Win Now, Play Later

By Peyton Schultze

Tom Brady’s recent change of scenery is sure to add plenty of intrigue to a division featuring the New Orleans Saints and the Hall of Fame talent of Drew Brees (via ABC30 Fresno).

With many people stuck indoors without any kind of sports to watch right now, NFL news regarding free agency has been in the limelight of most sports discussions. Luckily for the league, there have been several stunning moves that have shocked the sports world, such as Tom Brady departing New England in favor of Tampa Bay. Yes, that really happened. Or DeAndre Hopkins suddenly being traded to Arizona for David Johnson, a second-round pick, and a fourth-round pick. . And yes, that really happened too. It’s been a wild and exciting offseason for the league, and it is certain that many fans want the sport to return as soon as possible with so many faces in new destinations.

So who have been the biggest winners of the offseason so far? Here are our rankings of some of the best found throughout the league.

Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore made some huge moves in the offseason that ought to scare teams throughout the league (via StickPNG).

The rich only get richer. While Baltimore underwhelmed in the playoffs last year, there’s no denying how historically good their regular season was in Lamar Jackson’s second year under center. With a very good defense and perhaps the best offense in the league, there was no reason for the Ravens to be super aggressive this offseason if they wanted a chance to be regarded as a favorite in the AFC once again.

But Baltimore didn’t just sit around and wait for their own problems to solve themselves. By acquiring superstar defensive end Calais Campbell from the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Ravens found themselves an impact player that could make their defense even better and take them to the next level. They also added key role players such as Derek Wolfe and the return of Jimmy Smith, who will once again join up with the league’s best secondary featuring stars such as Marlon Humphrey, Earl Thomas, and Marcus Peters. Baltimore is aware that Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs are the talk of the town and the favorite to come out of the AFC once again this year, but their moves signal that they could easily be just as recognized as an equal threat to make it to Tampa Bay for next year’s Super Bowl.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay made plenty of nice moves in the offseason, but made the splashiest signing of all by adding Tom Brady (via Freebie Supply).

Even though it’s a little obvious, the Buccaneers made the most notable move of the offseason when they acquired probably the best quarterback, and maybe even player, that the sport has ever seen. With TB12 now settling into his new threads for the next season, there’s no reason to think that Brady and the Buccaneers are not instantly a contender in the NFC.

But while Tom Brady is, and should be, the top story in Tampa Bay, the Bucs did a nice job of surrounding the team with other key players that could boost the team in 2020. By re-signing studs such as Shaquil Barrett, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Ndamukong Suh, the Bucs will return an underrated defensive line that ranked among the best in football in 2019. The Buccaneers’ secondary remains their primary concern that they will probably have to address in the draft, but they certainly have all of the components that a potential champion in the league needs: a good quarterback, offensive line, and pass rush. Tampa Bay may not be in the top tier of NFL contention right now, but they’re well on their way to a return to relevance next season.

Cleveland Browns

The Browns made some key offseason decisions that should set them up for better success in 2020 (via Freebie Supply).

It may seem like a strange thing to see the Browns up this high after a trainwreck last season, but they really made some nice moves this offseason that could help solve some of their biggest problems. By rolling out some talented, new players that are sure to help Baker Mayfield produce somewhat of a bounce-back year, the Browns gave themselves a much better chance next year in what is expected to be a high-flying AFC North.

Cleveland actually has one of the most talented rosters in the league, but their top priority this offseason was clear: help out Mayfield as much as possible. By adding two massively underrated offensive players in tackle Jack Conklin and tight end Austin Hooper, the Browns shored up some holes on the offensive end that caused some struggles last season. In addition to this, the Browns also went out and signed several players that could contribute in the secondary such as Karl Joseph, as well as backup quarterback Case Keenum, who could be the mature presence that Baker needs in the locker room as he looks to evolve as a leader. It may not be perfect quite yet, but you have to at least tip the cap to Cleveland for trying hard to fix last season’s issues.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles’ key offseason moves could move them back into Super Bowl contention in 2020 (via Freebie Supply).

Philadelphia may not have made the splashiest move of the offseason, but their offseason trade for cornerback Darius Slay has potential to be the most impressive move of the offseason. By adding an elite corner like Slay to a secondary that struggled to cover anyone in 2019, the Eagles filled a major need that could completely turn their fortunes on defense around and get this team back into the mix for a chance at a Lombardi Trophy.

The Eagles were not bad by any means in 2019, but they had several key problems that stood out in a major way. By adding key players such as Slay, defensive lineman Javon Hargrave, safety Will Parks, and safety Rodney McLeod, Philadelphia’s defense now looks like a much improved unit that could change games on a weekly basis. On offense, the Eagles will likely turn their focus toward improving in the draft. Although they seem like an ideal situation for Jameis Winston as well, the Eagles also look like they are in a prime position to fill some spots in the draft such their biggest hole on their team at wide receiver. Doing so should then set them up to once again run the table in the NFC East and possibly make another run under head coach Doug Pederson. Health permitting as usual, the Eagles look like a team worthy of representing the NFC in next year’s Super Bowl after a very nice offseason period.

Denver Broncos

Denver finished strong in 2019, and looks like they could make some real noise in the AFC next season (via StickPNG).

The Broncos haven’t made the playoffs since their Super Bowl-winning year in the 2015 season, but John Elway and company looks like they are ready to change that next season. After a solid end to the season in 2019 that saw the Broncos potentially find their long-awaited franchise quarterback in Drew Lock, Denver steamrolled into the offseason with some aggressive moves that could propel them back into the AFC playoff picture.

Highlighted by two key trades that saw AJ Bouye and Jurrell Casey pack their bags for a new home in the Mile High City, the Broncos have helped form a formidable defense under head coach Vic Fangio in his second year. In addition to franchise tagging star safety Justin Simmons, Denver also brought back a key situational defensive lineman in Shelby Harris who has created some nice plays in big moments in recent memory. Lastly, Denver brought star running back Melvin Gordon on board to form a lethal running back duo with Philip Lindsay, which could help their offense take off next year. Denver still needs to hit on a receiving talent in the draft, but this is an emerging team that could take a leap forward in 2020.

New Orleans Saints

The Saints added some important pieces to an already-loaded roster full of spectacular talent (via YWID).

New Orleans could have returned the same team from last year and been regarded as a contender in the NFC, but they took some unforeseen steps this offseason that could be a sign of positive things to come. By bringing in two very good veteran players in Emmanuel Sanders and Malcolm Jenkins, the Saints added some key depth on both sides of the ball that should ease some of the playoff troubles that New Orleans has faced in recent years.

Jenkins is a former Super Bowl champion with the Eagles and Saints, so his return to New Orleans should not be taken lightly. He’ll be a key contributor on their defense this year if he can stay healthy, which should help shore out some struggles in a secondary that was inconsistent in 2019. Meanwhile, the Saints brought back offensive lineman Andrus Peat, who has been a key presence on their line in their past few seasons. However, the addition of Sanders cannot be understated. Even in the later stages of his career, Sanders requires a defense’s attention and should help to take some of the large burden off of the shoulders of Drew Brees and Michael Thomas. With Brees right at the end of the line, the addition of a player of Sanders’ caliber has to be an exciting factor in the Bayou once the Saints have to play in some meaningful games. Even in an improved division around them, the Saints are still a real threat to capture a Lombardi Trophy in 2020 after a great offseason.

Honorable Mentions: Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle Seahawks, and Arizona Cardinals

The Chargers, Seahawks, and Cardinals had some nice offseason periods, but still face some questions in the coming weeks (via DLPNG).

The Chargers have made some bold offseason choices recently, including signing well-known studs such as Linval Joseph and Chris Harris Jr. With these additions coming into play, Los Angeles has a real chance of being a top three defense in the NFL next year if they can avoid the injury bug. On offense, the Bolts also did a nice job of re-signing running back Austin Ekeler, and by revamping their offensive line with Bryan Bulaga and Trai Turner. However, their willingness to go with Tyrod Taylor at quarterback could be a potential downfall in 2020, and still seems like the one area where the Chargers could find significant improvement.

Seattle may have had the most underrated offseason of any team in football. Although they did not make a major move in free agency, the Seahawks are clearly one of the NFC’s true Super Bowl contenders. By re-signing Jarran Reed, bringing back former fan favorite Bruce Irvin, and by trading for corner Quinton Dunbar, Seattle made some nice additions to their defense. On offense, the Seahawks also made some nice additions to Russell Wilson’s passing attack with the signings of Philip Dorsett and Greg Olsen. Seattle would be very wise to do whatever it takes to bring back Jadeveon Clowney as soon as possible, but it is clear that their quiet, but effective offseason has been a major success.

Arizona pulled off one of the greatest heists in NFL history a couple of weeks ago by trading for DeAndre Hopkins, which makes their offseason a major success alone. Hopkins is a top-three receiver in the NFL when healthy and should be an immediate boost to an offense with the talented Kyler Murray. Arizona also brought back running back Kenyan Drake and future Hall of Famer Larry Fitzgerald and figure to be an explosive offense in 2020. The Cardinals brought in Jordan Phillips and Devon Kennard to help out a defense that struggled at times last season, but it’s clear that they need a few more pieces to rise into contention. Whatever the case may be, the 2020 offseason has been a major success and so far for the young and blossoming Arizona Cardinals.