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          Free-agency scorecard: Grading 2013

          • Rich Cimini, ESPN Staff WriterFeb 27, 2014, 04:30 PM
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              Rich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University. You can follow him via Twitter @RichCimini.
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          Before we dive into the upcoming free-agency period, which begins March 11, let's take a look back at how the New York Jets fared last year in general manager John Idzik's first foray into free agency.

          We'll limit our scorecard to the offseason, meaning we won't get into in-season acquisitions such as Ed Reed and David Nelson. Simply put, our grades are based on bang for the buck.

          Overall grade: C-

          Analysis: This was a vintage "hold-the-fort" crop of free agents -- inexpensive players, many of them on one-year contracts. Idzik, restricted by the salary cap, let several proven veterans leave, replacing them with bargain-basement players. Even though only two emerged as full-time starters, we're grading on a curve because these were no-harm, no-foul signings that had very little impact on the salary cap. In the end, a lot more talent walked out the door than came in, but they're hoping for payback with compensatory draft picks. They could receive the maximum number of comp picks (four), with experts predicting three fifth-rounders and one sixth-rounder.

          FREE AGENTS

          Player: Mike Goodson, running back

          • Contract: Three years, $6.9 million, including a $1 million signing bonus.

          • Grade: F

          • Analysis: He was a train wreck, giving the organization more agita than production. He spent more time on the suspended list than in a uniform. His days could be numbered.

          Player: Antwan Barnes, linebacker

          • Contract: Three years, $4.05 million, including a $900,000 signing bonus.

          • Grade: D

          • Analysis: Tough luck. He contributed as a pass-rushing specialist before wrecking his knee in Week 4. His recovery is going well and he should be back.

          Player: Dawan Landry, safety

          • Contract: Two years, $3 million, including a $650,000 signing bonus.

          • Grade: B-

          • Analysis: He played almost every snap, bringing intangibles to a rebuilt secondary. That alone was worth the modest contract. Too bad he didn't make any plays.

          Player: Willie Colon, guard

          • Contract: One year, $1.162 million, including a $162,000 roster bonus.

          • Grade: B

          • Analysis: He played reasonably well, save for all the penalty flags, instilling toughness in the offensive line. His tore his biceps in the final game, clouding his future.

          Player: David Garrard, quarterback

          • Contract: One year, $1.1 million, including a $100,000 signing bonus.

          • Grade: F

          • Analysis: Not Idzik's finest moment. Two months after signing, Garrard retired, citing a chronic knee condition. He returned at midseason, carrying the clipboard, mentoring Geno Smith and becoming the most quoted third-string quarterback in recent memory not named Tim Tebow.

          Player: Antonio Garay, defensive tackle

          • Contract: One year, $905,000, including a $65,000 signing bonus.

          • Grade: F

          • Analysis: It was worth a shot, but after a career filled with injuries, Garay had nothing left and didn't make it out of training camp. He was out of the league last season.

          Player: Stephen Peterman, guard

          • Contract: One year, $905,000, including a $65,000 signing bonus.

          • Grade: F

          • Analysis: Few probably remember that Peterman actually started the first two preseason games. He eventually lost the left guard job to Vladimir Ducasse, who lost it to Brian Winters. Peterson was cut in camp and sat out the season.

          Player: Kellen Winslow, tight end

          • Contract: One year, $840,000.

          • Grade: D

          • Analysis: What started out as a cool comeback story turned into a tawdry mess, starting with his PED suspension and ending with a Boston Market craving that ... um, turned embarrassing in a parking lot.