The Obstructed Early NFL Off-Season Thoughts

Well, the NFL off-season has kicked off and in a big way.  Trades, signings, and releases have been of course the stories.  I'm not going to do the typical "winners/losers" bit because we've seen yearly those who "won" the off-season find themselves in the tank anyway.  So I am just going to do something a bit different where I just have random thoughts on the teams who have done something with the off-season to this point.

Osweiler has a new fresh start in Cleveland...as does the team.
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

THE TEAM WHO MADE NEEDED THE UPGRADES SO FAR:  Cleveland Browns.  Yes, Brock Osweiler is not an elite QB and probably never will be, but he automatically becomes the best quarterback the Browns have gotten since Kelly Holcomb.  Think about that one.  They also added a WR in Kenny Britt and much needed help on the offensive line, so the Browns will look respectable on the offensive side with Keven Zietler and JC Tretter.  Some have bashed Cleveland for letting Terrelle Pryor walk to the Redskins, but honestly, I don't think he really made a huge impact on the Browns.  Anyway, does this put Cleveland over the top in the AFC?  Ha ha ha.  No.  BUT, they won't be 1-15 again.  That's for sure.  HONORABLE MENTION:  San Francisco

Glennon has is chance to prove his worth in Chicago
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

SHOWING THEIR REBUILDING AND DOING IT RIGHT:  Chicago Bears.  Bye bye Jay Cutler.  Bye bye Alshon Jeffery.  It wasn't like Chicago was winning with these guys anyway (and to my Bears friend who loved Cutler, they will be a far better team without Cutler than with).  They bring in Mike Glennon, who backed up Jameis Winston in Tampa Bay the last two years and the Bucs really made a huge push to keep him with the Bucs, offering him a huge contract for a backup.  However Glennon couldn't pass up the chance to start.  I think it is a good move by Chicago.  Also adding on, the Bears added Quinton Demps and Prince Amukamara in the secondary.  Granted, it may look like "patchwork" and still may have struggles with Green Bay and Detroit's receivers in the division but those two are solid players that can cut the gap.  Again, I don't expect Chicago to contend in 2017 but they will be much better now.

Marshall could be a huge pickup.....or a huge bust.
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

HIGH RISK/HIGH REWARD:  New York Giants.  After really being embarrassed by the likes of Odell Beckham & the WR corps during the playoff week by partying down in Miami and then getting incredibly embarrassed by how that group played against Green Bay, you'd think the Giants would like to clean their image.  And then they signed Brandon Marshall, a lightning rod of controversy himself.  With that said, Marshall provides a great second option for Eli in New York.  It could net the Giants ahead of the Cowboys if possible.  The addition of Vikings fullback/TE of Rhett Ellison may help for whatever tailback the Giants have.  Could be a rookie or a FA RB perhaps (and then if it is either a Jamaal Charles or Adrian Peterson, another risk/reward issue).

Was it the Texans system or Bouye that made him a great player?
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

GOOD MOVES OR THROWING AWAY MONEY BECAUSE?  Jacksonville Jaguars.  Signing AJ Bouye and Calais Campbell on paper looks like GREAT movies, but Bouye had one great year and played in a Texans system that is top notch.  So we venture back to the Josh Norman issue of is it the player or the system?  The Redskins won that answer as Norman proved to be invaluable while the Panthers defense tanked in 2016.  So questions will be abound on that.  As for Campbell, a possible similar situation as was it the Arizona defense or the player?  If it works out, the Jaguars will be much better.  If not, then the Jags will remain in a big hole, especially if they don't have a quarterback to push Blake Bortles.

Tolbert probably could have netted a starting fullback job in nearly every NFL team but chose to get some RB duty in Buffalo.
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

HEAD SCRATCHING MOVES:  Buffalo Bills.  They fired Rex Ryan in part because the offense was stale excrement and didn't have a strong passing game.  So Sean McDermott, coming in from Carolina brings in Atlanta fullback Patrick DiMarco to help block for LeSean McCoy.  Good move, but then the Bills run out and sign another fullback in Mike Tolbert.  Don't get me wrong, I love Tolbert, but having two fullbacks?  And on top of it, the Bills are now saying they will make Tolbert a running back?  Seriously, a guy who is over 30 with only 35 attempts for 114 yards as a guy to be a running back?  Surprised on two fronts as Tolbert won't start as the feature back (obviously) nor fullback.  I thought he would come back near his home to Atlanta (which probably made more sense for him, but he has his reasons).  Anyway, the Bills did make a good move in signing Micah Hyde from Green Bay, though a key need hasn't been addressed: WR.

Bennett becomes Rodgers favorite target not named Jordy Nelson
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

HEAD SCRATCHING MOVES, PT 2:  Green Bay Packers.  They added Martellus Bennett, which helps an already strong offense while Jared Cook is gone so in that sense it was needed.  That said, the Packers lost JC Tretter and probably TJ Lang so the offensive line, which was exposed by Atlanta in the NFC Championship has gotten worse.  And with Micah Hyde and Julius Peppers gone, Green Bay's already anemic defense (though they keep Nick Perry), will be problematic more.  Of course, you have the draft, and the Packers CAN draft.

Peppers returns to Carolina to end his great career.
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

BETTER OR OLDER?  Carolina Panthers.  Julius Peppers returns for one last hurrah in his storied and perhaps Hall of Fame career.  But he is getting well up there in age.  Carolina also brought back Captain Munnerlyn from Minnesota, where he is not necessarily old (29 when kickoff begins).  The good news was they signed Charles Johnson (Vikings WR) who is probably an upgrade to Ted Ginn, but the bad news is they signed Charles Johnson (DE) who has been down the last few years and 31 so how much productivity will Carolina get out of him.  And adding Matt Kalil was a.........move.  Probably for the better.  That said, the moves may not regain Carolina in the NFC South's top spot.

Reiff is Minnesota's best move to this point.
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

PURPLE RAIN:  Minnesota Vikings.  Charles Johnson, gone.  Captain Munnerlyn, gone.  Matt Kalil, gone.  Adrian Peterson, gone.  They bring back Mike Remmers and bring in Detroit free agent tackle Riley Reiff, who pretty much was not wanted back in Detroit when the Lions preferred Baltimore tackle Ricky Wagner instead.  While the Vikings offense would never be mistaken with the likes of the Carter/Moss/Cunningham Vikings, who dominated, Minnesota's offense now looks to be very anemic in 2017 pending on other moves of the draft.  It may be a long year in the Twin Cities, pending on any other key moves.

Ginn stays in the NFC South with New Orleans
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

STILL NOT "GETTING IT."  New Orleans Saints.  Defense has been a historic mess ever since their Super Bowl run in 2009.  So what do the Saints do upgrade it?  By making offensive moves!  Yes, adding AJ Klein is a move, but is it a true upgrade?  He does have upside, but the Saints need a defensive overhaul.  It is also why New Orleans has probably not sniffed an NFC South Title for the last 5 seasons despite having Drew Brees as the quarterback.  Trading Brandin Cooks wasn't the worst move, but the return was probably not as high as what they could have gotten either.  But they replaced him with Ted Ginn.  Right now, Atlanta, Carolina, and Tampa Bay are laughing.

Toilolo became a big factor down the stretch for the Falcons
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

DOING IT IN-HOUSE (MOSTLY):  Atlanta Falcons.  They didn't get out unscathed as they had hoped to keep Patrick DiMarco in the mix, but the majority of their signings were of the players who represented the Super Bowl team (Upshaw, Schaub, Reynolds, Toilolo, and from what is said, an imminent extension for Desmond Trufant).  Atlanta also added Jack Crawford from Dallas, to help with that defensive line as it is the #1 priority for Atlanta this off-season.  

First he was going to be released, and now it is a possible trade. Dallas seems like they are scuffling in the off-season.
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

STANDING PAT (AND WONDERING WHY):  Dallas Cowboys.  Let's face it, they overachieved last year.  Dak Prescott is the real deal as is Ezekiel Elliott, but the defense, albeit #1, did not have a strong pass-rusher and sounds like after the Nolan Carroll signing, they are about to either lose Morris Claiborne or Brandon Carr (or both).  And they have already lost JJ Wilcox, so the secondary is in some trouble even with Carroll.  Of course, the big news was originally the Cowboys were going to release Tony Romo, but changed their minds and are trying to trade him.  If both DB's go, this is probably why.  But that said, teams may not cough up the dough or draft picks for Romo, who could be big for Denver or Houston.

Jeffery provides help for Wentz in Philadelphia
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

NEEDED PICKUP: Philadelphia Eagles.  Last year, the early talk was Philadelphia's early run and how Carson Wentz was proving everybody wrong.  And then the season progressed.  Philly fell flat down the stretch as did Wentz, but in part was because there wasn't a huge assortment of weapons.  Getting Alshon Jeffery was a very much needed pickup in Philadelphia.  

Jackson adds another dimension for Tampa Bay
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

ATLANTA 2.0?  Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Well, given how Dirk Koetter and Mike Smith had great success in Atlanta 5 years ago, it isn't much of a surprise that Koetter is trying to build a team similar to those Falcons with Jameis Winston and then having an insane assortment of receivers in Evans and now DeSean Jackson.  With a quality defense, Tampa Bay could really be poised to contend with Atlanta in the NFC South. 

Well, those are some thoughts.  Let's see how the rest of the off-season pans out.

-Fan in the Obstructed Seat

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