2021 NFL Free Agency grades for every team: Browns, Jets ace offseason

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Andy Dalton, 2021 NFL free agency. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

NFL Free Agency Grades: NFC North

Chicago Bears | Grade: F

Whenever you can cut a Pro-Bowl cornerback like Kyle Fuller in hopes of trading for Russell Wilson only to miss out and then sign veteran quarterback Andy Dalton, a player who was bad with the Cowboys last season, you have to do it. At least that’s the logic Ryan Pace applied to free agency and this offseason. The Bears are on the verge of an outright disaster under the current regime and what they did to start 2021 might be the breaking point.

Detroit Lions | Grade: C

How do you grade a team after they traded away their long-time franchise quarterback for Jared Goff and picks? It’s clear the Lions don’t have many intentions of winning in the 2021 season but the signings they made were smart and respectable to develop the players that are in place. Michael Brockers can help the defense in a real way while veterans Tyrell Williams, Jamaal Williams and Breshad Perriman replenish the offensive arsenal, albeit unspectacularly.

Green Bay Packers | Grade: C+

While Aaron Jones was a key piece of the offense, Green Bay paid way too much to keep him around after having taken AJ Dillon in the second round of last year’s draft. Doing so while letting star center Corey Linsley walk is a mismanagement of resources by my estimation. Still, keeping Jones and Robert Tonyan in the building should help one of the league’s best offenses stay at that level. Beyond that, though, the Packers haven’t had much room to do anything else.

Minnesota Vikings | Grade: C-

Who told the Vikings that letting Anthony Harris, a stud young safety, walk so they could ink Patrick Peterson, a veteran cornerback on the downside of his career, to a $10 million contract was a good ideal? Beyond that, Minnesota unnecessarily spent big on Dalvin Tomlinson at an area that wasn’t a dire need while seeing Riley Reiff and Kyle Rudolph depart. It’s hard to believe anything the Vikings have done make them better, even if I don’t hate the players they brought in.

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