3-Wide: Which team improved the most in free agency?
3-Wide is a weekly feature in which theScore's NFL editors debate the hot topics around the league. Grab a cold towel and brace for hot takes.
Which team improved the most in the opening days of free agency?
Justin Boone: The Colts are stocking up while they still have Andrew Luck on his rookie deal. Frank Gore, Trent Cole, Kendall Langford and Todd Herremans are all solid veteran additions, but Andre Johnson will have the biggest impact of their free agent haul. Johnson is escaping one of the most inadequate quarterback situations in the league and is just one year removed from a 1,400-yard campaign. An appearance in the Super Bowl is a strong possibility for the Colts.
Caitlyn Holroyd: The Jaguars had the money to make a big splash in free agency, and did exactly that, by adding some much-needed defensive help in cornerback Davon House, linebacker Dan Skuta, safety Sergio Brown and defensive tackle Jared Odrick. They also signed star tight end Julius Thomas and bolstered their offensive line with right tackle Jermey Parnell. After years of rebuilding, Jacksonville looks ready to challenge for a playoff spot in the AFC.
David P. Woods: The Jaguars are the obvious answer, but I'd like to shine some light on how the Falcons are very quietly plugging holes in their roster with solid and surprisingly inexpensive players. O'Brien Schofield and Adrian Clayborn should provide a boost to the anemic pass rush, especially if the latter can regain the form he showed early in his career. Justin Durant and Brooks Reed will help stabilize the linebacking corps. Phillip Adams and Leonard Hankerson are decent depth players. The NFC South is there for the taking and the Falcons might be the only team in the division that's getting better.
What's the worst free-agent contract so far this year?
Woods: I'd love to say the Bills giving LeSean McCoy $16 million in "we're sorry we traded for you" money, but that wasn't technically a free-agent deal. Instead I'll choose Dwayne Harris's five-year, $17.5-million deal with the Giants that includes over $7 million in guarantees. Harris has 33 catches in four years and is almost exclusively a special teamer. That's stupid money for a guy who will rarely set foot on the field.
Boone: There have been more than a few horrific deals handed out in free agency, like the Giants giving $40 million worth of contracts to Dwayne Harris, J.T. Thomas and Jonathan Casillas. However, the worst deal by far was the Rams spending $18.5 million over four years - including $6.5 million guaranteed - to lock up tight end Lance Kendricks. The 27-year-old had 27 receptions for 259 yards and five touchdowns, while playing 59.1 percent of snaps last season. With Jared Cook serving as the receiving tight end in St. Louis, Kendricks slots in as more of blocker and red zone threat, a role that shouldn't eat up that much cap space.
Holroyd: The Browns entered the offseason with some big question marks at quarterback and responded by signing Josh McCown to a three-year, $14-million contract that includes $6.25 million in guaranteed money. If this sounds familiar, it's because the Buccaneers pulled a similar move last year. However, when Tampa Bay signed McCown, he was coming off a decent season with the Bears. This time around, the 36-year-old journeyman is coming off a disastrous 2014 campaign in which he went 1-10 with the worst team in the NFL. He may prove to be a viable mentor for Johnny Manziel, but if the Browns are looking for anything more than that (and his contract suggests they are), they're taking a big gamble.
Who's the most underrated free-agent signing so far?
Woods: You can make a case that Terrance Knighton is the best nose tackle in football, but the one-year, $4-million deal he signed sure doesn't jive with that notion. Knighton badly misjudged his market and acted insulted when teams like the Bears and Raiders didn't offer him top dollar. Those teams moved on from him and Knighton was forced to tuck his tail between his legs and accept a short-term deal with the Redskins. That's some excellent bargain hunting by new Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan.
Holroyd: Phillip Adams has bounced around the league since being selected by the 49ers in the seventh round of the 2010 draft and has struggled with tackling the past two seasons, but has some starting experience under his belt. A former Pro Football Focus "Secret Superstar," Adams also spent time in the Seahawks' system in 2011 and 2014, so he's familiar with new Falcons head coach Dan Quinn. Atlanta already has two starting cornerbacks in Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford, but if Alford misses time like he did last season, Adams could challenge for a bigger role.
Boone: The Falcons signing O'Brien Schofield won't get many headlines, but he'll definitely improve Atlanta's ability to get pressure on the quarterback. Schofield's transition should be quick as well, since he spent the last two seasons playing under Quinn as a situational pass rusher for the Seahawks. Another move to keep an eye on is the Bills signing of full back Jerome Felton, who used to block for Adrian Peterson, and will now be opening up lanes for LeSean McCoy.