team" sincerely thanks you for your questions and comments about the first two editions of this fast-paced NFL series. A brief recap, before we get into Round 3:
Part I: Covered Kirk Cousins, Sammy Watkins, Case Keenum, Sam Bradford, Andrew Norwell, Allen Robinson and more.
Part II: Covered Malcolm Butler, Danny Amendola, Trumaine Johnson, Muhammad Wilkerson, Josh McCown, Teddy Bridgewater and more.
Who else got PAAAAID? Let's find out...
1. LT Nate Solder gets 4 years, $62 million from the Giants.
New GM Dave Gettleman and head coach Pat Shurmur look to be starting from the ground up. A former New England Patriot, Solder has long been considered one of the best and most reliable tackles in the game. We've all heard announcers say something like, "Tom Brady looks like he has enough time to read War and Peace back there." Well, of course, Solder was a major contributor to that protection. Now, he'll be asked to protect Eli Manning -- or perhaps a big-name rookie?
GIANTS GRADE: A-
2. RB Jonathan Stewart gets 2 years, $6.9 million, also from the Giants.
While we're on the topic of the Giants and their front line, we turn our attention to Jon Stewart, who will be running behind Mr. Solder. I think Stewy is a replacement-level player at this stage of his lengthy NFL career. Running backs historically have very short lifespans, and he will be entering his 11th season at football's highest level. He's coming from a sophisticated and successful rushing scheme in Carolina, so this could be a difficult transition. He's CLEARLY an upgrade over Paul Perkins; but in a vacuum, I'm not sure he's much better than Orleans Darkwa.
GIANTS GRADE: C
3. RB Jerick McKinnon inks a 4-year, $30 million deal with the 49ers.
Ooooh, that Kyle Shanahan is sneaky. This is a killer fit. McKinnon has always impressed me when he gets extended opportunities -- even though it took an Adrian Peterson injury the first time, and Dalvin Cook the next -- and we know his new head coach will find creative ways to get him the ball in space. McKinnon moves decisively, and with a purpose, and he's much better in the redzone than you'd expect. He may be one of the NFL's true breakout players this season.
It's funny...I started writing this yesterday (but didn't finish), so when I got home I was catching up on signings. In the process, fittingly enough, I read this quote from Coach Shanahan, "I got lost watching McKinnon's game tape. There's so many things I liked about him; just visualizing how I would use him and the stuff that we would do."
Sounds like a deadly duo is about to get to work.
49ERS GRADE: A
HOT TAKES TEAM: "Shanahan is real smart. Jerick McKinnon." - Me
"[The Jets] have 3 backs, John." - Billy Valeriano
"Come on, Elijah McGuire is a clown and Bilal Powell is aging."
"I think McGuire showed some good burst, and you can't invest a lot in that position." - Billy
"Actually, the teams that did well last season had a lot invested in running back." - Me
"Just 2-3 interchangeable guys. Thunder and Lightning combos don't work because of predictability." - DJ Toby
"Patriots had Lewis, White, Burkhead, Gillislee and Bolden. Eagles had Ajayi, Blount, Clement, Smallwood and Sproles. Cook, Murray and McKinnon for the Vikings." - Me
"John, McKinnon is a guy you add when you're close [to winning]." - Billy
I guess that isn't our Jets.
4. TE Jimmy Graham signs for 3 years, $30 million with the Packers.
My initial instinct is that this is fool's gold. When the Packers signed Martellus Bennett last season, I thought that was a great idea. When they had the highly-touted Jermichael Finley, I thought he would perform well. Neither ended up doing anything of note. Tight end just doesn't seem like an important passing option to head coach Mike McCarthy or Aaron Rodgers.
We all thought Seattle would eventually find a way to force-feed Graham, but it never really worked out. He spiked with some flashes of productivity, but never became a necessity to head coach Pete Carroll or Russell Wilson. On an empty field, Graham is still one of the best players at his position; but will he ever find another situation like New Orleans?
PACKERS GRADE: B-
5. CB Richard Sherman gets 3 years, $27 million from the 49ers.
I think everyone knows that Sherman's on the backside of his career, but Shanahan's 49ers are looking to get real serious, real quick. Jimmy Garoppolo, all alone, proved that he can win hotly-contested, tight games. Now McKinnon and Sherman are tossed into this very interesting mix.
Sherman will not rate among the best at his position, but I don't think that's his purpose in San Francisco. I think he's been signed to teach these kids about winning. To teach them about grinding out physical battles when a target is on your back. These 49ers are going to be a sexy pick this year, and their opponents will know all about the hype. Sherman is in San Fran to weather the storm.
49ERS GRADE: B
6. ILB Demario Davis signs for 3 years, $24 million with the Saints.
His results have been inconsistent throughout his career, but Demario is coming off a high-impact season with my Jets. He's a fantastic one-on-one tackler, and hopefully the Saints are catching him at exactly the right time. New Orleans is coming off its best defensive season in maybe 15-20 years. Demario should provide another productive presence.
SAINTS GRADE: B
7. WR Jordy Nelson inks a 2-year, $15 million deal with the Raiders.
Jon Gruden is laughing all the way to the metaphorical bank on this one. What an ABSOLUTE steal. Jordy is certainly injury-prone and there are questions about his performance without Rodgers, but at this price tag he's a total no-brainer. We know Gruden will coach him up, and I'm sure Derek Carr will enjoy Jordy on one side, with Amari Cooper on the other. There are contrasting -- but potentially favorable -- skillsets at play here.
RAIDERS GRADE: A-
8. TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins gets 2 years, $10 million from the Jaguars.
I think ASJ became a bit overrated in New York -- that's what happens when your team is projected to go 0-16, then you play halfway decent -- but this is a very affordable contract for Jacksonville, as they continue to change the public perception of a franchise that used to be the butt of the joke. I don't view ASJ as a top-tier tight end, but he's a reasonably good football player and the Jags paid a fair price for his services.
JAGUARS GRADE: B
HOT TAKES TEAM: "I think Eric Ebron is better than Seferian-Jenkins." - Me
"Ebron is a wayyyy better athlete; just can't stay healthy." - DJ
"I like him, but he probably wants a lot of money." - Billy
"He's the best available, though."
9. DT Haloti Ngata signs a 1-year, $3 million deal with the Eagles.
I know Haloti is an old man, but interior defensive linemen can have long lifespans like kickers, punters and (sometimes) quarterbacks. Has his play deteriorated this much, that he's only getting $3 mil for a season? Or is this well-liked vet looking for one last shot at a Super Bowl? Probably a little bit of both. Nevertheless, this particular Eagles group is defined by high-character guys. Ngata will fit right in.
EAGLES GRADE: B
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