ESPN analytics writer Seth Walder and NFL analyst Ben Solak are grading the biggest NFL free agency signings and trades of the offseason, putting each deal into perspective for teams and players.
To determine each grade, Walder and Solak are evaluating moves based on multiple factors, including on-field impact, salary cap implications, compensation, player value/age and the context of a team's short- and long-term outlooks. How large is the effect of this decision, and how sure are we that it's a good or bad choice? How does this affect a team's chance to win the Super Bowl, this season or in the future?
Follow along as we evaluate and grade each big signing and trade, with the most recent moves at the top. So far, we've hit more than 60 deals.
Editor's note: We previously had a grade here for the proposed Ravens-Raiders trade involving Maxx Crosby, but it was removed after the announcement that the deal was off.
More coverage: Tracking moves | Top 100 free agents Winners, losers of Day 1 Free agency awards, superlatives
Jump to a notable deal: Dalton | Waddle | Fields | Walker | Murray Hargrave | Odighizuwa | Chubb | Chaisson Hendrickson | Woolen | Pittman | Tagovailoa Doubs | Seumalo | Paye | Evans | Lloyd
Packers trade WR Wicks to the Eagles
Eagles get: WR Dontayvion Wicks Packers get: 2026 fifth-round pick, 2027 sixth-round pick
Eagles grade: B+ Packers grade: A
The Packers got a nice return for a player who was likely to walk after next season. The return exceeds the potential Day 3 compensatory pick they could have gotten via his departure, and critically, the trade return is guaranteed, whereas comp picks are conditional on the Packers' lack of spending for free agents in 2027. Wicks was initially a Round 5 pick, returned multiple seasons of strong WR4 play and quality spot starts, and now brings a Round 5 pick back to Green Bay. The Packers will move forward with Christian Watson, Jayden Reed and Matthew Golden as the future at the position.