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, 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. Reveal your take to me: is the place.
Let the dissension commence!
NOTE: Team movement below reflects changes from .
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Draft watch is already on after a (sorta) relatively quiet free-agent period for the聽. New England did engineer a trade for DE聽, though most of the action consisted of watching various ingredients of the latest Lombardi-winning concoction walk out the door. The departures of OT聽, 顿罢听聽and DE聽聽were no small things. Do-everything talent聽, who played the Swiss Army Knife type of role that had been filled in the聽' past by the likes of Mike Vrabel and Troy Brown, is a Bear. If聽聽retires? Let's not think about it. Draft-wise, the idea of Bill Belichick rolling the dice on聽聽(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聽聽does down in New Orleans. Not that they are the same player by any stretch of the imagination; I'm thinking Murray is a聽get him on the field right now kind of prospect, rather than someone you'd want to sit for three years.
Side note:聽I was surprised the Pats made no play for聽. Wait, they did?聽
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罢丑别听聽are clearly already circling 2019 as THE season.听聽will be ready, as will the bulk of a roster that pushed the team to the doorstep of聽聽LIII. The primary issue regarding free agency was what to do with -- and what to pay -- veteran running back聽, 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-聽聽fans want to guess who the leader is?) Now, recent signee聽聽will presumably fill Ingram's role complementing聽. So much of New Orleans' offense is built around Kamara's flexibility that I would rather have Kamara than聽Le'Veon Bell, price being equal. 罢丑别听聽signing was sharp, especially with 顿罢听**
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顿罢听聽and RB聽聽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 --聽聽call it a day? No. The veteran left tackle聽聽at the聽. How much running back聽聽will go this season is another issue. With many pundits聽punditing听辞惫别谤听, it was obvious which聽聽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聽聽now playing in Tennessee.
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Feel like the best respite for the聽聽following the horrific ending to the 2018 campaign would have been to head south to Cabo Wabo and guzzle tequila with Sammy Hagar. 罢丑别听聽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聽听濒颈苍别产补肠办别谤听. The free-agent signee will bring leadership to a defense that can use it; meanwhile, the returns of 顿罢听聽and LB聽聽will maintain continuity on that side of the ball. Was sad to see cornerback聽聽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聽was聽able to play, he revealed the makings of an eventual stud. Some players are star-crossed, it seems. Onward and upward.
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So, general manager Chris Ballard has kept pretty quiet in terms of adding talent thus far, and that's OK. Hope the聽' 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聽聽and DL聽, two ample pieces of a defense that contributed a strong (well, stronger) performance last year. Meanwhile, kicker聽聽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聽Darius Leonard, we will move on from this blurb and let the man do his work.
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罢丑别听聽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?聽聽aside, with聽聽departed and聽聽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聽聽defense that knocked off the top-seeded聽聽and the Brett Favre聽聽(at Lambeau) in the 2007 playoffs, and then finally the undefeated聽听颈苍听聽XLII. Great stuff. Well, that ain't Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck peeling out after the quarterback out there at Arrowhead.听聽helps the back end. Losing center聽聽to the聽, though ... is not helpful.
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It seemed GM Howie Roseman wanted seven first-round picks and a third-rounder for聽聽this offseason. Then Foles聽聽and all of the trade chatter became moot. While all that speculation was going on, the front office got busy, re-signing DE聽聽and signing 顿罢听聽... and suddenly, the聽聽were winning the offseason again. That's because the defections were not major. Foles (signed by Jacksonville) wasn't gonna start. DE聽聽(traded to New England) was a luxury member of the D-line rotation. LB聽聽(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聽
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The rumor mill had company -- about 50,000 fantasy teams tried to trade聽, too. GM Ryan Pace further tried to address the running game by signing ex-Seahawk聽, who enjoyed his moments in the sun (rain) in Seattle. He also brought on聽. 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聽聽running back in Tecmo聽聽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.
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The only thing in greater abundance than the talent up and down the聽' 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聽frenzy聽to the Free Agency Frenzy formula than the聽聽did when they hatched the blockbuster acquisitions of聽听谤别肠别颈惫别谤听聽Jr. and defensive end聽, while also signing 顿罢听. Kitchens, who served as offensive coordinator for much of 2018, is 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.
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顿耻诲别,听,听,听听补苍诲听聽are the survivors from those聽聽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聽聽weren't going to employ Wilson on a cheap rookie contract forever. All those fans who wonder how the聽聽are able to accomplish so much in free agency should remember that second-year pro聽Baker Mayfield聽is costing Cleveland a mere fraction of what franchise quarterbacks who聽aren't聽on their first contracts cost their teams. Seattle did use its cap room to bolster the interior of the offensive line, re-signing聽聽and bringing in聽. 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).听聽and Wright return to the front seven, although the franchise-tagged Clark is, for now, a temporary buy. Expect the聽聽to hit this side of the ball further in the draft.
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All of the聽聽talk clouded out聽's Blair Witch-esque Instagram video, even though the latter served as Irving's聽聽Down one pass rusher already with the聽**聽and now down two with Irving聽聽you know which position the聽聽are eyeing in the draft. Especially with the twice-franchise-tagged聽聽essentially serving as a temp employee. Looking at college DTs is a certainty. Dallas ought to start thinking about left tackle聽's replacement, too. I know. Dallas fans want a wide receiver.
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贵辞谤驳颈惫别听聽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,听21-7, when it counts. Will this be another version of the almost-championship-caliber聽聽team? Honey Badger,听听补苍诲听聽no longer roam Houston's secondary. In their stead are聽听补苍诲听, who are more than capable. So the聽聽aren't particularly better or worse at this stage. If we were to blink our eyes聽聽and grant the聽聽a need filled, though, it would be a mammoth, hearty tackle who keeps聽聽and every other AFC South monster off聽's tail all afternoon.
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Part of me wishes the Vikes -- and not the聽聽-- would have acquired聽聽and made聽聽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聽**聽Barr said signing in New York聽聽I mean, who doesn't know that feeling? Um, that's not what I meant to say. GM Rick Spielman also brought back 顿罢听, who became a starter in Seattle last year after serving as a member of the聽' defensive line rotation.听The' Defensive Line Rotation聽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.听聽has the team going for tight end聽聽at No. 18 overall. The guess here is offensive line.
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The biggest news of the聽' offseason is that, no,听聽is not out for the year again. There's that, and the organization's apparent robbery of the state of Florida. Tennessee acquired former聽聽starting quarterback聽聽via trade and signed the best pass rusher Miami has owned (or rented) since Jason Taylor in聽. GM Jon Robinson also took聽聽off the market; the receiver had been a consistent performer for an inconsistent Bucs squad. And the pesky聽聽pilfered former聽听驳耻补谤诲听聽from the marketplace. Yep, this team is better. Would be really cool if聽**听迟丑辞耻驳丑.
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Can't wait to see聽Lamar Jackson聽operating at quarterback with a full offseason as the starter under his belt -- I want this just a聽smidge聽more than I want to engage in the debate about聽聽being a Hall of Famer because he won a聽, which is sure to come down the pike soon. Make no mistake, the聽聽were plenty occupied outside of trading Flacco to Denver. They picked up a reliable running back in聽, 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聽听谤别辫濒补肠别听聽is quite the luxury. Re-signing TE聽聽was the聽tight聽move. But, but, but ... if the聽聽don't draft a pass rusher,听other聽tight ends are gonna rack up 200 yards on them. This group lost聽two聽edge rushers --聽, who signed with Arizona, and聽Za'Darius Smith, who signed with Green Bay -- to the marketplace. Smith's exit hurts. Suggs is irreplaceable in the intangibles department.听聽(New York Jets) is gone, too. Ouch.
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罢丑别听聽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)聽聽back, even if he had to use the franchise tag -- the聽' top free agency priority was to make sure the uber-disruptive DT didn't fly away. Losing RB聽聽and CB聽聽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.
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It's no fun writing about the聽聽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聽, TE聽, edge rushers聽听补苍诲听Za'Darius Smith, and OL聽.听聽fans are straight up googly-eyed over the additions of Smith and Smith to the pass rush ... especially when a聽聽sack was coming in as often as one of those Civil War chess pieces in the mail.
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Dumpst_r fir_.听"Pat, I would like to buy a vowel ..."聽Welp. Did you hear the聽听谤别-蝉颈驳苍别诲听? And added聽, late of getting toasted in Kansas City on the reg? Get excited. Perhaps Pittsburgh will be fine sans聽the players who**听搁叠听聽is legit. And you know聽聽will target聽聽500 times in September alone, just to make sure a certain someone on the West Coast doesn't outproduce him. Looking forward to seeing how this team approaches the draft. Is GM Kevin Colbert content with聽James Washington,听听补苍诲听聽as his WR2, WR3 and WR4?
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Watching "The Return of the King" the other day, I realized how closely Matt Patricia resembles a young Peter Jackson. Appropriate, because the聽聽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聽. We'll find out together how much the slot receiver has left in the tank in his 12th year. Signing DL聽聽was a masterstroke. Nickel CB聽聽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.
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罢丑别听聽should consider wrapping newly signed RB聽聽in cellophane until September. Maybe they could hang him up on the wall in the package like those Starting Lineup figurines. (I still have聽聽in the package.)聽聽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聽聽First, Lynch brought LB聽聽into the building. Then he traded for聽聽pass rusher聽. The coolest add:聽. The former聽聽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.听
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If, in the spring of 2016, someone had said the organization was gonna dump聽听蹿辞谤听, 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聽. Outside of the quarterback, GM David Caldwell allowed defensive stalwarts聽听补苍诲听聽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聽.
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This just in: 罢丑别听聽have 50 other players. While the world revolves around whether or not a certain player聽聽here are a few -- frosted -- tips as to how聽聽can get back to the postseason. First, draft two pass rushers. Sure, the聽聽had one elite dude in聽聽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聽' problem when they聽did聽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聽聽are picking are nowhere near the best players available (safety was addressed when Mayock inked聽聽to a deal). Third, get聽聽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.
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From the Department of Things That Could Depress You About Your Life:聽听蚕叠听聽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聽聽(Put a "system" in it, though, with an Alpine removable deck, too.) As if things weren't going well enough, the聽聽just added the top running back in pro football from 2014 to '17 and a big-time guard in聽. Successfully seducing聽 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聽听产耻迟听聽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.
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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,听, future Hall of Famer聽,听聽and longtime mainstay聽. Carolina fortified the offensive line (always fun news with聽聽coming off surgery), signing聽聽and re-upping聽. Now team brass is聽听辞苍听. All of which should also help聽, who is sure to receive 350 touches. That is probably a聽low聽figure, frankly.
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No, I didn't buy all聽聽either. Think of the poor old聽聽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聽, which, after the AB flirtation, might feel a bit like getting excited that "Star Wars" is on AMC, only to realize it's "Attack of the Clones." But聽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聽. 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聽聽are firing up right now.) C聽聽was a smart addition.听聽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聽聽and Gore, Buffalo is gearing up to win your 2010 fantasy league.
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If you want expressionless football at its zenith,听聽fans,听聽That's OK. They'll take it over another Case Keenum-led three-point outburst.听聽will need to be cool given that Denver's offensive line has changed personnel once again, losing center聽聽and guard聽聽while adding聽Ja'Wuan James聽from the聽. What will allow Flacco to breathe easily is the development of聽Courtland Sutton聽and the return of聽聽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聽, like Sutton, is the real deal.
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It appears聽聽on the聽' sideline. 罢丑别听聽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.听,听, and聽聽can play. When and if聽聽is right, the difference between he and聽聽at this stage of their respective careers is close to negligible. Meanwhile, I sure like聽聽and all, but I'm looking forward to the day a聽聽discussion centers around somebody else. I'll take Matt Dodge at this point. Anybody got any Ron Dayne stories? I miss "Thunder and Lightning."
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While it would be easy to make fun of Bruce Arians for intimating that聽聽can be an All-Pro, keep in mind he did make聽聽look effective during his time with the聽. Arians is taking over a squad that is down a few major pieces, with聽,听, and the oft-underrated聽聽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聽 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:聽This ranking could very well be too low for Tampa Bay, but there are too many unknowns with the club right now.
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No AB. No Flacco. No sh*^#y聽. No Marvin Lewis. I feel like I don't even know you anymore, AFC North. So where do the聽聽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聽,听, and聽.听聽is back on a one-year contract. The defense is the worry, as the聽聽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聽' 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.
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!!!! It's*___Live!!!_聽Yes, Keenum has been added to an offensive blend that will once again include the aging-but-still-productive聽*. Yet, the coup for Washington thus far this offseason was landing聽. After the team released聽聽before the sun had even set on the 2018 season and bid adieu to聽, Collins represents an upgrade -- some might say a聽massive聽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聽听补苍诲听聽must now be mitigated at the great college marketplace next month.
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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聽聽fans feel about their quarterback situation right now. Miami's QB depth chart currently consists of聽,听听补苍诲听Luke Falk. With聽,听, and聽Ja'Wuan James聽gone, this Miami outfit is barely recognizable. (Never mind聽,听,听,听聽and others.) The team did sign TE聽聽and CB聽, both from New England, but that pair isn't exactly going to make the聽听补苍诲听聽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聽聽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.
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They're still last. 罢丑别听聽did make some聽, though. The most interesting of which was the signing of one聽, he of Arizona roots -- and the NFL's active sack leader now that聽聽has retired.听聽will be another nice addition to the defense.听聽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 pickin' is to slate聽聽at No. 1 overall. How often do you see a franchise take a quarterback in the top 10 two straight years? Amazing.
Follow Elliot Harrison on Twitter .
