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NFL experts on ESPN weigh in on the clubs that did best in the first few days of trading after the player market opened
After a hectic first week of free agency in 2023 in the NFL, agreements have begun to diminish. Teams have added impact players to their rosters, though free agents like Odell Beckham Jr. y Bobby Wagner are still available.
Notably, Orlando Brown Jr., Javon Hargrave, Jimmy Garoppolo y Jessie Bates III They have found new homes. And the Miami Dolphins y Chicago Bears They have made a lot of noise at the start of the trading period, both strengthening their respective defenses.
Our experts from NFL They weigh in on what we’ve seen in free agency this offseason, starting with the teams that have improved the most after the first week of movement. Here are your opinions
Stephania Bell: Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins said goodbye to cornerback Byron Jones (who missed all of 2022 while recovering from Achilles tendon surgery) and added six-time Pro Bowler, Jalen Ramseyto align next to Xavien Howard. Coupled with that movement, are the two very reasonable contract renewals with the brokers Raheem Mostert y Jeff Wilson Jr. –two of Mike McDaniels’ disciples from his days with the san francisco 49ers who have proven adept at executing his style of offense — and the Dolphins have done it very well.
Matt Bowen: Cleveland Browns. The Browns made smart moves to improve their defense. The specialist to press by the shore, Ogbonnia Okoronkwoand defensive tackle, Dalvin Tomlinsonshore up Cleveland’s defensive front, while safety Juan Thornhill He brings much-needed post range and ball skills to the Browns’ secondary defense.
Mike Clay: Dolphins. They had a very good core, but the additions for Ramsey’s Dolphins, David Long Jr. y DeShon Elliott they position the new defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, with arguably the best unit in the league, on paper. The offense didn’t require much work, so if the quarterback Tua Tagovailoa he’s healthy and still playing well — he finished third at QBR in 2022 — Miami could become a genuine threat next season.
Jeremy Fowler: Carolina Panthers. Carolina committed $116.75 million in free agency contracts, with $70 million in guarantees, in the first week of free agency. It served to fill several holes on defense, from safety Vonn Bell defensive tackle Shy Tuttlewhile they added to the arsenal that will be available to whoever ends up being the new quarterback, with the tight end Hayden Hurst and the corridor Miles Sanders. Andy Dalton he’s the perfect backup for a young draft pick, too. He can win games, but he’s not a threat for a rookie.
Matt Miller: New England Patriots. Going from Matt Patricia/Joe Judge to Bill O’Brien as offensive coordinator was, in itself, a big enough move to be mentioned here. wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and the tight end Mike Gesicki They’re also huge additions to help elevate the third-year quarterback’s game, Mac Jones.
Eric Moody: Dallas Cowboys. Cowboys look much improved, particularly defensively, after trading for cornerback Stephon Gilmorewho will pair up with Trevon Diggs. Additionally, Dallas brought back linebacker Leighton Vander Esch y al safety Donovan Wilson, leaving the defense intact for another year. Also, the Cowboys released running back Ezekiel Elliottso they can pair to Tony Pollard with another runner, and lean more on Pollard. wide receiver Brandin Cooks is the biggest offensive addition for Dallas, giving the Cowboys another vertical threat and a great complement to CeeDee Lamb.
Jason Reid: Chicago Bears. General manager Ryan Poles entered the offseason with plenty of cap space, the first overall pick in the upcoming draft, and a plan to improve a roster with cannon-sized holes. Poles made several cost-effective moves to bring in veterans who should provide the Bears with significant momentum next season. And, in his trade with the Panthers, the Bears acquired a productive young wide receiver in DJ Moore (plus a bunch of draft picks). He’s exactly the type of wide receiver that the young quarterback Justin Fields you need to take the next step in your development.
Jordan Reid: Browns. The Browns had several major holes along the defensive line and safety. Tomlinson, one of the best defensive tackles available on the market, was the big sign signing. The former defender of the Minnesota Vikings It’s exactly what the Browns needed after the inside of their defense suffered big over the course of last season. Okoronkwo provides greater edge pressure, and great versatility. And the signing of Thornhill after the loss of John Johnson III it was a trade for a better player and one better suited to the free safety role in new defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s scheme.
Mike Tannenbaum: Denver Broncos. when factoring in head coach Sean Payton’s signing and guard signings Ben Powers and the offensive tackle Mike McGlincheythis is a best-case scenario for any hope of success for the quarterback Russell Wilson. Count on offensive tackle injury returns Garett Bolles and corridor Javonte Williams it will also help a lot.
Seth Walder: Dolphins. He was really excited about the Dolphins’ defense once Vic Fangio arrived to take over as coordinator. But after they brought in Ramsey to line up opposite Howard at cornerback and Long to linebacker up the middle, he thinks the defense can become a real strength. That’s notable because, when healthy, the Dolphins’ offense can also be a real strength.
Seth Wickersham: New York Jets. Although the exchange for Aaron Rodgersthey’re going to go from a seriously flawed young quarterback to one of the top 10 of all time, and one with something very clear to prove.
Field Yates: Bears. They entered free agency with more resources than any other team, but they still managed to score one big hit: They added a ton of talent without paying above-market prices for those players. And, when considering the trade to move down from the No. 1 overall pick, the Bears also added a Top-20 receiver to their roster in Moore.
