Tag: Free Agents 2021

Grading CB Mike Hilton’s deal with the Bengals: A-

The addition of Mike Hilton to Cincinnati’s secondary is a great value-add, though it doesn’t solve all of the Bengals’ coverage issues.

The Bengals already agreed to terms on Tuesday with former Cowboys cornerback Chidobe Awuzie to a three-year, $21,750 million deal with $7.5 million guaranteed, and they’ve now added ex-Steelers cornerback Mike Hilton to their secondary. Hilton gets $24 million over four years, and while these moves won’t ease the pain if the Bengals aren’t able to retain free-agent cornerback William Jackson III, Hilton comes in as a more than credible slot defender. In 2020, he allowed 23 catches from the slot on 35 targets for 246 yards, 167 yards after the catch, one touchdown, three interceptions, and an opponent passer rating of 59.9.

Without a lot of fanfare, Hilton has become a very solid overall defender  — especially in zone coverage, where he allowed just seven receptions on 11 targets for 81 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. Just as crucially, all three of Hilton’s interceptions last season were on deep passes, and this pick of Deshaun Watson in Week shows Hilton’s acumen to stay with Watson through the scramble drill and break to the ball when it’s coming. Hilton (No. 28) has developed a preternatural sense of what quarterbacks are doing, and he’ll occasionally run a route better than the receiver he’s covering.

Last June, I ranked Hilton as the 11th-best slot defender in the NFL, noting that he was “aggressive to a fault at times, [and] can get gobbled up by smarter receivers running exact routes. But he also has the recovery speed to swoop in even after he’s beaten to deflect a pass and benefit his defense.” I’d say he’s cleaned up a lot of that, and I’d put him in the top five among slot defenders at this point.

An excellent blitzer with three sacks and nine total pressures in 2020, Hilton is an ideal addition for any defense playing primary sub-package schemes out of zone, especially against speed slot receivers who can be very tough to match across the field. The Bengals do fit those particular categories when they’re not experiencing scheme-related coverage busts.

5 ‘go for broke’ free agent signings the Chargers could pursue in offseason

Chargers general manager Tom Telesco might elect to sign some of the top free agents this offseason.

The Los Angeles Chargers enter this offseason with a healthy amount of salary cap space.

Even though L.A. has to use a good chunk of that money to re-sign a few of their own players, they should look to bring in some external free agents to ensure they’re in the most optimal position to get back on track in 2021 – even if that means breaking the bank.

General manager Tom Telesco likely has one last shot to prove himself, which means he could go on a free agency frenzy. Should Telesco and company look to bring in some big-time free agents that might require a hefty paycheck, then these are five additions that I’d advocate for.

OL Joe Thuney

Solidifying the offensive line will be one of the Chargers’ priorities this offseason. Adding another veteran on Los Angeles’ offensive line is critical for keeping quarterback Justin Herbert upright. Thuney played every snap for the Patriots in all but two games this season. Thuney has allowed just three sacks in the past three years. He has posted pass-blocking grades of at least 85.0 in two of those three seasons. He is also a great run blocker. He has great character, is rarely penalized and is still in the prime of his career. Thuney would take over the left guard spot that was played by Forrest Lamp this past season, but he can play tackle or center.

OL Brandon Scherff

Scherff, the four-time Pro Bowler, allowed only one sack and was flagged for just one penalty in 13 games this past season. A wall in pass protection, Scherff graded as the seventh-best guard in the league this year, per Pro Football Focus. The 29-year old was voted All-Pro in 2020, marking the first of his career. The former Iowa product has battled through some injuries, but he has overcame them and has managed to continue to still play at a high level. Like Thuney, Scherff would be an immediate plug-and-play guard on the left side.

OT Trent Williams

While Sam Tevi had a decent 2020 season, he will be a free agent this offseason. Williams was one the best offensive players for the 49ers in a injury-ravaged season. The 32-year old, who sat our all of 2019 due to a dispute with the Washington Football Team, regained his All-Pro form with San Francisco. Williams earned a 91.9-grade this past season, the highest of any tackle in the NFL, per PFF. Even though he’s getting up there in age, he’s still proven to play the position at a high level. I’m a firm believer that L.A. should address the position early on in the draft, but it wouldn’t hurt to add a premiere blindside blocker with Williams.

WR Chris Godwin

If the Chargers hire Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll as their head coach, he could elect to add more skill players for Herbert, considering he runs a lot of four-wide receiver sets. I believe that Los Angeles is better off doing so in the draft, but why not give the former Oregon product one of the better wideouts in the league, especially one who ranks among the best after the catch? In 2019, Godwin was at his best, finishing with 1,333 yards, nine touchdowns and an average 95.2 yards per game through the air. Even after QB Tom Brady spread the wealth this past season, he still finished with 840 yards and seven touchdowns over 12 games. A combination of Godwin, Keenan Allen and Mike Williams would be one of the top wide receiver tandems in the league.

CB Xavier Rhodes

Whether it was injury or scheme related, Casey Hayward did not play well this past season. An option is releasing Hayward and saving $9.75 in cap space. If so, the Chargers will be in need of finding an instant starter and they could afford to do so with a veteran. Playing at a Pro Bowl level after experiencing a rough year in 2019, Rhodes allowed just 43 catches on 82 targets, deflected 16 passes, posted two interceptions, 42 tackles and was one of the most impactful pieces in the Colts’ secondary. Rhodes played on a one-year deal, $1.5 million deal but his play from 2020 proved that he’s worth much more.