Grading NFL's Biggest Moves as of Late

 The off-season has finally really hit us! With free agency officially opening next week, a flurry of moves have already taken place as teams are jockeying for better positions (cap space wise) to sign top tier free agents when enabled to next week. We've graded the biggest moves from the past few days and have compiled them into one article at JKFOOTBALL. 

Dak Prescott agrees to a 4yr/$160 million dollar extension with the Dallas Cowboys. Prescott's Grade: A+, Dallas' Grade: B // You have to look at every deal from two prospectives, the team and the player himself. For this article, we are sort of combining both of those grades into one. For Prescott, this deal is an A+. You instantly shoot up to the second highest paid player in NFL history along with a crazy signing bonus and first year money and the deal isn't 10 years like Mahomes, but only 4 so he will be able to hit free agency again before the age of 33 and cash in AGAIN. For the Cowboys, this is like a B. It was a desperate attempt to not have to franchise tag him again and risk things souring between them and Prescott. They are really in salary cap hell now after this move and they can't afford much margin for error anymore. On the bright side they did lock up their star young QB entering his prime, but they overpaid and gave Dak too much in my opinion. Is he a top 10 QB, yes. Is he top 5, probably not. He is paid like he's top 2...

Miami trades their 7th round pick to Tennessee for it's 7th rounder + 2020 first round tackle Isaiah Wilson. Tennessee's Grade: F, Miami's Grade: A+ // A deal that went down under the radar today with all the other news was Miami trading for Titans disgruntled young lineman Isaiah Wilson. A top tier tackle in last years draft, Wilson was a late first round pick for the Titans. He was supposed to be good and a cornerstone on the Titans o-line for years to come. But tensions rose with Wilson and Tennessee's front office and it led to him playing 2 snaps all season and then Wilson saying he would never play for them again. Now he's been traded to Miami for a fresh start. For the Fins, A+ A+ A+ ! What a great move. Swapping 7th round picks that won't matter to also add Wilson is an amazing move. No risk but potential amazing reward. Wilson could be a young stud at one of the league's most coveted positions if he can stay on the field in Miami. What a great get by Brian Flores' crew. For the Titans, easy F. Everything about this is an F. Not handling it with Wilson last year and causing him to really never play for you. They basically traded a first round pick for a seventh. Just a terrible job for so many reasons for them.

Seahawks cut edge rusher Carlos Dunlap. Grade: C+ // Seattle pulled off a somewhat weird move by letting go of star pass rusher Carlos Dunlap. Acquired mid-season from the Bengals for next to nothing, Dunlap flourished with his fresh start in Seattle. He not only had 4 sacks and a handful of other impact plays in just a few games in Seattle, but his presence seemed to have a domino affect on the entire D which started playing elite football. However at age 33 and costing $14 mil next season, the cap strapped Seahawks didn't really have a choice but to cut or extend him to save money. They chose to cut him and it sounds like they will still try and re-sign him at a lower number. If they do that, this move becomes an A+, but if they lose him, it's an F. Dunlap is a huge piece of the Seahawks D and its success and if they lose him, it will be devastating. They hope he will test the open market and not get the interest he might expect and come back to them. A very very risky move, time will tell if it pays off.

Jets franchise tag safety Marcus Maye. Grade: A // I like this move for both sides. The Jets secure one of their few homegrown stars for a 1 yr deal worth around $10 million dollars. Maye gets a big payday, for at least one year. The Jets have tons and tons of cap space and so this is really a move worth making for them. Maye has shown signs he is a young star at the position and will have another year to prove it in the Big Apple. If he keeps playing well, he is in line for a long term extension. If not, the Jets use a little money on him in a year where they can easily afford to do so. Maye is a stud and I really like the move for both sides. Robert Saleh will bring out the best in him.

Washington Football Team franchise tags offensive guard Brandon Scherff. WFT's Grade: B+ , Scherff's Grade: C // This is a good move for the team but not the player. The football team locks down at least one more year of elite play from Scherff. Scherff however, probably isn't so happy. He probably thought he would have the chance to test the open market and secure a nice payday from another team. He will have to wait at least another year. Sadly for Scherff, it isn't his choice if he gets tagged or not. 

The Eagles commit to Jalen Hurts as their starter. Eagles Grade: A // This isn't really a move, but it is something big nonetheless. Rumors have been swirling ever since Carson Wentz was traded to Indy whether the Eagles would really give Jalen Hurts a year to prove he could be their franchise QB. We now know they will. Howie Roseman the Eagles GM said they would be going all in on getting Hurts help instead of bringing in competition for the young QB to fend off. This is great news for the team as I think Hurts has a ton of potential and needs a full off-season and some better weapons around him to see if he can be the team's franchise QB. He will get that chance and the Eagles hold the 6th overall pick in the draft where they are likely to be able to add a stud pass catcher or O-lineman for Hurts.

Photo credit: https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/2021/3/8/22318585/report-dallas-cowboys-agree-to-terms-on-new-contract-with-quarterback-dak-prescott