The NFL free agency market is usually a trap. Teams throw massive bags of cash at players hoping they hit, but nine times out of ten, they overpay big time. This past offseason wasn’t exactly stacked with superstars, which made it even harder for the guys who got the biggest money to justify their contracts. Three weeks into the season, we are taking a hard look at the seven highest-paid free agents to see who is earning their cash and who is already letting their team down.
First up is Jaelan Phillips, who the Carolina Panthers paid a whopping $30 million a year. They got burned in free agency the year before and didn’t want to get played again, so they threw the fattest bag of cash in his driveway. Grade: C+. Thirty million is game-wrecking money, but he hasn’t been a monster yet. He hasn’t been amazing against the run, and as a pure pass rusher, he hasn’t been the killer they paid for. There is still time to turn it around, especially with their secondary banged up.
Trey Hendrickson landed with the Baltimore Ravens at $28 million a year, earning a Grade: C. Baltimore signed him to get pressure, and he’s getting it, but it hasn’t translated to sacks—only one so far. He isn’t demanding double teams, and the Ravens’ defensive line is sitting near the bottom of the league in sacks. He’s getting the job done on pressure, but not on the scoreboard.
Odafe Oweh went to the Washington Commanders for $24 million a year, pulling in a Grade: B-. Washington is getting their money’s worth in terms of playing time, as he’s playing a higher percentage of snaps than ever before. But the production just isn’t there. He had a nice pressure in Week 3, but he needs to prove he isn’t just a product of a talented line. So far, he hasn’t stepped up as a true game-changer.
The absolute steal of the group is Tyler Linderbaum, who signed with the Las Vegas Raiders for $27 million a year. People thought paying a center that much was crazy, but he has been absolute money, earning a Grade: A. He has played every single snap, allowed only two pressures, and zero sacks. It is a massive upgrade from the center carousel they ran last year. He is already the best signing of the bunch.
Romeo Doubs signed with the New England Patriots for $17 million a year, but he gets a disappointing Grade: D+. He signed before they traded for AJ Brown, so we look at him as a wide receiver two. But with Brown hurt, he should have stepped up. Instead, he’s been a ghost. He isn’t running the most routes, isn’t getting the targets, and isn’t making big plays. On a bad Patriots offense, he’s not helping the cause.
Wan’Dale Robinson got $17.5 million a year from the Tennessee Titans, earning a Grade: B-?. The Titans offense is a total disaster, and their quarterback play is struggling badly. But Robinson is doing the best he can. He has the best catch rate on the team, pulling in 13 of 18 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown. It isn’t flashy, but given how bad the quarterback play is, he is holding up his end of the deal.
Finally, Malik Willis signed with the Miami Dolphins for $22.5 million a year, getting a Grade: NA. You simply cannot grade him. The Dolphins gave him a list of nobodies to throw to, and he can’t pass well. However, he is using his legs, rushing for over 100 yards. The Dolphins set him up to fail, so there is no grade here, just a team failure.
