We’re nearing the start of NFL free agency and we already know one thing: it’s going to be a wild and crazy ride again. The past few years of free rein have taught us that very few teams are willing to stand their ground if they have options. There will be big swings and blockbusters and it will be a hell of a lot of fun to watch from that angle.
This is what happens when the Los Angeles Rams win the Super Bowl in 2021 by going all-in, and the Philadelphia Eagles almost win the championship a year later with the same philosophy. Patience is literally becoming an obsolete mode of operation. There are too many reasons for teams to get hyper-aggressive as March rolls around. Most have the chance to improve their lineups in a hurry, and a select few can even dream of a title challenge if things go wrong.
So, before we look at what happens when free agency officially kicks off on March 15, let’s take a look at some of the teams that need to be locked and loaded in order to make moves. These are five teams that should think long and hard about making a big deal in the coming weeks…
The Lions garnered a lot of attention in the second half of last season when they set their first winning record (9-8) in five years and narrowly missed out on a wild card spot. Now comes the hard part: working in a world where no one else will take them for granted. There is a very good chance that Detroit can win the NFC North next season. To do this, the Lions will need to use all the resources available to them this offseason. Those assets include two first-round picks in the 2023 NFL Draft (one of which is sixth overall) and a decent amount of salary cap space (currently projected at just over $22 million per person). Over the cap).
The Lions need to find another tight end playmaker after trading T.J. Hockenson to the Minnesota last year, and there could be plenty of options in the open market (like Cowboys’ Dalton Schultz, Dolphins’ Mike Gesicki, and Dolphins’ Hayden Hurst). “Bengals”). ). A more pressing issue is backing a minor player who was a major factor in Detroit’s failure to rise above 28th in points allowed and 32nd in yards in the NFL. If Lions general manager Brad Holmes needs a cornerback, he can hire free agents like Tampa Bay’s Jamel Dean or Philadelphia’s James Bradberry. If safety is what the Lions have decided to go for, they could look to proven playmakers like the Bengals’ Jesse Bates or the Eagles’ Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. There’s also an ultra-sexy trade option with the Rams, who are potentially looking to move star guard Jalen Ramsey. Holmes is dedicated to building the draft, but he was a member of the Rams’ front office when they acquired Ramsey in 2019. He knows exactly what Ramsey can bring to a defense that needs more playmakers in the background.
The Bears are going to make noise in the first place because they have too many reasons not to sit still this offseason. They retain the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, which GM Ryan Poles discussed with the move, and are projected to have more room in the salary cap than any other team (approximately $97 million, for a hat). Quarterback Justin Fields is also entering his third pro season, meaning he still has a lucrative rookie contract (he’ll be looking at $5.1 million over the 2023 ceiling) for a team that can improve in hurry with some good deals.
The first thing the Poles need to solve is a long-standing problem: Chicago’s failed offensive line. Pouls was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs front office when the franchise was rebuilding its offensive line a couple of years ago, so he knows how important the right pieces are in the process. A proper tackle like San Francisco’s Mike McGlinchey would make sense here, as would a defender like Baltimore’s Ben Powers. The Poles also need to find a lot of help for the league’s worst defense. He traded midfielder Roquan Smith to Baltimore during the offseason, but another young talent like Buffalo’s Tremaine Edmunds could be a good addition to the free agent market. The same is true for a defender like Javon Hargrave, who could improve his pass rush by hitting 20 sacks in the league in 2022. Hargrave scored 11 sacks himself in Philadelphia last year. Whatever the Bears do, Powles has made it clear he wants more playmakers on this roster. NFC North is as wide open as it has been in recent decades. Chicago should be on the hunt.
The Falcons have two important factors that put them on this list. First, they have just over a $66 million projected salary cap. second in the league, for a hat. Secondly, they play in the worst football division, NFC South, and they have every reason to believe that they will be able to compete for this crown in 2023. Of course, the first thing Atlanta needs to do is determine the position of the quarterback. Veteran Marcus Mariota was released and Desmond Ridder showed promise as a rookie last season. But the most intriguing possibility here is that the Falcons are trying to attack Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson. This is the team that makes the most sense in terms of making that trade—Atlanta has the eighth overall pick in this year’s draft, head coach Arthur Smith, who had a heavy offense last year, and a pay cap spot. Jackson has a lot of money, but before that happens, a lot of dominoes must fall.
In addition to chasing saviors under the center, the Falcons another pushing needs up and down the registry. They need more wide receiver help, so a free agent like New England’s Jacoby Meyers can be attractive. Defense must improve in all areas, especially in the internal line of defense and in security. There will be plenty of options for both of these free agency positions. Ultimately, this off-season, the Falcons have a luxury that no other NFC South team has: they’re not trying to solve the upcoming salary cap deficit. Atlanta is in the best position to progress quickly after a 7-10 season that has surpassed all expectations. The falcons should benefit.
We know, we know. The Raiders made a couple of high-profile deals last offseason when they traded wide receiver Davante Adams and signed rim rusher Chandler Jones. What are the chances that they will be as aggressive for the second consecutive off-season? The answer is simple: they have no other choice. Having decided that Derek Carr is no longer the right quarterback for the franchise, Las Vegas must find someone to play center next season. Picking and developing someone doesn’t seem to make much sense considering the Raiders will be living in the same NFC West as Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes for at least the rest of the decade, while Justin Herbert is an undeniable talent for the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver just hired Sean Payton to fix quarterback Russell Wilson. The Raiders do nothing in this division until they find someone who can compete with all this. Is there some more reports they would be interested in a trade for Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers, but signing free agent Jimmy Garoppolo wouldn’t be a bad plan for B. Francisco, he’s a proven winner when he can stay healthy.
Aside from the quarterback, Las Vegas will have to figure out how to deal with a defense that has been one of the worst in the league, ranking 28th overall and 26th in scoring. Jones, a four-time professional bowler, did not honor the contract he signed last season, but Max Crosby, who just signed a lucrative four-year extension last season, remains one of the best forwards in the business. Where the Raiders really need to improve is in linebackers and secondaries. In 2022, the defense threw 13 interceptions, a league record, and in the past two years, they have only 12 interceptions (also the worst record in the league). The team needs players who can force fumbles and return passes. No wonder if linebackers like Lavonte’s David of the Bucks and Bobby Wagner of the Rams, or defensemen like Jesse Bates of the Bengals, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson of the Eagles or Jordan Poyer of the Bills, hit in sight of Las Vegas. as well as trading potential such as Rams CB Jalen Ramsey. The Raiders are fifth in the league in projected salary caps (approximately $39 million, for a hat). They have some internal affairs to work out, in particular how to make a deal with franchised running back Josh Jacobs – but they’d better be ready to throw some more power moves.
The Giants shocked many with their success in 2022. Although Brian Daball had nothing to work with, he led that team to a playoff win in his first season, earning…
Source: www.nfl.com
