As the 2021 offseason comes to a close, we take a dive into who collectively had the best 5 offseason’s in the NFL. We breakdown impact additions, impact losses, cap space, and why we think these teams had the best offseason and how they are positioned for the future.
1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Impact Additions: RB Giovanni Bernard, EDGE Joe Tryon (Rookie), QB Kyle Trask (Rookie), G Robert Hainsey (Rookie)
Impact Losses: none
Top 51 Cap Space available: ~$4.1 million
After a remarkable turnaround, with the winningest QB in Super Bowl history coming to town, in his first year, the Buc’s do the unthinkable and return all starters from 2020. In addition to returning all starters, they added depth and dimensions not previously present on their roster. Giovanni Bernard brings a running back that is more dynamic in the pass game than Ronald Jones or Leonard Fournette. Joe Tryon and Robert Hainsey may not be impact starters day 1 but add depth along the trenches and can develop down the road into quality starters. Kyle Trask is a little bit of a head scratcher, but even though we like to think Brady can play forever he is much closer to the end than the start. Trask will have the opportunity to learn week in and out behind Brady while Gabbert operates as the immediate backup. In terms of their cap situation, its not completely bleak but its very clear they plan on attacking this winning window. According to ProFootball Reference, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished the regular season 3rd in points/game scored (offense). They were also the 2nd best passing offense and gave up the 7th least turnovers. While on defense 8th in points/game allowed, while giving up the 6th least yards and being the number 1 rushing defense. They struggled in passing defense, and rushing offense (21st and 28th respectively), but anyone watching this team, come wildcard weekend, could tell they were really hitting stride and were vastly improved in all areas. Tampa Bay is 2nd currently in Super Bowl odds, but it would surprise no one come February/March 2022 they are having another Boat Parade.
2. Detroit Lions
Impact additions: QB Jared Goff, WR Breshad Perriman, WR Tyrell Williams, EDGE Charles Harris, RB Jamal Williams DL Michael Brockers, LB Alex Anzalone, K Randy Bullock, TE Darren Fells, CB Quinton Dunbar, OT Penei Sewell (Rookie), IDL Levi Onzuwrike (Rookie), IDL Alim McNeil (Rookie), CB Ifeatu Melinfonwu (rookie), WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (Rookie) future 2022 & 2023 1st round picks
Impact losses: QB Matt Stafford, WR Kenny Golladay, CB Justin Coleman, CB Desmond Trufant, QB Chase Daniel, G Joe Dahl, WR Marvin Jones, EDGE Everson Griffin, S Duron Harmon, K Matt Prater, LB Reggie Ragland, CB Jamal Agnew, WR Mohammed Sanu, LB Jarrad Davis, RB Kerryon Johnson
Top 51 Cap Space available: ~$23.5 million
It’s a new year and a new regime in Detroit, who has been essentially a train wreck last couple decades (couple outlier years as a wild card). With the new front office, comes a new identity and Dan Campbell made sure he made his mark day one. Headlines across the nation mocked Campbell’s “knee biting” speech and thought it was funny. Come this Free Agency and Draft though, it was very clear that a physical mentality would be a point of emphasis and building block for the organization. After trading away franchise icon Matt Stafford, they got a haul of picks in addition to a bridge QB with a bloated contract (Goff). They also let Golladay walk, along with a couple of CB’s who had underperformed. New GM Brad Holmes went to work in Free Agency adding stop gap solutions at WR (Williams and Perriman) in addition to some underrated playmakers at running back and defensive line. The team also traded for Michael Brockers who made a name for himself in the Ram’s organization as an underrated gritty D-lineman. Holmes and Campbell furthered the “physical” stigma by going heavy in the trenches taking junkyard dogs like Sewell, Onzuwrike, and Alim McNeil. They are still light on playmakers, but took some flyers on high upside guys like Melinfonwu and St. Brown. Both guys will have opportunities to contribute right out the gate. When you’re a franchise that is hitting the reset button, these are all phenomenal moves to make. Get rid of aging high contract veterans for premium picks. If possible, get off high priced contracts and if you can’t get off them take on some others for more picks. Accumulate many picks to take swings and start building the roster through young players, namely the trenches. They have done all these things, and while they may not win games, they are establishing a culture and building the roster at all positions to where they can get their QB of the future next year or the year after. Their healthy cap number after next year can help fill the roster further and make runs at some big name playmakers possibly next offseason. Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell deserve a ton of credit for this offseason, and hopefully their hard-nosed mentality translates on the field as they continue to build the roster and organization into next year.
3. Kansas City Chiefs
Impact Additions: G Joe Thuney, G/OT Kyle Long, OT Orlando Brown Jr., C Austin Blythe, DT Jarran Reed, WR Tajae Sharpe, RB Jerrick McKinnon, S Will Parks, TE Blake Bell, CB Mike Hughes, LB Kamalei Correa, C Creed Humphrey (Rookie), LB Nick Bolton (Rookie)
Impact Losses: WR Sammy Watkins, CB Bashaud Breeland, OT Mitchell Schwartz, OT Eric Fisher, RB Damien Williams, LB Damien Wilson, FB Anthony Sherman, RB Leveon Bell, G Kelechi Osemle, EDGE Alex Okafor
Top 51 Salary Cap Available: ~$9.8 million
After the Super Bowl, there was legitimate concerns regarding KC’s offensive line. Especially after it seemed like Mahomes was running for his life most of the game. Long-time Aging veterans, who also suffered significant injuries, were jettisoned (Schwartz, Fisher) which caused MAJOR concern for the Chiefs moving forward. How did they respond? Only by signing the best Free Agent guard available (Thuney), signing a newly un-retired versatile offensive lineman (Long), and trading for an underrated, ascending talent (Brown Jr.). What was once thought as a weak unit now looks to be one of the strongest in the league with additional depth pieces like Humphrey and Blythe joining the fray with already present players such as G Mike Remmers. In terms of playmakers, they did lose Sammy Watkins but retained Demarcus Robinson and Byron Pringle. In addition, they bring in players like Tajae Sharpe and Jerrick Mckinnon who can command some quality snaps as well. However, it may be time for youngsters like Mecole Hardman and Clyde Edwards-Helaire to step and take on a larger role behind Kelce and Hill. On defense, they bring back most of the same unit minus Breeland. The journeyman corner could still be brought back as he is on the open market, but at the moment remains unsigned. Mike Hughes is a low risk flier on a former 1st round pick. They add the physical, old-school LB in Nick Bolton who can come in right away to compliment the incumbent Willie Gay Jr. They lack some corner depth, but the additions offset the outstanding needs in my opinion currently. With Mahomes at the helm, a stout O-line in front of him, and a still potent arsenal of weapons the offense should remain primed for a big outing in 2021.
4. Cleveland Browns
Impact Additions: S John Johnson, LB Anthony Walker, EDGE Jadveon Clowney, EDGE Takk McKinley, CB Troy Hill, IDL Malik Jackson, IDL Malik McDowell, CB Greg Newsome ll (Rookie), LB Jermiah Owusu-Koramoah (Rookie), WR Anthony Schwartz (Rookie), IDL Tommy Togiai (Rookie)
Impact Losses: DL Sheldon Richardson, EDGE Adrian Clayborn, EDGE Oliver Vernon, CB Kevin Johnson, OT Kendall Lamm, IDL Larry Ogunjobi, S Andrew Sendejo, LB BJ Goodson,
Top 51 Salary Cap Available: ~$21.4 million
The offseason that Cleveland has had, is one for the ages. They would be higher on this list if the returning Super Bowl participants and a historically awful franchise hadn’t had unprecedented offseasons. The Browns, notoriously terrible franchise, single-handidly faulted themselves into Super Contention with high impact Free Agent signings and one the widely-viewed best drafts this offseason. Key losses in Vernon, Richardson, and Clayborn weakened the defensive front but the shored up both positions with additions of former Pro Bowlers (Clowney and Jackson), a former first round pick (McKinley), and two potential high ceiling players (McDowell and Togiai). On top of that, injury issues have depleted the CB in recent seasons so they address that by signing Troy Hill and drafting Greg Newsome. Both are A+ moves on paper. The addition of John Johnson will let Ronnie Harrison play a more natural box role on defense. Which leaves the lone need of LB on defense. Which by the way, the draft an almost consensus #2 LB, who may be the most versatile player in the draft, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. While additionally signing Anthony Walker away from Indianapolis, who was a top unit last unit! Their offensive relatively maintained a run-it-back approach, retaining Rashad Higgins. Odell Beckham Jr. appears to be back better than ever after an ACL tear, and the addition of generational speed talent (Anthony Schwartz) looks to add additional dimensions to a potent offense. Baker Mayfield showed solid progression in the second half last year and the ground attack of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt should continue to give defenses fits. Cleveland is a team that should not be overlooked, and will be a force to be reckoned with in the AFC North and the entire conference this season.
5. Philadelphia Eagles
Impact Additions: QB Joe Flacco, LB Eric Wilson, RB Kerryon Johnson, S Anthony Harris, WR Devonta Smith (Rookie), C Landon Dickerson (Rookie), IDL Milton Williams (Rookie), Future 1st round pick 2022 and future 2nd/1st round pick (Conditional via Colts).
Impact Losses: QB Carson Wentz, WR Desean Jackson, WR Marqise Goodwin, CB Jalen Mills, TE Richard Rodgers, OT Jason Peters, EDGE Vinny Curry
Top 51 Salary Cap Available: ~$4.9 million
After letting Super Bowl Champion Doug Pederson go after the season and hiring Nic Sirianni, the Eagles decided to go full reset and trade Carson Wentz. Coming with the trade, was the largest dead cap hit in NFL history ($33.8 million). The Eagles are going to struggle with cap this year, but after this year will be able to start to clear the books. Which after only winning 4 games in 2020 and having one of the most bloated cap sheets in the NFL, it may have been time. I am a huge proponent of hitting FULL reset if you’re bad, and the Eagles did just that. They got a conditional 2nd back for the Colts to take on Wentz, plus a 3rd rounder this year that they flipped to help select Devonta Smith. The conditional turns into a 1st if Carson plays 75% of the snaps or if he plays 70% and the Colts make playoffs, both scenarios may very well happen. This sets Phili up nicely for next year where they will have 3 possible first round picks. Zach Ertz, (as of today) has not been moved, but Roseman seems willing to part ways with the former Pro Bowler. They also seem to be letting Jalen Hurts have his best shot at taking the starting QB job for the future. If they flop and Hurts is not good, they are in perfect position to get a top QB in 2022. If he shows promise, than even better. They’ll have significant capital to build around him further next year. DeVonta Smith has very serious potential of being a WR1 and paring up with Jaelon Raegor could show. Landon Dickerson was a consensus 1st round C before tearing his ACL, and Milton Williams has drawn comparisons to Aaron Donald (very lofty IMO). That’s a solid class to build around. I was not the biggest Sirriani fan, and Roseman sometimes can make shaky front office decisions, but with the draft capital acquired Eagles fans can have hope for the future. It most likely won’t be 2021, but with Cap Space increasing over the next two off-seasons and the treasure trove of picks in the next year, 2022/2023 could be very exciting.
HM: Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Football Team, and New York Giants
I had to mention these few teams as being close runners-up. Buffalo runs-it back (subbing John Brown for Emmanuel Sanders) after getting worked by KC in the championship game. They are barely edged out by the teams on the list as Kansas City/Cleveland/Tampa Bay are better position to contend, and Detroit/Philadelphia made huge strides in a rebuild.
Jacksonville has done a great job building competition throughout their entire roster and adding elite talent (Lawrence namely) even if it was by falling into it. Their cap situation being ideal, will carry over well in 2022 as the build a competitive team. Lack of additional future draft capital set them behind both Detroit/Philadelphia. Also of note, the Tebow signing was odd for me because TE is weak but why not roll the dice on a younger option and give reps to a rookie you just drafted (Luke Farrell) or another option that isn’t 33 years old?
The Football team had an outstanding run this offseason as well, snagging some big time, impact free agents like QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, CB William Jackson and WR Curtis Samuel. In addition their draft selections of OT Samuel Cosmi and WR Dyami Brown were big time value selections. They still don’t have a bonafide QB of the future (Not trusting Taylor Heincke) but Fitzy is a perfect bridge guy and should man the ship well for a year. I also was not a huge fan of Jamin Davis, but if he is going to succeed anywhere its playing behind this vicious WFT front seven.
Do not look now, but Dave Gettleman got it about as right as he could this offseason. They look to double down on Daniel Jones and supply him with every single weapon he could possibly need. Additions of WR Kenny Golladay and WR Kadarious Toney are home runs, but I can’t help but feel as though Toney was a little bit of a reach over Rashad Bateman. OL is still a little weak, but they bolster the defense further signing Adoree Jackson. This offseason for them was always “oh we really like that!” Followed by “wait what?”
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