As we shut out the primary week of NFL Free Agency we’re beginning to get an honest thought of how groups will look coming into the draft. Plenty of fine gamers stay obtainable and can proceed to be signed within the coming weeks, however we’ve kind of seen the most important dominos fall.
Unlike 2022 we haven’t seen the large shoe drop on a very ludicrous market just like the Jaguars did with Christian Kirk, wrecking the expectation for receiver salaries and forcing the reset we’re seeing now. This was all the time an inherently weak class too, which means that groups searching for premiere assist have been compelled to spend so much to get there, whereas others have been comfortable making some worth pickups.
Winner: San Francisco 49ers
There’s little question that the 49ers have misplaced loads throughout this free company. Success does that to a workforce, and gamers beforehand flying below the radar catch everybody’s consideration, main to large cash like what OT Mike McGlinchey obtained from Denver.
Still, touchdown a participant of Javon Hargrave’s expertise as a cash-strapped workforce pegged to be shedding loads this season and anticipated to herald little or no is a large boon. It’s tough to name protection a “need area” for San Francisco, however shedding Jimmie Ward and Emmanuel Moseley damages the workforce’s secondary, and so they’re electing to overload on the move rush as an alternative of overpaying their defensive backs.
This workforce can nonetheless mess around within the draft to spherical out its depth, however instantly a line of defense of Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead and now Javon Hargrave is completely terrifying and makes the most effective protection within the NFL much more fearsome.
Winner: Chicago Bears
The Bears have been all the time going to be large gamers in free company this 12 months with a daft quantity of cap house to play with. Where the workforce’s strikes have been sensible will not be working into free company like a child in a sweet retailer, as an alternative selecting their spots and bettering the workforce holistically with out drastically overspending in any space.
The commerce with the Panthers performs a task in why they’re free company winners too. Getting vast receiver D.J. Moore enabled the Bears to handle different want areas, with out overspending in a foul vast receiver FA class. Had the workforce not acquired a real No. 1 they’d be in a way more tough place, in all probability leaning on somebody like Jakobi Meyers or JuJu Smith-Schuster proper now, quite than a younger, franchise WR.
In phrases of their precise signings GM Ryan Poles has been very sensible too. Tremaine Edmunds is likely one of the greatest pure tackling linebackers within the NFL, Nate Davis can be an enormous boon to the inside offensive line, and DeMarcus Walker helps replenish the move rush.
The workforce nonetheless has loads of extra money to play with, however their worth signings on Thursday of RB D’Onta Foreman and TE Robert Tonyan supply short-term reduction whereas they’ll fill up within the draft.
Simply nice strikes throughout.
Winner/Loser: Denver Broncos
There was no query that Sean Payton would arrive and intention to make a splash … however did he, actually? Nobody has been extra lively this 12 months than the Broncos, and in case you take a look at what they’ve added from high to backside it’s tough to see how this workforce actually obtained a lot better contemplating the cash they laid out.
Don’t get me flawed, Mike McGlinchey and Ben Powers are two large upgrades on the offensive line — however each have been important overpays. Meanwhile shedding Dre’Mont Jones, and changing him with Zach Allen at nearly the identical cash is a expertise downgrade that basically banks on Allen changing into a ten+ sack participant, which is a crapshoot.
The cheaper depth strikes Denver has made aren’t unhealthy, however all of them really feel like lateral strikes. It seems that Payton is desirous to go all-in on working the ball by signing run blockers like McGlinchey and Powers, however that doesn’t supply a lot assist to Russell Wilson — and makes reduces his position considerably.
If that plan is right then this workforce will take a step ahead, but it surely appears like we’re nonetheless a far cry from the Broncos hanging within the AFC West.
Winner: Carolina Panthers
The Panthers carried numerous useless cash into free company with Christian McCaffrey and DJ Moore but to return off their books, however they discovered great worth in want areas whereas utilizing Frank Reich’s affect and connections to signal good gamers.
Locking up Miles Sanders for 4 years at a meager $25M was an incredible transfer. It shouldn’t be anticipated that he’ll be a 1,300 yard again like he was in Seattle, however he was a worth for the worth that provides Carolina a dual-threat again who could make issues simpler for whichever quarterback is taken at No. 1.
Adding to that is TE Hayden Hurst and SS Vonn Bell — each of whom are big upgrades. While fixing the workforce’s transition to a 3-4 protection by finalizing their entrance with Shy Tuttle and DeShawn Williams. To cap all of it off the workforce grabbed Andy Dalton to function a veteran within the QB room, in addition to a possible starter, ought to the workforce resolve on a extra developmental passer within the draft.
Carolina had myriad issues to repair with their roster, and it didn’t really feel like that they had the power to do it. Instead the Panthers addressed all their wants and didn’t overpay for something.
Loser: Kansas City Chiefs
What occurred with Orlando Brown Jr. goes to be a type of nice mysteries of free company. When you’re a Super Bowl champion with an elite deal with below the age of 30, you pay him — easy as that.
Not solely did the Chiefs let Brown go, however they changed him with Jawaan Taylor, for extra money, and he’s very a lot unproven with regards to enjoying left deal with. They would possibly like his upside and potential, however instantly you’re strolling away from top-of-the-line tackles within the NFL, who’s now in Cincinnati (a significant menace to your workforce within the AFC) and also you’re left with hope.
There’s nonetheless an opportunity Kansas City may wind up having a very good free company. They have some cash to play with. However, the lack of JuJu Smith-Schuster hasn’t been accounted for but, Mecole Hardman remains to be on the open market, and whereas Travis Kelce is certainly top-of-the-line tight ends within the NFL, he’s additionally 33-years-old and the wheels may fall off quickly.
The Chiefs are enjoying a dangerous sport, and to this point their strikes haven’t been nice.
Loser: Green Bay Packers
This is a self-inflicted wound. The Packers’ skill to be gamers in free company fully hinges on buying and selling away Aaron Rodgers, however all indicators level to the entrance workplace enjoying hardball and attempting to squeeze the Jets for all they’ll get.
The downside is that the Packers don’t have any leverage. Rodgers has them over a barrel, and every time the commerce is finalized they’ll primarily have to accept no matter scraps the Jets throw to them.
Not acknowledging that has led to stagnation. The solely participant they’ve signed is a protracted snapper, whereas shedding Allen Lazard and Robert Tonyan. Life for Jordan Love will get regularly harder whereas the entrance workplace bickers with the Jets and finally ends up lacking out on extra gamers who may assist their workforce.
Winner: New York Jets
This is all about Aaron Rodgers. The workforce’s free company is being assist up a bit of by the Rodgers commerce, however not loads. They have been capable of dabble a bit of extra, and Lazard has been their large addition to this point.
The course of is easy: Acquire Aaron Rodgers. Get gamers to make him comfortable.
So far the workforce is pulling it off, and when the mud settles I feel we’ll see how far out forward the Jets got here.
Loser: Los Angeles Chargers
Being low-cost is rearing its head as soon as extra. Right now the Chargers nonetheless have 22 gamers in free company, and so they’ve introduced in precisely one. It’s not even clear if that one participant, LB Eric Kendricks, can be a distinction maker for the Chargers.
The saving grace is that numerous the gamers leaving got here from the workforce’s depth, quite than true marquee names, but it surely’s nonetheless wild to see this franchise tenth in obtainable cap house with $21M and never making even small strikes that might enhance the workforce.