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Mar 31 2019

Make or Break and 2019 NFL Team Needs

Categories:

Thoughts

by Law Murray


Spring is here, and the new money is just about gone in NFL free agency. The 2019 NFL Draft is about to take center stage.

Now is the time when teams will look to fill holes on the roster using this year’s draft picks. It is also a time to look back at the previous year’s draft classes.

But there are few rookies who will even be impact players as first-round picks. And while last season’s rookies will be expected to take another step, they are still improving players who shouldn’t be written off if they don’t come through – not to mention, with a year on tape, even the best rookies from last season have to avoid the sophomore slump and show they can do it again next season.

Free agency works best as a band-aid. The top spenders in free agency frequently fall short of expectations, especially when they don’t draft well. In the NFL, free agency sets up the draft. But while the focus will be on this year’s draft and last year’s draft, the key for teams’ success in 2019 will come from the emergence of players entering their third or fourth NFL seasons.

There are two kinds of “make or break” for a player: Finding out if a fringe player belongs in the league, and finding out if a serviceable player will break out and become an indispensable player. I feel like it takes multiple seasons away from college for a player to define themselves as a professional contributor.

So with the 2019 NFL Draft coming up, I want to take a look at pressing team needs, the free agency moves they may have made to fill them, and determine which players still on the roster from the 2016 and 2017 Drafts who have the opportunity to step up and make a big difference next season.

(In order of first draft appearance):

1. Arizona (3-13 in 2018)

– Need: RB, OL (32nd in run yards per attempt)

– Free Agent Report: WR Larry Fitzgerald is back on a one-year deal, while former Chicago WR Kevin White was signed to a one-year deal. CB Robert Alford was signed from Atlanta on a three-year deal. TE Charles Clay was signed from Buffalo on a one-year deal. OT Marcus Gilbert was acquired from Pittsburgh in exchange for a 2019 6th round pick. Former Chargers DT Darius Philon was signed to a two-year deal. OLB Terrell Suggs was signed to a one-year deal from Baltimore. Former Philadelphia ILB Jordan Hicks was signed to a four-year deal. Former Seattle LG J.R. Sweezy was signed to a two-year deal; LG Mike Iupati signed with Seattle. QB Mike Glennon was released, and former Seattle QB Brett Hundley was signed to a one-year deal. DE Markus Golden (Giants) and ILB Deone Bucannon (Tampa Bay) signed elsewhere.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: RB T.J. Logan (2017 5th round)

Do the Cardinals need a new QB after drafting Josh Rosen 10th overall in 2018? That seems strange, but whoever the QB is in 2019, Arizona needs better production on the ground. They will lean more on star David Johnson and 2018 4th round pick Chase Edmonds, but Logan will be under pressure to show something in his third NFL season. He has been limited to only 39 yards from scrimmage so far.

2. San Francisco (4-12 in 2018)

– Need: QB, WR, TE (31st in passer rating)

– Free Agent Report: San Francisco traded a 2020 pick to Kansas City to acquire DE Dee Ford and signed Ford to a four-year deal. Former Tampa Bay ILB Kwon Alexander was signed to a four-year deal as well; OLB Brock Coyle was released. Former Carolina ILB David Mayo was signed to a two-year deal, while OLB Mark Nzeocha was re-signed to a three-year deal. RB Tevin Coleman was signed from Atlanta on a two-year deal. FB Kyle Juszczyk’s option was picked up, but WR Pierre Garcon’s option was declined. RG Mike Person was signed to a three-year deal. Former Chargers CB Jason Verrett was signed to a one-year deal, and FS Jimmie Ward was re-signed to a one-year deal. The 49ers franchise tagged K Robbie Gould, but also signed K Jonathan Brown to a two-year deal. LS Kyle Nelson signed a four-year contract. P Bradley Pinion signed with Tampa Bay, and former P Justin Vogel was signed to a one-year deal.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: WR Trent Taylor (2017 5th round)

Taylor is a 5’8″ receiver who had a solid rookie season (43 receptions, 430 yards, 2 TD), but those numbers all fell in Year 2 (26 receptions, 215 yards, 1 TD). The 49ers will be counting on the ACL recoveries of QB Jimmy Garoppolo and RB Jerick McKinnon, but they need a reliable wide receiver to emerge.

3. New York Jets (4-12 in 2018)

– Need: RB, OL (30th in run yards per attempt)

– Free Agent Report: The Jets signed RB Le’Veon Bell from Pittsburgh, then released RB Isaiah Crowell. New York also acquired LG Kelechi Osemele in a trade with Oakland, while LG James Carpenter left for Atlanta. Former Baltimore ILB C.J. Mosley signed with the Jets as well. Former Washington WR Jamison Crowder and Chicago WR Josh Bellamy were signed. Former Atlanta CB Brian Poole signed with New York. Former Minnesota QB Trevor Siemian signed with the Jets to backup 2018 1st round QB Sam Darnold. K Jason Myers left for Seattle, so the Jets brought back K Chandler Catanzaro from Carolina.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: RB Elijah McGuire (2017 6th round)

The unique quality that McGuire offers is that he is the only player in the NFL in the last two seasons to attempt 80+ rushes, catch 15+ passes, and average at least 10.0 yards per reception. The bad news: McGuire has not been good at running the football, averaging only 3.0 yards per rush in 2018 after producing 3.6 yards per rush as a rookie in 2017. McGuire averaged an anemic 2.4 yards per rush in three late-season starts, so volume made him even less effective. McGuire won’t be counted on for volume with Bell in tow, but relying on Bell for a full slate is not a good idea in 2019, so McGuire may have a chance to get on the field again.

4. Oakland (4-12 in 2018)

– Need: DL (Last in sacks)

– Free Agent Report: Oakland traded 2019 3rd and 5th round picks to Pittsburgh to acquire WR Antonio Brown; WR Jordy Nelson was released, and then Nelson retired. Former Chargers WR Tyrell Williams was also signed. LG Kelechi Osemele was traded to the Jets and OT Donald Penn was released, while former New England LT Trent Brown was signed. Former Jets RB Isaiah Crowell was signed. DT Johnathan Hankins was signed to a two-year contract. Former Denver LB Brandon Marshall and Cincinnati LB Vontaze Burfict were signed.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: DT Eddie Vanderdoes (2017 3rd round)

Vanderdoes was a rookie starter, though he didn’t have a sack despite playing all 16 games. The Raiders did not see Vanderdoes at all in Year 2 as he recovered from a torn left ACL. Oakland is in a unique position with three first round picks, but they traded two former first round picks in WR Amari Cooper and DE Khalil Mack to get to that point. Getting Brown is a boost, but the Raiders need defensive line help. Whoever comes in the draft, it would be helpful if Vanderdoes can produce after a year off.

5. Tampa Bay (5-11 in 2018)

– Need: DB (32nd in passer rating allowed)

– Free Agent Report: WR DeSean Jackson was traded to Philadelphia with a 2020 7th round pick in exchange for a 2019 6th round pick. WR Adam Humphries signed with Tennessee. Former Cleveland WR Breshad Perriman was signed to a one-year deal. Tampa Bay signed QB Blaine Gabbert from Tennessee to replace backup QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. ILB Kwon Alexander left for San Francisco. P Bradley Pinion was signed from San Francisco to replace P Bryan Anger.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: CB Vernon Hargreaves (2016 1st round)

Hargreaves was lost for the season after injuring his shoulder in the first game of the year, and his first two seasons have not gone much better. The only career INT Hargreaves has came in a rookie year in which he started all 16 games, while Hargreaves only made it through nine games in his second season. No team has a worse passer rating allowed since 2015 than Tampa Bay (99.1), so that’s still an issue that Hargreaves was drafted to correct.

6. New York Giants (5-11 in 2018)

– Need: LB (T-30th in sacks)

– Free Agent Report: New York traded WR Odell Beckham Jr. and OLB Olivier Vernon to Cleveland for 2019 1st and 3rd round picks, SS Jabrill Peppers and RG Kevin Zeitler. Former Philadelphia WR Golden Tate and former Arizona OLB Markus Golden were signed to help replace Beckham and Vernon. SS Landon Collins signed with Washington. DE Kerry Wynn signed with Cincinnati.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: OLB Avery Moss (2017 5th round)

Moss actually did not make the Giants roster for the 2018 season after playing in 11 games as a rookie. The Giants kept Moss on the practice squad, though, and he was signed to a futures deal when the season ended. Moss has yet to produce a sack in the NFL, though he did have five QB hits and two passes defensed in 2017. New York needs edge rush help as much as it did when Moss was drafted, as only Oakland has fewer sacks since 2016 than the Giants (92).

7. Jacksonville (5-11 in 2018)

– Need: QB, WR, TE (T-30th in pass TD)

– Free Agent Report: The Jaguars signed QB Nick Foles from Philadelphia and released QB Blake Bortles. Jacksonville also released RB Carlos Hyde, RT Jermey Parnell, DT Malik Jackson, FS Tashaun Gipson, and LS Carson Tinker. K Josh Lambo was signed to a four-year extension.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: WR Dede Westbrook (2017 4th round)

Westbrook was Jacksonville’s best receiver in 2018, catching 65.3 percent of targets for 717 yards. That comes out to only 10.9 yards per reception, which scares no one, but Westbrook was at least reliable. Jacksonville needs to support Foles by getting a major upgrade at receiver, but Westbrook is in position to build on an adequate second season.

8. Detroit (6-10 in 2018)

– Need: RB, OL (28th in run yards per attempt)

– Free Agent Report: Detroit signed DE Trey Flowers from New England, CB Justin Coleman from Seattle, and TE Jesse James from Pittsburgh. RG T.J. Lang, CB Nevin Lawson, and FS Glover Quin were released.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: OT Taylor Decker (2016 1st round)

Decker bounced back from an injury-shortened 2017 season to start all 16 games for the second time in three seasons. As Decker enters his prime, the Lions will hope that the ground game can become more consistent. No team has fewer rushing yards than Detroit since Decker was drafted in 2016, and only Tampa Bay has averaged fewer yards per rush in those three years (3.7).

9. Buffalo (6-10 in 2018)

– Need: QB, WR, TE (Last in passer rating)

– Free Agent Report: Buffalo signed former Dallas WR Cole Beasley to a four-year deal, former Jets LG Spencer Long to a three-year deal, former Baltimore WR John Brown to a three-year deal, former Oakland LG Jon Feliciano to a two-year deal, former Miami RB Frank Gore to a one-year deal, former Cincinnati TE Tyler Kroft to a three-year deal, former Kansas City C Mitch Morse to a four-year deal, former Washington OT Ty Nsekhe to a two-year deal, and former Jets WR Andre Roberts to a two-year deal. RB Chris Ivory and TE Charles Clay were released.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: WR Zay Jones (2017 2nd round)

The Bills signed a lot of players, but they still could use their young core to take another step forward. 2018 1st round QB Josh Allen has time to get it together, and it will help Allen if Jones can improve again like he did from Year One to Year Two. Now, Jones was historically bad as a rookie, catching only 27 of 74 targets for 316 yards. Of 157 rookies with 70+ targets since 1992, only three players had a worse reception percentage than Jones’ 36.5 percent, and none had a worse yards per target rate than Jones’ 4.3. Jones normalized to a pedestrian 56 receptions for 652 yards (11.6 average) and 7 TD in 2018, catching 54.9 percent of 102 targets.

10. Denver (6-10 in 2018)

– Need: QB, WR, TE (27th in passer rating)

– Free Agent Report: Denver traded a 2019 4th round pick to Baltimore for QB Joe Flacco, then traded a 2020 7th round pick and QB Case Keenum to Washington for a 2020 6th round pick. TE Jeff Heuerman was re-signed to a two-year deal. C Matt Paradis signed with Carolina, while former Miami RT Ja’Wuan James signed a four-year deal. Backup DT Zach Kerr was re-signed to a two-year deal. ILB Brandon Marshall left for Oakland, and CB Bradley Roby left for Houston. FS Darian Stewart was released.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: TE Jake Butt (2017 5th round)

Jake Butt’s rookie season was spent recovering from a collegiate right ACL tear. He tore his left ACL after three games of the 2018 season. Butt finished with 85 yards on 8 receptions. If Butt can recover from his most recent knee injury, it will be very helpful to Flacco, who has the worst TD percentage and yards per attempt of 20 players who have attempted 2000+ passes since 2013.

11. Cincinnati (6-10 in 2018)

– Need: DB (26th in passer rating allowed)

– Free Agent Report: Cincinnati released OLB Vontaze Burfict and re-signed TE Tyler Eifert, CB Darqueze Dennard and ILB Preston Brown. Former Buffalo RG John Miller signed with the Bengals.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: CB William Jackson III (2016 1st round)

Bengals CBs took the entire season off from interceptions. Now, Jackson was certainly active, leading the Bengals with 13 passes defensed. Only Dallas CB Byron Jones (14 passes defensed) had more passes defensed without an INT in 2018. Cincinnati still has Jackson, Dennard, and CB Dre Kirkpatrick as former 1st round picks under contract. Some more plays would be nice. Any plays would be nice.

12. Green Bay (6-9-1 in 2018)

– Need: DB (28th in passer rating allowed)

– Free Agent Report: Green Bay released OLB Nick Perry, while OLB Clay Matthews signed with the Rams. Green Bay signed former Baltimore OLB Za’Darius Smith and former Washington OLB Preston Smith to replace them. WR Randall Cobb signed with Dallas. Former Chicago SS Adrian Amos signed with Green Bay.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: CB Kevin King (2017 2nd round)

Green Bay had a bottom-five pass defense despite investing heavily in young secondary talent in the last two drafts. King was one of four players Green Bay used 1st or 2nd round picks on, and he only has played in 15 games, with only one INT and 7 passes defensed.

13. Miami (7-9 in 2018)

– Need: QB, WR, TE (30th in pass yards per game)

– Free Agent Report: Miami traded QB Ryan Tannehill to Tennessee and signed former Tampa Bay QB Ryan Fitzpatrick. LG Josh Sitton was released. Miami signed TE Dwayne Allen and CB Eric Rowe. WR DeVante Parker was signed to a contract extension. DE Robert Quinn was traded to Dallas. RB Frank Gore and RT Ja’Wuan James left in free agency.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: WR Jakeem Grant (2016 6th round)

Grant is a return specialist at 5’7″, and he is a very good one at that. But the Dolphins started using Grant as a receiver more in 2018, and while Tyreek Hill comparisons are not advised, Grant did show that he could do more than simply contribute on special teams. Grant caught both of his 2018 TDs against the Raiders, and he had 30+ yards in five of his ten games. Unfortunately, Grant’s season ended due to a heel injury. Under a new coaching staff, Grant will be hard pressed to build upon his Year 3 progress.

14. Atlanta (7-9 in 2018)

– Need: LB (28th in run yards per attempt allowed)

– Free Agent Report: RB Tevin Coleman left for San Francisco. RT Ryan Schraeder, CB Robert Alford and DE Brooks Reed were waived, while K Matt Bryant’s option was declined. Former Jets LG James Carpenter was signed. DT Grady Jarrett was franchise tagged.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: ILB Deion Jones (2016 2nd round)

Jones was a 2016 contributor to an NFC champion, and was a 2017 Pro Bowler. His 2018 was marred by a foot injury that limited him to six games. Jones is one of 19 players with multiple INTs each of the last three seasons, and one of only two LBs. The entire Atlanta coaching staff is on the spot, and their management needs to figure out contract extensions for Jones and Jarrett. Any way you look at it, Jones’ return to a full season is critical for all involved, and it may be Atlanta’s only chance of significant defensive improvement.

15. Washington (7-9 in 2018)

– Need: QB, WR, TE (29th in passer rating)

– Free Agent Report: Washington signed former Giants SS Landon Collins. Former Denver QB Case Keenum was traded to Washington. RB Adrian Peterson was re-signed. WR Jamison Crowder, OLB Preston Smith and FS Ha Ha Clinton-Dix left in free agency.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: WR Josh Doctson (2016 1st round)

In three seasons, Doctson has produced 81 receptions, 1,100 yards (13.6 average), and 8 TD. There were ten players who produced those numbers just in the 2018 season! And none of those ten players has had a catch rate as poor as Doctson, who has caught exactly 50 percent of his 162 targets through three seasons. To be fair, the only Washington players in franchise history to put up a season of 81+ receptions, 1,100+ yards and 8+ TD are Santana Moss in 2005 and HOF Art Monk in 1989. Anyway you look at it, Doctson is likely down to his last chance to put it all together with Washington.

16. Carolina (7-9 in 2018)

– Need: DB (T-27th in pass TD allowed)

– Free Agent Report: SS Eric Reid was re-signed to a one-year deal. Former Atlanta OLB Bruce Irvin was signed to a one-year deal. Former Denver C Matt Paradis was signed to a three-year deal. DE Julius Peppers retired. WR Devin Funchess left for Indianapolis.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: CB James Bradberry (2016 2nd round)

Bradberry has been a three-year starter for Carolina after being drafted out of Samford, and he has certainly been active. Bradberry is one of only six players with at least 10 passes defensed each of the last three seasons. But of those six players, only former Atlanta CB Robert Alford had fewer than Bradberry’s five INTs. Carolina is expected to mix in some more 3-4 looks, so resources will need to go into that adjustment. Bradberry could help his and the entire team’s cause by turning more of those passes defensed into INTs.

18. Minnesota (8-7-1 in 2018)

– Need: RB, OL (25th in run yards per attempt)

– Free Agent Report: OLB Anthony Barr re-signed with Minnesota. RB Latavius Murray signed with New Orleans and DT Sheldon Richardson signed with Cleveland.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: RB Dalvin Cook (2017 2nd round)

Cook’s rookie season ended after four games due to a torn left ACL, so his second season was always going to be challenging. With that in mind, Cook did well to average 4.6 yards per rush, especially when non-Cook ballcarriers averaged only 3.9 yards per rush in 2018. Cook handled 12+ carries in all four games as a rookie, but he had the same amount of games with 12+ carries despite playing 11 games in 2018. Cook also had the same number of TDs (2) and 100-yard rushing games in 2018 as he had as a rookie. Cook is a good player who the Vikings will need more from in 2019 and beyond.

19. Tennessee (9-7 in 2018)

– Need: QB, WR, TE (T-28th in pass TD)

– Free Agent Report: Tennessee traded a 2019 7th round pick and a 2020 4th round pick to Miami for QB Ryan Tannehill, then released QB Blaine Gabbert. The Titans signed former Tampa Bay WR Adam Humphries, former Miami DE Cameron Wake and former Rams LG Rodger Saffold. SS Kenny Vaccaro was re-signed.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: WR Corey Davis (2017 1st round)

The Titans need QB Marcus Mariota to put together a full season of production, and while staying healthy will be a big part of that, Mariota will need Davis to take another leap forward as well. Davis rebounded from a 34-catch rookie season with 375 scoreless yards to score four TDs with 891 yards in 2018. That still leaves Davis at only 99 receptions for 1,266 yards and four TDs through two seasons. The only receiver to catch 100 passes for 1,200 yards in a season in franchise history is Charley Hennigan in 1964, when the team was in the AFL as the Houston Oilers. Davis had huge games against the Eagles and Patriots last season, but those are his only 100-yard performances so far through 27 games.

20. Pittsburgh (9-6-1 in 2018)

– Need: DB (21st in passer rating allowed)

– Free Agent Report: WR Antonio Brown was traded to Oakland in exchange for 2019 3rd and 5th round draft picks. RT Marcus Gilbert was traded to Arizona in exchange for a 2019 6th round pick. Former Kansas City CB Steven Nelson was signed to a three-year deal. Former Jacksonville WR Donte Moncrief and former Rams ILB Mark Barron were signed to two-year deals. RB Le’Veon Bell signed with the Jets. P Jordan Berry, WR Eli Rogers, OLB Anthony Chickillo, DE Tyson Alualu and DT Daniel McCullers were re-signed to two-year deals.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: CB Artie Burns (2016 1st round)

Burns played in all 16 games in 2018, but he lost his starting job after Pittsburgh’s Week 7 bye. After producing four INTs and 26 passes defensed in his first two seasons, Burns had no INTs and only one pass defensed in 2018, which seems really hard for a non-shutdown cornerback to do.

21. Seattle (10-6 in 2018)

– Need: RB, OL (5th in run yards per attempt)

– Free Agent Report: Seattle re-signed OLBs K.J. Wright and Mychal Kendricks and signed former Arizona LG Mike Iupati and former Jets K Jason Myers. DE Frank Clark was franchise tagged. FS Earl Thomas signed with Baltimore. RB Mike Davis signed with Chicago.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: RB C.J. Prosise (2016 3rd round)

Seattle has committed to running the football more than any team in the league, partly due to the perennial inability to protect QB Russell Wilson. Prosise is behind RBs Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny on the pecking order, but neither has the receiving ceiling that Prosise has. The problem for Prosise is that he’s played in only 16 games through three NFL seasons. His per touch averages are enticing – 4.6 yards per run, 12.2 yards per reception. But Prosise is down to his last chance to show that he can play more than six games in a season.

22. Baltimore (10-6 in 2018)

– Need: QB, WR, TE (23rd in pass yards per attempt)

– Free Agent Report: Baltimore signed former Seattle FS Earl Thomas and former New Orleans RB Mark Ingram. QB Joe Flacco was traded to Denver for a 4th round pick. FS Eric Weddle and WR Michael Crabtree were released, while OLB Terrell Suggs (Arizona), OLB Za’Darius Smith (Green Bay), ILB C.J. Mosley (New York Jets) and WR John Brown (Buffalo) left in free agency.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: WR Chris Moore (2016 4th round)

Baltimore used 2018 first round picks on a TE (Hayden Hurst) and a QB (Lamar Jackson). The Ravens need a WR to step up, and Moore is entering the last year of his rookie deal. Moore can fly, but he has averaged only 11.1 yards per reception in three seasons with only four TD.

23. Houston (11-5 in 2018)

– Need: RB, OL (19th in run yards per attempt)

– Free Agent Report: Houston placed the franchise tag on OLB Jadeveon Clowney. WR Demaryius Thomas and CB Kevin Johnson were released. Former Carolina OT Matt Kalil was signed, along with former Denver CB Bradley Roby and former Jacksonville FS Tashaun Gipson Sr. CB Kareem Jackson (Denver) and FS Tyrann Mathieu (Kansas City) left in free agency.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: RB D’Onta Foreman (2017 3rd round)

Foreman tore his left Achilles’ tendon scoring his second TD of his rookie season in November 2017. The injury essentially ruined his 2018 season, as he only made it into one regular season game and the playoff loss to the Colts. With another offseason to recover, Foreman could challenge Lamar Miller for work in 2019. Houston has done a terrible job at protecting the quarterback, so they could help mitigate that by having another option like Foreman emerge in the running game.

25. Philadelphia (9-7 in 2018)

– Need: QB, WR, TE (10th in pass yards per attempt)

– Free Agent Report: QB Nick Foles signed with Jacksonville. Philadelphia traded a 2020 draft pick to Chicago in exchange for RB Jordan Howard, traded a 2019 6th round pick to Tampa Bay for WR DeSean Jackson (who was signed to a three-year deal), and traded DE Michael Bennett and a 2020 7th round draft pick to New England for a 2020 5th round pick. WR Golden Tate signed with the New York Giants. RG Isaac Seumalo and DE Brandon Graham signed three-year extensions, and C Jason Kelce extended his deal through 2021. OT Jason Peters and CB Ronald Darby signed one-year deals. Former Pittsburgh ILB L.J. Fort was signed to a three-year deal, and ILB Jordan Hicks signed with Arizona. Former Tampa Bay DE Vinny Curry signed a one-year deal.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: QB Carson Wentz (2016 1st round)

Wentz started all 16 games as a rookie in 2016, the first Philadelphia QB to start every game since Donovan McNabb in 2008. Injuries have ended each of the last two seasons for Wentz, and while Foles provided a spectacular backup option, that won’t be the case in 2019. Wentz was an MVP candidate in 2017 prior to tearing his left ACL that December, but his TD rate fell in 2018 while his sack rate rose. Wentz is up for an extension, and he can put a lot of doubters to rest by returning to form another offseason removed from the ACL injury.

26. Indianapolis (10-6 in 2018)

– Need: LB (8th in run yards per attempt allowed)

– Free Agent Report: Indianapolis signed former Carolina WR Devin Funchess and former Kansas City DE Justin Houston. K Adam Vinatieri and DT Margus Hunt signed contract extensions, while CB Pierre Desir and SS Clayton Geathers were re-signed.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: ILB Anthony Walker (2017 5th round)

Walker teamed up with rookie OLB Darius Leonard to help the Colts improve significantly against the run in 2018. Walker and Leonard were the only teammates in the NFL last season to have 60+ solo tackles and 10+ TFLs each. The Colts were overwhelmed in the AFC Divisional at Kansas City, but another year of improvement from Walker could put the Colts in position to have a top-five run defense.

28. Los Angeles Chargers (12-4 in 2018)

– Need: LB (12th in run yards per attempt allowed)

– Free Agent Report: ILB Denzel Perryman was re-signed to a two-year deal, while former Carolina OLB Thomas Davis was signed to a two-year deal. DT Brandon Mebane was also re-signed to a two-year deal. SS Jahleel Addae was released.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: ILB Jatavis Brown (2016 5th round)

Durability is an issue with Chargers LBs, and Brown wasn’t able to play in the postseason after starting 10 of 15 regular season games. Brown made big plays as a rookie, collecting six passes defensed, two forced fumbles, 3.5 sacks and eight TFLs in 12 games in 2016. In the 31 games he has played the last two seasons, Brown has only six passes defensed, one forced fumble, 1.0 sacks and six TFLs. Now would be a great time for Brown to make more of the big plays that he flashed as a rookie as he enters the final year of his rookie deal.

29. Kansas City (12-4 in 2018)

– Need: DL, LB (31st in run yards per attempt allowed)

– Free Agent Report: Kansas City placed the franchise tag on OLB Dee Ford, then traded him to San Francisco. OLB Justin Houston and FS Eric Berry were released. Former Houston FS Tyrann Mathieu was signed. C Mitch Morse (Buffalo) and CB Steven Nelson (Pittsburgh) left in free agency.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: DE Chris Jones (2016 2nd round)

The Chiefs appear to be transitioning to a 4-3 defense after replacing defensive coordinator Bob Sutton with Steve Spagnuolo. That means Jones will likely transition to playing DT. Jones had 15.5 sacks and 19 TFLs in 2018 after amassing 8.5 sacks and 10 TFLs in his first two seasons combined. Jones is entering a contract year, and he may already be in line for a big payday. The Chiefs need to put more pieces around Jones so that the run defense improves, and Jones is a major part of that.

31. Los Angeles Rams (13-3 in 2018)

– Need: DL (Last in run yards per attempt allowed)

– Free Agent Report: The Rams signed former Baltimore FS Eric Weddle and former Green Bay OLB Clay Matthews, along with former Jacksonville QB Blake Bortles. OLB Dante Fowler Jr. was re-signed. LG Rodger Saffold signed with Tennessee, FS Lamarcus Joyner signed with Oakland, and ILB Mark Barron signed with Pittsburgh.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: DT Tanzel Smart (2017 6th round)

Smart wasn’t able to build on a rookie season that saw him start four games and play in all 16, as he only appeared in two games in 2018. There should be plenty of competition for playing time on the defensive line, and while the Rams have the award-winning Aaron Donald present, the team needs more help considering how poor they were at stopping the run.

32. New England (11-5 in 2018)

– Need: DL (31st in sacks per pass attempt)

– Free Agent Report: TE Rob Gronkowski retired. WR Cordarrelle Patterson left for Chicago. LT Trent Brown signed with Oakland, and DE Trey Flowers signed with Detroit. New England released TE Dwayne Allen and DE Adrian Clayborn. The Patriots traded a draft pick to Philadelphia to acquire DE Michael Bennett.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: DE Derek Rivers (2017 3rd round)

Rivers tore his left ACL in 2017 training camp, costing him his rookie season. Rivers played sparingly in 2018, though he did get two QB hits and a sack in the regular season finale. The Patriots weren’t great at rushing the passer even with the now-departed Flowers, and while Bennett will help, the Patriots drafted Rivers to fill a need that is still persistent two years later.

49. Cleveland (7-8-1 in 2018)

– Need: LB (24th in run yards per attempt allowed)

– Free Agent Report: The Browns traded 2019 1st and 3rd round picks, RG Kevin Zeitler and SS Jabrill Peppers to the New York Giants in exchange for WR Odell Beckham Jr. and DE Olivier Vernon. Cleveland signed former Kansas City RB Kareem Hunt and former Minnesota DT Sheldon Richardson. LT Greg Robinson was re-signed. OLB Jamie Collins Sr. was released.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: ILB Joe Schobert (2016 4th round)

Schobert has been a consistent performer in the middle of Cleveland’s defense. After making the Pro Bowl in 2017, Schobert took a slight step back while missing the first three games of his career due to a hamstring injury. While Schobert had six passes defensed in 2018, he only had three TFLs. Out of 31 linebackers with at least five passes defensed in 2018, only Dallas rookie LB Leighton Vander Esch had fewer TFLs. If Schobert’s ability against the run matches his pass defense, then he could find himself back in the Pro Bowl, and more importantly, Cleveland will improve their greatest weakness.

58. Dallas (10-6 in 2018)

– Need: LB (5th in run yards per attempt allowed)

– Free Agent Report: DE DeMarcus Lawrence was franchise tagged. TE Jason Witten returned from a one-year retirement to sign with Dallas, while TE Geoff Swaim signed with Jacksonville. WR Cole Beasley signed with Buffalo, while former Green Bay WR Randall Cobb signed a one-year deal with Dallas. DE Robert Quinn was acquired in a trade from Miami.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: OLB Jaylon Smith (2016 2nd round)

Smith spent his rookie year recovering from a collegiate ACL/MCL tear in his left knee, an injury that dropped him out of the first round. He hasn’t missed a game since, and Smith took over as the ILB in 2018 with improvements in sacks (4.0 from 1.0), passes defensed (four from two), TFLs (six from three) and QB hits (six from two) from his 2017 season. Smith and 2018 1st round pick OLB Leighton Vander Esch could be the cornerstones of a powerful front seven for years to come if Smith takes yet another step forward.

62. New Orleans (13-3 in 2018)

– Need: LB (2nd in run yards per attempt allowed)

– Free Agent Report: Mark Ingram signed with Baltimore, and former Minnesota RB Latavius Murray was signed to a four-year deal. TE Benjamin Watson retired and former Oakland TE Jared Cook was signed. C Max Unger retired and former Minnesota C Nick Easton was signed. Former New England DT Malcom Brown was signed to a three-year deal. K Wil Lutz was signed to a five-year extension through 2023.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: OLB Alex Anzalone (2017 3rd round)

Anzalone only made it through four games a rookie, but he bounced back to play in all 16 games in 2018. While Anzalone can do a little of everything, the Saints could use a boost in big plays. Anzalone only has 3.0 sacks, four TFLs and one INT in 20 games.

87. Chicago (12-4 in 2018)

– Need: K (27th in field goals made)

– Free Agent Report: The Bears released K Cody Parkey and signed Ks Redford Jones and and Chris Blewitt. Chicago signed former Washington SS Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, former Seattle RB Mike Davis, and former New England WR Cordarrelle Patterson. RT Bobby Massie was re-signed through 2022, and P Pat O’Donnell was re-signed through 2020. SS Adrian Amos Jr. signed with Green Bay. RB Jordan Howard was traded to Philadelphia.

– Key 2016-2017 Draftee: QB Mitchell Trubisky (2017 1st round)

A coaching change did wonders for Trubisky, a player that Chicago gave up a 2017 1st, 3rd and 4th and a 2018 3rd round draft pick to San Francisco to select second overall. Trubisky only threw 134 more passes in 2018 than 2017, but he added 93 more completions, 17 more TDs and more than 1,000 more yards in the process. Trubisky’s passer rating improved from 77.5 as a rookie to 95.4 in Year 2. Trubisky also did more on the ground in 2018, as his 421 rushing yards ranked fifth among QBs. Chicago’s kicker issues cost them multiple games in 2018, including the Wild Card, but a team probably should not use premium draft picks to improve that position. The Bears aren’t even schedule to draft until after the 2nd round, so the best option to rely less on the kicker is to ask their QB to put the ball in the end zone even more.

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