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0 out of 5
Don Wright / Associated Press
Not even a full week in free agencies, many of the NFL's best free agents and trade candidates have already found new homes.
Some teams stumbled on the hurdles with elite receivers' acquisitions for their young quarterbacks, while other franchises have beefed up their defense to return to playoff form.
In a variable manner, five teams stood out at the beginning of the development phase of free agencies. Let's move on to the improvement of these teams.
1 of 5
Seth Wenig / Associated Press
The Cleveland Browns have by far the best free agency week.
Their job for Odell Beckham Jr., a former Giants star, was in the spotlight. The Browns made a first-round pick, a third-round pick (acquired through Patriots) and the Jabrill Safety Peppers in exchange for the 26-year-old grandfather.
Considering the team still has a third-round pick and can play safety against Derrick Kindred in the Peppers' place with little spin, she has not given up much for one of the NFL's top receivers.
Beckham and quarterback Baker Mayfield should score in groups. The 27 Mayfield touchdowns in 14 games last season broke the rookie record previously held by Russell Wilson and Peyton Manning (26). Meanwhile, Beckham's 44 touchdowns rank 12th all-time for the first five years of a player – and could be much higher if it were injury.
It was not the Browns' only deal with the Giants: they sent goaltender Kevin Zeitler to New York in exchange for defensive end Olivier Vernon.
Zeitler is the best player, but Cleveland has moved the starting guard quality as she looks confident in 2018, second-round pick, Austin Corbett.
In addition, Vernon is an edge upgrade. He is not going to accumulate double-digit bags every season, but he is constantly pushing the pocket and generating pressure. Although he only accumulated 22 sacks in three years with the Giants, Vernon lobbied the quarter 117.5 times during that period, according to Football Outsiders. It will be a great addition to Myles Garrett.
The Browns also strengthened their defensive line by signing defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson. He has bounced around the league these past two seasons, but his presence is explosive and may change the identity of the Cleveland Front. Although it is mainly a defensive tackle using 3 techniques, he can move in different positions along this front, especially during passes. Richardson signed 4.5 sacks last season with the Vikings, bringing his career total to 23.5.
Overall, the Browns are much better on both sides of the ball. Investing everything to face his two No.1 choices is not a new strategy, but it's refreshing to see the Browns on the right track.
2 of 5
Matt Rourke / Associated Press
Clay Matthews (free agent) and Nick Perry (cut) for a long time will no longer be with the team in 2019.
Both vacant positions left room for Packers, Preston and Za & Darius Smith.
Preston Smith is a more traditional outdoor passport. He wins quickly and leans around the edge, often proving too slippery for opponent offensive tackles. In four years, alongside Ryan Kerrigan in Washington, Smith totaled 24.5 sacks, 29 tackles for defeat and 59 hits.
The 26-year-old also showed versatility with four interceptions and 13 defended passes, proving that he can move on to cover missions in short areas.
Za Darius Smith is a different player as an outside linebacker and hybrid defensive line player. On the first and second runs, Smith, 26, can play as a defender on the strong side and should provide a solid defense against the race and be a tyrant in the pocket against the pass.
However, on the third try, he is best used as a defensive lineman between offensive tackles. The agility and explosion of Smith does not always cut her at the edge of the field, but when he works against guards on the way down, he usually has a sporting advantage and can force the pressure. His versatility earned him 8.5 bags and 25 successes in a quarter in 2018.
The Packers also added Adrian Amos, former goalkeeper of the Bears. He is better able to take on an important role in safety, which will keep him safe from obstacles, riders and sub-zone assignments. However, the Bears have often played twice with Amos, so it's not as if he's opposed to the cover.
It's a usable cover that provides a consistent defense against attacks and racing, which the Packers have been missing for years.
On the other hand, the Packers have reinforced the offensive line. Offensive guard Billy Turner, who had a pretty good year with the Broncos last season, signed early this week.
Although he's not a star, Turner's blocking in the downhill was crucial to the Broncos' quick success. He was 33rd out of 77 qualified guards last year, by PFF. If nothing else, it will be an upgrade on Justin McCray and Byron Bell to the right guard.
3 out of 5
Mark Zaleski / Associated Press
The multitude of free agent additions to the Detroit Lions gives them a chance to qualify for the playoffs.
With a defensive head coach in Matt Patricia, the Lions reinforced that side of the ball with no surprises. And The defensive Trey Flowers was the star.
Flowers worked under the authority of Patricia, former Patriots defensive coordinator, from 2015 to 2017 in New England. They mainly used the 25-year-old player as a defender of the edge, but have inadvertently moved it around the forehead. He has the strength and malice to win inside, as well as enough bending and finesse to threaten him from the edge.
Her versatility is exactly what Patricia needs. The coach attempted to turn the Lions defense into a hybrid front last year but did not have the proper staff. Flowers is the key to the skeleton that can unlock the rest of what Patricia wants to do.
Remaining faithful to the pass, the Lions have also retained defensive striker Romeo Okwara on a $ 6.8 million contract over two years.. Okwara is not a well-known name, but it was a great addition to Lions last season. He had only one career bag in two years with the Giants, but broke for 7.5 bags and 14 quarterly hits in 2018.
Detroit also brought the Seahawks nickel cornerback Justin Coleman. The Lions have struggled to find a consistent nickel game over the past few seasons, but Coleman will change that. Although he recorded only one interception and 10 passes defended last season, he also recorded a 62% success rate, by football outsider. That earned him fifth place in the league in the qualifying semifinal last year – sandwiched between Dr. Kirkpatrick and Patrick Peterson.
The Lions also wanted to re-equip their pass-capture unit. After Eric Ebron's tight game before last season and the wide-receiver Golden Tate exchange on the deadline, Detroit had a very heavy group. Great receivers Marvin Jones and Kenny Golladay form a fantastic duo, but quarterback Matthew Stafford had no viable option beyond those two.
Receiver Danny Amendola and tight end Jesse James completed the offensive this week. Amendola is in the final stage of his career, but he should provide decent production in the fast match, which was missing to Lions without Tate.
Similarly, James is a strong opponent who can provide Stafford with a security option at the center and help the offensive line in the game.
Neither player changes the game, but these are improvements on the post-Ebron and Tate group.
Although Detroit's offensive movements were temporary solutions, the team improved on both sides of the ball. Patricia can now incorporate defense into her vision, while Stafford will have more quality options.
4 out of 5
Ben Margot / Associated Press
No changes in the training's staff would repair the Oakland Raiders during a dead season, but they did it about as well as anyone else could ask through a free time period of free.
The star is of course that of the wide receiver Steelers All-Pro, Antonio Brown. This cost the Raiders only one choice among the third and fifth rounds. The age of 30-year-old Brown has played a role in the low price, but the Raiders are more than happy to find an elite catcher off for a pair of choices in the middle.
Brown has produced at least 1,200 yards and eight touchdowns in each of his last six seasons. Over this period, he averaged 1,590 yards and 12 touchdowns in 16 games. This is a career year for most other recipients.
The newcomer, Tyrell Williams, will complete Brown. The 27-year-old receiver has been buried in a talented Los Angeles Chargers offensive over the past two seasons. In 2016, he played a greater role with shippers because of injuries sustained by others. Williams captured 69 passes for 1,059 yards and seven touchdowns, mostly serving as a horizontal and vertical stretcher. Williams' speed and free-field talent should be unlocked as his opponents focus on Brown.
Derek Carr, the quarterback, also needed better protection. The Raiders allocated 52 sacks last season for a adjusted bag rate 8.7%, placing them 25th in the league in pass protection, by Football Outsiders. Fortunately for Carr, the team also handled this problem.
Oakland signed with the former Patriots the left tackle Trent Brown for four years and $ 66 million. Aged 25, he had already crossed the bay with the 49ers before being traded against the Patriots last season. He can occupy both tackling positions, even if he played left for the Patriots and will do it for the Raiders. Brown's presence among the blind helped the Patriots reach their team's record. Adjusted adjustment rate of 3.8% en route to another Super Bowl title.
The Raiders made the right choice to participate in the offensive and allow themselves to strengthen the defense through the repechage. Two large explosive receivers and a left-back tackle will go a long way in bringing Carr back to his 2016 status.
5 out of 5
Jeff Haynes / Associate Press
General Manager John Lynch has been quick to improve the San Francisco 49ers' 13th ranked defense in the offseason. The high school still needs work and can be tackled in the draft, but the first seven are much better placed than a week ago.
Negotiating for Dee Ford marks the 49ers' first clear effort to solve the problem of the outside pass of their pass since Aldon Smith's recruitment in 2011. San Francisco gave up a Choice of second round 2020 for Ford, a reasonable price for a substantial upgrade.
Ford's reputation has suffered because its infamous offside penalty has cost the Chiefs the title game against AFC, but it's better than that. It's a pure speed forward that wins with his first step and a proper turn around the edge.
In 37 games in the last three seasons, he has 25 sacks and 53 hits. In addition, Ford forced nine fumbles during this period, including seven last season. The 49ers have just won their best outdoor defenseman for half a decade.
Linebacker Alexander Kwon, who signed with the 49ers on Wednesday, will play behind Ford and fill the gap left by Reuben Foster.
The 6 "1", 227-pound Alexander is a sporty linebacker with touching prowess and a functional side cover.His space-oriented play will play well alongside a thicker linebacker and more. strong in Fred Warner (6 "3", 236 lbs). Strong defenders DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead will also keep Alexander cleaner in this zone than his Tampa teammates.
Of course, head coach Kyle Shanahan did not manage to spend the first week of free agencies without letting go. The 49ers recruited former Falcons midfielder Tevin Coleman, who played under Shanahan in Atlanta in 2015 and 2016.
Coleman is an explosive straight runner when he is thrown into the open field. He is also a good smuggler with dangerous potential. Since Shanahan proved that he could get more than 10 Coleman touchdowns – as he had done in 2016 – it is a smart meeting.
An improved defense, the addition of another offensive playmaker and the return of quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo from a torn ACL could be enough to propel the 49ers to the playoffs for the first time since 2013.
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