In this column, I will name five teams that made the biggest strides in free agency and the draft.
1: Miami DOlphins
Notable additions: RB Jordan Howard, LB Kyle Van Noy, CB Byron Jones, OT Ereck Flowers, OT Ted Karras, DE Shaq Lawson, RB Matt Breida
2020 draft class: QB Tua Tagovailoa, OT Austin Jackson, CB Noah Igbinoghene, OT Robert Hunt, DT Raekwon Davis, S Brandon Jones, OG Solomon Kindley, DE Jason Strowbridge, DE Curtis Weaver, LS Blake Ferguson, WR Malcolm Perry
Summary: The Dolphins kicked off their draft by picking the best quarterback in college football. Rivaled only by Jake Fromm in intelligence and NFL-readiness, but with the physical tools Fromm lacks, Tagovailoa can start immediately but will have time to learn under the league's most cerebral quarterback. However, Tua aside, Miami's offseason moves were the smart, unsexy, consistent additions on which Super Bowls are built. Nose tackle Raekwon Davis was an absolute steal and should start immediately. Tackles Jackson and Karras will make an immediate impact, while Hunt, Kindley, and Flowers will provide much-needed depth. Games are won in the trenches, and Miami has fantastic trenches on both sides.
Biggest concern: Where to start? Unproven is the best word for the 2020 'Fins. Their roster is a complete overhaul of their 2018 team, featuring eleven drafted rookies and a handful of top-tier free agents, including a new franchise quarterback. We have no idea if they will work well together or how they will fit in the system (the 2019 Dolphins barely had a system, after all). Only time will tell.
Projected improvement (predicted total win increase from 2019 record): +5
2020 draft class: QB Tua Tagovailoa, OT Austin Jackson, CB Noah Igbinoghene, OT Robert Hunt, DT Raekwon Davis, S Brandon Jones, OG Solomon Kindley, DE Jason Strowbridge, DE Curtis Weaver, LS Blake Ferguson, WR Malcolm Perry
Summary: The Dolphins kicked off their draft by picking the best quarterback in college football. Rivaled only by Jake Fromm in intelligence and NFL-readiness, but with the physical tools Fromm lacks, Tagovailoa can start immediately but will have time to learn under the league's most cerebral quarterback. However, Tua aside, Miami's offseason moves were the smart, unsexy, consistent additions on which Super Bowls are built. Nose tackle Raekwon Davis was an absolute steal and should start immediately. Tackles Jackson and Karras will make an immediate impact, while Hunt, Kindley, and Flowers will provide much-needed depth. Games are won in the trenches, and Miami has fantastic trenches on both sides.
Biggest concern: Where to start? Unproven is the best word for the 2020 'Fins. Their roster is a complete overhaul of their 2018 team, featuring eleven drafted rookies and a handful of top-tier free agents, including a new franchise quarterback. We have no idea if they will work well together or how they will fit in the system (the 2019 Dolphins barely had a system, after all). Only time will tell.
Projected improvement (predicted total win increase from 2019 record): +5
2: Las Vegas Raiders
Notable additions: LB Cory Littleton, WR Nelson Agholor, CB Damarious Randall, CB Eli Apple, QB Marcus Mariota, TE Jason Witten, DT Maliek Collins
2020 draft class: WR Henry Ruggs III, CB Damon Arnette, WR Lynn Bowden, WR Bryan Edwards, S Tanner Muse, OG John Simpson, CB Amik Robertson
Summary: Mike Mayock wants a one-year turnaround. He wants to win now. He intends to accomplish this with one-year deals for gifted veterans and high draft picks. In fact, the Raiders selected seven players in the first four rounds and none in the last three. And what of the players? He gave Derek Carr a bona fide WR1 in Henry Ruggs, the best downfield receiver in the draft. Vegas also added two of the league's most coveted defenders (Littleton and Collins), signed a world-class backup quarterback, and completely remodeled their secondary. This roster is stacked.
Biggest concern: Sustainability is a problem. Mayock will find his resources in the draft and in the cap space depleted next year, and many of his veterans will not return. If the goal is a single fantastic year to get the franchise back on its feet, mission accomplished. If it's to build a perennial contender, he may want to consider trading down in the draft and signing younger, lesser-known free agents to longer-term contracts.
Projected improvement: +3
2020 draft class: WR Henry Ruggs III, CB Damon Arnette, WR Lynn Bowden, WR Bryan Edwards, S Tanner Muse, OG John Simpson, CB Amik Robertson
Summary: Mike Mayock wants a one-year turnaround. He wants to win now. He intends to accomplish this with one-year deals for gifted veterans and high draft picks. In fact, the Raiders selected seven players in the first four rounds and none in the last three. And what of the players? He gave Derek Carr a bona fide WR1 in Henry Ruggs, the best downfield receiver in the draft. Vegas also added two of the league's most coveted defenders (Littleton and Collins), signed a world-class backup quarterback, and completely remodeled their secondary. This roster is stacked.
Biggest concern: Sustainability is a problem. Mayock will find his resources in the draft and in the cap space depleted next year, and many of his veterans will not return. If the goal is a single fantastic year to get the franchise back on its feet, mission accomplished. If it's to build a perennial contender, he may want to consider trading down in the draft and signing younger, lesser-known free agents to longer-term contracts.
Projected improvement: +3
3: Denver Broncos
Notable additions: RB Melvin Gordon, DT Jurrell Casey, CB A.J. Bouye, OG Graham Glasgow, QB Jeff Driskel
2020 draft class: WR Jerry Jeudy, WR K.J. Hamler, CB Michael Ojemudia, C Lloyd Cushenberry, DT McTelvin Agim, TE Albert Okwuegbunam, LB Justin Strnad, OG Netane Muti, WR Tyrie Cleveland, DE Derrek Tuszka
Summary: The best thing Denver did this offseason was ditch Joe Flacco. Really. However, the addition of Glasgow is a very close second. The draft, by contrast, was clearly intended to open up the field for young franchise quarterback Drew Lock. The first two picks were speedy, explosive receivers (Jeudy in particular being very good at getting open, which is sure to take pressure off Lock). John Elway also made sure to nab Lock's favorite receiver in college, tight end Albert Okwuegbunam. Gordon and Casey initially seemed threats to Phillip Lindsay and Shelby Harris, but in the end they may complement each other fantastically. The most valuable draft pick of 2020 is probably cerebral center Cushenberry, who promises to make an instant impact. I pity the defensive coordinator who must face the Denver offense.
Biggest concern: The Broncos did not add an offensive tackle. It seems Elway has not yet noticed that Garrett Bolles is terribly spotty, committing penalties right and left and occasionally botching assignments. The left tackle is sometimes considered tantamount to the quarterback and the middle linebacker in terms of importance to a team's success, and Denver would have done well to add a reliable backup who can take Bolles' place if things get out of control.
Projected improvement: +3
2020 draft class: WR Jerry Jeudy, WR K.J. Hamler, CB Michael Ojemudia, C Lloyd Cushenberry, DT McTelvin Agim, TE Albert Okwuegbunam, LB Justin Strnad, OG Netane Muti, WR Tyrie Cleveland, DE Derrek Tuszka
Summary: The best thing Denver did this offseason was ditch Joe Flacco. Really. However, the addition of Glasgow is a very close second. The draft, by contrast, was clearly intended to open up the field for young franchise quarterback Drew Lock. The first two picks were speedy, explosive receivers (Jeudy in particular being very good at getting open, which is sure to take pressure off Lock). John Elway also made sure to nab Lock's favorite receiver in college, tight end Albert Okwuegbunam. Gordon and Casey initially seemed threats to Phillip Lindsay and Shelby Harris, but in the end they may complement each other fantastically. The most valuable draft pick of 2020 is probably cerebral center Cushenberry, who promises to make an instant impact. I pity the defensive coordinator who must face the Denver offense.
Biggest concern: The Broncos did not add an offensive tackle. It seems Elway has not yet noticed that Garrett Bolles is terribly spotty, committing penalties right and left and occasionally botching assignments. The left tackle is sometimes considered tantamount to the quarterback and the middle linebacker in terms of importance to a team's success, and Denver would have done well to add a reliable backup who can take Bolles' place if things get out of control.
Projected improvement: +3
4: Baltimore Ravens
Notable additions: DE Calais Campbell, DE Derek Wolfe, LB Jake Ryan
2020 draft class: LB Patrick Queen, RB J.K. Dobbins, DT Justin Madubuike, WR Devin Duvernay, LB Malik Harrison, OG Tyre Phillips, OG Ben Bredeson, DT Broderick Washington, WR James Proche, S Geno Stone
Summary: Can the record-setting 2019 Baltimore Ravens actually be even better in 2020? Apparently so. They were relatively inactive in free agency, but their defensive line signings (future Hall Of Famer Calais Campbell and the ever-underrated Derek Wolfe) were fantastic selections at a cost far too low. Patrick Queen is a commanding, 70s-style middle linebacker who will fill one of the team's few holes. Geno Stone would be a Day Two pick in a perfect world, and two of the draft's finest offensive weapons, Devin Duvernay and J.K. Dobbins (whom I rate as the draft's best running back) somehow fell into the grasp of a team that already features a top-three quarterback. Now that Lamar has an offense around him, he should be an absolute juggernaut (not that he isn't already!).
Biggest concern: Marshal Yanda's retirement. While the loss of a single player, and an offensive lineman at that, is rarely insurmountable, I posit that Yanda's loss will affect Baltimore almost as much as Brady's loss will affect New England. (Okay, as much as Brady's loss would have affected New England if Belichick had grabbed an insurance policy in the draft instead of riding into 2020 on the backs of Hoyer and Stidham. He doesn't seem to realize that he, too, is mortal. But I digress.) Yanda defended Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco and regular-season MVP Lamar Jackson and was the most important non-quarterback on both offenses. He is as irreplaceable as a guard gets.
Projected improvement: +2
2020 draft class: LB Patrick Queen, RB J.K. Dobbins, DT Justin Madubuike, WR Devin Duvernay, LB Malik Harrison, OG Tyre Phillips, OG Ben Bredeson, DT Broderick Washington, WR James Proche, S Geno Stone
Summary: Can the record-setting 2019 Baltimore Ravens actually be even better in 2020? Apparently so. They were relatively inactive in free agency, but their defensive line signings (future Hall Of Famer Calais Campbell and the ever-underrated Derek Wolfe) were fantastic selections at a cost far too low. Patrick Queen is a commanding, 70s-style middle linebacker who will fill one of the team's few holes. Geno Stone would be a Day Two pick in a perfect world, and two of the draft's finest offensive weapons, Devin Duvernay and J.K. Dobbins (whom I rate as the draft's best running back) somehow fell into the grasp of a team that already features a top-three quarterback. Now that Lamar has an offense around him, he should be an absolute juggernaut (not that he isn't already!).
Biggest concern: Marshal Yanda's retirement. While the loss of a single player, and an offensive lineman at that, is rarely insurmountable, I posit that Yanda's loss will affect Baltimore almost as much as Brady's loss will affect New England. (Okay, as much as Brady's loss would have affected New England if Belichick had grabbed an insurance policy in the draft instead of riding into 2020 on the backs of Hoyer and Stidham. He doesn't seem to realize that he, too, is mortal. But I digress.) Yanda defended Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco and regular-season MVP Lamar Jackson and was the most important non-quarterback on both offenses. He is as irreplaceable as a guard gets.
Projected improvement: +2
5: Philadelphia Eagles
Notable additions: CB Darius Slay, S Will Parks, CB Nickell Robey-Coleman, S Rodney McLeod, DT Javon Hargrave
2020 draft class: WR Jalen Reagor, QB Jalen Hurts, LB Davion Taylor, S K'Von Wallace, OT Jack Driscoll, WR John Hightower, LB Shaun Bradley, WR Quez Watkins, OT Prince Tega Wanogho, DE Casey Toohill
Summary: No team repaired an area of weakness quite like the Eagles repaired their secondary. Trading for the NFL's premier corner, Darius Slay, and picking up two young defensive backs with high ceilings, they had a No-Fly Zone prototype by April. Reagor is a true WR1, something Philly has lacked for years. Driscoll and Tega Wanogho provide exceptional value at offensive tackle. The Eagles didn't make a lot of splashes, but they saw holes and filled them in.
Biggest concern: "If you have two quarterbacks, you really have zero." The early selection of Oklahoma passer Jalen Hurts is concerning. Despite having multiple top-three seasons and leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl (to be fair, they actually won the aforementioned Super Bowl with the enigmatic Nick Foles), it appears that Carson Wentz still doesn't have the team's full trust. If the Eagles are to return to their former glory, Wentz will need to be his former self this season. A quarterback controversy is the last thing this team needs.
Projected improvement: +2
2020 draft class: WR Jalen Reagor, QB Jalen Hurts, LB Davion Taylor, S K'Von Wallace, OT Jack Driscoll, WR John Hightower, LB Shaun Bradley, WR Quez Watkins, OT Prince Tega Wanogho, DE Casey Toohill
Summary: No team repaired an area of weakness quite like the Eagles repaired their secondary. Trading for the NFL's premier corner, Darius Slay, and picking up two young defensive backs with high ceilings, they had a No-Fly Zone prototype by April. Reagor is a true WR1, something Philly has lacked for years. Driscoll and Tega Wanogho provide exceptional value at offensive tackle. The Eagles didn't make a lot of splashes, but they saw holes and filled them in.
Biggest concern: "If you have two quarterbacks, you really have zero." The early selection of Oklahoma passer Jalen Hurts is concerning. Despite having multiple top-three seasons and leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl (to be fair, they actually won the aforementioned Super Bowl with the enigmatic Nick Foles), it appears that Carson Wentz still doesn't have the team's full trust. If the Eagles are to return to their former glory, Wentz will need to be his former self this season. A quarterback controversy is the last thing this team needs.
Projected improvement: +2
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