Tag: free agents

2024 Saints free agent report cards: Was Willie Gay a good signing?

With the 2024 season over, we have a chance to look at how the Saints’ offseason signings panned out. Was LB Willie Gay Jr. a good signing?

The NFL is nearing its offseason once again, and with that, teams will be vying for the top free agents on the market once again. With a somewhat underwhelming 2024 offseason for the New Orleans Saints, they only made a few signings that could have been viewed as true impact players.

One of the more notable signings they made at the time was linebacker Willie Gay Jr. who was set to compete with Pete Werner for the second LB spot. Ultimately this signing became less notable than anticipated, so let’s get into why that was the case:

Free agent contract

Gay Jr’s contract was relatively simple in terms of Saints contract, with a one-year, $3 million deal with $1.8 million set up as base salary and the remaining $1.2 million were a prorated signing bonus. There is no additional void years or cap hits beyond 2024, which is good considering the Saints current cap situation.

Snap counts

Willie Gay Jr. has had a relatively consistent snap count ever since his rookie year in 2020, however in 2024 he struggled to maintain a consistent number of snaps due to Pete Werner retaining the second linebacker spot. Here are his snap rates for each season, only including games he played in:

  • 2020: 25% (267)
  • 2021: 57% (437)
  • 2022: 69% (608)
  • 2023: 62% (624)
  • 2024: 27% (277)

2024 season review

As you can see from the snap counts, it was an extremely limited year for Gay Jr. as he was pushed down the depth chart by Demario Davis and Pete Werner, which ultimately only left a little bit of playing time left. In his 277 snaps, he had 28 total tackles (19 solo, 9 assisted), 2 tackles for loss, 3 pass deflections, and 2 fumble recoveries with 1 being forced by him.

Ultimately it was a tough year for him, as he really never got going the way he had in previous seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. While he was good to come on for depth, he was not particularly a valuable signing.

Report card grade

Overall, this signing was one that the Saints likely don’t regret given it was on a cheap and short contract with nothing to lose. However, the lack of production and taking up a roster spot that could have been used for someone younger is tough no doubt.

It is one of those signings that many forgot happened throughout the course of the year, and those who didn’t were left wanting more.

Signing grade: C-

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

PFF grades of Packers free agent class in 2025

Taking a closer look at the 2024 season from the Packers 2025 free agent class.

The Green Bay Packers have 18 players entering free agency with expiring contracts in 2025. While the team doesn’t have a hugely important player with an expiring deal, several starters and contributors are about to enter free agency.

How did the 2024 look for the Packers’ free agents? Let’s take a closer look.

Here are the PFF grades and relevant stats from the Packers’ 2025 free agent class:

C Josh Myers

PFF grade: 54.2
Rank among centers: 41/43

Myers has graded out as one of the NFL’s worst centers during all four of his seasons as a starter. While giving up just one sack in 2024, Myers allowed a career-high 31 pressures, which ranked as the third-most among centers. And pass-blocking is his strongest area — his run-blocking grade finished as the second worst among centers. Myers’ career high grade at PFF is only 60.4. The 2021 second rounder appears to be the definition of a replacement-level player.

LB Isaiah McDuffie

PFF grade: 55.4
Rank among linebackers: 47/53 (at least 600 snaps played)

McDuffie played over 700 defensive snaps for the Packers at linebacker in 2024. He struggled mightily in coverage, allowing 84.4 percent completions and five touchdown passes on targets into his coverage. His 129.6 passer rating allowed in coverage ranked as the second worst among linebackers. McDuffie produced 28 stops, or a tackle creating an offensive failure, but that was tied for the fifth least among linebackers with at least 600 snaps. If you can’t consistently cover or create disruptive plays, it’s tough to survive at linebacker in today’s NFL.

CB Eric Stokes

PFF grade: 61.3
Rank among cornerbacks: 75/128

Stokes was one of only five cornerbacks to play at least 250 snaps and fail to create a pass breakup. He gave up only 33 completions against his coverage, but he allowed three touchdown passes and a passer rating of 96.7. His run defense grade ranked 114th out of 128 qualifying cornerbacks, and he produced only seven stops. A solid stretch of play between November and December wasn’t enough to save another disappointing season from the 2021 first-round pick.

LB Eric Wilson

PFF grade: 64.3
Rank among linebackers: 43/90 (at least 250 snaps played)

Wilson missed 11 tackles and wasn’t an effective player in coverage (allowed completions on 82.9 percent of targets), but he went supernova against the Colts and Texans early in the season and was once again a rock-solid special teams player. Wilson created 10 total special teams tackles (solo and assists) and didn’t have a penalty. In terms of backup linebackers, Wilson is a veteran asset.

DL TJ Slaton

PFF grade: 43.0
Rank among defensive linemen: 130/145

Slaton led all defensive linemen in ESPN’s run stop win rate, suggesting a dominant season against the run, and the Packers effectiveness stopping the run with Slaton on the field backs up ESPN’s claim. But PFF did not agree. Slaton finished with one of the worst run defense grades at the position, and a 13.5 missed tackle rate meant a poor tackle grade. Slaton finished with only one sack and two quarterback hits, highlighting his limitations as a pass-rusher. But PFF’s overall grade for Slaton doesn’t seem to match up with his specific value as a run stopper and block eater.

P Daniel Whelan (exclusive rights)

PFF grade: 75.4
Rank among punters: 14/34

A poor finish to the season sabotaged a strong year overall. Whelan finished 27th in net punting at 40.4 yards, which was damaged significantly by the 93-yard punt return for a touchdown in the season finale. Whelan allowed only 37.9 percent of his punts to be returned, which ranked seventh best, and his 4.53-second average hang time ranked third. He will return to Green Bay as an ascending young punter in 2025.

K Brandon McManus

PFF grade: 82.1
Rank among kickers: 12/39

Counting the postseason, McManus connected on 21 of 23 field goals and all 31 extra points. His field goal percentage of 91.3 ended up ranking eighth among kickers. He also made all three field goals over 50 yards. The Packers want him back.

RB Emanuel Wilson (exclusive rights)

PFF grade: 82.9
Rank among running backs: 12/53

Wilson was excellent. He forced 28 missed tackles on only 106 attempts, averaged 4.8 yards per carry, had 13 runs of 10 or more yards and caught 12 of 15 targets. He also didn’t fumble. Wilson will return with a chance to be the primary backup behind Josh Jacobs again in 2025.

WR Bo Melton (exclusive rights)

PFF grade: 63.2
Rank among wide receivers: 115/198

Melton caught only nine of 19 targets and averaged just 0.99 yards per route run, committed two penalties and was targeted twice on interceptions. He did haul in four of five contested targets, and he rushed eight times for 54 yards.

DE Arron Mosby (exclusive rights)

PFF grade: 62.5
Rank among edge rushers: 96/211

Mosby produced 10 pressures, made four stops and was solid against the run (67.5 grade) while playing 150 total snaps. He was also on the field for 258 special teams snaps, giving him potential as an edge rusher and value for Rich Bisaccia entering 2025.

S Zayne Anderson (exclusive rights)

PFF grade: 80.8
Rank among safeties: 12/170

Anderson played only 122 snaps at safety, but he was effective, logging five tackles, an interception and a pass-breakup. The career special teamer didn’t allow a single completion into his coverage. He also led the team with 10 solo tackles on special teams. While not a preferred starter at safety, Anderson proved his value covering kicks and punts and as a reliable backup option.

CB Corey Ballentine

PFF grade: 53.5
Rank among cornerbacks: 175/223

He played 75 snaps at cornerback and allowed four completions for 56 yards and a touchdown. On special teams, Ballentine played over 200 snaps and finished with four tackles and a solid 70.9 grade.

TE John FitzPatrick (restricted)

PFF grade: 55.1
Rank among tight ends: 73/120

FitzPatrick caught one pass for two yards but was mostly used as a run blocker. He played 60 snaps on special teams. His noteworthy play was a holding penalty on a kickoff in the wildcard loss in Philadelphia.

OL Kadeem Telfort (exclusive rights)

PFF grade: 48.9
Rank among offensive linemen: 268/312

His final grade was torpedoed by the finish in Philadelphia. Telfort allowed three total pressures and committed a penalty over 62 total snaps at left and right guard across five games.

LT Andre Dillard

PFF grade: 72.7
Rank among offensive tackles: N/A

Dillard played only 13 total snaps (nine at left tackle, four at right tackle) in blowout wins over the 49ers and Saints.

CB Robert Rochell

PFF grade: 60.0
Rank among cornerbacks: N/A

Rochell played only one snap from scrimmage in 2024. He struggled on special teams, committing two penalties and registering just two tackles across 124 snaps.

TE Tyler Davis

PFF grade: N/A
Rank among tight ends: N/A

Davis was placed on season-ending injured reserve in August and did not play in 2024.

RB A.J. Dillon

PFF grade: N/A
Rank among running backs: N/A

Dillon was placed on season-ending injured reserve in August and did not play in 2024.

Paulson Adebo progressing well from devastating injury

Paulson Adebo shared an update on his recovery from a broken femur. The Saints’ starting cornerback is progressing well before free agency:


Paulson Adebo went down with a broken femur midway through last season against the Denver Broncos, and it was the last time we saw the New Orleans Saints cornerback in 2024. There are some that question if it is the last time we will see him in a Saints uniform.

Adebo suffered the injury in the seventh game of the year and is showcasing his recovery process after the season. The cornerback shared a video clip of himself on social media running on the treadmill at 21 miles per hour.

This is a great sign after a bad leg injury. Alontae Taylor and Kool-Aid McKinstry are your top returning corners on the roster. Seeing that Adebo is about to enter free agency, that video was an advertisement to the entire league that he’s healthy and ready to help his team — whoever they might be.

It would make sense for the Saints to attempt to retain Adebo. Neither Taylor nor McKinstry have shown they’re above competing for their spot in the starting lineup. New Orleans should reinforce the position after trading Marshon Lattimore. The only other corners under contract for 2025 are Rico Payton and Rejzohn Wright, who spent his year on injured reserve.

While his value on the free agent market remains to be seen, Adebo could also benefit from a return to New Orleans. It would likely be a short-term deal and allow him to build his stock with a healthy year of quality game tape. He could also be priced out of the Saints’ budget. He’s been one of the most productive ballhawks in the NFL since he was drafted with 43 passes defensed in 52 games played. But until that time comes, it’s just good to see Adebo moving at high speed again.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

What does Chargers DL Poona Ford’s projected free agent contract look like?

Poona Ford was a beast up front, and he should be one of the Chargers’ priorities to bring back.

With Chargers defensive tackle Poona Ford set to become a free agent this offseason, what could his next contract be?

Pro Football Focus recently made a projection for Ford and the other top 100 free agents this offseason.

According to PFF, they are projecting that Ford will land a one-year deal with $3.5 million. This includes $1.5 million guaranteed.

Signed last offseason, Ford had a resurgent season under defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.

Ford, the man in the middle of the defensive line, was integral in stopping the run. His 80.3 PFF run-defense grade ranked third among interior defenders. He also had 25 quarterback pressures.

PFF’s projection for Ford seems a little low, considering how great he played in 2024. Instead, he might garner a contract worth $14 million-$16 million per year, as he should be one of the top defensive tackles on the market.

While the price might be a bit high for some, Ford should be a top priority for the Chargers. The team is well-stocked in salary cap space, so they should be able to afford him.

ESPN: Saints free agent could be one of the offseason’s biggest earners

ESPN suggests Paulson Adebo could be one of free agency’s top earners. The New Orleans Saints cornerback is seen as one of the three best free agents at his position:

The New Orleans Saints have a wide variety of free agents hitting the market in 2025, and one of the most notable ones when it comes to projected value is cornerback Paulson Adebo. As his rookie-scale contract ends, he will now have the chance to work towards a long-term full-size contract, and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN has contacts around the league who believe he may be one of the best available:

“Multiple teams consider Adebo a top-three corner in the free agency class based on ability and upside. Adebo had no complications from his surgery, which included a rod being placed in the broken bone — where there was a clean fracture — to stabilize it“

When it comes to being top-three at your position in a free agency class, that comes with expectations on a contract value as well. ESPN ranked Adebo No. 44 on their free agency list of the top 50 players, and No. 8 among cornerbacks, however clearly some teams view him more highly according to the quote from Fowler.

Cornerbacks in the 2024 offseason did not see any megadeals, but there were a few notable ones. The top three contracts by cornerbacks in the 2024 offseason were Chidobe Awuzie ($12 million per year), Kenny Moore ($10 million per year) and Sean Murphy-Bunting ($8.5 million per year).

When you look at four of the projected top earning cornerbacks in 2025, Spotrac has these average values for those players based on projections:

  • Byron Murphy: $22.1 million/year
  • Charvarius Ward: $15.3 million/year
  • D.J. Reed: $14.7 million/year
  • Carlton Davis: $13.8 million/year

Then when it comes to Paulson Adebo, they have him marked at a projected $11.1 million per year value. This is a pretty substantial payday coming off a major injury and having penalty woes for a few seasons, but his ball-hawking skills and coverage in many cases make up for it. Adebo has logged 43 passes defensed since he entered the league in 2021, tied with Murphy and Davis for 10th-most among corners. That matters to teams, and it’s sounding like Adebo is going to get paid because of it.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Paulson Adebo slots in at No. 28 on PFN’s 2025 free agency rankings

New Orleans Saints cornerback Paulson Adebo ranked among the 30 best free agents for 2025 by PFN, and top-five at his position group:

The New Orleans Saints have a few priority free agents in the 2025 offseason, who are now going to be hitting the open market pending any re-signings prior to the Mar. 13 deadline.

One of the higher-priority free agents from that group for the Saints is cornerback Paulson Adebo. ProFootballNetwork recently released their top 100 free agents rankings for the 2025 offseason, and among them was Adebo, who came in at No. 28 on the list. Their reasoning for his ranking is as follows:

“When you factor in age, it is easy to make the case that Paulson Adebo could sign the biggest contract among cornerbacks in years and value this offseason. He is coming off a season in which he allowed just a 71.9 passer rating against and had three interceptions. The year before, he allowed a 62.7 passer rating and intercepted four passes on 100 targets.

However, he played just seven games in 2024 before breaking his femur and requiring surgery. That caps his upside a little and may make teams hesitant to sign him to a big deal. Additionally, Adebo had nine flags thrown against him in those seven games, with six of them being for defensive pass interference and the other three for defensive holding.

The numbers are certainly tantalizing in terms of Adebo’s upside, but there are also enough factors to create hesitation this offseason. We could see Adebo sign a short-term deal this offseason before hitting the open market again in a year or two when he will hopefully be fully healthy.”

Additionally, Adebo ranked out as the fourth-best cornerback in their rankings, behind Byron Murphy, D.J. Reed, and Carlton Davis. He will be one of the intriguing dominos to watch fall this offseason, as whether he returns to the Saints or not, he will be a quality piece on whatever team he signs with.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

What does Chargers RB J.K. Dobbins’ projected free agent contract look like?

J.K. Dobbins returned to form this season, proving that he should be re-signed by the Chargers.

With Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins set to become a free agent this offseason, what could his next contract be?

Pro Football Focus recently made a projection for Dobbins and the other top 100 free agents this offseason.

According to PFF, they are projecting that Dobbins will land a two-year deal with $7 million. This includes $4 million guaranteed.

Signed last offseason, Dobbins’ play exceeded his $1.6 million prove-it deal. He set a career-high in rushing yards (905) and tied his personal best in rushing touchdowns (9).

After spending most of his time with the Ravens on the sidelines due to multiple lower-body injuries, Dobbins managed to stay healthy for most of the season, appearing in 13 games in 2024.

As a result of his bounce-back campaign, Dobbins is a finalist for the Associated Press’ Comeback Player of the Year Award.

It’s clear that Dobbins boosts the running game when he is on the field. However, the consistency of his health remains a question mark.

Nonetheless, the Chargers would be wise to bring him back, especially considering how cheap he should be.

What does Chargers CB Asante Samuel Jr.’s projected free agent contract look like?

Asante Samuel Jr. will be one of the top cornerbacks on the free agency market this offseason.

With Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. set to become a free agent this offseason, what could his next contract be?

Pro Football Focus recently made a projection for Samuel and the other top 100 free agents this offseason.

According to PFF, they are projecting that Samuel will land a three-year deal with $43.5 million. This includes $26.5 million guaranteed.

Samuel is coming off a contract year where he missed all but four games due to a shoulder injury. He had 13 tackles and two passes defended in 2024.

Selected in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft out of Florida State, Samuel made a significant impact from the start of his professional career.

From his rookie campaign to 2023, Samuel shined in coverage, amassing over 10 breakups and two interceptions in each of those seasons.

While his ball skills have been a strength of his game, Samuel has struggled as an open-field tackler.

The case could be made for the Chargers to re-sign Samuel, as he’s an asset in coverage and is only 25 years old.

On the flip side, defensive coordinator Jesse Minter requires good tacklers on the backend, and the cornerback room got great production from Cam Hart and Tarheeb Still when they were thrust into starting roles.

Saints free agent preview: S Will Harris, stay or go?

Previewing free agency for the New Orleans Saints: Should they retain safety Will Harris, or let him walk in the 2025 offseason?

The New Orleans Saints and the NFL are growing ever closer to the offseason, with the playoffs only having a few weeks remaining before the Super Bowl. With that, the Saints have certainly started looking ahead at their own free agents and who to retain, so we shall as well.

One of the interesting free agents to discuss this offseason for New Orleans is safety Will Harris, who was a relatively strong contributor for the team in his age 29 season. After a midseason stint on injured reserve due to a hamstring injury, he was able to come back and wrap up the season on a relatively high note and honestly was valuable for the Saints defense.

So with that in mind, let’s take a look at his career so far:

Career Stats

Over the course of his career, Will Harris has been somewhat up and down in his play. In 2023 with the Detroit Lions he only got a little bit of playing time, accruing 18 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 pass deflections and a fumble recovery.

His most productive season however was likely in 2021 where he had a relatively strong performance overall with good statistical value. He had 93 tackles, 4 pass deflections, a forced fumble and a half of a sack, however, his coverage statistics were not as good, with a 73.4% completion rate allowed on 79 targets, giving up 732 yards and 5 touchdowns. Statistically he is very split between coverage and tackling, his coverage has never been spectacular but his tackling has been strong.

Snap Counts

Here are Harris’ defensive snap counts for the games he played in over the course of his career:

  • 2019 – 58% (667)
  • 2020 – 28% (312)
  • 2021 – 89% (1012)
  • 2022 – 66% (660)
  • 2023 – 18% (192)
  • 2024 – 94% (861)

2024 season review

2024 was actually one of the better years in coverage for Harris, only giving up a 65.9% completion rate (the best of his career since 2020) on 29 receptions, with 336 yards and no touchdowns allowed. This is primarily because he was playing lower in coverage, typically near the box, with an average depth of target of only 6.9 yards (lowest of his career).

He produced well, and while he was by no means perfect, he was a quality safety in 2024 for the Saints.

Stay or go?

When it comes to Harris, he should likely not be your undisputed safety next to Tyrann Mathieu heading into 2025, however if he was kept as a depth option or as competition for a rookie, that would not be all that bad of an idea.

He worked well in the system the Saints had built, both pre and post Dennis Allen, so having him around to coach up a rookie or young signing would by no means be a bad choice. I say the Saints should bring him back on another one year deal if possible for similar value, and let him be another cog in the secondary.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Key free-agent-to-be wants to remain with Chargers

The Chargers should prioritize bringing back this key offensive player from this past season.

The Chargers have a big decision to make regarding running back J.K. Dobbins, who will be a free agent this offseason.

It remains to be seen whether they will bring him back, but it’s clear that Dobbins would like to stay in Los Angeles.

“Hopefully, maybe, I can be a Charger for the rest of the time playing … we’ll see here pretty soon,” Dobbins said on an episode of Up & Adams.

Dobbins was signed by the Bolts last offseason after spending four seasons with the Ravens, where he flashed his talent but was also derailed by injuries that kept him sidelined for most of his time in Baltimore.

Silencing the doubters who believed he couldn’t stay healthy, Dobbins set career highs in rushing yards (905) and tied his personal best with nine rushing touchdowns.

“It definitely feels good. And I love the Chargers fans,” Dobbins said. “It was a great year. It was a special year. [The fans] believed in me. When they really saw that I was healthy, they embraced me.”

As a result of his bounce-back campaign, Dobbins is a finalist for the Associated Press’ Comeback Player of the Year Award.

“Yes, I do. I love the Chargers. Hopefully, everything will work out,” Dobbins added, confirming that he wants to remain in the powder blue and gold.