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Mar 31 2020

Make or Break and 2020 NFL Team Needs

Categories:

Thoughts

by Law Murray

Even though COVID-19 has effectively cancelled sports for the foreseeable future, the NFL offseason has raged onward. The NFL Draft was supposed to be in Las Vegas on April 23-25, and while the selection process will still be televised, the public event will not take place.

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 2020 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 2020 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 2017 and 2018 Drafts who have the opportunity to step up and make a big difference next season.

(In order of first draft appearance):

1. Cincinnati (2-14 in 2019)

– Need: QB, WR, TE (30th in passer rating)

– Free Agent Report: The Bengals placed the franchise tag on WR AJ Green. TE Tyler Eifert left in free agency. OT Cordy Glenn was let go, while G John Miller signed with Carolina. DT DJ Reader signed from Houston for four years, while DT Andrew Billings left for Cleveland. The secondary got a complete makeover: in are former Vikings CBs Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander, along with former Saints SS Vonn Bell; out are CBs Dre Kirkpatrick, B.W. Webb and Darqueze Dennard.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: WR John Ross (2017 1st round)

The Bengals used a top-10 pick on Ross after the former Washington product set a 40-yard dash combine record. Less notably, Ross wasn’t able to run again after his first attempt, and that has been the more defining trait through three NFL seasons. Ross fumbled his only touch as a rookie, caught only 36.2 percent of his targets in 2018, and missed half of the 2019 season with a broken collarbone. Now, Ross did show some boom in 2019 for a Bengals team that was missing Green all season, averaging 18.1 yards per reception and coming in second on the team behind WR Tyler Boyd in receiving yards per game with 63.3. The Bengals are expected to move on from the era of QB Andy Dalton via the draft, and Ross should have one more chance to put it all together.

2. Washington (3-13 in 2019)

– Need: DB (30th in passer rating allowed)

– Free Agent Report: Washington started the offseason by hiring former Carolina head coach Ron Rivera to replace Jay Gruden and Bill Callahan. Washington has acquired former Carolina Panthers QB Kyle Allen and OLB Thomas Davis, who was with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2019. QBs Case Keenum and Colt McCoy left in free agency, along with RB Chris Thompson. RBs Peyton Barber and JD McKissic were signed to two-year deals. TE Vernon Davis retired, while Washington released TE Jordan Reed and WR Paul Richardson. RG Brandon Scherff was franchise tagged, while LG Ereck Flowers left in free agency. Washington also made over the secondary, jettisoning CBs Josh Norman and Quinton Dunbar, along with FS Montae Nicholson. CB Kendall Fuller, whom Washington traded to Kansas City in 2018 to acquire QB Alex Smith, was signed to a four-year deal. Washington also signed CB Ronald Darby and FS Sean Davis to one-year deals.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: CB Fabian Moreau (2017 3rd round)

Moreau is a big corner who showed improved ball skills in his third NFL season. However, Moreau also allowed 79.6 percent completions on 49 targets in 2019. Washington’s pass defense was awful last season, and it looks like Moreau will be the only holdover at cornerback in 2020.

3. Detroit (3-12-1 in 2019)

– Need: DL (T-29th in sacks)

– Free Agent Report: The Lions have acquired several former Patriots, including DT Danny Shelton, OLB Jamie Collins Sr. and FS Duron Harmon. Shelton will replace DTs Damon Harrison and A’Shawn Robinson, Collins replaces OLB Devon Kennard, and Harmon replaces another former Patriot in SS Tavon Wilson. The Lions signed CB Desmond Trufant to a two-year deal, then traded CB Darius Slay to Philadelphia. RG Graham Glasgow left in free agency and RT Rick Wagner was released and replaced by former Philadelphia OT Halapoulivaati Vaitai, who was signed to a five-year deal. P Sam Martin left in free agency.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: DE Da’Shawn Hand (2018 4th round)

Hand flashed as a rookie in 2018, missing only one tackle while providing four TFLs and 3.0 sacks. But Hand’s 2019 season was marred by injury, as he appeared in only three games. Hand did not have a sack or a QB hit in 110 snaps last season. Detroit is still relatively thin on the defensive line, so they could really use a bounce-back season from Hand, who is versatile enough to play inside and outside.

4. New York Giants (4-12 in 2019)

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

– Free Agent Report: The Giants hired former Patriots special teams and wide receivers coach Joe Judge as head coach to replace Pat Shurmur; Judge tapped former Dallas head coach Jason Garrett as offensive coordinator and former Miami defensive coordinator Patrick Graham to the same position in New York. Backup QB Eli Manning retired and has been replaced by former Washington QB Colt McCoy. TE Rhett Ellison retired and was replaced by former San Francisco TE Levine Toilolo, who signed a two-year deal. Former Dallas OT Cameron Fleming was signed to a one-year deal to replace RT Mike Remmers. DE Leonard Williams was franchise tagged. OLB Markus Golden is a free agent, and ILB Alec Ogletree was released; former Packers OLB Kyler Fackrell signed a one-year deal, while ILB Blake Martinez left Green Bay to sign a three-year deal with the Giants. ILB David Mayo also signed a three-year extension. FS Antoine Bethea is a free agent, while former Carolina CB James Bradberry signed a three-year deal.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: NT Dalvin Tomlinson (2017 2nd round)

The Giants have four highly drafted defensive linemen, and pass rushing isn’t really a strength for either of DE Leonard Williams, DT BJ Hill, DE Dexter Lawrence or NT Dalvin Tomlinson. That quartet combined for 7.5 sacks in 2019 for the Giants, though Tomlinson led the New York defensive linemen with seven TFLs last season. Tomlinson’s playmaking in 2019 exceeded his combined totals from his first two seasons, so the next season will be his chance to show that he can be great while surrounded by blue chip talent.

5. Miami (5-11 in 2019)

– Need: RB, OL (32nd in run yards)

– Free Agent Report: The big moves for the Dolphins were on the edge, as OLBs Kyle Van Noy (four years), Shaq Lawson (three years) and Emmanuel Ogbah (two years) all signed multi-year deals with Miami. The biggest move was signing former Dallas CB Byron Jones to a five-year contract. Miami also signed LG Ereck Flowers away from Washington with a three-year deal and RB Jordan Howard away from Philadelphia to a two-year deal. The Dolphins released SS Reshad Jones.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: RB Kalen Ballage (2018 4th round)

It’s hard to describe how bad Ballage was in 2019. Despite leading the team with only 74 rushing attempts, four other Dolphins had more rushing yards than Ballage. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick “led” the team with only 243 rushing yards. Ballage averaged 1.8 yards per rush; none of his attempts gained more than eight yards. Ballage is the only player since 1960 to average fewer than 2.0 yards per rush with at least 60 attempts in a season. Ballage did average 5.3 yards per rush as a rookie, but his disastrous 2019 season will be hard to overcome.

6. Los Angeles Chargers (5-11 in 2019)

– Need: DL (28th in sacks)

– Free Agent Report: After 16 seasons, the last 14 coming as the only player to start behind center for the Chargers, QB Philip Rivers has left the team. RB Melvin Gordon left for Denver as a free agent, freeing up RB Austin Ekeler to sign a four-year extension; FB Derek Watt also left in free agency. TE Hunter Henry was franchise tagged. LT Russell Okung was traded to Carolina in exchange for RG Trai Turner, who will replace RG Michael Schofield. Los Angeles signed former Green Bay RT Bryan Bulaga to a three-year contract. DT Brandon Mebane was released and replaced by former Minnesota DT Linval Joseph. OLB Thomas Davis Sr. was also released, while OLB Jatavis Brown left in free agency. Former Denver CB Chris Harris signed a two-year contract with the Chargers.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: DT Justin Jones (2018 3rd round)

The Pro Bowl defensive end tandem of Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram combined for 18.5 sacks and 43 QB hits in 2019. They got no help at all, especially from the interior linemen. The Chargers didn’t get any sacks from DT Justin Jones in 504 snaps, and that’s after a rookie season in which Jones had only 0.5 sacks and one QB hit. Jones has the size to make a difference, but unless he shows some burst, his playing time may get restricted to early downs.

7. Carolina (5-11 in 2019)

– Need: DL (32nd in run yards per attempt allowed)

– Free Agent Report: The Panthers hired former Baylor head coach Matt Rhule to replace Ron Rivera and Perry Fewell. This roster is headed for a rebuild. QB Cam Newton was released and QB Kyle Allen was traded to Washington; the Panthers signed QB Teddy Bridgewater from New Orleans to a three-year contract. TE Greg Olsen was released. Former Jets WR Robby Anderson signed a two-year deal. RG Trai Turner was traded to the Chargers for LT Russell Okung, while LG Greg Van Roten left for the Jets. NT Dontari Poe and DE Gerald McCoy both signed with Dallas, while DE Wes Horton retired and was replaced by DE Stephen Weatherly. ILB Luke Kuechly retired, while OLBs Mario Addison and Bruce Irvin left in free agency. In the secondary, CB James Bradberry left for the Giants, SS Eric Reid was released, and FS Tre Boston was re-signed to a three-year deal.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: OLB Marquis Haynes (2018 4th round)

Haynes was a consistent producer at Ole Miss, but the undersized pass rusher hasn’t found a way onto the field with the Panthers just yet. Through two seasons, Haynes has played only 256 snaps in 15 games, collecting two QB hits and a sack. Carolina is severely lacking in depth in the front seven, but Haynes has to show that his 235-pound frame can defend the run well enough to stay on the field.

8. Arizona (5-10-1 in 2019)

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

– Free Agent Report: Arizona re-signed WR Larry Fitzgerald for a year, then traded RB David Johnson along with a 2020 2nd round pick and a 2021 4th round pick to Houston for WR DeAndre Hopkins and a 4th round pick. Arizona placed the transition tag on RB Kenyan Drake. NT Jordan Phillips left Buffalo to sign a three-year contract with the Cardinals. Former Lions OLB Devon Kennard signed a three-year deal to replace OLB Cassius Marsh.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: FS Budda Baker (2017 2nd round)

On one hand, Baker went from being a Pro Bowl performer as a rookie special teamer to a Pro Bowl performer as an every-down safety. On the other, Baker was part of a secondary that was unable to identify a tight end all season. Baker did not intercept any passes while allowing a 125.3 passer rating in his coverage on 55 targets. If the worst pass defense in the NFL is to improve, Baker has to start making more plays on the ball before the catch. Baker does benefit from the coaching staff being the same for the first time in his career for next season.

9. Jacksonville (6-10 in 2019)

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

– Free Agent Report: Jacksonville traded DE Calais Campbell to Baltimore, QB Nick Foles to Chicago, and CB AJ Buoye to Denver. ILB Joe Schobert signed a five-year deal with the Jaguars to leave Cleveland, while TE Tyler Eifert signed a two-year deal to leave Cincinnati. DE Yannick Ngakoue was franchise tagged.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: OLB Leon Jacobs (2018 7th round)

Jacobs has done well for a 7th round pick as far as playing time goes, as he’s started ten games in two seasons. But Jacksonville’s run defense was atrocious in 2019. Schobert’s signing and OLB Myles Jack’s contract suggest that snaps for the third linebacker will be scarce in 2020. Jacobs has good size and tackles well, but he’ll be hardpressed to start unless he shines behind the line of scrimmage against the run.

10. Cleveland (6-10 in 2019)

– Need: LB (30th in run yards per attempt allowed)

– Free Agent Report: The Browns, once again, have a new head coach; former Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski replaces Freddie Kitchens. Cleveland signed TE Austin Hooper to a four-year deal to leave Atlanta. RT Jack Conklin left the Titans to sign a three-year deal with Cleveland. Former Washington QB Case Keenum signed a three-year deal to replace QB Drew Stanton behind QB Baker Mayfield. The Browns acquired FB Andy Janovich in a trade with the Broncos. ILB Joe Schobert left as a free agent, and OLB Christian Kirksey was released.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: DE Myles Garrett (2017 1st round)

Myles Garrett’s 2019 season ended after he clobbered a football player’s unprotected head with a helmet. Now, in just ten games, Garrett still led the Browns in sacks (10.0), QB hits (18) and TFLs (11). Since entering the league as the top overall pick in 2017, Garrett is one of only ten players with at least 30.0 sacks and 60 QB hits. But the problems are that the Browns haven’t been good enough defensively, and Garrett has had too many questionable penalties. Garrett clearly has elite ability and production, but his 2019 infraction leaves him with no room for missteps.

11. New York Jets (7-9 in 2019)

– Need: RB, OL (31st in run yards per attempt)

– Free Agent Report: The Jets focused on their offensive line in free agency, signing LT George Fant, LG Greg Van Wroten and C Connor McGovern to three-year deals. WR Robby Anderson signed with the Panthers and was replaced by former Tampa Bay WR Breshad Perriman.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: RB Trenton Cannon (2018 6th round)

Despite spiritless efficiency (3.2 yards per rush), only ten players had more rushing attempts than Jets RB Le’Veon Bell (245). Even though Bell was ineffective while playing for a head coach/power tripper who was clearly uninterested in his services, the Jets only gave RBs Bilal Powell, Ty Montgomery and Josh Adams a combined 119 touches in 2019. Cannon didn’t make this list, as he was limited to one snap all season offensively while being restricted to special teams. Cannon is still around, and he did have a redzone rushing score and a 35-yard wheel route reception as a rookie, so perhaps head coach Adam Gase gives the air back a longer look in 2020.

12. Las Vegas (7-9 in 2019)

– Need: DB (31st in passer rating allowed)

– Free Agent Report: The Raiders have left Oakland. The Raiders gave three-year deals to ILB Cory Littleton (Los Angeles Rams) and OLB Nick Kwiatkowski (Chicago Bears) while releasing OLB Tahir Whitehead. DE Carl Nassib left the Buccaneers and signed a three-year deal with Las Vegas. Former Tennessee QB Marcus Mariota signed a two-year deal to replace backup QB Mike Glennon behind QB Derek Carr. TE Jason Witten signed a one-year deal to join fellow ex-Monday Night Football color commentator Jon Gruden. Witten isn’t the only former Cowboy signing with the Raiders, as SS Jeff Heath got a two-year deal to replace SS Karl Joseph and DT Maliek Collins signed a one-year deal. Former Saints CB Eli Apple signed a one-year deal to replace CB Daryl Worley.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: CB Nick Nelson (2018 4th round)

The Raiders had the worst pass defense in the AFC last season, yet Nelson only played one snap on defense all season. Nelson was terrible as a rookie, breaking up only one pass while allowing four TDs and a 134.3 passer rating on 30 targets. It will take a significant improvement for Nelson to keep his roster spot in 2020.

13. San Francisco (13-3 in 2019)

– Need: LB (23rd in run yards per attempt allowed)

– Free Agent Report: The 49ers made two major moves with the defensive line. DE Arik Armstead was signed to a five-year deal, but DT DeForest Buckner was traded to Indianapolis, netting the 13th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. The 49ers also re-signed FS Jimmie Ward to a three-year deal. WR Emmanuel Sanders signed with New Orleans, while former Chargers WR Travis Benjamin signed a one-year deal.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: CB Ahkello Witherspoon (2017 3rd round)

As good as the defense was in 2019, the secondary had some forgettable moments in a Super Bowl LIV loss. Witherspoon wasn’t even in position to help on defense, as his shaky play left him restricted to special teams only in the last game of the season. At 6’2″, Witherspoon has the height to match up on the outside with enough speed. But when Witherspoon has been beaten the last two seasons, it’s been bad (13 TDs allowed, only one INT).

14. Tampa Bay (7-9 in 2019)

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

– Free Agent Report: The Buccaneers replaced QB Jameis Winston by signing former Patriots QB Tom Brady to a two-year deal. RB Peyton Barber and WR Breshad Perriman left in free agency. OLB Shaquil Barrett was franchise tagged, while OLB Jason Pierre-Paul was re-signed to a two-year deal and DE Ndamukong Suh was re-signed to a one-year deal.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: RB Ronald Jones (2018 2nd round)

Jones was the most talented runner on the team in 2019. Unlike his dreadful rookie season that saw him average only 1.9 yards per rush, Jones averaged a respectable 4.2 yards per rush in his second NFL season. But Jones is unreliable in pass protection, and he fumbled three times as well. Those mistakes might blend in with Jameis Winston, but the entire Tampa Bay offense is under the microscope now with Brady’s twilight. Jones is already aware of the short leash that he has under head coach Bruce Arians, and the Buccaneers need him to take pressure off of Brady.

15. Denver (7-9 in 2019)

– Need: QB, WR, TE (22nd in passer rating)

– Free Agent Report: The Broncos released QB Joe Flacco. FS Justin Simmons was franchise tagged. The Broncos traded a 2020 4th round pick to Jacksonville for CB AJ Bouye and a 7th round pick to Tennessee for DE Jurrell Casey. Former Chargers RB Melvin Gordon signed a two-year deal with Denver. C Graham Glasgow signed a four-year contract to leave Detroit, replacing C Connor McGovern. TE Nick Vannett left Pittsburgh to sign a two-year deal with the Broncos. P Sam Martin left the Lions for a three-year deal.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: WR Courtland Sutton (2018 2nd round)

The Broncos traded WR Emmanuel Sanders during the season while going through three starting QBs. Sutton still made the Pro Bowl in his second NFL season. Sutton averaged 15.4 yards on 72 receptions; of 38 players with more than 100 targets in 2019, Sutton ranked 7th in yards per reception. The next step for Sutton comes in the fact that he caught only 58.1 percent of his 124 targets, which was the 7th-worst of those 38 players. Sutton only caught 55 percent of his targets for 12.7 yards per reception in QB Drew Lock’s five starts, so it’s imperative that those two get on the same page.

16. Atlanta (7-9 in 2019)

– Need: DL (T-29th in sacks)

– Free Agent Report: RB Devonta Freeman was released and replaced by former Rams RB Todd Gurley. TE Austin Hooper left in free agency, and the Falcons traded 2020 2nd and 5th round picks to Baltimore for TE Hayden Hurst. Former Minnesota WR Laquon Treadwell signed with Atlanta, giving the Falcons an opportunity to play 11-personnel exclusively with former 1st round picks. Former Rams DE Dante Fowler signed a three-year deal with the Falcons, while Atlanta also re-signed DT Tyeler Davison to a three-year deal. DE Vic Beasley, DE Adrian Clayborn and OLB De’Vondre Campbell left in free agency, while CB Desmond Trufant was released.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: DE Takkarist McKinley (2017 1st round)

McKinley didn’t take a step forward in 2019, recording a career-low 3.5 sacks after amassing 13.0 sacks in his first two seasons. McKinley’s hits (seven in each season) and QB hits (13 in 2019 after 25 in 2017-2018) stayed about the same, but that’s not the point. Atlanta’s coaching staff is down to their last chance, as it would have shocked nobody if head coach Dan Quinn would have been replaced this offseason. McKinley has to break out on a defensive line that has invested cash and draft capital over the last several seasons.

17. Dallas (8-8 in 2019)

– Need: DB (20th in passer rating allowed)

– Free Agent Report: Former Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy replaces Jason Garrett as head coach. QB Dak Prescott received the exclusive franchise tag. WR Amari Cooper was re-signed to a five-year deal, while TE Blake Jarwin was re-signed to a three-year deal; TE Jason Witten left for Las Vegas. C Travis Frederick retired. DE Robert Quinn signed with the Bears, while DT Maliek Collins signed with the Raiders; former Panthers DTs Gerald McCoy and Dontari Poe joined the Cowboys. OLB Sean Lee re-signed for one year. CB Byron Jones and SS Jeff Heath left in free agency; CB Anthony Brown signed a three-year deal, while former Bears SS Ha Ha Clinton-Dix signed a one-year deal. K Greg Zuerlein left the Rams to sign a three-year contract with the Cowboys.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: CB Chidobe Awuzie (2017 2nd round)

Awuzie started every game for the Cowboys in 2019, leading the team with 14 passes defensed. Of course, Awuzie saw a lot more targets with Byron Jones on the other side, and Awuzie was only able to record one INT on 97 targets. Awuzie also missed 11 tackles, and now Jones has departed. Awuzie only had three INTs in four seasons at Colorado, so while ball skills aren’t his strength, Awuzie can look at the deal Jones got and keep providing solid coverage on a thinner secondary.

21. Philadelphia (9-7 in 2019)

– Need: DB (19th in passer rating allowed)

– Free Agent Report: Like the rest of their division, Philadelphia’s secondary was the big story of their offseason. The Eagles traded 3rd and 5th round picks to Detroit for CB Darius Slay, then signed him to a new three-year contract. Slay replaces CB Ronald Darby. SS Malcolm Jenkins left in free agency, while former Broncos SS Will Parks signed for one year. SS Jalen Mills re-signed for one year, while FS Rodney McLeod re-signed for two years. CB Nickell Robey-Coleman left the Rams to sign for a year with the Eagles. Former Steelers DT Javon Hargrave signed a three-year deal to replace DT Timmy Jernigan. OT Jason Peters is a free agent, while OT Halapoulivaati Vaitai left for Detroit. WR Nelson Agholor signed with Las Vegas. ILB Nigel Bradham was released.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: CB Sidney Jones (2017 2nd round)

Sidney Jones tore his left Achilles’ tendon on his pro day before the 2017 NFL Draft. Jones missed all but one game of his rookie season, then struggled through an injury-marred 2018 season. Jones was actually decent when targeted in 2019, allowing only a 67.9 passer rating on 31 targets. But six defensive backs played more than Jones; the Eagles need him to play more snaps in 2020 than he has in his first three seasons combined (643).

22. Minnesota (10-6 in 2019)

– Need: LB (18th in run yards per attempt allowed)

– Free Agent Report: The Vikings traded WR Stefon Diggs and a 2020 7th round pick to Buffalo for 2020 1st, 5th and 6th round picks and a 2021 4th round pick. FB CJ Ham was re-signed to a four-year deal. K Dan Bailey was re-signed to a three-year deal. RG Josh Kline was released. DE Everson Griffen is a free agent. CB Xavier Rhodes was released, while CBs Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander signed with Cincinnati.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: ILB Ben Gedeon (2017 4th round)

Gedeon played his fewest snaps in three seasons last year after starting 17 games between 2017 and 2018. Gedeon is still looking for his first career TFLs, INTs and sacks as he enters his fourth NFL season. The Vikings don’t utilize Gedeon as a blitzer even though he had 4.5 sacks in his 2016 season at Michigan.

23. New England (12-4 in 2019)

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

– Free Agent Report: After 20 NFL seasons in New England and six Super Bowl wins, QB Tom Brady is taking his talents to Tampa Bay. The Patriots signed QB Brian Hoyer to a one-year deal. LG Joe Thuney was franchise tagged, while C Ted Karras left in free agency. WR Philip Dorsett also left in free agency, and TE Benjamin Watson retired. Perennial Pro Bowl special teams WR Matthew Slater signed a two-year extension, but K Stephen Gostkowski was released. DT Beau Allen was signed to a two-year deal to leave Tampa Bay; Allen replaces DT Danny Shelton. OLBs Jamie Collins Sr. (Detroit) and Kyle Van Noy (Miami) joined former Patriots defensive coordinators. FS Devin McCourty was re-signed to a two-year deal, but FS Duron Harmon was traded to Detroit.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: OT Isaiah Wynn (2018 1st round)

Wynn missed his entire rookie season due to a torn left Achilles’ tendon, then missed half of the 2019 season on injured reserve due to turf toe. Now, Wynn will be tasked with blocking for a Patriots primary QB other than Tom Brady for the first time since Brady’s ACL tear in 2008. It will be important for Wynn to stay on the field, because the roster flexibility that Brady afforded New England’s offensive line and skill players has evaporated with his departure.

24. New Orleans (13-3 in 2019)

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

– Free Agent Report: QB Drew Brees signed what is likely his last NFL contract, a two-year deal, while QB Taysom Hill will be the backup after QB Teddy Bridgewater signed with Carolina. FB Zach Line retired. WR Emmanuel Sanders left the 49ers to sign a two-year deal, replacing WR Ted Ginn Jr. LG Andrus Peat was re-signed to a five-year contract, while DT David Onyemata was re-signed to a three-year deal. OLB AJ Klein, CB Eli Apple and SS Vonn Bell left in free agency; SS Malcolm Jenkins was signed to a four-year contract to leave Philadelphia and rejoin his original NFL team.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: RB Alvin Kamara (2017 3rd round)

Kamara has made the Pro Bowl all three seasons of his career. However, his 2019 season featured fewer TDs (six, compared to 31 in 2017 and 2018 combined) and more fumbles (four, compared to only two in 2017 and 2018 combined). Kamara also averaged a career-low 6.6 yards on his 81 receptions in 2019. Despite the prolific numbers, Kamara has yet to eclipse the 1,000-yard rushing mark in a season, so the three-time Pro Bowler still has another bar to clear on his rookie deal.

27. Seattle (11-5 in 2019)

– Need: DL (T-29th in sacks)

– Free Agent Report: The Seahawks are in somewhat of a holding pattern, as DE Jadeveon Clowney is still a free agent. Seattle did re-sign DT Jarran Reed for two years, while DE Ezekiel Ansah is also a free agent; DT Quinton Jefferson left for Buffalo. Seattle traded a 5th round pick to Washington for CB Quinton Dunbar. Former Panthers TE Greg Olsen signed a one-year deal with Seattle. OTs George Fant and Germain Ifedi left in free agency; Seattle signed former Jaguars OT Cedric Ogbuehi and former Steelers C BJ Finney. OLB Mychal Kendricks is still a free agent.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: DE Rasheem Green (2018 3rd round)

One of the reasons why Clowney’s free agency is so complicated is because the Seahawks were so bad rushing the passer in 2019. But while Clowney had a team-high 13 QB hits, it was Green who led the team in sacks. That said, Green only had 4.0 sacks and five QB hits. It was a step forward for Green, but those aren’t adequate numbers for a No.2 pass rusher. With or without Clowney in the lineup, the Seahawks will need Green to take another big step forward in 2020.

28. Baltimore (14-2 in 2019)

– Need: LB (19th in sack percentage)

– Free Agent Report: OLB Matt Judon was franchise tagged. The Ravens traded a 5th round pick to Jacksonville for DE Calais Campbell, who will replace NT Michael Pierce. Baltimore traded DE Chris Wormley to Pittsburgh and signed former Broncos DE Derek Wolfe after failing to finalize a contract with Los Angeles Rams DE Michael Brockers. CB Brandon Carr, OLB Pernell McPhee and ILBs Josh Bynes and Patrick Onwuasor left as free agents, while SS Tony Jefferson was released. RG Marshal Yanda retired. TE Hayden Hurst was traded to Atlanta.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: OLB Tyus Bowser (2017 2nd round)

Bowser was Baltimore’s best pass rusher in 2019 outside of Judon, despite not starting any games and playing fewer snaps than OLB Jaylon Ferguson. But Bowser still had only 5.0 sacks and 10 QB hits. The Ravens don’t have much depth, so Bowser should get one last chance to make his mark on the edge.

29. Tennessee (9-7 in 2019)

– Need: OL (30th in sacks allowed)

– Free Agent Report: Tennessee re-signed QB Ryan Tannehill to a four-year contract, while QB Marcus Mariota departed in free agency. RB Derrick Henry was franchise tagged. RT Jack Conklin left for Cleveland, and the Titans re-signed OT Dennis Kelly to a three-year deal. TE Delanie Walker, RB Dion Lewis, OLB Cameron Wake and K Ryan Succop were all released. DE Jurrell Casey was traded to Denver. CB Logan Ryan and OLB Kamalei Correa are still free agents.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: CB Adoree’ Jackson (2017 1st round)

Jackson allowed only one TD pass in 54 targets in his coverage last season. But Jackson failed to intercept a pass in 2019, and he only has two INTs in 43 games. Jackson has electrifying traits, but his play has merely been steady so far, not spectacular.

30. Green Bay (13-3 in 2019)

– Need: DL (26th in run yards per attempt allowed)

– Free Agent Report: The Packers released TE Jimmy Graham. Former Lions RT Rick Wagner replaces RT Bryan Bulaga. ILB Christian Kirksey, formerly of the Browns, replaces ILB Blake Martinez. CB Tramon Williams is a free agent.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: ILB Oren Burks (2018 3rd round)

Burks has been a core special teamer for the Packers in his two seasons with the team, but he has barely seen the field on defense. Burks is still looking for his first career sacks, TFLs and INTs. Green Bay is quite thin at Burks’ position, but he probably has only one more chance to avoid being typecast as a career special teamer.

32. Kansas City (12-4 in 2019)

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

– Free Agent Report: DT Chris Jones was franchise tagged. Backup QB Chad Henne was re-signed to a two-year deal. DE Emmanuel Ogbah, LG Stefan Wisniewski and CB Kendall Fuller left in free agency, while CB Bashaud Breeland is still a free agent.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: OLB Dorian O’Daniel (2018 3rd round)

The Chiefs don’t have much depth at linebacker, but O’Daniel has been relegated to special teams duty. O’Daniel played only six defensive snaps in Kansas City’s 4-3 defense last season, a big drop in defensive playing time after seeing more than 300 snaps in a 3-4 defense as a rookie. O’Daniel is on the small side, but he was a playmaker in college. Perhaps the Chiefs give him another chance to see if he can hold up on defense; it’s not like the big linebackers have been special against the run.

34. Indianapolis (7-9 in 2019)

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

– Free Agent Report: The Colts traded the 13th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft to San Francisco for DT DeForest Buckner. Former Chargers QB Philip Rivers signed a one-year deal; backup QB Brian Hoyer was released. LT Anthony Castonzo re-signed for two years. TE Eric Ebron (Pittsburgh) and WR Devin Funchess (Green Bay) left in free agency. DE Margus Hunt was released, while DE Jabaal Sheard and SS Clayton Geathers are free agents. K Adam Vinatieri is also a free agent. CB Pierre Desir was released and replaced by former Vikings CB Xavier Rhodes.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: FS Malik Hooker (2017 1st round)

Hooker is capable of making big plays, but his two INTs in 2019 were overshadowed by getting torched in the rare occasions when he was targeted. Despite seeing only 25 targets in coverage last season, Hooker allowed 353 yards and four TDs. Hooker rarely breaks passes up (only 11 passes defended in 34 career games). The Colts could use more reliable coverage to balance out the flashy elements that Hooker is capable of.

40. Houston (10-6 in 2019)

– Need: LB (28th in sack percentage)

– Free Agent Report: The Texans traded WR DeAndre Hopkins with a 4th round pick to Arizona for RB David Johnson, a 2020 2nd round pick and a 2021 4th round pick. Houston then signed former Dallas WR Randall Cobb to a three-year deal. RBs Carlos Hyde and Lamar Miller are free agents. TE Darren Fells was re-signed to a two-year contract, while K Ka’imi Fairbairn was re-signed to a four-year deal. NT DJ Reader left as a free agent. CB Bradley Roby was re-signed to a three-year deal, while CB Johnathan Joseph is a free agent. Former Chargers FS Jaylen Watkins was signed to a two-year deal.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: ILB Zach Cunningham (2017 2nd round)

Cunningham was one of only two Texans defenders to start all 16 games, with OLB Whitney Mercilus being the other. While Benardrick McKinney is still productive, Cunningham has been invaluable on a per-play basis, especially against the run. Cunningham hasn’t been as good against the pass, struggling in coverage especially. It would help the Texans if Cunningham could be more effective as a blitzer too.

43. Chicago (8-8 in 2019)

– Need: RB, OL (29th in run yards per attempt)

– Free Agent Report: The Bears traded a 2020 4th round pick to Jacksonville for QB Nick Foles; backup QB Chase Daniel left in free agency. Former Packers TE Jimmy Graham was signed to a two-year deal. RG Kyle Long retired. OLB Robert Quinn was signed to a five-year deal; OLB Leonard Floyd was released, while ILB Danny Trevathan was re-signed to a three-year extension. CB Prince Amukamara was released, while SS Ha Ha Clinton-Dix left as a free agent.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: RB Tarik Cohen (2017 4th round)

Cohen was a Pro Bowler as a special teamer in 2018, but he also averaged 4.5 yards per rush to go along with supreme receiving production (71 receptions, 10.2 yards per catch, five receiving TDs). Those numbers plummeted in Cohen’s second season with head coach Matt Nagy: 3.3 yards per rush, 79 receptions, 5.8 yards per catch, three receiving TDs in 2019. Cohen was targeted 104 times, but of all the players since 1992 with at least 100 targets in a season, only one player had a lower receiving yards per target rate than Cohen’s 4.38 last season. Cohen also failed to score a rushing TD on 64 attempts in 2019, with three fumbles. It was a disappointing season that sets up Cohen’s first opportunity to bounce back as a complement to RB David Montgomery.

49. Pittsburgh (8-8 in 2019)

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

– Free Agent Report: The Steelers placed the franchise tag on OLB Bud Dupree. ILB Mark Barron was released, and NT Javon Hargrave left as a free agent. Pittsburgh traded a 2021 5th-round pick to Baltimore for NT Chris Wormley. LG Stefan Wisniewski signed a two-year deal to leave Kansas City; he replaces retired LG Ramon Foster. Former Chargers FB Derek Watt signed a three-year contract, while former Colts TE Eric Ebron signed a two-year deal.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: WR James Washington (2018 2nd round)

For the first time since 2012, the Steelers did not have a 1,000-yard receiver. But unlike 2012 when Pittsburgh had a Pro Bowl TE (Heath Miller) and three WRs with more than 600 yards, the 2019 Steelers had no Pro Bowl receivers, and were led by WR James Washington’s 735 receiving yards. Washington actually led the entire team in yards from scrimmage, and he averaged a team-best 16.7 yards per reception. The Steelers are counting on a return to health from 38-year-old QB Ben Roethlisberger, who did not click with Washington as a rookie.

52. Los Angeles Rams (9-7 in 2019)

– Need: RB, OL (27th in run yards per attempt)

– Free Agent Report: The Rams released RB Todd Gurley. LT Andrew Whitworth was re-signed to a three-year deal, while RG Austin Blythe was re-signed for one year. DE Michael Brockers re-signed for a year after almost leaving for Baltimore, while NT A’Shawn Robinson left Detroit to sign a two-year deal. OLB Leonard Floyd left the Bears to replace OLB Dante Fowler Jr. in Los Angeles; OLB Clay Matthews was released and ILB Cory Littleton left for Las Vegas. FS Eric Weddle retired and CB Nickell Robey-Coleman left in free agency along with K Greg Zuerlein.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: RB John Kelly (2018 6th round)

Gurley’s release leaves an unproven group of RBs in Los Angeles. Kelly got three snaps on offense all season, gaining six yards on one carry and three yards on two more. Kelly only played 50 snaps as a rookie, and none of his 27 carries (for 74 yards, a 2.7 average) gained more than seven yards. Kelly hasn’t shown much, but the Rams were a bad rushing team with Gurley last year, and this might be the best opportunity that Kelly will get to break through on an NFL roster.

54. Buffalo (10-6 in 2019)

– Need: QB, WR, TE (26th in passer rating)

– Free Agent Report: The Bills traded 2020 1st, 5th and 6th round picks and a 2021 4th round pick to Minnesota for a 2020 7th round pick and WR Stefon Diggs. Several former Panthers signed with Buffalo, including DE Mario Addison (three years), DT Vernon Butler (two years), CB Josh Norman (one year; spent last four seasons in Washington) and OT Daryl Williams (one year). LG Quinton Spain re-signed for three years, while former Seattle DT Quinton Jefferson signed a two-year contract with Buffalo. DE Shaq Lawson and DT Jordan Phillips left in free agency, while OLB Lorenzo Alexander retired.

– Key 2017-2018 Draftee: QB Josh Allen (2018 1st round)

On one hand, Allen took a considerable step forward from his rookie season. Allen improved his TD-INT ratio from 10:12 in 2018 to 20-9 in 2019, and he led five game-winning drives while rushing for nine TDs. But his accuracy is still subpar (58.8 percent completions), his strong arm hasn’t translated to production (6.7 yards per attempt), and he fumbles way too much (14 in 2019). Adding Diggs gives Allen a bona fide top threat, so now it’s up to the young passer to show that he can be consistent and steady. If not, then Diggs’ frustrations with timid yet efficient QB Kirk Cousins may seem tame compared to Allen’s form.

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