The Athletic: Peyton Manning. Tom Brady. Malcolm Jenkins. Every NFL team’s best free agent addition of past decade

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By The Athletic NFL Staff 4h ago

NFL teams committed hundreds of millions of dollars to free agents over the past few weeks hoping they can help elevate their rosters next season. Spending in free agency can often be a roll of the dice, however, and sometimes leaves teams with buyer’s remorse. So we set out to go across the NFL to find the best free-agency investments made by each team over the past 10 offseasons:

Arizona Cardinals
Best free agent: Mike Iupati, guard, 2015

Analysis: The Cardinals’ best veteran additions of the past 10 years have come via trade: quarterback Carson Palmer and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Those guys aren’t eligible for this exercise, and neither is new arrival J.J. Watt. So that led me down a pretty deep rabbit hole of less-than-inspiring free agent signings. The best of the bunch is Iupati, who signed a five-year, $40 million contract with the Cardinals in 2015. It paid off immediately, as Iupati had a stellar first season when the Cardinals advanced to the NFC Championship Game. He made the Pro Bowl that year, the last time an Arizona offensive lineman did so. Iupati, who retired this year, struggled with injuries later in his tenure in Arizona (he missed 15 games in 2017 with a torn triceps), but still was one of the most important additions in recent Arizona history. — Lindsay Jones

Atlanta Falcons
Best free agent: Alex Mack, center, 2016

Analysis: Prior to Mack’s arrival in Atlanta, the center position was in shambles. The Falcons knew going into that offseason they had to get a center. The Falcons had the weapons to be good (the team would reach the Super Bowl), but needed reliability to end the turnover at center. Mack was that guy. And he remained that guy until this spring when he ventured back out into the free agency waters and signed with San Francisco, which reunited him with Kyle Shanahan. Mack earned every bit of his $45 million contract during his five years in Atlanta. — Tori McElhaney

Baltimore Ravens
Best free agent: Jacoby Jones, receiver/returner, 2012

Analysis: No signing was more instrumental in making the Ravens Super Bowl XLVII champions than Jones, who signed a two-year, $7 million deal a few months before training camp. Not only do the Ravens not win a championship without him, they may not go to the playoffs either. Jones’ return scores helped them win regular-season contests against the Steelers and Cowboys. He then made three of the team’s biggest plays in the Super Bowl run, highlighted by his last-minute 70-yard tying touchdown catch against Denver, which was later dubbed the “Mile High Miracle.” He added a 108-yard kickoff return score and a 56-yard touchdown catch in the Super Bowl XLVII victory against the 49ers. In three seasons with the Ravens, Jones had six return scores and five offensive touchdowns. — Jeff Zrebiec

Buffalo Bills
Best free agent: (Tie) Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, safeties, 2017

Analysis: After head coach Sean McDermott arrived in 2017, he embarked on a crucial offseason that set up the team’s current run. Two of his first moves were to buy low on a pair of unheralded free-agent safeties who would go on to define their defense with complementary skill sets. Hyde and Poyer provided invaluable leadership, helping establish the culture McDermott desired when he came to Buffalo. They’ve been two of the team’s best players and helped lead the Bills to their first AFC Championship Game since 1994 this past season. Each signed extensions through at least 2022. They both get this honor because you can’t have one without the other. — Joe Buscaglia

Carolina Panthers
Best free agent: Mike Tolbert, fullback, 2012

Analysis: After coach Ron Rivera arrived in Charlotte in 2011, the former San Diego defensive coordinator brought along several forgettable ex-Chargers like Antwan Applewhite and Seyi Ajirotutu. But Tolbert was a keeper. The former San Diego fullback, who signed a four-year, $10 million deal with the Panthers, became a fan favorite for his effectiveness near the goal line, his end zone dances and personable demeanor. The “Toldozer” earned a second contract with Carolina and went to three Pro Bowls in five seasons with the Panthers before becoming among the first of many players to follow Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane to Buffalo. — Joseph Person

Chicago Bears
Best free agent: Akiem Hicks, defensive end, 2016

Analysis: In a year or two, this could ultimately be Allen Robinson, who has the talent to be the best receiver in franchise history, but Hicks has two seasons of dominant play in the trenches on Robinson. Signed originally to a two-year, $10 million deal, Hicks quickly earned himself a new contract and was the team’s best player in 2016-17. He was a Pro Bowler in 2018, and we saw how much the defense suffered without him for most of 2019 and one game in 2020. He led the team in quarterback hits in ’16, ’17 and ’20, while finishing only two behind Khalil Mack in ’18. — Kevin Fishbain

Cincinnati Bengals
Best free agent: Vonn Bell, safety, 2020

Analysis: Bell is only one season into the three-year, $18 million deal he signed last March, but with the Bengals, there is a short and undistinguished list of quality free agents from which to choose. For a guy who initially wasn’t on the team’s radar and only ended up there when he was still available in the second wave, Bell brought a winning pedigree and instant leadership to a roster undergoing a churn. He was voted a team captain before ever taking a snap. For Bengals fans, his fumble-forcing hit on JuJu Smith-Schuster on “Monday Night Football” will go down as one of the most memorable plays in recent history. — Jay Morrison

Cleveland Browns
Best free agent: J.C. Tretter, center, 2017

Analysis: In four seasons with the Browns he’s played every snap while serving as a team leader and mastering four different offensive systems. Tretter had some injuries early in his career with the Packers. He called those “fluke and freak things,” and he’s been proven right. Tretter is smart, durable and athletic enough to make blocks on the second level for the Browns’ rugged run game. His national profile got a big bump last year when he was elected president of the NFL Players Association and became the public face of both collective bargaining negotiations and the players’ response to playing during a pandemic. Internally, the Browns continue to value both his leadership and his play. — Zac Jackson

Dallas Cowboys
Best free agent: Brandon Carr, cornerback, 2012

Analysis: The competition isn’t that stiff, as the Cowboys have not signed a significant free agent other than Carr in over a decade. So, when Carr signed from Kansas City in the spring of 2012 on a hefty five-year contract for just more than $50 million, it was a rare occurrence for this generation of Cowboys football. He wasn’t great, but he also wasn’t that bad. Eighty starts in 80 games, and he was seldom abused. He held his own well and made significant plays in his first few seasons. Was it a great signing? Not really, but I am not sure they even have another candidate who gave them more than one decent season. They simply have not shopped in free agency over the past decade. — Bob Sturm

Denver Broncos
Best free agent: Peyton Manning, quarterback, 2012

Analysis: Not much needs to be said about this one. In four years with the Broncos, Manning led Denver to four AFC West titles, two AFC championships and one Super Bowl title, which came during his last ride in 2015. He threw 140 touchdown passes for the Broncos, a stunning total when you consider that Denver quarterbacks have thrown a combined 94 touchdowns in the five seasons since Manning’s retirement. — Nick Kosmider

Detroit Lions
Best free agent: Glover Quin, safety, 2013

Analysis: Quin came to Detroit as a former fourth-round corner from Houston and within two seasons had earned a Pro Bowl bid at a new position and was the league’s interceptions leader on a playoff team. Quin wound up sticking with the Lions through his retirement in 2019 and had several years as one of the more efficient safeties in the league. In terms of need, cost and return — for the Lions, it’s hard to argue with what they found in Quin. Golden Tate or Marvin Jones Jr. can make an argument here. — Nick Baumgardner

Green Bay Packers
Best free agent: Za’Darius Smith, linebacker, 2019

Analysis: For a team notoriously frugal in free agency, the Packers made their biggest splash since signing Charles Woodson in 2007 by inking Smith to a four-year, $64 million deal in March 2019. In his first four seasons with the Ravens, Smith tallied 18.5 sacks and 52 quarterback hits. In two seasons with the Packers, Smith has 26 sacks and 60 quarterback hits. Not only has he helped Green Bay to back-to-back NFC Championship Games and made two consecutive Pro Bowl appearances, but teammates have named Smith one of three team captains and the defense’s only one in both years. — Matt Schneidman

Houston Texans
Best free agent: Johnathan Joseph, cornerback, 2011

Analysis: After ranking 30th in defensive DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) in 2010, including 30th against the pass, the Texans hired Wade Phillips to be defensive coordinator and made a couple of significant investments in their secondary. Joseph and safety Danieal Manning came aboard in free agency. Houston had a top 10 defense by DVOA each of the next two seasons, with Joseph earning Pro Bowl nods both years. He lasted nine seasons with the Texans, played in 133 games and picked off 17 passes. — Aaron Reiss

Indianapolis Colts
Best free agent: Mike Adams, safety, 2014

Analysis: This was a tough call, because there’s more than one worthy candidate. I went with Adams because of his durability and production — 44 starts in three seasons, 12 interceptions and two trips to the Pro Bowl — and the fact that he helped cover up the mistake that was LaRon Landry. A few other notables you could make a case for: Erik Walden, Frank Gore, Denico Autry, Justin Houston and Xavier Rhodes. — Zak Keefer

Jacksonville Jaguars
Best free agent: Calais Campbell, defensive end, 2017

Analysis: The Jaguars signed Campbell to a four-year, $60 million deal and got their money’s worth. Campbell had 31.5 sacks and 77 QB hits in three seasons with the Jaguars. He started 48 games and was a key cog on their 2017 team that made it to the AFC Championship Game. — Sheil Kapadia

Kansas City Chiefs
Best free agent: Tyrann Mathieu, safety, 2019

Analysis: The Chiefs knew they were on the cusp of being championship contenders after Patrick Mahomes’ remarkable first season as the team’s starting quarterback. The issue, though, was that the Chiefs needed to reconstruct their defense after releasing former star safety Eric Berry. General manager Brett Veach replaced Berry with Mathieu, who was the perfect player to accept the responsibility of becoming the Chiefs’ new leader on defense and the most versatile weapon for new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. In the past two seasons, Mathieu has been an All-Pro, recording 10 interceptions, 21 pass breakups and one touchdown. He was instrumental in the Chiefs winning the Super Bowl in 2019. — Nate Taylor

Las Vegas Raiders
Best free agent: Michael Crabtree, receiver, 2015

Analysis: Some might say Rodney Hudson, but give me a playmaking receiver over a great, expensive center any day. Crabtree was almost an afterthought when he signed with the Raiders for one year and $3 million (he would also earn $2 million incentives). He and quarterback Derek Carr had a connection because Carr’s brother, David, was teammates with Crabtree on the 49ers. He quickly became Carr’s favorite target, and his 922 yards and nine touchdowns in 2015 led to a four-year, $32 million extension. In 2016, Crabtree showed off his great hands as he repeatedly made clutch grabs on third down and in the end zone in the Raiders’ one playoff season in the last 18 years. He finished with 1,003 yards and eight touchdowns on 89 catches. Crabtree had eight touchdown catches again in 2017, but new coach Jon Gruden then cut him in 2018 and handed his contract to Jordy Nelson. — Vic Tafur

Los Angeles Chargers
Best free agent: Casey Hayward, cornerback, 2016

Analysis: The Chargers signed Hayward to a three-year, $15.3 million contract after the Packers had pigeonholed him as a slot corner in his first four seasons. But the Chargers and GM Tom Telesco had the foresight and vision to believe he could be a boundary corner as well. They were right. Hayward ascended after taking over a starting role on the outside. He earned Pro Bowl nods and second-team All-Pro honors in 2016 and 2017. He thrived in Gus Bradley’s zone-heavy scheme, which was implemented in 2017 when Anthony Lynn was hired as head coach. The Chargers signed Hayward to an extension in 2018. And though he was cut this offseason for cap reasons, that does not take away from his achievements with the Chargers. — Daniel Popper

Los Angeles Rams
Best free agent: Robert Woods, receiver, 2017

Analysis: This was a tough call between Woods and left tackle Andrew Whitworth, whose contributions to the Rams’ offense can’t be overlooked. But Woods came home to Los Angeles in 2017, vastly outplayed his first contract with back-to-back 1,000-yards seasons in 2018-19 (he has 4,070 receiving yards in his last four seasons) and will likely outplay his second extension signed last spring. — Jourdan Rodrigue

Miami Dolphins
Best free agent: Emmanuel Ogbah, defensive end, 2020

Analysis: The Dolphins were the laughingstock of the league in 2019, when they generated the fewest sacks (23). Miami then signed Ogbah to a two-year, $15 million contract. It didn’t take long for Ogbah to make his presence felt. In just one season, Ogbah outperformed his deal, finished with a team-best nine sacks and three forced fumbles, including two that were recovered and returned for touchdowns. — Josh Tolentino

Minnesota Vikings
Best free agent: Linval Joseph, defensive tackle, 2014

Analysis: Joseph arrived in Minnesota after four years with the New York Giants and quickly transformed the interior of the team’s defensive line. He was a stout presence up the middle. Joseph took on multiple blockers, helped free up the team’s pass rushers, and he was excellent against the run. He arrived on a very reasonable five-year contract with only $12.5 million guaranteed and played in 88 games with the Vikings while reaching two Pro Bowls. — Chad Graff

New England Patriots
Best free agent: Stephon Gilmore, cornerback, 2017

Analysis: The five-year, $65 million contract was the biggest Bill Belichick has ever given a free agent, but the uncharacteristically aggressive move (at the time) paid off. Gilmore broke up a fourth-down pass to Dede Westbrook to cap the Patriots’ comeback victory against the Jaguars in the 2017 AFC Championship Game, made the game-sealing interception against the Rams in Super Bowl LIII then became just the third cornerback in a quarter-century to become the Defensive Player of the Year in 2019. — Jeff Howe

New Orleans Saints
Best free agent: Demario Davis, linebacker, 2018

Analysis: Davis’ three-year, $24 million contract seemed a bit on the high side, especially after bouncing around between the Jets and the Browns the previous couple of seasons. But New Orleans landed one of the best defensive players of Sean Payton’s tenure. He does it all in run support, pass coverage and quarterback pressure. He earned first-team All-Pro status in 2019 and a second-team All-Pro nod in 2020. — Larry Holder

New York Giants
Best free agent: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, cornerback, 2014

Analysis: This exercise would be a lot easier if it went back one more year so it could include the 2010 signing of Antrel Rolle. The Giants haven’t hit on many free agents since 2011, which is a big reason why they’ve only made the playoffs twice in the past decade. A spending spree in 2016 produced some one-hit wonders (DE Olivier Vernon, DT Damon Harrison, CB Janoris Jenkins) and it’s too soon to crown 2020 free agent signings James Bradberry and Blake Martinez. So that leaves Rodgers-Cromartie, who signed a five-year, $35 million contract with the Giants in 2014. “DRC” made the Pro Bowl as an outside corner in 2015 and then was a second-team All-Pro in 2016 after shifting inside to the slot on the Giants’ best defense of the past decade. The freakishly athletic Rodgers-Cromartie had 11 interceptions in four seasons. — Dan Duggan

New York Jets
Best free agent: Eric Decker, receiver, 2014

Analysis: It might be easier to just do a blurb on a free-agent miss. There isn’t an awful lot to choose from here, but Decker stands out. The Jets gave him a five-year, $36.25-million deal. He caught 74 passes for 962 yards and five touchdowns that first season, then exploded for 80 grabs, 1,027 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2015. Bonus points: The 2015 season was the Jets’ only winning campaign of the last 10 years, and Decker scored their last meaningful touchdown: An overtime fade from Ryan Fitzpatrick to beat the Patriots in Week 16. Decker played just three games in 2016, catching nine passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns before landing on the season-ending injured reserve. Mike Maccagnan cut him after the year as the Jets entered a full-on rebuild. Honorable mentions: Willie Colon, Kelvin Beachum, James Carpenter and Jamison Crowder. — Connor Hughes

Philadelphia Eagles
Best free agent: Malcolm Jenkins, safety, 2014

Analysis: Jenkins was not considered the best safety on the market in 2014 when the Eagles signed him to a three-year, $16.25-million contract while Jairus Byrd and T.J. Ward signed more lucrative deals. But Jenkins proved to be the right decision for the Eagles, and he thrived in Philadelphia while becoming a key performer on defense, a respected leader in the locker room and a fixture in the community. Jenkins spent six years with the Eagles. He never missed a game. He barely missed a snap. He made the Pro Bowl three times. He was a key player in their only Super Bowl victory. There have been other good signings during this period, such as Brandon Brooks in 2016 and Nick Foles in 2017. But Jenkins tops the list. — Zach Berman

Pittsburgh Steelers
Best free agent: Joe Haden, cornerback, 2017

Analysis: This is a no-brainer, especially when you look at what the Steelers have done in free agency not only over the past decade but since its inception in 1993. The Steelers don’t believe in building their team with high-priced free agents, and that’s obvious when you look at whom they have signed — Leonard Pope, Knile Davis, Bruce Gradkowski, Stefen Wisniewski, DeAngelo Williams among others. There was that one exception in 2017. A day after the Browns cut Haden, the Steelers swooped in and signed him to the largest free-agent contract in team history (three years, $27 million). He immediately became the Steelers’ best cornerback since Rod Woodson in the early 1990s. Haden returned to the Pro Bowl in 2020 and remains the cornerstone of the secondary at 32. — Mark Kaboly

San Francisco 49ers
Best free agent: Donte Whitner, safety, 2011

Analysis: The 49ers made plenty of impactful free-agent signings in the lockout year of 2011, with Carlos Rogers and Jonathan Goodwin high on that list. Whitner, however, stands out. He was part of a secondary that largely was added during training camp and quickly became the best, and most feared, group in the NFL. Whitner’s tooth-rattling hit on Saints running back Pierre Thomas in the playoffs is the 49ers’ most iconic defensive play this century. — Matt Barrows

Seattle Seahawks
Best free agent: Michael Bennett, defensive end, 2013

Analysis: Seattle acquired Bennett on a one-year deal worth $4.8 million and he went on to become Seattle’s best defensive lineman on one of the best defenses in league history. From 2013-17 Bennett played on the edge and rushed the passer from the interior, a position that Seattle not only loves but has yet to adequately replace since trading Bennett in 2018. In those five years, Bennett totaled 39 sacks, made three Pro Bowls and racked up 288 QB pressures, which ranked fourth league-wide, according to SportRadar. — Michael-Shawn Dugar

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Best free agent: Tom Brady, quarterback, 2020

Analysis: Let’s not overthink this. Brady came in after 20 years in New England, set a team record with 40 touchdown passes, led the Bucs to their second Super Bowl and won a championship in their home stadium. You can’t beat that, though getting Shaq Barrett for $4 million in 2019 and having him lead the NFL with a team-record 19.5 sacks is pretty good relative value. — Greg Auman

Tennessee Titans
Best free agent: Delanie Walker, tight end, 2013

Analysis: The Titans got five highly productive seasons from Walker after signing the former San Francisco 49ers tight end to a four-year, $17.5 million contract. They liked him so much, they extended his contract in 2016. Walker ranked third among tight ends in receiving yardage over his first five seasons with Tennessee when he trailed only Rob Gronkowski and Greg Olsen. He averaged 71 receptions for 831 yards and five touchdowns per season over those first five years and earned Pro Bowls honors three times. — Mike Sando

Washington Football Team
Best free agent: Pierre Garçon, receiver, 2012

Analysis: It seems only fitting, in retrospect, that Garçon’s first touchdown with Washington would be that memorable 16-yard pass he caught from rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III before turning up field another 72 yards to the house. Garçon was worth every penny of that five-year, $42.5 million contract. During his five seasons, he was go-to receiver if the team needed a yard. He led the league and set the franchise’s single-season record with 113 receptions in 2013 and set a career high for receiving yards (172) in a game. He finished with 72 starts and 376 receptions for 4,549 yards and 21 touchdowns. — Rhiannon Walker

So, who was the best across the NFL?
Best free agent: Peyton Manning, Broncos, 2012

Analysis: The Broncos went 45-12 in four seasons with Manning as the starter. They got to at least the divisional round every year, made the Super Bowl twice and won it once. During that final championship season, the defense carried Manning. But the offense was among the league’s best those first three seasons, and Manning won the MVP award in 2013. It’s hard to imagine a free agent having a bigger impact, although if we do this exercise again in three years, it’s possible that Brady takes this spot. — Sheil Kapadia
 
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