Our Free Agency Grade So Far (long)

DallasEast

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I wanted to get a feel for how well we've done in free agency thus far. I also wanted to compare our pickups with other clubs.

So, I took a third party’s, Scout.com, ratings of available free agents. Scout.com uses the star rating system (i.e. 5 stars = excellent, 4 stars = very good, ,etc.). For a five star player, I assigned an A+, four star player received a B+, etc. Afterwards, I averaged all FA players’ grades per team. The league average so far has been a C-. These were the results so far. (Disclaimer: my data came from Scout.com and it may not be totally updated):

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Dallas Cowboys
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
WR    Terrell Owens            UFA         5.0     A
OT    Jason Fabini             UFA         3.0     C
OLB   Akin Ayodele             UFA         3.0     C
OG    Kyle Kosier              UFA         2.0     D
TE    Ryan Hannam              UFA         1.0     F
                               Overall     2.8     C

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Arizona Cardinals
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
RB    Edgerrin James           UFA         5.0     A
FB    Obafemi Ayanbadejo       UFA         2.0     D
DT    Kendrick Clancy          UFA         2.0     D
                               Overall     3.0     C+

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Atlanta Falcons
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
S     Lawyer Milloy            UFA         4.0     B
FB    Fred McCrary             UFA         1.0     F
S     Omare Lowe               UFA         1.0     F
                               Overall     2.0     D+

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Baltimore Ravens
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
RB    Jamal Lewis              UFA         4.0     B
RB    Mike Anderson            UFA         3.0     C
DT    Trevor Pryce             UFA         3.0     C
DT    Justin Bannan            UFA         2.0     D
OLB   Bart Scott               UFA         2.0     D
RB    Musa Smith               RFA         1.0     F
                               Overall     2.5     C-

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Buffalo Bills
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
DT    Larry Tripplett          UFA         3.0     C
WR    Josh Reed                UFA         2.0     D
WR    Andre Davis              UFA         2.0     D
S     Matt Bowen               UFA         2.0     D
TE    Robert Royal             UFA         1.0     F
OG    Greg Jerman              UFA         1.0     F
C     Mike Schneck             UFA         1.0     F
OLB   Mario Haggan             RFA         1.0     F
                               Overall     1.6     F

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Carolina Panthers
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
RB    Deshaun Foster           Fran.       4.0     B
C     Justin Hartwig           UFA         3.0     C
DT    Ma'ake Kemoeatu          UFA         3.0     C
DT    Damione Lewis            UFA         2.0     D
QB    Chris Weinke             UFA         1.0     F
                               Overall     2.6     C-

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Chicago Bears
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
TE    John Gilmore             UFA         2.0     D
OG    Terrence Metcalf         UFA         2.0     D
CB    Dante Wesley             UFA         2.0     D
                               Overall     2.0     D+

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Cincinnati Bengals
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
S     Dexter Jackson           UFA         2.0     D
S     Anthony Mitchell         UFA         2.0     D
                               Overall     2.0     D+

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Cleveland Browns
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
C     LeCharles Bentley        UFA         5.0     A
OLB   Willie McGinest          UFA         4.0     B
P     Dave Zastudil            UFA         4.0     B
WR    Joe Jurevicius           UFA         3.0     C
OT    Kevin Shaffer            UFA         3.0     C
DE    Orpheus Roye             UFA         3.0     C
OG    Bob Hallen               UFA         2.0     D
DT    Ted Washington           UFA         2.0     D
TE    Darnell Dinkins          UFA         1.0     F
                               Overall     3.0     C+

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Denver Broncos
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
DT    Gerard Warren            UFA         3.0     C
RB    Ron Dayne                UFA         2.0     D
MLB   Nate Webster             UFA         2.0     D
                               Overall     2.3     C-

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Detroit Lions
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
QB    Jon Kitna                UFA         3.0     C
WR    Corey Bradford           UFA         3.0     C
QB    Josh McCown              UFA         2.0     D
RB    Shawn Bryson             UFA         2.0     D
WR    Eddie Drummond           UFA         2.0     D
TE    Dan Campbell             UFA         2.0     D
DE    Kalimba Edwards          UFA         2.0     D
RB    Arlen Harris             UFA         1.0     F
OT    Victor Rogers            RFA         1.0     F
                               Overall     2.0     D+

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Green Bay Packers
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
RB    Ahman Green              UFA         4.0     B
DE    Aaron Kampman            UFA         4.0     B
DT    Ryan Pickett             UFA         3.0     C
S     Marquand Manuel          UFA         3.0     C
FB    William Henderson        UFA         2.0     D
WR    Rod Gardner              UFA         2.0     D
OT    Kevin Barry              UFA         2.0     D
DT    Kenny Peterson           RFA         2.0     D
DT    Cullen Jenkins           RFA         1.0     F
                               Overall     2.6     C-

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Houston Texans
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
QB    Sage Rosenfels           UFA         2.0     D
DE    Anthony Weaver           UFA         2.0     D
FB    Jameel Cook              UFA         1.0     F
TE    Matt Murphy              UFA         1.0     F
                               Overall     1.5     D-

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Indianapolis Colts
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
WR    Reggie Wayne             UFA         4.0     B
K     Jose Cortez              UFA         1.0     F
                               Overall     2.5     C-

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Jacksonville Jaguars
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
CB    Brian Williams           UFA         3.0     C
OT    Stockar McDougle         UFA         2.0     D
CB    Terry Cousin             UFA         2.0     D
DE    Marcellus Wiley          UFA         1.0     F
                               Overall     2.0     D+

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Kansas City Chiefs
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
DE    Carlos Hall              UFA         3.0     C
QB    Damon Huard              UFA         1.0     F
TE    Kendall Gammon           UFA         1.0     F
                               Overall     1.7     F

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Miami Dolphins
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
OT    L.J. Shelton             UFA         3.0     C
RB    Travis Minor             UFA         2.0     D
OLB   Sedrick Hodge            UFA         2.0     D
CB    Andre' Goodman           UFA         1.0     F
                               Overall     2.0     D+

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Minnesota Vikings
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
RB    Chester Taylor           UFA         3.0     C
WR    Koren Robinson           UFA         3.0     C
K     Ryan Longwell            UFA         3.0     C
OG    Jason Whittle            UFA         2.0     D
OLB   Ben Leber                UFA         2.0     D
S     Willie Offord            UFA         2.0     D
                               Overall     2.5     C-

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New England Patriots
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
WR    Reche Caldwell           UFA         3.0     C
OG    Ross Tucker              UFA         2.0     D
OLB   Don Davis                UFA         2.0     D
S     Artrell Hawkins          UFA         2.0     D
CB    Hank Poteat              UFA         1.0     F
                               Overall     2.0     D+

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New Orleans Saints
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
QB    Drew Brees               UFA         5.0     A
RB    Michael Bennett          UFA         3.0     C
OLB   Scott Fujita             UFA         2.0     D
OG    Dwayne Ledford           UFA         1.0     F
                               Overall     2.8     C

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New York Giants
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
CB    Sam Madison              UFA         3.0     C
OT    Bob Whitfield            UFA         2.0     D
S     Will Demps               UFA         2.0     D
CB    R.W. McQuarters          UFA         2.0     D
CB    Jason Bell               UFA         2.0     D
S     Quentin Harris           UFA         1.0     F
CB    Brandon Williams         UFA         1.0     F
                               Overall     1.9     D

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New York Jets
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
DE    Kimo von Oelhoffen       UFA         2.0     D
OLB   Matt Chatham             UFA         1.0     F
                               Overall     1.5     D-

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Oakland Raiders
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
S     Derrick Gibson           UFA         2.0     D
TE    Randal Williams          UFA         1.0     F
OG    Corey Hulsey             UFA         1.0     F
S     Jarrod Cooper            UFA         1.0     F
                               Overall     1.3     F

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Philadelphia Eagles
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
DE    Darren Howard            UFA         4.0     B
QB    Jeff Garcia              UFA         2.0     D
WR    Jabar Gaffney            UFA         2.0     D
TE    Matt Schobel             UFA         2.0     D
OLB   Shawn Barber             UFA         2.0     D
WR    Darnerien McCants        UFA         1.0     F
DE    Juqua Thomas             UFA         1.0     F
                               Overall     2.0     D+

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Pittsburgh Steelers
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
CB    Deshea Townsend          UFA         3.0     C
QB    Charlie Batch            UFA         2.0     D
OT    Barrett Brooks           UFA         2.0     D
DE    Rodney Bailey            UFA         2.0     D
DE    Brett Keisel             UFA         2.0     D
TE    Jerame Tuman             UFA         1.0     F
S     Ryan Clark               UFA         1.0     F
                               Overall     1.9     D

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San Diego Chargers
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
S     Marlon McCree            UFA         3.0     C
TE    Aaron Shea               UFA         2.0     D
                               Overall     2.5     C-

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San Francisco 49ers
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
WR    Antonio Bryant           UFA         3.0     C
MLB   Derek Smith              UFA         3.0     C
K     Joe Nedney               UFA         3.0     C
CB    Walt Harris              UFA         2.0     D
FB    Chris Hetherington       UFA         1.0     F
WR    Bryan Gilmore            UFA         1.0     F
OLB   Brandon Moore            UFA         1.0     F
                               Overall     2.0     D+

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Seattle Seahawks
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
RB    Shaun Alexander          UFA         5.0     A
DT    Rocky Bernard            UFA         4.0     B
WR    Peter Warrick            UFA         2.0     D
DT    Russell Davis            UFA         2.0     D
                               Overall     3.3     F

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St. Louis Rams
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
OLB   Will Witherspoon         UFA         5.0     A
WR    Isaac Bruce              UFA         4.0     B
DT    La'Roi Glover            UFA         3.0     C
S     Corey Chavous            UFA         3.0     C
QB    Gus Frerotte             UFA         2.0     D
CB    Fakhir Brown             UFA         2.0     D
                               Overall     3.2     C+

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
DT    Chris Hovan              UFA         3.0     C
K     Matt Bryant              UFA         3.0     C
OG    Toniu Fonoti             UFA         2.0     D
CB    Juran Bolden             UFA         1.0     F
                               Overall     2.3     F

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Tennessee Titans
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
WR    David Givens             UFA         4.0     B
C     Kevin Mawae              UFA         3.0     C
S     Chris Hope               UFA         3.0     C
OLB   David Thornton           UFA         2.0     D
                               Overall     3.0     C+

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Washington Commanders
Pos   Name                     Type        Rank  Grade
WR    Antwaan Randle El        UFA         4.0     B
S     Adam Archuleta           UFA         4.0     B
WR    Brandon Lloyd            RFA         3.0     C
OLB   Andre Carter             UFA         3.0     C
FB    Rock Cartwright          UFA         2.0     D
TE    Christian Fauria         UFA         2.0     D
QB    Todd Collins             UFA         1.0     F
DT    Cedric Killings          UFA         1.0     F
MLB   Khary Campbell           UFA         1.0     F
                               Overall     2.3     C-
 

wileedog

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Your system is flawed because it does not take into account team needs.

For instance, to a team looking for a starting TE, Hannam is an F.

To a team like ours looking for a guy who can block in two TE sets, he's probably an A-/B+.
 

DallasEast

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wileedog said:
Your system is flawed because it does not take into account team needs.

For instance, to a team looking for a starting TE, Hannam is an F.

To a team like ours looking for a guy who can block in two TE sets, he's probably an A-/B+.
Well, if you're going to look at it that way, you're right. But I didn't state that I made up grades according to team need.
 

wileedog

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DallasEast said:
Well, if you're going to look at it that way, you're right. But I didn't state that I made up grades according to team need.
I know, but despite the obvious work you put into getting this together, its largely useless.

A team that just needs to fill some depth will atuomatically get a terrible grade, even if they actually make their team much better.

A team that's just goes out and spends mega bucks will atuomatically get a good grade, even if they have mortgaged their future or ignored obvious holes.

It really doesn't tell us who did a good job and who didn't.

Just me 2 cents tho.
 

MONT17

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Cowboys had a good offseason so far... no grade will show just how good!!
 

AdamJT13

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wileedog said:
Your system is flawed because it does not take into account team needs.

It's also flawed because it averages out the grades of all of the free agents signed. If a team needs a quarterback, defensive end and cornerback, and it signs a 5.0 QB, a 5.0 DE and a 5.0 CB, plus seven backups to fill out the roster at the minimum salary, it has earned an A-plus in free agency by any reasonable judgement. Under that formula, it would get a D+ (2.2) because it signed some roster fillers -- as if it had been better off by NOT signing them at all. (If it had signed only the three 5.0s, it would have a 5.0 average. But it did terrible in free agency for signing seven guys at minimum salaries? I don't think so.)

It's like Gosselin's draft grading system that penalizes teams who have a lot of draft picks in the sixth and seventh rounds.
 

bobbie brewskie

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im guessing that the amount teams paid for their free agents was NOT taken into accnt seeing as the skins got a half way descent grade? and also team need? im guessing this is just rating each player as a starter on any given team, so i mean if you add team need and $ spent the ratings may be a bit different dont you think?
 

chinch

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those stats are meaningless unfortunately. alot of wasted time there.
 

cowboygolfer

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"TE Dan Campbell UFA 2.0 D "

Obviously a very generic formula.

It would have been a great extrapalation if the initial player grades had been solid and team needs were considered.
 

DallasEast

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chinch said:
those stats are meaningless unfortunately. alot of wasted time there.
Well, I guess 10-15 minutes is 'a lot of wasted time'...
 

DallasEast

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AdamJT13 said:
It's also flawed because it averages out the grades of all of the free agents signed. If a team needs a quarterback, defensive end and cornerback, and it signs a 5.0 QB, a 5.0 DE and a 5.0 CB, plus seven backups to fill out the roster at the minimum salary, it has earned an A-plus in free agency by any reasonable judgement. Under that formula, it would get a D+ (2.2) because it signed some roster fillers -- as if it had been better off by NOT signing them at all. (If it had signed only the three 5.0s, it would have a 5.0 average. But it did terrible in free agency for signing seven guys at minimum salaries? I don't think so.)

It's like Gosselin's draft grading system that penalizes teams who have a lot of draft picks in the sixth and seventh rounds.
Thanks, Adam.

Time to change the title of this thread (or is that possible?).

Edit: Nope.

How about 'Scout.com Grades For Free Agents That I Averaged Out But Doesn't Really Apply'.

Long, but kinda catchy! :)
 

TheHustler

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AdamJT13 said:
It's also flawed because it averages out the grades of all of the free agents signed. If a team needs a quarterback, defensive end and cornerback, and it signs a 5.0 QB, a 5.0 DE and a 5.0 CB, plus seven backups to fill out the roster at the minimum salary, it has earned an A-plus in free agency by any reasonable judgement. Under that formula, it would get a D+ (2.2) because it signed some roster fillers -- as if it had been better off by NOT signing them at all. (If it had signed only the three 5.0s, it would have a 5.0 average. But it did terrible in free agency for signing seven guys at minimum salaries? I don't think so.)

It's like Gosselin's draft grading system that penalizes teams who have a lot of draft picks in the sixth and seventh rounds.

Exactly.
 

Paniolo22

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AdamJT13 said:
It's also flawed because it averages out the grades of all of the free agents signed. If a team needs a quarterback, defensive end and cornerback, and it signs a 5.0 QB, a 5.0 DE and a 5.0 CB, plus seven backups to fill out the roster at the minimum salary, it has earned an A-plus in free agency by any reasonable judgement. Under that formula, it would get a D+ (2.2) because it signed some roster fillers -- as if it had been better off by NOT signing them at all. (If it had signed only the three 5.0s, it would have a 5.0 average. But it did terrible in free agency for signing seven guys at minimum salaries? I don't think so.)

It's like Gosselin's draft grading system that penalizes teams who have a lot of draft picks in the sixth and seventh rounds.

I agree with this. Also, money should be taken in to account if it's going to be an overall free agency grade.
 

speedkilz88

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You forgot Andre Gurode, you counted other team's keeping their own FAgents.
 

DallasEast

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Hiero

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doesnt really make sense overall. not much differentiation, filling needs etc. not accounted for.
 

DallasEast

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big dog cowboy said:
I'm not sure that was accomplished.
No, it wasn't. It was poorly presented. Like I replied to AdamJT13, I should've titled it, "How about 'Scout.com Grades For Free Agents That I Averaged Out But Doesn't Really Apply'.
 

big dog cowboy

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DallasEast said:
No, it wasn't. It was poorly presented. Like I replied to AdamJT13, I should've titled it, "How about 'Scout.com Grades For Free Agents That I Averaged Out But Doesn't Really Apply'.
Actually that is good work that just doesn't tell the entire story. It's like reading the first couple of chapters of a book and never finishing it.
 
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