16. Minnesota Vikings
Previous ranking: 10
Key additions: DT Michael Pierce, 22nd overall selection
Similar to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Vikings were in a very difficult position with respect to the salary cap. That made it very difficult for the Vikings to manuever in free agency, and most of the moves related to Minnesota involved players leaving town. Both Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes are no longer with the organization, as is likely the case with Everson Griffen, who recently broke off contract negotiations.
Then there is the trade the Vikings executed, sending Stefon Diggs to the Buffalo Bills along with a seventh-round pick in exchange for four selections, including the 22nd overall selection in this year’s draft. Given the depth there is at the wide receiver group in the incoming rookie class, Minnesota should be able to draft a wide receiver at that spot. Or, given the loss of both starting cornerbacks from a season ago, they might need to address that position at No. 22, given how the talent wanes at that defensive spot in this draft.
Oh, but they did give Kirk Cousins a two-year, $66 million extension. So they’ve got that going for them, which is nice.
15. Dallas Cowboys
Previous ranking: 14
Key additions: S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, CB Anthony Brown, DE Gerald McCoy
Jerry Jones and company faced three huge decisions this offseason. First, what to do with Dak Prescott; second, how to handle Amari Cooper; third, what about cornerback Byron Jones?
The third question was actually answered by the Miami Dolphins, who gave Jones a big offer on the open market that enabled his move to South Beach. The Cowboys focused their attention on the two offensive players, putting the franchise tag on Prescott and signing Cooper to a five-year, $100 million extension. That will certainly help their passing game as they look to work out a long-term deal with their QB. But the retirement this week of Travis Frederick, their very solid center, is going to be tough to handle.
Defensively, the loss of Jones weakens their secondary, and additions like Brown or fellow cornerback C.J. Goodwin are not going to immediately replace what Jones meant to this secondary. The loss of defensive tackle Maliek Collins, as well as defensive end Robert Quinn, has weakened their defensive front. Gerald McCoy will help, but they are likely looking at drafting a pass rusher with their first-round pick.
14. New England Patriots
Previous ranking: 8
Key additions: WR Damiere Byrd, DT Beau Allen, S Adrian Phillips, QB Brian Hoyer, FB Dan Vitale, S Cody Davis
You read that correctly.
The loss of Tom Brady obviously garners the bulk of the headlines, but the Patriots are undergoing major changes on their roster before our very eyes. Defensively, they are losing Elandon Roberts, Kyle Van Noy and Jamie Collins at the linebacker spots, Duron Harmon in the secondary and Danny Shelton up front. They just released kicker Stephen Gostkowski. On the offensive line, they lost Ted Karras, who performed well in place of center David Andrews last season.
And yes, they lost the greatest quarterback of all time.
Now the Patriots still have Bill Belichick on the sideline, and they have 12 picks to play with in the upcoming draft. The moves they have made to date did free up come cap space, but they have a huge dead cap number to deal with:
Over an eighth ($25,998,491) of the Patriots adjusted cap number is dead money.
— Cap Space=$1,785,084 (@patscap) March 23, 2020
That … is not good.
Given the financial constraints, it is tough to see them acquiring one of the big-name QB targets in free agency given the other needs they have to address. Meaning second-year passer Jarrett Stidham is likely tasked with replacing Brady under center next season. The organization does like what Stidham showed last season, and veteran safety Devin McCourty gave him a glowing review recently, but those are massive, massive cleats to fill.
13. Los Angeles Chargers
Previous ranking: 17
Key additions: DT Linval Joseph, CB Chris Harris Jr., RT Bryan Bulaga, G Trai Turner
The Chargers made some very intriguing moves over the past few weeks, but one huge question mark remains.
We can start with the additions. Bryan Bulaga gives them a very solid right tackle. Trai Turner is a young guard, acquired via a trade with the Carolina Panthers, who gives a big boost to the interior of the offensive line, which was a big issue for the Chargers a season ago. Chris Harris Jr. gives the Chargers a very solid slot cornerback who also has the ability to play along the boundary, although he did struggle there a season ago. Linval Joseph is a very nice piece on the inside who can occupy bodies, freeing up players like Isaac Rochell and Joey Bosa to get after the passer.
All very good moves, but the question mark is at quarterback. The team has indicated that they are willing to roll with Tyrod Taylor next season, but with players like Cam Newton, Andy Dalton and Jameis Winston available, will they stick to that script? Also, with the sixth overall selection in the draft, will they pass on a rookie quarterback or not? Until they figure out the quarterback piece, it is hard to move them higher up the board.
12. Arizona Cardinals
Previous ranking: 15
Key additions: WR DeAndre Hopkins, DT Jordan Phillips, OLB De’Vondre Campbell, OLB Devon Kennard
It is hard to overstate how important the acquisition of Hopkins is for this offense and the trickle-down impact it might have on Arizona’s plans. The Cardinals ran 10 offensive personnel (four wide receivers, one running back, no tight end) more than any other team in the league a season ago, so acquiring a premier wide receiver like Hopkins is a massive move. As it stands, the Cardinals have a top three of Hopkins, Christian Kirk and Larry Fitzgerald, with players like Trent Sherfield, KeeSean Johnson, Hakeem Butler and Andy Isabella battling for that fourth spot.
Or, with the eighth overall pick in the draft, they could reunite quarterback Kyler Murray with one of his collegiate targets, CeeDee Lamb.
The acquisitions on the defensive side of the football are also very good additions. Phillips tallied nearly 10 sacks a season ago and gives them interior push on the inside with Chandler Jones still prowling on the outside. Campbell and Kennard are solid additions to the linebacker group.
Things are definitely trending up in the desert.
11. Seattle Seahawks
Previous ranking: 6
Key additions: OLB Bruce Irvin, CB Quinton Dunbar, G B.J. Finney, TE Greg Olsen
The biggest question right now is where Jadeveon Clowney winds up. If he returns to the Seahawks, that would definitely boost their stock. Adding Irvin is a nice acquisition, as the Seahawks struggled to generate consistent pressure last year and Irvin tallied 8.5 sacks a season ago, his career high. Seattle also absolutely stole cornerback Quinton Dunbar, one of the most effective players at his position in 2019, for a fifth-round pick.
They lost George Fant to the New York Jets, but adding pieces such as Finney will help the offensive line somewhat. Plus, having a mobile quarterback such as Russell Wilson works to mitigate any mistakes or deficiencies up front. Olson is a solid tight end, provided he remains healthy, but the organizations hedged their bets at that position by assigning a second-round tender on Jacob Hollister and inking Luke Willson to a contract extension.
10. Philadelphia Eagles
Previous ranking: 13
Key additions: DT Javon Hargrave, CB Darius Slay
The acquisition of Slay likely gets the most attention in and around Philadelphia, given the Eagles’ struggles in the secondary a season ago. Slay’s ability to play off alignments and in zone coverage will make him a perfect fit for Jim Schwartz’s penchant for having his corners on an island using off technique. Slay can click-and-close with the best of them and is a disruptive force at the catch point.
But do not sleep on the acquisition of Hargrave. He gives the Eagles tremendous talent on the interior of their defensive line, and pairing him on the inside with Fletcher Cox gives Philadelphia serious ability on the inside against both the run and the pass. With those two on the inside, Derek Barnett and Brandon Graham are going to see favorable matchups on the outside.
They still need to address wide receiver, and safety might be an issue with the departure of Malcolm Jenkins, but those are positions they can address early in the draft.
9. Indianapolis Colts
Previous ranking: 12
Key additions: QB Philip Rivers, DT DeForest Buckner
In Philip Rivers, the Indianapolis Colts now have a quarterback who might be an ideal fit for what Frank Reich is running schematically. Rivers is certainly on the tail end of his career, but if you look at how Reich handled Andrew Luck’s return from injury, and Jacoby Brissett, you will see how this can work. Reich’s West Coast system relied heavily on quick passes and throwing out of bigger personnel packages, so Rivers should be in a position to avoid pressure and get the ball out quickly. He struggled against pressure a bit last year but in 2018 his Adjusted Completion Percentage of 71.6 when pressured was fifth-best in the league. With Quinton Nelson and the returning Anthony Castonzo helping to protect him, Rivers should return to that 2018 form. The acquisition of Buckner gives this solid defense another stout player in the interior.
Oh, and the Cols still have the 34th and 44th overall picks in the draft, even after the trade of Buckner. So they could grab two high quality players there, or package those picks to move up into the first if a player they like falls to them.