American Justin Thomas was in danger of missing the cut at The Players Championship for the second consecutive year, but the 2021 Players Champion performed a historic turnaround. 

Thomas got off to a rough start at the 2025 Players Championship on Thursday and shot a 78 in the opening round, registering three bogeys, two double-bogeys and a triple-bogey on his scorecard. He entered Friday’s second round sitting at 6-over on the tournament, well below the projected cut line of 1-under.

Then, Thomas got to work. 

Thomas tied the 18-hole course record at TPC Sawgrass by shooting 10-under 62 during the second round on Friday, a record previously set by American Tom Hoge in the third round in 2023. Thomas’ 16-stroke turnaround marks the largest improvement from the first to the second round at The Players Championship.  

“I’m just happy to have a tee time tomorrow,” Thomas said after wrapping up his second round.

Thomas opened the second round with birdies on the first two holes and went on to hit 11 total birdies on Friday, which set a record for the most birdies in a round at The Players Championship. 

Thomas had an opportunity to break the course record entering the 18th and final hole of the day. He needed par or better on the Par 4, 462-yard hole, but Thomas ended his historic second round with a bogey, his first of the day. Despite missing out on the record, Thomas said he’s satisfied with how he locked in on Friday.

“I was losing to I think everybody that was playing golf yesterday at one point. I really wasn’t worried or upset about the golf I played, I was more upset about the round and how I was mentally out there. I feel like I wasn’t sharp. I was just really spacy,’ he said. ‘So I really made a conscious effort (today.)”

Thomas’ best finish at the Player Championship came in 2021, when he won the tournament. Last year, he missed the cut into the weekend. He is currently tied for 29th place at 4-under. 

Australian Min Woo Lee and American Akshay Bhatia are tied atop the leaderboard at 11-under through two rounds of play. American J.J. Spaun is in third place at 10-under. Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland is tied for fourth place with Collin Morikawa and Alex Smalley at 9-under. 

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The Cincinnati Bengals are close to getting ‘massive contract extensions’ done with both of their star wide receivers.

Cincinnati has made ‘significant progress’ on reaching agreements on extension for both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Chase was due to begin the final season of his rookie deal in 2025, and the Bengals had just placed their franchise tag on Higgins for a second year in a row after failing to reach an agreement on an extension before the franchise tag deadline.

At the NFL Scouting Combine late last month, Cincinnati general manager Duke Tobin shared that he hoped the team would be able to sign Chase, Higgins and defensive end Trey Hendrickson to contract extensions this offseason.

‘We’ve managed our cap well,’ he said at the time. ‘We’ve got low dead money. We want a high payroll and low dead money so the people that are in Cincinnati playing for us can get all the money. That’s what we want. We’re in a position to re-sign these guys. It’s a good position to be in. It really is. We’re going to attack it.’

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Chase is expected to make more than $40 million per year. The number is significant because it would pass the mark Browns defensive end Myles Garrett set as the new highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL after his recent extension.

Tobin said at the combine that he expected to give Chase that distinction.

‘Ja’Marr is always going to be our priority,’ he said. ‘He’s a fantastic football player. He’s going to end up being the No. 1 paid non-quarterback in the league. We’re there. Let’s get it done.’

Higgins could receive as much as $30 million per year as part of his contract negotiations, other reports have stated. Chase and Higgins would be the top-paid wide receiver duo in the league if the Bengals pay them a combined $70 million per year.

In four seasons with Cincinnati, Chase has recorded 395 catches for 5,425 yards and 46 touchdowns. In 2024, he won the receiving triple crown by leading the league in catches (127), receiving yards (1,708) and receiving touchdowns (17).

Higgins has played five seasons with the Bengals and tallied 330 catches for 4,595 receiving yards and 34 touchdowns in his career so far. Last year, the wideout missed five games due to various lower-body injuries but still managed to put up 911 yards and 10 touchdowns on 73 receptions.

According to Overthecap.com, the Bengals have $26.9 million in available cap space for the 2025 league year.

Cincinnati is coming off a 9-8 season in which it narrowly missed the playoffs. It currently holds the No. 17 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

One of the longest tenured active coaches in major men’s college basketball is now out of a job.

Iowa has fired coach Fran McCaffery after 15 seasons at the school, the university announced Friday afternoon.

The decision came the day after the Hawkeyes fell to Illinois 106-94 in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament, a loss that dropped them to 17-16 on the season. Iowa lost 12 of its final 17 games after a 12-4 start.

The Hawkeyes, who finished 15th of 18 Big Ten teams after being picked 10th in the league’s preseason poll, played their final 12 games without leading scorer and rebounder Owen Freeman, who underwent season-ending finger surgery in early February.

McCaffery is the program’s all-time wins leader, with a 297-207 record over the course of his time with Iowa. He’s 548-384 in his career as a Division I head coach, which included previous stops at Siena, UNC Greensboro and Lehigh.

The 65-year-old McCaffery led the Hawkeyes to the NCAA Tournament in seven of the final 11 seasons of his tenure in which the tournament was held, but never advanced past the second round. Those tournament shortcomings most notably included a second-round loss to Oregon in 2021 as a No. 2 seed with national player of the year Luka Garza.

This will mark the second consecutive season that Iowa missed the NCAA Tournament and failed to win at least 20 games.

‘Fran McCaffery has been an integral part of our Hawkeye family for the past 15 years,’ Iowa athletic director Beth Goetz said in a statement. ‘He is a tremendous coach and teacher, and we are grateful for the positive impact he has made on the institution and the community. We have a deep appreciation for his dedication to our student-athletes and his passion for the game that will have a lasting impact on our program.’

ESPN’s Pete Thamel first reported news of McCaffery’s firing.

Following the Hawkeyes’ Big Ten Tournament loss Thursday — a game in which the famously hot-tempered McCaffery was ejected with 13 minutes remaining — McCaffery said in a news conference that he expected to be Iowa’s coach next season and beyond.

The Hawkeyes become the third Big Ten program with a coaching vacancy, joining Indiana and Minnesota.

Behind future NBA players like Garza and brothers Keegan and Kris Murray, McCaffery’s teams regularly excelled offensively, finishing in the top 20 nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency in each of the past eight seasons, according to KenPom. They struggled on the other end of the floor in his final years, however, never finishing higher than 157th in Division I in adjusted defensive efficiency.

This is shaping up to be another memorable edition of The Players Championship. Thursday’s first round yielded a leaderboard that features Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa and Rickie Fowler all in contention to challenge first-round leader J.J. Spaun (-9). But as Friday came and went, a new leader has emerged.

Min Woo Lee and Akshay Bhatia are tied atop the leaderboard at 11-under for the tournament through two rounds of play. Spaun is in third place at 10-under, while McIlroy of Northern Ireland is tied for fourth place with Morikawa and Alex Smalley at 9-under. 

But the drama on Friday revolved around this year’s cut line, as a collection of big names and past major winners will miss the weekend at TPC Sawgrass after a lackluster showing in the first and second round. Only the top 65 (and ties) will make the cut at The Players Championship, which features a 144-golfer field this year.

Here are the latest updates on the cut line at The Players Championship, who missed the cut this year and how to watch all the action on-course the rest of the tournament:

The Players Championship 2025 projected cut line

Last updated: 8 p.m. ET

The cut line for The Players Championship is set at 1-under as second round action wrapped up on Friday, per the PGA Tour’s official leaderboard.

Who could miss the 2025 Players Championship cut?

The cut line bounced from 1-under to 2-under at various times on Friday, but as the round ended, the projected cut line was set at 1-under. Although players like Xander Schauffele and Shane Lowry lived to play another game after finishing 1-under, the same cannot be said about some other big names. Only the top 65 golfers (and ties) make it to the weekend at TPC Sawgrass. Here are some notable golfers that missed the cut on Friday:

Justin Rose (E)
Hideki Matsuyama (E)
Sam Burns (+1)
Ludvig Aberg (+2)
Adam Scott (+2)
Viktor Hovland (+4)
Brian Harman (+6)
Matt Fitzpatrick (+6)
Max Homa (+7)
Tony Finau (+8)
Gary Woodland (+12)
Wyndham Clark (WD)

How to watch The Players Championship 2025: TV, streaming for PGA Tour

The Players Championship will be carried live on TV by the Golf Channel all four days. NBC will pick up live coverage of the third and final rounds. There is streaming coverage available on ESPN+, Peacock and Fubo, which is offering a free trial.

Saturday, March 15

Third round

8 a.m.-7 p.m. ET, ESPN+
2-7 p.m. ET, NBC Sports app
2-7 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock

Sunday, March 16

Final round

7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. ET, ESPN+
1-6 p.m. ET, NBC Sports app
1-6 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock

Watch The Players Championship with Fubo

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The first few days of NFL free agency are often hectic. The 2025 edition of the event was no exception, as players flew off the board quickly when the league’s ‘legal tampering’ window opened.

The NFL’s trade market was also active before and during NFL free agency. Star receivers like DK Metcalf and Deebo Samuel were among the notable players traded while the Houston Texans surprised by moving on from veteran left tackle Laremy Tunsil.

There are still plenty of quality free agents yet to sign. Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson and Cooper Kupp rank among the most notable players still available as NFL free agency continues.

But how have NFL teams fared during free agency’s first wave? Here are grades for all 32 teams.

Arizona Cardinals

Grade: A-

The Cardinals have lacked high-end edge rushers since Chandler Jones’ final season with the team in 2021. They landed one of the top pass rushers on the open market, Josh Sweat, to change that. Sweat had 2.5 sacks in Super Bowl 59 and has experience playing for Arizona head coach Jonathan Gannon in Philadelphia, so he should ingratiate himself into Arizona’s defense easily.

Arizona also added backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett and run-stuffing defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson to build up its roster depth. Add in the re-signings of starting guard Evan Brown and edge rusher Baron Browning and the Cardinals have done well for themselves on the open market.

Atlanta Falcons

Grade: B-

The Falcons entered the 2025 NFL offseason cap-strapped by the four-year, $180 million contract they gave Kirk Cousins last year. As a result, they couldn’t spend significantly on the free agent market.

Still, Atlanta found a couple of solid external free agent contributors in edge rusher Leonard Floyd (one year, $10 million) and linebacker Divine Deablo (two years, $14 million). Floyd in particular should help the Falcons improve upon their 31 sacks from last season (second-worst in the NFL), but the 32-year-old doesn’t constitute as a major needle-mover.

Baltimore Ravens

Grade: B

The Ravens haven’t been too active yet in free agency, but retaining one of their top offensive linemen, left tackle Ronnie Stanley, on a three-year, $60 million deal ahead of the legal tampering period was critical. That will allow the Ravens to return four of their five starting offensive linemen from 2024.

As far as external signings go, Baltimore has only added veteran receiver DeAndre Hopkins on a one-year, $6 million deal. That’s a worthwhile gamble on the three-time All-Pro, but it doesn’t qualify as a major move with the 32-year-old now past his prime.

Buffalo Bills

Grade: B+

The Bills spent the 2024 offseason taking care of their own, as they extended Josh Allen, Gregory Rousseau, Khalil Shakir and Terrell Bernard. They have also added a handful of veteran role players including defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (one year, $8.3 million), receiver Joshua Palmer (three years, $36 million) and outside linebacker Michael Hoecht (three years, $24 million).

Perhaps the most interesting move was Buffalo’s decision to swap out Von Miller for Joey Bosa. The former Chargers star is younger than Miller but has struggled to stay healthy in recent seasons. That said, Bosa’s deal is a one-year pact worth $12.6 million, so the Bills didn’t take any long-term risk by adding him.

Carolina Panthers

Grade: B

The Panthers have a clear directive in mind during the 2025 offseason: to add young talent to their defense. It began when they made Jaycee Horn the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. It continued when they gave four players aged 26 or younger – defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton, safety Tre’von Moehrig, edge rusher Patrick Jones II and defensive tackle Bobby Brown III – multi-year contracts.

Carolina may have spent a little bit above market value on some of those deals, but they are hoping the young talents will grow into them. That’s not a bad gamble considering the Panthers ranked last in defensive EPA last season.

Chicago Bears

Grade: A

Chicago’s entire interior offensive line was set to hit free agency in 2025. The Bears used this opportunity to make wholesale changes up front after Caleb Williams was sacked a league-high 68 times last season.

The Bears traded for veteran guards Jonah Jackson, who worked with new Bears head coach Ben Johnson while with the Lions, and Joe Thuney, who was an All-Pro in back-to-back seasons with the Chiefs. They capped off their changes by signing Drew Dalman – Pro Football Focus’ fourth-graded center from 2024 – to a three-year deal worth up to $42 million.

Add in Chicago’s signings of Dayo Odeyingbo (three years, $48 million) and Grady Jarrett (three years, $43.5 million) to bolster the defensive front and the Bears got much better in the trenches. That should position them to improve upon their 5-12 record from last season.

Cincinnati Bengals

Grade: D+

The Bengals entered the 2025 offseason hoping to retain Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson long-term. Thus far, Cincinnati slapped Higgins with the franchise tag again, gave Hendrickson permission to seek a trade and saw Myles Garrett earn a contract worth $40 million in AAV, which could drive up the price of Chase’s eventual extension. That’s less than ideal for the ever-penny-pinching Bengals.

Cincinnati did well to retain some of their key free agents – most notably tight end Mike Gesicki (three years, $25.5 million) and B.J. Hill (three years, $33 million) – but the Bengals haven’t landed many upgrades to their defense. That puts a lot of pressure on the Bengals front office to nail the draft to solve the defensive woes they faced last season.

Cleveland Browns

Grade: B+

Myles Garrett requested a trade away from the Browns, but Cleveland found a way to retain their star by making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL. The four-year, $160 million deal was pricey, but it allowed the Browns to keep their best player and keep his ‘Cleveland to Canton’ trajectory alive.

Beyond that, the Browns have done well despite being handcuffed to Deshaun Watson’s albatross contract. Landing Kenny Pickett via trade as cheap quarterback competition was particularly notable while Cornelius Lucas (two years, $10 million) should replenish some of Cleveland’s departing tackle depth.

Few will be overly excited by what the Browns have accomplished, but Andrew Berry has done a nice job considering the resources with which he is working.

Dallas Cowboys

Grade: C

Jerry Jones’ team hasn’t spent more than $10 million in AAV on an external free agent since Greg Hardy in 2015. That streak seems likely to stay alive another year, unless the Cowboys can sign Cooper Kupp.

Among the Cowboys signings, running back Javonte Williams and edge rusher Payton Turner have some upside on one-year deals while guard Robert Jones and defensive tackle Solomon Thomas could also end up playing significant roles. Buying low on Kaiir Elam via trade was also a worthwhile gamble.

Still, the Cowboys aren’t looking much better this year than they were in their 7-10 season last year. That’s less than ideal playing in the top-heavy NFC East.

Denver Broncos

Grade: A

The Broncos ranked No. 1 in defensive EPA last season. Nonetheless, they managed to get better on that side of the ball by signing a couple of 49ers – 2022 All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga and elite run-stopper Dre Greenlaw – to three-year deals. They should give Vance Joseph’s defense more playmaking power.

Denver also added a mismatch weapon at tight end in Evan Engram (two years, $23 million) and kept starting defensive tackle D.J. Jones on a three-year, $39 million deal. The Broncos’ window for contention is open with Bo Nix on a cheap rookie contract, so this should help them in their quest to make a second consecutive playoff appearance.

Detroit Lions

Grade: A-

The Lions lost Carlton Davis in free agency but were able to add D.J. Reed, a slight upgrade over Davis, on a cheaper deal (three years, $48 million). They also retained defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike on a reasonable one-year deal to continue in rotation with D.J. Reader and Alim McNeill and managed to keep versatile swing tackle Dan Skipper.

The only blight on Detroit’s free agency is that the team released Za’Darius Smith before anyone could see him play across from Aidan Hutchinson.

Green Bay Packers

Grade: B-

The Packers aren’t typically active in free agency, but they signed a couple of starters this year in left guard Aaron Banks and cornerback Nate Hobbs.

Green Bay may have overpaid for Banks (four years, $77 million) but his presence at left guard allows Elgton Jenkins to move to center to replace the departing Josh Myers. Meanwhile, Hobbs adds a quality slot man and versatility to a cornerback room that needed depth and talent.

Those two signings are solid, as are the team’s decisions to re-sign kicker Brandon McManus and linebacker Isaiah McDuffie.

Houston Texans

Grade: C-

The Texans have had a strange offseason. They made a nice trade to acquire C.J. Gardner-Johnson from the Eagles by offloading first-round guard bust Kenyon Green, but that was one of many moves in the dismantling of their offensive line.

The Texans have made a couple quality buy-low moves, like trading for receiver Christian Kirk and signing edge rusher Darrell Taylor, but it doesn’t feel as though they have improved upon their playoff roster from last season yet.

Indianapolis Colts

Grade: B-

The Colts needed to add talent to their secondary and have done so, agreeing to terms with cornerback Charvarius Ward and safety Cam Bynum on a pair of $60 million contracts. Ward should fit particularly well into Lou Anarumo’s defense and will relish a fresh start after mourning the death of his 1-year-old daughter during the 2024 season.

The Colts lost a couple of offensive lineman, including standout right guard Will Fries, which is dragging their grade down slightly. So too are questions about whether Daniel Jones was the right quarterback to pair with Anthony Richardson, but Jones is just on a one-year, $14 million deal.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Grade: C+

The Jaguars haven’t yet done much to write home about as new general manager James Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen retool the roster. The Jaguars have focused on depth signings, grabbing tight ends Johnny Mundt and Hunter Long to replace Evan Engram while signing Dyami Brown to replace the departing Christian Kirk.

Notably, the Jaguars have signed three offensive linemen – Patrick Mekari, Robert Hainsey and Chuma Edoga – to multi-year deals. Mekari (three years, $37.5 million) and Hainsey (three years, $21 million) are being paid like starters while Edoga is more likely to be a swing tackle.

None of Jacksonville’s signings have been flashy, but they should be deeper than they have been in recent seasons.

Kansas City Chiefs

Grade: B-

The good: Kansas City solidified their defense by re-signing linebacker Nick Bolton and agreeing to a reasonable deal with Kristian Fulton to be the team’s No. 2 cornerback. The bad: they traded their All-Pro left guard Joey Thuney and will have questions on the left side of the line as a result even after signing Jaylon Moore to a two-year, $30 million deal.

Those offensive line questions will worry Chiefs fans who have watched Patrick Mahomes get crushed by pressure in his two Super Bowl losses.

Las Vegas Raiders

Grade: B+

The Raiders locked Maxx Crosby in with a contract extension worth $35.5 million in AAV. That constituted their big splash of free agency while their trade for Geno Smith gave them a much-needed upgrade at quarterback.

Aside from that, Las Vegas targeted experienced starters and role players – like safety Jeremy Chinn, right guard Alex Cappa and linebacker Elandon Roberts – to plug hole and add depth to its roster. Overall, this seems like the right way for the team to improve upon their difficult 2024 season.

Los Angeles Chargers

Grade: B

The Chargers have lost some key players in free agency, namely Poona Ford, Kristian Fulton, Joey Bosa and Josh Palmer. They have also kept some of their key players, like edge rusher Khalil Mack and center Bradley Bozeman, while adding running Najee Harris, who profiles as a great fit for Greg Roman’s offense, on a one-year deal.

General manager Joe Hortiz appears to be taking a calculated approach in free agency as he continues to shape the team into one built around its running game and defense. That worked last season and should work just fine in 2025.

Los Angeles Rams

Grade: A-

The Rams made one of the most underrated signings in early free agency by landing Poona Ford on a three-year deal worth up to $30 million. He was one of the NFL’s best defensive linemen against the run last season, and Los Angeles desperately needed to upgrade its run defense.

Elsewhere, the Rams kept left tackle Alaric Jackson on a market-value deal ahead of free agency and landed Davante Adams as a quality replacement for Cooper Kupp. They also extended Matthew Stafford, which should allow them to remain a contender in 2025 and beyond.

The only downside to Los Angeles’ offseason is that they didn’t get anything on the trade market for Kupp.

Miami Dolphins

Grade: B

The Dolphins have done a solid job adding talent to their roster despite having minimal wiggle room under the salary cap. They landed an upgrade at right guard in James Daniels (three years, $24 million) and a bigger-bodied receiver in Nick Westbrook-Ikhine who will pair well with speed demons Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

While losing Jevon Holland will hurt, landing Ifeatu Melifonwu on a one-year deal to replace him is a solid upside swing. It’s hard to complain too much with Miami’s approach as a result.

Minnesota Vikings

Grade: A

Much will be made about the Vikings losing both Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones in free agency. However, with the team ready to trust J.J. McCarthy as a starter, the team was smart not to overpay for a veteran quarterback. Instead, they spent heavily in the trenches, bringing in Ryan Kelly and Will Fries from the Colts to play center and right guard respectively while also signing veteran defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave.

Some will argue that giving Fries $88 million is a bit rich; others may wonder whether Allen will be able to live up to a $20 million AAV after seeing his sack numbers decline in four consecutive seasons.

Even so, Minnesota looks a lot stronger up front than it was last season. That could allow the Vikings to continue to build upon their 2024 success, provided that McCarthy is ready to step into the starting role.

New England Patriots

Grade: A

The Patriots have landed upgrades at every level of the defense. Milton Williams and Harold Landry will add much needed pop to a unit that produced the fewest sacks in the NFL last season; Robert Spillane will provide leadership and instinctive tackling ability at linebacker; and Carlton Davis is a proven, solid outside starter to pair with All-Pro Christian Gonzalez.

Patriots fans may be perturbed that the team hasn’t added a left tackle or a top receiver in free agency yet as they look to build around Drake Maye. That said, they did sign Morgan Moses to be an upgrade on the right side. The veteran starter should be a major upgrade over Demontrey Jacobs – who graded as Pro Football Focus’ worst qualified tackle last season – and came with a reasonable $24 million price tag over three years.

New Orleans Saints

Grade: B

The Saints have long been in an unfavorable salary cap situation, but they continue to find ways to circumvent it and add to their team. This year, they agreed to a reasonable, three-year pact with safety Justin Reid worth up to $31.5 million and managed to keep edge rusher Chase Young on a three-year, $51 million deal. That’s not bad for a team that was once projected to be more than $50 million over the cap.

New York Giants

Grade: B-

The Giants spent most of their early free agent resources on their secondary. They signed cornerback Paulson Adebo and safety Jevon Holland to three-year deals worth a combined $99.3 million. Adebo and Holland are both just 25 years old, so New York in banking on the duo continuing to grow into a dynamic, playmaking tandem.

Some will question why the Giants were willing to pay Holland $15 million in AAV but not Xavier McKinney $16.75 million in 2024. Nonetheless, the Giants’ secondary is improved, and so is their trench depth after agreeing to deals with Chauncey Golston and Roy Robertson-Harris on the defensive line and backup offensive tackles in James Hudson and Stone Forsythe.

New York Jets

Grade: C+

The Jets are a tough team to grade. On one hand, they needed to undergo significant changes after a 5-12 season. They are getting that with Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, C.J. Mosley and D.J. Reed all departing.

On the other hand, it’s fair to scrutinize some of New York’s replacements. Jamien Sherwood fared well in place of Mosley last year, but was it wise to give a one-year starter $15 million in AAV? And what about Brandon Stephens, who was signed to a three-year, $36 million deal after allowing a 65 catches and 107.4 passer rating in 2025?

Add in Justin Fields (two years, $40 million) and New York’s free-agent class has been polarizing thus far. But given the class’ relative youth, it undeniably come with upside.

Philadelphia Eagles

Grade: C-

The Eagles didn’t have a lot of salary cap wiggle room, so they were expected not to be very active in free agency. They managed to re-sign All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun to a three-year, $51 million deal, but aside from that, they have focused on adding new players like Josh Uche and Harrison Bryant on cheap, short-term deals.

Philadelphia has lost five key defensive players from its Super Bowl 59-winning roster, the most head-scratching of which was C.J. Gardner-Johnson. They sent him to the Texans in a trade involving guard Kenyon Green, who has struggled through three NFL seasons since being a first-round pick.

The Eagles figure to be more active in the second wave of free agency as they bargain hunt, but it’s hard to feel too good about their offseason to date – even if they were expected to be quiet.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Grade: B+

It’s hard to fully grade the Steelers’ offseason while awaiting an answer to the Aaron Rodgers saga, but thus far, the team has done well to add to areas of need. DK Metcalf gives the team another high-quality receiving threat, Darius Slay can be a solid stopgap No. 2 cornerback and Mason Rudolph provides the team with solid, experienced depth at quarterback while making just $8 million over two years.

Questions exist about whether Metcalf’s skill set can complement George Pickens’ but there should be plenty for both to serve as strong downfield threats. As long as the Steelers land a solid quarterback, they should position themselves for another playoff run.

San Francisco 49ers

Grade: D

The 49ers are retooling significantly during the offseason. The team parted with veterans Deebo Samuel, Kyle Juszczyk, Javon Hargrave and Leonard Floyd by choice while losing starters Talanoa Hufanga, Dre Greenlaw, Charvarius Ward and Aaron Banks on the free agent market.

Meanwhile, San Francisco’s biggest additions have been blocking tight end Luke Farrell on a three-year, $20.25 million deal, wide-out DeMarcus Robinson on a two-year, $9.5 million deal and quarterback Mac Jones on a two-year deal worth $7 million. That won’t inspire hope among 49ers fans that San Francisco can make it back to the postseason after a disappointing 6-11 season.

Seattle Seahawks

Grade: C-

The Seahawks’ free agency grade largely depends on how you feel about the Sam Darnold signing. Some will like it because the 27-year-old is much younger than the 34-year-old Geno Smith and worked with new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak in San Francisco.

Others will point out that Darnold had the third-longest time to throw in the NFL last season, ahead of only Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts. That could be a recipe for disaster behind Seattle’s porous offensive line, which has been a problem for the better part of a decade.

The Seahawks also gave DeMarcus Lawrence (33 in April) a three year, $32.49 million deal that doesn’t exactly mesh with the team’s quest to get younger. Losing DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett will also weaken their receiving corps, so it’s hard to be overly optimistic about Seattle’s offseason thus far.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Grade: A-

The Buccaneers spent most of the offseason retaining their own talent. No deal was more impressive than the three-year, $66 million deal they agreed to with Chris Godwin, who reportedly turned down more money from the Patriots to go back to Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay also addressed its need for a high-end pass rusher by inking Haason Reddick to a one-year, $14 million deal. Overall, it’s yet another quality start to the offseason for general manager Jason Licht.

Tennessee Titans

Grade: B

The Titans needed to fix their offensive line after having trouble on the right side last season. Tennessee remedied that by signing left tackle Dan Moore Jr. to a four-year, $82 million contract. The deal was an overpay but will allow 2024 first-round pick JC Latham to move to the right side. Latham and veteran free-agent signing Kevin Zeitler will do a much better job on the right side than what Tennessee had last season while Moore should be serviceable on the left side.

The Titans have also signed reasonable deals with defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones, linebacker Cody Barton and safety Xavier Woods, so this has been a solid overall free-agent period for first-year general manager Mike Borgonzi.

Washington Commanders

Grade: A

The Commanders swung two of the biggest trades of the NFL offseason to land Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil. The two should provide major upgrades to the team’s already strong offense and make it one of the best units in the league.

The Commanders also re-signed some of their key free agents like Bobby Wagner, Zach Ertz, John Bates and Marcus Mariota. Washington could still stand to add another top edge rusher to its defensive line, but as it stands, the Commanders roster is looking rock-solid.