David Helman
Dallas Cowboys Insider
Now’s the season for optimism, however let’s strive to not fall for blind optimism.
Each workforce within the NFL has had an opportunity to spend in free company and add a brand new draft class of contributors. However not all plans are created equal. As we sit right here forward of OTAs and minicamps, it is truthful to marvel if each workforce has positioned itself in addition to doable.
If we do not wish to name them “losers,” that is wonderful. Nobody can predict a season in Could, and NFL groups nonetheless have all summer season to hunt out enhancements earlier than the season kicks off.
However listed here are 5 NFL groups that — proper now, anyway — seem to have had underwhelming or outright complicated offseasons.
5. Las Vegas Raiders
I like what the large image seems like in Las Vegas.
Within the first 12 months of the Tom Telesco/Antonio Pierce regime, the Raiders do not appear to be they’re attempting to power it. Most of their offseason exercise has been targeted on upgrading the ground of this workforce. Splashing money for Christian Wilkins ought to give them one of many league’s greatest move rushes. Brock Bowers and Jackson Powers-Johnson must be Day 1 starters on offense. Low-cost signings like Andrus Peat and Michael Gallup ought to present veteran depth.
All of it sounds fairly good, proper up till you bear in mind they’re going to be quarterbacked by both Gardner Minshew or Aidan O’Connell. With all due respect to these guys, it is arguably the weakest quarterback room within the NFL, together with their division rival Denver Broncos.
All of it sounds good for a workforce that is aware of it is a 12 months or two away. My solely concern is that there are some key members of the Raiders who haven’t got that point to lose. Davante Adams turns 32 this season. Maxx Crosby and Wilkins flip 27 and 29, respectively, within the coming months. Vegas has All-Professional expertise that may most likely somewhat not take a again seat.
That is what makes their decisions this offseason attention-grabbing. The Raiders had been out on Kirk Cousins, who would’ve made them an prompt contender. Additionally they opted to face pat at choose No. 13, and each Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix had been picked in entrance of them.
Perhaps these selections will age like wonderful wine. The Raiders could have a ton of cap house in 2025 and loads of alternative to seek out their quarterback of the longer term. However right here within the current, their quiet offseason makes it robust for them to face out in a loaded AFC.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jags’ placement right here is much less about their precise workforce. I did not thoughts that they opted to not spend that a lot on Calvin Ridley, particularly after they landed Brian Thomas Jr. within the draft to associate with Gabe Davis and Christian Kirk. They lastly bought Josh Allen prolonged, and D-line addition Arik Armstead is a perennially underrated contributor.
The issue is that the Jags’ offseason would not really feel ok in a all of a sudden ferocious AFC South. This time final 12 months, Jacksonville was the runaway favourite to win the division, and so they even had a shot on the No. 1 seed within the AFC playoffs as not too long ago as November 2023.
Right here in 2024, the competitors seems steeper. Houston has loaded up round C.J. Stroud, and Tennessee spent a small nation’s GDP on offering Will Levis with a supporting solid. The Indianapolis Colts had been a win away from the playoffs with Minshew beneath middle, and now they’re getting Anthony Richardson again from damage.
The Jags appear to be a wonderfully strong workforce heading into the season, however that is a far cry from being the undisputed class of their division. What a distinction a 12 months makes.
3. Baltimore Ravens
Attempt to not yell at me, Ravens followers. Lamar Jackson continues to be probably the greatest gamers in soccer, and the Ravens are nonetheless a contender. However whenever you’re the No. 1 seed within the playoffs, there’s nowhere to go however down. Extra importantly, the Ravens misplaced some key items from final 12 months’s juggernaut.
Let’s begin with the plain. Mike Macdonald was probably the greatest coordinators within the NFL throughout his stint in Baltimore, and now he is the pinnacle coach in Seattle. True, the Ravens did keep some continuity by selling Zach Orr to the defensive coordinator job from inside their very own employees, nevertheless it’s nonetheless truthful to count on some variance. Happily for Orr, he’ll get to work with star defensive sort out Justin Madubuike, who re-signed with the Ravens. However this fearsome Ravens protection misplaced just a few massive items like Patrick Queen, Jadeveon Clowney and Geno Stone.
Much more regarding is the state of the Ravens’ offensive line, which misplaced three starters throughout free company. How effectively they exchange them will decide rather a lot about Jackson’s season — to not point out Derrick Henry’s.
It is truthful to level out that Could is a bit early to guage the Ravens. This workforce likes to make summer season signings, so we’ll see what’s in retailer. However proper now, I am undecided in the event that they’ve saved tempo with the lofty commonplace they set in 2023.
2. Dallas Cowboys
This joke has been crushed into the bottom, however we will safely say the Cowboys have executed the alternative of going “all-in,” as Jerry Jones infamously predicted again in January. Contemplate this: Not solely are the Cowboys lifeless final in cash spent this offseason, at roughly $20.7 million — however that determine additionally falls a full $46 million in need of the next-worst New Orleans Saints. The Cowboys didn’t make a good-faith effort to enhance the roster that fell woefully flat within the playoffs.
Throw within the uncertainty surrounding Dak Prescott’s contract extension, and the angst permeating the Cowboys’ fan base makes a ton of sense.
All of that stated, it is truthful to level out that the scenario is not precisely dire. The Cowboys return eight All-Professionals from final 12 months’s roster. Prescott is within the prime of his profession, and CeeDee Lamb may be one of the best receiver in soccer.
This workforce nonetheless has professional playoff aspirations. It is simply laborious to make the case they’re going to enhance on final 12 months’s consequence — and is not that alleged to be the purpose?
1. Buffalo Payments
The Payments had been sure to be right here as soon as they traded away Stefon Diggs after two years’ value of offseason drama. Diggs becoming a member of a younger contender in Houston is sure to place a highlight on Buffalo.
Fact be instructed, there are extra causes for concern than simply Diggs’ departure. Gabe Davis is gone, too. As is middle Mitch Morse — each gamers off to Jacksonville. Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer and Tre’Davious White had been all launched. Leonard Floyd left in free company. Matt Milano is coming off a significant damage.
The blunt actuality is that the Payments have moved on from numerous the blokes that sparked their transformation into one of many league’s elite. They will be asking rookies like Keon Coleman and Cole Bishop to hold issues ahead.
Happily, they nonetheless have probably the greatest quarterbacks alive tying all of it collectively. The Payments are contenders so long as Josh Allen is wholesome and able to scoring 44 touchdowns in a season. However there isn’t any denying the highway by the AFC seems more durable for them than it has in a number of years.
David Helman covers the Dallas Cowboys for FOX Sports activities and hosts the NFL on FOX podcast. He beforehand spent 9 seasons protecting the Cowboys for the workforce’s official web site. In 2018, he received a regional Emmy for his function in producing “Dak Prescott: A Household Reunion” concerning the quarterback’s time at Mississippi State. Comply with him on Twitter at @davidhelman_.
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