saintsfan1976

I can't believe I actually pay for this....


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On trading Grubbs:

Kansas City Chiefs: B
In 2014, the Chiefs had one of the worst offensive lines in football. In pass protection, they allowed 167 total pressures. Their pass blocking efficiency as a line was 77.2, which was eighth worst in the league, and their run blocking as a whole was also below average. In 2012 and 2013, Ben Grubbs was one of the top five left guards in the game as a player who didn't specialize in one thing, but was good at everything. However, in 2014 he was merely average at everything. He allowed only one sack all season, but 34 total pressures surrendered was just average for his number of pass blocks. He also had more bad outings in the run game than good ones.

If we're to believe Grubbs, who just celebrated his 31st birthday, has already greatly declined then this is just a decent move for the Chiefs. Even Grubbs playing slightly worse than he did in 2014 is an upgrade for Kansas City's line, that's how poor the Chiefs' guard play was this past season. If 2014 was just an off year and Grubbs can continue to be among the best left guards in the game, then it's a great move for the Chiefs.



New Orleans Saints: C-

The Saints have had the worst salary-cap situation in the league this year, and would continue to struggle with the salary cap in future years if not for deals like this. The deal helps them in future years, but with Drew Brees at his age, the team needs to win now or it might as well trade him, too. It gives them $6 million in dead money and a hole in the offensive line which doesn't help them this year, but it does give them a draft pick and future cap space to build for the future.

On Browner:

New Orleans Saints: D+

Rob Ryan must have thought his defense lacked a physical presence last season, because the Saints get the ultimate physical corner in Browner. At 6-foot-3, 221 pounds, Browner has been an enforcer on the outside that has been able to neutralize bigger receivers like no one else in the league can. Much of that is in the past, though, as Browner spent the majority of last year holding on to wide receivers for dear life.

The 30-year-old corner (who will be 31 by the start of next season) drew 15 penalties last season, and added four more in the playoffs to make 19 across only 12 games. That was the highest total in the NFL and Browner only played about 60 percent of the Patriots' total snaps. There isn't a cornerback currently on an NFL roster that is 31 or older -- and that's not a coincidence. Speed is a necessity for the man coverage the Saints love to play and Browner has lost a step from his prime. He doesn't look likely to get back to being a high-level full-time starter.

Penalties aside, his coverage stats were still middle of the road. His 1.26 yards per coverage snap was 38th best among 73 qualifying corners and he had a passer rating against of 89.7. If the Saints deploy him in a matchup-only role against tight ends and larger receivers, Browner can still have value, but anything more than that is asking too much.


On Graham / Unger


Seattle Seahawks: A-minus
The only thing holding this back from a slam dunk A-plus is the picks and price it took to acquire Graham. The Seahawks get a true offensive difference-maker that they've sorely missed with the recent departures of Percy Harvin, Golden Tate and Sidney Rice. One can't help but imagine Seattle general manager John Schneider sitting in his office before executing the trade and watching the Super Bowl-ending interception on repeat, thinking about how different the result might have been with a true red zone threat like Graham on the field.

Over the past two seasons, no tight end has more receptions (171), touchdowns (26) or yards (2,104) than Graham, and he's finished in the top two in yards per route run three out of the past four years. Graham had the highest receiving grade of any tight end in 2013 (plus-18.2), and he'll fit in nicely with an offense that had just one positively graded receiver last season (Doug Baldwin).

The only on-field reason for tempered enthusiasm is that the Seahawks have a propensity to run the ball, and Graham's strength is not as a blocker. Last season Graham lined up at wide receiver on 63.4 percent of his snaps, while Seattle lined up its tight ends in the slot or outside on just 20.3 percent of the snaps. Graham has struggled in the past as an inline blocker, but the Seahawks will likely be creative with Graham as they have been with their weapons in the past.

All in all, Graham has the chance to be a real difference-maker for the Seahawks -- and he'll have to be in order to justify the cost of a starting offensive lineman and a first-round pick.



New Orleans Saints: C-plus
Unger is one of the league's best centers and ended the season with a PFF grade of plus-12.4, good enough for fourth in the league despite missing 10 games and playing just 385 snaps over the regular season. The Seattle offense looked completely different when he was on the field, and his one poor game of the season came during the Super Bowl, which was a big reason Seattle fell short.

Unger has been in the top four of the PFF center rankings in two of the past three seasons, but the year he wasn't (2013) he was barely average, surrendering three sacks and struggling to hold together an offensive line that was dealing with inferior players at both guard spots. What the Saints do with their guards going forward could have a big impact on Unger's ability to hit his best form, as those were trouble spots for New Orleans this season.

The bottom line here is that the Saints added a very good center who is still just 28 years old, and they got a first-round pick thrown in, as well, which might end up being the best part of this deal for them. However, in doing so, they have sacrificed one of the truly transcendent offensive weapons in the NFL in Graham. If Unger's arrival solves the Saints' issues on the offensive line, it will likely have been worth it; if not, Graham was a very steep price to pay.

arsaint

On ESPN knowing anything about football: C-

On ESPN knowing anything about the Saints: F

NonieT

I don't think Loomis and Payton give a flip what ESPN thinks.

jeanpierre

Has anyone looked at Bill Polian's Free Agency Rankings?!?

The man is a complete idiot...

How he had the success he had is besides me...

saintsfan1976

I saw them. Turrible...

hagan714

started off good but i agree it has been sliding downhill with each passing move. i just have to sit back and watch and pray we plug these holes

nola_swammi

Get rid of Lofton and sign Ingram, I was like ok,,,,,,,get rid of Graham & 4 th rd pick for Unger & a bottom 1st rd pick, I was like this more of a message toward the team,,,,,willing to trade Stills,,,,,PLAN OUT STUPID!!!!

jeanpierre

Trading Stills makes sense...

Look, there is only one, ONE, football...

We've had all these receiving weapons that need 10+ touches a game...

Ingram has got to have 15+ touches a game to be effective and Khiry is 7-12 touches for your change-of-pace...

Then you've got whomever we sign as a scatback on third downs for the wheel routes and flat screens...

And you've got the guys who are the third, fourth option who break the oppositions back such as your fullbacks, fourth receiver in 4 sets, second tightend/h-back guys...

Stills should command no less than a second round pick with his advanced production for his experience, contract/cap number, skills/abilities...

What scares me is Loomis always seems to give everything away; he's like my ex-brother-in-law who paid sticker price at car dealerships...

Have no problem trading Stills so long as Payton is sure Toon is ready to be the third WR and we get a second OR...

...one of the first four picks in the third round OR...

...we secretly/conditionally package him with pick no. 13 and we move to pick no. 4 or 5 and select Vic Beasley...

the latter is my sincere, though far-fetched, wish...

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

foreverfan

What would you think we will take for Stills?

SloMotion

Thanks for taking one for the team, .

The grades are a little harsh and the accumulation of draft picks warrant a higher value, IMO.