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It's a pretty good read (lots of players anyway) at the link.
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/pag...barnwell-grades-big-2017-free-agent-deals-nfl
OLB Connor Barwin, Rams
Grade: B
Even though Barwin struggled in the move to a wide-nine scheme under Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz last season, there's probably still a productive pass-rusher lurking in there. Over the last two years, Barwin has taken down opposing quarterbacks once every 46.1 pass-rush attempts. That's 15th in the league among guys with 800 attempts or more over that time frame (25 per game), nestling Barwin right between Ziggy Ansah and Robert Quinn, his new teammate in Los Angeles.
Brian Robison and William Gholston are making in 2017. Barwin, 30, is capable enough to add value as a coverage guy, too, and he'll drop back more frequently as a 3-4 outside linebacker under Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. It's a little odd to see Los Angeles targeting players such as Barwin and Andrew Whitworth as part of their rebuild, but getting useful talent without needing to make a long-term commitment beats the alternative.
OT Andrew Whitworth, Rams
Grade: B+
The Rams have spent years attempting to develop their left tackle of the future -- without any success. Now they have their best left tackle since Hall of Famer Orlando Pace. Whitworth isn't quite a Hall of Famer, but he has been one of the five best left tackles in football for several years now while protecting Andy Dalton's blind side in Cincinnati. He hasn't slipped much, if at all. Stats LLC suggests Whitworth didn't allow a single sack during the 2016 season.
The 35-year-old obviously isn't going to be Los Angeles' left tackle for the long haul, which raises questions as to why a rebuilding team would hand Whitworth a three-year, $36 million deal. There are two clear arguments for the deal. One is that the Rams are really committed to Whitworth for only one year; they guaranteed the three-time Pro Bowler $12.5 million in 2017 with just $2.5 million due in guarantees the following year. That's paying Whitworth less than the franchise tag would have cost this season.
Jared Goff. Goff was a mess in the pocket as a rookie but also was beset by pass pressure; he faced the league's third-highest blitz rate (34.3 percent) and second-highest pressure rate (35.6 percent) while taking sacks an unreal 11.2 percent of the time. No quarterback was going to look remotely competent under that level of pressure, let alone somebody as inexperienced as Goff. Whitworth should take over for the massively frustrating Greg Robinson and lock down one side of the line for the time being.
WR Robert Woods, Rams
Grade: D+
After Marquise Goodwin picked up two years and $8 million from the 49ers Wednesday, the league's primal urge to sign non-Sammy Watkins receivers away from the Bills hit a fever pitch on Thursday with the Woods signing. Los Angeles committed five years and $39 million for Woods to replace Kenny Britt in their lineup, including $15 million guaranteed. This comes one year after the Rams gave Tavon Austin a four-year, $42-million extension with an unreal $28.5 million in guarantees, a deal that might be the worst contract in football this year. Unless the Rams stretch his roster bonus (which would be an even worse idea), Austin is going to get $15 million in 2017, which will be the third-highest cap hit for a wideout in football.
What are the Rams getting with Woods? It's hard to tell. He hasn't been particularly productive, despite spending all four of his seasons in Buffalo as a starting wide receiver. Among the 33 wideouts with 45 or more starts since 2013, Woods ranks 28th in receptions, 31st in receiving yards and tied for 31st in touchdowns. He's still young -- Woods turns 25 in April -- but there isn't much evidence that he is developing as a pass-catcher.
The other benefit to Woods is his blocking as a wideout, and indeed, he might be one of the best blockers in football on the edge. He offers value there, but how often do teams really value blocking in their wide receivers? Isn't it likely that the Rams could have picked up a decent blocker on the edge at wideout for a fraction of Woods' price? Woods feels like a weak-hitting first baseman with a good glove, where the secondary skill is useful but doesn't do nearly enough to mitigate his missing bat.
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/pag...barnwell-grades-big-2017-free-agent-deals-nfl
OLB Connor Barwin, Rams
Grade: B
Even though Barwin struggled in the move to a wide-nine scheme under Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz last season, there's probably still a productive pass-rusher lurking in there. Over the last two years, Barwin has taken down opposing quarterbacks once every 46.1 pass-rush attempts. That's 15th in the league among guys with 800 attempts or more over that time frame (25 per game), nestling Barwin right between Ziggy Ansah and Robert Quinn, his new teammate in Los Angeles.
Brian Robison and William Gholston are making in 2017. Barwin, 30, is capable enough to add value as a coverage guy, too, and he'll drop back more frequently as a 3-4 outside linebacker under Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. It's a little odd to see Los Angeles targeting players such as Barwin and Andrew Whitworth as part of their rebuild, but getting useful talent without needing to make a long-term commitment beats the alternative.
OT Andrew Whitworth, Rams
Grade: B+
The Rams have spent years attempting to develop their left tackle of the future -- without any success. Now they have their best left tackle since Hall of Famer Orlando Pace. Whitworth isn't quite a Hall of Famer, but he has been one of the five best left tackles in football for several years now while protecting Andy Dalton's blind side in Cincinnati. He hasn't slipped much, if at all. Stats LLC suggests Whitworth didn't allow a single sack during the 2016 season.
The 35-year-old obviously isn't going to be Los Angeles' left tackle for the long haul, which raises questions as to why a rebuilding team would hand Whitworth a three-year, $36 million deal. There are two clear arguments for the deal. One is that the Rams are really committed to Whitworth for only one year; they guaranteed the three-time Pro Bowler $12.5 million in 2017 with just $2.5 million due in guarantees the following year. That's paying Whitworth less than the franchise tag would have cost this season.
Jared Goff. Goff was a mess in the pocket as a rookie but also was beset by pass pressure; he faced the league's third-highest blitz rate (34.3 percent) and second-highest pressure rate (35.6 percent) while taking sacks an unreal 11.2 percent of the time. No quarterback was going to look remotely competent under that level of pressure, let alone somebody as inexperienced as Goff. Whitworth should take over for the massively frustrating Greg Robinson and lock down one side of the line for the time being.
WR Robert Woods, Rams
Grade: D+
After Marquise Goodwin picked up two years and $8 million from the 49ers Wednesday, the league's primal urge to sign non-Sammy Watkins receivers away from the Bills hit a fever pitch on Thursday with the Woods signing. Los Angeles committed five years and $39 million for Woods to replace Kenny Britt in their lineup, including $15 million guaranteed. This comes one year after the Rams gave Tavon Austin a four-year, $42-million extension with an unreal $28.5 million in guarantees, a deal that might be the worst contract in football this year. Unless the Rams stretch his roster bonus (which would be an even worse idea), Austin is going to get $15 million in 2017, which will be the third-highest cap hit for a wideout in football.
What are the Rams getting with Woods? It's hard to tell. He hasn't been particularly productive, despite spending all four of his seasons in Buffalo as a starting wide receiver. Among the 33 wideouts with 45 or more starts since 2013, Woods ranks 28th in receptions, 31st in receiving yards and tied for 31st in touchdowns. He's still young -- Woods turns 25 in April -- but there isn't much evidence that he is developing as a pass-catcher.
The other benefit to Woods is his blocking as a wideout, and indeed, he might be one of the best blockers in football on the edge. He offers value there, but how often do teams really value blocking in their wide receivers? Isn't it likely that the Rams could have picked up a decent blocker on the edge at wideout for a fraction of Woods' price? Woods feels like a weak-hitting first baseman with a good glove, where the secondary skill is useful but doesn't do nearly enough to mitigate his missing bat.
