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Offseason In Review: Green Bay Packers

July 14th, 2014 at 8:41pm CST by David Kipke

Notable signings:

Notable losses:

Draft picks:

  • Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, S, Alabama (1.21): Signed
  • Davante Adams, WR, Fresno State (2.53): Signed
  • Khyri Thornton, DT, Southern Miss (3.85): Signed
  • Richard Rodgers, TE, California (3.98): Signed
  • Carl Bradford, OLB, Arizona State (4.121): Signed
  • Corey Linsley, C, Ohio State (5.161): Signed
  • Jared Abbrederis, WR, Wisconsin (5.176): Signed
  • Demetri Goodson, CB, Baylor (6.197): Signed
  • Jeff Janis, WR, Saginaw Valley State (7.236): Signed

Other:

The Packers’ 2013 season was going smoothly until Week 9, when Aaron Rodgers sustained a broken collarbone. Including the ensuing loss to the Bears, the Packers proceeded to utterly collapse, going on a 2-5-1 stretch that featured a tie with a cellar-dwelling Vikings team. During the slide, Rodgers was replaced by the likes of Seneca Wallace, practice squad call-up Scott Tolzien, and Matt Flynn, whose career with the Packers had been interrupted by quick, subsequent stints with the Seahawks, Raiders, and Bills. A triumphant return from Rodgers in the team’s Week 17 matchup against the Bears culminated with the former MVP’s touchdown pass to Randall Cobb in the last minute of the game, which not only provided one of the most iconic plays of the 2013 season — it also sent the 8-7-1 Packers to the playoffs. A hard-luck Wild Card qualifier, the 12-4 49ers, traveled to Green Bay and narrowly defeated the Packers, sending them into the offseason with bright prospects for 2014.

On offense, Rodgers continued to solidify himself as one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL while one of his receivers – Cobb – stepped into Greg Jennings‘ vacated spotlight and emerged as one of the league’s most special talents. Jordy Nelson, James Jones, and late-season revelation Jarrett Boykin rounded out one of the best receiving corps in the NFC. On the ground, rookie running back Eddie Lacy proved to be more than worth the second-round pick that the Packers spent on him last Spring. To add to the rushing attack, Lacy was effectively spelled by veteran James Starks.

Defensively, the team struggled after GM Ted Thompson had failed to address what many considered to be the team’s primary need during the 2013 offseason: a new safety. The unit performed poorly across the board, finishing 24th in pass defense and 25th in rush defense. The team’s once-feared multi-level tandem of B.J. Raji and A.J. Hawk were shadows of their former selves in Dom Capers‘ 3-4 base defense. Clearly, most of Green Bay’s needs heading into the 2014 offseason were on the defensive side of the ball.

Thompson’s defensive moves this offeason started with his decision to stand by Capers, instead making changes at the player level. Substantial help arrived for Capers’ unit via both free agency and the draft. Thompson went out and signed superstar defensive end Julius Peppers, who, despite being past his peak, still presents a significant threat along the line. As talented as he is, Peppers’ fit into the 3-4 – a formation he’s yet to encounter in the NFL – will be something to watch during the 2014 season.

In the draft, the Packers’ were delighted to have Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, the consensus All-American safety from Alabama, fall to them at 21st overall in the first round. Clinton-Dix will look to step in and start immediately in a secondary that badly needed the help. The club also managed to re-sign by far the most valuable member of that secondary, cornerback Sam Shields, and added depth to the interior of the defensive line, retaining the fast-fading Raji and bringing Letroy Guion to back up Raji at nose tackle.

Offensively, the Packers made up ground in some areas and appeared to take steps backward in others. Although they lost Jones via free agency, the receiving corps was refurbished in the draft with wide receivers Davante Adams, Jared Abbrederis, and Jeff Janis, along with tight end Richard Rogers. This receiving-heavy rookie class has the potential to blossom into the next great generation of Packers’ pass catchers, who have benefited from the signal-calling of Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers.

Up front, Thompson raised several eyebrows by not re-signing center Evan Dietrich-Smith, who had been publicly endorsed by Rodgers heading into the offseason. Second-year center J.C. Tretter, who once played tight end at Cornell, will look to fill the void left by Dietrich-Smith. The Packers also received some big help along the o-line with the return of tackle Bryan Bulaga, who tore his ACL last August.

The Packers will head into the season as favorites to make the playoffs out of the NFC North. Any competent team led by Rodgers has the potential to win a Super Bowl. Throw in a potential juggernaut offensive cast around Rodgers and an improved, passable defense, and it’s easy to see why many consider the Packers to be one of the best teams in the NFC heading into the 2014 season. Because they must play the AFC East and NFC South, two relatively top-heavy divisions that will likely produce a few particularly tough match-ups, 12 wins and another NFC North title seems a fair prediction for the Packers.

Spotrac and Over The Cap were used in the creation of this post.

Offseason In Review: Detroit Lions

July 13th, 2014 at 3:11pm CST by Rory Parks

Notable signings:

Notable losses:

Extensions and restructures:

  • Montell Owens (RB): Restructured contract. 2014 base salary reduced from $1.25MM to $855K in exchange for $100K roster bonus, $50K workout bonus, and up to $200K in per-game incentives.
  • Cory Greenwood (LB): Restructured contract. Reduced 2014 base salary from $730K to $645K, eliminated $20K workout bonus, and eliminated 2015 season.

Trades:

  • Acquired a second-round pick (No. 40) from the Seahawks in exchange for a second-round pick (No. 45), a fourth-round pick (No. 111), and a seventh-round pick (No. 227).
  • Acquired a fifth-round pick (No. 158) and a seventh-round pick (No. 229) from the Cowboys in exchange for a fifth-round pick (No. 146).

Draft picks:

  • Eric Ebron, TE, North Carolina (1.10): Signed
  • Kyle Van Noy, LB, BYU (2.40): Signed
  • Travis Swanson, C, Arkansas (3.76): Signed
  • Nevin Lawson, CB, Utah State (4.133): Signed
  • Larry Webster, DE, Bloomburg (4.136): Signed
  • Caraun Reid, DT, Princeton (5.158): Signed
  • T.J. Jones, WR, Notre Dame (6.189): Signed
  • Nate Freese, K, Boston College (7.229): Signed

Other:

When the Lions qualified for the playoffs in 2011 after an 11-year absence, it seemed only a matter of time before they would make a serious run at the Lombardi Trophy. They had an explosive offense, a strong enough defense, and had shown steady improvement under head coach Jim Schwartz. Unfortunately, they were unable to continue along that positive trajectory. After failing to reach the playoffs in 2012 and 2013, the team overhauled its coaching staff in the hopes of re-establishing itself as a serious contender in the NFC.

Jim Caldwell

After firing Schwartz, the team hired Jim Caldwell in January of this year as his replacement. Caldwell’s hire was something of a surprise. He served as head coach of the Colts from 2009 to 2011, guiding Indianapolis to two AFC South titles and an AFC championship during that time. However, star quarterback Peyton Manning missed the 2011 season due to injury, and the team collapsed in his absence. After a 2-14 campaign, Caldwell was fired and resurfaced as quarterbacks coach of the Ravens shortly thereafter.

Despite not having any experience as a playcaller, Caldwell replaced Cam Cameron as Baltimore’s offensive coordinator when Cameron was fired late in the 2012 season. Caldwell utilized Cameron’s playbook more effectively than Cameron did, and he oversaw Joe Flacco‘s historic playoff run that culminated in a Super Bowl victory. However, 2013 was an unmitigated disaster for the Ravens’ offense, and Caldwell had no remedy for his woeful unit. Nonetheless, the Lions liked what they saw in Caldwell as a manager of staff and players, and handed him the reins of their promising but underachieving roster.

Caldwell brought in Joe Lombardi, a young and respected offensive mind who had served as the Saints’ quarterbacks coach since 2009, as his offensive coordinator. He then hired Teryl Austin, who had been the Ravens’ secondary coach since 2011, to run the defense.

As is often the case when a new coaching regime takes over, there has been a great deal of optimism surrounding the Lions’ new staff. As far as the team’s offense is concerned, such optimism is more than justified. An already dynamic attack was augmented by two significant additions, Golden Tate and Eric Ebron. Tate slowly came into his own in Seattle before signing a lucrative deal with Detroit, and he projects as the team’s No. 2 receiver opposite the game’s most dominant wideout, Calvin Johnson. The Lions hope Tate, who is a talented playmaker in his own right, can direct some of the attention of opposing defenses off of Johnson, something that Nate Burleson–who left for the Browns this offseason–could never really accomplish.

In Ebron, the team landed the consensus No. 1 tight end in this year’s draft. Many pundits predict that Ebron, with his blend of size and speed, can impact Detroit’s passing game the way Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski impacted the offenses of their respective clubs. While Ebron may eventually approach that level of success, it might take a season or two before the Lions truly reap the benefits of his talent. Ebron has struggled with drops in offseason workouts–which is a concern, given that drops plagued him in college as well–and with grasping Lombardi’s offense. Nonetheless, it will be impossible for defenses to adequately cover every player in the Lions’ aerial attack, and if those defenses continue to double-team Johnson, quarterback Matt Stafford might see Ebron running free down the seam many times over the course of the season (it is also important to note that the team re-signed tight end Brandon Pettigrew. Pettigrew is a talented enough pass catcher himself, but he is also one of the few tight ends in the league who offers receiving and blocking abilities, so his presence will probably be an underappreciated but invaluable glue for this offense).

Defense, however, will again be a concern. The Lions struggled mightily against the pass in 2013, and they released top corner Chris Houston and safety Louis Delmas. They added veteran corners Rashean Mathis and Cassius Vaughn on one-year minimum contracts, but it is unrealistic to expect much out of those two players. New strong safety James Ihedigbo, signed as a free agent from the Ravens, offers quality play as a run-stopper and occasional pass rusher, but, like traditional strong safeties, does not offer much by way of pass coverage. As such, the onus will fall upon corner Darius Slay and free safety Glover Quin to pick up the slack on the back end of the defense.

The front seven, however, offers more promise. The defensive line is anchored by Nick Fairley and Ndamukong Suh, and Ziggy Ansah demonstrated tremendous upside in his rookie campaign that he should be able to build upon in 2014. Meanwhile, the Lions supplemented their linebacker corps, anchored by veterans Stephen Tulloch and DeAndre Levy–who enjoyed the very definition of a breakout season in 2013–with intriguing talent Kyle Van Noy, whom they selected in the second round of this year’s draft. Van Noy was a late riser in the draft, and the Lions liked him enough to trade their No. 45, No . 111, and No. 227 picks to Seattle to move up five spots to nab him. Van Noy is not an elite athlete–which probably kept him out of the first round–but he does everything else well, and he should see a lot of snaps in his rookie season.

There will also be a kicking competition between Nate Freese, whom the team selected in the seventh round of this year’s draft, and Giorgio Tavecchio, who has been in camp with the 49ers and Packers in recent seasons but who has not yet established himself in the league. Freese, as a draftee, is the presumptive favorite, and the Lions hope he will be the team’s long-term solution at the position after veteran David Akers struggled in 2013 to replace the production of stalwart Jason Hanson. Both Freese and Tavecchio, however, have struggled thus far.

The Lions are unquestionably a team with talent, and the coaching changes were probably necessary ones, as the proverbial message of Schwartz and company had apparently grown stale. However, outside of their possibly dynamic offense, they are also a team with flaws. Fortunately for them, the Packers and Bears have vulnerabilities of their own, and the Vikings appear to be at least a year away from legitimate contention. As such, the Lions have a real chance to make a run at the NFC North crown, but, failing that, a wild card berth is well within their reach.

Spotrac and Over The Cap were used in the creation of this post.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Offseason In Review: Minnesota Vikings

July 12th, 2014 at 10:54pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Notable signings:

Notable losses:

Extensions and restructures:

  • Chad Greenway (OLB): Restructured contract. Reduced 2014 base salary from $6.4MM to $5.5MM, and eliminated $100K workout bonus. ’14 base salary became fully guaranteed.
  • Jerome Felton (FB): Restructured contract. Reduced 2014 base salary from $1.95MM to $1.45MM in exchange for a $200K guarantee on his base salary and the right to void his 2015 season.
  • Jamarca Sanford (S): Restructured contract. Reduced 2014 base salary from $2.45 to $1.7MM in exchange for a $400K guarantee on his base salary and $500K in playing-time incentives.

Trades:

  • Acquired a first-round pick (No. 9) and a fifth-round pick (No. 145) from the Browns in exchange for a first-round pick (No. 8).
  • Acquired a first-round pick (No. 32) from the Seahawks in exchange for a second-round pick (No. 40) and a fourth-round pick (No. 108).
  • Acquired a fifth-round pick (No. 168) and a seventh-round pick (No. 225) from the Panthers in exchange for a fifth-round pick (No. 148).
  • Acquired a sixth-round pick (No. 182) and a seventh-round pick (No. 220) from the Falcons in exchange for a fifth-round pick (No. 168).

Draft picks:

  • Anthony Barr, LB, UCLA (1.9): Signed
  • Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Louisville (1.32): Signed
  • Scott Crichton, DE, Oregon State (3.72): Signed
  • Jerick McKinnon, RB, Georgia Southern (3.96): Signed
  • David Yankey, G, Stanford (5.145): Signed
  • Antone Exum, DB, Virginia Tech (6.182): Signed
  • Kendall James, CB, Maine (6.184): Signed
  • Shamar Stephen, DT, Connecticut (7.220): Signed
  • Brandon Watts, OLB, Georgia Tech (7.223): Signed
  • Jabari Price, CB, North Carolina (7.225): Signed

Other:

  • Hired Mike Zimmer as head coach.
  • Hired Norv Turner as offensive coordinator and George Edwards as defensive coordinator.
  • Declined Christian Ponder‘s fifth-year option for 2015 ($9.686MM).
  • Claimed Julian Posey off waivers.
  • Signed 16 rookie free agents after the draft.

There isn’t a team that more perfectly speaks to the devaluation of the running back position than the Vikings. In 2012, Adrian Peterson‘s historic season, which left him only nine yards short of the single-season rushing title, barely allowed Minnesota to sneak into the playoffs. Last year, though still effective, Peterson regressed, and the team finished 5-10-1. Today’s NFL offenses struggle if forced to lean primarily on the halfback — the quarterback position is still king. The Vikings seemed to have that notion in mind as they attacked the 2014 offseason, which saw them overhaul several position groups as well as the coaching staff.Teddy Bridgewater

The Vikings will enter training camp with a three-pronged depth chart at quarterback, but only one player is likely to be with the team for the long-term. General manager Rick Spielman and new head coach Mike Zimmer (formerly the defensive coordinator for the Bengals) traded back into the first round of the draft to select Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater, who was widely viewed as one of the top five college players available before a lackluster Pro Day forced his stock to drop. Minnesota is hoping that the Bridgewater’s game film, which shows him to be accurate and able to maintain poise under pressure, is more foretelling than his pre-draft workouts.

Bridgewater is likely to make some starts in 2014, but it’s doubtful that he’ll be the Opening Day starter at quarterback — veteran Matt Cassel will probably have that honor. Cassel started six games for the the Vikings last season, finishing with a 3-3 record, 11 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Re-signed to a two-year, $10MM contract, Cassel figures to act as a mentor to Bridgewater, and hold the fort until the rookie is ready. Cassel’s 2014 cap hit is $5.75MM, which isn’t absurd for a low-end starter/high-end backup; if Bridgewater proves he’s ready to start, Cassel can be released before next season for no additional charge. 2011 first-rounder Christian Ponder is still around, but his 2015 fifth-year option was declined; a trade or release before the season starts isn’t out of the question.

The rest of the offense will remain mostly the same under new coordinator Norv Turner, who will seek to work some of his “tight end magic” on fourth-year player Kyle Rudolph. Entering a contract year, Rudolph certainly hopes he can experience the success that Antonio Gates and Jordan Cameron had under Turner en route to a new deal. Along the offensive line, guard Charlie Johnson was brought back on a two-year pact worth $5MM, and fifth-round pick David Yankey will act as his backup. The Vikings did lose longtime second-string RB Toby Gerhart to the Jaguars, but they drafted Jerick McKinnon in the third round in the hopes that he, along with holdover Matt Asiata, can spell Peterson.

The defensive unit saw significantly more turnover than did the offense, and will also feature a new coordinator in George Edwards, who was the Dolphins’ linebackers coach for the past two seasons; he was last a coordinator in 2010-11 with Buffalo. Many of Minnesota’s moves to improve the defense over the past several months were informed by Zimmer’s scheme and philosophy, which favors versatility and speed over pure physicality.

No position group saw as much change as the defensive line, which witnessed the loss of stalwarts Jared Allen and Kevin Williams, who, between them, had played 17 seasons in Minnesota. Using Zimmer’s Bengals D-line as a reference, 2012 first-rounder Sharrif Floyd will play the Geno Atkins role with free agent signee Linval Joseph (five years, $31.25MM) emulating Domata Peko. 2013 No. 8 overall pick Anthony Barr will act as a hybrid LB/DE, primarily acting as an edge-rusher in sub packages. Corey Wootton was signed, Fred Evans was re-signed, and Scott Crichton was drafted to bolster the unit’s depth.

The most questionable move of the Vikings offseason might be the re-signing of defensive end Everson Griffen, who received $42.5MM ($19.8MM guaranteed) on a five-year deal; the guarantee is the fourth-highest among 4-3 defensive ends (omitting Dion Jordan‘s rookie contract). However, the 26-year-old graded as just the 20th-best 4-3 DE in the league last season per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). More confounding is that Griffen has historically played worse against the run than the pass, Zimmer’s defense is predicated on stopping the run. Griffen’s proponents might argue that this is a forward-looking contract, and that the market for talented ends simply dictated this deal. But as of now, this looks like an overpay, and an expensive one at that.

A much more reasonable contract was proffered in the secondary, where Captain Munnerlyn was added on a three-year, $11.75MM deal to replace Chris Cook. The pact, which contains only $3.45MM in guaranteed money, might prove to be one of the steals of the offseason, as PFF graded Munnerlyn as the 10-the best cornerback in the NFL last year. He’ll join 2013 first-round pick Xavier Rhodes at corner, while Harrison Smith and Jamarca Sanford will hold down safety.

The Vikings are probably still the favorites to finish last in the NFC North, and have a lot of work left to do to compete with tough division foes like the Packers and the Bears. The defense does have some interesting pieces, and Peterson can take over entire games by himself. But in what seems like a rule for every team, quarterback play will be crucial. If Cassel can succeed as a game-manager, or Bridgewater can step in and perform as well as he did at Louisville, the Vikings could make for a surprise team in 2014.

Spotrac and Over The Cap were used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Offseason In Review: New York Jets

July 10th, 2014 at 6:24pm CST by Zachary Links

Notable signings:

Notable losses:

Draft picks:

  • Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville (1.18): Signed
  • Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech (2.49): Signed
  • Dexter McDougle, CB, Maryland (3.80): Signed
  • Jalen Saunders, WR, Oklahoma (4.104): Signed
  • Shaquelle Evans, WR, UCLA (4.115) Signed
  • Dakota Dozier, OT, Furman (4.137): Signed
  • Jeremiah George, LB, Iowa State (5.154): Signed
  • Brandon Dixon, CB, Northwest Missouri State (6.195): Signed
  • Quincy Enunwa, WR, Nebraska (6.209): Signed
  • IK Enemkpali, DE, Louisiana Tech (6.210): Signed
  • Tajh Boyd, QB, Clemson (6.213): Signed
  • Trevor Reilly, OLB, Utah (7.233): Signed

Other:

You can criticize the Jets for a lot of things. And I mean a lot of things. But you can’t call them risk averse. The Jets love nothing more than stealing the tabloid back pages from the Giants and they did just that this offseason with three high-profile singings.NFL: New York Jets-Minicamp

For all the hoopla surrounding Michael Vick this offseason, the veteran is telling anyone who will listen that he’s just there to hold the clipboard and give sage advice to sophomore Geno Smith. “Geno’s the starting quarterback for that football team,” Vick told Dom Cosentino of NJ.com at an event earlier this offseason. “Ultimately our goal is to try to help Geno become the best quarterback that he can be. Myself and [third-stringer Matt Simms] are all trying to put him in a position where he can get better from year one or year two.”

Of course, after watching Smith’s many, many hiccups last season, that might not be the case three weeks into the season. Some may have already forgotten, but before Nick Foles established himself as one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL, Vick was off to an insanely hot start in the early weeks of the 2013 campaign. At 34, Vick is no longer a spring chicken, but he still offers mobility and in the second act of his career he has become a much more judicious signal caller. Vick can climb to the top of the Meadowlands’ ugly shopping mall in development with a megaphone and announce that he’s only there to be No. 2 on the depth chart. No one will believe him. Smith will be under center against the Raiders for Week 1 but a couple of errant throws could vault Vick into the starting job rather quickly. Vick knows it too. After all, with so many QB vacancies this offseason, would Vick have signed a one-year deal with the Jets only to ride the pine?

Smith and/or Vick will have the pleasure of throwing to one of this offseason’s top free agent wide receivers. Eric Decker surely benefitted from getting to play alongside future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, but he’s still a significant upgrade in the passing game for Gang Green. Decker hauled in 87 catches for a career-high 1,288 yards and found pay dirt 11 times. At 6’3″, Decker gives the Jets another tall passing target capable of huge plays, filling the void left by the over-the-hill Santonio Holmes.

The question is – do the Jets have enough firepower in their receiving corps outside of Decker? Georgia Tech product Stephen Hill looks like the favorite to come out as the No. 2 wide receiver with David Nelson, Jeremy Kerley, and fourth-round picks Shaquelle Evans and Jalen Saunders in support. The Jets were tied to other notable wide receivers in free agency – like James Jones – but Jacoby Ford wound up being the only other WR inked on the open market. They were also expected to use one of their top two picks on a wide receiver but they went defense with their first round choice and were unable to trade up for USC’s Marqise Lee in the second round. It’ll be up to Hill to take some of the pressure off of Decker in his first year in green. Texas Tech tight end Jace Amaro, hailed by many as an underrated gem in this year’s draft, will also be in the mix and fighting incumbent Jeff Cumberland for the starting spot.

The Jets’ third major signing came late in the game when they signed longtime Titans tailback Chris Johnson. It’s unclear what CJ?K can provide the Jets, but there’s no question that the two-year, $8MM deal with just $3MM guaranteed is a phenomenal value. The Jets got Johnson at a bargain basement price for two reasons. One, it was a depressed market for running backs with big names like Ben Tate ($3.1MM guaranteed), Knowshon Moreno ($3MM), Rashad Jennings ($2.5MM), and Maurice Jones-Drew ($1.2MM) getting a whole lot less than anyone would have predicted a year ago. However, that great value was mainly thanks to the fact that the Titans released Johnson late in the game after most teams already had their RB situations squared away.

The 28-year-old is recovering from a torn meniscus, and even though he reached 1,000 yards in 2013, those yards were hard to come by — he graded out as the league’s 42nd-best running back out of 55 qualified players last season, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). It was widely expected that Johnson would have signed a one-year deal to try and re-establish his value, but the Jets got him on a two-year pact that includes a team option on year two. Johnson will be the feature back for the Jets with the powerful Bilal Powell and the crafty Chris Ivory there to mix things up. Gone from the roster is the troubled Mike Goodson, who will have to get his house in order before getting back to the gridiron.

Protecting the Jets suddenly star-studded backfield at right tackle will be former Seahawks lineman Breno Giacomini, brought in on a four-year, $18MM deal ($7MM guaranteed). It’s hard to find fault with Giacomini and his price and GM John Idzik is familiar with the journeyman from his time in Seattle. However, Giacomini will be stepping in for Austin Howard, whom the Jets have watched develop into a pretty solid tackle as of late. The Raiders inked the still up-and-coming Howard to a five-year, $30MM deal (50% of which is guaranteed) after the Jets were unable to reach a deal before he hit the open market. Howard is probably the better player for 2014 and beyond, but dollar-for-dollar Giacomini is probably the better bet. Of course, after years of watching the turnstile that was Wayne Hunter man the right tackle position for a number of seasons, Jets fans want to see a steady force hold down the position. The physically gifted but sometimes absent-minded Vlad Ducasse is also out of the picture after hooking on with the Vikings.

On the other side of the ball, the Jets bid farewell to veteran Antonio Cromartie and replaced him with free agent Dimitri Patterson. The journeyman is talented, but talent doesn’t mean much if you can’t stay healthy. Patterson has missed a boatload of time in recent years and some say that he’s more a slot assignment type of guy, not someone who should be charged with locking down the outside receivers. Patterson is pegged to be opposite of Dee Milliner with Kyle Wilson, third-round choice Dexter McDougle, and Ellis Lankster behind them on the depth chart. That could work out just fine, but this won’t resemble the secondary that featured Darrelle Revis just a couple of years ago.

With the Mark Sanchez era in the rear view mirror, it’s time for the Jets to erase the memories of the butt fumble and the futility of the last few years. If they don’t, coach Rex Ryan and GM John Idzik will be on the chopping block.

Spotrac and Over The Cap were used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Offseason In Review: Miami Dolphins

July 9th, 2014 at 6:10pm CST by Zachary Links

Notable signings:

Notable losses:

Trades:

  • Acquired a conditional 2015 seventh-round pick from the 49ers in exchange for Jonathan Martin. Will receive pick if Martin makes 49ers’ opening week 2014 roster.
  • Acquired a second-round pick (No. 57) and a fourth-round pick (No. 125) from the Chargers in exchange for a second-round pick (No. 50).
  • Acquired a second-round pick (No. 63) and a fifth-round pick (No. 171) from the 49ers in exchange for a second-round pick (No. 57).
  • Acquired a third-round pick (No. 67) from the Raiders in exchange for a third-round pick (No. 81) and a fourth-round pick (No. 116).

Draft picks:

  • Ja’Wuan James, OT, Tennessee (1.19): Signed
  • Jarvis Landry, WR, LSU (2.63): Signed
  • Billy Turner, OT, North Dakota State (3.67)
  • Walt Aikens, CB, Liberty (4.125): Signed
  • Arthur Lynch, TE, Georgia (5.155): Signed
  • Jordan Tripp, OLB, Montana (5.171): Signed
  • Matt Hazel, WR, Coastal Carolina (6.190): Signed
  • Terrence Fede, DE, Marist (7.234): Signed

Other:

The Dolphins threw around some cash this offseason, but it wasn’t all blown on one or two blockbuster signings. By dispersing their resources all over the field, Miami has managed to fill a number of holes and position themselves to contend in the AFC East.

The Dolphins’ most expensive move was signing offensive tackle Branden Albert to a five year, $47MM deal with $20MM guaranteed and that’s no surprise when you consider what a mess their offensive line was in 2013. The entire locker room was derailed by last year’s scandal, but the offensive line in particular was decimated with starters Jonathan Martin and Richie Incognito unavailable. Some were critical of the Albert signing since he is coming up on his 30th birthday and could wind up transitioning over to the less crucial right tackle position. Yes, this might have been something of an overpay for the veteran. However, he recorded positive grades for four straight seasons, according to Pro Football Focus, and the Dolphins desperately needed him. Albert’s deal might have been foolish for any other team, but it made complete sense for the Dolphins.NFL: Miami Dolphins-Minicamp

Joining Albert on the o-line will be Shelley Smith at one of the guard positions. The 26-year-old received a +7.0 grade from Pro Football Focus last season, which placed him 23rd out of 81 qualified guards, despite his lack of playing time. To fill the hole at right tackle, the Dolphins tabbed Tennessee’s Ju’Wuan James with the 19th overall pick. The Dolphins were said to be infatuated with James in the weeks leading up to the draft and it’s easy to see why. At 6’6″ and 311 pounds, James brings serious size and four years of experience in the extremely tough SEC. Most saw James as a second round talent, but the Dolphins weren’t willing to chance it. Miami’s o-line of Albert, Dallas Thomas, Mike Pouncey, Smith, and James figures to be a significant upgrade over last season.

Those five men will be charged with protecting third-year starter Ryan Tannehill and a backfield including Daniel Thomas, Lamar Miller, and newcomer Knowshon Moreno. The 12th overall pick in 2009 came the Dolphins on a cheap one-year, $3MM deal that is less than 50% guaranteed. Moreno posted his first 1,000-yard season in 2013, racking up 13 overall regular-season touchdowns and although Denver’s explosive offense aided those numbers, Moreno figures to be an upgrade over Thomas and Miller. Moreno should also be motivated to perform and cash in next offseason after this one-year pact. Second-round wide receiver Jarvis Landry isn’t a freak athlete like LSU teammate Odell Beckham but he’s a crisp route runner that should provide Tannehill with an additional weapon.

Moving to the other side of the ball, the Dolphins made some significant changes on their offensive line. Defensive tackle Paul Soliai was not retained by Miami (and might not have even gotten an offer) and cashed in on a five-year, $32MM deal. Meanwhile, his partner in crime Randy Starks was kept with a reasonable two-year, $10MM deal ($5MM guaranteed). The 6’4″, 344 pound Soliai is a disruptive force, but free agent Earl Mitchell should be able to fill that space just fine. At $16MM over four years ($5MM guaranteed), the former Texans defensive end is a whole lot cheaper, too.

In the secondary, the Dolphins surprised some when they gave a two year deal to cornerback Cortland Finnegan. The Rams released Finnegan back in March when they couldn’t get him to take an acceptable pay cut and weeks later the Dolphins gave him a two year, $11MM contract with $5.5MM guaranteed. Finnegan, whose 2013 season was cut short by a fractured orbital bone, was one of the league’s worst corners even before the injury, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). PFF ranked Finnegan 109th out of 110 qualified corners, with a grade of -19.7 in just seven games. A longtime starter for the Titans, the former seventh-round pick was named to the All-Pro first team in 2008, but has seen his production fall off in recent years. Presumably, the Dolphins are hoping that Brett Grimes will shoulder most of the responsibility in the secondary, making things easier on Finnegan. Speaking of Grimes, he’ll be in South Florida for the foreseeable future after signing a new four years, $32MM deal. Safety Louis Delmas, who was cut loose by the Lions in February, also came aboard on a reasonably priced make-good contract.

While the Albert and Finnegan contracts were head-scratchers for a lot of people, the Dolphins undeniably got stronger on both sides of the ball with their moves this offseason.

Spotrac and Over The Cap were used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Offseason In Review: New England Patriots

July 8th, 2014 at 6:23pm CST by Zachary Links

Notable signings:

Notable losses:

Extensions and restructures:

Trades:

  • Acquired a fourth-round pick (No. 105) and a sixth-round pick (No. 179) from the Jaguars in exchange for a third-round pick (No. 93).

Draft picks:

  • Dominique Easley, DT, Florida (1.29): Signed
  • Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Eastern Illinois (2.62): Signed
  • Bryan Stork, C, Florida State (4.105): Signed
  • James White, RB, Wisconsin (4.130): Signed
  • Cameron Fleming, OT, Stanford (4.140): Signed
  • Jon Halapio, G, Florida (6.179): Signed
  • Zach Moore, DE, Concordia-St. Paul (6.198): Signed
  • Jemea Thomas, DB, Georgia Tech (6.206): Signed
  • Jeremy Gallon, WR, Michigan (7.244): Signed

Other:

The Patriots didn’t come into this offseason with a ton of cap space but somehow they found a way to make some solid upgrades and fill holes with what little they had. Pound-for-pound, it might have been one of the best offseasons of any team in the NFL.NFL: New England Patriots-OTA

Things didn’t look so great for the Patriots when the Broncos plucked free agent cornerback Aqib Talib earlier this offseason. After all, how do you respond to losing one of the better cornerbacks in the NFL? Answer: sign a better one. New England was able to convince Darrelle Revis to come aboard on a deal that basically amounts to a franchise tender, making their secondary even stronger. Revis’ status beyond this season is anything but certain, but in the interim, Bill Belichick & Co. must be champing at the bit to get the season started. If all goes according to plan, Revis Island will reestablish itself in Foxboro before he moves on elsewhere, giving New England cap space to work with beyond this season.

The Pats also made another strong upgrade to their secondary with their signing of Brandon Browner. Yes, the cornerback will be sidelined for the first quarter of the season thanks to his suspension, but he’s a bargain on a deal that tops out at $3.46MM and will leave the Pats without any real penalty should they cut bait. If Browner stays on the straight and narrow, he could be a strong partner on the other side of the field for Revis, with veteran Kyle Arrington there to man the slot. Former Eagles safety Patrick Chung, who was signed to a $1.1MM deal, will be an asset in reserve as well as a strong special teamer. Safety Adrian Wilson, who tore achilles during preseason last year, will be seeking employment elsewhere.

There was also change in the front seven. Veteran linebacker Brandon Spikes left to join up with the Bills and the Pats will work from within to help fill the gap. Dont’a Hightower will shift back over to middle linebacker with Jerod Mayo and Jamie Collins likely joining him in the starting lineup. Hightower is a deceptively fast LB who should be able to do just fine with his increased coverage demands. Collins, who found the spotlight in last year’s playoffs, has the athleticism to keep the pressure on opposing QBs.

To bolster the d-line, the Patriots picked up talented defensive tackle Dominique Easley out of Florida. Easley was arguably the most explosive defensive lineman in the draft but fell to the Pats at No. 29 thanks to an injury history that includes two torn ACLs. If he’s healthy, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him stand as one of the best talents from the 2014 draft. If he’s not, then the Pats’ d-line will be hurting. Veteran Will Smith will also be on board to provide additional depth.

On the other side of the ball, the Patriots wisely waited out the market to get a reasonable deal done with wide receiver Julian Edelman. While Edelman looked to be an extremely hot commodity at the start of free agency, the Patriots stayed cool and signed him to a four-year, $17MM deal that has $8MM guaranteed. To strengthen things up further down the depth chart, the Pats signed longtime Panthers receiver Brandon LaFell. Often dwarfed by No. 1 target Steve Smith, LaFell has shown flashes of brilliance in Carolina and should do quite well out of the slot. A three-year, $9MM deal ($3MM guaranteed) seems like a fair deal for both sides.

There will be some change in the backfield this season after LeGarrette Blount left to join the Steelers. Blount wasn’t a central part of the gameplan last season, but he came on strong at the end of the year and showed promise as a power rusher. Fourth round pick James White out of Wisconsin could come in and fill fill his spot on the depth chart admirably, even if he’ll do it with less brute force than his predecessor.

Second-round pick Jimmy Garoppolo doesn’t want to hear it, but there has been non-stop talk of the Northern Illinois signal caller becoming the heir apparent to Tom Brady. Brady isn’t going anywhere right now, so more immediately, Garoppolo is being groomed to blossom into a solid No. 2 starting in 2015 when Ryan Mallett could find himself elsewhere. The Pats were looking hard at other QBs in the draft, including Greg Schiano‘s crush Tom Savage, but ultimately they fell in love with Garoppolo and his lightning quick release.

Not much was expected out of New England this offseason give their cap situation, but they actually restocked quite well and positioned themselves as one of the AFC’s strongest teams in 2014, thanks mostly to the Revis signing. Whether it’s enough to topple the likes of the Broncos or even the boom-or-bust Jets in the AFC East, however, remains to be seen.

Spotrac and Over The Cap were used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Offseason In Review: Buffalo Bills

July 7th, 2014 at 11:06pm CST by David Kipke

Notable signings:

Notable losses:

Extensions and restructures:

Trades:

  • Acquired Mike Williams from the Buccaneers in exchange for a sixth-round pick (No. 185).
  • Acquired a first-round pick (No. 4) from the Browns in exchange for a first-round pick (No. 9), a 2015 first-round pick, and a 2015 fourth-round pick.
  • Acquired a conditional 2015 fourth-round pick from the 49ers in exchange for Stevie Johnson. Pick could become a third-rounder depending on Johnson’s performance.
  • Acquired a second-round pick (No. 44) and a fifth-round pick (No. 153) from the Rams in exchange for a second-round pick (No. 41).
  • Acquired Bryce Brown and a seventh-round pick (No. 237) from the Eagles in exchange for a seventh-round pick (No. 224) and an additional draft pick that will be either a 2015 fourth-rounder, a 2016 third-rounder, or a 2016 fourth-rounder, depending on conditions met by Brown’s and Stevie Johnson‘s performance.
  • Acquired a seventh-round pick (No. 221) and a 2015 fifth-round pick from the Buccaneers in exchange for a fifth-round pick (No. 149).

Draft picks:

  • Sammy Watkins, WR, Clemson (1.4): Signed
  • Cyrus Kouandjio, OT, Alabama (2.44): Signed
  • Preston Brown, LB, Louisville (3.73): Signed
  • Ross Cockrell, CB, Duke (4.109): Signed
  • Cyril Richardson, G, Baylor (5.153): Signed
  • Randell Johnson, OLB, Florida Atlantic (7.221): Signed
  • Seantrel Henderson, OT, Miami (FL) (7.237): Signed

Other:

  • Had longtime owner Ralph Wilson pass away, prompting the franchise sale process to get underway.
  • Hired Jim Schwartz as defensive coordinator.
  • Learned that Kiko Alonso will be sidelined for the 2014 season with an ACL injury.
  • Exercised Marcell Dareus‘ fifth-year option for 2015 ($10.633MM).
  • Signed 10 rookie free agents after the draft.

Heading into the 2014 offseason, Bills fans were still perhaps left wondering what might have been. A once-promising 2013 campaign had sputtered after E.J. Manuel, the first quarterback taken in the 2013 NFL draft, suffered multiple knee injuries. Despite a pleasantly adequate cameo from ex-Duke Blue Devil Thad Lewis under center in Manuel’s absence, the Bills’ passing offense was among the league’s worst. On the ground, however, the Bills had the second-most prolific rushing attack in the NFL on the legs of C.J. Spiller, who provided the lightning to Fred Jackson‘s thunder in the Buffalo backfield.Sammy Watkins

The defense also experienced a considerable resurgence, as a unit led by the $100 million man Mario Williams and PFWA Defensive Rookie of the Year Kiko Alonso recorded a franchise-record 57 sacks. Despite an uninspiring 6-10 finish, the Bills showed some signs of promise, so the question heading into 2014 was whether Buffalo would push to contend in the short term, or whether the front office would believe the club was still multiple successful offseasons away from becoming a serious playoff contender.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Bills’ biggest move undoubtedly occurred in the 2014 draft when they decided to trade their 2014 and 2015 first-round picks to the Browns in order to move up and draft three-time All-American receiver Sammy Watkins out of Clemson with the fourth overall pick. In order to make room in the offense for Watkins, former No. 1 wideout Steve Johnson, who registered at least 75 receptions and 1,000 yards every season from 2010-2012, was dealt within 24 hours of Watkins’ selection to the 49ers for a conditional 2015 fourth-round pick.

Highlighting the Bills’ additional skill position acquisitions were receiver Mike Williams, who arrived via trade from the Buccaneers and played for Bills’ head coach Doug Marrone during their overlapping tenures at Syracuse; and Anthony Dixon, the bruising Pittsburgh product who played in a limited hybrid halfback/fullback role for the 49ers over the past few seasons. In addition to bringing in Dixon, the Bills also traded for former Eagle Bryce Brown, who enjoyed a brief stint in the national spotlight in late 2012 while filling in for an injured LeSean McCoy, to provide further depth at running back.

Arguably the Bills’ most substantial offensive positional turnover this offseason occurred along the offensive line. The team signed Chris Williams, who will look to start at guard after establishing himself as an NFL regular with the Rams over the past four seasons. The Bills drafted former Alabama tackle Cyrus Kouandjio, whose questionable knee health caused him to fail several physicals leading up to the the draft, and added two more lineman in the draft: guard Cyril Richardson out of Baylor and Seantrel Henderson of Miami in the seventh round. Henderson is perhaps the most mercurial boom-or-bust prospect of the 2014 draft class, having failed numerous drug tests, including one at the NFL combine, after coming out of high school in 2010 as the top overall recruit in the country. While the Bills’ new-look line will have a lot to prove on the field, they will enter the 2014 season as the heaviest unit in the entire NFL by a wide margin.

Defensively, any discussion of the Bills’ offseason has to start with the departure of three-time All-Pro safety Jairus Byrd, who signed a six-year deal with the Saints. Byrd left a defense that found itself in a substantial transition period, as the unit’s leadership had been handed over from Mike Pettine, who took the Browns’ head coaching position, to former Lions’ head coach Jim Schwartz.

Much has been written about the fairly substantial tactical change from Pettine’s ‘4-3 under’ base defense to Schwartz’s patented ‘Wide 9’ formation. The transition will not be made any easier by the recent shocking season-ending injury to Alonso, who had become a playmaker and fan favorite in his accoladed rookie season. Luckily for the Bills, GM Doug Whaley decided to add substantial linebacker depth this offseason, signing both Brandon Spikes and former first-round pick Keith Rivers while also selecting Louisville standout Preston Brown in the third round of the draft. Whaley has, however, received significant criticism for making no attempt to fill the void at safety left by Byrd.

Heading into 2014, the one question on Bills’ fans minds, other than whether or not their franchise will be based in Toronto in 10 years, will be whether or not Watkins was worth two first-round picks. He is widely expected to become an NFL star, but one has to wonder whether or not it is viable for a rebuilding franchise to surrender a future first-round pick in any trade, no matter the return. The Buffalo faithful will be hoping that Watkins can help Manuel, who showed flashes of brilliance when healthy last season, continue to develop into one of the NFL’s premier young talents at quarterback. Even if everything breaks right for the Bills, a tough schedule, highlighted by an in-conference divisional pairing with the suddenly daunting AFC West, will likely prevent the team from finishing at .500 or better in 2014.

Spotrac and Over The Cap were used in the creation of this post.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Offseason In Review: Houston Texans

July 6th, 2014 at 9:01pm CST by Ben Levine

Notable signings:

Notable losses:

Trades:

  • Acquired a sixth-round pick (No. 181) from the Raiders in exchange for Matt Schaub.
  • Acquired a third-round pick (No. 83) from the Eagles in exchange for a fourth-round pick (No. 101) and a fifth-round pick (No. 141).
  • Acquired Akeem Dent from the Falcons in exchange for T.J. Yates.

Draft picks:

  • Jadeveon Clowney, DE, South Carolina (1.1): Signed
  • Xavier Su’a-Filo, G, UCLA (2.33): Signed
  • C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE, Iowa (3.65): Signed
  • Louis Nix, DT, Notre Dame (3.83): Signed
  • Tom Savage, QB, Pittsburgh (4.135): Signed
  • Jeoffrey Pagan, DE, Alabama (6.177): Signed
  • Alfred Blue, RB, LSU (6.181): Signed
  • Jay Prosch, FB, Auburn (6.211): Signed
  • Andre Hal, CB, Vanderbilt (7.216): Signed
  • Lonnie Ballentine, S, Memphis (7.256): Signed

Other:

The Texans stole many headlines this offseason, but not for the reasons you would think. The team’s key additions weren’t via free agency. Instead, the key additions were a rookie coach and a rookie defensive end. Furthermore, the team watched as a number of key players – particularly on defense – left for greener pastures. However, the average age of those “key” players was 29. The moves (and lack of moves) indicated that the front office’s offseason philosophy was to look more towards the future than 2014.

The team’s first big addition came in early January. Following the firing of Gary Kubiak, the Texans hired Bill O’Brien as their new head coach. The front office is hoping O’Brien will carry over his success from Penn State, where the coach led an embattled program to a 15-9 record over two seasons. Prior to that, O’Brien spent five years with the Patriots, including one as the offensive coordinator.

Jadeveon ClowneyThe Texans’ next big move came during the draft, when the team selected Jadeveon Clowney with the first-overall pick. The Texans decided to not rock the boat and select a quarterback. Rather, the team chose a player who has been declared by league executives as one of the best defensive prospects in more than a decade (according to NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah). Clowney had a historic career at South Carolina, where he set school records for sacks (13.0) and tackles for loss (23.5). 

Clowney will be forced to contribute immediately considering the amount of production the team lost on defense. The Texans’ departures accounted for 33 percent of the team’s defensive snaps last season, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Losing Antonio Smith, Joe Mays and Darryl Sharpton will certainly hurt. Yet, it’s not surprising that a new coaching staff, including defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, will be looking to develop their own personnel. Houston did make one notable signing on the defensive side, inking safety Chris Clemons to a two-year deal. The 28-year old may be a steal for the Texans; Pro Football Focus ranks Clemons as the league’s ninth-best coverage safety among 86 qualified candidates.

On offense, the big news was more about what the team didn’t do. To start, the team still hasn’t addressed the Andre Johnson situation. The seven-time Pro Bowler wants out of Houston, but many obstacles stand in the way. The team hasn’t seemed too receptive to a trade, and they would also be hard pressed to find a team that could accommodate Johnson’s $10MM base salary.

The team also failed to definitively address their quarterback situation. Following the trade of Matt Schaub, many expected the Texans to look towards the draft. The team passed on six rookie quarterbacks before finally selecting Tom Savage in the fourth round. They also added veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick, who seems to be more of a temporary stopgap. The team was previously connected to Patriots quarterback Ryan Mallett, but so far it’s been all smoke and little fire.

Otherwise, the Texans didn’t do much to replace running back Ben Tate, tight end Owen Daniels and Pro Bowl offensive lineman Wade Smith. The team previously had Tate as a security blanket for starter Arian Foster; the team will now have to rely heavily on the injury-prone star. They added Andre Brown, but the veteran also battled injuries in 2013. The team re-signed tight end Garrett Graham, who finished last season with career-highs in yards (545) and touchdowns (five). The 27-year-old will likely have a larger role following Daniels’ departure. Meanwhile, rookie guard Xavier Su’a-Filo figures to get his shot at replacing Smith, who still hasn’t found a home this offseason.

Clearly, there are more question marks than answers when it comes to this squad. However, fans should remember that a rebuild is a marathon, not a sprint. With that mindset, it looks like the Texans are off to a very good start.

Spotrac and Over The Cap were used in the creation of this post.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Offseason In Review: Jacksonville Jaguars

July 6th, 2014 at 10:46am CST by Rory Parks

Notable signings:

Notable losses:

Trades:

  • Acquired a sixth-round pick (No. 205) and a conditional 2015 pick from the 49ers in exchange for Blaine Gabbert. 2015 pick (unknown round) changes hands if Gabbert starts eight or more games for the Niners in 2014.
  • Acquired a second-round pick (No. 61) from the 49ers in exchange for a third-round pick (No. 70) and a fifth-round pick (No. 150).
  • Acquired a third-round pick (No. 93) from the Patriots in exchange for a fourth-round pick (No. 105) and a sixth-round pick (No. 179).

Draft picks:

  • Blake Bortles, QB, UCF (1.3): Signed
  • Marqise Lee, WR, USC (2.39)
  • Allen Robinson, WR, Penn State (2.61): Signed
  • Brandon Linder, G, Miami (FL) (3.93): Signed
  • Aaron Colvin, CB, Oklahoma (4.114): Signed
  • Telvin Smith, LB, Florida State (5.144): Signed
  • Chris Smith, DE, Arkansas (5.159): Signed
  • Luke Bowanko, C, Virginia (6.205): Signed
  • Storm Johnson, RB, UCF (7.222): Signed

Other:

As our Luke Adams pointed out yesterday, the Jaguars are probably at least a year or two away from making a legitimate run at the AFC South, which the Colts appear to have firmly in hand in 2014. Nonetheless, there is a positive vibe surrounding second-year head coach Gus Bradley, and the Jags acquired a number of solid veterans on both sides of the ball in free agency in an attempt to remain competitive as they continue to build for the long-term.

Blake Bortles

Former Broncos left guard Zane Beadles, who was given a lucrative five-year, $30MM deal, should add stability along the interior of the offensive line. Beadles’ best season came in 2012, when he earned a trip to the Pro Bowl after yielding just one sack and finishing 17th out of 81 eligible guards according to Pro Football Focus’ (PFF) advanced metrics (subscription required). One concern is that, outside of that 2012 campaign, Beadles has not performed especially well by PFF’s standards in any of his other three seasons in the league, and the few number of sacks he allowed in 2012 and 2013 can be attributed, at least in part, to Peyton Manning‘s quick release. However, Beadles is one of those players whose game film often belies his next-level analytics, and although Jacksonville may have overpaid for him, he represents a significant upgrade over Will Rackley, who started 11 games at left guard for the club in 2013.

In the offensive backfield, the team parted ways with Maurice Jones-Drew, one of the most dynamic playmakers in Jacksonville’s brief history, and replaced him with former Viking Toby Gerhart. Gerhart has only served as a spot starter and change-of-pace back for Minnesota, but the Jaguars apparently liked the former Heisman finalist enough to hand him a three-year, $10.5MM contract and a starting role. Gerhart certainly has talent, and it was probably time to move on from Jones-Drew, but Gerhart’s lack of a track record does create an element of unease. However, seventh-round pick Storm Johnson from the University of Central Florida is a strong runner with quick feet and could be a late-round steal for the club.

The Jaguars also targeted defensive help in free agency. Red Bryant, an accomplished run-stopper, will team with pass rushers Chris Clemons and Dekoda Watson to form a stronger front-seven. The team’s coaching staff believes that Watson has “unique pass-rushing skills” and envision him as the “Otto” linebacker in Bradley’s defensive scheme. Clemons had posted at least 11 sacks in each of his first three seasons in Seattle before dropping off last season as he recovered from a torn ACL. Even at age 32, however, a healthy Clemons should be able to get to the quarterback fairly frequently, and the team expects continued improvement from 2012 second-round pick Andre Branch. In short, then, the team’s pass rush will not make opposing signal-callers lose much sleep, but it should still be more effective than it was in recent seasons. This is not to mention the addition of former Steelers’ mainstay Ziggy Hood, who has struggled in the past several years but who still offers some limited upside.

Of course, the NFL is becoming increasingly driven by the passing game, and, to that end, the club traded former first-round pick and abject disappointment Blaine Gabbert to the 49ers and selected Blake Bortles with the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft. However, the club learned from its mistakes with Gabbert, and veteran Chad Henne, who has performed as well as could be expected for the Jaguars, was re-signed in order to give Bortles some time to learn without being thrown into the fire from day one.

After drafting Bortles, the Jaguars selected talented receivers Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson with their two second-round picks. In any other year, Lee and Robinson might have been first-round selections, but with the historically deep wide receiver class this year, Jacksonville got a little lucky. Although the members of the team’s receiving corps outside of the oft-overlooked Cecil Shorts and tight end Marcedes Lewis do not have an extensive track record, they do have explosive talent. Shorts, Lee, Robinson, and Lewis will combine with Ace Sanders and Denard Robinson to form a young and intriguing unit for Henne and Bortles.

Again, the Jags will likely not compete for the playoffs this year, but the foundations are being laid properly. They have made an effort to beef up their offensive and defensive fronts, and they have surrounded their quarterback of the future with plenty of high-upside talent. There is reason to hope in Jacksonville, and this time, perhaps, that hope may eventually give way to on-field results.

Spotrac and Over The Cap were used in the creation of this post.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Offseason In Review: Tennessee Titans

July 4th, 2014 at 8:50pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Notable signings:

Notable losses:

Extensions and restructures:

  • Kamerion Wimbley (DE/OLB): Restructured contract. Base salaries and cap hits reduced for 2014, 2015, and 2016. Received $2.55MM in total roster bonuses and workout bonuses (not all guaranteed).
  • Craig Stevens (TE): Restructured contract. Base salary for 2014 reduced from $3.4MM to $1.6MM in exchange for $500K guaranteed and up to $100K in roster bonuses.

Trades:

  • Acquired a second-round pick (No. 54) and a fourth-round pick (No. 122) from the Eagles in exchange for a second-round pick (No. 42).
  • Acquired a sixth-round pick (No. 178) from the Redskins in exchange for a sixth-round pick (No. 186) and a seventh-round pick (No. 228).

Draft picks:

  • Taylor Lewan, OT, Michigan (1.11)
  • Bishop Sankey, RB, Washington (2.54): Signed
  • Daquan Jones, DT, Penn State (4.112): Signed
  • Marqueston Huff, CB Wyoming (4.122): Signed
  • Avery Williamson, LB, Kentucky (5.151): Signed
  • Zach Mettenberger, QB, LSU (6.178): Signed

Other:

  • Hired Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt as head coach.
  • Hired Jason Michael and Ray Horton as offensive and defensive coordinators.
  • Have discussed extension for Jurrell Casey.
  • Declined Jake Locker‘s fifth-year option for 2015 ($14.666MM).
  • Signed 13 rookie free agents after the draft.

In the years following the departure of former head coach Jeff Fisher, the Titans struggled to remain relevant, finishing 9-7, 6-10, and 7-9 in three seasons with Mike Munchak at the helm. Tennessee seemed rudderless, especially on offense, and questionable personnel decisions by general manager Ruston Webster only exacerbated the team’s lack of direction. A coaching staff overhaul might be the first step towards determining a team identity, but the Titans’ offseason moves leave much to be desired, as it simply doesn’t appear the team got any better.Michael Oher

Replacing Munchak as head coach will be Ken Whisenhunt, the former Cardinals head coach, who spent 2013 as the Chargers’ offensive coordinator. While he brought former San Diego tight end coach Jason Michael with him to Tennessee to serve as offensive coordinator, Whisenhunt will call the plays himself. In addition to changing the Titans’ scheme (he favors a more spread out attack than the previous regime), the 52-year-old will bring Super Bowl experience to Nashville.

Whisenhunt is known as something of a quarterback guru — he helped develop Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh, and revived the careers of Kurt Warner and Philip Rivers in Arizona and San Diego, respectively. In Tennessee, he faces perhaps his most difficult challenge in reversing the fortunes of 2011 first-rounder Jake Locker. The Titans declined their 2015 option on the fourth-year QB, meaning 2014 is perhaps his best and final chance to prove he is an NFL-caliber starter. If he fails in-season, the team can turn to backup Charlie Whitehurst, who signed a two-year, $4.25MM deal after spending last season under Whisenhunt in San Diego, or sixth-round rookie Zach Mettenberger, who fits the mold of big-bodied quarterbacks that Whisenhunt has favored over his career.

While the Titans are using 2014 as a decision-making year at the quarterback position, they acted more swiftly at the running back spot. They released longtime ball-carrier Chris Johnson, creating $6MM in cap space in the process. Tennessee selected Washington product Bishop Sankey in the second round, and will pair him with holdover Shonn Greene to form a 1-2 punch at RB. Joining them will Dexter McCluster, added on a three-year $9MM pact, who despite playing primarily receiver in his career, is expected to play the Danny Woodhead-role in Whisenhunt’s offense. If McCluster does see time at pass-catcher, he will join an impressive position group, headlined by Kendall Wright, Nate Washington, and Justin Hunter, that hasn’t seen much turnover since 2013 (Kenny Britt left for St. Louis, but he wasn’t a factor last year).

Tennessee’s most questionable roster machinations over the past few months have involved the offensive line. First, the Titans released longtime right tackle David Stewart, a reasonable move both because Stewart’s play had suffered and it cleared over $6MM off the books. However, Stewart is to be replaced in the starting lineup by free agent signee Michael Oher (four years, $20MM), who was even worse in 2013, grading out just the 68th-best tackle in the league, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Compounding that move was another head-scratcher — the drafting of Taylor Lewan at pick No. 11. With stalwart Michael Roos manning the left side, one of Oher or Lewan will have no place to play, meaning the Titans seemingly misused either $20MM or a first-round pick.

While the Titans’ offense might face a learning curve in 2014, the defense, which will also undergo a scheme change, boasts more talent, and should improve upon last season’s 22nd-ranked DVOA. New coordinator Ray Horton ostensibly runs a 3-4 look, but is a major proponent of multiple fronts, meaning versatility will be key. The most visible difference will probably be at linebacker, where Derrick Morgan (entering a contract year) and Kamerion Wimbley will be asked to switch from hand-in-the-ground ends to stand-up outside linebackers. Joining them in the LB rotation will be inside ‘backer Wesley Woodyard, who signed a four-year contract worth $15.75MM, and OLB Shaun Phillips, added from Denver on a two-year, $5MM deal.

Defensive tackle Jurrell Casey, a 2013 breakout star who finished as PFF’s fifth-best DT, will be making the switch to nose tackle in Horton’s front. In a typical 3-4 defense, a NT would be asked to fill two gaps (essentially take up space); in Horton’s modified look, however, Casey will still only be assigned one gap, meaning he will still have the freedom to do what he does best — rush the passer. To help solidify the line, Tennessee re-signed Ropati Pitoitua on a three-year deal, added Al Woods from Pittsburgh, and drafted Daquan Jones in the fourth round. Pitoitua and Woods will help at end, while Jones is more of a classic 3-4 tackle, but all three exhibit the requirement of Horton-coached player — versatility.

The secondary will see some change — while safety will continue to be a three-man rotation between Michael Griffin, Bernard Pollard (re-signed on a two-year pact), and George Wilson, the cornerback position suffered the loss of Alterraun Verner, who signed with the Buccaneers. The Titans selected CB Marqueston Huff out of Wyoming in the fourth round, but Verner’s vacated spot will be filled by the winner of a Blidi Wreh-Wilson/Coty Sensabaugh/Tommie Campbell battle; the victor will play opposite veteran Jason McCourty.

Work is left to be done in Tennessee; extensions for Casey and Morgan are possible, and the offensive line needs to be sorted out. But 2014 will be an important year for the Titans. Failure could result in wholesale changes at key positions like quarterback and offensive tackle, while success could mean a new contract for Locker and praise for Whisenhunt and his staff. A winning season isn’t necessarily expected for the Titans next season, but improvement is — how well new schemes on both sides of the ball fare will determine how much more development is needed.

Spotrac and Over the Cap were used in the creation of this post. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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