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Offseason In Review: Denver Broncos

June 30th, 2014 at 11:17pm CST by Rory Parks

Notable signings:

Notable losses:

Trades:

  • Acquired a second-round pick (No. 56) and a seventh-round pick (No. 242) from the 49ers in exchange for a second-round pick (No. 63), a fifth-round pick (No. 171), and a 2015 fourth-round pick.

Draft picks:

  • Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State (1.31): Signed
  • Cody Latimer, WR, Indiana (2.56): Signed
  • Michael Schofield, OT, Michigan (3.95): Signed
  • Lamin Barrow, LB, LSU (5.156): Signed
  • Matt Paradis, C, Boise State (6.207): Signed
  • Corey Nelson, LB, Oklahoma (7.242): Signed

Other:

After acquiring living legend Peyton Manning two years ago, the Broncos probably thought they would have another Lombardi Trophy in their collection by now. But after being upset by Baltimore in a double-overtime thriller in the 2012 playoffs, Denver was blindsided by Seattle’s suffocating defense one year later in Super Bowl XLVIII. In an attempt to get his team over the hump, GM John Elway was very aggressive in free agency, landing a number of marquee pieces to ensure that the Broncos get another crack at the title.

DeMarcus Ware

On offense, Elway made the difficult decision to let wide receiver Eric Decker walk in free agency. Decker had put up over 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns in each of the past two seasons, but the Broncos knew they would be unable to meet Decker’s open-market price (especially since they are also mulling extensions to dynamic receiving threats Demaryius Thomas and Julius Thomas). The team did sign former Steeler’s wideout Emmanuel Sanders, who offers a different skillset than Decker and whose speed and elusiveness, combined with Manning’s accuracy, could create nightmarish problems over the middle of the field.

Along the offensive line, Denver added veteran center Will Montgomery and will reshuffle the unit with the return of Ryan Clady from injury and the departure of left guard Zane Beadles. Clady will resume his post at left tackle, so Chris Clark–who replaced Clady at that spot last season–will move over to right tackle. Orlando Franklin, last year’s right tackle, gets bumped inside to left guard to replace Beadles. The mix-up might have created a bit of confusion and disappointment for Franklin, but it should not negatively impact what was a tremendous offensive line in 2013. The group excelled in pass protection, giving up just 20 sacks–though Manning’s quick trigger surely played a significant part in that–and they were effective in run blocking as well.

Speaking of the running game, the Broncos let running back Knowshon Moreno leave in free agency–he ultimately signed a modest deal with the Dolphins–and have not attempted to replace him with a veteran. Instead, they seem comfortable riding their stable of young backs, none of whom have started a game in the NFL. But all the Broncos really need from their run game is the ability to pick up first downs off of short yardage and touchdowns off of goal-to-go situations. Talented but unproven runners like Montee Ball, Ronnie Hillman, and C.J. Anderson should be able to carry the load.

The defensive side of the ball is where the Broncos made the biggest splashes in free agency. According to Football Outsiders’ metrics, Denver had a middle of the pack defense in 2013, ranking 9th against the run–as measured by Defense-adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA)–but 21st against the pass and 15th overall. Those evaluations were supported by Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), which ranked the Broncos’ defense second-best in the league against the run but just 17th in coverage and 14th in pass rushing.

Enter DeMarcus Ware. Released by the Cowboys, the perennial All-Pro found a home in the Mile High City, where he and Von Miller will create a formidable pass rush duo that should boost the team’s sack total (the Broncos racked up 41 sacks in 2013, tied for 13th-most in the league). In the secondary, although Denver lost Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to the Giants, they replaced him with Aqib Talib, who resurrected his career with back-to-back solid seasons in New England. Although Pro Football Focus (subscription required) suggests this is something of a downgrade–Talib was ranked 57th out of 110 qualified corners, whereas Rodgers-Cromartie was ranked 6th-best–it would be surprising if Talib did not perform at least as well as the man affectionately known as DRC. This is not to mention, of course, the addition of first-round selection Bradley Roby, a talented cornerback in his own right.

The Broncos also added safety T.J. Ward to boost the back end of the defense. Ward thrives against both the run and the pass, and he adds some much-needed athleticism to a defense that said goodbye to aging veterans Mike Adams, Champ Bailey, and Quentin Jammer.

Manning, who is an aging veteran himself, shows no signs of slowing down and said that he plans to play out his current contract, which runs through the 2016 season (when Manning will be 40). Because of Manning’s age and the age of other key players–Ware and Wes Welker, for instance–there is a belief that Denver’s window to win it all is fairly small. However, as shown above, the Broncos are also getting younger and more athletic in some areas, and should they reach extensions with Demaryius and Julius Thomas, they will have secured a key part of their offensive future.

In any event, barring an injury to Manning, this team is not going anywhere in the next several years. They should take home the AFC West title again this season, and, although it is rare for such things to happen in the NFL, we may see a Super Bowl XLVIII rematch in Super Bowl XLIX. The Broncos are certainly favorites to represent the AFC in the big game again, and if they do, their offseason additions may just be enough to bring a third title to Denver.

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

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Offseason In Review: Kansas City Chiefs

June 30th, 2014 at 7:34pm CST by David Kipke

Notable signings:

Notable losses:

Draft picks:

  • Dee Ford, DE, Auburn (1.23): Signed
  • Phillip Gaines, CB, Rice (3.87): Signed
  • De’Anthony Thomas, RB, Oregon (4.124): Signed
  • Aaron Murray, QB, Georgia (5.163): Signed
  • Zach Fulton, G, Tennessee (6.193): Signed
  • Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, OT, McGill (6.200): Signed

Other:

On December 30th, 2012, 3 days after six Chiefs had been named to the AFC Pro Bowl team, the Romeo Crennel-led squad crawled to a 38-3 defeat against the Broncos to end their season at 2-14. The team’s shortcomings were obvious: Matt Cassel and Brady Quinn took turns leading a completely stagnant offense while the defense vastly underperformed against the expectation set by the play of its four Pro Bowlers. The detrimental organizational culture had long-been questioned– with horror stories of General Manager Scott Pioli‘s intense nature and accusations of inter-departmental spying. Kansas City fans had even formed a group that received national media attention called ‘Save Our Chiefs’ that organized blackouts at home games and plane-dragged banners demanding Pioli’s firing. A regime change was imminent.

Fast forward four months:  General manager John Dorsey and head coach Andy Reid have been hired, bringing with them high profile assistant coaches Doug Pederson, Bob Sutton, and Brad Childress, and Alex Smith has taken the reins at quarterback. A nine-game win-streak to start the 2013 Season affirmed that the massive overhaul from owner Clark Hunt had been a decidedly successful move. Although the season ended in a catastrophic Wild Card round loss to the Colts, the Chiefs entered the 2013-2014 offseason in a surprisingly stable position given the dire straits in which the franchise had found itself in 12 months prior. That said– the Chiefs still moved some pieces around this past offseason.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Chiefs’ O-line will have the most new faces of any positional unit heading into next season after the departures of three starters- Branden Albert to the Dolphins, Jon Asamoah to the Falcons, and Geoff Schwartz to the Giants. 2013 first overall pick Eric Fisher will slide over to left tackle to replace Albert, while ex-Colt Jeff Linkenbach and third-year Donald Stephenson, a former swingman, will comprise the new right side of the line.

One of the biggest headlines of the Chiefs’ offseason was the decision to let Pro Bowl return man Dexter McCluster become a free agent and sign with the Tennessee Titans. One would reasonably suspect the Chiefs to try out rookie speedster De’Anthony Thomas to fill McCluster’s void. Free agent signing Weston Dressler, who has dominated the CFL for the past few years, has also been projected to take over some of McCluster’s leftover snaps. The return of 2013 third-round pick Travis Kelce, who missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury, at the tight end position could also prove to be a boon to the offense, given Reid’s historical propensity toward using tight ends.

Defensively, the Chiefs shook up their secondary significantly, parting ways with Pro Bowl cornerback Brandon Flowers, free safety Kendrick Lewis, and nickelback Dunta Robinson. Many expect 2014 third-round pick Phillip Gaines out of Rice and hard-nosed veteran Husain Abdullah to factor significantly into the Chiefs’ 2014 defensive backfield.

Up front, the Chiefs’ defense made a few moves along the line, which had proved vulnerable at times last season after injuries to Pro Bowl outside linebackers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston. The defensive end position left vacated by former third overall pick Tyson Jackson will be fought over by Allen Bailey and Vance Walker, whom Chiefs fan will recall played with the Raiders last season. The Chiefs also hoped to provide depth to their outside linebacking corps by drafting pass rush specialist Dee Ford in the first round of the 2014 Draft. Additionally, former Alabama standout linebacker Nico Johnson will look to start alongside All Pro Derrick Johnson at the interior of Sutton‘s 3-4 defense.

The Chiefs stayed relatively quiet this offseason: although at one point they mistakenly thought that they had made waves by signing Emmanuel Sanders, the reigning AFC Wild Card team made no major acquisitions despite losing three starters on the offensive line and a Pro Bowl cornerback. In order to succeed, big strides will need to be made by Andy Reid’s young pair of bookend offensive linemen- Stephenson and Fisher. Off the field, Alex Smith’s contract renewal situation will increasingly loom over the franchise until the former 49er receives a new deal.

As long as Jamaal Charles stays healthy, the Kansas City offense possesses one of the most dangerous weapons in the NFL, and the defense should continue to improve after last season’s renaissance. Although the Broncos are still clearly a superior team and will likely dominate the AFC West once again, the Chiefs will be a popular pick to win a return trip to the AFC Wild Card round.

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

Offseason In Review: Baltimore Ravens

June 29th, 2014 at 3:39pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Notable signings:

Notable losses:

Extensions and restructures:

Trades:

  • Acquired Jeremy Zuttah from the Buccaneers in exchange for a 2015 fifth-round pick. Extended Zuttah through 2018. Three years, $9.25MM. $6.5MM guaranteed. Reduced cap hit for 2014.
  • Acquired a seventh-round pick (No. 218) from the Browns in exchange for a 2015 sixth-round pick.

Draft picks:

  • C.J. Mosley, LB, Alabama (1.17): Signed
  • Timmy Jernigan, DT, Florida State (2.48): Signed
  • Terrence Brooks, S, Florida State (3.79): Signed
  • Crockett Gillmore, TE, Colorado State (3.99): Signed
  • Brent Urban, DT, Virginia (4.134): Signed
  • Lorenzo Taliaferro, RB, Costal Carolina (4.138): Signed
  • John Urschel, G, Penn State (5.175): Signed
  • Keith Wenning, QB, Ball State (6.194): Signed
  • Michael Campanaro, WR, Wake Forest (7.218): Signed

Other:

Following the 2012 season, the Ravens were on top of the world. After winning the AFC North with a 10-6 record, they went on incredible ride through the playoffs that was culminated by beating the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII. Joe Flacco, the Super Bowl MVP-winning quarterback who had bet on himself in the offseason, came up aces, securing a six-year, $120.6MM contract. All was well in Baltimore, and the team was expected to remain competitive for years to come.

The 2013 season didn’t play out as planned, however — Flacco and the entire offense regressed, finishing 25th in scoring, 28th in total yardage, and 30th in offensive DVOA. Even the team’s vaunted defense suffered, and the Ravens finished third in the division with an 8-8 record, missing the playoffs for the first time during John Harbaugh’s tenure as head coach.Steve Smith

To help repair its offense, Baltimore hired former Texans head coach Gary Kubiak to replace play-caller Jim Caldwell, who took the head job with the Lions. Kubiak is a known fan of multiple tight end formations, and he will have plenty of options to work with in 2014. After inking four-year veteran Dennis Pitta to a five-year, $32MM extension, the Ravens brought in Kubiak’s former protégé Owen Daniels, signing him to bargain one-year deal worth $1MM. Add in third-round pick Crockett Gillmore, and this looks like a tight end group that could serve as the basis for a play-action-heavy offensive scheme.

Joining the TEs on offense will be new addition Steve Smith, who signed for three years and $10.5MM. The 35-year-old Smith, who will line up opposite Torrey Smith, certainly isn’t the player he once was, but is entering an offense where he will be surrounded by more playmakers than in Carolina. He should act as a nice complementary piece, and bring some of the toughness and attitude for which the Ravens were once known. Jacoby Jones, who will add speed both on offense and special teams, was retained on a four-year, $12MM pact. Baltimore signed Justin Forsett (another former Kubiak student), but the running back corps will remain largely the same. Ray Rice was the worst RB in football season according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), and will likely be facing a suspension due to a domestic incident. As such, Forsett, fourth-rounder Lorenzo Taliaferro, and Bernard Pierce may have to play a larger role to begin the season.

Another change on offense will be the implementation of a zone-blocking scheme along the offensive line. Center Jeremy Zuttah was acquired (then extended) from the Buccaneers with that transition in mind, as the versatile 28-year-old is a smart player who can fit along most any front five. The Ravens also brought back left tackle Eugene Monroe, whom they acquired from the Jaguars in midseason, on a five-year deal worth $37.5MM, and he should add stability to Flacco’s blindside. No replacement was signed to take over right tackle following the departure of Michael Oher, so the winner of a Ricky Wagner–Ryan Jensen battle will likely man the right side come September.

On the defensive side of the ball, Baltimore’s moves exhibited why Ozzie Newsome is regarded as one of the best general managers in the game. The Ravens, sticking to their best-player-available strategy in the draft, selected Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley, regarded by some as the best defensive prospect in the draft, with pick No. 17. Mosley should become an immediate starter in the middle alongside veteran Daryl Smith, who was re-signed on a four-year, $13.6MM contract. Smith, who racked 123 tackles, five sacks, and three interceptions in 2013, and Mosley should form one of the better inside linebacker duos in the league. The outside linebacker spots will be held down once again by Terrell Suggs, who was extended through 2018, and Elvis Dumervil, with Pernell McPhee and 2013 second-rounder Courtney Upshaw backing them up.

In front of the linebackers, second-rounder Timmy Jernigan (another Newsome draft-day steal) will be joining an already-stout defensive line. Jernigan, at 6’2″, 300 pounds, will be part of a rotation at end in the Ravens’ 3-4 defense, along with Brandon Williams and Chris Canty, as the team seeks to replace the production of Arthur Jones, who left for Indianapolis. At nose tackle, the über-effective Haloti Ngata will enter his ninth season in the league, and will be backed up by the massive Terrence Cody.

Cornerback remains one of the most stable positions on the Ravens roster; Lardarius Webb and Jimmy Smith, whose fifth-year option was exercised, will attempt to shut down opposing receivers. Baltimore’s safety group, however, will have a bit different look — gone is James Ihedigbo, and in are free agent signee Darian Stewart (one year, $1.3MM) and third-round pick Terrance Brooks, who will likely play in some sort of rotation opposite Matt Elam, the team’s 2013 first-round-pick.

There are still pressing issues to be resolved in Baltimore — an extension for Jimmy Smith needs to be worked out, the defense needs to get even younger, and the offensive line could use a veteran addition. Additionally, Flacco’s massive contract figures to hinder the Ravens’ cap situation for some time. However, the team has one of the best GM-coach tandems in the NFL in Newsome and Harbaugh, and the methodical, detail-oriented approach on display year-after-year in Baltimore will likely continue to serve the team well. The Ravens probably aren’t the favorites in a tight AFC North, but a wild card spot isn’t out of the question, and might even be likely.

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

Offseason In Review: San Diego Chargers

June 29th, 2014 at 12:01pm CST by Rory Parks

Notable signings:

Notable losses:

Extensions and restructures:

Trades:

  • Acquired a second-round pick (No. 50) from the Dolphins in exchange for a second-round pick (No. 57) and a fourth-round pick (No. 125).

Draft picks:

  • Jason Verrett, CB, TCU (1.25): Signed
  • Jeremiah Attaochu, OLB, Georgia Tech (2.50): Signed
  • Chris Watt, G, Notre Dame (3.89): Signed
  • Ryan Carrethers, DT, Arkansas State (5.165): Signed
  • Marion Grice, RB, Arizona State (6.201): Signed
  • Tevin Reese, WR, Baylor (7.240): Signed

Other:

The Chargers were a surprise entrant in last year’s playoffs, gutting out a tense victory over division-rival Kansas City on the last day of the regular season and getting some help from other clubs along the way to secure the AFC’s second wild-card spot. They went on the road to knock off AFC North champion Cincinnati on wild card weekend before finally succumbing to Denver in the divisional round.

Brandon Flowers

Nonetheless, 2013 was a year of fresh starts and pleasant surprises for San Diego and first-year head coach Mike McCoy. Quarterback Philip Rivers set a career-high with a 69.5% completion percentage and threw 32 touchdown passes, just two short of his career best. Eight of Rivers’ touchdown passes went to rookie wideout Keenan Allen, who fell to the third round of the 2013 draft because of injury concerns and made the other 31 clubs in the league look foolish for passing on him. Rivers was also sacked just 30 times after being dropped almost 50 times in 2012, perhaps a testament to the surprisingly strong performance of free agent acquisition King Dunlap at left tackle and the steady play of rookie D.J. Fluker on the right side.

In an attempt to ensure continued stability along the offensive line in 2014 and beyond, the Chargers re-signed guard Chad Rinehart to a two-year, $6MM deal in March. Although Rinehart enjoyed his best season in 2011, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required), he did perform well in San Diego’s two playoff games last season and still has the potential to be an above-average starter in the league.

The biggest concern on offense may be the loss of offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, who was hired to be the Titans head coach after his one impressive season in San Diego. The Chargers promoted quarterbacks coach Frank Reich to offensive coordinator just one day after Whisenhunt’s hiring, and early returns are encouraging. As Eric D. Williams of ESPN.com writes, the Chargers’ offense was “purring” in offseason workouts, with Rivers distributing the football all over the field to diverse and talented playmakers like Allen, Ladarius Green, Malcom Floyd, and Vincent Brown.

The Chargers are largely relying on their incumbents to ensure that the offense remains among the league’s most productive units for the second consecutive season. The club did not enter the offseason with a great deal of salary cap space, and they did not draft an immediate playmaker on offense. The biggest acquisition on that side of the ball was former Colts’ running back Donald Brown, who signed a three-year, $10.5 million deal in March. Brown adds a quality complement to Ryan Mathews and Danny Woodhead, and he represents a useful insurance policy should Mathews struggle with injuries after finally putting together a healthy and productive campaign in 2013.

The team did hand out a lucrative contract extension to linebacker Donald Butler, keeping the prospective free agent off the market with a seven-year, $51.8MM deal (though only $11.5MM of that is guaranteed). Butler suffered through injury and inconsistency in 2013, but he is just 25 and still has a great deal of potential. Butler will team with Manti Te’o to form what the Chargers hope will be one of the most dynamic pairs of inside linebackers for years.

Te’o and Butler will be flanked by outside linebackers Dwight Freeney and Jarret Johnson (both of whom agreed to take a pay cut in March), but perhaps not for long. Given the age and declining skills of both Freeney and Johnson, the Chargers targeted edge rushing help in the draft and, to that end, traded their second- and fourth-round selections (Nos. 57 and 125 overall) to the Dolphins in order to trade up seven spots to No. 50. With that pick, the team chose Jeremiah Attaochu, a 6’3″, 243-pound pass rusher out of Georgia Tech. The Chargers also exercised defensive end Corey Liuget‘s fifth-year option for 2015, thereby keeping another young, high-ceiling defender who can get to the quarterback under club control.

The most pressing concern for the Chargers this offseason was their porous secondary, and they attacked that unit with vigor. They re-signed Richard Marshall, who was largely ineffective in a part-time role in 2013, but they perhaps hit a pair of home runs in the draft and free agency. They used their first-round pick to select top cornerback prospect Jason Verrett out of TCU, and they were the winners of the recent Brandon Flowers sweepstakes, signing the former Chiefs’ corner to a one-year, $3MM deal to prove that he is the elite defender that everyone thought he was in 2011 and 2012.

So the secondary, anchored by stalwart Eric Weddle at free safety, received a significant upgrade, which may be enough to catapult defensive coordinator John Pagano‘s group into the top half of the league (last year, the Chargers ranked 23rd in yards allowed, though they did yield the 11th-fewest points per game). Combined with what projects to be a strong offensive unit, the Chargers should challenge for the playoffs again. Although dethroning the Broncos in the AFC West may be too much to ask, the wildcard is well within reach.

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

Offseason In Review: Cincinnati Bengals

June 28th, 2014 at 5:50pm CST by Rob DiRe

Notable signings:

Notable losses:

Extensions and restructures:

Trades:

  • Acquired a fourth-round pick (No. 111) from the Seahawks in exchange for a fourth-round pick (No. 123) and a sixth-round pick (No. 199).

Draft picks:

  • Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State (1.24): Signed
  • Jeremy Hill, RB, LSU (2.55): Signed
  • Will Clarke, DE, West Virginia (3.88): Signed
  • Russell Bodine, C, North Carolina (4.111): Signed
  • A.J. McCarron, QB, Alabama (5.164): Signed
  • Marquis Flowers, LB, Arizona (6.212): Signed
  • James Wright, WR, LSU (7.239): Signed
  • Lavelle Westbrooks, DB, Georgia Southern (7.252): Signed

Other:

Over the last few seasons, the Bengals have assembled one of the most complete rosters in the NFL from top to bottom, which has resulted in three consecutive playoff appearances. The run started after they selected A.J. Green and Andy Dalton in the first two rounds of the 2011 NFL draft, and those two players have come to the forefront of a Bengals team that has become a modicum of consistency in the AFC.

Unfortunately, despite having among the least gaping holes in the roster of all 32 NFL teams, they have also accumulated three consecutive first round exits, and have not won a playoff game since the 1990 season. Without any glaring weaknesses on the roster, and with the team scoring a total of 33 points over those three playoff losses, pressure is beginning to mount on Dalton, despite his regular season successes.

Still, the team did not do much to improve the pieces around Dalton. Cincinnati kept guard Mike Pollak, but let utility lineman Anthony Collins walk. Collins played left tackle last season, and this will push Andrew Whitworth back to anchor Dalton’s blindside. The club also failed to bring in a third receiver to compliment Green and rising star Marvin Jones. Dane Sanzenbacher, Brandon Tate, and seventh-round pick James Wright are the only three players the Bengals prioritized this offseason, and none of three are likely to supplant Mohamed Sanu as the team’s third wideout.

Dalton does have a pair of receiving threats at tight end in Tyler Eifert and Jermaine Gresham, both very talented pass catchers, and Giovani Bernard can also catch the ball out of the backfield. The Bengals drafted LSU running back Jeremy Hill in the second round, but at best he only projects to replace an aging BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Overall, however, Dalton’s weapons are not greatly improved from a year ago. With Green up for a monster extension, it will be difficult for the Bengals to invest more money in the passing game going forward. Gresham already is being pushed out of Cincinnati, if the team does not look to open its checkbook for him at the end of the year.

Dalton is up for an extension soon, as he is entering the last year of a four-year rookie deal. He will likely be given one more season to prove himself before being able to cash in, and it is unclear what his future looks like. The Bengals brought in veteran quarterback Jason Campbell to serve as Dalton’s backup, and he is not too far removed from an impressive stint as a starter for the Raiders before getting injured (and replaced by Carson Palmer, netting the Bengals ammunition to build their current roster).

Among the Bengals’ most notable draft picks was A.J. McCarron, the two-time national champion out of Alabama. McCarron’s stock slipped during the draft process, but he led some great college teams as a quarterback, and provides a certain upside that might be appealing to Bengals’ fans who have watched a signal-caller with a low ceiling in terms of his potential. If Dalton struggles in 2014, it might make sense for the team to walk away from him, and move forward with McCarron or another quarterback.

The defensive side of the ball also left little room to improve, but the Bengals added to their depth in the secondary by choosing Darqueze Dennard out of Michigan State with their first-round pick. Dennard enters a crowded depth chart at corner. Leon Hall has emerged as a star since being drafted in 2007, but has struggled with injuries, tearing his Achilles tendon twice in the last three seasons. The team is preparing for life after Hall, who will turn 30 years old later this year. The Bengals have also successfully plugged in former Pro-Bowl players Terence Newman and Adam “Pacman” Jones, who both revived their careers, playing well for the team. All this is in addition to Dre Kirkpatrick, who was a first-round pick in the 2012 NFL draft, and has yet to contribute much to the defense, starting three games last year.

The biggest loss of the offseason was defensive end Michael Johnson, who signed with the Buccaneers. Johnson had 11.5 sacks in 2012, but only managed 3.5 last season. The Bengals will lean more heavily on Carlos Dunlap going forward, but they have good depth behind him, with young contributors such as Margus Hunt, Sam Montgomery, and third-round pick Will Clarke likely to get a chance to see the field. They are still tough in the middle of their defensive line, with Domata Peko signed to an extension and Geno Atkins returning from injury.

The best asset Cincinnati has on defense may be head coach Marvin Lewis, who the team extended through 2015. Lewis is the second-longest tenured head coach in the NFL, behind Patriots coach Bill Belichick. Lewis has been able to put a defensive product on the field every year that seems to overachieve, and handles particularly well with losing stars and carrying on, as we saw last year when Hall and Atkins went out. Of course, he has failed to win a single postseason game, only reaching the tournament five times in ten seasons.

The AFC North was a top heavy division for many years, with the Steelers and Ravens dominating playoff berths for most of the 2000s. It is not the same AFC North in 2014. With the Steelers and Ravens taking a step back last year, and the Browns winning the offseason, this division is up for grabs. Still, the Bengals are a slight favorite to win the division and secure a fourth straight playoff birth.

Lewis drafted Palmer in his first season as head coach, and was given the opportunity to reboot with Dalton in 2011. Most coaches do not get the luxury to pick two franchise quarterbacks. Almost none get the chance to draft three. If the organization decides to move on from Dalton after this season, Lewis might not survive another quarterback change.

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

Offseason In Review: Pittsburgh Steelers

June 25th, 2014 at 6:27pm CST by Zachary Links

Notable signings:

Notable losses:

Extensions and restructures:

Draft picks:

  • Ryan Shazier, LB, Ohio State (1.15): Signed
  • Stephon Tuitt, DE, Notre Dame (2.46): Signed
  • Dri Archer, RB, Kent State (3.97): Signed
  • Martavis Bryant, WR, Clemson (4.119): Signed
  • Shaquille Richardson, CB, Arizona (5.157): Signed
  • Wesley Johnson, OL, Vanderbilt (5.173): Signed
  • Jordan Zumwalt, OLB, UCLA (6.192): Signed
  • Daniel McCullers, DT, Tennessee (6.215): Signed
  • Rob Blanchflower, TE, Massachusetts (7.230): Signed

Other:

This offseason, the Steelers knew that they had to get younger and faster in the secondary. That’s why, just hours into free agency, Pittsburgh went out an inked safety Mike Mitchell to a five-year, $25MM deal to replace free agent Ryan Clark. Clark and All-Pro Troy Polamalu forged a strong bond through their years together, but the Steelers wanted to make a change, even after the 34-year-old had a career year with 104 tackles. After four years in Oakland, mainly as a reserve, Mitchell joined up with the Panthers on a one-year deal and racked up 52 tackles, four sacks, and an eye-popping four interceptions. Outside of the top safety on the open market this offseason, Jairus Byrd, Mitchell was one of the best available at the position. The Steelers would love it if Mitchell proves to be their answer for the next five seasons, but if he doesn’t work out, they’ll be on the hook for just $5.25MM in total.NFL: New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers

The Steelers have also undergone some noticeable changes on the defensive line. The club lost Ziggy Hood, a former first-round pick, to the Jaguars in free agency when he was signed to a four-year, $16MM deal. Hood started 37 games on the Steelers’ defensive line over the last three seasons, recording 39 tackles and three sacks in 2013, so it’s no small loss. Al Woods also left town, signing a two-year, $5MM deal with the Titans. The 6’4″, 307 pound lineman saw time in all 16 games last season (including two starts) and registered 2.0 sacks. On top of that, Brett Keisel‘s contract expired and his familiar bearded face is not in camp with the Steelers as of this writing.

How do you fill all of these vacancies? Well, the Steelers started off by adding defensive tackle Cam Thomas, who was brought aboard with a modest two-year, $4MM pact. In 11 starts for San Diego, Thomas logged 26 tackles and 13 quarterback pressures while playing primarily at nose tackle. Thomas, who stands at 6’3″ and 330 pounds, will presumably be asked to also spend some time at end to fill the swingman role that Woods used to fill. Whether he’ll be available to float between the two spots on the d-line will largely be up to rookie defensive end Stephon Tuitt. If Tuitt is ready to hit the ground running opposite Cameron Heyward, then the Steelers can afford to use Thomas at both positions. Otherwise, Thomas might have to spend all of his time at DE, leaving them somewhat thin in the middle. Most of Pittsburgh’s heavy lifting for this offseason is likely through, but they might want to give some thought to bringing Keisel back. In addition to his locker room leadership, he could also inject some much-needed experience back into this defensive line.

Behind Tuitt in the front seven will be first round choice Ryan Shazier. Like Tuitt, the linebacker out of Ohio State brings youth and speed to the Pittsburgh D which should help them in their effort to reload. Shazier is an adept pass rusher and can also help stuff the run and uses his agility to work around tough blocks. He also has the speed to cover tailbacks and tight ends in short coverage, which should help ease some of the burden on the secondary. Shazier, along with the transition tagged Jason Worilds, will help hold down the fort at linebacker in the wake of LaMarr Woodley‘s departure. Woodley was once one of the most feared pass rushers in the NFL but injuries have slowed him down considerably and cost him most of 2013. Now, it’s Worilds’ time to shine.

Many expected to see a shakeup in the club’s cornerback ranks, but that just didn’t happen. Whether it was because of a thin crop of cornerbacks at the top of this year’s draft or just a stronger desire for others, the Steelers waited until the fifth round to take a CB. Shaquille Richardson of Arizona is a fine prospect, but he’s not the kind of impact rookie that many expected GM Kevin Colbert to tab. Apparently, the Steelers feel just fine with Ike Taylor, Cortez Allen, William Gay, and free agent pickup Brice McCain, so there was no need to make an expensive addition on the open market or use a high draft pick for anyone else.

On the other side of the ball, the Steelers gave their running game an added punch (See what I did there?) by signing LeGarrette Blount to a two-year, $3.85MM deal. The big, bruising tailback doesn’t look quite as promising as he did in his breakout season with the Buccaneers, but he did show some flashes last season with New England. Across 16 games (seven starts), Blount ran for 772 yards and had a career-high seven rushing touchdowns. Blount will be there to complement Le’Veon Bell at halfback and diminutive rookie tailback Dri Archer will also be in the mix to balance things out.

The lack of a major move at cornerback was sort of surprising for Pittsburgh but the inaction at wide receiver probably raised even more eyebrows. The Steelers watched Emmanuel Sanders sign a three-year, $15MM deal with the Broncos and didn’t exactly replace him with a superstar. To help deflect attention away from rising star Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh signed former Saints veteran Lance Moore and ex-Raider Darrius Heyward-Bey. Offensive coordinator Todd Haley also plans to incorporate Archer into the passing game as he did with Dexter McCluster in Kansas City and sophomore Markus Wheaton will be expected to take a leap forward. Haley has spoken glowingly about the team’s receiving depth, but you can’t fault outsiders for feeling unimpressed. If the Steelers want to add some pizazz to their batch of WRs, former Steelers star Santonio Holmes is still out there on the open market and waiting for a call.

The Steelers also did some housekeeping this offseason, extending some of their veteran players and restructuring deals to give them an extra bit of breathing room. Dominant center Maurkice Pouncey, who missed the majority of the 2013 campaign after suffering a torn ACL and MCL in Week One, was signed to a five-year, ~$44MM deal. Polamalu, Brown, and tight end Heath Miller reworked their deals to give Pittsburgh additional cap space. Taylor, who has shown talent but can also make some careless penalties, took a significant pay cut to stay on.

Ultimately, the Steelers didn’t have the most exciting offseason in the NFL but in a weakened AFC North, they could very well come out on top and win the division for the first time since 2010.

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

Offseason In Review: Cleveland Browns

June 24th, 2014 at 10:26pm CST by Zachary Links

Notable signings:

Notable losses:

Extensions and restructures:

Trades:

  • Acquired a first-round pick (No. 9), a 2015 first-round pick, and a 2015 fourth-round pick from the Bills in exchange for a first-round pick (No. 4).
  • Acquired a first-round pick (No. 8) from the Vikings in exchange for a first-round pick (No. 9) and a fifth-round pick (No. 145).
  • Acquired a first-round pick (No. 22) from the Eagles in exchange for a first-round pick (No. 26) and a third-round pick (No. 83).
  • Acquired a third-round pick (No. 94) from the 49ers in exchange for a fourth-round pick (No. 106) and a sixth-round pick (No. 180).
  • Acquired a 2015 sixth-round pick from the Ravens in exchange for a seventh-round pick (No. 218).

Draft picks:

  • Justin Gilbert, CB, Oklahoma State (1.8)
  • Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M (1.22): Signed
  • Joel Bitonio, OT, Nevada (2.35): Signed
  • Chris Kirksey, LB, Iowa (3.71): Signed
  • Terrance West, RB, Towson (3.94): Signed
  • Pierre Desir, CB, Lindenwood (4.127): Signed

Other:

Ask your non-football watching mom to name a player out of this year’s NFL draft and, odds are, she won’t come up with Jadeveon Clowney, Greg Robinson, Blake Bortles, or Sammy Watkins. Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel was the 22nd player taken in the May draft, but you wouldn’t know it based on the way it was covered. In Manziel, the Browns potentially got their quarterback of the future. They also opened themselves up to a media circus and questions regarding inflatable swans and top 40 rappers.NFL: Cleveland Browns-Minicamp

Can Manziel break the Browns’ prodigious streak of disappointing quarterbacks? Owner Jimmy Haslam and at least one homeless gentleman in Cleveland seem to think so. Johnny Football can scramble like few others can, has good instincts at times, and can also air it out when needed. On the flip side, Manziel is under 6’0″, has questionable accuracy, and some get the sense that he’s more into partying than football. How it all works out for the Browns is anyone’s guess. In the short-term, Manziel is working on beating out incumbent Brian Hoyer for the starting job. If it were up to fan referendum, Manziel would win in a landslide, but coach Mike Pettine has spoken highly of Hoyer.

While everyone fawns and/or frets over Manziel, Browns top pick Justin Gilbert is enjoying the solitude. More people should be talking about Gilbert though. The former Oklahoma State cornerback was clearly the best at his position in this year’s class, in our humble opinion, which is why the Browns shuffled from No. 4 to No. 9 back up to No. 8 to land him. With Gilbert in the fold, the Browns have a worthy sidekick for Joe Haden who has established himself as one of the very best (maybe the best) cornerbacks in the NFL. Gilbert’s coverage still needs some work, but he already has NFL-grade ball skills and should make an immediate impact this season.

Speaking of Haden, the Browns locked up their star CB for the long haul with a five year, $67.5MM deal that will keep him in Cleveland through 2019. The pact, which includes $22.678MM guaranteed, won’t have Haden resting on his laurels. “This contract makes me want to play like the best cornerback in the league,” Haden told reporters after the deal was announced. The deal certainly pays Haden like he’s the best CB in the league. While the $13.6MM average annual value on the extension itself is a little less than what Seattle’s Richard Sherman got ($14MM per year), Haden’s new pact includes a $14MM signing bonus, $22MM in fully guaranteed money, and another $23MM that’s guaranteed for injury only, all numbers that exceed what Sherman received.

Elsewhere in the secondary, the Browns signed hard-hitting veteran safety Donte Whitner. The four-year, $28MM deal makes Whitner a top ten safety in terms of salary and gives the Browns a fill-in for the departed T.J. Ward. The 28-year-old is coming off of back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons and figures to bring the boom, even though he has decided against dropping the “W” from his surname.

Whoever is under center for the Browns in 2014 will have the pleasure of working with All-Pro center Alex Mack. That seemed to be anything but a certainty for much of the offseason. Tons of teams showed interest and the Jaguars made an aggressive pitch for him by coming up with a five-year, $42MM offer sheet to try and bring him down south. Ultimately, however, the Browns matched the offer sheet and avoided having to fill a massive, massive hole on their offensive line. Mack will earn $10MM this year, $8MM in 2015, and he can earn $8MM in 2016 if he doesn’t opt out. Mack, 28, has ranked among the top 10 centers according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required) in each one of his five seasons since entering the league in 2009. In 2013, he placed fourth overall, grading well above-average as both a pass blocker and a run blocker. Keeping Mack wasn’t cheap, but it’s well worth it for the Browns, especially if they plan on rolling with a rookie QB.

Mack will lead an offensive line that will be charged with opening up holes for the speedy Ben Tate. Tate has spent the last few years as Arian Foster‘s understudy in Houston and each time Foster hit the injured list with a bum hamstring, Tate filled in admirably and showed that he can be a starting caliber running back. It was a depressed market for RBs this offseason and the soon-to-be 26-year-old got a deal that could wind up being a one-year, $2.5MM and has a ceiling of just $7MM over two years. Even though Tate has had injury woes of his own, including broken ribs last season, we’re predicting that this deal will be a major win for the Browns.

To upgrade their receiving corps, the Browns plucked promising receiver Andrew Hawkins away from the Bengals. The four-year, $13.6MM deal ($6.8MM guaranteed) is a bit of a gamble and explains why the Bengals didn’t bother to match. The 28-year-old had his best year in 2012, racking up 51 catches for 533 yards and four touchdowns. However, he began 2013 on the IR with a bum ankle and only recorded 12 receptions in the season’s second half. Obviously, Cleveland is expecting bigger things out of him going forward.

Hawkins was supposed to serve as a complement to No. 1 WR Josh Gordon, but a season long suspension for marijuana use threw a wrench into those plans. Gordon was an absolute stud in 2013, hauling in 87 catches for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns in 14 games. The Browns have added other bodies this offseason, but they haven’t exactly found a Gordon replacement. Miles Austin was once viewed as a top wide receiver, but his hamstring issues kept him off the field for much of last season. Veteran Nate Burleson was also brought aboard, but he’s cut out for a supporting role, not a starring one.

On the other side of the ball, the Browns landed veteran linebacker Karlos Dansby in free agency with a four-year, $24MM deal. Dansby, who turns 33 in the fall, recorded 121 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and a career-high four interceptions, including two for touchdowns for the Cardinals last season. Pro Football Focus had Dansby ranked fifth among inside linebackers last seasons and gave him high marks for his pass coverage. The Browns saw locker room leader D’Qwell Jackson leave for the Colts but in Dansby they found a very suitable replacement. It’s possible that Jackson, who is two years younger than Dansby, will prove to be the better investment over the long haul. In the short term, however, Dansby might represent a decent-sized upgrade.

Some of the Browns’ biggest changes this offseason came off the field. The Browns installed Pettine, a Rex Ryan disciple and defensive guru, to take over for the well-liked Rob Chudzinski. In his first (and only) year as the Bills’ defensive coordinator, Pettine took Buffalo from the 27th ranked defense in the league to a top-five unit according to Football Outsiders’ DVOA. Joining Pettine on staff will be Kyle Shanahan and Jim O’Neil as offensive and defensive coordinators. Then, after hiring Pettine, the Browns underwent a major front office shakeup when they named Ray Farmer as the team’s new General Manager and bounced predecessor Michael Lombardi. CEO Joe Banner also got the heave-ho in the shuffle. Farmer has made his mark on the franchise since taking over, but if you’re inclined to believe that the Manziel pick came from upper management, you have to wonder if he’ll truly have full autonomy in all decisions.

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