Tag: Marshall Yanda

Hope is a powerful emotion.

One of the reasons that the National Football League manages to dominate the sports conversation year-round is how it packages and sells hope to its fans. Through free agency, the draft, and then schedule releases, the league manages to build up a strong sentiment of hope in virtually every single fan base as the crescendo builds to the start of a new season.

When free agency kicks off in just under a week, 32 fan bases will start to believe that their team is putting together a winning roster, and that this year will finally be the year.

Of course, we know it does not always work out that way. There are many teams that have “won the off-season” but such victories do not always translate into Super Bowl banners.

But with free agency nearly upon us, let hope live on.

Here is a free agency acquisition for each of the 32 NFL teams to strongly target next week. Given how team needs overlap, there are a few names listed twice. Scheme fit and salary cap considerations play a critical role in these selections (looking at you Pittsburgh and Minnesota). They are grouped by division, and in alphabetical order. Additionally, these are all additions. Many teams have in-house needs that need to be addressed first, and for the most part those are discussed in the team’s write-up.

Buffalo Bills: Robby Anderson, WR (New York Jets)

The Buffalo Bills took a big step forward in Josh Allen’s second season as a quarterback in the National Football League. While Allen still has room to grow as a quarterback, acquisitions such as Cole Beasley and John Brown helped Allen become a better timing- and rhythm-based passer.

One area where Allen could stand to improve is in the deep passing game. Among qualified passers last season, Allen ranked 23rd (out of 24) in Pro Football Focus’ adjusted completion percentage on downfield throws (defined as throws of 20 yards or more downfield). While the vertical passing game was a strength of Allen’s coming out of the University of Wyoming, that aspect of Buffalo’s offense was lacking last year.

Beasley and Brown were solid acquisitions for the Bills, but adding Anderson would give the Buffalo offense a huge jolt, specifically in the downfield passing game. Anderson has been a dangerous vertical threat for the New York Jets the past few seasons, and according to PFF’s grading he has the 15th best grade in the NFL on throws of 20 yards or more downfield since 2016. In addition, last year he was targeted six times on throws of 20 yards or more over the middle, and he caught four of those passes, three of which went for touchdowns.

Adding Anderson would give Allen a vertical option downfield, while creating space for Beasley, Brown and emerging tight end Dawson Knox room to operate in the intermediate passing game. Plus, it would wrestle a valuable commodity away from a division rival.

Miami Dolphins: Kyle Van Noy, OLB (New England Patriots)

The Miami Dolphins have three first round selections in the 2020 NFL Draft, and a number of needs they can address. Offensive line, every level of the defense and of course quarterback are positions most commonly linked with the Dolphins with those three early-round selections.

Adding Van Noy in free agency would enable the Dolphins to address a position other than EDGE/OLB with one of those selections. Players like K’Lavon Chaisson from LSU and Zack Baun are familiar names associated with Miami, but Van Noy would give head coach Brian Flores an experienced linebacker who can function both as a pass rusher off the edge or as an outside linebacker in space.

Van Noy seemed to be a potential bust after being selected in the second round by the Detroit Lions in the 2014 draft. Van Noy was then acquired by the New England Patriots via a trade, in which the Patriots acquired the linebacker and a seventh round pick in exchange for just a sixth round selection. But during the past few years in New England, Van Noy has settled into a hybrid role in the Patriots’ defense much more suited for his abilities. On any given down you can see him rushing the passer off the edge, dropping into coverage in space, or even aligning on the inside and letting players like Jamie Collins and Dont’a Hightower attack the pocket on the outside.

Flores has seen up close and personally what Van Noy can bring to a defense, and how he can be best utilized in the NFL. Acquiring a player with his trait set will allow Miami to address other positions of need early in the draft

New England Patriots: Hunter Henry, TE (Los Angeles Chargers)

Obviously the Patriots are one of those aforementioned teams that have some decisions to make about their own free agents before looking outward. Van Noy, as previously discussed, is a free agent who plays a critical role on their defense. Other defensive free agents include Collins and free safety Devin McCourty, as well as left guard Joe Thuney.

And of course there is that Tom Brady guy.

Regardless of how the organization deals with those decisions, tight end remains a massive hole for this team. The decision by Rob Gronkowski to retire last season late in free agency left the franchise behind the eight ball when it came to acquiring a veteran player before the draft. A year ago the Patriots tried to sign Jared Cook during free agency, but according to Mike Reiss of ESPN the uncertain status of Gronkowski had Cook look elsewhere. Then during the draft, the Patriots passed on picking a tight end despite the general consensus that the 2019 tight end class was a very strong group.

Instead, New England tried to piece the position together on the secondary free agency market, with players like Benjamin Watson and Austin Sefarian-Jenkins, as well as relying on younger players already on the roster like Ryan Izzo and Matt LaCosse. That experiment failed, and the tight ends in New England failed to come anywhere close to the production the team lost with Gronkowski’s retirement.

This year, the picture looks much different. The rookie tight end class has some questions, and that makes Henry a very enticing option. The Chargers tight end has struggled with injuries, but when healthy he is a very impressive option in the passing game, and he can also contribute as a blocker which is something the Patriots value at the position. Adding Henry and then drafting a tight end later in the draft would put New England in position to finally restock their tight end room.

New York Jets: Amari Cooper, WR (Dallas Cowboys)

Last off-season the New York Jets were active in free agency by making two big splash signings: Linebacker C.J. Mosley and running back Le’Veon Bell. While those acquisitions made headlines, they failed to translate into wins on the field. The Jets started the season with four-straight losses (hampered in large part by illness sidelining quarterback Sam Darnold) and they were 1-7 at the midway point of their season.

But they finished strong, winning six of their final eight games, and that has brought a bit of hope back to Gang Green. But they still have holes to address on both sides of the football. They need to add some help up front on the offensive line – and many expect that the Jets will draft one of the “big four” offensive tackles with the 11th overall selection – and they could use some help at cornerback on the defensive side of the football.

Additionally, they could use help at the wide receiver spot. Bringing Robby Anderson back would make sense, but even then they could use some help. Especially if Anderson leaves town, however, a player with Cooper’s skill-set would make a great deal of sense for the Jets. If you look at the growth the Cowboys saw in Dak Prescott after acquiring Cooper, you will see what a WR with the ability to consistently get separation can mean for a quarterback. Cooper has been a well-rounded route runner since his time at Alabama, and his ability to get separation will give Darnold some big windows to attack in the passing game, boosting not only his play but the level of execution for the entire Jets’ offense.