Buying or Selling Every NFL Team's Offseason Strategy so Far

Judging a successful offseason in July can be a bit of guesswork. However, by looking at teams' strengths and weaknesses from the previous season, it's easy to see if teams are addressing their needs or if they are ignoring them in hopes of the problem fixing itself. 

Some teams build through the draft and are conservative in free agency, other teams spend wildly in free agency and strike out during the draft. Then there are the few teams that draft well and add minimal pieces through free agency.

Let's take a look by division as to whom I'm buying and whom I'm selling as the NFL's best offseason strategies. 

AFC East

New England Patriots: Buying

I'm buying the Patriots offseason for one simple reason: They upgraded their defense. Out of the seven selections they had in the draft, they took six defensive players. With Mark Anderson leaving via free agency and Andre Carter not being re-signed, the Patriots needed to replace their two most productive pass-rushers. Chandler Jones and Dont'a Hightower are both versatile players who will find themselves moving around in Bill Belichick's hybrid defense.

The addition of Brandon Lloyd will make the Patriots passing attack even more potent than before. He will be the first consistent vertical threat since Randy Moss in 2009.

Buffalo Bills: Buying

Like the New England Patriots, the Bills made it a priority to beef up the defensive side of the ball. Mario Williams and Mark Anderson will prove to be great additions to a defensive line that already has a couple of big pieces in place.

With a plethora of draft picks they managed to upgrade definite areas of need. The defensive backfield lacked in coverage last year, so the additions of Stephon Gilmore and Ron Brooks made a ton of sense. 

New York Jets: Selling

If Tim Tebow and LaRon Landry are the two biggest moves of the offseason for your club, you should be worried. With Mark Sanchez being extended for another three years and receiving new money, where does Tebow fit in? I know it's smart to have a quality backup when your starter plays about as poorly as Blaine Gabbert, but two draft picks for a bottom-tier quarterback doesn't make a whole lot of sense. 

An area of concern at the end of 2011 was the Jets pass rush, which ranked in the bottom five of the NFL according to Pro Football Focus. Re-signing Aaron Maybin will prove to be valuable as he was their best pass-rusher a year ago. However, only drafting one edge-rusher might prove to be a mistake come the start of the 2012 season.    

Miami Dolphins: Selling

While the Dolphins are having a better offseason than the New York Jets, they still leave plenty of room for improvement. The Ryan Tannehill pick looked to be one made to help excite a fanbase, but did little in terms of solidifying a position. Matt Moore and David Garrard should have no problem beating out Tannehill even if he does know the offense better than both of them. 

However, the Cameron Wake contract extension and selection of Jonathan Martin were quality moves. Wake is easily the best pass-rusher in the game and Martin will instantly upgrade an offensive line that struggled mightily last year.

Still, not enough quality moves for me to buy their offseason strategy. 

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens: Selling

The Ravens lost a couple of key players on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. With Terrell Suggs lost for the season, the departure of Jarret Johnson hurts that much more. Courtney Upshaw and Paul Kruger will look to fill the void of Suggs' injury and Cory Redding's departure to Indianapolis.

It would have been encouraging to see Baltimore add veteran talent at the wide receiver position considering Lee Evans was a major letdown and Torrey Smith is still developing into a reliable target for quarterback Joe Flacco. Ben Grubbs didn't have the best 2011 campaign, but he has been very consistent over the years. Maybe he wasn't worth the money, but he may be missed if veteran Bobbie Williams falters as his replacement.

Cincinnati Bengals: Buying

During the draft I was wondering what had gotten into the Cincinnati Bengals. They are starting to look like a team primed and ready to take over the AFC North. Their two biggest areas of concerns for 2011 were pass coverage and run blocking, and both positions were addressed in the first round with the selections of Dre Kirkpatrick and Kevin Zeitler. 

Arguably, the Bengals had the best draft and quietly added subtle pieces to the puzzle in free agency. BenJarvus Green-Ellis will have no problem replacing Cedric Benson as Cincinnati's power back, and Travelle Wharton, who turned it on at the end of 2011, will fight for the starting left guard spot.

Cleveland Browns: Selling

Just like Ryan Tannehill in Miami, I hate the Brandon Weeden pick. Weeden will turn 29 in October and will be in his early 30's by the time his first contract is up. Without question he has to produce now, and without playmakers on the outside that is pretty hard to do. Trent Richardson was a no-brainer as they were one of the worst rushing teams in all of football. 

Upgrading the right tackle position was the right thing to do, but picking Mitchell Schwartz ahead of Cordy Glenn and Jonathan Martin was a bit of a head-scratcher. The Browns hit a couple of home runs with Emmanuel Acho and Billy Winn late, but it wasn't enough to make up for picks 22, 37, 87 and 100. 

Pittsburgh Steelers: Buying

The Steelers finally made it a priority to upgrade the offensive line and keep Ben Roethlisberger clean. Both David DeCastro and Mike Adams project to be first-year starters. The addition of Alameda Ta'amu on the defensive line and Brandon Johnson at the inside linebacker position provide depth to an already solid defensive unit. 

The loss of Aaron Smith and James Farrior won't prove to be harmful as both were hurting the team in terms of performance. Hiring Todd Haley as offensive coordinator should help the team's rush offense improve as Haley's system always provides a strong attack.

AFC South

Houston Texans: Selling

I have to sell on the Texans—too many key departures. They will still win the division, but the losses of Joel Dreessen, Eric Winston, Mike Brisiel, Mario Williams and DeMeco Ryans all hurt. It's hard to replace all of that talent in one offseason, though Whitney Mercilus will give defensive coordinator Wade Phillips another pass-rushing threat on the edge. 

It would have been encouraging to see the Texans upgrade their receiving corps. DeVier Posey was a good value pick in the third round, but outside Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels, whom will Matt Schuab lean on in the passing game? Hopefully, Lester Jean takes that next step, but that might be a little far-fetched considering he didn't find the field in 2011. 

Jacksonville Jaguars: Selling

Hard to buy into what the Jaguars are doing when they let two of their best defensive linemen walk. Leger Douzable and Matt Roth are no longer with the Jaguars after solid 2011 campaigns. Roth remains a free agent and Douzable signed with the Tennessee Titans. Adding Aaron Ross was the right move in theory, except he doesn't upgrade the secondary. For $15.3 million over three years, a player should be an upgrade to what is currently on the roster.

Chad Henne will push the oh-so-bad Blaine Gabbert and Justin Blackmon should bring a new element to the receiving corps—assuming he can stay out of trouble. The Jaguars could have done without Laurent Robinson and Lee Evans. They overpaid for Robinson and Evans doesn't offer anything different than what they already have on the roster. 

Tennessee Titans: Selling

The additions of Kamerion Wimbley and Kendall Wright were both solid moves that improved their sides of the ball respectively. Unfortunately, replacing Jake Scott with Steve Hutchinson was a downgrade. Not to mention Cortland Finnegan and William Hayes leaving for St. Louis hurt the overall talent of the defense. 

Michael Griffin's contract extension proved to be too much money for someone who plays all too average at times. 

Indianapolis Colts: Buying

Andrew Luck alone is a good enough reason to buy the Colts offseason. He is arguably one of the best quarterback prospects ever and will bring the kind of success that Peyton Manning did for all of those years. For a team that needed to be blown up, the Colts still managed to add talent at a number of positions. Cory Redding, Mewelde Moore, Samson Satele and Coby Fleener are all players who will contribute right away, just like Luck.

It's strange to look at the Colts roster and not see names like Peyton Manning, Dallas Clark, Jeff Saturday, Joseph Addai and Pierre Garçon. Incredible how things change over the course of a year, as not one of those names is left.    

AFC West

Oakland Raiders: Selling

The Raiders managed to pick up some quality talent despite their lack of cap room and draft picks. They added guard Mike Brisiel to the offensive line and cornerback Ron Bartell to the secondary, and Tony Bergstrom will also provide depth along the offensive line. However, for the Raiders to jump to the top of the AFC West they needed to have a better offseason. The new regime can't be blamed as they are trying to work with what they have.

Losing two of your top defensive players and not replacing them always hurts. John Henderson proved to be incredibly effective in limited action and Kamerion Wimbley was easily their best player, but he simply got away because of financial reasons. Samson Satele and Michael Bush will be missed as they both played significant roles in the Raiders offense.

San Diego Chargers: Buying 

With the loss of Pro Bowl wide receiver Vincent Jackson, the Chargers needed to find a player or players who could replace his production. It took the signing of two players, Robert Meachem and Eddie Royal, who will be relied on heavily for production. Jarret Johnson and Melvin Ingram are both strong additions to an already impressive group of linebackers.

The loss of Kris Dielman will hurt the Chargers offensive line, but Philip Rivers is used to atrocious offensive line play. He already plays with Brandyn Dombrowski and Jeromey Clary. 

Denver Broncos: Buying

Adding Peyton Manning and removing Tim Tebow and Brady Quinn from a quarterback situation equals a success. Along with Manning came players who will look to contribute on offense immediately. Brandon Stokley and Jacob Tamme both played with Manning in Indy, while Joel Dreessen comes over from a successful offense in Houston.

The Broncos are hoping rookie running back Ronnie Hillman can contribute sooner rather than later. Even with the defensive additions not being as impressive as the offensive additions, Manning makes up for it. See what happened to the Colts after he left. However, if you're the Broncos you don't want to put yourself in that same situation if Manning does get hurt. 

Kansas City Chiefs: Buying

The Chiefs enjoyed a very nice offseason in large part to them signing the best right tackle in football. After being cut by the Houston Texans, Eric Winston wasn't out of a job long, as Kansas City was looking to replace the inept Barry Richardson.

In addition to Winston, the Chiefs signed Peyton Hillis to help split the workload with Jamaal Charles. Charles is recovering from ACL surgery, which is why Hillis will prove to be a good insurance plan for their backfield. 

NFC East

Washington Redskins: Selling

Outside of the Robert Griffin III move, the Redskins offseason failed to impress. They over spent for Pierre Garçon and Joshua Morgan. Both players are good, but not great caliber.

For a team that struggled against the pass, they did nothing to upgrade their secondary. The selection of Kirk Cousins so early was a bit puzzling; I understand that he will be good trade bait down the round, but when you're 5-11, please try and find an impact player that early.

Philadelphia Eagles: Buying

The Philadelphia Eagles knocked it out of the park during the offseason. They are right up there to rival the Bengals as the team that had the best draft. Adding Fletcher Cox to an already deep defensive line rotation will prove to be helpful as it is never a bad thing to have too many good pass-rushers. Brandon Boykin at pick No. 123 was an absolute steal; he should see the field right away since Samuel was traded to Atlanta.

The Eagles also did a nice job of re-signing their own talent and picking up a couple key depth players. Evan Mathis and Trent Cole are easily the top players at their respected positions. Both players were locked up to multi-year extensions that will keep them there for a long time. Demetress Bell played well in limited action in Buffalo and will be counted on to pick up the slack while Jason Peters is out. 

Dallas Cowboys: Buying

The Cowboys knew what their biggest weakness was and they addressed it. Poor pass defense plagued Dallas last year. They let a few of the culprits walk while bringing in a couple of highly sought-after players via free agency and the draft. It is safe to assume with Terence Newman out of the picture, Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne will be the opening-day starters at cornerback. 

If the Cowboys would have stayed at No. 14 they probably would have picked Michael Brockers, but since they moved up they had to wait until the third round to get their defensive line help. Tyrone Crawford was a solid pick at 81 along with Danny Coale at 152. I would have liked to see them address the offensive line during the draft considering the run blocking was a bit shaky at times last year.

New York Giants: Buying

Even though the Giants didn't pick until the last part in every round, they managed to find good value on all of their picks. Rueben Randle was seen by most as a first-round talent and Jayron Hosley was seen as a second-round talent—both players lasted a round longer than they were supposed to. David Wilson could be seen as a bit of a reach in Round 1, but with the departure of Brandon Jacobs the Giants knew Bradshaw couldn't shoulder the load alone. 

Re-signing Terrell Thomas was the writing on the wall for Aaron Ross. Good move here as Thomas is a much better all around corner than Ross. After franchising punter Steve Weatherford, the Giants reached a five-year extension with him. Weatherford solidified the position in 2011 after Matt Dodge caused them to miss the playoffs in 2010. 

NFC North

Chicago Bears: Buying

The Bears really made it a point to put as many offensive weapons around Jay Cutler as they could. Trading for Brandon Marshall was a big first step as both players are familiar with each other from their time in Denver. Adding Alshon Jeffery in the second round gave Cutler another big-bodied receiver who will go up and get the ball. All of the knocks about his weight and work ethic kept him from being a first-round pick in this years draft.

Chicago is currently in the middle of a contract standoff with Pro-Bowl running back Matt Forte. They didn't want to be left high and dry if he did decide to hold out, so they solidified the running back position even more by signing Michael Bush. It will be interesting to see how Mike Tice uses the tandem of Forte and Bush.

Detroit Lions: Buying

It seems as if every year the Lions will draft skill position players and defense just to let the offensive line go by the wayside. This year proved to be different as the Lions looked to improve by drafting left tackle Riley Reiff. Ryan Broyles was another selection that impressed; yes, he's hurt, but if he lives up to the hype, how are teams going to stop the Lions offense?

Detroit addressed the cornerback position in the middle rounds, which proved to be wise considering it was one of their problem areas from a year ago. They are still working on a long-term extension for Cliff Avril, but locking up "Megatron" proved to be one of the best offseason moves. Stafford and "Megatron" are one of the best duos in the game.

Green Bay Packers: Buying

During the Packers' Super Bowl run in 2010, their defense was just as potent as their offense, but something happened last year. They had trouble stopping the run and rushing the passer, so what did they do in the draft? Draft six defensive players. They are hoping Nick Perry and Jerel Worthy will fix the pass-rushing woes, and Worthy is a solid five-technique many saw as a first-round prospect. 

Replacing Scott Wells with Jeff Saturday is not a bad swap considering Saturday's long history of success with Peyton Manning. The Packers could have used a little more help in terms of depth along the offensive line, but really, which team couldn't?

Minnesota Vikings: Buying

I hated to buy on all of the offseason moves of the NFC North, but each team did a really good job of improving its need areas. The Vikings needed an infusion of life at wide receiver and defensive back. They got it at both positions, as Harrison Smith, Josh Robinson and Robert Blanton will breathe new air into the secondary while Jerome Simpson, Jarius Wright and Greg Childs give Christian Ponder a new set of targets to throw to in 2012.

Drafting Matt Kalil to protect your blind side doesn't hurt either. Re-signing Erin Henderson was an underrated move; the only head-scratcher was the amount of money they gave to John Carlson.

NFC South

New Orleans Saints: Selling

Bountygate has placed the New Orleans Saints in an absolute tailspin. Sean Payton is gone for the year and Drew Brees isn't showing up because he's unhappy with the franchise tag. Aside from all that, they didn't do enough to get better as a football team in the offseason. Carl Nicks and Robert Meachem both found new homes in free agency, while Jonathan Vilma was suspended for the year by commissioner Roger Goodell. 

I do like the additions of Ben Grubbs and David Hawthorne, but Grubbs can't replace the talent level of Carl Nicks. The draft class was weak and it seems as if one big cloud is hanging over the entire organization, which could prove costly when the season starts. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Buying

Tampa is primed for a turnaround after a lackluster 2011 season. It sounds as if Greg Schiano is doing whatever it takes to make sure Josh Freeman has a bounce-back season. The Bucs went out and spent a bucket of money on Vincent Jackson and Carl Nicks. Their offense as a whole was in shambles last year—it was impossible to run or pass block. The only thing it seemed to get right was running the football. 

Rookie running back Doug Martin will look to complement LeGarrette Blount. Mark Barron was drafted to provide backend support to a leaky secondary. While I don't expect Tampa Bay to run away with the division, I like the additions it has made, and I expect Josh Freeman and the offense to turn things around.

Carolina Panthers: Buying

The Panthers leaned heavily on the draft this year improve their pass blocking and run support. Luke Kuechly was drafted to play middle linebacker, and he has been compared to some of the absolute best in the league. Amini Silatolu is penciled in as the starter at left guard; he will be playing next to one of the league's best left tackles, Jordan Gross.

Joe Adams was the only wide receiver they drafted, it would have been smart to try and snatch up a couple more playmakers early on in the draft. 

Atlanta Falcons: Selling

A very quite offseason overall for the Atlanta Falcons. Curtis Lofton was replaced by Lofa Tatupu, a hard move to like considering Tatupu didn't see the field in 2011. Lofton graded out very high at Pro Football Focus, finishing as the 15th-rated middle linebacker in the league last year. Eric Weems is arguably the best kick returner in the league and he leaves for Chicago. Weem's returns changed the field position battle, and his presence on special teams will be missed.

The Asante Samuel trade was brilliant; I just didn't think they had enough supporting moves to help the team improve. 

NFC West

San Francisco 49ers: Selling

Very good 2011 campaign, but they didn't make enough impressive moves in the offseason to stay on top. I would have liked to see them go out and get a better quarterback, as Alex Smith is the only thing holding the 49ers back. Adding Brandon Jacobs, Mario Manningham and Randy Moss were moves I liked, but they didn't wow me. It's concerning they didn't invest more resources into the offensive line, which gave up 51 sacks in 2011.

A.J. Jenkins seemed to be a reach in the first round, and drafting LaMichael James just crowds an already-crowded backfield.

Arizona Cardinals: Selling

Like the 49ers, the Cardinals failed to address a couple of their weakest positions. By signing Adam Snyder the offensive line somehow got worse than it already was in 2011. Michael Floyd will prove to be a nice complement to Larry Fitzgerald, but who is going to throw the ball to him? Kevin Kolb can't seem to stay on the field, and when he is on the field you want him off the field. John Skelton will probably get the nod, but it would have been smart to find a new field general in the offseason. 

Seattle Seahawks: Buying

I feel like I was one of the few people who thought the Seattle Seahawks had a good offseason. Signing Matt Flynn and drafting Russell Wilson brings plenty of competition to an area of the team that was just OK a year ago. Tarvaris Jackson played well at times last year but was never threatened by Charlie Whitehurst. With Jackson, Flynn and Wilson all battling it out, the best quarterback will truly come out on top. 

The Bruce Irvin and Bobby Wagner picks were scoffed at when their names flashed across the TV. Irvin is a bit of a one-trick pony, but he wasn't drafted to be a three-down defensive lineman. He was drafted to be a pass-rushing specialist opposite of Chris Clemons on third down. Wagner projects as the middle linebacker and will have to beat out Barrett Ruud, which shouldn't be too tough considering Ruud is awful. 

St. Louis Rams: Buying

General manager Les Snead should already be handed the GM of the year. Leading up to the draft the Rams stockpiled picks and signed impact free agents. Head coach Jeff Fisher managed to lure a few of his old players from Tennessee over to St. Louis.

The Rams secondary was depleted with injuries a year ago, so it was obvious it was the main position of concern during the offseason. Cortland Finnegan, Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson were all added to beef up a very weak defensive backfield. Second-round wide receiver Brian Quick will be leaned on heavily, as will fourth-rounder Chris Givens. They will provide talent on the outside for quarterback Sam Bradford.