sign in sign up
<<
Home , 2020 Pro Bowl, Alex Mack, Austin Reiter, Brad Holmes, Brett Veach, Brian Gutekunst

Big Moves Can Make The Difference in 2021

Free Agents 2021 for All 32 Teams

Who’s Getting Cut This Offseason 680 The Fan’s Carlos Medina aka “Front Office Los” breaks down all 32 NFL teams with in-depth analysis and research covering the 2021 offseason.

The Falling Cap

Follow Carlos Medina on Twitter @frontofficelos Situation

THE 2021 OFFSEASON Making The Moves

Champions Are Made In The Offseason Welcome to the 2021 NFL Offseason. This is the point where every NFL team has the chance to significantly alter their upcoming season with shrewd moves in both free agency and the draft. This offseason presents a special challenge with a reduced cap and no NFL combine. But big moves can still make the difference in a 2021 season.

 The Champion added in free agency last offseason and ended up being the beneficiaries of what Brady brings to a football team. The season marked the 10th time Brady has taken a team to the Super Bowl.

 The made a trade last offseason to land receiver from the . Diggs went on to lead the NFL in receptions and receiving yards. The Minnesota Vikings used the pick they received to add future star receiver .

 The Rams were looking to add some pass rush help after the free agent departure of . The team added former top 10 pick Leonard Floyd on a one-year deal for $10 million dollars. Floyd recorded 10.5 sacks and helped lead one of the best pass rushing teams in the NFL.

 The traded for receiver DeAndre Hopkins from the . Hopkins helped speed up the development of quarterback Kyler Murray, performing as the go-to receiver. Hopkins caught 115 passes for 1,407 yards and six .

 The suffered through an injury-plagued season. But one of the team’s bright spots was the play of left tackle . Williams was aquired from Washington for third and fifth round picks after sitting out the 2019 season. Williams once again showed he is one of the best left tackles in the league.

 A year after his football career nearly ended because of the circus atmosphere around him, receiver ended the 2020 season as a champion after being added to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense. Brown was key in adding another speed element to the offense and caught a pass in the Super Bowl.

NFL Offseason Preview 2021 TOP FREE AGENTS 2021 NFL Offseason

A Different Type Of Free Agency... The 2021 NFL Offseason will be unique in NFL salary cap history. For the first time in league history since the installation of the NFL salary cap, the league expects to lower the cap from the previous season due to a lack of revenue caused by pandemic fan attendance. Every year since 2010, the cap has gone up. This offseason teams will have to make their plans based on a reduction from the 2020 cap number.

The upcoming TV rights deals will cause the cap to rise significantly by as early as 2023. But for this offseason, teams who have built their teams on a rising cap will find it challenging to add talent while also holding onto their own. About 24 teams around the league will have to make cuts and get creative with their cap dollars in order to get under the 2021 cap number.

Free Agents

Dak Prescott - QB -

Chris Godwin - WR - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Allen Robinson - WR -

Justin Simmons - S -

Shaq Barrett - DE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Trent Williams - LT - San Francisco 49ers

Aaron Jones - RB -

Kenny Golladay - WR -

Anthony Harris - S - Minnesota Vikings

Leonard Williams - DE -

Brandon Scherff - G - Washington

Hunter Henry - TE -

2021 NFL Offseason

-

-

-

-

2020 Record: 12-4 Projected Cap Space: $99 million over New Orleans 2021 Offseason Off. Rank: 12th Def. Rank: 4th

Key Free Agents

 Marcus Williams, S - Constantly around the football. The former second round pick has recorded 13 during The End of The Era his four seasons in New Orleans. Recent seasons for the Saints have ended in the Saints as they set up their 2020 roster to  Trey Hendrickson, heartbreak. Those heartbreaks led to iconic take one last shot with this group. Due to the DE - Exploded for moments and rule changes in the NFL. pandemic and lack of league revenue from 13.5 sacks in 2020 However, this most recent heartbreak will empty stadiums, the Saints head into the after posting a only lead to the end of an amazing era. offseason with the worst cap situation in the respectable season NFL. The team is currently more than $90M in 2019. Tied for will go down in the record books over the projected salary cap. second in sacks in as one of the greatest to ever the NFL. Will play the game. He certainly established over Once the new cap number is established, the command a big the last 20 years that the size of the Saints will have a ton of moves to make multi-year deal in quarterback has little to do with his ability to including cuts and contract extensions. That free agency. play at a high level. has to occur before the team can even begin  , TE - The the process of figuring out who their next As noted by Elias Sports Bureau, the Saints veteran quarterback will be. ? are the first team in NFL history to win 49 caught 37 passes in Taysom Hill? We shall see. games over four seasons and not reach the 2020 but reached Super Bowl. Teams led by great quarterbacks This era of Saints football is over. Whether the end zone seven times. Turns 34 will often have multiple windows to win you root for or against them, it was truly years old this April. championships. This was certainly one for great football that changed the league.  Jameis Winston, QB - Targets for Release/Restructure Winston might have the first opportunity Kwon Alexander, LB: Went down in 2020 with a torn Achilles. The Saints significant to start for the cap issues make it very difficult to bring him back to the roster in 2021. Cap savings: Saints in the post Drew Brees era. But $13.4M the Saints will need Drew Brees, QB: The expected retirement will help the Saints on the salary cap. The to make some extensions Brees has signed in recent years does leave the Saints with some dead money serious cap moves to deal with. Cap savings: $13.5M to create the space needed if Winston develops a market for his services this (-image source cbssports.com) 2020 Record: 11-5 Projected Cap Space: $28 million Tampa Bay 2021 Offseason Off. Rank: 7th Def. Rank: 6th

Key Free Agents  , WR - A Pro Bowler in 2019, Godwin will be the best young receiver on the market in free agency. May be A Seventh Championship looking at the team using the franchise tag. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are Super Bowl becoming the first team in NFL history to  Shaq Barrett, LB - Had Champions for the second time in franchise win the Super Bowl in their home stadium. eight sacks in 2020 history. In perhaps the most obvious move in But soon the attention will turn to getting after 19.5 in 2019. free agent history, the Buccaneers added the ready for the 2021 season. That’s just how Was a nightmare to quarterback who has won the most Super quickly the offseason gets here in the league. deal with during the Bowls in NFL history and proceeded to win The Buccaneers are in a pretty good place Buccaneers playoff the Super Bowl. It’s just that easy. run as he got after financially to bring back their team nearly quarterbacks. Of course it really isn’t that easy. But the untouched for 2021. The team has $28 Buccaneers had the components on their million dollars in salary cap space to bring  , RB roster that Brady realized would be key to back their key components. Dynamic young - Found his role as winning big in the post season. The receiver Chris Godwin is set to be a free the physical runner Buccaneers featured a top defense in 2019 agent as is pass rusher Shaq Barrett. The rest in the Buccaneers and explosive offensive weapons. They just of the Buccaneers free agents should be rushing attack. needed to reduce their turnovers in order to easier financially to retain. Scored in every realize their potential. Tom Brady as a playoff game. quarterback was perfect for that goal. The Buccaneers are champions. They have  Antonio Brown, WR - Tom Brady for at least one more season. Started to look like The Buccaneers can enjoy their epic run, Which makes them contenders, it’s that easy. his old self as the 2020 season Targets for Release/Restructure continued on. Caught 45 passes for 483 Cameron Brate, TE: Depending on who the Buccaneers choose to bring back out of their yards and four free agents, Brate looks like a player that you could sacrifice in order to open up more touchdowns. cap space. Brate caught 28 passes in 2020. Cap savings: $6.5M

 Lavonte David, LB - OJ Howard, TE: Howard’s career trajectory looked good until 2020 when he was only Tackling machine available for four football games. Howard could still be looking at a contract extension that has not slowed a in order to lower his cap number and provide him with long term stability. bit with age.  , DT - Had his most sacks during a season since 2020 Record: 5-11 Projected Cap Space: $6 million Carolina 2021 Offseason Off. Rank: 21st Def. Rank: 18th

Key Free Agents

, LT - When he’s healthy, Okung has provided quality tackle play. Okung has only been able to start 13 games over the past Working on a Turnaround two seasons.  Curtis Samuel, WR - It would make perfect sense if Panthers head The offense is now the area of focus in 2021. Posted a career-high coach carried around a business The Panthers played a physical brand of 77 catches for 851 card that read, “turnaround artist”. That’s football that looked like Rhule’s Temple yards. Finally what he’s been able to do in every one of his squads of the past. In order to add that Baylor realized his immense stops in the coaching world. -type of explosion offensively, the Panthers potential as a will have to begin the search for the future at versatile weapon as a The 2020 Panthers experienced the quarterback. receiver and out of foundational season under Matt Rhule. the backfield. Similar to what occurred at Temple and The Panthers have playmakers. What they Baylor in their initial seasons under Rhule, need is a dynamic playmaker throwing the  Taylor Moton, RT - the Panthers experienced a tough 5-11 football. , signed to be the Consistent 16 game season. But if history is an indicator, the veteran starter until a young quarterback is starter over the past turnaround is coming. ready, was the caretaker this young team three seasons. One of needed. But now with a top 10 pick, the the more dependable The Panthers used this season to get younger Panthers should be aggressive in identifying right tackles in the defensively and establish what they are going and selecting their next quarterback. NFL. to be offensively. Using every draft pick on  John Miller, G - defense in their previous draft, the group was If they get the quarterback situation correct, Started 14 games able to put together a respectable season. the turnaround will really be fully underway. after signing a one- year deal. 74 game Targets for Release/Restructure starter in the NFL, playing with three Stephen Weatherly, DE: Signed last offseason as an evolving pass rusher who was improving. different franchises. Unfortunately, Weatherly did not record a single sack in 2020. His cap figure is pretty expensive for a player who doesn’t get quarterbacks on the ground. Cap savings: $5.9M  Mike Davis, RB - Showed his value as Teddy Bridgewater, QB: The veteran quarterback was signed as a “bridge” to the quarterback a veteran backup of the future. After a benching late in the season, Bridgewater could easily be moved off the who can start when roster in the interest of a rookie or another veteran option. Cap savings: $20M needed. Rushed for over 600 yards in the absence of Christian McCaffrey. (-image source usatoday.com) 2020 Record: 4-12 Projected Cap Space: $32 million over 2021 Offseason Off. Rank: 18th Def. Rank: 29th

Key Free Agents  Keanu Neal, S - Had a bounce back season after missing the better part of two seasons with knee and Achilles injuries. Hitting Rock Bottom Physical run player who recorded 100 The make or break season that faced former team’s current reputation. Fontenot, tackles in 2020. Falcons coach Dan Quinn and former previously an executive with the New  , C - The six Falcons Orleans Saints, will be tasked with finding -time Pro Bowler is started with an 0-5 start to the season and an the types of players who have the mental looking at a possible early season dismissal of the tandem that makeup to establish a new identity for the retirement. had helped the Falcons reach Super Bowl team. LI.  Brian Hill, RB - The team still has some ties to that Super Became the Falcons The Falcons have used the 2021 offseason Bowl debacle. Quarterback Matt Ryan and most useful running to try and change the lingering reputation receiver have the types of back due Todd from that Super Bowl loss. The Falcons contracts that make moving them this Gurley’s lingering have found ways to give up big leads in offseason less than ideal. For Ryan, knee issues. recent years, and that mentality of “here we returning to a style off offense from 2016 Recorded 465 yards go again” had permeated the fanbase. Most and 2017 should serve him well. rushing with an every link to that period is now gone. impressive 4.7 yards The Falcons do hold the 4th overall pick in per carry average. New coach Arthur Smith, previously the OC the upcoming draft and there are a number of the Titans, and new team GM Terry of possible franchise quarterbacks in this  , S - Fontenot are now tasked with changing the draft. A big change looks to be coming. Was only able to play in four games Targets for Release/Restructure due to injury. Intercepted 10 Allen Bailey, DE: The veteran played as a rotational pass rusher. The Falcons will need passes over the to make several moves in order to get under the salary cap for 2021. One of those moves previous two will be moving on from Bailey and realizing his savings. Cap savings: $4.5M seasons. James Carpenter, G: The 13 game starter was a trust worthy starter at times during the  , K - 2020 season. With the Falcons running more zone run concepts in 2021, the team will The 2020 kicker made 37 of 39 look to part ways and find a player who is a better fit at the guard position. Cap savings: kicks after making $4M the team on a one year deal. Will likely (-image source si.com)

-

-

-

-- 2020 Record: 7-9 Projected Cap Space: $40 million Washington 2021 Offseason Off. Rank: 30th Def. Rank: 2nd

Key Free Agents  , G – The four-time Pro Bowl guard played on the franchise tag in 2020 and is still seeking the biggest The Best of The Worst contract for a guard in the NFL.  , OLB – The finished With the 2nd ranked defense in the NFL, The 32 year old pass 2020 as the champions of the NFC East. Washington has one of the best front sevens rusher is looking to Nevermind that the division was the worst in in the NFL with young and dynamic players start in 2021 after football, what the team had to deal with across the line of scrimmage. While rookie recording 5.5 sacks in makes for a memorable season. grabbed the 2020 as a rotational headlines, led the team with player. New made the nine sacks. announcement back in August that he had  Ronald Darby, CB – Played in all 16 games been diagnosed with cancer in a lymph node. The aspect of the team fans are most and was solid in Rivera decided that he would coach while concerned about comes from trying to find a coverage and in run being treated during the season. The result quarterback. The team has been unable to use support. Should have was a gritty team that didn’t make excuses. the draft or the trade market to secure a an opportunity at a How could they when the coach was fighting future signal caller for 2021 and moving small deal in free cancer? forward. While Taylor Heinicke had an agency or back in DC. inspiring playoff start, there is a reason he A 7-9 season landed them in the playoffs and was out of the league earlier this season.  Tyler Heinicke, QB – despite a quick exit at the hands of the The darling of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, there are aspects of The WFT are champs. Now they need to find playoffs has earned a the team that should excite the fans. a franchise quarterback in order to compete. contract as a backup quarterback in the league. Washington Targets for Release/Restructure has the financial resources to bring , QB – The Washington Football Team survived one of the worst cap back and possibly have him contend for situations in the NFL when Smith was seriously injured in 2018. The team could the job in 2021. not move on from Smith until 2021 at the earliest without a sizable amount of dead money hitting the camp. Cap savings: $13.6M  Dustin Hopkins, K – Hit a career low 79.4% of , DL Allen is set to enter his fifth year option season and count his – opportunities in 2020. more than $10M against the cap. His production and draft position makes him an The veteran has been obvious candidate for a new contract extension and a lower cap number in 2021. typically reliable over the course of his (-image source huffingtonpost.com) New York 2020 Record: 6-10 Projected Cap Space: $10 million over 2021 Offseason Off. Rank: 31st Def. Rank: 12th

Key Free Agents  Leonard Williams, DE – Realized his potential in 2021 by posting a career high in tackles and sacks with 50 and 11.5. After trading for Where is The Trend Heading? Williams, the Giants seemed committed to trying to retain him The 2020 season for the New York Giants Jones regressed in , yardage, either with a second was the first under new coach Joe Judge. and sacks taken. The 2021 season is going consecutive franchise The team found themselves alive for the to be about determining the future of Daniel tag or before free agency. playoffs on the final weekend of the season Jones. His future development, or potential despite a 6-10 final record. But you have to regression will determine just which  , DT – wonder about the direction of this football direction this entire program is heading. One of the most team. consistent run The Giants have some major contributors to stoppers in the NFL, The Giants were considerably better retain as free agency approaches. Leonard Tomlinson does not defensively in 2020 than they were in 2019. Williams, the Giants sack leader in 2020, is seem to show the wear But the team took a step back in terms of set to reach free agency again for a second and tear that other run offensive production in 2020. The loss of straight offseason. This time around stoppers show by Saquon Barkley can certainly Leonard can seriously ask for and challenge missing games. be to blame, but the overall play of second the 20 million per year dollar mark.  , T – year quarterback Daniel Jones leaves a lot to The swing tackle has be pondered. The 2020 Giants were better than the team been making his that proceeded them. If the 2021 version living in the league as Jones was responsible for 16 total turnovers seeks to be better, if will have to start this substitute who can in 2020, amongst the leaders in the category. offseason and under center. handle the left or right side. Neither are Targets for Release/Restructure handled at a starter performance level. , WR – Had his lowest season of production since 2011. Tate turns  Austin Johnson, DT – A rotational player who 33 years old in 2021 and carries one of the biggest cap charges on a team looking earned snaps with the to get younger. Cap savings: $6.1M defense in 2020. With the expenditures on Kevin Zeitler, G – Zeitler’s play has fallen off in recent seasons as the pressures the defensive line in he’s given up on the quarterback have increased over the past three seasons. 2021, Johnson should Zeitler is compensated as a top three player on the team in 2021. Cap savings: reach free agency and be a veteran option for $12M another team’s rotation. 2020 Record: 6-10 Projected Cap Space: $10 million Dallas 2021 Offseason Off. Rank: 14th Def. Rank: 23rd

Key Free Agents  , QB – Finished the season on injured reserved with a broken ankle. The team wants to sign Prescott to a A Lost Season longer deal, Prescott is seeking fewer The maiden voyage for Mike McCarthy’s A simplified version of defense that allow years. Dallas Cowboys ended with a 6-10 season, them to post top 10 ranked defenses in  Aldon Smith, DE – a franchise quarterback lost to injury and recent years. As for the Cowboys offense, Came back after years the worst season of defensive football in there is a lot to be optimistic about. out of the league to franchise history. Considering the record five sacks. restrictions placed on the team’s Last year’s first round pick CeeDee Lamb Faded as the year preparation during a pandemic, one should proved to be a future star at receiver. The went on. have realized this type of season had a offensive line was hit with major injuries chance of happening. across the board and the quarterback  Andy Dalton, QB – position featured four different starters. Used the season to The injury to quarterback Dak Prescott With all that, the Cowboys still managed to establish himself as a brought to an end any real chance of post solid offensive numbers. After being serviceable starter in winning the division. But a 3-1 close to the the top ranked offense in football in 2019, the NFL once again. season gave the team a chance on the final expect the group to get back to that type of Kept the team in the playoff picture until weekend of the season to sneak into the output in 2021. playoffs. The team then quickly moved to the final weekend of The Prescott contract will once again garner the season. remove as and hired former Falcons head most of the offseason attention. But the  Chidobe Awuzie, CB – coach Dan Quinn to replace him. defense will tell the story in 2021. Former second round pick who was unavailable during Targets for Release/Restructure the season due to injury and was below , LT – The health of Smith will determine if this move has to be made average when on the this offseason. Smith was only able to make two starts in 2020 and has missed 12 field. starts over the previous four seasons. Cap savings: $5.2M  Xavier Woods, S – 15 game starter who , LB – The team’s leading tackler had a poor season. The scheme failed to make an change returning to the 2019 defense could help put Smith back on a better interceptions for the trajectory. Cap savings: $7.2M (post June 1st), $400k in 2021. first season in his career in 2020. Performs better as a (-image source usatoday.com) box safety playing --

· – · – - · – · – – –-- - -

-

-

-

-

-

· - · - - · - - · - · - - · - -

-

· - - · - - - - · - - - · - - · -

- -

· - · - · - · - · -

- -

· - -- · - · - · - · - --

-

-

-

-

-

- 2021 Offseason Off. Rank: 17th Def. Rank: 22nd

· - - - · - - · - · - -

- Los Angeles - 2021 Offseason Off. Rank: 11th Def. Rank: 1st

· - - - · - - -- · - · - - Arizona - 2021 Offseason Off. Rank: 6th Def. Rank: 13th

· – - · – - · – · – – – - San Francisco - 2021 Offseason Off. Rank: 15th Def. Rank: 5th

· - · - - - · - - -

-

-

-

-

Tennessee - 2021 Offseason Off. Rank: 3rd Def. Rank: 28th

· - · - - - - - · - · -

- Indianapolis - 2021 Offseason Off. Rank: 10th Def. Rank: 8th

· - - · - - · - · - - · - - Houston - 2021 Offseason Off. Rank: 13th Def. Rank: 30th

· - · - - --- - · - · - - · -

-

Jacksonville - 2021 Offseason Off. Rank: 28th Def. Rank: 31st

· - · - · - - · - - · -

-

-

-

-

-

Buffalo - 2021 Offseason Off. Rank: 2nd Def. Rank: 14th

· - · - - · - · - - - Miami - 2021 Offseason Off. Rank: 22nd Def. Rank: 20th

· - · - - · - · - · -

-

- New England - 2021 Offseason Off. Rank: 27th Def. Rank: 15th

· - - - - · - - · - · -

- New York - 2021 Offseason Off. Rank: 32nd Def. Rank: 24th

· - - · - · - · - -

- AFC

Pittsburgh Steelers NORTH GM: Coach: 2021 2020 Record: 12-4

Baltimore Ravens GM: Eric DeCosta Coach: 2020 Record: 11-5

Cleveland Browns GM: Andrew Berry Coach: TEAM BY TEAM PREVIEWS 2020 Record: 11-5

The Steelers are back on top of perhaps the toughest division in the NFL. GM: Mike Brown Coach: 2020 Record: 4-11-1 Follow Carlos Medina on Twitter @frontofficelos 2020 Record: 12-4 Projected Cap Space: $21 million over 2021 Offseason Off. Rank: 25th Def. Rank: 3rd

Key Free Agents  , OLB - Recorded eight sacks in 2020 before injury ended his season five games early. A torn ACL may lessen his One More Before The Rebuild value in free agency, but his skills will be in demand. One could say that the young and problematic for these Steelers. played two different seasons in 2020. There With young quarterbacks throughout the  JuJu Smith-Schuster, were the 11-0 Steelers, who were beating division, the Steelers are having to manage WR - Caught 97 playoff teams on their way to establishing the end of Ben Roethlisberger’s Hall of Fame passes for 831 yards themselves as the only true challenger to the career. and nine touchdowns . in 2020. Given the Big Ben looked every bit of his age during Steelers history of Then there was that other Steelers season in the final weeks of the season. As the Steelers paying receivers, he 2020. That Steelers team went 1-4 over the offense continued to be unable to threaten should reach free final five games of the season and proceeded downfield while also being unable to agency. to exit the playoffs in the opening round by establish a respectable running game. falling behind the 28-0.  Al Villanueva, LT - A Like other talented teams, the Steelers are Two completely different seasons for the cornerstone of the going to lose talent this offseason. But the Steelers indeed. Steelers line for focus of this offseason is going to be about years, Villanueva will There is clearly change going on in the AFC getting younger on the offensive line and be ushered out as North. While the Steelers remain a defensive creating a better running attack. That was the part of the youth stalwart with more than enough offense to Steelers will only have to be a team with one movement on the win games, the rest of the divison has gotten season and one identity in 2021. Steelers line in hopes of creating better run play. Targets for Release/Restructure

 Cameron Sutton, CB Ben Roethlisberger, QB: Set to count more than $40M against the Steelers cap in 2021, - The former third Roethlisberger has indicated that he will work with the Steelers to lower his cap number round pick played his as he prepares for his 18th and perhaps final season. With a base salary of $4M, way into a bigger Roethlisberger can help create some. Cap savings: $3M contract after having his best season. Has David DeCastro, G: DeCastro started off the 2020 season playing among the best guards appeared in 47 in the league. His play over the final 12 games showed a player in decline. Turns 32 games over the past years old this spring. Cap savings: $8.7M three seasons in Pittsburgh as a dependable player. Baltimore 2020 Record: 11-5 Projected Cap Space: $24 million 2021 Offseason Off. Rank: 19th Def. Rank: 7th

Key Free Agents

, DE - Had quite the tour of the NFL in 2020. Franchised by the Jaguars, Ngakoue was traded twice to The Next Offensive Step Minnesota and then to Baltimore. Recorded eight sacks The have one of the most and the offensive is forced into opening up in 2020, matching his fascinating challenges of any NFL team this the passing game. The narrative that Lamar 2019 performance. offseason. Led by a former league MVP, the Jackson and the Ravens can’t win when Ravens are a team that constantly wins falling behind was broken by the playoff win  Matt Judon, OLB - football games. Quarterback against the . But the fans Dependable is now 30-7 as a starter. But the challenge and the organization realize it is the team’s who for the Ravens remains how to improve the primary problem. consistently gets to offense, and is Jackson the problem? the quarterback. The Ravens front office is going to take the Judon has recorded The Ravens had the number one scoring next step in this progression. The plan will be 30.5 sacks over the offense in the NFL in 2019. They ranked to add larger playmakers on the outside who past four seasons. seventh in 2020. This is not a situation in can win the 50-50 throws and help Lamar Played under the which the Ravens are loaded defensively Jackson out. Adding those types of players franchise tag in 2020. and are inept offensively. But in a league will either unlock more of Jackson’s potential, or expose a hole in his game.  Gus Edwards, RB where the passing game drives points, the Ravens are playing old school football. It (RFA) - Durable The Ravens are going to win in 2021. That’s running back who works, but only to a point. nearly a given. How they win in 2021 will be scored six times and That point is when the Ravens fall behind the fascinating part. rushed for five yards a carry in 2020. Will require a qualifying Targets for Release/Restructure offer to secure his services in Baltimore. Lamar Jackson, QB: With three seasons of NFL service time complete, Jackson is now eligible for a contract extension. Jackson is extremely affordable over the next two  Mark Ingram, RB - An seasons, but an extension would allow the Ravens to have cap certainty over a five year ankle injury and period. The question becomes how much of an extension should Jackson command? positive covid test Despite his record in games where his team falls behind, Jackson is 30-7 as an NFL pushed Ingram into a starter. If the point is to win football games, than Jackson does what is required of the backup role with the highest paid quarterbacks in the NFL. team. A workhorse back who should get a shot elsewhere in 2021. (-image source cbsbaltimore.com) Cleveland 2020 Record: 11-5 Projected Cap Space: $24 million 2021 Offseason Off. Rank: 16th Def. Rank: 17th

Key Free Agents

 Olivier Vernon, OLB - Was having his best season as a Brown with nine sacks before going down with a ruptured Finally Getting it Right Achillies. A terrible injury for a pass rusher. Will have to The Cleveland Browns changed again...and had not experienced success in many years. take a small deal or this time they got it right. Really right. 2021 is now about the encore. How will the Browns follow it up? rehab the injury for The Browns under first year head coach most of 2021. Kevin Stefanski were one of the more For starters, the Browns have various areas  Terrence Mitchell, CB - entertaining groups to watch in the NFL. that they need to improve on. Their play in Played a ton of snaps Blending a power run game with aggressive coverage would be first and foremost. While due to injuries at the play action, the Browns went 11-5 and injuries and outbreaks limited the availability position. Has outsted the Pittsburgh Steelers from the of players such as , established himself playoffs. Not bad for a debut season. overall the safety play in Cleveland is an area as a quality third for improvement. The linebacker position is cornerback, which is 2020 for the Browns was a season that another area where the Browns will have to now basically a validated that they could get things right. get players who are capable of defending the starter in the NFL. Quarterback , a winner in modern passing game. college, proved that he could take a team  Karl Joseph, S - His and advance in the playoffs. Offensive The Browns are fun again. They should career of making big weapons like running backs , emerge over the next year as the primary plays and giving up Kareem Hunt, and receiver all challenger for the AFC North division title. big plays continued in proved they could deliver for a program that That would be quite the encore. Cleveland. A perfect example of a boom- Targets for Release/Restructure or-bust safety.

 BJ Goodson, LB - A 14 , DE: Recorded 3.5 sacks during the 2020 season. Clayborn is not a cap game starter for the issue in terms of price unless the Browns want to get younger at the position or extend Browns who recorded the contracts of some of their younger talent. Clayborn turns 33 this season. Cap 91 tackles in 2020. A savings: $3M solid run play linebacker who may Odell Beckham Jr, WR: The Browns are a run-first play action passing team. The have found a home in success of the offense starts with the ability for their running backs to control the game. this division and in With that understood, having two receivers with a need for the football can be this role. problematic. Landry creates more savings, but he’s also healthier. Cap savings: $3M

(-image source washingtontimes.com) Cincinnati Bengals 2020 Record: 4-11-1 Projected Cap Space: $34 million 2021 Offseason Off. Rank: 29th Def. Rank: 26th

Key Free Agents

 Aj Green, WR - Has already posted his goodbye to the city on social media. Green was relegated to the roll of a third Hope and Disappointment receiver often in the Bengals offense. Caught 47 passes for Over the first 11 weeks of the 2020 season, Defensively the Bengals were as bad as it 523 yards and two rookie quarterback Joe Burrow was set to gets when it comes to getting quarterbacks on touchdowns in 2020. smash rookie passing records and easily be the ground. Recording just 17 sacks as a named the NFL rookie of the year. The NFL team, the group ranked dead-last in the NFL.  Williams Jackson III, can be a cruel business, where once there Leading sacker Carl Lawson recorded 5.5 CB - A four-year was hope there became disppointment and sacks on the season. No one else on the team veteran who has uncertainty. had more than two, and with Lawson set to made 48 starts over reach free agency the defense needs a lot of 59 games in the NFL. Suffering a devastating knee injury that help in this department. Had a solid season included a tear of his ACL and MCL, Joe and was the Bengals Burrow ended his rookie campaign having Free agent addition cornerback best cornerback. completed 65% of his passes for 13 has yet to have an impact on the team after Arriving in the league touchdowns and just five interceptions. His tearing a pectoral muscle. The rest of the at 25, Jackson is now 2,688 yards were more than respectable, Bengals may not be a factor in 29 years old. putting him 6th overall in yards passing per 2021 as they are set to reach free agency. game. Now the Bengals are forced to wait to This is a total rebuild that started last season.  Carl Lawson, DE - Recorded 5.5 sacks see just how long it will be before Joe The rebuild started right with Joe Burrow. to lead the Bengals in Burrow can look like Joe Burrow again. The franchise just needs to get him back. that category comfortably. Turning Targets for Release/Restructure 26 years old, Lawson can be a quality veteran pass rusher , DT: Had trouble staying on the field due to a shoulder injury. Atkins was as part of a deeper only available to appear in eight games and had little impact. Has long been one of the rotation. best community-oriented players for the Bengals. Cap savings $9.5M  , Giovani Bernard, RB: With Joe Mixon firmly installed as the top Bengals running back, CB - Ten game Bernard was not the complimentary piece one would look for. Bernard rushed for just starter, played on a 3.4 yards per carry after averaging 3.2 yards per carry in 2019. Cap savings $4.1M one-year contract and was solid enough to get another deal (-image source theinquistr.com) with the Bengals.

-

-

-

-

Kansas City - 2021 Offseason Off. Rank: 1st Def. Rank: 16th

· - · - -- - · - - · -

· - - Las Vegas 2020 Record: 8-8 Projected Cap Space: $17 million over 2021 Offseason Off. Rank: 8th Def. Rank: 25th

Key Free Agents

, WR - Had an explosive 2020 season in which he displayed his homerun play potential. Caught 48 Time to Deliver passes for 896 yards, a whopping 18.7 yards per catch The were a 6-3 football Carr, he should be sharing that pressure with average. Caught team in 2020 that included early season Gruden. Gruden is now 114-110 as a head eight touchdowns. wins against the Saints and the Chiefs. They coach in the NFL, and just 64-80 since looked poised to once again be a playoff winning the Super Bowl in 2002. If that’s  Johnathan Hankins, DT team. what $10M per season gets you than - Plays a dependable championship coaching must be wildly brand of football, 32 Then the second half of the season arrived expensive. game starter over the and the Raiders went into a dive that had past two seasons. Raiders fans thinking of 2019. The previous The Raiders have reportedly been looking to season the Raiders were 6-4 before trade quarterback Derek Carr and move on to  , DE - The defensive issues doomed them to a 1-5 their next signal caller. But the numbers say former league leader finish. This time around those same this is a defensive problem in Las Vegas. The in sacks from 2016 defensive issues handed them a 2-5 finish to Raiders ranked 25th overall in total defense spent the season with the 2020 season. and their late season slides have been the Titans and the evidence of their inability to stop people. Raiders. Beasley For a coach who reportedly makes $10M doesn’t like football. per season, it’s time to deliver. While the Fix the defense, you fix the Raiders. But sometimes deflecting the blame is a useful  , LB - Raiders organization has seemingly put tactic in the NFL. Started 11 games in much of this situation on quarterback Derek 2020 and recorded 78 tackles and three Targets for Release/Restructure sacks during the season. An intriguing Tyrell Williams, WR: 2020 was to be a make-or-break season for Williams given his player who entered contract status for 2021. Williams tore his labrum and was unable to rehab the injury the league as an before requiring season-ending surgery. Cap savings: $11.6M undrafted rookie free agent. , CB/S: Simply has not played well enough during his two seasons with the Raiders to justify his 2021 cap number. Set to count more than $11M against the cap  Takk McKinley, DE - and has not produced at that level. Cap savings: $8.7M Has had issues with his shoulders since college and have continued in the NFL. (-image source raiders.com) Los Angeles 2020 Record: 7-9 Projected Cap Space: $22 million 2021 Offseason Off. Rank: 9th Def. Rank: 10th

Key Free Agents

, DE - Spent the season dealing with injuries that cost him nine games. Was unable to record a sack for A New Offensive Leader the first time during his career. Had recorded 24.5 sacks A 7-9 season is typically one that leads to The Chargers should be a good football team over the previous much frustration within an NFL in 2021. They feature an offense and a three seasons. organization. You find yourself thinking defense that each carry a top-10 ranking. about every close loss, every blown lead, New coach will be tasked  Hunter Henry, TE - every little play you didn’t make. It’s a with winning the games that the 2020 version Caught 60 passes for different 7-9 season for the Chargers of the team could not. The Chargers lost 613 yards and four though. three games in 2020 in which they held at touchdowns in 2020 least a 17 point lead. while playing on the Yes all of those close losses hurt the franchise tag. Should Chargers. But they got the big picture move So what’s next? Now that the quarterback command a bigger right. The Chargers used the sixth overall question is solved this team needs to be about contract. selection to draft quarterback protecting Herbert and giving him weapons. to eventually lead the program. After an The offensive line is an area of concern as a  , G - early season freak injury to starter Tyrod multitude of veterans are set to reach free Proved he could Taylor, Herbert stepped in to lead the team. agency. Assigning resources to guards and make it through a 4,000 passing yards and 31 touchdown tackles would be ideal. season healthy in 2020 for the first time passes later, Herbert was named the NFL’s If the Chargers get this right, those 7-9 in his career. Played Rookie of The Year. seasons will be gone for about a decade. above average football. Targets for Release/Restructure  , S - Blossomed in 2020 , G: Had a disappointing debut season in LA as Turner missed seven games recording 80 tackles, and was not good in the games he did play in. It will be up to the Chargers front office if two interceptions and they want to gamble big cap dollars on Turner bouncing back. Cap savings: $11.2M a sack. Jenkins proved he could be a Casey Hayward, CB: Another Charger who is typically a good player but injuries kept piece that can move him from playing at his typical level. The now 31 year old Hayward enters the final year all around the of his deal in 2021 and the team could go with a cheaper option. Cap savings: $9.7M defense and be productive in whatever role he’s (-image source mighty1090.com) asked to play. Denver 2020 Record: 5-11 Projected Cap Space: $16 million 2021 Offseason Off. Rank: 23rd Def. Rank: 21st

Key Free Agents

 Justin Simmmons, FS - The best player in the Broncos secondary and one of the best overall safeties in the NFL. Should An Offensive Identity Needed command the biggest contract for a safety The Denver Broncos should be a better 4,000 yards while recording 31 touchdown come March. football team than their 2020 record. The passes against just 10 interceptions. So the  Tim Patrick, WR (RFA) team continues to put a respectable defense clock on young quarterbacks is ticking faster - 15 game starter on the field and now boasts several Pro than it ever has before in the history of the who has taken on the Bowl players on that side of the football. league. role of the #2 receiver Where the Broncos couldn’t to struggle is Denver holds the ninth overall pick in the in the Broncos establishing just what they are going to be offense. Caught 51 offensively. upcoming NFL Draft. The team reportedly passes for 742 yards would not include Drew Lock in a trade to and six touchdowns Quarterback Drew Lock has looked like an Detroit for Matt Stafford. But that doesn’t in 2020. Will require a average young quarterback over his first two mean the team is fully committed to him. qualifying offer to NFL seasons. The problem is that young What the Broncos choose to do in this draft retain his services. quarterbacks are performing at a much will be the true indicator of their higher level now than they traditionally had committment level.  Phillip Lindsay, RB in the past. While Lock threw 16 touchdown (RFA) - Rushed for passes against 15 interceptions, the division The Broncos should be a better football 1,000 yards in each rival Chargers have their own young starter team. But they need an offensive identity of his first two NFL in rookie Justin Herbert who threw for over and a quarterback who they can experience seasons. Missed five success with. games in 2020 and lost carries. Still Targets for Release/Restructure recorded 4.3 yards per carry on average. , OLB: The 32 year old linebacker carries the biggest cap charge of any  Shelby Harris, DE - Bronco in 2021. Recorded his fewest sacks in a season since 2013 when he missed seven Has established games due to injury. Miller is still productive in that he recorded eight sacks in 2020, but himself as a he’s set to cost more than $22M against the cap. Cap savings: $18M dependable veteran player with some , DT: The veteran was only able to appear in three games sack capabilities. in 2020 due to injury. Casey, who was traded to the Broncos for a seventh round pick, Played on a one-year will have to play at a greatly reduced base salary to stay in Denver. Cap savings: $11.8M deal in 2020.

(-image source denverbroncos.com)

-