Who made the best signings on the first day of free agency?
The first day of free agency is in the books, and as all the deals get finalized we have a lot of money getting thrown around to a lot of players. Some deals that left me scratching my head, but there were quite a few that excited me.
Which teams got the best deals for the best players on the market?
Poona Ford to the Los Angeles Rams
I’m a huge fan of Poona Ford and his game. After a standout year in Los Angeles where he helped shore up their run game, he doesn’t even have to move houses as he goes to the Rams. I’m a big fan of this deal because it shows some prudent self-scouting by the Rams’ front office. The Rams had a bunch of nasty players on the inside when it comes to pass rush, but they’re all like 280 pounds and got blown off the ball in the run game. Ford is an instant help in the run game, playing nose tackle or as a shade technique and can help force opponents into second and third and long. Plus getting him for the price they did was awesome.
Paulson Adebo to the New York Giants
The Giants have completely overhauled their secondary in the last few seasons, but what they needed was a CB1. Adebo is coming off of a freak leg injury, but when he’s healthy he has all the traits to be a shutdown corner and is still only 25 years old. A secondary of Adebo, Deonte Banks, Dru Phillips and Tyler Nubin (and this morning they added Jevon Holland) is one I can get behind, and getting Adebo on a three-year, $30M deal is really cost-effective as well.
Cam Bynum to the Indianapolis Colts
This just feels like a match made in heaven for both sides. Bynum gets his big deal at 4 years and $60M, but his APY doesn’t really break the bank at the position. Bynum is a sweet fit in new DC Lou Anarumo’s offense, using instincts and impressive timing to make plays on the ball rather than raw athleticism. He can play on the roof of the defense in two-high shells and coming from Minnesota means he can do a lot of post-snap rotation.
The Colts needed some more playmaking in their secondary, and Bynum’s ball skills and production are a seamless fit in this defense.
Malcolm Koonce to the Raiders
I actually thought Koonce would get more money somewhere else, but seeing him go back to Vegas on a one-year deal worth $12M is such nice value and a great way of retaining the good players on the Vegas roster. Koonce is coming off a knee injury, but when healthy he provides such a burst of speed and explosion off the edge that it really meshes well with EDGE Maxx Crosby and DT Christian Wilkins. I also think he steps right back into his starting role, allowing Tyree Wilson to rotate in as he still grows and improves.
Getting Koonce back on a value deal like this just helps to elevate the Raiders defense, a group that I’m intrigued by going into 2025.
Najee Harris to the Chargers
Look, I’m not saying he’s a godsend or anything but I really like this signing for Harris and the Chargers, especially at that value. Harris is a singles and doubles hitter as a RB with power and a bruising style of play that couldn’t really mesh well with the zone-heavy run scheme Pittsburgh uses. The Chargers are more gap scheme runs like power and counter, and Harris is a perfect fit for that, maximizing his violence as a runner in an offense that doesn’t ask him to read blocks and waste time laterally.
On top of that, this deal is only a one-year contract and will only cost the Chargers up to $9.5M, meaning they can keep their eyes open for any rookies to help the room out. Simply a win-win for everyone.
