2025 NFL Free Agent Contract Grades

Aaron Banks, LG, Packers

4 years, $77,000,000, $27,000,000 total guarantees ($27,000,000 full)

It is hard to picture what the Packers saw here to justify throwing out a contract worth $77M over four years. This is massive money coming in at number 2 in 1st year and 2nd year cash. His 12 month earnings are huge with the $9.5 million roster bonus coming in next year in March. If you want to make an argument that he is worth in the $12 million a year range I can buy that, but this is wild. The team will even bump his salary if he winds up a pro bowl level player when you think this number reflects that expectation. On top of that it moves the current guard to center, giving the team a $17M center to go along with a near $20M guard. The Packers line better be great this season.

Grade: F

Zach Wilson, QB, Dolphins

1 year, $6,000,000, $6,000,000 total guarantees ($6,000,000 full)

I would have thought that Miami would have gone for a more reliable option as a backup than Wilson. Wilson did not show much with the Jets as a starter and has his own injury history to deal with. Denver chose Jarrett Stidham over Wilson though perhaps that is because Stidham signed for two years. Wilson has an arm and maybe just needs coaching, but most players in his spot sign for half of this number if that.

Grade: D

Cam Bynum, S, Colts

4 years, $60,000,000, $32,000,000 total guarantees ($26,000,000 full)

The safety market is notoriously volatile and hard to project as to who does and does not get paid. This is a pretty aggressive signing and considering it is the Colts making it, it is a super aggressive signing. Despite the higher APY, this is a better contract for the Colts than Kyle Dugger's for the Patriots. The structure of the deal should allow the team to move the salaries down in 2027 if he does not play up to the contract.

Grade: C+

Lavonte David, LB, Buccaneers

1 year, $9,000,000, $9,000,000 total guarantees ($9,000,000 full)

I thought David would wind up retiring this year, but he comes back for another season with the Bucs. This is right in line with last year's contract so if they were happy enough with him last year then it makes sense to just hammer out the same contract and get it out of the way.

Grade: B

Bobby Brown III, IDL, Panthers

3 years, $21,000,000, $9,575,000 total guarantees ($6,800,000 full)

When the team missed out on their first target they did not panic and instead came away with two interior defenders. The structure on this is really good. The real value is about $6.6M per year with a final bloated year designed to bump the annual value. Guarantees are very low for a contract that totals $21 million and they can easily leave this after one season really making this a 1 year deal with an option for next year.

Grade: B+

Najee Harris, RB, Chargers

1 year, $5,250,000, $5,250,000 total guarantees ($5,250,000 full)

This is a perfectly good contract for a player who has put up enough numbers to possibly trick some team into a much bigger contract. $5.25 million in base value doesnt create any long term issues and if he adds value in short yardage spots and a bit in the passing game he will probably live up to the number.

Grade: B+

Nate Hobbs, CB, Packers

4 years, $48,000,000, $16,000,000 total guarantees ($16,000,000 full)

This is a very strong contract for Hobbs with $16 million coming as a signing bonus and an annual value of $12 million. Some of this is due to the Packers refusal to guarantee future money but the first year salary in this is close to the level of the $18 million per year players. With the big 2nd year roster bonus you are looking at potential earnings of about $24 million in 12 months. That's massive. Hobbs is a good player and pretty versatile. I think the salary indicates that plan on using him all over rather than just the slot but time will tell.

Grade: C

Justin Fields, QB, Jets

2 years, $40,000,000, $30,000,000 total guarantees ($30,000,000 full)

As far as starter contracts go it does not get much cheaper than this, but I'm not sure if there was that kind of market for Fields either. $30M fully guaranteed on a $40M contract is big. Geno Smith got $27M on a $75M deal and Baker Mayfield got $40M on a $100M contract. This feels like the Jets should have either gotten $20M guaranteed or a three year contract in the event Fields ends up being a long term solution. I get the desperation because the alternative was someone like Daniel Jones but this is a lot for someone who has been replaced in two straight spots.

Grade: C-

Mack Hollins, WR, Patriots

2 years, $8,400,000, $3,500,000 total guarantees ($3,500,000 full)

The Patriots should like having Hollins on the team. He's a fun personality and more importantly willing to do whatever it takes to be a part of the team. Good special teams and he can contribute in certain ways as a receiver. A two year contract is a plus for New England and the per game numbers relative to the size of the deal are huge in the event they need to make him inactive for any reason.

Grade: B+

Javon Kinlaw, IDL, Commanders

3 years, $45,000,000, $3,000,000 total guarantees ($30,000,000 full)

Most contracts in the NFL have some level of justification...this does not. The JEts signing Kinlaw at $7.5M was a bad one last year and this just blows that away. 3 years, $45 million with $30 million full at signing. Insane. Teams that do stuff like this because they have cap room often wind up a mess in a year or two because the cap room is gone and they wonder why they have some of these contracts on the books. On paper this is the worst signing of the early free agency period and Kinlaw will have to play the best ball of his career to prove that it is the right contract.

Grade: F

Braxton Berrios, WR, Texans

1 year, $1,800,000, $300,000 total guarantees ($300,000 full)

Im not sure if they needed to guarantee anything, but if Berrios is healthy he can have a role and at this price that would be a decent value. If he doesn't look good they can walk away for just a few hundred thousand.

Grade: C+

Isaiah Rodgers, CB, Vikings

2 years, $11,045,000, $7,995,000 total guarantees ($7,995,000 full)

This feels like there is some "he was on the Eagles" pixie dust here. Rodgers is a talent but has been cut once and only played in 30% or so of the snaps last year. This is a bet on talent play, but the Eagles letting a player go at this price isnt a great sign, IMO.

Grade: C-

Derek Barnett, EDGE, Texans

1 year, $4,000,000, $1,500,000 total guarantees ($1,500,000 full)

I am not sure what Barnett did to earn double what he received last season from Houston. Texans have done some deals like this in the past and they end up cutting the player on the eve of the season. Either he is going to get an expanded role or he could be a $1.5 million summer tryout.

Grade: C-

Austin Hooper, TE, Patriots

1 year, $5,000,000, $4,000,000 total guarantees ($4,000,000 full)

Probably a little on the high side for Hooper, but he fit well in the offense last year and the Patriots should not care about cap room this year and this has no long term risk.

Grade: C

Drew Dalman, C, Bears

3 years, $42,000,000, $28,000,000 total guarantees ($26,500,000 full)

The numbers here reflect how desperate Chicago was to try to fix their offensive line. Dalman is a solid player, but 2nd highest paid in the NFL good? The Bears did get better cash flows than you would expect from a deal this size and the low signing bonus does give a trade possibility in the future. Chicago also got big per game bonuses here too. So for a $14 million a year contract the structure is solid for the team, but I think the value is a major question mark.

Grade: C

Charvarius Ward, CB, Colts

3 years, $54,000,000, $34,980,000 total guarantees ($27,000,000 full)

Basically everything said about the Carlton Davis contract applies here. Going this high for an older player at the position is a very high risk choice. The only thing better for the Colts is they avoided the full guarantee on the 2nd year salary with just $5 million fully guaranteed at signing. That at least gives them a chance to bring the contract value down if Ward busts.

Grade: C

Jeremy Chinn, S, Raiders

2 years, $16,258,000, $12,250,000 total guarantees ($12,250,000 full)

This is a good signing by the Raiders. Chinn is a solid and affordable player at a position where some teams go overboard on the dollars. The negative for the Raiders here is that they did not get a three year contract even though they gave a guarantee that is expected for a three year rather than a two year contract. That is a bit of a whiff.

Grade: B

Daniel Jones, QB, Colts

1 year, $14,000,000, $13,150,000 total guarantees ($13,150,000 full)

This is a tough one to really judge. Say what you will about Daniel Jones if you are going to sign him with a chance to compete for a job then you can justify the contract. This is somewhat better than the Garnder Minshew deal signed by the Raiders last year but it is worse than Sam Darnold's last year and those are the contracts to benchmark against. There is also the question as to whether he should even be competing for a job or just a higher priced backup making around $6M.

Grade: C

Robert Spillane, LB, Patriots

3 years, $33,000,000, $20,600,000 total guarantees ($20,600,000 full)

This one reflects a bit of the jump in linebacker salary, but I think this is a player you can count on enough to justify the added cost. Big per game bonuses in this one and some of the cash payments are closer to a $10 rather than $11 million contract. Having to guarantee the full 2nd year at signing is probably in line with market but I think having a partial guarantee would have given the team more options here.

Grade: C+

Paulson Adebo, CB, Giants

3 years, $54,000,000, $38,500,000 total guarantees ($34,750,000 full)

I knew Adebo would be sought after in free agency but never expected $18 million a year. He can be a risk taker and he creates turnovers, a trait that does carry weight in free agency, but this is pretty bullish on his prospects. Of the $18M corners he lands the best guarantee package, get the early decision in the 3rd year and 2nd most up front cash. Money reflects Giants being desperate for secondary help

Grade: C

Eric Murray, S, Jaguars

3 years, $19,500,000, $12,000,000 total guarantees ($10,000,000 full)

The numbers are fine for a mid tier starting safety, but I am not sure that it meshes with a 30+ year old player at the position. Murray's last three contracts were not close to this and I am not sure he did anything this past year that should have moved him into the near $7M per year class. Feels like this should have either been a few million less or they should have gone after a younger player with more upside.

Grade: C

Milton Williams, IDL, Patriots

4 years, $104,000,000, $63,000,000 total guarantees ($51,000,000 full)

I guess the salary cap space was just burning a hole in the Patriots pocket because this deal was a massive win for Williams. To have to go to $26M a year after the Wilkins disaster with the Raiders last year and in the same year Dallas signed a similar player for $20M is a hard sell. They did get some benefits in not having to injury protect the entire 2027 salary and the vesting date on the portion that is guaranteed works in New England's favor. They also have gigantic amounts tied to availability, but the most 1st year cash and 3rd highest APY who has never played 50% of the defensive snaps is really risky.

Grade: D

Poona Ford, IDL, Rams

3 years, $27,600,000, $17,100,000 total guarantees ($15,600,000 full)

This is an interesting one. Ford is an underrated player but $9.2M a year for a players whose last two contracts totaled just over $4 million seems way too aggressive. If things do not go well they will be paying over $11 million for one year. The team did get significant per game bonuses in the contract but this just seems like a spot that could have been filled for far less cost.

Grade: C-

Carlton Davis, CB, Patriots

3 years, $54,000,000, $34,500,000 total guarantees ($34,500,000 full)

These are big numbers for a free agent corner, especially one who is a third contract player. Davis got massive per game bonuses which are good for New England since Davis is unlikely to play 17 games, but he also scored the best 1st year cash of the group of free agent corners and 2nd in two year cash.

Grade: C-

Patrick Mekari, RG, Jaguars

3 years, $37,500,000, $22,500,000 total guarantees ($20,000,000 full)

This felt a little on the high end for Mekari, but he is a solid enough player and can play multiple positions which is really beneficial for a team like the Jaguars. The annual value here is a bit of a no mans land for contracts so its harder to find comps on a three year at this number. This seems to be ok for this number but there is a big disparity between the structure and guarantees here and for a contract at $10M a year. I guess the question is could they have waited and gotten him at $10M or not.

Grade: C

Robert Hainsey, C, Jaguars

3 years, $21,000,000, $13,000,000 total guarantees ($10,000,000 full)

This signing surprised me since Hainsey rode the bench last year and, outside of the top guys, the NFL generally treats centers as a dime a dozen. I figured the market here would be that of a potentially solid low level starter in the $3.5M per year range. To get $7 million a year with $10 million fully guaranteed is pretty good. The 2nd year injury only guarantee gives the team some recourse to bring the salary down to the low level starter range if he doesn't do well, but they would have already paid $10M.

Grade: D

Darius Slayton, WR, Giants

3 years, $36,000,000, $22,000,000 total guarantees ($22,000,000 full)

This is a very fair contract for both sides and doesnt really reflect any kind of free agency premium the way some others have this offseason. Slayton can earn $26M in the first two years which is a nice breakdown for him which the Giants were able to avoid a full guarantee for 2026 giving them some options. Not sure the Giants should be using void years but they are trying to build a roster with limited space to work with. I'm surprised these two sides agreed to a deal since I thought both would be better with a fresh start but as a contract this is fine.

Grade: C+

James Daniels, RG, Dolphins

3 years, $24,000,000, $10,735,000 total guarantees ($7,255,000 full)

If healthy Daniels will be a nice veteran fit for the Dolphins. They have some very large per game bonuses in the contract to provide some protection. They also did not do a full guarantee in the second contract year so they could walk after one season if Daniels is not healthy or productive. This is worth the contract risk.

Grade: B

Jaylon Moore, LT, Chiefs

2 years, $30,000,000, $21,240,000 total guarantees ($21,240,000 full)

This contract follows the model of the Jonah Williams contract except Williams was a 1st round pick who actually played for four years. You argue how good or bad he was but at least he played. Moore is a 5th round pick who rarely did. It is hard to wrap my head around what they saw here that made them go to this number. Even if they loved him as a player who were they bidding against?

Grade: F

Samaje Perine, RB, Bengals

2 years, $3,600,000, $400,000 total guarantees ($400,000 full)

There is no risk in this contract for the Bengals and Perine is a player who can always have a role either as a receiver, occasional runner, or special teamer.

Grade: B

Davante Adams, WR, Rams

2 years, $44,000,000, $26,000,000 total guarantees ($26,000,000 full)

Adams may not be the player he was a few years ago but he is still a top flight receiver who runs great routes, has good hands and most importantly can give a team a few games where he just dominates a game. The cost is reasonable at $22 million a year. A $6 million guarantee on the second year is a little on the high side and you would rather see that as a P5 rather than roster guarantee, but for a team looking to go for it this year this is a very good signing.

Grade: B-

Jonathan Allen, IDL, Vikings

3 years, $51,000,000, $31,255,000 total guarantees ($23,255,000 full)

To get a three year, $51 million contract after being released is a home run for any player. This rarely happens and really it begs to question why didnt the Vikings just throw Washington a 7th round pick and trade for him? They only save $1M in cash by doing that and wound up guaranteeing an extra year's worth of salary. I would not be surprised if they end up using void years when this is official, but I like the structure better the way it currently seems to be structured. Allen is a really good player, but this is a really bold play by Minnesota.

Grade: D

Byron Murphy, CB, Vikings

3 years, $54,000,000, $34,780,000 total guarantees ($34,780,000 full)

Corners often have a difficult time as free agents so I was not surprised to see this come in right around expectations. Vikings are clearly backloading their contracts and expecting to do restructures through the second contract year. If you are planning for that you probably should be signing for four rather than three years to give a little additional insurance in case the player does well. In any case the numbers are fair for both sides on this but I do think there were some other ways to attack the salary cap aspect of this.

Grade: C+

Evan Brown, C, Cardinals

2 years, $11,500,000, $6,000,000 total guarantees ($6,000,000 full)

Brown is a solid player who always flies under the salary radar. Contracts like this usually provide good value because there is such little downside. The team can always walk next year if things go south fast, but most likely this is a contract that will be played out.

Grade: B+

Matt Peart, RT, Broncos

2 years, $7,000,000, $4,000,000 total guarantees ($3,245,000 full)

Peart is a solid enough body to have on the offensive line. $3.5 million for a backup is fair market value and doing a two year deal helps the Broncos in the event that he winds up playing more this year since they can avoid going year to year on the contract.

Grade: C+

Sheldon Rankins, IDL, Texans

1 year, $5,250,000, $4,500,000 total guarantees ($4,500,000 full)

Rankins did not give a lot last year and had injuries to deal with. This is a decent value of Rankins plays like he did in the past but I think the signing bonus is a bit risky given how things unfolded with the Bengals last year.

Grade: C

Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Rams

1 year, $3,005,000, $3,005,000 total guarantees ($3,005,000 full)

The numbers that first were released for this contract sounded bad for the Rams, but my assumption was that those were the "up to" number and the base on this is far better. For whatever faults there are with Garoppolo he should be one of the higher paid backup QBs and really he is middle of the pack. That's good for the Rams who could use a proven veteran if their starter has to miss a game or two.

Grade: B

Ernest Jones, LB, Seahawks

3 years, $28,500,000, $15,000,000 total guarantees ($10,000,000 full)

I think this is a terrific deal by the Seahawks. Plenty of teams panicked after the Baun signing a few days ago, but this contract is completely reflective of the market that existed pre Baun. This is much lower than I thought Jones would get in every aspect.

Grade: A

Jarrett Stidham, QB, Broncos

2 years, $12,000,000, $6,990,000 total guarantees ($6,990,000 full)

This slots right along what his prior deal was with slightly higher guarantees. Would anyone else see Stidham worth $6M a year? I'm not sure but they have had enough time to decide one way or the other and they seem to like him.

Grade: C+

Adam Butler, IDL, Raiders

3 years, $16,500,000, $11,000,000 total guarantees ($8,000,000 full)

Given that the Raiders are going to try to win this year, I think this is a good veteran signing. The value at $5.5 million per year is there especially if he plays as much as he did last season. The $11 million guarantee is in line with the market and the $8 million full guarantee is pretty much there too. I feel like the 1st year cash also works to the Raiders advantage and is better than a few contracts valued under this.

Grade: B+

Amen Ogbongbemiga, LB, Bears

2 years, $5,000,000, $2,450,000 total guarantees ($2,450,000 full)

This is a win-win contract for both sides. Bears get a real good special teams player under contract for two years at a very fair market value.

Grade: B+

Markquese Bell, S, Cowboys

3 years, $9,000,000, $6,200,000 total guarantees ($6,200,000 full)

As far as low cost safety contracts go this one is fine. Contract kind of mimics the Wingard deal from the Jaguars in terms of guarantees and up front cash. The full guarantee is the highest in its class but for this contract to work they have to get two years out of him anyway so if that was a hang up it was smart to just guarantee it and get the deal done.

Grade: B

Derrick Barnes, LB, Lions

3 years, $24,000,000, $16,000,000 total guarantees ($16,000,000 full)

Give credit to Detroit for not jumping in the way some others have. The numbers here are more or less in line with the mid tier LB market though the 2nd year guarantee at signing is not. Given some injuries I think pushing for more per game protection might have been a good thing.

Grade: C

Jamien Sherwood, LB, Jets

3 years, $45,000,000, $30,000,000 total guarantees ($30,000,000 full)

The linebacker market went a bit wild early and the Jets jumped right in on this. This is a big number to spend on a LB who has one year under his belt as a starter. Among contracts we have details on this is the 4th highest average salary and 3rd largest full guarantee at the position. The cash flows are straight $15M a year which is in the Jets favor, but that's about it.

Grade: D

Cody Ford, RG, Bengals

2 years, $6,000,000, $1,000,000 total guarantees ($1,000,000 full)

This is a perfectly fine contract for a veteran offensive lineman who may or may not start for a team. There is no real risk beyond this years salary.

Grade: B

Tommy Tremble, TE, Panthers

2 years, $10,500,000, $8,000,000 total guarantees ($6,000,000 full)

This is a bank on youth decision which can pay off when extending this position. Tremble hasnt done much to justify $5 million a year but this position is loaded with contracts like this. The Panthers can walk away next season with little pain on the cap.

Grade: C

Marcus Davenport, EDGE, Lions

1 year, $2,500,000, $1,650,000 total guarantees ($1,650,000 full)

I am a little surprised that Detroit decided to go back to Davenport, but a one year flyer at just $2.5 million is better than what they did last year. If he is healthy and motivated he should easily live up to this 1 year number.

Grade: B

Jarran Reed, IDL, Seahawks

3 years, $22,000,000, $10,000,000 total guarantees ($8,000,000 full)

Given everything going on in Seattle I do not get the need to sign a 32 year old DT to a three year contract extension. That said the Seahawks take on little future risk since they only have a small injury guarantee in the contract for 2026, in essence making this a one year, $8M contract with a 2nd year option for $6M. Those numbers are right in line with the market even if the optics of the signing are very different. As a contract its fine but given the way they are ripping things apart Im not sure I get it.

Grade: C

Zach Ertz, TE, Commanders

1 year, $6,250,000, $5,590,000 total guarantees ($5,590,000 full)

Ertz was very productive for the team last season and the team does not take a major risk this year with the contract. Ertz gets $6.25 million for the year with $510K ties to availability. He can earn up to $9 million if he plays at an ultra high level. For a team with this much cap room there really isn't much need to haggle over a million dollars on a one year contract.

Grade: B-

Aaron Jones, RB, Vikings

2 years, $20,000,000, $13,500,000 total guarantees ($11,500,000 full)

This feels too high for Jones, who got lumped in with the play of Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry because he was a free agent signing, but he was not as impactful as either player and I doubt he will be used nearly as much this year as last. They did escape a dead money hit by getting an extension done but the cap shouldn't have been a concern for them this year anyway. Good for Jones who is now the 6th highest paid RB in the NFL despite being over 30.

Grade: C-

Marquise Brown, WR, Chiefs

1 year, $7,000,000, $6,500,000 total guarantees ($6,500,000 full)

This was basically the Chiefs just calling for a do-over and doing virtually the same contract that they did last year for Brown. The upside and downside remains the same and you can't really fault them for trying again. While I do not think his free agent market would have been this high they have a specific need and clearly like the player.

Grade: C+

Mike Gesicki, TE, Bengals

3 years, $25,500,000, $6,500,000 total guarantees ($6,500,000 full)

This is a great deal for Gesicki, who signed for a total of just $7 million as a free agent in the last two tries at free agency. To get to $25.5M over three years at 30 years old with $12 million being paid in year one is really tremendous. I don't know if this was a byproduct of all of the talk surrounding the Bengals being cheap and not committed to winning, but this is a great deal for him.

Grade: C-

Jamie Gillan, P, Giants

3 years, $9,000,000, $4,000,000 total guarantees ($4,000,000 full)

The Giants don't have a QB but they now have the 4th highest paid punter in the NFL. For a team this bad where every little bit helps, I don't think the priority should be signing a higher priced punter. As far as the numbers go its about average for that salary range for a punter, but I dont really see the point here.

Grade: D

Ronnie Stanley, LT, Ravens

3 years, $60,000,000, $44,000,000 total guarantees ($44,000,000 full)

I don't blame Stanley for taking this deal since there is always uncertainty with free agency and my own opinion of the market was that he would get dinged for so much time missed through the years. That said after seeing some contracts for linemen come down I could see the reason people are negative on him taking this one. This is not like his first contract with the massive up front payments. It's not bad but not anything that stands out especially for the Ravens. I think most people feel the Ravens got off a little light all things considered.

Grade: B

Brandon McManus, K, Packers

3 years, $15,300,000, $5,000,000 total guarantees ($5,000,000 full)

Will a $5.1M a year kicker cripple the Packers salary cap? No. Is there any real logic to giving McManus at the age of 34 the biggest contract of his career when he was available last season for the minimum after being cut from a $3.6M contract? No. The team will spend $7 million on him this year and while that is is line with kicker contracts, given his age I think that's way over the top for an older player at a inconsistent position.

Grade: D

Alaric Jackson, LT, Rams

3 years, $57,750,000, $35,425,000 total guarantees ($30,000,000 full)

There is nothing that really stands out as good or bad about the Rams contract with Jackson. Would he have gotten less as a free agent? I think it is possible but the Rams did get a very high per game number that he likely would not have gotten anywhere else. Cash flows are relatively steady and this keeps stability on their offensive line which was probably a priority once the situation with Matt Stafford was resolved.

Grade: B

Alex Cappa, RG, Raiders

2 years, $11,020,000, $5,500,000 total guarantees ($5,500,000 full)

Cappa is always healthy and a solid enough veteran player that can always be a starter on a decent offensive line. There may have been cheaper options that you could find on a 1 year contract who will be just as good, but my feeling is they want stability and feel more comfortable with him for two years rather than going season by season. If he does not play well there is no real risk in the contract.

Grade: B

Osa Odighizuwa, IDL, Cowboys

4 years, $80,000,000, $52,000,000 total guarantees ($39,000,000 full)

This is a great contract for the Cowboys and a total head scratcher for Odighizuwa. The rumors were that the Cowboys were going to franchise him which would have earned him more money this year than his current contract. Even if it was just the transition tag its just a few million over that number. All of that for just $16.75M extra guaranteed in 2026?The cash breakdown is a complete step back for the DT market and will be used against any young talent looking for a new deal. He gets just $22.5M in salary this year, while the rest of the market is close to $30 million. He will earn $39 million over two while the rest of the market is well over $40M. Basically this tracks like a $17M a year contract. The guarantees in the 3rd year are meaningless and there are per game bonuses in each year. The Cowboys gave their cornerback on a similar APY $30M in new money by the end of the first year and went to $50M for their WR. How you do a deal like this with free agency staring you in the face is a mystery.

Grade: A

Elijah Molden, S, Chargers

3 years, $18,750,000, $13,500,000 total guarantees ($11,625,000 full)

The Chargers clearly liked what they saw from Molden last season who should definitely be a starting safety for the team in 2025. Contract comes in between Juan Thornhill of the Browns and Marcus Epps of the Raiders. 1st year cash is a bit on the higher end for this salary group of players but given the guarantees that isn't a big deal since its the two year number that is more important and he fits right in there. The year 3 bringing the numbers down is a good bonus if things go well the next two years.

Grade: B

Andy Dalton, QB, Panthers

2 years, $8,000,000, $6,000,000 total guarantees ($6,000,000 full)

There really isn't any upside or downside to having Dalton as the backup QB in Carolina. Salary fits right in between what he earned on his last two deals.

Grade: C+

Michael Hoecht, EDGE, Rams

1 year, $2,985,000, $0 total guarantees ($0 full)

This is a fair contract for someone who likely wont be a top of the rotation player but will certainly see his share of snaps in the defense. Hoecht is a solid all around player best suited for a rotational role where he is in for 40 to 50% of the snaps. I am not sure if the Bills had to fully guarantee year 2, but they will have options to trade if needed.

Grade: B

Ben Bredeson, LG, Buccaneers

1 year, $3,000,000, $1,750,000 total guarantees ($1,750,000 full)

Definitely not an overpayment for solid interior line play. Bredeson is now locked in for three years at exactly $7.5 million per year. The salary cap treatment may change from what we have listed but that wont change any flexibility they have in 2026 or 2027 if they had to try to drop the salary or cut him. Really fair for both sides.

Grade: B+

Marcus Cromartie, S, 49ers

1 year, $112,200, $0 total guarantees ($0 full)

This contract is probably a little overvalued given that his history has been more about being a solid rotational guy than a potential above average starter but it's not over the top crazy. The payout is a bit better than a similar contract for Bryce Huff last year and I like the three year structure. The Bears missed out the leaguewide trend Im seeing with per game bonuses even for players with no injury history with this contract.

Grade: C+