Forget how the dominoes fell in free agency -- where do the
teams stand now?
The initial wave of the open signing period started before
it officially started, then hit a crescendo at the end of Day
1 on Wednesday. By Friday, Ryan
Tannehill getting traded drew a collective yawn. When the free
agency frenzy starts with such a bang, subsequent transactions inevitably get
reduced to a thud. The mind can only be blown so many times before it turns to
mush.
In that flurry of early trades and signings were a few
social-media busters, like OBJ relocating to CLE and Le'Veon taking his mixtape
to NYC. But don't sleep on the smaller, less-covered transactions. We didn't.
Some teams improved a rung or three, others were worse for
the wear. Still others were worse for the financial wear, but
are making a run at winning now. (Think: The Jags and their new Super Foles
quarterback.)
A week after the marketplace maelstrom now is as good a time
as any to reorder the whole lot. Below you will find your team's significant
moves covered, or exposed.
LET THE DISSENSION COMMENCE!
NOTE: Team movement below reflects
changes from the
post-Super Bowl LIII Power Rankings.
RANK: 1 PATRIOTS
Previous rank: No. 1
Draft watch is already on after a (sorta) relatively quiet free-agent period
for the Patriots.
New England did engineer a trade for DE Michael
Bennett, though most of the action consisted of watching various
ingredients of the latest Lombardi-winning concoction walk out the door. The
departures of OT Trent Brown,
DT Malcom Brown and
DE Trey Flowers were
no small things. Do-everything talent Cordarrelle
Patterson, who played the Swiss Army Knife type of role that had
been filled in the Patriots'
past by the likes of Mike Vrabel and Troy Brown, is a Bear. If Rob
Gronkowski retires? Let's not think about it. Draft-wise, the
idea of Bill Belichick rolling the dice on Kyler Murray (should
he fall within range of the Pats, who currently pick 32nd) is admittedly
exciting. Murray could contribute in packages, perhaps in ways not too
dissimilar from what Taysom Hill does
down in New Orleans. Not that they are the same player by any stretch of the
imagination; I'm thinking Murray is a get him on the field right now kind
of prospect, rather than someone you'd want to sit for three years.
Side note: I was surprised the Pats made no play for Cole Beasley.
Wait, they did? He picked the Bills?!
RANK: 2, SAINTS
Previous rank: No. 2
The Saints are
clearly already circling 2019 as THE season. Drew Brees will
be ready, as will the bulk of a roster that pushed the team to the doorstep
of Super Bowl LIII.
The primary issue regarding free agency was what to do with -- and what to pay
-- veteran running back Mark Ingram,
who ended up heading to Baltimore. Though these things rarely matter to
organizations anymore, did you know that Ingram only trailed New Orleans'
all-time leading career rusher by 89 yards? (Any non- Saints fans
want to guess who the leader is?) Now, recent signee Latavius
Murray will presumably fill Ingram's role
complementing Alvin Kamara.
So much of New Orleans' offense is built around Kamara's flexibility that I
would rather have Kamara than Le'Veon Bell,
price being equal. The Malcom Brown signing
was sharp, especially with DT Sheldon
Rankins ending last season hurt.
RANK: 3, RAMS
Previous rank: No. 3
DT Ndamukong Suh and
RB C.J. Anderson might
have their feet out the door as free agents, but the most important offseason
question was answered: Would 37-year-old -- and four-time Pro Bowler -- Andrew
Whitworth call it a day? No. The veteran left tackle will lace 'em
up for one more go at the Super Bowl. How much
running back Todd Gurley will
go this season is another issue. With many worries over Gurley's knee,
it was obvious which Rams RB
was most effective down the stretch. (Hint: It wasn't Gurley.) If the
organization doesn't snag a guy up off the street, look for a slick Day 3 pick
to hit this area come draft time. Center and guard should be considered,
especially with Rodger
Saffold now playing in Tennessee.
RANK: 4, CHARGERS
Previous rank: No. 6
Feel like the best respite for the Chargers following
the horrific ending to the 2018 campaign would have been to head south to Cabo
Wabo and guzzle tequila with Sammy Hagar. The Patriots gave
the Bolts the boot in an Eddie Van Halen
you-can't-be-in-my-band-and-we-are-gonna-erase-all-memory-of-your-residence-here
kind of way. If tomorrow is a new day, last week was an old, fresh start, with
the arrival of longtime Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis.
The free-agent signee will bring leadership to a defense that can use it;
meanwhile, the returns of DT Brandon
Mebane and LB Denzel
Perryman will maintain continuity on that side of the ball.
Was sad to see cornerback Jason Verrett go.
The former TCU standout and first-round pick -- who signed with San Francisco
-- could never stay on the field for the Bolts (25 games in four seasons), but
when he was able to play, he revealed the makings of an
eventual stud. Some players are star-crossed, it seems. Onward and upward.
RANK: 5, COLTS
Previous rank: No. 5
So, general manager Chris Ballard has kept pretty quiet in terms of adding
talent thus far, and that's OK. Hope the Colts'
encore to their fun 2018 campaign is not a 7-9 flop. Or worse, like the stuff
they used to show on Encore. (Does that channel even exist anymore?) Indy has
done its part to keep the personnel consistent, re-signing CB Pierre Desir and
DL Margus Hunt,
two ample pieces of a defense that contributed a strong (well, stronger)
performance last year. Meanwhile, kicker Adam
Vinatieri returns for his 55th NFL season. More
importantly, Ballard wants to build through the draft. Considering the slick
results from last year's class, which included two starting offensive linemen
and Defensive Rookie of the Year Darius
Leonard; we will move on from this blurb and let the man do his
work.
RANK: 6, CHIEFS
Previous rank: No. 4
The Chiefs own
a championship-caliber offense thanks mostly to their MVP quarterback. The
question is how is Kansas City going to get to the other guys'
quarterback? Alex Okafor aside,
with Justin
Houston departed and Dee Ford traded,
pass rush must be Coach Andy Reid's No. 1 concern. Not to mention the potential
patchwork awaiting new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. Spags made his
name by leading a Giants defense
that knocked off the top-seeded Cowboys and
the Brett Favre Packers (at
Lambeau) in the 2007 playoffs, and then finally the undefeated Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.
Great stuff. Well, that ain't Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck
peeling out after the quarterback out there at Arrowhead. Adding Honey
Badger helps the back end. Losing center Mitch Morse to
the Bills,
though ... is not helpful.
RANK: 7, EAGLES
Previous rank: No. 7
It seemed GM Howie Roseman wanted seven first-round picks and a third-rounder
for Nick Foles
this offseason. Then Foles voided his option, and all of the
trade chatter became moot. While all that speculation was going on, the front
office got busy, re-signing DE Brandon
Graham and signing DT Malik Jackson ...
and suddenly, the Eagles were
winning the offseason again. That's because the defections were not major.
Foles (signed by Jacksonville) wasn't gonna start. DE Michael
Bennett (traded to New England) was a luxury member of the
D-line rotation. LB Jordan Hicks (signed
by Arizona) was often not available (he missed 21 of 64 games in his four-year
career). Wait. We almost got out of here without mentioning the return of the
home-run ball to Philly. We'll take a Mike Schmidt and Von Hayes to go
with that cup of
DeSean.
RANK: 8, BEARS
Previous rank: No. 9
The rumor mill had company -- about 50,000 fantasy teams tried to trade Jordan Howard,
too. GM Ryan Pace further tried to address the running game by signing
ex-Seahawk Mike Davis,
who enjoyed his moments in the sun (rain) in Seattle. He also brought on Cordarrelle
Patterson. Who knows if Matt Nagy will employ Patterson in the
same manner that Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels did in New England,
utilizing the former first-rounder in a Brad Muster/Dennis Gentry kind of role.
It played well to Patterson's strength and versatility. If you are a bit young
to recall muster (good old No. 25), he was the Bears running
back in Tecmo Super Bowl who
always busted your guys up when they were trying to tackle Neal Anderson. You
would have Anderson on the edge, and this super slow dude would jog over and
knock your player halfway up the sideline ... while Anderson sprinted 80 more
yards. Memories.
RANK: 9, BROWNS
Previous rank: No. 16
The only thing in greater abundance than the talent up and down the Browns'
roster is the pressure mounting on Freddie Kitchens. Forget about the normal
burden facing rookie head coaches -- Kitchens might be shouldering heavier
expectations than any front man in pro football. Consider: Cleveland went 5-3
under interim coach Gregg Williams, wrapping with a narrow loss on the season's
final day. No franchise contributed more frenzy to the Free
Agency Frenzy formula than the Browns did
when they hatched the blockbuster acquisitions of Giants receiver
Odell Beckham Jr.
and defensive end Olivier
Vernon, while also signing DT Sheldon
Richardson. Kitchens, who served as offensive coordinator for
much of 2018, are an in-house hire, which is good in that the nucleus is
familiar with him. Not so good if this new-look group gets housed a couple
times early in the season, like olden times.
RANK: 10, SEAHAWKS
Previous rank: No. 10
Dude, Russell
Wilson, Doug Baldwin, K.J. Wright and Bobby Wagner are
the survivors from those Super Bowl teams.
It's so crazy how, with so much player movement these days, rosters morph over
three years or so. The turnover was seen coming far in advance, as the Seahawks weren't
going to employ Wilson on a cheap rookie contract forever. All those fans who
wonder how the Browns are
able to accomplish so much in free agency should remember that second-year pro Baker
Mayfield is costing Cleveland a mere fraction of what
franchise quarterbacks who aren't on their first contracts
cost their teams. Seattle did use its cap room to bolster the interior of the
offensive line, re-signing D.J. Fluker and
bringing in Mike Iupati.
There was also room to retain two key contributors to a defense that was
surprisingly effective last season (despite withstanding waves of injuries,
defections and retirements over the last two years). Frank Clark and
Wright return to the front seven, although the franchise-tagged Clark is, for
now, a temporary buy. Expect the Seahawks to
hit this side of the ball further in the draft.
RANK: 11, COWBOYS
Previous rank: No. 8
All of the Earl Thomas talk
clouded out David Irving's
Blair Witch-esque Instagram video, even though the latter served as Irving's apparent
retirement from football. Down one pass rusher already with
the Randy Gregory suspension, and
now down two with Irving also
suspended, you know which position the Cowboys are
eyeing in the draft. Especially with the twice-franchise-tagged DeMarcus
Lawrence essentially serving as a temp employee. Looking at
college DTs is a certainty. Dallas ought to start thinking about left
tackle Tyron Smith's
replacement, too. I know. Dallas fans want a wide receiver.
RANK: 12, TEXANS
Previous rank: No. 12
Forgive Texans fans
if they want to fast-forward to January to see if their team will ever make it
out of the early rounds of the playoffs. Winning nine, 10 or even 11 games just
isn't that much fun if, after sitting through the draft, minicamp updates,
training camp "diaries," preseason matchups that cost full price to
see but don't feature anybody playing, and the regular season, you just end up
seeing your team lose to the other guys, 21-7,
when it counts. Will this be another version of the
almost-championship-caliber Texans team?
Honey Badger, Kareem
Jackson and Kevin Johnson
no longer roam Houston's secondary. In their stead are Tashaun
Gipson and Bradley Roby,
who are more than capable. So the Texans aren't
particularly better or worse at this stage. If we were to blink our eyes like Barbara
Eden and grant the Texans a
need filled, though, it would be a mammoth, hearty tackle who keeps Calais
Campbell and every other AFC South monster off Deshaun
Watson's tail all afternoon.
RANK: 13, VIKINGS
Previous rank: No. 13
Part of me wishes the Vikes -- and not the Redskins --
would have acquired Case Keenum and
made Kirk Cousins compete.
Skol. Cousins was far from the only issue in Minnesota in 2018; in fact, he was
part of this team's strength in September and October. Midseason was when team
and QB hit a lull, with an intermittently used running game and a formerly
standout defense unable to overcome inopportune turnovers and mistakes. The
latter received a boost when Anthony Barr left the Jets
standing at the altar. Barr said signing in New York would have
been like marrying "the wrong woman." I mean, who
doesn't know that feeling? Um, that's not what I meant to say. GM Rick Spielman
also brought back DT Shamar
Stephen, who became a starter in Seattle last year after serving
as a member of the Vikings'
defensive line rotation. The Vikings'
Defensive Line Rotation sounds like a synth band that would have
opened up for Yes. Curious to see what this Minnesota group does in Round 1 of
the draft. My colleague
Charles Davis has the team going for tight end T.J.
Hockenson at No. 18 overall. The guess here is offensive
line.
RANK: 14, TITANS
Previous rank: No. 14
The biggest news of the Titans'
offseason is that, no, Andrew Luck is
not out for the year again. There's that, and the organization's apparent
robbery of the state of Florida. Tennessee acquired former Dolphins starting
quarterback Ryan
Tannehill via trade and signed the best pass rusher Miami
has owned (or rented) since Jason Taylor in Cameron Wake.
GM Jon Robinson also took Adam
Humphries off the market; the receiver had been a
consistent performer for an inconsistent Bucs squad. And the pesky Titans pilfered
former Rams guard Rodger
Saffold from the marketplace. Yep, this team is better.
Would be really cool if Brian Orakpo unretired, though.
RANK: 15, RAVENS
Previous rank: No. 11
Can't wait to see Lamar Jackson operating
at quarterback with a full offseason as the starter under his belt -- I want
this just a smidge more than I want to engage in the debate
about Joe Flacco
being a Hall of Famer because he won a Super Bowl, which is
sure to come down the pike soon. Make no mistake; the Ravens were
plenty occupied outside of trading Flacco to Denver. They picked up a reliable
running back in Mark Ingram,
who can grind out tough yards in the cold of December, when Baltimore should be
in the heart of the AFC North race (with Cleveland). Having Earl Thomas replace Eric Weddle is
quite the luxury. Re-signing TE Nick Boyle was
the tight move. But, but, but ... if the Ravens don't
draft a pass rusher, other tight ends are gonna rack up 200
yards on them. This group lost two edge rushers -- Terrell Suggs,
who signed with Arizona, and Za'Darius
Smith, who signed with Green Bay -- to the marketplace. Smith's
exit hurts. Suggs is irreplaceable in the intangibles department. C.J. Mosley (New
York Jets) is gone, too. Ouch.
RANK: 16, FALCONS
Previous rank: No. 17
The Falcons miss
former offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian like you miss living with your
mother-in-law. Fans in Atlanta want the offensive fireworks of 2016 back. GM
Thomas Dimitroff wanted (and got) Grady Jarrett back,
even if he had to use the franchise tag -- the Falcons'
top free agency priority was to make sure the uber-disruptive DT didn't fly
away. Losing RB Tevin Coleman
and CB Robert Alford should
sting a bit, but not enough to dim hopes for 2019. Coleman never evolved into a
true lead back in Sark's offense, while last year was far from Alford's prime.
The corner also didn't manufacture any takeaways despite starting the full season.
Atlanta could go in any direction in the draft -- this is the consummate BPA
team, if you will -- but a decent bet is that the organization (which holds the
14th overall pick) will look hard at D-line/edge-rushing talent. Early.
RANK: 17, PACKERS
Previous rank: No. 18
It's no fun writing about the Packers during
free agency anymore. Because with the famously FA-averse Ted Thompson no longer
GM, I actually have to update this blurb with a signing or two. Never had to
worry about that prior to the beginning of current GM Brian Gutekunst's reign
last year. Green Bay stayed busy this past week, closing deals on S Adrian Amos,
TE Marcedes
Lewis, edge rushers Preston Smith and Za'Darius
Smith, and OL Billy Turner. Packers fans
are straight up googly-eyed over the additions of Smith and Smith to the pass
rush ... especially when a Nick Perry sack
was coming in as often as one of those Civil War chess pieces in the mail.
RANK: 18, STEELERS
Previous rank: No. 15
Did you hear the Steelers re-signed
Ramon Foster?
And added Steven Nelson,
late of getting toasted in Kansas City on the reg? Get excited. Perhaps
Pittsburgh will be fine sans the players
who shall not be
named. RB James Conner
is legit. And you know Ben
Roethlisberger will target JuJu
Smith-Schuster 500 times in September alone, just to make
sure a certain someone on the West Coast doesn't out produce him. Looking
forward to seeing how this team approaches the draft. Is GM Kevin Colbert
content with James
Washington, Eli Rogers and Donte
Moncrief as his WR2, WR3 and WR4?
RANK: 19, LIONS
Previous rank: No. 20
Watching "The Return of the King" the other day, I realized how
closely Matt Patricia resembles a young Peter Jackson. Appropriate, because
the Lions have
needed to CGI a consistent run game for the last decade now. That doesn't mean
they sat on their hands during free agency -- in fact, they added a reliable
pair of them, belonging to Danny
Amendola. We'll find out together how much the slot receiver has
left in the tank in his 12th year. Signing DL Trey Flowers was
a masterstroke. Nickel CB Justin
Coleman could help a beleaguered secondary, although paying
$9 million per year for a player who has never started more than five games in
a season and picked off three career passes was a microcosm for this entire
free agency period. The salary cap rises proportionately with questionable
fiscal judgement.
RANK: 20, 49ERS
Previous rank: No. 22
The 49ers should
consider wrapping newly signed RB Tevin Coleman in
cellophane until September. Maybe they could hang him up on the wall in the
package like those Starting Lineup figurines. (I still have a Roger Craig Starting Lineup figure, in
the package.) We saw what
happened to San Francisco's prized free-agent skill player
of last year. Moving away from the offense ... opponents might struggle to move
the ball freely against this Niners defense. Shocking that GM John Lynch would
go all out on that side of the ball, considering his past. First, Lynch brought LB Kwon
Alexander into the building. Then he traded for Chiefs pass
rusher Dee Ford.
The coolest add: Jason Verrett.
The former Chargers corner
has but one asterisk, which is a difficulty staying healthy. This could be an
example of a minor move that packs a wallop toward a playoff push. By the way,
you shouldn't remove your G.I. Joe figures from the package. Is that the Six Million Dollar Man's boss?
RANK: 21, JAGUARS
Previous rank: No. 30
If, in the spring of 2016, someone had said the organization was gonna
dump Blake Bortles for
Nick Foles,
Jags fans would've thought that person was a straw short of a Capri Sun.
Bortles had just tossed dozens of touchdown passes to the Allen Bros., while
Foles was coming off a season in St. Louis in which he'd tossed more
interceptions (10) than touchdowns (seven). Now Jacksonville is using Foles to
push season-ticket sales (which is a far better option than the champagne
monochrome jerseys), while Bortles is scrounging up backup work with the Rams.
Outside of the quarterback, GM David Caldwell allowed defensive stalwarts Malik Jackson and
Tashaun
Gipson to walk. But they were far from the key components
of what can still be an elite unit. Also worth noting: The team grabbed a nice
player in TE Geoff Swaim.
RANK: 22, RAIDERS
Previous rank: No. 24
This just in: The Raiders have
50 other players. While the world revolves around whether or not a certain
player has a blonde
mustache, here are a few -- frosted -- tips as to how Oakland/Las
Vegas can get back to the postseason. First, draft two pass
rushers. Sure, the Raiders had
one elite dude in Khalil Mack at
this time a year ago. Now new GM Mike Mayock has four picks in the first 35
with which to obtain two, even if neither is of Mack's caliber. You'll recall
that part of the Raiders'
problem when they did have Mack's services is that they also
had zero other serviceable pass rushers. Second, a corner should be part of the
Day 1 plans, unless the corners available when the Raiders are
picking are nowhere near the best players available (safety was addressed when
Mayock inked Lamarcus
Joyner to a deal). Third, get Marshawn
Lynch back at the office. He hasn't lost much
effectiveness, despite the wear and tear. You might not give him 300 carries,
but he can still carry linebackers a few yards.
RANK: 23, JETS
Previous rank: No. 29
From the Department of Things That Could Depress You About Your Life: Jets QB Sam Darnold is
still only 21. The kid has already accomplished much at such a young age. My
high point by the time I was 21 was making payments on a 1989 Mitsubishi Mighty Max. (Put
a "system" in it, though, with an Alpine removable deck, too.) As if
things weren't going well enough, the Jets just
added the top running back in pro football from 2014 to '17 and a big-time
guard in Kelechi
Osemele. Successfully seducing C.J. Mosley was
a huge bonus.
New York still has plenty of boxes to check in the draft, though. Oddly -- but
appropriately -- enough, "Hulk" was on HBO while I was writing Gang
Green's blurb. I'm not talking about the Sulking
Ed Norton version, but the Eric Bana
vehicle from 2003. This was back when Bana was on a run. He
went on to star in "Troy" in 2004, protecting his wimpy little
brother (Orlando Bloom, who did not make you forget Bloom had once played an
elf). All of which is to say ... are Bell's days as the most effective tailback
in the NFL as far gone as Bana's days as a youngish heartthrob? It merits
asking. Most players who hold out a year don't have a great track record upon
return, with Hall of Famer (and former Jet) John Riggins being an exception.
Now NYJ needs to find a pass rusher in the draft.
RANK: 24, PANTHERS
Previous rank: No. 21
Hey, stay upbeat. Remember, Carolina ended last season on a winning
"streak." This group will be different come training camp, although
whether it's for the better or not is certainly up for debate. Gone are a ton
of vets, including the Kalil brothers, Captain
Munnerlyn, future Hall of Famer Julius
Peppers, Devin
Funchess and longtime mainstay Thomas Davis.
Carolina fortified the offensive line (always fun news with Cam Newton coming
off surgery), signing Matt Paradis and
re-upping Daryl
Williams. Now team brass is reportedly
kicking the tires on Jermon
Bushrod. All of which should also help Christian
McCaffrey, who is sure to receive 350 touches. That is probably
a low figure, frankly.
RANK: 25, BILLS
Previous rank: No. 23
No, I didn't buy all the AB
midnight trade tweets, either. Think of the poor old Bills fan
who was watching infomercials for the Elvis comeback edition plate and decided
on a whim to hop on the internet in the wee hours. Buffalo instead obtained
speedster John Brown,
which, after the AB flirtation, might feel a bit like getting excited that
"Star Wars" is on AMC, only to realize its "Attack of the
Clones." But Josh Allen's
ability to launch the deep ball supersedes Hayden Christensen's ability to
drive a film franchise.
Buffalo didn't stop there, signing a ton of players, paying good coin for a
gold-star slot player in Cole Beasley.
Don't let his numbers in a run-based offense led by an oft-inaccurate quarterback
fool you. (Although that's kinda the same offense the Bills are
firing up right now.) C Mitch Morse
was a smart addition. Frank Gore was
an odd but fun one, as well. Nothing like spelling a 30-year-old running back
with a 35-year-old running back. Between LeSean McCoy and
Gore, Buffalo is gearing up to win your 2010 fantasy league.
RANK: 26, BRONCOS
Previous rank: No. 26
If you want expressionless football at its zenith, Broncos fans, you got it. That's
OK. They'll take it over another Case Keenum-led three-point outburst. Joe Flacco will
need to be cool given that Denver's offensive line has changed personnel once
again, losing center Matt Paradis and
guard Billy Turner while
adding Ja'Wuan James from
the Dolphins.
What will allow Flacco to breathe easily is the development of Courtland Sutton and
the return of Emmanuel
Sanders from a torn Achilles. Sutton was the most polished
rookie wideout last year. Without dipping into fantasy too deep, he should be
quite the sleeper. Look for Sutton to post 1,100 yards and seven touchdowns.
How Denver's run game fares should influence how many touchdowns Flacco is
capable of throwing. But here's guessing second-year RB Phillip
Lindsay, like Sutton, is the real deal.
RANK: 27, GIANTS
Previous rank: No. 19
It appears kicking nets are now safe on the Giants'
sideline. The Giants traded
their best player in OBJ, but while Twitter was quick to anoint the team a
disappointment, and the team deserves to drop in these rankings, don't ignore
the quality players the organization acquired last week. Golden Tate, Jabrill
Peppers, and Kevin Zeitler can
play. When and if Markus Golden is
right, the difference between him and Olivier
Vernon at this stage of their respective careers is close
to negligible. Meanwhile, I sure like Eli Manning and
all, but I'm looking forward to the day a Giants discussion
centers around somebody else. I'll take Matt Dodge at this point. Anybody got
any Ron Dayne stories? I miss "Thunder and Lightning."
RANK: 28, BUCCANEERS
Previous rank: No. 25
While it would be easy to make fun of Bruce Arians for intimating that Jameis
Winston can be an All-Pro, keep in mind he did make Drew Stanton look
effective during his time with the Cardinals.
Arians is taking over a squad that is down a few major pieces, with DeSean
Jackson, Kwon
Alexander, and the oft-underrated Adam
Humphries all residing in new cities. GM Jason Licht will
be looking to the draft to retool the Bucs so they can compete in a
wicked-tough division. Re-signing Donovan Smith provides
one less headache, but Arians and Licht will have a lot of pain to deal with if
they can't establish a respectable ground game this year.
Side note: This ranking could very well be too low for Tampa Bay,
but there are too many unknowns with the club right now.
RANK: 29, BENGALS
Previous rank: No. 27
No AB. No Flacco. No sh*^#y Browns.
No Marvin Lewis. I feel like I don't even know you anymore, AFC North. So where
do the Bengals fit
in this division makeover? Last place. Probably. But that doesn't necessarily
mean they're a bad team. Cincy will see plenty of its offensive talent return
in a healthy Andy Dalton, A.J. Green,
and Joe Mixon. Tyler Eifert is
back on a one-year contract. The defense is the worry, as the Bengals added
very little on that side of the ball in free agency. League observers aren't
exactly, uh, observing this franchise at the moment. Understandable, given
the Bengals'
shoddy record last season and the fact that they have arguably the least-known
rookie head coach in Zac Taylor, and a first-round pick just outside the top
10. Yet, given the state of the AFC North, a few deft maneuvers could have
Taylor's group contending for the division title. Needs: OL, LB, and more pass
rush. My NFL Network colleague Charley Casserly says preferably an interior
rusher. Those don't grow on trees, unfortunately.
RANK: 30, REDSKINS
Previous rank: No. 28
Case Keenum!! Colt McCoy!!
It's Redskins Training Camp Live!!! Yes,
Keenum has been added to an offensive blend that will once again include the
aging-but-still-productive Adrian
Peterson. Yet, the coup for Washington thus far this offseason
was landing Landon
Collins. After the team released D.J.
Swearinger before the sun had even set on the 2018 season
and bid adieu to Ha Ha
Clinton-Dix, Collins represents an upgrade -- some might say
a massive upgrade -- at the safety position while being young
enough to reward this organization's investment of $45 million guaranteed. Swearinger,
however, was the emotional spark plug for Washington's defense. Going further,
the departures of Preston Smith and Zach Brown must
now be mitigated at the great college marketplace next month.
RANK: 31, DOLPHINS
Previous rank: No. 31
Remember when you got your first car, and you daydreamed about what your first
ride was gonna be? Your buddy went to South Padre for spring break in his 5.0.
Becky next door had an orange Jeep Wrangler with the top down all summer. And
then you got your Aunt Petunia's '89 Topaz, maroon on maroon, which you've seen
at various family gatherings since 1989. That might be how Dolphins fans
feel about their quarterback situation right now. Miami's QB depth chart
currently consists of Ryan
Fitzpatrick, Jake Rudock and Luke Falk.
With Ryan
Tannehill, Cameron Wake,
and Ja'Wuan James gone,
this Miami outfit is barely recognizable. (Never mind Josh Sitton,
Frank Gore, Danny
Amendola, Andre Branch and
others.) The team did sign TE Dwayne Allen and
CB Eric Rowe,
both from New England, but that pair isn't exactly going to make the Patriots and
Dolphins swap
places in the AFC East. To put it bluntly, this is a start-from-scratch team.
The bloated payroll is out; youth movement in. Now what? Take the best player available
or grab a quarterback like Drew Lock with
that first-round pick? O-line help would be wonderful, particularly if Miami
goes QB1 in Round 1. Finding some pass rush to make life difficult for the
opponent's quarterback makes sense, too.
RANK: 32, CARDINALS
Previous rank: No. 32
They're still last. The Cardinals did
make some nifty moves
in free agency, though. The most interesting of which was the
signing of one Terrell Suggs,
he of Arizona roots -- and the NFL's active sack leader now that Julius
Peppers has retired. Jordan Hicks will
be another nice addition to the defense. Kevin White might
yet develop into something after injuries and a slow progression have resulted
in a less-than-sterling first four seasons of his career. Ah, but who is
playing quarterback? The easy pick is to slate Kyler Murray at
No. 1 overall. How often do you see a franchise take a quarterback in the top
10 two straight years? Amazing.
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