No offseason goes completely according to plan, but it's
always smart to plan ahead. And we're here to help.
With the franchise-tag window (beginning Feb. 19) and the
start of free agency (March 13) just around the corner and April's draft only a
couple of months out, we've drawn up offseason blueprints for all 32 NFL teams.
Focusing mainly on free agency and the draft, here's what
each organization should prioritize in the weeks and months to come.
PITTSBURGH
STEELERS
TRADE ANTONIO
BROWN SOONER THAN LATER
Sooner essentially means before June 1. There's an
impression that the Steelers would prefer to deal Brown after that date in
order to spread out his $21 million dead cap hit over the course of two years
rather than one, but the market for Brown will obviously be much stronger in
March than in June.
That potential return on investment edge helps, and don't
forget that if Brown remains on the roster for all of March, April and May, his
$22 million cap hit will take up even more space than that dead cap charge. The
Steelers just have to tear off the Band-Aid, ideally walk away with a
first-round pick and put faith in emerging star JuJu Smith-Schuster.
ADDRESS THE
SECONDARY
This has been a problem area for some time, and that didn't
change much in 2018. Corners Mike Hilton and Joe Haden are solid in the slot
and outside, but they can upgrade on impending free agent Coty Sensabaugh and
bust first-rounder Artie Burns.
At safety, Morgan Burnett is old and disgruntled, while
youngsters Terrell Edmunds and Sean Davis failed to stand out last season.
They need competition in the defensive backfield, and there are plenty of
established defensive backs scheduled to hit the open market. Maybe they'll
sign Ronald Darby away from the Eagles.
ADD ANOTHER
PASS-RUSHER
Let's presume that if they trade Brown they'd use one of
their first-round picks on a new receiver. The other pick should probably be
used on a defensive player. And if it's not a defensive back, look for the
Steelers to bring in a blue-chip pass-rusher to battle Bud Dupree for the right
to start opposite T.J. Watt. Could Clemson's Clelin Ferrell slide to them
in the No. 20 spot? If so, it'd be hard to pass.
ARIZONA CARDINALS
ADD PROTECTION FOR
JOSH ROSEN
During an abysmal rookie season, the blue-chip quarterback
out of UCLA was one of just five qualified signal-callers who were sacked
on more than 10 percent of their dropbacks. Left tackle D.J. Humphries is a
problem, and the Cardinals have a hole on the right side. With the free-agent
market shallow there, they have to strongly consider using their No. 33 overall
selection on an offensive tackle.
ADD WEAPONS FOR
JOSH ROSEN
The Cardinals are widely expected to go defense with the No.
1 overall pick. But they're projected to have more than $49 million in
salary-cap space, and they could desperately use an outside receiver to team up
with veteran Larry
Fitzgerald. Impending free agent Tyrell Williams makes sense. Or
they could shoot for the stars and try to trade for someone like Antonio Brown, Odell
Beckham Jr. or A.J. Green.
PREPARE JOSH ROSEN
As you can tell, this offseason is all about one young man
who turned 22 on Sunday. The Cardinals sacrificed a mid-first-round pick; a
third-round pick and a fifth-round pick in order to make Rosen their
quarterback of the future. Not only do they need to give him more tangible
support during his first full offseason, but they also have to work tirelessly
to ensure he's comfortable and familiar with new head coach Kliff Kingsbury's
offense. Let the Air Raid begin!
ATLANTA FALCONS
BRING BACK GRADY
JARRETT
The league's 28th-ranked defense can't afford to lose its
best player as he enters his prime. The 25-year-old defensive tackle is coming
off a superb season, and he should only get better. The Falcons have a
solid $28.7 million in
cap space and few major holes, so letting Jarrett get away as an unrestricted
free agent would be a tremendous mistake.
GIVE JARRETT
BETTER COMPANY
Atlanta also has to take a step forward up front on defense,
ideally upgrading the likes of Brooks Reed, Terrell McClain and Derrick Shelby.
Vic Beasley Jr. has struggled in three of his four seasons, and 2017
first-rounder Takkarist McKinley has yet to break out. The Falcons had a
bottom-10 pass rush, and now they need to spend some money and/or draft capital
on front-end defensive talent. Think Ezekiel Ansah.
BEEF UP THE
OFFENSIVE LINE
The guard positions were problematic throughout the 2018
season, and Andy Levitre is turning 33 in May, recovering from a major triceps
injury and slated to hit free agency. The Falcons should shoot for impending
free agent Rodger Saffold and strongly consider potential convert tackle Cody
Ford with that No. 14 overall pick.
BALTIMORE RAVENS
PROVIDE LAMAR
JACKSON WITH AT LEAST TWO MORE WEAPONS
Baltimore should add one in the offensive backfield and one
in the receiving corps. Joe Flacco was underserved for much of his tenure, but
the Ravens can't afford to skimp on support for Flacco's raw second-year
successor. Baltimore could use an established running back like impending free
agent Mark Ingram and another field-stretcher like Tyrell Williams or Donte
Moncrief.
ADD A TIGHT END
Any chance the Ravens can convince the Colts to send them
contract-year pass-catching machine Jack Doyle now that Eric Ebron has emerged
as the top dude in Indianapolis? Jackson needs a reliable, experienced safety
valve at the tight end position, ideally an upgrade over Nick Boyle and/or Maxx
Williams. It would be interesting to see impending Oakland Raiders free agent
Jared Cook in a Baltimore uniform.
LOCK UP C.J.
MOSLEY
If the Ravens are going to get back to the playoffs with
Jackson under center, they need to once again dominate as often as possible on
defense. Baltimore would have a tough time doing so without Mosley, who is
already a four-time Pro Bowler at the age of 26. The Ravens have to do
everything in their power to keep Mosley around, even if it means that a
team with relatively limited cap space (more than $10 million below the league
average) has to part ways with old-timer Terrell Suggs.
BUFFALO BILLS
ADD PROTECTION FOR
JOSH ALLEN
The 2018 No. 7 overall selection was one of eight
quarterbacks sacked on at least 8 percent of his dropbacks last season. The Bills need to
replace the entire right side of the offensive line—there's no reason to bring
back weak impending free agents Jordan Mills and John Miller—and there are
indications Dion Dawkins isn't a career left tackle. They'd be smart to address
the line with the ninth pick. Florida's Jawaan Taylor is an obvious potential
target.
ADD WEAPONS FOR
JOSH ALLEN
It's not lost on us that a pattern has emerged regarding
second-year first-round picks at quarterback. And it makes sense because teams
try to put the horse before the cart. Arizona, Baltimore and Buffalo are still
building their carts for their respective horses. The Bills don't even have a
frame in place. And if they don't use their top-10 pick on a blue-chip
offensive tackle, it'd better be spent on a potential superstar wideout like
A.J. Brown out of Mississippi.
SPEND SOME OF THAT
CASH ON AN IMPACT DEFENSIVE PLAYER
Only three teams have more projected cap space than the Bills,
who have talent on defense but lack a standout. They need a playmaker who can
help give their D more of an identity, and they may have to overpay for that.
So be it. Have your pick among impending free agents Demarcus Lawrence, Jadeveon Clowney, Grady
Jarrett, Dee Ford, Landon Collins, Earl Thomas and Adrian Amos.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
PURCHASE CAM
NEWTON INSURANCE
Maybe this means acquiring Blake Bortles from the Jacksonville
Jaguars. Maybe it means rolling the dice on Colin Kaepernick, since
they've already tested controversial protest waters with Eric Reid. Regardless,
the Panthers need an experienced backup quarterback in case Newton's balky,
surgically repaired throwing shoulder continues to be a problem in the
fall.
Last month, Panthers owner David Tepper wouldn't rule out the possibility that Newton could pull
an Andrew Luck and
take a season off to heal, and the quarterback himself recently revealed he
couldn't throw the ball farther than 30 yards down the stretch in 2018. That's
concerning.
FIX THE OFFENSIVE
LINE
Of course, it would be easier for Newton to stay healthy if
his pass protection improved. It was a mistake to give left tackle Matt Kalil
an extra-large contract (five years, $55.5 million) two offseasons ago, and now
his brother, center Ryan Kalil, is retiring. The Panthers should pursue Matt
Paradis or Mitch Morse in free agency and strongly consider using the No. 16
overall pick on monster-sized Oklahoma product Cody Ford (6'4", 338
lbs).
ADD A CORNERBACK
Only four defenses surrendered more passing touchdowns than
Carolina's, and that's partly due to the fact that the Panthers lack an elite
corner as well as depth at that position. It's time to upgrade. Attractive
impending free agents include Ronald Darby, Bryce Callahan and Pierre
Desir. They might have enough cap space to pay one of those guys to come in and
start.
CHICAGO BEARS
LOCK UP ADRIAN
AMOS
The Bears are in really good shape following a breakout
season. And they're low on cap space ($5.9 million), so there's little reason to expect major moves.
Those came last offseason. Instead, the goal should be to focus on re-signing
Amos, who at the age of 25 has emerged as one of the best safeties in the game.
The franchise tag is a possibility if they want to avoid the risk of being
outbid by a more cap-rich competitor.
FIND A SUITOR FOR
JORDAN HOWARD
Chicago is short on draft picks following the Khalil Mack
trade with the Raiders and another deal with the New England Patriots, but one
way to get a pick or two back is to deal Howard. The solid running back is
entering the final year of his rookie deal, and he just isn't enough of a
factor now that Tarik Cohen has emerged. The Bears should get something for
Howard before his likely departure in 2020.
REPLACE
CODY PARKEY
You hope Parkey can redeem himself and get his career back
on track following that debacle at the end of Chicago's NFC Wild Card Game loss
to the Philadelphia Eagles. But kicking is a head game, and both Parkey and the
Bears would be better off if he took his talents elsewhere. The team has
reportedly already auditioned some potential replacements, and now the pressures
on to find the right guy.
CINCINNATI BENGALS
CONFIRM THAT ANDY DALTON IS ZAC
TAYLOR'S GUY
If the Bengals realize at any point this offseason that
Dalton isn't the best man for the job in new head coach Zac Taylor's offense,
they should move on. They can release or trade Dalton at no cost, and there's
no sense in forcing Taylor to kick off his first head-coaching gig with a
leftover quarterback. The draft is a possibility for a team that, under current
circumstances, might want to consider rebuilding. Dalton has regressed the last
couple of seasons and likely peaked several years ago.
SHOP A.J. GREEN
This is especially the case if they decide to move on from
Dalton. Green will turn 31 in July, he's missed at least six games in two of
the last three campaigns, and he's entering a contract year. The Bengals won't
likely do this, but they ought to consider unloading their seven-time Pro
Bowler and his $15.2 million salary. There's a decent chance Green hits the
road next year anyway, and Cincinnati doesn't appear to be on the brink of a
Super Bowl run.
LOCK UP TYLER BOYD
Boyd is the future in Cincinnati, at least at the receiver
position. The 24-year-old is coming off a quiet 1,000-yard season in which he
scored seven touchdowns and caught more than 70 percent of the passes thrown
his way. But he's entering a contract year. The Bengals have plenty of
projected cap space ($51.3 million)
but don't like to spend big on outside free agents, so they should splurge to
ensure Boyd doesn't have a chance to hit the open market in 2020.
CLEVELAND BROWNS
FIND SOMEONE TO
PROTECT BAKER MAYFIELD'S BLIND SIDE
This is one of the last puzzle pieces in Cleveland. The
Browns' long, much-publicized rebuild is essentially complete. But Greg
Robinson and Desmond Harrison are not long-term left tackles, and 2018
second-round pick Austin Corbett should probably remain at guard. The free-agent
market is shallow at that position, but the Browns should consider making a run
at contract-year Raiders offensive tackle Donald Penn. It's easy to see the
35-year-old Penn doing for Cleveland what Andrew Whitworth has done for the Los
Angeles Rams.
SIGN OR DRAFT A
SPEEDY OUTSIDE RECEIVER
Only two teams have more projected cap space than the
Browns, who could still use a deep threat to complement Jarvis Landry as an X
or Z receiver. John Brown, Donte Moncrief and Tyrell Williams are
candidates. Alternatively, they might want to spy someone like Ohio State's
Parris Campbell or Oklahoma's Marquise Brown early on in the draft.
ADD A
STARTING-CALIBER DEFENSIVE TACKLE
Say the Browns trade for the affordable Penn and go the
draft route at receiver. If so, they will have plenty of money to spend on an
interior defensive lineman who could better complement rising pass-rusher Myles
Garrett. Could they steal Grady Jarrett from the Falcons? David
Irving of the Dallas Cowboys would be an intriguing consolation prize.
DALLAS COWBOYS
MAKE DAK PRESCOTT
SWEAT
Team owner Jerry Jones has expressed extreme optimism regarding Prescott and his future in
Dallas, even stating explicitly in the middle of an up-and-down
season that the quarterback's contract would be extended. But that hasn't happened yet, and it shouldn't.
The 2016 Offensive Rookie of the Year did bounce back a little in 2018 after a
sophomore slump, but he continues to lack consistency.
With the franchise tag in the Cowboys' back pocket, there's
little reason for them to rush this. Let Prescott earn his money in the final
year of his rookie deal.
LOCK
UP DEMARCUS LAWRENCE
While working under the franchise tag in 2018, Lawrence had
to prove his 2017 breakout season wasn't an aberration. And the 26-year-old
pass-rusher delivered. Pro Football Focus graded Lawrence as the seventh-best edge-rusher
in the NFL after he put together a second consecutive season with double-digit
sacks. Dallas is expected to have nearly $46 million in cap space, so there's
no reason this shouldn't happen.
SIGN A STANDOUT
SAFETY
That's been an obvious need in Dallas for quite some time,
and the team has been linked heavily to impending free agent Earl Thomas.
Re-signing Lawrence should take priority, though, so if the Cowboys commit so
much cash to him that they're outbid for Thomas, Adrian Amos, Landon Collins
and Lamarcus Joyner would be excellent consolation prizes. The safety market
appears to be deep.
DENVER BRONCOS
FIND THE
QUARTERBACK OF THE FUTURE
It ain't Case Keenum, who revealed to the football world in
2018 that his surprisingly strong 2017 campaign with the Minnesota Vikings was
indeed a magic trick. General Manager John Elway conceded to Peter
King's Football Morning in America that Keenum is "probably
a short-term fix," and you get the sense Elway has grown frustrated with
his team's inability to find a franchise player under center.
The Broncos either have to acquire Nick Foles, trade
for Stafford if he's available or use their No. 10 overall pick on a
blue-chip passing prospect like Ohio State's Dwayne Haskins, Missouri's Drew
Lock, Daniel Duke's Jones or Oklahoma's Kyler Murray.
ADDRESS THE
OFFENSIVE LINE
They'll also have to commit a good chunk of their $36.2
million in salary-cap space to the center position. Matt Paradis is an
impending free agent worth re-signing. But they could also manage to upgrade at
both right guard and right tackle, where Connor McGovern, Elijah Wilkinson
and Jared Veldheer all struggled in 2018. Ja'Wuan James and Daryl
Williams could be out there on the tackle market, while Rodger Saffold
and Andy Levitre might headline the guard market.
ADD A CORNERBACK
Maybe this is where they go with their early second-round
pick, or maybe they pursue Pierre Desir, Ronald Darby, Steven Nelson
or Jason McCourty. Regardless, the Broncos badly need somebody other than
Chris Harris Jr. to shine in coverage, and starter Bradley Roby is an
impending free agent.
DETROIT LIONS
LET GO OF EZEKIEL
ANSAH, FIND A REPLACEMENT
Ansah would become one of the most attractive free-agent
pass-rushers on the market, but it's time for the Lions to go in a new
direction.
They've yet to succeed with Ansah, despite paying him $48.5
million over the course of his inconsistent six-year tenure in Detroit. The
Lions have some cap space (projected $30.6 million), but they'd be better off
spending their money on former Matt Patricia disciple Trey Flowers or
even Jadeveon Clowney. They could also go the draft route and spend that
top-10 pick on a blue-chip edge like Michigan's Rashan Gary.
ADD A
STARTING-CALIBER CORNERBACK
Opposing quarterbacks posted a 102.7 passer rating against
the Lions in 2018, so another option could be to use that No. 8 overall pick on
former Georgia corner Deandre Baker, who looks to be the top cover man in
this draft class. Otherwise, they'll have to chase Ronald Darby, Steven Nelson,
Pierre Desir or Jason McCourty. Nevin Lawson is allergic to interceptions (zero
since he entered the league in 2014), and Detroit needs somebody better to team
up with Darius Slay.
START LOOKING FOR
MATTHEW STAFFORD'S SUCCESSOR
The Lions are probably stuck with Stafford for several more
years because cutting or trading him would be too costly because of the way his
massive five-year, $135 million contract is structured. Still, it couldn't hurt
to plan for the future while also potentially lighting a fire under Stafford's
rear end by drafting a possible long-term quarterback option in April. It might
be worth using a Day 2 pick on someone like NC State's Ryan Finley,
Northwestern's Clayton Thorson or West Virginia's Will Grier.
GREEN BAY PACKERS
MAKE AARON RODGERS HAPPY
Rodgers is the most important employee in the Green Bay
Packers' building. Without him, they aren't winning anything of substance in
the next few years. So the new-look Packers have to get serious about
satisfying their franchise quarterback.
New head coach Matt LaFleur had better not be stubborn
about his system, and general manager Brian Gutekunst has to be willing to
spend some money. He can start by giving Rodgers another toy—an experienced one
who catches passes. There's just not enough there beyond Davante Adams, and
it's time to upgrade on impending free agent Randall Cobb. Golden Tate
and Adam Humphries are scheduled to hit the market in March.
CUT BAIT ON JIMMY GRAHAM AND
NICK PERRY
It's cool if the Packers have to designate both Graham and
Perry as June 1 releases to spread out the cap damage, but this is the
offseason to move on from these overpaid veterans. Graham essentially made $3
million per touchdown catch in 2018, while Perry brought in about $7.2 million
per sack. Releasing both would cost about $18 million in cap space, but that
might be better than paying both a combined $27.1 million in 2018.
START REBUILDING
THE DEFENSE
The Packers have two first-round picks, and it would make a
lot of sense if both selections were dedicated to a defense that ranked 29th in
the NFL in DVOA (defense-adjusted value over average) at Football
Outsiders. They need a shiny new pass-rusher to replace Perry and/or
Clay Matthews, a linebacker with a higher ceiling than Jake Ryan and a safety
who can be paired with the promising Josh Jones.
HOUSTON TEXANS
FIX THE OFFENSIVE
LINE
The Texans should be ashamed of themselves for allowing
young franchise quarterback Deshaun Watson—who was sacked a league-high 62
times—to operate behind train wrecks Julie'n Davenport and Kendall
Lamm in 2018. The interior of the line also struggled. But Houston has
accomplished talent there, and you wonder if those problems were related to the
issues Davenport and Lamm had on the outside.
The Texans must add two new starting offensive tackles
immediately. They should be in on impending free agents Trent
Brown, Ja'Wuan James and Daryl Williams, while Florida's Jawaan Taylor,
Alabama's Jonah Williams and Mississippi's Greg Little should be first-round
draft targets.
LOCK
UP JADEVEON CLOWNEY
J.J. Watt had a nice bounce-back campaign after missing all
but eight games over a two-season span, but there's no telling how long the
soon-to-be 30-year-old can sustain that. The Texans can't afford to let Clowney
get away. He's the future of that defense—can you believe he's only turning 26
years old this week?—and the Texans have to hit him with the franchise tag if a
deal isn't done before the March 5 deadline.
ADD A CORNERBACK
You've probably detected that a lot of teams could use
another cover man, and the Texans are on that list. Kareem Jackson is hitting
free agency on the wrong side of 30; Johnathan Joseph is on the brink of 35 and
the leagues 28th-ranked pass defense needs new blood in the secondary. Houston
probably has enough cap space to bring back Clowney, add a free-agent tackle
and still sign a corner like Ronald Darby, Steven Nelson or Pierre Desir.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
MAKE A SPLASH FOR
A PASS-RUSHER
Indianapolis ranked below the league median in terms of sack
rate and total sacks and 29th in adjusted sack rate at Football
Outsiders in 2018, but now the Colts practically have a blank
check to spend on an elite edge-rusher to bolster the defensive front. There's
no reason they wouldn't be in on Jadeveon Clowney, Demarcus Lawrence, Trey
Flowers, Frank Clark and Dee Ford if any of those impending free agents hit the
open market.
Otherwise, watch for a potential trade. Justin Houston's
contract ($40.1 million remaining) might be beginning to look like an albatross
to the Kansas City Chiefs.
FIND A FRIEND OR
TWO FOR T.Y. HILTON
The Colts have finally nailed down their offensive line,
giving Andrew Luck better protection than ever. Now they have to shift their
focus to adding more weapons for Luck. Dontrelle Inman is slated to hit
free agency, but they can upgrade with an outside threat like John Brown or
Tyrell Williams. They should also look for a new slot option. Golden Tate would
be ideal there, but Adam Humphries would work too. They might also be able
to add a first-round-caliber rookie receiver with either their 26th or 34th
overall pick in the draft.
RE-SIGN PIERRE
DESIR
You'd think this would be a no-brainer based on how well the
cornerback played down the stretch in 2018, but the Colts let Rashaan
Melvin walk after a strong season at that position one year ago. Indy can't get
cute when dealing with cornerbacks, especially because the jury's still out on
2017 second-round pick Quincy Wilson.
JACKSONVILLE
JAGUARS
REPLACE BLAKE
BORTLES UNDER CENTER
Duh. And because the Jaguars are a contender right now,
they'd be smart to pursue an accomplished quarterback who is more likely than a
rookie to make a positive impact in 2019. Nick Foles makes the most sense based
on his recent success in Philadelphia, and the Jags at least have more cap
space than any other potential Foles suitor. It'd be somewhat surprising if
this doesn't happen.
GIVE THAT
REPLACEMENT A NO. 1 RECEIVER
The Jags might not have a lot of money left with Foles or
another new quarterback on board, but something they do have is trade
ammunition. Jacksonville should make Malik Jackson, Bortles, Leonard Fournette
and—for the right price—Jalen Ramsey available. The latter three players have
either caused distractions off the field, problems on the field, or both, while
Jackson is simply too expensive. Jackson and Bortles can free up money by being
released.
Regardless, there are plenty of routes the Jags can take
that could position them to trade for Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham Jr. or A.J.
Green. Even if that doesn't pan out, they should be in on Golden Tate. And with
a top-10 pick, they also have the draft capital to wind up with someone
like D.K. Metcalf or A.J. Brown in Round 1.
ADD A
STARTING-CALIBER OFFENSIVE TACKLE
Third-year left tackle Cam Robinson needs to be pushed after
a bad rookie season and an injury-derailed sophomore campaign, while the right
tackle position could use a boost anyway. They should inquire about Donald Penn
in Oakland, make a run at Trent Brown, Ja'Wuan James and/or Daryl Williams
in free agency, and strongly consider Jawaan Taylor, Greg Little
and/or Jonah Williams in Round 1.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
TRADE JUSTIN
HOUSTON, RE-SIGN DEE FORD
This would of course require a trade partner, but it
shouldn't be hard to generate interest in Houston among contenders in need of
pass-rushing help. The key for the Chiefs is they can dump Houston's massive
salary and pay out a reasonable $7.1 million in dead money. That would enable a
team that ranks below the league median in cap space to lock up Ford, an
impending free agent who has more tread on his tires than Houston.
FIX THE SECONDARY
Those aforementioned pass-rusher-related developments would
also free up room for the Chiefs to address a major weakness. The defensive
line is already in superb shape with Chris Jones dominating inside and either
Ford or Houston (or both) on the edge, but Kansas City needs help at both
cornerback and safety, especially with Steven Nelson slated to hit
the open market.
Could the Chiefs try to trade for Jalen Ramsey? That could
be a game-changer, especially because Ramsey is affordable right now.
Alternatively, they could pursue Ronald Darby or Pierre Desir to work with
Nelson (if he re-signs) and Kendall Fuller. Earl Thomas also makes sense if
Eric Berry isn't able to get his heel right. They should also be eyeing corners
and safeties with that No. 29 pick.
RE-SIGN MITCH
MORSE
Patrick Mahomes benefited greatly from superb protection in
his MVP sophomore season, and Morse is one of the best pass-blocking centers in
the game. Continuity is so critical with an offensive line, especially when
you're bringing along a young franchise quarterback. The Chiefs have to pay up
to keep Morse, which is why that Houston trade could come in handy.
LOS ANGELES
CHARGERS
STRENGTHEN THE
OFFENSIVE LINE
Right tackle Sam Tevi is a liability, which isn't ideal
considering Philip Rivers' age (37). The Chargers' top priority with their $21
million in cap space should be to upgrade in that spot, so they should be in on
impending free agents Trent Brown, Ja'Wuan James and Daryl Williams. They
could always go the draft route too, but this is a win-now team that needs the
help immediately and lacks a top-25 pick.
STRENGTHEN THE
INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINE
The Chargers have to become stronger in the trenches on both
sides of the ball. On defense, they're obviously in tremendous shape with
Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa on the edges, but inside they could manage to
upgrade over Corey Liuget and Darius Philon, the latter of whom is
slated to become a free agent alongside Damion Square, Isaac Rochell and
the 34-year-old Brandon Mebane.
Could they be in on Grady Jarrett or Ndamukong Suh?
There are also several highly rated defensive tackle prospects that would make
sense with the No. 28 overall pick.
SEARCH FOR PHILIP
RIVERS' SUCCESSOR
Rivers is 37, but the
Chargers have a lot of young talent on the roster. In a perfect world, they can
find and groom a quarterback now so they don't have to experience a lull when
Rivers hits a wall or retires. It would make sense to use a second-round pick
on someone like Ryan Finley, Clayton Thorson or Will Grier, while
Kyler Murray might even be an intriguing gamble considering they have time to
wait for him. Problem is Murray is likely to go off the board earlier in Round
1.
LOS ANGELES RAMS
SHOP TODD GURLEY
As yours truly noted last week, use him or lose him. The Rams received proof down the stretch
that they don't need Gurley to dominate on offense, and they neglected him in
big moments as a result. Might as well cut ties now if you can consider the
All-Pro's four-year, $57.5 million contract. Getting rid of Gurley now would be
costly in terms of dead money, but it's better to rip off the Band-Aid and
admit signing him to a record-breaking deal last offseason was a mistake.
LOCK UP DANTE
FOWLER JR., LET GO OF NDAMUKONG SUH
The Rams probably can't afford to pay both defensive
linemen, so they should opt to keep the rising pass-rusher rather than the
declining defensive tackle. Suh didn't quite live up to big expectations and a
big salary in Los Angeles, even with several strong performances late in the
year. Meanwhile, Fowler was probably the team's best edge-rusher down the
stretch.
He'll be pricey too, but he's worth it as a 24-year-old at a
premium position. The Rams gave up two middle-round draft picks for Fowler in
October, so it'd be silly to let him walk now.
KEEP RODGER
SAFFOLD
The Rams won't likely be major players on the open market,
and they have just one top-100 draft pick, so this offseason will and should be
about keeping guys in-house. Fowler should be the focus in that respect on
defense, while Saffold has to be the top priority on offense. The 30-year-old
guard isn't a superstar, but he's consistent and reliable, and it's important
for quarterback Jared Goff's sake that the offensive line has continuity going
forward.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
REPLACE RYAN
TANNEHILL
Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reported
last month the Dolphins are "moving on from Tannehill," who hasn't
gotten it done in six seasons there. Now a rebuilding team has to decide
whether to pay up for a veteran like Nick Foles or Joe Flacco or go the draft
route.
The Dolphins hold the No. 13 overall pick, which could give
them a shot at any of the top quarterbacks in this class. Taking Dwayne
Haskins, Daniel Jones or Drew Lock probably makes more sense than spending big
on a free agent, because this team isn't likely to compete in 2019
regardless.
CLEAN THE REST OF
THE HOUSE
The Dolphins are low on cap space, but they can free up over
$13 million by cutting Tannehill, another $4 million by releasing Kenny Stills,
and nearly $5 million by parting ways with Kiko Alonso. Are those guys really
going to be part of the next core? Seems silly to pay eight-year veteran Robert
Quinn $12.9 million for a walk year when you can cut or trade him for
free.
INVEST
IN JA'WUAN JAMES
If the Dolphins are going to spend anywhere, it should be on
the offensive line. That new quarterback will have a higher likelihood of
success if he's well-protected, which is why Miami should be willing to pay up
to keep James. The impending free-agent right tackle has first-round pedigree
and has become a solid starter at the age of 26. The Dolphins should be
sellers, not buyers, but they should make an exception for James.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
REVAMP THE
OFFENSIVE LINE
Count the Vikings among those who will look to
poach Ja'Wuan James from Miami. But really, Minnesota should be in on
every starting-caliber free-agent offensive lineman (James, Trent Brown, Daryl
Williams, Rodger Saffold), because Kirk Cousins' pass protection was atrocious
in 2018.
Riley Reiff has been an overpaid disappointment at left
tackle, and they'd be best served moving him elsewhere. They also have at least
one hole at guard, while center Pat Elflein has struggled. This is a
win-now team with limited cap space, which means this offseason should be all
about the offensive line and probably not a lot else.
LET ANTHONY BARR
WALK
It's not as though Barr doesn't help the Vikings defense,
but if they're going to prioritize the line, there probably won't be enough in
the coffers for the 26-year-old impending free agent. He doesn't play a premium
position, and he doesn't make a lot of game-changing plays (he has six sacks,
two forced fumbles and zero interceptions the last three years), so the Vikings
might have to accept the fact that a competitor will likely outbid them for
Barr's services.
ADD A DEFENSIVE
TACKLE
Maybe this is a draft direction if they decide to go the
free-agent route for offensive line help and don't have the cash to replace
impending free agents Sheldon Richardson and/or Tom Johnson with veterans.
Regardless, it's a need. It would be interesting to see Mississippi
State's Jeffery Simmons or Houston's Ed Oliver in purple.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
GET TOM BRADY
ANOTHER WEAPON
Julian Edelman will turn 33 this offseason. Rob Gronkowski might
not be back, but he's also on the back nine of his career regardless. They
probably can't count on Josh Gordon either, and Chris Hogan, Phillip Dorsett
and Cordarrelle Patterson are all slated to hit free agency. Potential
free agents Adam Humphries and John Brown would both appear to be nice fits and
this might be a good year for New England to use a first-round pick on a
pass-catcher for the first time since 2004.
LET SOME VETERANS
GO
But the Pats are relatively low on cap space, so they'll
have to make some sacrifices in order to bolster the pass-catching corps. Not
sure it'd be worth paying free-agent market value to keep left tackle Trent
Brown, who will likely be in high demand. Brown made an impact in New England,
but there's no telling if that was a one-hit-wonder season, and Tom Brady gets
the ball out so damn quickly that overpaying an offensive tackle seems silly.
New England also should consider trying to deal safety Devin McCourty, who is
entering an age-32 walk year and can save the Pats nearly $10 million by taking
his talents elsewhere.
SEARCH FOR BRADY'S
HEIR APPARENT
Brady will be 42 years old when he throws his next in-game
pass, and New England doesn't appear to have a succession plan in place now
that Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett are long gone. The only other
quarterback on the roster is 33-year-old Brian Hoyer, so look for New England
to use a middle-round pick on someone like Will Grier, Clayton Thorson,
Ryan Finley or Jarrett Stidham. Then the grooming process can get
underway.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
RE-SIGN TEDDY
BRIDGEWATER
Drew Brees is
now 40, and he showed his age a little bit while struggling down the stretch in
2018. When the Saints sent the New York Jets a third-round pick for
Bridgewater and a sixth-rounder in August, it was a clear indication they
believed the 26-year-old former Pro Bowler could eventually move into Brees'
role.
There's no reason to think that's changed based on
Bridgewater's minuscule 23-pass sample from 2018. The Saints have a lot of
young talent, and the best way to avoid wasting that talent in the post-Brees
era is to continue to own Brees insurance. That's essentially what Bridgewater
is.
SAY GOODBYE TO
MARK INGRAM
Problem is, paying up for Bridgewater won't leave a cap-poor
team much wiggle room. One luxury they probably can't afford to keep is Ingram,
who works so well in a platoon with Alvin Kamara but simply has more value
elsewhere. The 29-year-old has probably peaked and is clearly the second fiddle
to Kamara. The Saints would be better off drafting a back or two in the middle
rounds and opening up a cost-effective competition for Ingram's role.
WORK THE TRADE
MARKET
In addition to being short on cash, the Saints also lack a
first-round pick as a result of last year's trade-up for Marcus Davenport.
They're going to have to get creative this offseason, but with such a complete
roster they can afford to pursue some trades. Could they pry Devin McCourty
away from New England? What about tight end Jack Doyle in Indy now that Eric
Ebron has become the guy there? Those guys would address needs without breaking
the bank.
NEW YORK GIANTS
USE THAT TOP-10
DRAFT PICK TO REEL IN ELI MANNING'S SUCCESSOR
You can't be a semi-competent NFL team with an aging
quarterback in this pass-happy era and neglect to draft a quarterback in the
top 10 in back-to-back seasons. This has to be the year the Giants finally add
a quarterback heir apparent in a high place, and the decision they make in that
situation could impact the franchise for years to come.
They can probably have their pick of the signal-caller
litter, and Ohio State's Dwayne Haskins makes a heck of a lot of sense. Haskins
could probably use a year of NFL grooming, which works out well because it'll
give Manning a nice chance for a goodbye tour before enabling him to walk away
at the end of his current contract next offseason.
STICK WITH ODELL
BECKHAM JR. UNLESS YOU'RE SWEPT OFF YOUR FEET BY AN OFFER
We're talking two first-round picks, or at least a high-end
first-rounder along with a Day 2 selection. Beckham may be distracting at
times, but the guy's contract carries a $35 million dead cap hit right now, and
you're probably still a lot better off with him than without him. The four-time
1,000-yard receiver is still only 26 years old. Give him time to mature. When
you're that good, you get a lot of rope.
ADD ANOTHER
RECEIVER
This naturally becomes an even larger priority if they deal
Beckham, but the Giants need another weapon in the passing game regardless. You
know who'd make a great partner with Beckham and Sterling Shepard? Carolina's
Devin Funchess, who was drafted by current Giants general manager Dave
Gettleman back in 2015 and continues to possess a high ceiling at the age of
24. The Giants can easily afford a player like that, and that type of addition
could put a strong offense over the top in 2019.
NEW YORK JETS
STAY AWAY FROM
LE'VEON BELL
The Jets are the odds-on favorites to land Bell, but giving a potentially
worn-down player at a non-premium position big bucks would be a tremendous
mistake for a team that is probably still at least a year away from competing
in a significant way. The Pittsburgh Steelers provided proof in 2018 that even
superstar backs aren't particularly hard to replace. It's basically a
dime-a-dozen position, and the Jets would be much better off getting young
quarterback Sam Darnold another starting-caliber receiver.
MAKE A RUN AT
ODELL BECKHAM JR.
You know a starting-caliber receiver like Beckham, who just
might be available for the right price. The Jets should seriously consider
trading down five to 10 spots in the draft (if possible), collecting an extra
pick or two on Day 2 and then offering that first-rounder to their New York
neighbors for OBJ, who they can certainly afford based on all their cap room.
Beckham could transform that offense and start something special with Darnold,
and that might be worth the first-round sacrifice.
ADD A STUD
PASS-RUSHER
This is an obvious route if they stand pat with that No. 3
overall pick. Nick Bosa or Josh Allen could start immediately and make a
tremendous impact as part of a defense that had the league's ninth-lowest sack
rate while lacking talent on the edge in 2018. They also have the money to
outbid most of the league for a proven rusher like Jadeveon Clowney, Demarcus
Lawrence, Frank Clark, Trey Flowers, Dee Ford or Za'Darius Smith.
OAKLAND RAIDERS
ADD A
STARTING-CALIBER WIDE RECEIVER
Jon Gruden basically tore down an already flawed team and is
now rebuilding it almost from scratch. We say almost because
the Raiders at least appear to have a franchise quarterback in Derek Carr. And
while a Super Bowl-caliber roster can't be built in one offseason, it's nice to
have that bedrock.
The key now is to continue to build the core, starting with
somebody who that quarterback can depend on consistently. The Raiders should go
all-in for Odell Beckham Jr., they should inquire about Antonio Brown, they
should look into A.J. Green, they should sign Golden Tate, John Brown or Adam
Humphries, and they should use at least one of their three first-round picks on
a receiver like A.J. Brown or D.K. Metcalf. They've got the cap space and
the draft capital to do so much better than Nelson and Seth Roberts.
ADD AN IMPACT
PASS-RUSHER
Jokes will be made if the Raiders spend the No. 4 overall
pick on a blue-chip pass-rusher like Nick Bosa or Josh Allen, but there's
nothing anyone can do about the Khalil Mack trade now. The fact is Oakland desperately
needs a playmaker on defense, particularly on the edge, and the silver lining
is that a first-rounder will be cheaper than Mack would have been.
Considering the Mack trade, the draft route is much more
sensible than making a splash on a veteran. It would be shocking if the Raiders
didn't come away from Round 1 with a highly touted, pro-ready
edge-rusher.
ADD AN IMPACT
DEFENSIVE PLAYER WHO DOES THINGS OTHER THAN RUSH THE PASSER
Like, for example, covers receivers. The Raiders have been
thin in the secondary for about a decade now, and they have the money to take
advantage of a promising free-agent market at both cornerback (Desir, Darby,
Nelson, Callahan) and safety (Thomas, Joyner, Collins, Amos). If they came out
of Round 1 with one pass-rusher, one receiver and one defensive back, Raiders
fans would probably be thrilled with the prospects of that new core.
PHILADELPHIA
EAGLES
FORGET ABOUT
JORDAN HICKS, BRANDON GRAHAM AND RONALD DARBY
All three key defenders will be too expensive for a team
that is still fighting to get under the salary cap before the start of the new
league year. We've reached a point at which the Eagles simply have to put their
faith into the players general manager Howie Roseman has drafted and will
draft. Let's see what guys like Sidney Jones, Avonte Maddox, Jalen Mills and
Josh Sweat can do with larger roles.
BUT FIND A WAY TO
KEEP GOLDEN TATE
Carson Wentz will need all the help he can get as he faces
the pressure associated with Nick Foles' inevitable departure. The Eagles already
lack a clear-cut No. 1 running back and depth at receiver, so losing Tate's
talent and experience would be a blow. It would be a shame to lose the guy just
five months after giving up a third-round pick in exchange for his
services.
ADDRESS THE OFFENSIVE
LINE
The line isn't in awful shape, but Jason Peters is, like, 84
years old, and they could manage to upgrade at left guard. That No. 25 overall
pick should either be used on the best defensive back available or a pro-ready,
versatile offensive lineman like Cody Ford or Jonah Williams.
SAN FRANCISCO
49ERS
TRADE FOR A STAR
RECEIVER
We're of course thinking about Antonio Brown, but Odell
Beckham Jr. or a contract-year-bound A.J. Green would work too. Regardless, the
49ers erred by not bringing in a standout pass-catcher despite having so much
money to spend last offseason. They again have plenty of cap space this time,
and any of those aforementioned guys would be game-changers for Jimmy
Garoppolo.
That said, you can't part with the No. 2 overall pick, so
either you trade down first, you hope someone will take your No. 36 overall
selection, or you package that or a later pick with your 2020
first-rounder.
TRADE DOWN
The 49ers don't need a quarterback and are in pretty good
shape up front defensively, which means somebody else will be more desperate
for Nick Bosa or Josh Allen or whichever quarterback becomes the most desired.
Under those circumstances, it makes a lot of sense for the
49ers to trade out of the No. 2 spot and collects some extra picks to bolster
roster depth on both sides of the ball. And as mentioned, if they do that
sooner rather than later, it'd be a lot easier to justify surrendering a
first-rounder in exchange for Brown or Beckham.
ADD A CORNERBACK
A lot of teams have to add a corner or two, but at least the
49ers can outspend all but a handful of competitors. Darby and Steven Nelson
should be their top targets, mainly because they need somebody to help Richard
Sherman and Ahkello Witherspoon outside while K'Waun Williams holds
things down in the slot.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
START BUILDING THE
LEGION OF BOOM 2.0
The Seahawks aren't the Seahawks without talented thumpers
in the secondary, and now they've got money to spend to address a sudden weak
spot. With Earl Thomas almost certainly gone, Seattle should be all over
safeties Landon Collins, Adrian Amos and Lamarcus Joyner, all of whom look
as though they'll be poachable if they hit the open market.
LOCK UP FRANK
CLARK
He's one of the few defensive players who survived last
year's purge, but now Clark is slated to hit free agency. The 2015 second-round
pick continues to be an underrated pass-rushing force. He's yet to make a Pro
Bowl but has 32 sacks and seven forced fumbles the last three years, and he
still hasn't turned 26. Seattle can't justify letting him walk, especially with
a projected $53 million in cap space.
KEEP WORKING ON
THAT OFFENSIVE LINE
It's not as atrocious as it used to be, but
quarterback Russell
Wilson still faces far too much pressure. It's time to accept
that right tackle Germain Ifedi is a bust, and that the decision to bring
back veteran guard J.R. Sweezy was a mistake. The Seahawks should be thinking
about someone like Cody Ford or Jonah Williams with that No. 21 overall
pick, while it'd be pretty sweet to steal steady veteran guard Rodger Saffold
from the division-rival Rams.
TAMPA BAY
BUCCANEERS
SAY GOODBYE TO
DONOVAN SMITH
Smith hasn't missed a start in four years at left tackle,
but that doesn't mean the 2015 second-round pick hasn't been a liability.
He gives up too many sacks and takes too many penalties. If the Bucs are going
to try to make this Jameis Winston thing work, they have to let Smith walk in
free agency and find somebody better ASAP.
Maybe that's Jawaan Taylor with the No. 5 overall pick,
maybe that's a trade for former Buc Donald Penn (who might be expendable in
Oakland), or maybe they find some cash for Trent Brown. Regardless, something
has to happen there.
RE-SIGN ADAM
HUMPHRIES
Winston needs a security blanket, too, and Humphries has
emerged as a strong and reliable presence in the slot. If the Bucs have to
decide between upgrading at right guard (a clear weak spot) and keeping
Humphries, the money is probably better spent on the rising stud and the more
premium position.
TRADE GERALD MCCOY
That's one way to raise money to pay for Winston's support
system. That's gotta be the focus right now in Tampa, because this is a
make-or-break year for the 2015 No. 1 overall pick. McCoy is the face of the
Bucs defense, but he's on the wrong side of 30, he's owed $13 million in 2019,
and he can be traded or cut free of charge. The Bucs aren't likely to compete
for a Super Bowl this year anyway, and they can get by with Beau Allen and
second-year first-round pick Vita Vea inside.
TENNESSEE TITANS
ADD A PASS-RUSHER
The Titans were a middle-of-the-pack team when it came to
sacking the quarterback in 2018, and not a single Tennessee edge-rusher
registered five sacks. Veteran defensive end Derrick Morgan is slated to hit
free agency and now might be the ideal time for a team with over $40 million in
cap space to make a splash for a game-changing presence on the edge.
We'll see who hits the market among a solid group of
potential free-agent rushers that includes Dee Ford, Jadeveon Clowney, Demarcus
Lawrence, Trey Flowers, Za'Darius Smith and Frank Clark. They could also go the
draft route and jump on someone like Jachai Polite with the No. 19 overall
pick.
ADD A RECEIVER
Corey Davis has yet to truly emerge as a 2017 top-five pick,
and there isn't a lot of sex appeal beyond that in the Titans receiving corps.
They should be in on Golden Tate, John Brown and Adam Humphries. And
considering how important it is too strongly support quarterback Marcus Mariota
as his career arguably reaches a crossroads, we wouldn't blame the Titans for
using another first-rounder on a pass-catcher. A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf
are candidates there.
UPGRADE THE
INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE
Again, this is all about giving Mariota a shot. The Titans
have superb tackles, but both guards struggled in 2018. Quinton Spain
makes a lot of mistakes, and Josh Kline is too much of a liability in pass
protection. Unless they go the big-name free-agent route in both cases above,
they could have money for someone like Saffold. But Ford or Williams would also
work in that No. 19 hole, and it wouldn't be a crime if they waited to address
this on Day 2 of the draft.
WASHINGTON
REDSKINS
FIND A QUARTERBACK
Alex Smith could miss the 2019 season because of a major leg injury, leaving
the Redskins in a tough spot at quarterback. Smith's bloated contract is almost
impossible to get out of, so it might make sense to trade for a signal-caller
with an expiring deal.
Blake Bortles and Ryan Tannehill are obvious candidates
under those circumstances, and watch for Andy Dalton in
Cincinnati. Redskins head coach Jay Gruden was Dalton's offensive
coordinator for the first three seasons of his career, and the Bengals wouldn't
be on the hook for any money if they were to part ways with him.
ADDRESS THE
OFFENSIVE LINE
Guard Shawn Lauvao is a free agent, and they could
really use an upgrade at the center position. At the very least, a second-round
pick should be devoted to one of those spots, but they should also pursue
strong potential free-agent centers Matt Paradis and Mitch Morse if they
hit the market.
ADD A WIDE
RECEIVER
The Redskins are relatively deep at wideout, especially if
Jamison Crowder returns, but it's been a long time since they had a top-end
receiver. Maybe Gruden can get a Dalton-A.J. Green package from his former team
if the Bengals decide to tear it down. More realistically, this could be a good
time and place to use a first-round pick on a receiver like D.K. Metcalf,
A.J. Brown, Marquise Brown or N'Keal Harry.
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