Bargains can be valuable additions

Raise your hand if you muttered derisively last offseason when the Washington Football Team signed free-agent tight end Logan Thomas away from the Detroit Lions.

Yeah, me too. What about running back J.D. McKissic (Detroit, again)? Uh huh. Don’t pretend you were thrilled to see linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis and offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas (Chicago), fullback Peyton Barber (Tampa Bay) and cornerback Ronald Darby (Philadelphia) show up in Ashburn.

Coach Ron Rivera went shopping in the National Football League’s version of Filene’s Basement and emerged with enough great deals to propel his first team in D.C. to seven victories and an NFC East title.

Thomas and McKissic had a combined 152 receptions. Pierre-Louis registered career-highs in starts and tackles. None of Barber’s stats jump out, but he did what they wanted: move the chains in short-yardage situations. Lucas was more than adequate at left tackle (though if someone better came along . . .). For the first time in his six-year career, Darby started all 16 games with a career-high 16 passes defensed and 55 tackles.