NFL Offseason Review: Part Four By Stuart Tomlin

With the NFL Draft and the beginnings of Free Agency in the books, we thought it was time to look at the state of the NFL as it stands in May 2019, four months ahead of the season. Initially, I thought it’d be a good idea to run a full article with all thirty-two teams, but I underestimated how large that article would be. Therefore, it was decided that it would be a series of four, posted on consecutive days, in alphabetical order. Today, we look at teams O through Z. Well, W, as Washington is the last team in the league alphabetically, but I’m doing the whole A-Z thing, ok? Okay. Let’s go.

OAKLAND RAIDERS

So, Oakland! This should be a quiet, mundane affair, as the Raiders are well known for these days. Three first rounders and an impending move to Las Vegas next year, what’s happening in the meantime?

Well, only one place to start: Antonio Brown. After the Steelers tried to ship him off to Buffalo and AB thought “the hell with that”, they managed to get a trade partner in the Oakland Raiders and Grudenball. For a third and a fifth. Really? That’s...it? That seems like a bit of a steal. Did his value get tanked THAT much?

Well anyway, Antonio Brown is now in the Silver and Black. With his obvious talent comes his baggage. This could either be an absolutely sensational move for the Raiders, or an utter trainwreck. Or, most likely, both at the same time.

He’ll also be sharing a locker room with former Bengals defender Vontaze Burflict, you know, the same guy who almost murdered him in the Wildcard Round a few years back. Fun!

Tyrell Williams is also here, off a down year with the neighbouring* Los Angeles Chargers. If Carr can find his form again, that could be a good WR corps. If not, it could be a frustrating year for Williams once again.

*not for much longer, unless you count divisional

Despite the rumours of the Raiders using one of their picks on a Quarterback...they didn’t. For now, Derek Carr is still the man in Oakland/Las Vegas. For now. Let’s revisit this one in 12 months when the Raiders actually make their move, shall we?

New GM Mike Mayock, yes, Mike Mayock off the telly, and Jon Gruden pretty much kicked out all their scouts from the Draft room. That sounds like a healthy organisational move for sure.

With the fourth overall, your first pick was Clelin Ferrell. While the guy is talented, I feel that Josh Allen may have been the better option here. This one feels like a bit of a reach and the fact is he would have likely still be on the board when you picked later on. With the pick you got from the Bears, you drafted running back Josh Jacobs. I think this one is fair enough. You badly needed a running back after Beast Mode retired for the second, and most likely final, time. The final first rounder was Johnathan Abram, and again, absolutely no complaints here, he’s a very good Safety and has a lot of potential.

I think the Raiders have made some good moves in this year’s offseason, but I think a lot of how they’ll do in the next few years depends on whether Derek Carr can become the same Quarterback he was, and whether that offensive line can actually protect him. We’ll see on that one. Hey, can’t get any worse, can it?

Also can we please get the Raiders on Hard Knocks this or next season? That’d be a lot of fun.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Tragic news from Philadelphia this offseason. The era of Big Dick Nick in Philly has ended. May we always be thankful for him slaying the Patriots in Minnesota. And we’ll always have the Dilly Dilly Statue outside of Lincoln Financial Field.

Nick Foles got a statue before Tom Brady. What a world we live in.

This is very much Carson Wentz’s team again, if it wasn’t before - and, importantly, there is absolutely no backup plans whatsoever for Philly now. If he gets hurt again, there’s no Foles to bail you out again. Keep Wentz healthy this time around, will you? It’s kinda necessary at this point. I mean, who even is the backup now? *googles* Nate Sudfeld. It’s Nate Sudfeld. Okay then.

DeSean Jackson is back in Philly at the twilight of his career, and you’d have to have a heart of stone, or support the Giants, Cowboys or Washingtons, to not want to see him do well back in Philly. Malik Jackson and Andrew Sendejo have arrived to help bolster your defensive options.

As far as the Draft goes, you traded up to get offensive tackle Andre Dillard. You achieved two things here. First off, you got Wentz more protection, and that is vital in the whole “keeping him healthy thing.” Secondly, and more importantly to this writer, you robbed the Texans of Andre Dillard and forced them into a panic move. I am once again grateful to the Eagles.

Also you traded with the Bears for Jordan Howard, and with London-born Jay Ajayi gone, I think this was a very good move to complement Corey Clement. On the plus side Darren Sproles looks like he’s coming back for one more year, which I’m happy about. He deserves better than to go out on the injury cart.

Still feels like if Wentz is healthy, the Eagles will be very good. If not...

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

I’ve already done the “Quiet offseason” joke on the Oakland Raiders, so it’d be a bit of a waste to do it twice. That being said, our favourite soap opera drama lost a couple of characters in a big way this offseason.

First off, Le’Veon Bell is away. After his year-long contract holdout, Bell has left for New York. He’s lost himself $14.5 million by not signing the franchise tag and playing last year, and then got himself a contract that is...around about the same as he got in Pittsburgh. With less guaranteed money. For a longer period of time, so I guess he’s gotten his stability. But, still. He’s lost out on some money and missed a full season. One to keep an eye on.

Elsewhere, Antonio Brown is also gone. This one is a lot more bitter than the Bell situation, and that is SAYING something. Before the last game of the season, Brown walked out of practice during the week, returned during gameday, and then missed the final game of the season due to a “knee injury” which was actually revealed to be a punishment for walking out of the team. I’m in two minds about that - they benched their best wide receiver for a game they had to win, but they couldn’t let it go unpunished…

AB then unfollowed the Steelers on social media, which of course is the benchmark of a player’s happiness these days, and requested a trade, which was denied by Mike Tomlin.

Brown initially wanted to go to the 49ers, but no offer came. Several teams denied their interest in him, and his trade value plummeted, as AB could not keep his mouth shut.

Then the Steelers tried to trade him to the Buffalo Bills. The football world laughed in unison.

The trade was denied by Antonio Brown.

Eventually, he was traded to the Raiders, for a third and a fifth. Because, why not. Seems like a vast underpay as I said before. Had his value really, really tanked that much?

AB and Bell are gone, so the drama is gone, right? Not quite. Big Ben is still here - and has been signed for three more years. Three more years of players being thrown under the bus. To quote UrinatingTree, the glorious “Leader of Men” will be here for years to come. Yay.

In the Draft, the Steelers traded up to get Devin Bush, which is a very good move as Ryan Shazier is tragically injured and unlikely to ever play again. We all wish Shazier the best. It’d be great to one day see him back on the field, but more importantly, hopefully he can get a full bill of health and happiness in his life.

As for players you’ve signed in free agency...Donte Moncrief? Yay? Mark Barron comes in from the Rams and Steven Nelson from the Chiefs.

I’m fully invested to see where the soap opera drama goes from here after the loss of two of its major characters.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

The most important aspect of the Niners offseason? Jimmy Garoppollo is back. After a potentially promising season last year fell to absolute shit due to Garoppollo tearing his ACL early on, the Niners have their franchise QB back. Sure, he’s only played a handful of games and already been paid handsomely for them, but there is potential there. Hugely interested to see how he matches up with George Kittle, who broke out at the Tight End position last season.

The other thing about is there is an out for the Niners if Garoppollo fails to live up to potential this year. He could be cut for a hit of $4.2m if he fails to live up to potential this year and leads the Niners to a high draft pick. This could be a storyline to watch for.

Kwon Alexander and Tevin Coleman have come in from free agency, and the Niners traded with the Chiefs to get Dee Ford for a fairly decent return in a 2020 Second Round Pick. Ford is a huge get for the defence and Alexander should contribute as well. I’ve said for a while that Coleman has the potential to be a starting running back in this league after his successful timeshare with Freeman, and with Freeman back in Atlanta, he finally gets his chance to be his own man fully in Santa Clara.

As for the Draft, Nick Bosa was added with the second overall pick. As much as I hate his politics, he is a potentially generational talent and a smart addition to that Niners defence, and if he likely lives up to potential, he could be a huge get.

So, a fairly straight-forward offseason for the Niners, and one that could potentially see them make that jump into the postseason. You know, the one that could’ve happened last year. What’s that saying about deja vu?

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

The biggest storyline of this offseason so far for the Seahawks was the Russell Wilson contract extension. After setting an April deadline for the extension to happen, and some trade rumours (including the Giants, imagine had THAT gone through), the Seahawks and Russell Wilson signed a new mega-deal and Russell Wilson put out that weird video of him telling the Seahawks fans the deal was done and to go to bed. It was...odd. And parodied by his teammates. But regardless, the deal is done, and Wilson will be in Seattle for years to come.

One player who will not be in Seattle: Frank Clark. After being franchise tagged, he didn’t plan to sign it, and Clark has now been traded to Kansas City.

Doug Baldwin has retired, leaving Seattle having had a great career including a Super Bowl ring. Will he make it to Canton? Debatable. But he has had a very good run.

The Seahawks did take DK Metcalf in the third round of the Draft as a potential Baldwin replacement. He fell a lot further than I was expecting him to. Huh. They also drafted Frank Clark’s replacement, LJ Collier. Ironically, he was picked with the first rounder they got for, funnily enough, trading away Frank Clark to the Chiefs. They also traded a pick to the Packers, and then traded down again to the Giants. Again, huh.

They re-signed KJ Wright and signed Jason Myers.

A few storylines here with Wilson, Clark and Baldwin, but it honestly feels more like who the Hawks have lost than who they have gained. Metcalf’ll be one to keep an eye on but this is gonna be a tough ask with the Rams just off a Super Bowl and the Niners potentially improving. It’ll be an interesting season in Seattle, that’s for sure.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Well, the Buccs got rid of Dirk Koetter, a man who was once quoted as wanting to fire himself for his team’s performances. He got his wish. He’s been replaced by Bruce Arians, back again in the league after retiring a year ago from coaching the Cardinals. Put your own Arizona retirement home jokes in here.

Arians will be a massive improvement for the Buccs over Koetter but this might be a tough first season for him in Tampa. Jameis Winston is getting that many last chances that he might as well be Ryan Tannehill.

Tampa lost Adam Humphries to the Titans. Kwon Alexander is gone, away to the Niners. Safety Andrew Adams has moved to the Lions. DeSean Jackson has returned home to Philadelphia. And of course, Fitzmagic has taken his talents to South Beach. That’s a lot of losses.

So, who have you brought in? The Buccs signed Breshad Perriman in a low risk, low reward move. Deone Bucannon has also arrived from Arizona and has familarity with Arians and his system, which will help. Still, it feels like a lot of losses and small gains.

In the draft, Devin White and his nine horses (yes, nine) were selected with the fifth overall pick. As much as I’d have liked him to be a Colt or a Bronco (particular a Colt as he’s talented as hell) just because of the horseman storyline, it’s a hell of a pIck for Tampa and he was never falling out of the top five. I could see him doing very well in this league for his career.

Tampa is a strange one for me. It feels like a massive rebuild but they could overachieve for a couple of years because of Arians, but Arians at his age is not a long-term option at head coach, and Jameis Winston feels like he’s on his very last chance as Tampa’s franchise Quarterback, so it feels like a very strange situation all things being considered. They could massively overachieve, or be an absolute firey mess. Or both.

TENNESSEE TITANS

Marcus Mariota has competition in Nashville now in the form of Ryan Tannehill.

There’s a headline.

Quarterback controversy in Nashville?

It’s better than Yo Gabbert Gabbert?

On a serious note, the home of the NFL Draft this year saw a few signings. Adam Humphries should provide a good slot receiver option for Mariota/Tannehill. Kenny Vaccaro has been brought in after his previous stint with the Saints, and veteran Defensive End Cameron Wake joins from Miami. And of course, the aforementioned Tannehill signing.

The Ten Titans (to quote Keira) drafted Jeffrey Simmons which is a good value pick at 19. AJ Brown and Amari Hooker are both exciting picks for the Tennessee Titans and should benefit them in the season to come.

I think the question marks still remain with Mariota and Tannehill has been brought in as a backup, but if Mariota gets hurt, which let’s be honest going off form is more than likely to happen at some point this season, so he’s certainly a more reliable option than Blaine Gabbert, who has since been released. But to be honest, that’s not exactly saying that much. If Mariota can put it together, it could be a good year for a Tennessee team who narrowly missed the playoffs on a win and in situation against the Colts, which I just love reminding you all about.

But that’s a big if.

WASHINGTON D.C. FOOTBALL TEAM

And the final team in our offseason review, the Washington D.C. Fitba team. Dan Snyder has taken control of the first round of the Draft. This should be an utter clownshow…

...they drafted Dwayne Haskins, and didn’t have to trade up for him. Huh. That’s a good move. They can thank their neighbours in the NFC East, the Giants for that one.

They traded up with Indy to get Montez Sweat, who only dropped because of a potentially misdiagnosed heart condition. Welp, that’s another good potential move for Washington…

Terry McLaurin is also a good pick. I really liked him coming into the Draft, and there’s some familarity with Haskins...Kelvin Harmon was also added late in the Draft.

Are we sure Dan Snyder is in charge?

You threw a lot of money at Landon Collins, who again, the Giants inexplicably let walk for nothing, but he massively improves your secondary.

Who are you, and what have you done with Washington?

Oh wait they signed Brian Quick...meh?

They signed human turnstile Ereck Flowers.

THERE’S the Washington we all know and love.

If Haskins can put it together though, there’s a lot of low-key potential here. Having Derrius Guice back off an injury is a huge addition, as he showed a lot of promise before tearing his ACL, as well as a potential one-two punch with Harmon and McLaurin. This Washington team could be low-key very good this year. One to watch for sure.

Jay Gruden is in a hotseat year, so this is definitely going to be an interesting year in Landover, Maryland.

Are we sure Dan Snyder and Bruce Allen are still in charge here?

--------------------------------------------------------

And that’ll do it for the look at the offseason. This took me a couple of weeks to write and perfect, and is one of the more extensive articles I’ve done for Go For It On Fourth, and honestly? It was a lot of fun. Forgot how much I love doing these articles.

I think that’ll be it for a wee bit for me, at least until towards the start of the season. Will put together the fan previews at the start of August and aim to do all 32 in time for the start of the season. Accepting applications to help out with that soon. Looking at getting those out and back in July, so that I can put them together in time for August and doing them in the days leading up to the start of the 2019 NFL Season.

Thanks, and enjoy your day.

And as always,

Go Colts.