grandy
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http://walterfootball.com/freeagentsigninggrades.php
Lions sign DE Trey Flowers (5 years, approx $82.5 million): B+ Grade
The total number on this deal is an approximation, as it's been reported that Trey Flowers is set to earn between $16 and $17 million per season on his 5-year deal. If the real contract ends up being drastically different than this estimation, I'll re-visit this grade.
Assuming Flowers will earn about $82.5 million over five seasons, the Lions did well to acquire him. Flowers is not a sexy name by any means, but he's a very talented edge rusher who happens to be just 25 years old. Flowers is already a dynamic player, yet he could keep improving, given his age. The sky is the limit for him, and he should be a great replacement for Ezekiel Ansah, who is expected to depart via free agency. Flowers also figures to be more reliable than the frequently injured Ansah; he's missed just three games in the past three seasons.
Even better, Flowers will transition easily into Detroit's defense because like Justin Coleman - Detroit's other big signing on Monday - Flowers played for Matt Patricia when the two were in New England together.
Lions sign CB Justin Coleman (4 years, $36 million): B Grade
Justin Coleman has become the highest-paid slot cornerback in the NFL in the wake of this contract. That fact alone should make this signing seem dubious, but I don't think it's as bad as some may think it is.
First of all, Coleman is a solid player, and he's only 26. He misses too many tackles for my liking, but he covers well and could improve, given his age. Second, he fills a huge need for the Lions, who have had an atrocious secondary for quite some time. And third, Coleman should fit right into the Lions' defense, given that he played well for Matt Patricia for a couple of years when the two were together in New England.
That last point is very important, and it upgrades a signing that would normally be in the "C" range to a solid "B" grade.
Lions sign WR Danny Amendola (1 year, $4.5 million): C+ Grade
It was rumored that Danny Amendola would re-join the Patriots, but he instead signed with an organization attempting to emulate what New England has done over the years.
Amendola makes sense for the Lions, who really missed Golden Tate's production out of the slot following the trade with the Eagles last offseason. Amendola will be a somewhat decent short-term solution in the slot until Detroit finds someone to take the job over the long haul.
That said, Amendola turns 34 in November, so he's a declining player who won't be the same sort of receiver who helped the Patriots during some of their Super Bowl runs earlier in this decade. Amendola caught just 59 passes last year despite playing in a miserable receiving corps, and it could be possible that he continues to regress in 2019. With that in mind, it seems as though paying him $4.5 million for this upcoming season is a bit too much, but it's obviously not going to break the bank or anything, so this signing should be graded in the B-/C+ range.
Lions sign DE Trey Flowers (5 years, approx $82.5 million): B+ Grade
The total number on this deal is an approximation, as it's been reported that Trey Flowers is set to earn between $16 and $17 million per season on his 5-year deal. If the real contract ends up being drastically different than this estimation, I'll re-visit this grade.
Assuming Flowers will earn about $82.5 million over five seasons, the Lions did well to acquire him. Flowers is not a sexy name by any means, but he's a very talented edge rusher who happens to be just 25 years old. Flowers is already a dynamic player, yet he could keep improving, given his age. The sky is the limit for him, and he should be a great replacement for Ezekiel Ansah, who is expected to depart via free agency. Flowers also figures to be more reliable than the frequently injured Ansah; he's missed just three games in the past three seasons.
Even better, Flowers will transition easily into Detroit's defense because like Justin Coleman - Detroit's other big signing on Monday - Flowers played for Matt Patricia when the two were in New England together.
Lions sign CB Justin Coleman (4 years, $36 million): B Grade
Justin Coleman has become the highest-paid slot cornerback in the NFL in the wake of this contract. That fact alone should make this signing seem dubious, but I don't think it's as bad as some may think it is.
First of all, Coleman is a solid player, and he's only 26. He misses too many tackles for my liking, but he covers well and could improve, given his age. Second, he fills a huge need for the Lions, who have had an atrocious secondary for quite some time. And third, Coleman should fit right into the Lions' defense, given that he played well for Matt Patricia for a couple of years when the two were together in New England.
That last point is very important, and it upgrades a signing that would normally be in the "C" range to a solid "B" grade.
Lions sign WR Danny Amendola (1 year, $4.5 million): C+ Grade
It was rumored that Danny Amendola would re-join the Patriots, but he instead signed with an organization attempting to emulate what New England has done over the years.
Amendola makes sense for the Lions, who really missed Golden Tate's production out of the slot following the trade with the Eagles last offseason. Amendola will be a somewhat decent short-term solution in the slot until Detroit finds someone to take the job over the long haul.
That said, Amendola turns 34 in November, so he's a declining player who won't be the same sort of receiver who helped the Patriots during some of their Super Bowl runs earlier in this decade. Amendola caught just 59 passes last year despite playing in a miserable receiving corps, and it could be possible that he continues to regress in 2019. With that in mind, it seems as though paying him $4.5 million for this upcoming season is a bit too much, but it's obviously not going to break the bank or anything, so this signing should be graded in the B-/C+ range.
