NFL free agency: Cardinals get slew of ‘B’ grades for additions

Some reviews are trickling in for NFL free agency, and the Arizona Cardinals did a solid job per national writers — with one signing in particular getting high marks.

The flashiest of the of Cardinals’ free agency acquisitions, edge rusher Josh Sweat, was given an A- by USA Today writer Jacob Camenker. The addition filled a major need for the Cardinals, prompting the site to give the team such a solid mark.

“The Cardinals have needed a top-tier edge rusher since Chandler Jones left the team following the 2021 NFL season and Sweat has previous experience with head coach Jonathan Gannon from their time together with the Eagles,” Camenker wrote.

Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport  was in agreement. He gave the Cardinals an A- for the Sweat addition.

How other sites graded the Cardinals’ NFL free agency moves

Both Yahoo Sports writer Frank Schwab and Pro Football Focus each gave the Cardinals a B, as both sites looked at the entirety of Arizona’s free agency moves for their grading.

Schwab noted the Sweat move and the Cardinals retaining Baron Browning to boost the team’s pass rush. Schwab did write that he would have liked to see Arizona make some additional moves.

PFF graded all of the Cardinals’ additions as at least average in their “PFF Deal Grade” metric.

ESPN writer Seth Walder gave the move for Sweat a B as well.

CBS Sports’ panel of NFL writers gave Arizona a B-, praising the Sweat, Browning and Evan Brown signings, but dinging the Cardinals for not addressing wide receiver or other defensive line needs.

Sports Illustrated’s Matt Verderame dished out individual grades for Arizona moves. He marked the transaction of quarterback Jacoby Brissett a B, L.J. Collier a C+ and Sweat an A.

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