Houston Texans wide receiver Stefon Diggs warms up before an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Oct. 13, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
Last week, I graded four of the NFL’s headlining offseason moves, breaking down which teams made the smartest decisions, and which might regret their choices. But with so much action this offseason, there are still plenty of grades to hand out.
Chicago Bears – Dayo Odeyingbo: A-
The Bears are quietly putting together a very beneficial offseason. The team has addressed their needs throughout their roster, including improving their pass rush. The Bears landed Dayo Odeyingbo at a fairly cheap price of $48 million over the next three years, with $32 million guaranteed. Odeyingbo saw a decline in his sack totals this season, but the analytics will tell you this is not cause for concern. His pass rush win rate when playing on the edge improved four percentage points from 12% to 16%, while his win rate on the interior is at a very high 14%. Perhaps the most appealing part of the deal for Bears fans is his age. At 25 years old, Odeyingbo is still young, leaving room for improvement. I think that, with a reinvigorated organization, Chicago could be the place for Odeyingbo to flourish.
New York Giants – Russel Wilson: D+
Giants’ country…let’s cry. Despite being a Super Bowl champion, Russel Wilson is certainly not the quarterback that will bring the Giants back to the playoffs. I would probably grade this move a little bit higher, had the Giants not already signed Jameis Winston just a couple days earlier to a two-year deal, which is a bit of a head scratcher. Should Shedeur Sanders be available at pick three, many believe the Giants are going to take him. This would create a three-man competition for the QB spot which I believe could be a major distraction for the team. The Steelers had to deal with this dilemma last season with Wilson in front of Justin Fields. The Giants have other needs to address following a 3-14 season, so I don’t think signing two veteran quarterbacks was the best use of money.
Indianapolis Colts – Daniel Jones: C
Speaking of New York quarterbacks, let’s talk about Daniel Jones. Jones’ time in New York was less than ideal. He spent six seasons with the team before being cut in the middle of the 2024 season. In his tenure as the starting quarterback, he only eclipsed 20 passing touchdowns once (2019) and 3,000 yards twice (2019 and 2022). However, his natural athleticism and physical gifts lead the Colts to believe he can compete with Anthony Richardson for the starting job by bringing him into their quarterback room. Richardson missed the majority of his 2023 rookie season due to injury and came into 2024 hoping to remind the world why he was selected fourth overall. He made 11 starts this season where he threw 12 interceptions, raising concerns about the Colts’ pick, but Jones may light the fire under Richardson to protect his starting job. Jones also understands being a young quarterback struggling early on with a team, and his veteran mentorship could help Richardson overcome that pressure.
New England Patriots – Stefon Diggs: B
The Patriots were in desperate need of a top wide receiver to give Drake Maye a true No. 1 target. Despite the locker room issues that come along with Steffon Diggs, it would be irresponsible to ignore the positive impact he has on quarterbacks. Flashback to 2020, when Diggs first joined the Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen was entering his third season. After struggling in his first two years under center, it would probably be his final chance to prove he could be the Bills starting quarterback. In Allen’s first season with Diggs, he achieved career highs in passing yards (4,544), passing touchdowns (37) and passer rating (107.2). Allen might not have developed into the MVP quarterback he is today without Steffon Diggs. If you’re New England, you’re hoping that Diggs can have that same effect on Maye.