play1:57Stephen A.: Jaylen Waddle a huge pickup for BroncosStephen A. Smith reacts to the Broncos trading for Jaylen Waddle and reflects on the Bills’ failed pursuit of the wide receiver.
play0:44Dan Orlovsky praises Bills signing Bradley ChubbDan Orlovsky breaks down the Bills’ three-year contract with Bradley Chubb.
play1:55Pat McAfee: It felt like Travis Kelce was going to come backPat McAfee reacts to Travis Kelce’s decision to return to the Chiefs.
play0:54Schefter: Houston fortifying its O-line with Braden SmithAdam Schefter reports that OT Braden Smith will join the Texans on a two-year, $25 million deal.
play1:28Louis Riddick applauds Eagles signing Riq WoolenLouis Riddick breaks down the Eagles’ signing of CB Riq Woolen.
play1:56Why Rich Eisen likes Steelers trading for Michael Pittman Jr.Rich Eisen reacts to the Colts trading Michael Pittman Jr. to the Steelers.
play1:58Orlovsky on Tua in Atlanta: This is the best decision for both partiesDan Orlovsky and Domonique Foxworth discuss whether Tua Tagovailoa is a good fit for the Atlanta Falcons.
play0:41Spears on Smith’s return to the Jets: ‘They wrote back, Geno!’Marcus Spears joins Rich Eisen to react to the news that the Raiders are trading Geno Smith to the Jets.
play1:28Schefter: Mike Evans is veteran presence 49ers were looking forAdam Schefter tells Pat McAfee how Mike Evans ended up signing with the 49ers.
play0:36Schefter breaks news of Rashid Shaheed’s return to SeahawksAdam Schefter reports on Rashid Shaheed signing a three-year, $51 million deal to remain in Seattle.
play1:31Graziano: Malik Willis, Dolphins a ‘perfect marriage’Dan Graziano and Domonique Foxworth weigh in on the Dolphins’ decision to sign Malik Willis.
play0:50Orlovsky: Linderbaum signing best thing Raiders could do for MendozaDan Orlovsky and Peter Schrager weigh in on why the Raiders signing C Tyler Linderbaum is good for Fernando Mendoza.
play1:15Why Jaelan Phillips is a great addition for the PanthersPat McAfee and the crew break down how Jaelan Phillips fits with the Panthers’ defense.
play2:32Orlovsky: Kenneth Walker III can ‘100%’ change everything for ChiefsDan Orlovsky, Peter Schrager and Pat McAfee react to the news that Kenneth Wallker III is signing with the Chiefs.
play0:41Schefter: Jets trade for Minkah FitzpatrickAdam Schefter reports on the Jets making a trade with the Dolphins for Minkah Fitzpatrick.
play1:23Alec Pierce after $116M deal: I think the Colts can be specialAlec Pierce joins Pat McAfee and details the process that led to him re-signing with the Colts.
play1:15Stephen A.: Rashan Gary trade not a game-changing move for CowboysStephen A. Smith weighs in on the Dallas Cowboys trading for Rashan Gary.
play2:13Schefter details how the Bills landed on DJ Moore as their next WRAdam Schefter breaks the news that the Bears have agreed to trade DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills.
play1:37Stephen A. a fan of the Texans landing David MontgomeryStephen A. Smith and Dan Orlovsky react to the Lions trading David Montgomery to the Texans.
Seth WalderCloseSeth WalderESPN AnalyticsSeth Walder is an analytics writer at ESPN, specializing in quantitative analysis. He is also a regular on “ESPN Bet Live” and helps cover sports betting. Seth has been at ESPN since 2017. He previously worked at the New York Daily News covering the Jets and Giants. You can follow Seth on X via @SethWalder. and Ben SolakCloseBen SolakESPNBen Solak joined ESPN in 2024 as a national NFL analyst. He previously covered the NFL at The Ringer, Bleeding Green Nation and The Draft Network.Multiple AuthorsApr 18, 2026, 10:10 PM ET
Jordan Rodgers: Cousins signing with Raiders is best thing for Mendoza (1:54)The “Get Up” crew reacts to the news that Kirk Cousins will sign with the Raiders, and analyzes what this means for Fernando Mendoza. (1:54)
Stephen A.: Jaylen Waddle a huge pickup for BroncosStephen A. Smith reacts to the Broncos trading for Jaylen Waddle and reflects on the Bills’ failed pursuit of the wide receiver.
Stephen A. Smith reacts to the Broncos trading for Jaylen Waddle and reflects on the Bills’ failed pursuit of the wide receiver.
Dan Orlovsky praises Bills signing Bradley ChubbDan Orlovsky breaks down the Bills’ three-year contract with Bradley Chubb.
Pat McAfee: It felt like Travis Kelce was going to come backPat McAfee reacts to Travis Kelce’s decision to return to the Chiefs.
Schefter: Houston fortifying its O-line with Braden SmithAdam Schefter reports that OT Braden Smith will join the Texans on a two-year, $25 million deal.
Louis Riddick applauds Eagles signing Riq WoolenLouis Riddick breaks down the Eagles’ signing of CB Riq Woolen.
Why Rich Eisen likes Steelers trading for Michael Pittman Jr.Rich Eisen reacts to the Colts trading Michael Pittman Jr. to the Steelers.
Orlovsky on Tua in Atlanta: This is the best decision for both partiesDan Orlovsky and Domonique Foxworth discuss whether Tua Tagovailoa is a good fit for the Atlanta Falcons.
Dan Orlovsky and Domonique Foxworth discuss whether Tua Tagovailoa is a good fit for the Atlanta Falcons.
Spears on Smith’s return to the Jets: ‘They wrote back, Geno!’Marcus Spears joins Rich Eisen to react to the news that the Raiders are trading Geno Smith to the Jets.
Marcus Spears joins Rich Eisen to react to the news that the Raiders are trading Geno Smith to the Jets.
Schefter: Mike Evans is veteran presence 49ers were looking forAdam Schefter tells Pat McAfee how Mike Evans ended up signing with the 49ers.
Schefter breaks news of Rashid Shaheed’s return to SeahawksAdam Schefter reports on Rashid Shaheed signing a three-year, $51 million deal to remain in Seattle.
Adam Schefter reports on Rashid Shaheed signing a three-year, $51 million deal to remain in Seattle.
Graziano: Malik Willis, Dolphins a ‘perfect marriage’Dan Graziano and Domonique Foxworth weigh in on the Dolphins’ decision to sign Malik Willis.
Orlovsky: Linderbaum signing best thing Raiders could do for MendozaDan Orlovsky and Peter Schrager weigh in on why the Raiders signing C Tyler Linderbaum is good for Fernando Mendoza.
Dan Orlovsky and Peter Schrager weigh in on why the Raiders signing C Tyler Linderbaum is good for Fernando Mendoza.
Why Jaelan Phillips is a great addition for the PanthersPat McAfee and the crew break down how Jaelan Phillips fits with the Panthers’ defense.
Orlovsky: Kenneth Walker III can ‘100%’ change everything for ChiefsDan Orlovsky, Peter Schrager and Pat McAfee react to the news that Kenneth Wallker III is signing with the Chiefs.
Dan Orlovsky, Peter Schrager and Pat McAfee react to the news that Kenneth Wallker III is signing with the Chiefs.
Schefter: Jets trade for Minkah FitzpatrickAdam Schefter reports on the Jets making a trade with the Dolphins for Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Alec Pierce after $116M deal: I think the Colts can be specialAlec Pierce joins Pat McAfee and details the process that led to him re-signing with the Colts.
Stephen A.: Rashan Gary trade not a game-changing move for CowboysStephen A. Smith weighs in on the Dallas Cowboys trading for Rashan Gary.
Schefter details how the Bills landed on DJ Moore as their next WRAdam Schefter breaks the news that the Bears have agreed to trade DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills.
Stephen A. a fan of the Texans landing David MontgomeryStephen A. Smith and Dan Orlovsky react to the Lions trading David Montgomery to the Texans.
Giants trade DT Lawrence to Bengals for No. 10 pick
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
I’ve always loved Lawrence as a player, but I am stunned by the draft capital the Bengals spent to get him. The No. 10 pick — straight up! What’s almost as shocking is that the Bengals, who rarely make trades, were the ones who pulled off the deal.
At the peak of his powers, Lawrence has been incredible. He was exceptional in 2022 and 2023. During those two seasons, Lawrence’s 17.5% pass rush win rate at defensive tackle ranked third best, behind only Aaron Donald and Chris Jones. But unlike those other two pass-rushing savants, Lawrence delivered that production mostly playing nose tackle, which is what made him so special and valuable.
He was double-teamed on 68% of his defensive tackle pass rushes during that span, which put him in the 93rd percentile for the position (though that was not unique compared with Donald and Jones). Lawrence recorded 12.0 sacks in those two years — though I think that undersells his impact — and he was an AP second-team All-Pro in each of those seasons. Though his run stop win rate was only average those years, his run-stopping reputation is much, much stronger than that.
In 2024, he recorded 9.0 sacks in only 12 games, but his pass rush win rate dropped suddenly, to just 6.8% (30th percentile) before an elbow injury knocked him out for the final five games of the year. His pressure rate fell from 10.0% in 2023 to 6.3% in 2024.
In 2025, Lawrence’s play seemed to fall further, as he delivered an 8.4% pass rush win rate and a 5.3% pressure rate but with — jarringly — just 0.5 sacks. And just 50% of Lawrence’s pass rushes last season came playing 0-technique or 1-technique, compared with 70% during 2022 and 2023.