2023 NFL Free Agency: Defense Dominates Five Best Signings

Over the past couple of weeks, some notable players have changed addresses, but there’s no doubt teams put an emphasis on slowing down offenses next season.

While NFL free agency will continue for months with the occasional signing, the meat of the madness is done.

Over the past two weeks, scores of big names have changed addresses. In some cases, the players landed surprising money on longer terms than expected. In others, it was the teams doing well compared to expectations.

But which were the best deals, where team and player combined for the perfect fit on the right deal? Here are my top five:

5

Cam Sutton, CB, Lions

Contract: Three years, $33 million ($22.5 million guaranteed)

The Lions are a few defensive upgrades from becoming a playoff team for the first time in the Dan Campbell era. They found such a move, signing Sutton at free agency’s outset.

Sutton, 28, spent his first six years with the Steelers, with the first four being in a more rotational capacity while starring on special teams. That changed the past two seasons, with Sutton’s defensive snap counts rising to 99 and 94 percent, respectively.

With the Lions, Sutton gives coordinator Aaron Glenn’s defense some versatility in the backfield; he can play the slot or the perimeter. While Detroit still needs to find more talent to fix what was the league’s worst defense by yards per play allowed (6.2) last season, Sutton is a smart addition who can help in a variety of ways.

4

Jordan Poyer, S, Bills

Contract: Two years, $12.5 million ($7 million guaranteed)

Jordan Poyer might be 32 years old, but he’s playing the best football of his 10-year career. Incredibly, he found a very limited market as a free agent, leading him back to the Bills.

Poyer remains one of the best safeties in the NFL, and with the expected return of teammate Micah Hyde from a neck injury, the Bills have the league’s top duo on the back end. Over the past two seasons, Poyer has earned Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors, helping Buffalo win three consecutive AFC East titles.

After watching star linebacker Tremaine Edmunds leave, the Bills would have been significantly weaker down the middle if Poyer had departed. Instead, Buffalo has ONLY one defensive hole to backfill, while keeping a top player in the fold. It’s a win for general manager Brandon Beane, who had limited cap space to work with this offseason.

3

Germaine Pratt, LB, Bengals

Contract: THREE years, $20.25 million ($7 million guaranteed)

Speaking of the Bengals, they did an excellent job of keeping one of their stars by signing Pratt.

While Cincinnati watched safeties Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates III leave, along with tight end Hayden Hurst and running back Samaje Perine, the Bengals kept arguably the most important of their free agents in Pratt.

Pratt, 26, showed how valuable he’s become over the past four years, going from a rotational player to a starter over three seasons. Last year Pratt notched a career-best 99 tackles, including six for loss, along with one sack and a pair of interceptions. With Pratt alongside Logan Wilson, the Bengals have one of the league’s better tandems at the second level, giving them ways to match up on all three downs.

Under the tutelage of defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, Pratt should only continue to ascend.

2

Jessie Bates III, S, Falcons

Contract: Four years, $64 million ($36 million guaranteed)

The Falcons have long needed to upgrade their roster in an effort to become a perennial power as it once was during Matt Ryan’s prime. While they aren’t all the way back, general manager Terry Fontenot made a power move last week in landing Bates.

Bates, 26, spent his first five years with the Bengals. In Cincinnati, the former Wake Forest star amassed 14 interceptions, showcasing his range as one of the league’s better free safeties. Bates also had tremendous durability, missing only three games over that span.

In Atlanta, Bates will provide another star to a secondary that has an emerging top-end corner in A.J. Terrell. The Falcons are in a wide-open NFC South, and adding Bates to a defense that also signed defensive tackle David Onyemata to create pressure is a way to improve rapidly.

1

Javon Hargrave, DT, 49ers

Hargrave had 11.5 sacks in 2022, and now joins Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead and Javon Kinlaw in San Francisco to form one of the best front fours in the NFL.

Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports

Contract: Four years, $80 million ($40 million guaranteed)

San Francisco ranked tied for 10th in sacks and 11th in pressure rate last season. The Niners are working on upgrading those figures. On March 13, the opening day of legal tampering, general manager John Lynch lured Hargrave to the Bay Area.

Hargrave, 30, is one of the league’s best interior pass rushers. In 2022 he posted a career-high 11.5 sacks, yet somehow didn’t earn Pro Bowl or All-Pro honors. Over his seven-year career, Hargrave has 37.5 sacks, with 23 of them coming with the Eagles after he spent four seasons with the Steelers.

With San Francisco, Hargrave will help form what is one of the best front fours in the league, headlined by Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead and Javon Kinlaw. In a division lacking elite offensive lines, the Niners have built a front able to dominate the most important games on their schedule, giving them the upper hand in repeating as NFC West champions.