USA Today gives Chiefs middling score in free agency grades

The Kansas City Chiefs didn’t do much in free agency, but they did enough to earn a middle of the pack grade from USA Today.

This free agency period has been a wild ride for NFL teams.

The COVID-19 pandemic has team facilities on lockdown, so players are unable to visit their new teams for physicals, contract signing, media sessions and the whole nine yards. It has presented some challenges, but for the most part, things have been as active as ever.

USA Today’s Nate Davis recently graded all 32 NFL teams based on their activity during the 2020 free agency period. Kansas City received a B- along with two other teams. There were 16 teams that received better grades including two teams in the AFC West, the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos.

Here’s a look at what Davis had to say about the Chiefs:

“Not much to see here. DT Chris Jones was given the franchise tag, allowing the champs to keep their most important free agent. DB Kendall Fuller went back to Washington while several bottom-of-the-roster players were re-signed. But with virtually no cap room, K.C. will be challenged to lock Patrick Mahomes into an extension – one that will doubtless reset the quarterback market – any time soon.”

Frankly, the Chiefs still have a fifth-year option and two franchise tags to utilize before signing him if they so choose to go that route. It’s clear from the comments of Brett Veach and Clark Hunt that the team isn’t in a hurry to sign Mahomes. That’s not to say it won’t get a long-term deal in Kansas City, that’ll happen as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow. The team is simply looking to maximize their window before backing up the brinks truck.

If we’re basing this grade purely on the teams’ inability to sign Mahomes this offseason, we’re doing a bad job of reading the tea leaves. What we should be looking about are the moves the Chiefs have made with a minute amount of cap space. They managed to upgrade a gunner on special teams and add a four-position offensive lineman. They kept a plethora of key contributors including Chris Jones, Mike Pennel, Damien Wilson and Damien Williams. I think they deserve some more effusive praise than, “Not much to see here.”

USA TODAY grades Seahawks’ free agency ‘incomplete’

Nate Davis of USA TODAY Sports has given the Seattle Seahawks a free-agency grade of “incomplete” as no deal is done with Jadeveon Clowney.

The first couple of weeks of free agency are in the books despite the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the nation. Teams around the league still found ways to sign players to contract extensions and court new members to the roster.

After the first wave of free agency, Nate Davis of USA TODAY Sports has issued his grades for all 32 clubs from A+ to F. The Seahawks, however, received a grade all their own . . . “I” for incomplete.

.@ByNateDavis hands out his NFL offseason grades, and, well, bad news for the Patriots. pic.twitter.com/CTLyRJNh6A

— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) March 27, 2020

“Until the Clowney situation resolves – he’s expressed a desire to remain in the Pacific Northwest – too hard to pin down this grade.” Davis writes. “The trade for Dunbar, additions of TE Greg Olsen and WR Phillip Dorsett, re-signing of DT Jarran Reed and return of LB Bruce Irvin feel ‘B’-worthy in a vacuum. But the Clowney verdict could range this anywhere from A- to C-.”

While the rumors circulate, it’s difficult to come by any real reports of where the two sides stand as far as negotiations are concerned and whether or not there is a true offer on the table.

For now, the incomplete grade is more than fair.

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Broncos 2019 positional grades: Specialists

Here’s a look at how the Denver Broncos’ kicking game fared in 2019.

Specialists are up now in the 2019 positional review series and that means the guys that kick the ball for a living.

The Broncos have a kicker with one of the strongest legs in the league in Brandon McManus and a punter that is well known for being a pizza delivery driver before coming to the Broncos in Colby Wadman.

There’s not much more to talk about with these two guys so let’s jump into a review of their 2019 seasons. No, Casey Kreiter, the team’s long snapper, will not be a part of this report card.

Brandon McManus

Stats

Field goals: 29-of-34

Extra points: 25-of-26

Points: 112

McManus just completed his sixth season with the Broncos and for those interested, he is also the team’s player rep and will represent the team’s votes on the collective bargaining agreement set to be voted on this coming week.

McManus only missed five field goals on the season but three of those came from 50 yards or more, where he was just 4-of-7 kicking from that range. McManus is known for his strong leg and missing those leads to great field position for the opposition.

He only missed one extra point, which by today’s standards, is pretty good because there are kickers that seem to miss one almost every game.

Perhaps the most memorable moment from 2019 involving McManus was the game in which he clearly lost his cool when Vic Fangio decided to pull him off the field after initially sending him out for what would have been a 65-yard field goal just before halftime.

McManus never got to attempt what would have been a new NFL record.

Overall, it wasn’t a bad season for McManus, but it wasn’t the best by his standards and the misses from long range bring his grade down a bit.

Grade: B-

Colby Wadman

Stats

Punts: 78

Average: 44.4

Inside 20-yard line: 29

Touchbacks: 4

Net average: 39.4

Perhaps Wadman shouldn’t have to go back to delivering pizzas, but punting the ball in the NFL might not be his thing either.

Despite kicking the ball in the thin air of Denver, Wadman seems to have a pretty average leg as his average of 44.4 yards per kick is pretty weak.

But the most important number for a punter is their net average. That is the overall yardage that the team gains on a punt in terms of giving the other team the ball back. It’s how teams win the battle of field position.

Wadman’s net average of 39.4 yards per punt was poor. Out of 36 punters that qualified for that stat last season, Wadman ranked 30th. That doesn’t work.

The Broncos should seriously consider replacing Wadman in 2020 or at the very least bringing someone in to push him in camp and force him to be better. In all likelihood though, the Broncos can find a better punter just about anywhere.

Grade: D

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Broncos 2019 positional grades: Safety

The Denver Broncos enjoyed some great play from the safety position in 2019 and that could be something to build on going forward.

One of the better position groups on the entire Denver Broncos’ team is at the safety spot. That’s nothing new for the Broncos, who have benefitted from some great safety play over the years from the likes of Dennis Smith, Steve Atwater, John Lynch, Brian Dawkins and T.J. Ward.

But that group will be threatened in 2020 as two of the team’s safeties will hit the free agent market unless re-signed by the team before then. Whether or not the Broncos are able to keep the entire group together remains to be seen.

Before any more talk of that, let’s look back at how these players fared in 2019.

Justin Simmons

Stats

Tackles: 93

Interceptions: 4

Pass deflections: 15

Quickly emerging as one of the best safeties in all of the NFL, Simmons is a player the Broncos simply must find a way to keep in Denver.

Simmons broke through in 2019 and played as well as any safety in the league. He was tied for second on the team in tackles and led the Broncos with four interceptions, one of which was an incredible snag against Patrick Mahomes.

Simmons will be a free agent this offseason and could be a candidate to receive the franchise tag.

Simmons is well on his way to being the team’s next great safety, much like the guys mentioned above.

Grade: A

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Broncos 2019 positional grades: Cornerback

The days of the ‘No Fly Zone’ are long gone and this year’s cornerbacks grade for the Denver Broncos reflects it.

The cornerback position is one of the most interesting areas on the entire roster of the Denver Broncos.

Once a major strength of the team back in the ‘No Fly Zone’ days, the Broncos have been searching for the right combination of players at the cornerback position for the last several seasons.

The team tried many players at cornerback last year, including some guys the team never planned on having to use. This was largely due to the fact that the team’s big free agent signing, Bryce Callahan, ended up missing the entire season.

The Broncos also signed Coty Sensabaugh and he suited up for four games but played sparingly before being released before the season ended. He will not be graded here.

The team has players it will try to integrate into the defense next season along with Callahan, such as Cyrus Jones and Alijah Holder. But none of those players earned grades for the 2019 season, so let’s look back at the year for those that did.

Chris Harris

Stats

Tackles: 56

Tackles for loss: 1

Interceptions: 1

Pass deflections: 6

Forced fumbles: 1

Harris didn’t have terrible numbers last season, though he did only reel in one interception.

He has been a key component for the team’s defense for years and is one of the best cornerbacks in Broncos history. But last season, he didn’t seem to be the top-notch cover guy that we have all come to know.

Was that because of deteriorating skills or a lack of interest in playing for the Broncos any further? Those questions could be answered this offseason as Harris will be an unrestricted free agent and the growing belief among fans seems to be that he won’t be back.

Grade: B-

Isaac Yiadom

Stats

Tackles: 43

Tackles for loss: 1

Pass deflections: 4

Yiadom isn’t quite the third-round bust that former cornerback Brendan Langley turned out to be, but he certainly leaves much to be desired.

Yiadom may be able to develop into a guy the team can count on in sub-packages and to fill in at times in the future, but the team can certainly do better for a starting corner.

Grade: C-

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Broncos 2019 positional grades: Linebacker

Despite losing Bradley Chubb early in 2019, the Denver Broncos’ linebacker corps had a respectable 2019 season.

Denver Broncos fans saw the linebacker position as a highly intriguing part of the roster entering the 2019 NFL season for a couple of reasons. For one, it is an area the team has lacked in for several years and with Vic Fangio coming aboard as the team’s head coach, the hope was that would change.

Before becoming one of the league’s best defensive coordinators, Fangio made his name as the long time linebackers coach of the New Orleans Saints, where he helped create the “Dome Patrol.”

Let’s see how the Broncos’ linebackers each graded out in 2019.

Von Miller

Stats

Tackles: 46

Sacks: 8

Tackles for loss: 11

Miller played well in 2019, but we have come to expect big things out of the former Super Bowl MVP and we just didn’t get big things this past season.

He still led the team with eight sacks, but that was the lowest amount of sacks he put up in a season since he had just five in 2013, the year he tore his ACL.

Miller was adjusting to a new defensive scheme and depending on what side of the fence you’re on, you either believe that Miller isn’t a great fit for this defense or the coaching staff didn’t know how to use him.

While we can’t give him a bad grade for leading the team in sacks, he needs to be a much more disruptive force in 2020.

Grade: B-

Todd Davis

Stats

Tackles: 134

Tackles for loss: 6

Not only did Davis lead the Broncos in total tackles, but he was also tied for eighth in the entire league in that category.

Davis was strong in run support for the team and had what was statistically the best season of his career, despite playing in just 14 games.

Grade: B

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Broncos 2019 positional grades: Defensive line

The Broncos ranked 16th in the league against the run and received 20.5 sacks from the defensive line in 2019. How do their d-linemen grade?

The defensive line for the Denver Broncos did not stand out in 2019, but the group as a collective unit certainly held its own.

The Broncos ranked 16th in the league against the run. The defensive line also accounted for 20.5 sacks for the Broncos, a group that could be even better in Year 2 under Vic Fangio.

Much of that will depend on how much of the unit the team can keep intact as three of the team’s top players are set to become unrestricted free agents.

That will be a topic in the weeks ahead but right now, let’s look back at the performance of these players this past season.

Note: Deyon Sizer, Jonathan Harris and Kyle Peko were not included due to minimal stats and games played.

Derek Wolfe

(Mark Reis/Colorado Springs Gazette/TNS)

Stats

Tackles: 34

Sacks: 7

Tackles for loss: 8

Forced fumbles: 1

Wolfe played quite well and posted nice numbers in 2019, including a career-high seven sacks. Those numbers might have been even better if he was able to finish out the season.

A dislocated elbow in Week 13 shut Wolfe down for the year and potentially, for his Broncos career, as he is set to become an unrestricted free agent.

In eight years with the team, Wolfe has played a full 16-game season just three times. Still, most fans would likely prefer he returns.

Wolfe’s big sack numbers help his grade out, despite only playing in 12 games.

Grade: B

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Broncos 2019 positional grades: Tight end

The Broncos had 69 receptions from tight ends in 2019 and 40 of them came from rookie Noah Fant. Denver needs another TE to step up.

Getting back to our positional grades series, it’s now time to look back at the tight ends for the Denver Broncos for 2019.

Tight end, at least in terms of having one that can stretch the field and be an offensive threat, is something the Broncos had lacked for quite some time. That is largely why the team used its first-round pick on a tight end in 2019.

Let’s take a look at how each of the team’s tight ends graded out this past season.

Noah Fant

Stats

Receptions: 40

Receiving yards: 562

Touchdowns: 3

Fant got off to a slow start for the team and there were some fans already frustrated over the fact that the team traded out of the No. 10 spot where it could have drafted Devin Bush and into the No. 20 slot where Fant was selected.

Perhaps some still are.

But Fant turned it on toward the end of the season and ended up being second on the team in receptions and receiving yards. With the ball in his hands, he becomes a serious threat, quick and agile for a tight end. That is what the Broncos drafted him for.

Fant played in all 16 games and earned some great experience. The ceiling is high for him and he should be expected to be one of the team’s best offensive weapons for many years to come.

Grade: B-

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Grading Broncos rookies from the 2019 season

The Denver Broncos drafted a solid rookie class in 2019. How did each player grade out across the season?

After each school year, students are given letter grades to assess their accomplishments during the previous year. During every NFL offseason, grades are also commonplace.

Looking back at the Denver Broncos’ 2019 draft class, there is plenty of good that stands out, which means there is plenty to build on heading into the future.

Some of these players will be part of the foundation with which the Broncos look to rebuild on, looking to end a postseason drought that dates back to Super Bowl 50.

Here, we will review the 2019 season of each member of the team’s rookie class. This review will include statistics and the impact they made on the team. In addition to the team’s draft choices, Malik Reed, an undrafted rookie who made the 53-man roster, will also be graded.

There were other players that made the practice squad and then were called up to the active roster for various reasons, such as Josh Watson and Alijah Holder. Because their sample size is so small, they will not receive a grade for the season.

With all of that in mind, here we go.

1. Noah Fant, tight end

2019 stats

Receptions: 40

Receiving yards: 562

Touchdowns: 3

The Broncos originally held the No. 10 overall pick in the first round and many fans and analysts alike expected them to use the pick on Michigan linebacker Devin Bush. Instead, the team traded back to the No. 20 slot and chose Fant.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, who made the trade with Denver to come up to No. 10, did select Bush. Bush would have looked great in Denver and arguably better than Fant ever will, but Fant showed signs of being a future star.

His season got off to a slow start and concerns arose even in preseason among fans that the Broncos may have drafted a dud. He turned it on later in the season and finished second on the team in receptions and receiving yards, behind only Courtland Sutton.

In all, he did what was asked of him as a rookie and big things should be expected next season.

Grade: B-

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Bounce-back third year earns Marcus Williams a spot among top 40 NFL players

New Orleans Saints safety Marcus Williams has a bad rap among some vocal fans, but the experts at Pro Football Focus know he’s elite.

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New Orleans Saints free safety Marcus Williams has a bad rap among some fans. It’s because there’s this perception that he plays small in big moments — like his whiffed tackles on deep passes in last season’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers. There have been a handful of mistakes in critical moments from the 23-year-old starter, and a vocal contingent in Saints social media circles and fan forums are determined to zero in on those few bad plays against the 2,800-plus other snaps Williams has seen since the Saints drafted him.

To hear them tell it, Williams is an unreliable player who should be traded at the first opportunity. However, the analysts at Pro Football Focus are here to sweep that misconception away. Their snap-by-snap grading proved Williams isn’t just a good player; he’s one of the NFL’s best, ranking at No. 38 on their list of the top 101 players of 2019:

This season saw Marcus Williams return to the level of play that we saw from him as a rookie, and he ended the season with an overall PFF grade of 88.9. Williams was once again excellent in coverage and against the run, notching four interceptions and six pass breakups over the year. He also recorded 12 defensive stops, which is more than his previous two seasons in the league combined. He makes the PFF Top 101 for the first time in his career this season.

How’s that for busting a narrative? As the writeup suggests, Williams is a top-notch coverage safety around the league and has made improvements in run defense. It’s something that should have been expected, given the rare range Williams is gifted with as someone who can run from one sideline to the other with ease. What’s important is that Williams has successfully bounced back from a bad play that could have defined him: the Minneapolis Miracle, when he missed a last-second tackle to allow the game-winning score.

That’s how Williams’ 2017 rookie year ended. 2018 was supposed to have been the revenge tour, when he would develop into a game-changing weapon in the secondary. That didn’t happen, with the young safety visibly hesitating to bite on passes that he could have intercepted. It took a full season for Williams to put those bad vibes behind him, but now we can say with confidence that he’s arrived.

What happens next is unclear. Williams is headed for a contract year, and is one of the best and youngest players at his position. He’s tied Chicago Bears starter Eddie Jackson in interceptions (10) since 2017, and Jackson just set the market for safety contracts on a four-year, $58 million deal. Williams has rarely left the field for the Saints and has too often been the only defensive back making plays (his 10 career interceptions lead all Saints players from 2010 to 2019, by the way, and he’s only been in the league for three years).

He might be someone the Saints need to look at re-signing before his asking price rises even higher. Sure, he has some warts to his game — he must become a more consistent tackler, even if his missed tackle rate last year (14.5%) was near-average for his position. But the key takeaway here is that Williams is an ascendant talent, and his good plays outweigh his bad moments by a very, very wide margin. His game tape makes that obvious. Anyone telling you differently hasn’t put in the work to know.

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