The Free Agency is finally coming! From the 12. On March 14th, the advisors of the players whose contract expires are allowed to start negotiations with other teams – starting from March 14th. March begins the lively interplay! Before it really starts, SPOX looks at the largest construction sites of all 32 teams. SPOX is ticking from the 12. March the week over until Friday live!
Largest Needs: WR, TE
The Ravens won’t be able to get out of Joe Flacco’s contract in the foreseeable future, let alone trade it. So Baltimore has to build around him in the best possible way, starting with the receiving corps. This was already desolate last season, even when the offensive line finally got caught and Flacco stabilized. Mike Wallace and Michael Campanaro have expired contracts, Breshad Perriman is still far from the performances you would expect from a first round receiver. It is defensive to find long-term solutions for the Edge-Rusher positions.
Most important own Free Agent: Center Ryan Jensen.
Largest Needs: LB, TE, OT
As expected, the offensive line was a huge problem last season. After the dives of Whitworth and Zeitler, the Bengals Line collapsed again and again, it’s time to restore Andy Dalton’s stability. This could also affect the Tight-End Corps if Tyler Eifert is not held. And even then – who knows how many matches Eifert will actually play in the coming season? A new starting linebacker is also an issue, Minter’s contract expires and Burfict remains a risk. After all: With players like Cornerback William Jackson or Running Back Joe Mixon, who will take on the starter role in view of Jeremy Hill’s imminent departure, Cincy has a lot of young talent in addition to the core around Atkins, Green and Co.
Most important own Free Agent: Tight End Tyler Eifert.
Largest Needs: QB, CB, RB
Groundhog stories at their best. This year, Cleveland’s quarterback is once again at the top of the list. Kizer already doesn’t seem to be seen as the potentially long-term solution, Cap Management and collecting draft picks over the past few years have led the Browns to this point: Now they are in a position to commit their quarterback to the future. Cleveland only needs to show whether this should be done via Free Agency or in draft (or both). Otherwise: At least one cornerback has to be made, in the backfield the contract of starter Isaiah Crowell expires. At the same time, however, the Browns have a much better base than the 0-16 season would suggest: The offensive line is better than average, the defensive front as well. However, the question is justified whether defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is the best candidate to get the best possible performance from the defense.
Most important own Free Agent: Running Back Isaiah Crowell.
Largest Needs: LB
In Pittsburgh, they are still struggling with the fact that they lost this incredible playoff game against Jacksonville and that they simply had no answers to the play-action game of the Jags – as it turned out a week later against the patriots, the only real passing device that Jacksonville was willing to constantly use in the playoffs. The squad, and this is still the case, belongs to the absolute league elite in terms of breadth and quality. Le’ Veon Bell has announced that he will not be on strike next season despite the franchise day, so this site is closed for the time being. Therefore, the focus is clearly on one position: A starting linebacker is needed. It is already clear that Ryan Shazier will not play this season due to his injury to the spine.
Main own Free Agent: Running Back Le’ Veon Bell.
Biggest Needs: WR, Pass-Rush, CB
Every year there are the teams where the biggest construction sites start up. Chicago fits into this category this time: The Bears already had a desolate receiving corps in the pre-season, in which the contracts of Kendall Wright, Josh Bellamy and Dontrelle Inman expire. Above all, there is the big unknown name Kevin White, in other words: Chicago has to change its wide-receiver corps more or less completely. This must also be a top priority to drive the development of quarterback Mitchell Trubisky – the new offense of Matt Nagy and Mark Helfrich should also help. Defensively the Pass-Rush needs reinforcements, if Fuller should go despite the Transition Day, the Secondary – Prince Amukamara’s contract also expires – is also a major construction site.
Most important own Free Agent: Cornerback Kendall Fuller.
Largest Needs: RB, LB
Since it has become clear that Lions Defensive End Ziggy Ansah is giving the franchise day, you can focus on other positions. Linebacker, for example, where Whitehead and Worrilow have expiring contracts. Or Running Back, where Detroit has been understaffed for years. As a team, Detroit has never been able to earn more than 3.8 yards per run in the last four years (3.4 – 3.7 – 3.8 – 3.6), the last individual 100 yard rusher was Reggie Bush against Chicago in November 2013. It’s time to support Matthew Stafford with a competent run game. Once again, the draft is a good choice for this year’s event, but it would not be a bad idea to get a reliable, seasoned professional for one or two years at the Free Agency.
Most important own Free Agent: Center Travis Swanson.
Largest Needs: CB, TE, Pass-Rush
Last year’s Packers season is likely to come to an end faster than usual – too little significance is given to a season that had to take place largely without Aaron Rodgers due to injury. If you want to try it, one thing you should keep in mind is that Brett Hundley could be replaced sooner rather than later – and that Green Bay is perfectly capable of playing a good run game. The latter should also be helpful for Rodgers, who is aggressively focusing on the tight end position in addition to the expiring contract with Guard Jahri Evans. Richard Rodgers’ deal ends, do the Packers try again after the Martellus Bennett attack with a big name? Jimmy Graham, for instance, would be a candidate. Cornerbacks and Pass-Rusher are the theme for defensively giving Mike Pettine, the new defensive coordinator, the means to implement his aggressive defense. Muhammad Wilkerson would be an interesting beginning.
Most important own Free Agent: Safety Morgan Burnett.
Largest Needs: QB, OG
The individually most exciting team of this Free Agency, because if the saying:”Who has two quarterbacks doesn’t have one” is true – what about teams with three quarterbacks? Case Keenum had a great season in a great scheme, Teddy Bridgewater fought back after his catastrophic knee injury, Sam Bradford had another injured season. All three have expiring contracts and the question is: Which quarterback should it be? Bradford doesn’t seem to be an issue, Keenum is supposedly expensive – and nobody knows exactly to what extent his performances from last season are repeatable. Will Bridgewater remain, who is by far the greatest risk and question mark in terms of health, but is also likely to be the cheapest option? Or is there even the fourth candidate, and Minnesota actually strikes with Kirk Cousins on a grand scale? Apart from that, the Vikes have one of the most complete teams in the league.
Most important own Free Agent: Quarterback Case Keenum.
Page 1: AFC North and NFC North
Page 2: The AFC East and the NFC East
Page 3: AFC South and NFC South
Page 4: AFC West and NFC West