The most puzzling move each NFL team made this offseason

Arizona’s protection was among the many worst within the league for the second straight season in 2023, but it surely stays to be seen if Jones is the reply. The former Bear signed a three-year, $30 million contract with practically $20 million assured, but it surely stays to be seen if his impression is value the associated fee.

Atlanta dedicated one of many greatest head-scratchers in NFL Draft historical past, deciding on Penix with the eighth general decide after signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million assured. Penix was one of many oldest quarterback prospects out there with a checkered harm historical past and is now set to sit down on the bench for no less than the following two years.

Bateman has struggled to remain on the sector since Baltimore drafted him twenty seventh general in 2021, and the franchise has compensated for his struggles by drafting Zay Flowers and signing Odell Beckham Jr. to a one-year deal final season. The team gave Bateman a two-year extension, betting he could have higher luck going ahead, but it surely’s a giant wager for the team by means of 2026.

Perhaps Diggs was a distraction or sad with the Bills, however his commerce stays powerful to swallow for followers hoping to compete for a Super Bowl in 2024. The cap image for Buffalo appears to be like higher, however the offense may very well be hindered because the team depends on Curtis Samuel and rookie Keon Coleman to exchange Diggs’ manufacturing.

After a number of disappointing seasons, Clowney revived his profession in Baltimore final season, tying his profession excessive with 9.5 sacks. Thus, the determined Panthers had been shopping for excessive by signing Clowney to a two-year, $20 million deal to successfully change former star Brian Burns.

The operating again place has been a revolving door not too long ago in Chicago, and that continues with the addition of Swift. His skill to remain wholesome was referred to as into query by the Lions earlier than he did simply that in Philly final season, however the Bears are making a giant wager that continues by signing Swift to a three-year, $24 million deal. The place wasn’t precisely the team’s greatest want, both, with Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson returning.

Cincinnati had an enormous gap to fill on the line of defense after shedding DJ Reader, but it surely’s unclear if Rankins is the reply. The team gave him a two-year, $26 million deal, however Rankins is now 30 and on his fourth team in 5 seasons.

Cleveland’s acquisition of Jeudy for fifth- and sixth-round picks wasn’t very expensive, however their extension for the previous first-round decide was one other story. Jeudy acquired $58 million over three years with $41 million assured. It’s fairly a sum for a large receiver who has struggled to remain wholesome and has but to tally a 1,000-yard receiving season in 4 years.

Zimmer was one of many prime defensive minds within the recreation throughout his time as a defensive coordinator, however his defenses in Minnesota floundered late in his tenure as head coach. After two years as a university assistant, Zimmer returns to the NFL sideline at age 68. The stress will probably be on Zimmer to fill Dan Quinn‘s shoes, but it’s not the most secure rent given his time away.

Going to Denver is sweet for Wilson, however is it good for the Broncos? The former first-round decide seemed misplaced throughout his time with the Jets, and isn’t the most secure choice backing up rookie Bo Nix. Denver barely gave up something to accumulate Wilson, however he’d most likely be a greater match behind a veteran.

Adding a go rusher was important for Detroit this offseason, and it stays to be seen if Davenport matches the invoice. He’s set to have a giant function along with his new team however missed most of final season in Minnesota attributable to harm and was a bust for the Saints the earlier season.

The Packers deserve props for upgrading operating again, as they noticed the latest decline of Aaron Jones. However, the team is taking a danger with Jacobs’ addition. The four-year, $48 million quantity is deceiving in that Jacobs is assured solely $12.5 million, however he declined final yr after an enormous 2022 season. Green Bay might need been higher to discover a youthful choice.

Houston is successfully changing Jonathan Greenard with Hunter, a danger given the veteran’s harm historical past and age. Hunter is coming off back-to-back sturdy years in Minnesota, however he performed solely seven video games in 2021. The contract Hunter was given is huge, with $48 million assured over two years.

The Colts had been fortunate to have Gardner Minshew ready within the wings when Anthony Richardson went down final season. They had been certain so as to add one other succesful backup in Flacco after he revived his profession with Cleveland final yr. $4.5 million assured is an inexpensive sum for a backup, however Flacco’s skillset couldn’t be a lot completely different than the cell Richardson. If one thing occurs to Richardson once more, the Colts will probably be pressured to rehaul their offense.

Davis confirmed flashes in 4 seasons with Buffalo, notably within the playoffs. However, the team didn’t present a lot battle in retaining him after a disappointing 2023 season, and the three-year, $39 contract is a giant one for a participant who hasn’t confirmed to be something near a No. 1 receiver. The stress is on Davis after the Jags misplaced Calvin Ridley in free company.

The Chiefs are attempting to change into the primary team ever to win three consecutive Super Bowls, however could have to take action with out one in every of their prime defensive performers from the final two seasons. Kansas City was in a position to re-sign Chris Jones, however traded Sneed to Tennessee in an effort to get monetary savings underneath the cap. The team has cornerback depth, however Sneed’s contribution will probably be troublesome to exchange as they enter a doubtlessly historic season.

Minshew has achieved a nice job as a backup throughout his profession, filling in with Jacksonville, Philadelphia, and Indianapolis. Still, he hasn’t achieved a lot to point he’s an ideal beginning choice, but the Raiders are more likely to flip to him after bypassing the quarterback place within the draft. Minshew’s two-year, $25 million contract with $15 million assured is nice for him, however there’s little cause to suppose he can carry the Raiders roster within the AFC West.

New head coach Jim Harbaugh stated the Chargers would run the ball extra subsequent season, and practiced what he preached by spending the fifth general draft alternative on Alt. He’s clearly a superb sort out prospect, however broad receiver was a a lot larger want than sort out with former first-round decide Rashawn Slater manning the left facet of the road already.

The Rams had an eventful offseason, and their addition of Parkinson was curious. The former Seahawk has solely 57 catches in 4 seasons, but the Rams gave him a three-year, $22.5 million contract with $15.5 million assured. The addition offers the Rams a prime tight finish whereas Tyler Higbee‘s knee heals following surgery, but it’s a excessive value to pay for a short lived want.

Seattle moved on from Brooks after 4 seasons, however he landed a three-year, $30 million contract in Miami. It’s a hefty value to pay for Brooks’ place and in addition given his declining sort out numbers final season.

Minnesota successfully received youthful by permitting Danielle Hunter to stroll and signing former Texans go rusher Greenard. He’s getting paid after an enormous season with 12.5 sacks in 15 video games, however there may be some danger in his four-year, $76 million contract after Greenard struggled to report 1.5 sacks in eight video games throughout 2022.

The Patriots had a succession plan behind Bill Belchick, selling Mayo from defensive assistant. It’s admirable that the team promoted from inside, however they may have been higher off discovering new blood after the group’s latest struggles underneath Belichick together with the historical past of failure from Belichick’s former assistants.

Many had been shocked when Rattler fell to the fifth spherical within the draft, so maybe the Saints discovered his expertise too good to danger. Still, it might need been a wasted decide for a team that wanted as many contributors because it might get after preventing cap points through the offseason. The Saints didn’t want one other quarterback as they developed 2023 fourth-round decide Jake Haener and in addition signed veterans Nathan Peterman and Kellen Mond.

New York’s mistake wasn’t a lot deciding on Nabers – an elite receiving expertise. Rather, it was taking the wideout as an alternative of a quarterback to exchange Daniel Jones. The Giants are doubling down on their mistake to increase Jones’ contract final offseason. The excuse could be made that Jones missed most of 2023 attributable to harm, however he was 1-5 as a starter with 2/6 TD/INT and has typically been a turnover machine in his 5 NFL seasons. The team had a number of quarterback selections in this yr’s sturdy draft and bypassed all of them.

There’s little question the Jets wanted to repair their offensive line this offseason, and Smith had arguably the most upside of any lineman out there. However, the 33-year-old has additionally been unable to remain wholesome for 4 consecutive seasons, so hoping for higher well being after signing Smith to one-year deal value as much as $20 million is a idiot’s errand. Fortunately, the Jets did draft his eventual substitute in Olu Fashanu.

The Eagles have confirmed they’ll have a productive operating recreation with low-cost operating backs, so it’s curious they opted to roll out the Brink’s truck for Barkley. The former Giant was given a three-year, $37.75 million contract with $25.5 million assured, an enormous deal for the normally low-cost place. Barkley has principally put his injury-prone popularity behind him, lacking a complete of eight video games during the last three seasons, however he averaged a poor 3.9 yards per carry final season.

Wide receiver was amongst Pittsburgh’s prime wants coming into the offseason, so it was fascinating to see the team move on from Johnson with out making a significant move to exchange him. The former 1,000-yard receiver had solely 717 yards over 13 video games final season, and the team enters 2024 with minimal assist for his or her new quarterbacks past George Pickens and Pat Freiermuth.

San Francisco has constantly made the line of defense a prime precedence, and did so once more by including Leonard Floyd, Maliek Collins, Jordan Elliott, Kevin Givens, and Gross-Matos this offseason. The 49ers clearly see extra potential in Gross-Matos than what he confirmed in 4 seasons with the Panthers, giving him a two-year, $18 million deal regardless of the defensive finish lacking 5 video games final season and taking part in restricted snaps early in his profession.

Considered a gifted receiver when he was a first-round decide by Denver in 2019, Fant has but to meet the lofty expectations. He’s additionally taken an enormous step again since Seattle acquired him in 2022, and had solely 32 catches for 414 yards with none scores final season. Thus, it’s fascinating that the Seahawks re-signed Fant for 2 years, $21 million, regardless of his lack of manufacturing.

The Bucs had been in a foul spot this offseason, with no beginning quarterback underneath contract. They signed Mayfield as a bridge quarterback final season, and the previous first-overall draft alternative carried out higher than anticipated, inflicting the team to re-sign him for 3 years, $100 million, with half of that quantity assured. Considering Mayfield’s inconsistent play, which even induced his launch from Carolina in 2022, together with shedding coordinator Dave Canales, the move might change into a catastrophe.

It’s change into en vogue for groups with beginning quarterbacks on rookie offers to spend large on their weapons. Tennessee deserves credit score for surrounding Will Levis with such weapons, however Ridley’s four-year, $92 million contract with $50 million assured is extreme. The compensation places Ridley within the prime 10 amongst wideouts, however his manufacturing isn’t worthy of the deal, particularly as he turns 30 in December.

Washington has a younger operating again they actually like in Brian Robinson, so including a declining Ekeler was stunning. While he has a really completely different skillset as a flexible again with nice arms, Ekeler has clearly been in decline attributable to ankle accidents and had a pitiful 3.5 yards per carry final season. The Commanders are betting on Ekeler returning to well being, but it surely’s an pointless wager that ensures Ekeler practically $5 million this season.