The hype of free agency has come and gone and now it’s time to look at what teams have gained and lost since March 17th and where they stand as they prepare for the upcoming draft. Let’s continue with the NFC South.
Atlanta Falcons
Key acquisitions: RB Mike Davis, S Erik Harris, LB Barkevious Mingo, CB Fabian Moreau, WR Cordarelle Patterson, S Duron Harmon, OLB Brandon Copeland, TE Lee Smith, C Josh Andrews, DE Jonathan Bullard
Re-signed: DE Steven Means
Departures: C Alex Mack (49ers), S Keanu Neal (Cowboys), S Damontae Kazee (Cowboys), S Ricardo Allen (Bengals), G James Carpenter, DL Allen Bailey, RB Ito Smith, LB LaRoy Reynolds (Patriots)
Remaining free agents: RB Todd Gurley, CB Darqueze Dennard, RB Brian Hill, CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson
Analysis: The Falcons are another team that has just kind of existed the past few seasons, never really competing for a playoff spot, but are fun to watch. I love watching this offense with Matt Ryan and Julio Jones, but everything else around them, offense and defense, is not great. They got a new head coach and a new general manager, which means it’s time for change. Part of that change may or may not include quarterback as rumors of Ryan’s departure circulated early in the offseason but fizzled out over time. The draft will tell all as they pick fourth, a prime position to take a quarterback, but we’ll have to wait until draft night. But for now, let’s just talk about the moves they’ve made, there are some interesting ones.
On offense they brought in a new running back who played very well as a fill-in last year with the rival Panthers, and that’s veteran Mike Davis. With Christian McCaffrey out, Davis was exceptional last year, posting career-high numbers all across the board, and being a massive pickup for fantasy owners. Now he gets a real shot at being the top guy, with Todd Gurley a free agent and the surprising release of Ito Smith, who was still on his rookie contract. They also signed KR/WR/RB Cordarelle Patterson, who could be featured in the backfield with his versatility. It’s still surprising to me that Patterson, arguable the best returner of our generation, waited so long to get a deal, he should be a coveted free agent. The return game can make or break a game, and Patterson doesn’t break many games. They also signed Josh Andrews, a career backup, who might be starting games for them after losing Alex Mack and cutting James Carpenter.
The defense is where they made their best moves, replacing longtime starters Keanu Neal, Damontae Kazee, and Ricardo Allen with Erik Harris of the Raiders and Duron Harmon of the Lions and Patriots. Harris was a breakout player the past couple seasons and had been a reliable leader of that secondary, now he leads a very young secondary alongside Harmon, who’s one of the best leaders in the game. With the Patriots he was always the third safety, but was a massive playmaker, and last season with the Lions he led that team in snaps and was probably their best defensive player, which isn’t saying much for a Lions defense. Also joining that secondary is Fabian Moreau, who has starting experience, but fell down the depth chart the past two seasons. He has a good opportunity to be the veteran leader of this group of young corners led my A.J. Terrell, Isaiah Oliver, and Kendall Sheffield. They also brought in a couple new linebackers: the versatile and athletic Barkevious Mingo and pass rusher Brandon Copeland along with Jonathan Bullard.
Conclusion: The Falcons are in a weird position and I feel like no one really knows what direction they’re going in. Are they patching up the team and trying to contend, or they they gonna go full rebuild? They hold the fourth pick in the draft, prime position for a quarterback, but we won’t know what happens til it happens. That’s kind of been their m.o., we don’t know what the Falcons are doing until they actually do it, impossible to read. Either way, this is an interesting team, in an interesting situation, something to monitor.
Carolina Panthers
Key acquisitions: QB Sam Darnold, LB Haason Reddick, CB A.J. Bouye, LB Denzel Perryman, G Cam Erving, G Pat Elflein, DT DaQuan Jones, DE Morgan Fox, WR David Moore, TE Dan Arnold, CB Rashaan Melvin
Re-signed: OT Taylor Moton (franchise), G John Miller, LS J.J. Jansen
Departures: WR Curtis Samuel (Washington), S Tre Boston, RB Mike Davis (Falcons), G Chris Reed (Colts), DE Stephen Weatherly (Vikings), FB Alex Armah (Saints), P Michael Palardy (Dolphins), TE Chris Manhertz (Jaguars), C Tyler Larson (Washington), DE Efe Obada (Bills)
Remaining free agents: OT Russell Okung, G Michael Schofield, LB Tahir Whitehead
Analysis: What an absolutely insane offseason for the Panthers so far. During free agency they made some really big moves acquiring players at major positions of need, while losing a couple key players, but all-in-all I like what they did in free agency. It’s what they did recently after free agency died down that is making me love their offseason.
Let’s just get it out of the way, the Panthers traded for Sam Darnold. The former Jets third overall pick didn’t quite pan out like they hoped it would, mostly because of coaching and the system, but the Jets found themselves with the second pick of the draft, and with an elite QB class in 2021, they’d rather go with a rookie and start fresh. Darnold had played well at times, but I think Adam Gase just broke him and ruined his development. He gets a fresh start in Carolina, who acquired him for a second-, fourth-, and sixth-round picks. A good value for the Panthers to get a potential young franchise quarterback. This is bad news for Teddy Bridgewater, who I thought played pretty well last year, as he is likely out the door, whether trade, release, or pay cut, but I doubt he’ll take a pay cut to be a backup when he could be a starter somewhere else (Patriots, Broncos). I love this move, and I’m excited to see if Darnold does have it and it was in fact Gase and the Jets that ruined him.
Onto the signings. They made big splashes on defense, albeit only one- or two-year deals, but big players either way. Former Cardinals first-rounder Haason Reddick signs on for a year after a breakout 12.5 sacks in 2020. For most of his career, Reddick’s role was unknown and changed a lot, but I think they found his niche in rushing the passer. At middle linebacker they brought in longtime Chargers starter Denzel Perryman, who will man the middle of that defense alongside Shaq Thompson. In the secondary they brought in former Jaguars Pro Bowl CB A.J. Bouye, who was cut by the Broncos this offseason, and will be the veteran leader of a very young Panthers secondary. They’ve got a lot of guys on rookie contracts, majority second-year players like star rookie safety Jeremy Chinn, and Donte Jackson, their starting CB, who’s entering a contract year. This will be an interesting secondary that lost their snap leader Tre Boston, so they’ve got some openings, but plenty of young guys on staff to take over.
The Panthers also made some moves on offense, adding former Seahawks WR David Moore. Moore has that clutch gene, never a fantasy player, but always seems to come up with a big touchdown catch in the biggest spots. With Curtis Samuel gone, Moore slides in as the third receiver behind D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson. They also brought in former Cardinals tight end Dan Arnold, who had a nice season last year and gets a real opportunity to be TE1 in this offense.
The main moves on offense were on the offensive line, and that was definitely priority numero uno for this team. The Panthers o-line has stunk for several years, and always seems to have a revolving door at most positions. Trying to cement their starters, they brought in Cam Erving, who’s started at every position on the line and is on his fourth team, and Pat Elflein, who was drafted by the Vikings and started several games before getting cut and signed by the Jets and slid in as a starter. Both these guys have a real shot at being Week 1 starters as former LG Chris Reed and LT Russell Okung are out the door. They also franchise tagged their best starter, RT Taylor Moton and re-signed RG John Miller, so you know that offensive line is a focus for this team. These signings shouldn’t let the Panthers from addressing it early in the draft. Holding the eighth pick, they very much could get one of the two top tackles of 2021.
Conclusion: The Panthers are doing their rebuild correctly right now. Under a new regime, they’ve been drafting well and signing good players. Last year’s draft was all defense, and this free agency was defense and offensive line, so now it’s time to supplement that in the draft. They could use a couple more playmakers, but focus should be on offensive line and defensive depth. If they have a great draft, and if Darnold plays well in this system alongside McCaffrey, this could be one of the biggest surprise teams of 2021.
New Orleans Saints
Key acquisitions: DE Tanoh Kpassagnon, TE Nick Vannett, FB Alex Armah
Re-signed: S Marcus Williams (franchise), QB Jameis Winston, CB P.J. Williams, OT James Hurst
Departures: QB Drew Brees, DE Trey Hendrickson (Bengals), CB Janoris Jenkins (Titans), WR Emmanuel Sanders (Bills), P Thomas Morstead, DT Sheldon Rankins (Jets), TE Jared Cook (Chargers), DT Malcom Brown (Jaguars), CB Justin Hardee (Jets), LB Alex Anzalone (Lions), LB Kwon Alexander, G Nick Easton, FB Michael Burton (Chiefs)
Remaining free agents: LB Craig Robertson
Analysis: What an era. The Drew Brees era in New Orleans is over, and it was special. For 15 years, Brees tenure was bookended by winning seasons with a surprisingly larger amount of 7-9 seasons in between, but you can’t say Brees is anything but a first ballot hall of famer. But it’s time to turn the page and look for the next franchise quarterback. They’ve got a couple in house in Taysom Hill and the re-signed Jameis Winston, so those two will battle it out for the spot in 2021 and beyond. Brees wasn’t the only loss, as they had to let a much of starters go as the Saints were in the worst cap situation entering free agency, so they lost a lot more than they gained.
Part of those losses on defense are defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who had a perfectly-timed breakout year in 2020, which led to a large contract with the Bengals. To replace him on that line is former Chiefs second-rounder Tanoh Kpassagnon, who hasn’t been productive, but has talent and hopefully will be able to unlock it with the Saints. They team also had to cut Janoris Jenkins for cap space because they placed the franchise tag on safety Marcus Williams. To also create space, they had to trade away defensive tackle Malcom Brown to the Jaguars and let former first-rounder Sheldon Rankins walk. They also cut linebacker Kwon Alexander and let Alex Anzalone walk as well.
On offense they had to let go of Jared Cook and Emmanuel Sanders, but brought Nick Vannett in to the tight end room. The weapons around Winston or Hill are rough outside of Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara, so receiver needs to be at the top of their draft board, and probably some offensive line depth as they’re stacked at the top but rough after that.
Conclusion: It’s time to rebuild the New Orleans Saints, and they’ve got a lot of work to do. They have the lowest cap space in the NFL, currently in the red, and they still have to sign their rookie class. You cannot rebuild a team with this cap situation, so it’s gonna take some time. The Saints have been oh so close the past few seasons, but Brees just couldn’t play the guitar like he used to. You could see his arm declining every season, and it just gave out. Stinks to see him go out like that, he’s a guy you want to see go out on top, but time just ran out. Good luck in retirement Drew, and good luck to Saints fans as they try to root for the rough looking team he left behind.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Key acquisitions: RB Giovani Bernard
Re-signed: WR Chris Godwin (franchise), LB Lavonte David, TE Rob Gronkowski, RB Leonard Fournette, K Ryan Succop, DT Ndamukong Suh, DT Steve McClendon, LB Kevin Minter, DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches, OT Josh Wells, CB Ross Cockrell
Departures: CB Ryan Smith (Chargers), S Andrew Adams (Eagles), OT Joe Haeg (Steelers)
Remaining free agents: WR Antonio Brown
Analysis: Just bring the whole band back together, that’s literally all you need to know to sum up this Buccaneers offseason so far. I don’t know how they did it, but every starter from their Super Bowl team is back. Chris Godwin is on the franchise tag, Leonard Fournette and Rob Gronkowski got one-year deals, and Antonio Brown is expected to be back in the near future. They signed star linebacker Lavonte David to a multi-year extension, they brought back three defensive tackles including Ndamukong Suh, and they signed their kicker Ryan Succop to an extension. It’s crazy. They did actually sign a new player, running back Giovani Bernard who was cut by the Bengals late in the offseason after eight seasons with the team. He’ll assume the pass catching role that Tom Brady desires in any offense, and that’s something his backs from last year lacked. He wasn’t able to sway James White to come join him, so they got his old high school teammate.
All this is possible because of Brady and his desire to win. I don’t know how he does it, but he does anything to win, and everyone on this team bought in to his belief, and it paid off in the end. Brady shows that you don’t need to be the highest paid player to succeed. Be a team player and help the team succeed by taking less or accepting your role. The team is bigger than you, so act like it.
Conclusion: Run it back.
Football Nerds 