30 Comments
User's avatar
John Lawton's avatar

Respectable-to-good signing. Await your film take. Fills a definite need, obviously, so something to feel good about. He'll doubtless be challenged for PT by a guy or two in the draft.

Michael Rost's avatar

I've never heard Collingsworth mention this guy's name, so how good can he be really? Clearly Sheila, Brad, and Dan aren't serious about winning a Super Bowl or they would've signed someone that I recognize.

Jay Scott's avatar

Justin, do you view DJ a B-tier, C-tier, or best of the rest?

Justin Rogers's avatar

I've worked my way through three games of run tape, so this is premature, but probably could make a C-tier case based on playing style.

Jay Scott's avatar

I’m glad we signed an DE. At the minimum he’ll be depth and a rotational player.

Be interesting to see what “up to 6 mil” means. He has more tackles and sacks in 6 years than AQM had in 8 years.

AQM

https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/3051942/al-quadin-muhammad

DJ

https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/4038849/dj-wonnum

Deacon's avatar

He was ballin vs the Lions when he tore his quadricep. I remember feeling bad for him because he was about to get paid. If his quad is back this could be a steal

Justin Rogers's avatar

Are we secretly onto the formula? Brad is signing guys that balled out against the Lions?

This is a joke. I think.

Jim Pen's avatar

That guy with the MM initials seemed to use this formula but thankfully Mr Holmes shows better sense

Chad H's avatar

Seems like a solid signing. Couple 8 sack seasons and isn’t 30 yet.

Jim's avatar

Plays the same role as Epenesa. Seems like he will be a good addition, although I was hoping for Epenesa because I wanted to give him the nickname Epenesa Scrooge.

Nor's avatar

Solid. Can see him outplaying his contract value. Better than Davenport so upgrade

Trevor's avatar

"Pass rusher" seems like a generous description. 3 sacks in 15 starts

Charles Wolfson's avatar

No criticism intended whatsoever, but I'm curious, Justin, why he didn't make your list of possible edge FA's (or anyone else's list, for that matter, at least that I can recall).

Justin Rogers's avatar

There were about 40 free agents. I looked at him and decided to go with a cheaper option connected to the staff in Tryon. Wanted to mix and match types. In reality, I shouldn't have included guys like Reddick, who weren't fits, but names. Guess I felt compelled to shoot down some "names" and explain why, which trimmed some fits off the list.

Charles Wolfson's avatar

You sounded pretty positive about him. How would you "grade" the signing taking into account the player, the contract and potential alternatives. Is he, like most of their other signings, a marginal starter/rotation type that potentially fills out the lineup in advance of the draft.

Justin Rogers's avatar

I don't grade signings. I find it to be a disingenuous exercise for take artists. I'll watch some film, process what I see and share those insights when the work is done.

Charles Wolfson's avatar

Fair enough. I actually agree with you on that. Probably shouldn't have put it in those terms :)

Justin Rogers's avatar

I hope you enjoyed yesterday's film-based review of the signing.

newmanian's avatar

Is he as good as Al-Quadin Muhammad? Not likely. So…I’m assuming this is a second level slot that he’s filling?

Justin Rogers's avatar

Different type edge defender. Better at some things, not at others. No different than saying is a square better than a circle? I'd suggest Wonnum is more of a Davenport-type. Lions didn't see Muhammad as capable of filling that three-down role.

Jim's avatar

We've got a pool and a pond, pond is good for you.

Jim Pen's avatar

Hopefully he provides enough to get things started til whoever we draft at this position gets up to speed. He looked decent against us a few times.

PengShei's avatar

Rooting for his success, and don’t wanna pile on, this is the first FA signing I can’t get behind. 98th out of 124 EDGEs in pressure rate (8.6%) and 113th out of 115 qualifying EDGEs in PFF pass rush grade. Too one dimensional, even as a backup.

Brew's avatar

Sometimes I wonder why I spend hours reading about free agent previews, best fits, mock drafts, etc when the actuals always come from left field haha

Michael Murphy's avatar

I low level like this. Decent rotational signing with starting potential.

Aaron's avatar

Immediate boost? Only because the cupboard was basically bare, right?

Justin Rogers's avatar

Is one more than zero?

Aaron's avatar

Yes, one is more than zero. Seems like insanely low standards for a team that finished fourth last year.

Justin Rogers's avatar

How about this qualification. I'm not going to judge a player I haven't watched on film. What I can tell you is he's started more than 50 games, has played nearly 4,000 defensive snaps, has decent pressure tallies -- better than Muhammad pre-2025, and has been clearly viewed as three-down capable by three different defensive coordinators. That is better than zero.