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New York Times
29-05-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Sando: My favorite offseason move by every NFL team
With nearly all major NFL offseason moves complete, save for whatever happens with Aaron Rodgers and possibly Kirk Cousins, it's a good time to single out a favorite move for each team. From Arizona to Washington, we have every team covered. Adding Josh Sweat in free agency addressed Arizona's massive need for proven pass-rush help. Sweat's 43 sacks for Philadelphia since 2019 dwarf the totals for any Cardinal over that span. Arizona's most productive pass rushers since then — Chandler Jones (30.5 sacks), Dennis Gardeck (17), Markus Golden (16.5), Haason Reddick (13.5) and J.J. Watt (13.5) are long gone from the roster, save for Gardeck. Sweat carries risk with a knee that requires management, but his history with the Cardinals' coaches assures a solid fit. Advertisement The Falcons' double-barreled approach to addressing their pass-rush issues cost them a 2026 first-round pick, which seemed desperate. But unlike last offseason, when the Falcons committed $90 million guaranteed to Kirk Cousins before using a first-round pick for another QB, Michael Penix Jr., the move to draft pass rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. was not an either-or proposition. Both first-round picks can play at the same time. Getting a third-round pick back from the Rams in the trade-up for Pearce also enabled the selection of safety Xavier Watts, a likely starter. Re-signing Ronnie Stanley before free agency spared the Ravens from suddenly needing a left tackle in an offseason when there weren't great options at the position. This made it easier for them to use their first-round pick (No. 27) for safety Malaki Starks instead of chasing a tackle, which Kansas City felt compelled to do at No. 31 (Josh Simmons, coming off injury, was the Chiefs' pick there). Keeping quarterback Josh Allen happy on an extension worth $55 million per year, well below the $60 million threshold set by Dak Prescott, affirmed that the relationship between the team and its franchise quarterback remains strong. Buffalo was under no obligation to redo a deal that had four years remaining, but in a market where keeping superstars comes with some additional challenges, the Bills' thinking appeared proactive. Allen is everything for Buffalo. Safety Tre'von Moehrig, signed from Las Vegas on a three-year deal for $51 million, should upgrade a run defense that allowed 179.8 yards per game in 2024, most in the NFL since the 1987 strike-season Falcons (182.3). Moehrig ranked fifth among 50 qualifying safeties in PFF run defense last season, trailing Brian Branch, Julian Love, Kyle Hamilton and Derwin James. Advertisement An all-out effort to address the offense, led by Ben Johnson's hiring as head coach and heavy investments in the offensive roster, particularly up front, stands out for Chicago. All signs point to the Bears being in a better position to evaluate second-year quarterback Caleb Williams. That's critical. Re-signing superstar receiver Ja'Marr Chase had to be done, but there were no guarantees the negotiations would play out smoothly for the Bengals. Cincy took the receiver market from $35 million per year (Justin Jefferson) to $40.25 million (Chase), keeping quarterback Joe Burrow and Chase himself happy. That was important. Adding a 2026 first-round pick from Jacksonville in exchange for dropping from No. 2 to No. 5 in the draft stands out for Cleveland. Though the Browns could regret passing up Travis Hunter, the draft capital could help them land a quarterback in the future, which could be a top priority even after the team used third- and fifth-round picks on the position this year. Re-signing defensive lineman Osa Odighizuwa was important for new defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, whose scheme leans on strong play from the three-technique position. Eberflus struggled to fill the role with Chicago, where the Bears reached an agreement with free agent Larry Ogunjobi in March 2022, only to fail him on his physical, nixing the deal. Having an established young player at the position removes some of that uncertainty. Hiring Darren Rizzi as special teams coach rounds out a staff featuring Sean Payton as de facto offensive coordinator and Vance Joseph as defensive coordinator. That's a solid triumvirate of proven coaches in three key roles. Rizzi worked under Payton in New Orleans from 2019-21 and stayed in the role through last season, so the fit should be natural. The Saints ranked 12th in special teams EPA during Rizzi's tenure there (2019-24), including fourth on punts, punt returns, kickoffs and kickoff returns, per TruMedia. Advertisement Doubling up on interior offensive linemen after letting the 35-year-old Kevin Zeitler leave in free agency seemed smart for Detroit. The Lions used a second-round pick for guard Tate Ratledge and a fifth-rounder for guard Miles Frazier. The odds seem strong that at least one of the two will emerge as a starter longer term. Christian Mahogany, a 2024 sixth-round pick, also should be in the mix. Before adding flash in the draft with first-round receiver Matthew Golden, the Packers focused on adding toughness in free agency with guard Aaron Banks and cornerback Nate Hobbs. Hobbs also brings versatility through his ability to play the nickel role. Both project as hard-nosed players and welcomed additions to the NFL's youngest roster. Remaking the receiver position by acquiring Christian Kirk and using two early picks for Jayden Higgins (second round) and Jaylin Noel (third) bought hope for the Texans after they subtracted Stefon Diggs and lost Tank Dell to injury. Those new receivers aren't going to help the pass protection, which remains a concern, but if quarterback C.J. Stroud can get the ball out of his hands quickly, Houston has some players who might catch it. Before owner Jim Irsay passed, he authorized an unusual (for the Colts) free-agent spending spree, helping Indy address its secondary with safety Cam Bynum and cornerback Charvarius Ward. The financial green light gave new defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo a better chance against a schedule featuring games against offensive callers Mike McDaniel, Sean Payton, Sean McVay, Andy Reid and Kyle Shanahan. There's no way to know whether Liam Coen is going to be a good head coach; his credentials are thin. I liked the way Jacksonville broke its pattern of pivoting with each hire. The team had gone from the intense Doug Marrone to nice-guy Gus Bradley to the intense Urban Meyer to nice-guy Doug Pederson with its previous hires. There was no pivot to a taskmaster this time. Coen, like Pederson, comes from the offensive side of the ball and would seem to be a player-friendly coach. I'm betting on defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo maximizing the top two cornerbacks Kansas City added: veteran Kristian Fulton, who played well for the Chargers last season, and third-round pick Nohl Williams, who can play nickel and safety. Both project as physical pieces for Spagnuolo to utilize. They are surer bets than the players Kansas City added to address its issues at left tackle. No team upgraded at the two most important positions — head coach and quarterback — more than the Raiders this offseason. The jumps from Antonio Pierce to Pete Carroll and from Aidan O'Connell to Geno Smith could allow Las Vegas to more than double its win total following a 4-13 season. The Chargers seemingly could have done more this offseason, but one of their biggest additions should help them build on their physical identity under second-year coach Jim Harbaugh. Free-agent addition Mekhi Becton, all 6-foot-7 and 363 pounds of him, slots in at right guard next to the similarly massive tackle Joe Alt. It'll be fun to see those two giants aligned next to one another (unless you're a defensive lineman). Advertisement With Matthew Stafford returning and Davante Adams arriving in free agency, the Rams are very much playing for the present. Their ability to land a 2026 first-round pick from Atlanta for moving back 20 spots in the draft lets them prepare for the future as well, specifically by enhancing their ability to acquire their next quarterback. That was the forward-thinking move that stands out for the Rams this offseason. Doubling up on guard acquisitions with veteran James Daniels and second-round draft choice Jonah Savaiinaea could deliver two immediate starters at a position where Miami needed to get better. Daniels suffered a torn Achilles tendon last season, so the risk could be heightened, but with the injury occurring in September, he could be ready for training camp. Daniels, who turns 28 in September, played 3,086 snaps at right guard over the 2021-23 seasons, fourth most in the NFL, per TruMedia. Extending coach Kevin O'Connell's contract ended speculation that his future might be elsewhere, locking in stability at one of the most critical positions in the organization. I was less excited about some of the personnel moves Minnesota made, primarily because the team added so many older players with injury concerns. Hiring Mike Vrabel as head coach and Josh McDaniels as offensive coordinator was a strong 1-2 punch for New England. McDaniels could be the best coordinator in the league who isn't likely to become a head coach elsewhere. Having those two positions secured gives the Patriots a chance to implement a coherent vision for the long term. Getting Derek Carr to forfeit $30 million in previously guaranteed money upon the quarterback's retirement gives the Saints a chance to finally reset after four years of mortgaging the future without reaching the playoffs. Whether the Saints will actually refocus on the long term remains unclear, but the team is in a better position to do so with Carr's contract coming off the books in 2027. Selecting Abdul Carter with the third pick in the draft and still having their choice of available quarterbacks when the Giants selected Jaxson Dart at No. 25 showed the team read the market correctly. Whether Dart will succeed is another question entirely, and history is not on the Giants' side (in the salary-cap era, which dates to 1993, only three of 15 quarterbacks drafted in the first round after pick No. 19 signed long-term extensions with their original teams). Even so, the process seemed sound for the Giants, a welcome change from the previous two offseasons, which featured a Daniel Jones extension (2023) and Saquon Barkley's departure (2024). Ending the Aaron Rodgers insanity while continuing to draft for the offensive line — which now features three first-round picks, including both tackles, and a second-rounder — gives the Jets a chance to build something for the longer term. I wasn't a huge fan of paying Justin Fields what the Jets paid him, but another season with Rodgers would have felt untenable. There's a fresh start in Florham Park, and that's a good thing. Advertisement The Eagles' all-out effort to keep the tush push legal, complete with in-person lobbying from owner Jeffrey Lurie and former center Jason Kelce, helped Philly preserve its offensive identity, maintaining an important edge. Buying at least another year for the tush push felt like an upset victory for the Eagles after momentum built to ban the play. Getting a 2026 third-round pick and a 2027 fifth from Dallas for receiver George Pickens and a 2027 sixth might have been the Steelers' best move, especially after DK Metcalf's arrival signaled the end for Pickens in Pittsburgh. There hasn't been much to like about this Steelers offseason from a quarterback standpoint, no matter what happens with Rodgers. Acquiring and paying Metcalf didn't seem like the most logical move, either. But Pickens had to go, so getting decent value was a win for Pittsburgh. I liked the way San Francisco became less emotional with its contract decisions, making measured choices with veteran players. But the move to bring back Robert Saleh as defensive coordinator stands apart. Saleh gives San Francisco a true head coach of the defense after the team ran through three coordinators in three seasons on that side of the ball. The current defensive talent isn't as good as it was when Saleh filled the role for the 49ers from 2017-20, but San Francisco couldn't have landed a better fit. Klint Kubiak's hiring as offensive coordinator closes a gaping philosophical gap between coach Mike Macdonald, who wants to win the old-fashioned way, and 2024 coordinator Ryan Grubb, whose offense ranked fourth in pass rate on early downs, including when tied or leading. Seattle can now proceed with a unified vision for how to play on offense, leaning into the run game under its defensive-minded head coach. Signing Haason Reddick to a one-year, $14 million deal was a low-risk move that could give the Buccaneers high-end pass-rush production. Reddick averaged 12.5 sacks per season with three teams from 2020-23 before his holdout-shortened year with the Jets. He'll be looking to produce Tampa Bay's first double-digit sack season since Shaq Barrett in 2021. Tennessee selected the consensus top quarterback in the draft, Cam Ward, who will almost certainly upgrade the most important position. That move carries more upside than any other the Titans made (13 of 19 QBs taken No. 1 in the salary-cap era received long-term extensions from their original teams, with Ward, Caleb Williams and Bryce Young not yet eligible). Acquiring Laremy Tunsil from Houston could solve the Commanders' left tackle position through quarterback Jayden Daniels' rookie contract and beyond. Tunsil, who turns 31 in August, has earned Pro Bowl honors five times in the past six seasons. He's younger than left tackles Duane Brown and Trent Williams were when Seattle and San Francisco acquired them, respectively. Brown and Williams were solid through their age-36 seasons. This could be a very good move if Tunsil holds up similarly. (Illustration: Demetrius Robinson / The Athletic; Photos of, from left, Ja'Marr Chase, Geno Smith and Abdul Carter: Kirk Irwin, Ethan Miller / Getty Images, Tork Mason / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Arizona Cardinals newcomer cracks top edge defender list entering 2025
The Arizona Cardinals made a concerted effort to improve the defensive interior and the defensive edge. They need to stop the run better and to create a consistent pass rush. They have done that and one of their biggest offseason additions was signing pass rusher Josh Sweat in free agency to a four-year, $76.4 million deal. Advertisement Sweat is ranked in the top 32 edfe defenders in the NFL, according to PFF. He comes in at No. 25. Sweat capped off a stellar seven-year run with the Eagles by recording 2.5 sacks in the Super Bowl, then signed with the Arizona Cardinals as a free agent in March. He showed improvement against the run in 2024, earning a 67.8 grade after posting a career-low 54.2 in 2023. The Cardinals also have 2023 second-round pick BJ Ojulari, a player the Cardinals were counting on to be their top pass rusher entering last season before his tore his ACL in training camp. They re-signed Baron Browning and still have Zaven Collins, although Collins excels at every other part of being an edge defender other than getting a lot of sacks. In an ideal world, Sweat will not only play well enough to land on this list again in 2026, but someone else will also crack the top 32. Could that be Browning or Ojulari? What about Collins in his third year playing the edge? Advertisement That's the hope, at least. With an improved defensive front across the interior and the edge, there is at least a reasonable chance. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts. This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals newcomer cracks top edge defender list entering 2025
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Indianapolis Colts' OTAs: The big question at defensive end
The Indianapolis Colts will begin Phase III of the offseason programs on May 28th, which means the start of voluntary Organized Team Activities (OTAs). Rather than only doing individual drills as the Colts have been doing, they will now be permitted to do 7-on-7 or 11-on-11 team drills, although no live contact is allowed. Advertisement So with this important part of the offseason schedule about to begin, I wanted to highlight one big question facing each position group. Up next are the defensive ends. Below you can find our previous position previews. Indianapolis Colts big question: Can Laiatu Latu make a Year 2 leap? Laiatu Latu is going to play a pivotal role in determining how good this Colts' pass rush is this season. Latu finished his rookie season with 38 pressures, which were the second-most on the team, and he also recorded four sacks. Compared to the rest of his position group league-wide, Latu ranked 50th in pressures. Advertisement While at the end of the day, results matter most, that final pressure number from Latu may not be indicative of the success he had as a rusher. By PFF's pass rush win rate metric, Latu ranked 27th among all defensive ends. What that tells us is that he was winning his matchups regularly, and with that, the production will often follow. "He does it the right way," Shane Steichen said via the team site earlier this offseason. "The way he works, his work ethic is tremendous. I think you'll see a big jump from Year 1 to Year 2. I think he had four (sacks) his rookie year, if we can get into double digits in Year 2 that'd be tremendous." The addition of Lou Anarumo as the defensive coordinator should help Latu and the Colts' pass rush as a whole. For one, we will see more movement up front to help create advantageous matchups. But in addition to that, we frequently saw opponents last season take advantage of the Colts' secondary through the quick passing game, which made it very difficult for the defensive line to get home regularly. Anarumo's more aggressive scheme should prevent some of that, which then will give the rushers more time to get to the quarterback. Advertisement Without Dayo Odeyingbo, the Colts lost their top pressure-getter from the 2024 season. Replacing that production will be a group effort, but a lot of that responsibility could fall on Latu's shoulders. This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: Indianapolis Colts' OTAs: Can DE Laiatu Latu make a Year 2 leap?
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Packers Urged To Sign Former No. 1 Pick To Fix Pass Rush Problems
General Manager Brian Gutekunst strengthened the Green Bay Packers' pass rush during the NFL Draft by selecting edge rushers Barryn Sorrell and Collin Olliver in the fourth and fifth rounds, respectively. Additionally, he bolstered the interior with defensive tackle Warren Brinson in the sixth round. These are promising additions, but Super Bowl LIX highlighted one critical truth that should keep all options open for the Packers until the start of the 2025 regular season: You can never have too many pass rushers. Advertisement Green Bay boasts a diverse pass rush group, but the unit failed to meet expectations in 2024. They finished the season ranked 27th in pass rush win rate, with their pressure leader, Rashan Gary (47 pressures), ranking just 31st in total pressures among all edge rushers. While it's undeniable that the Packers have talent up front, their efforts to improve the front seven should not end with the Draft. Fortunately, an 11-year veteran has just become available on the market. Jadeveon Clowney pressures Bears quarterback Justin Fields during their 2021 matchup.© PHIL MASTURZO via Imagn Content Services, LLC On Thursday, the Carolina Panthers released Jadeveon Clowney following his one-season stint with the team in 2024. Clowney, a former first overall pick in 2014, has been named to the Pro Bowl three times and earned Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2016. Last year, Clowney recorded 44 pressures and 5.5 sacks, figures that would have made him the second-most productive pass rusher on the Packers' roster. Advertisement "You're always looking. With pass rushers, you can never have enough," Brian Gutekunst said after the 2024 season. "I thought there were times this year we did that, we were able to rush with four men. Every team in the league, that's how you'd prefer to do it, rush with four and affect the quarterback with four. There were periods of times where we didn't do that well enough, everybody understands that. That affects your football team." Clowney has played at least 12 games in five of the last six seasons and has been a productive run defender. However, if the Packers were to sign him, it could signal that a player like Kingsley Enagbare may be on the move. Rashan Gary, Lukas Van Ness, Collin Olliver, and Barryn Sorrell are all locks to make the final roster, while Brenton Cox Jr. should also have a chance. While it's true that you can never have too many pass rushers, General Manager Brian Gutekunst must ensure the roster remains well-balanced across all phases. Related: Packers 1,700-Yard Receiver Rumored To Be Steelers Trade Target
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Commanders Have 1 Glaring Roster Hole Stopping Super Bowl Charge
The way the Washington Commanders have gone about their offseason business with Adam Peters and Dan Quinn has been admirable. Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil, both trades, were brought into a roster that many see as capable of pushing the very best in the NFL to the brink, with a Super Bowl charge firmly on the agenda. Advertisement But for all the good work the franchise has done this offseason, there are still some roster holes that need filling, and yes, we know you can't fix all of them in one offseason. However, the Commanders have left themselves rather short when it comes to pass rushers, and Pro Football Focus has called that the team's biggest need. "The Commanders had a smaller draft class, and when it came to their big moves in free agency, they opted to emphasize the offensive side of the ball," Pro Football Focus writes. "They did well overall in that regard, but that doesn't change the fact that their best pass rusher on the edge last year was Dorance Armstrong, who had just a 14.0% win rate. They'll need better play from the collective group, and perhaps a newcomer." Kimberly P. Mitchell-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images There were rumors a couple of weeks ago that the Commanders were thought to be interested in Cincinnati Bengals star Trey Hendrickson, but he would command a sizable salary, and that is something Washington likely can't part ways with. Advertisement That leaves the likes of Von Miller, Matthew Judon, Jadeveon Clowney, and Za'Darius Smith as the key free agents available. All would help, but all would be patchwork for this season. Whether the Commanders look to add another body is unknown. They might be content with how the roster is shaping up. But for most, the consensus is that they need more of a pass rush, and with the weapons in the NFC East, getting after the quarterback is crucial. And we are sure the current crop will give the Commanders' defense the best chance at getting offenses off the field. Related: Is Jayden Daniels Poised to Avoid Feared Sophomore Slump? Related: Commanders Urged to Trade For Bobby Wagner Partner
