Patriots sign CB Brandon Browner (3 years, $17M; $1M guaranteed): A+ Grade
You read that right - there's just $1 million guaranteed on Brandon Browner's 3-year deal with the Patriots. That makes this an outstanding signing.
Browner is a talented corner, but there's major risk involved with him. He has to serve a four-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. He'll be back in early October, but he's one infraction away from being banished for an entire season.
However, the Patriots did a great job of protecting themselves in case Browner screws up. If he's hit with another suspension, New England can just cut him without any sort of penalty. In the meantime, they'll have a talented No. 2 corner across from Darrelle Revis, meaning it'll be very difficult to throw on them.