As the calendar has flipped to 2021, the NFL has seen a wild amount of movement all over the league. Between coaching changes, trades, retirements, and free agent signings, the league in 2021 will once again have a new look (change is one of the few constants in the NFL). Dealings have slowed down, and teams are prepping diligently for the 2021 NFL Draft. Let’s take a look at the winners and losers so far in the NFL offseason.
Winners:
New York Jets
Gang Green began the offseason hiring former 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh to be their new head coach. Saleh is a good defensive mind, having coordinated solid defenses over the past few seasons (including last season when the 49ers were riddled with injuries on the defensive side of the football). The Jets signed one of the top receivers on the free agent market in former Titans receiver Corey Davis, the 5th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He headlines a receiving core that already has 2020 2nd round pick Denzel Mims, a good deep threat, and Jamison Crowder, a reliable slot receiver. The Jets also added a solid depth option in receiver Keelan Cole, who is still only 27, and had 55 receptions last season with the Jaguars. Defensively, the Jets added former Bengals defensive end Carl Lawson, one of the top pass rushers in free agency. If that is not enough, the Jets have the 2nd overall pick in the draft, allowing them to nab a franchise quarterback (such as Justin Fields of Ohio State or Zach Wilson of BYU).
New York Giants
The Giants signed the big fish of the receiver market in former Lions receiver Kenny Golladay. They signed him to a 4-year 72 million contract. He gives the Giants a solid trio of receivers along with talented in-house receivers in Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton. The Giants signed longtime Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph. Rudolph has been a terrific pass catcher for nearly a decade in the NFL, and gives young tight end Evan Engram (63 receptions last season) a solid partner in crime. New York re-signed defensive lineman Leonard Williams, a terrific pass rusher who also can stop the run (he weighs 302 pounds). Finally, the Giants signed Titans 2017 1st round cornerback Adoree Jackson. Jackson, coming off an injury-marred 2020 season, had 33 passes deflections in his first three seasons in the NFL. He will pair up with James Bradberry, an underrated, shutdown cornerback.
Los Angeles Rams
Los Angeles traded for Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, bringing him aboard in place of incumbent quarterback Jared Goff (who went to Detroit in the deal). Stafford has been a prolific passer over his twelve-year career, setting numerous NFL records. He takes over a team that was already good last season, as the Rams went 10-6 and won a playoff game over the Seattle Seahawks (they ultimately fell short in the Divisional Round to the Green Bay Packers). He should be even better with the Rams because he will have the support of a great running game. The Rams re-signed linebacker Leonard Floyd, who is a good pass rusher (he had a career-high 10.5 sacks last season and is still only 28-years old). As a cherry on the sundae, the Rams signed former Eagles receiver Desean Jackson. Jackson, over his thirteen-year career, has averaged a whopping 17.4 yards per reception. He still has tremendous speed, and will open up opportunities underneath for the Ram’s top two receivers Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp.
New England Patriots
Following a substandard 7-9 season, the Patriots came out with guns blazing in free agency. They signed the two best tight ends in free agency, Hunter Henry (Chargers) and Jonnu Smith (Titans). The Patriots dished out a combined 56 million dollars guaranteed to the two of them. Both players are prolific pass catchers and give the Patriots their best tight end group since the early 2010s when they had Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. Additionally, the Patriots signed receivers Nelson Agholor (Raiders) and Kendrick Bourne (49ers). They are solid, complementary pieces and an instant upgrade for the Patriots in their receiving core. On the defensive side of the football, the Patriots signed one of the best edge players on the market, Matthew Judon (Ravens), for 32 million guaranteed. He will instantly upgrade the Patriots pass rush, which had a total of 24 sacks all of last season. The Patriots brought back linebacker Kyle Van Noy (a three-year starter between 2017-2019) after a one-year hiatus with the Dolphins. Other notable signings were cornerback/safety Jalen Mills (Eagles), who will strengthen an already good secondary, and defensive tackle Davon Godchaux (Dolphins), who will help plug up the Patriots leaky run defense.
Losers:
Detroit Lions
Detroit, with a new coach (Dan Campbell) and general manager (Brad Holmes), are beginning a rebuild. The team traded Matthew Stafford (it was a mutually agreed-upon decision) and are replacing him with Jared Goff. Goff, the 1st overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft by the Rams, is a talented young quarterback. He helped take the Rams to the Super Bowl in 2018. However, he is a downgrade from Stafford, as there are questions about Goff’s ability to succeed outside of Rams head coach Sean Mcvay’s system. The Lions also lost their top two wide receivers in Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones (who signed with the Jaguars). The Lions did sign receivers Tyrell Williams (Raiders) and Breshad Perriman (Jets), but they have been uneven as far as their production throughout their careers.
Philadelphia Eagles
Coming off a 4-11-1 season, the Eagles have done very little to improve their team thus far in the NFL offseason. In fact, they have lost some starters I previously mentioned such as Desean Jackson and Jalen Mills. Part of the reason for that is that the team is cash strapped, as the trade of quarterback Carson Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts left the Eagles with 33.8 million dollars in dead cap money. They did sign former Vikings safety Anthony Harris, a good playmaker, to a one-year deal. However, as of right now, it appears the Eagles are essentially going to go forward with largely the same team that they had last season.
New Orleans Saints
New Orleans released wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (61 receptions for 726 yards last season) and cornerback Janoris Jenkins (he started 13 games last season and has 26 career interceptions) to solve their major salary cap issues. Sanders signed with the Bills, and Jenkins went on to sign with the titans. The biggest blow for the Saints, however, is the loss of quarterback Drew Brees, who announced his retirement. Brees is one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, and his partnership with coach Sean Payton since 2006 revived a doormat franchise. In his place will be either Taysom Hill (who played well for a few games in place of Brees last year, but has little experience as a starter in the NFL) or Jameis Winston, who is looking to resurrect his career after flaming out as the 1st overall pick in 2015 by the Buccaneers.
Houston Texans
The Texans have been active this NFL offseason, signing numerous free agents, including two good running backs in Mark Ingram (Ravens) and Philip Lindsay (Broncos). Houston also signed former Chargers and Titans cornerback Desmond King II, a solid corner who can help as a return man as well. However, these moves cannot taper over the beating the Texans have taken earlier in the offseason. First, the Texans granted defensive end, JJ Watt, his release, ending his decade as one of the best players in Texans history. He made five All-Pro teams, and was awarded the Defensive Player of the Year honor three times. He will be missed sorely on the defensive line. The biggest blow, however, comes at the quarterback position. Deshaun Watson, a 25-year old and one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, requested a trade. He reportedly has been unbending in terms of possibly changing his mind, even telling new coach David Culley that he wants to leave Houston. Beyond that, Watson is dealing with numerous sexual assault lawsuits, complicating any potential trade and even his availability for at least part of the season. As if that is not enough, the 4-12 Texans don’t have a 1st round pick this year due to their 2019 trade with the Dolphins for tackle Laremy Tunsil.
For full list of signings in the NFL offseason, click here.
For more NFL offseason coverage, click here.
