Not all free agency signings are created equal. Through Week 7, here are the three best (and worst) signings from the 2023 class.
3. Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen: Not much has gone right for Carolina (0-6), the only winless team in the league, but Thielen's year is worth celebrating. He has been better than the Panthers could have hoped, catching 83.1 percent of his targets, the highest mark of his 10-year career, for 509 yards and four touchdowns. Per ESPN Analytics, he ranks third among wide receivers in catch score, a metric that evaluates receivers using tracking data from NFL Next Gen Stats. We won't pretend to know exactly how that works, he's certainly passed the eye test so far.
2. Falcons safety Jessie Bates III: Bates has been at the heart of Atlanta's defensive turnaround. The former Bengal signed a four-year, $64 million contract this offseason. He quickly asserted himself as a playmaker in the secondary by forcing three turnovers in his Falcons debut against the Panthers. Through Week 7, he has three interceptions, two passes defended, two forced fumbles and 45 tackles, helping lead Atlanta (4-3) to first in the NFC South.
1. 49ers defensive tackle Javon Hargrave: The Hargrave signing looked good on paper, but it's been even better on tape.
THE GRAVE DIGGER JAVON HARGRAVE #49ers || #FTTB pic.twitter.com/p3GbpPU7YE
— (@TheSFNiners) October 1, 2023
Javon Hargrave has been worth every penny for the 49ers DL pic.twitter.com/h9UCt8UlM7
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) September 22, 2023
San Francisco (5-2) inked Hargrave to a four-year, $84 million contract during the offseason that included $40 million guaranteed, and he's more than earned his giant payday by continuing to wreak havoc the way he did in Philadelphia. Hargrave has 22 tackles (five for loss) and three sacks. He ranks third among interior linemen in ESPN's pass-rush win rate model and sixth in run-stop win rate.
3. Panthers running back Miles Sanders: Sanders missed the Panthers' loss to the Dolphins in Week 6 but struggled during the first five weeks. This year, he has 61 carries, 190 yards (3.1 yards per attempt) and one touchdown. Sanders has yet to contribute in the passing game the way Carolina probably anticipated, either. His 33.3 percent success rate on receptions, like his yards per carry, is the lowest of his five-year career.
2. Broncos offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey: McGlinchey received the only five-year contract among tackles in free agency and has struggled in Denver (2-5). The former 49er was outmatched against the Chiefs defensive line, credited with allowing five of the team's six pressures against quarterback Russell Wilson.
The #Broncos surrendered six total pressures in their Week 6 loss to the Chiefs. RT Mike McGlinchey was charged with five, per @PFF.
— Zack Kelberman (@KelbermanNFL) October 19, 2023
McGlinchey also allowed one sack, a QB hit, and three QB hurries.
Mike McGlinchey doesn’t stand a chance against Chris Jones aligned outside. Jones hand fighting is always so fun to watch. He is one of the quickest rushers I’ve ever watched at it. #Chiefs pic.twitter.com/ApUCS8GKvz
— Nick Jacobs (@Jacobs71) October 16, 2023
McGlinchey also already has five false start penalties against him in seven starts after being called for four false starts from 2020-22, a span of 41 games.
1. Saints quarterback Derek Carr: Here are some stats on recent Saints quarterbacks in their first seven starts with the franchise:
Carr: 163-of-255 (63.9 percent), 1,600 yards, six touchdowns, four interceptions, 82.8 passer rating
Andy Dalton: 141-of-217 (65 percent), 1,559 yards, 11 touchdowns, seven interceptions, 89.6 passer rating
Jameis Winston: 95-of-161 (59 percent), 1,170 yards, 14 touchdowns, three interceptions, 102.8 passer rating
New Orleans (3-4) didn't sign Carr to a four-year, $150 million contract to be a lesser version of Dalton or Winston, the team's backup, but that's what he's been for seven weeks. In Dalton's first seven starts in 2022, the Saints averaged 24.4 points per game, as opposed to 19 points per game this season. In Winston's first seven starts? 25.1 points per game. The offense has been a discombobulated mess, and frustration boiled over the past two weeks with Carr visibly agitated with offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael Jr. and wide receiver Chris Olave.
— not highlight heaven (@ABsneurosurgeon) October 20, 2023
He was upset with Olave for easing up on his route against Jacksonville and while head coach Dennis Allen said the second-year pro "didn't run the route the way that it needs to be run," veteran wide receiver Michael Thomas noted that Olave was never supposed to be the intended target on the play.
exactly his job is only to collision o/s shoulder of defender he is never the throw not even a alert. Only advice I would give him is to take the ball and know taysom runs fast so he has to run even faster to clear it out. But the progression is 7, 22, 13 eyes only went to 7
— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) October 21, 2023
That sort of miscommunication has plagued New Orleans far too often this season. Through seven weeks, no free agency signing has been more disappointing.
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