NFL Free Agency 2015: The 50 Biggest Winners from Early NFL Free-Agency Signings
How can one "win" free agency?
On its face, winning anything in the offseason is completely absurd. I tackled that topic just a short time ago, pointing out that many teams who make splashy signings in March end up regretting those moves later. However, I also foreshadowed this column by pointing out there's a big difference between making a good-faith effort at assessing moves as they happen and extrapolating March "wins" into January championships.
So, we'll have none of the latter.
This is not a list of teams that are going to magically jump into the upper echelon of the NFL because they signed players other teams didn't want, nor is it simply a ranking of teams that did "well" by spending more or by spending on players whose names we've heard of.
In fact, it's not just a list of teams at all! (Hoping the number 50 in the title clued you into that!) No, instead this also includes a number of subgroups of players and other people/groups around the league that "won" in some way or another during this free-agency period with all of the flurry of player movement and news.
Before each group, I'll explain why I've pulled out that subset for closer examination, and on each slide I'll tell you exactly why that player, team, person or entity has won something over these past few weeks.
Odds and Ends
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This is a group of "outliers" sitting at the periphery of the actual impact of free agency that won in ways many may overlook or, frankly, find minor enough to ignore. Still, each and every one of these groups came out of the early days of free agency better than when they went in.
DeMaurice Smith
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First off, DeMaurice Smith was just re-elected for another term as executive director of the NFL Players Association and he was facing eight challengers, so he's likely feeling good about that, but that's not why he's on the list.
The NFLPA (and Smith) were winners because they've taken their knocks in the first few years of the new collective bargaining agreement, but the money is finally starting to flow in a very big way. In fact, some of the context that people are missing in the "big money" component of some of these deals is that the salary cap rose to $133 million this year (that's a $10 million increase), and some like Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk have it going as high as $160 million next year.
That's a win.
Roger Goodell
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So, a win for the players must mean that the NFL is somehow losing, right?
Wrong.
No one is happier to be dishing out more money to players than the league offices and Commissioner Roger Goodell. The salary cap is pegged to revenue, and higher payments to players means that the owners are really rolling in the dough and that means Goodell is doing his job.
More than that, though, free agency is proof positive what a monolith the NFL has become (mostly) under Goodell's watch. No other sport generates this kind of buzz in their offseason, and Goodell is the face of the league that does.
If nothing else, you stopped talking about Deflategate, didn't you?
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NFL Media Coverage
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Connected to the point on the previous slide: You're here, aren't you?
The Business of Sports touched on this using NFL Media, Pro Football Talk and Over the Cap as examples, but one would be hard-pressed to find any site that covers the NFL not happy with what happened during this go-around of free agency.
On a personal level, guys like ESPN's Adam Schefter, PFT's Mike Florio, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport and so many more "earn their paychecks" during time periods like this, and plenty here at Bleacher Report know that the free-agency period was hard work but with big gains.
You didn't get your NFL free-agency news by...*gulp*...watching TV, did you?
Somehow, Twitter is a multibillion-dollar business that earns a lot of its coin from things other than sports, but some of its biggest moments align perfectly with sport's biggest moments, and that often includes the NFL.
There was rarely a time over the past couple weeks when some piece of NFL news wasn't among the "trending topics," and that makes Twitter a news source unparalleled in today's 24/7 NFL climate.
Running Backs and Their Agents
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The running back position is dead!
Long live the running back position!
For a position that has long taken the brunt of the NFL's shift toward a pass-heavy scheme (both in terms of scheme and in terms of rules changes), the running back group in free agency did awfully well as teams like the Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants and Buffalo Bills spent a lot of money reinforcing their group of runners.
Of course, that means a 3 percent (or so) cut for the guys who represent them, and getting 3 percent of a big deal when the position wasn't supposed to be worth anything in today's league is a big win as well.
Cornerbacks and *THEIR* Agents
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If there's one thing better than a surprising deal as a top-notch running back, it's an even bigger deal and a bigger surprise as a mediocre cornerback.
We've seen two teams in the past two years win Super Bowls largely in part to their cornerback play. First, the Seahawks and their Legion of Boom, and then the Patriots and their mercenary-like, one-year deals with Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner.
Both Revis and Browner were big-money recipients this offseason, but how much more of a "win" is it for players like new Philadelphia Eagles corner Byron Maxwell or new Seattle Seahawks corner Cary Williams, who aren't on the level of Revis and Browner but got huge paydays thanks to the upward trending importance of the position?
Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota
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The free-agency quarterback crop was pretty sad this year.
We've seen teams like the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills look to Josh McCown (he of the terrible Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season) to solve their quarterback woes, and when the latter team lost out to the former team for McCown's services, they traded for Matt Cassel to compete with EJ Manuel.
Florida State QB Jameis Winston and Oregon QB Marcus Mariota are not perfect, Andrew Luck-type prospects, but they have enough talent that the many quarterback-needy teams in the NFL will make sure to absolutely do their due diligence since there were simply no answers at the position in free agency.
Ozzie Newsome and Ted Thompson
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Sometimes you play the free-agency game, and sometimes the free-agency game plays you.
For some teams, it's simply just not a thing. Guys like Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson and Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome just don't play the game and watch everyone else get themselves into a lather while they continue to prepare for the draft.
Outside of linebacker Julius Peppers, Thompson has refrained from making big splashes in free agency, which frees up money to be spent on his own players. This year, that happened to be tackle Brian Bulaga and wide receiver Randall Cobb.
Newsome takes it one step further, almost willingly letting his players go elsewhere to stock up on the league's compensatory picks, ensuring the Ravens a couple of extra mid-round picks almost every single year.
There's a reason that these teams continually rank among the best in the league, and even when they're down they come right back up to the top.
Scot McCloughan
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The new Washington general manager is operating the team in a way many of us have simply never seen before.
They're not overpaying to keep veterans like pass-rusher Brian Orakpo who'd like to go elsewhere. They didn't dive right in and make a big splash by getting someone new. They're acting in calm, measured and intentional steps that should improve the team.
They're not making headlines, nor are they looking to make them.
This isn't Daniel Snyder's team right now, and it doesn't look to be Bruce Allen's either. Time will tell how long of a leash they give McCloughan, but for right now he seems to be in complete, actual control.
Patriots-Jets Rivalry
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This might be a little self-explanatory, but cornerback Darrelle Revis headed back to the Jets could help fill the void many will feel in their lives now that the verbose Rex Ryan has left this relationship.
In addition, the Jets added a lot of talent that fits what new head coach Todd Bowles will want to do (more on that later), so these games could be as competitive as ever in 2015 and beyond.
Old-School Chicago Bears Fans
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With wide receiver Brandon Marshall leaving town and pass-rusher Pernell McPhee joining a defense that desperately needs his talents, the Bears sent out a clarion call that "Da Bears" are back in down, and former head coach Marc Trestman's supposed offensive-supercharged Bears would be no more.
The addition of safety Antrel Rolle was a short-term move that was just icing on the cake.
It seems impossible for the Bears to be much worse next year, but even if they're not massively better either, they will return to a style of football that their fans have always appreciated.
Rex Ryan
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Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan is clearly turning the Bills into the paradigm of what he expects a team to be. I wrote on this following their big move to acquire LeSean McCoy, but following moves like bringing in quarterback Matt Cassel just underscore the point.
Yes, Ryan isn't the general manager, but to advance the old Bill Parcells saying: He's doing the cooking, and if he isn't doing the shopping, too, he's at least helping out with the shopping list, because these are his kind of ingredients.
Note that this is all very different from saying the Bills will have a great season because of these moves. No, right now, Ryan is just a winner because he's clearly getting the type of players he believes he needs to succeed.
Chip Kelly's Ego
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If you want to copy much of the previous slide onto this slide, just go ahead.
It's completely subjective to call the Eagles "winners" or "losers" of this offseason, and it probably says more about the analyst and their feelings of Chip Kelly than it does about the players the Eagles acquired or shipped away.
Overall, I'm bullish on Kelly's moves this offseason, but that's not the point here.
Kelly is doing things his way. He is living the dream he's had since he was a little boy. He's running an NFL franchise like his own personal Madden team, and appears to be having a great time telling his critics where they can go if they doubt him.
Only time will tell if these moves actually work out for him, but Kelly's getting what he wants today, and that's eventually going to set him up as one of the NFL's greats (see: Jimmy Johnson), or one of its biggest failures.
Dominoes Falling
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Let's call this the "indirectly affected" group.
The first group was people or entities at the periphery of the NFL free-agency period who were directly affected in minor ways. This group is the "seven degrees of Kevin Bacon" model of impact, where one player is impacted in a major way and the fallout positively affects others.
In short: These are players who have a better chance of success because of player movement around them.
Jonathan Stewart and His Fantasy Owners
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I'm not entirely sure if this is a win for Stewart, but it has a big chance to be.
With longtime running back mate DeAngelo Williams now plying his trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Stewart will get a chance to put up huge numbers for the run-oriented Panthers. Opponents may know the run is coming, but they also constantly need to commit defenders to the possibility of quarterback Cam Newton pulling the ball on a play-action or read-option play, which opens up big lanes.
If not for Stewart himself, at least his fantasy owners can certainly count this as a win as he'll no longer be splitting carries.
Carlos Hyde
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The San Francisco 49ers running back had a decent (if underutilized) rookie season, but was one of the top backs in last year's draft class, which combined with Frank Gore's age and price tag made him an attractive option to take the reigns.
The 49ers are going to pin a lot of their season's hopes on Hyde hitting his stride and there not being a lot of drop-off from Gore's days as the Niners' lead back.
Alex Smith
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Last season, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith failed to connect with any of his receivers for a touchdown...for the entire season! That's absurd and unheard of, and cannot continue regardless of the wins and losses or their place in the standings.
Now, Smith no longer has to deal with former No. 1 receiver Dwayne Bowe (using that term loosely) and gets to toss the pigskin to the much more explosive and reliable Jeremy Maclin.
Mark Ingram
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Like San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde a few slides back, New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram is a "winner" this offseason because he will be given a chance to be a real focal point in the Saints offense. Pierre Thomas and Travaris Cadet have been shipped away, and he's being paired with "lightning" back C.J. Spiller in a clear move away from big passing numbers and toward a more run-focused offense.
Moreover, the addition of center Max Unger will help the interior run blocking in a big way, where the Saints suffered last season, and where Ingram struggled to find clear lanes.
Ryan Tannehill
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Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill hasn't gotten a fair shake for much of his football life. Once used as a wide receiver (!) at Texas A&M, Tannehill was then drafted by an NFL team who hired the same coach who moved him to wide receiver to be his offensive coordinator.
Since then, Tannehill's career has been marked by subpar receivers and even worse blocking.
Though the Kenny Stills acquisition (especially in terms of replacing Mike Wallace) is a positive move, I'm not sure it's the move to put their offense over the top. Still, Tannehill is a winner because the team moved on from targets who clearly weren't helping him, and the signing of tight end Jordan Cameron is an underrated move that should help put him in a position to succeed as well.
Overall, though, any of us would be happy if we were Tannehill this offseason because the signing of defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh should help the defense keep opponents from running up the score. This brings down the degree of difficulty a bit for the offense, which won't be counted on to shoulder as much of a load if that deal works out.
Ryan Mathews
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After signing a three-year, $11.5 million contract with $5 million guaranteed, Mathews could easily be put later in this slideshow as a direct winner of free agency, and he's a clear example of the overall "winning" for running backs this offseason as money has opened up in a way many analysts would never have predicted.
I'm putting him in this group, though, because I think he's an even bigger indirect beneficiary of the Philadelphia Eagles signing running back DeMarco Murray. Mathews has struggled with a lead-back role and with injuries over the course of his career, and now he's being paid a pretty penny to exist in a role with the Eagles where he will be put in the best chance for him to succeed.
Sometimes, less is more.
Blake Bortles
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The next year or two of quarterback Blake Bortles' career will determine whether the Jacksonville Jaguars are truly on the path to success or if they're simply treading water before they get blown up again. Though many (including myself) believe it's the former, Bortles still has a lot to prove as the somewhat-surprising No. 1 QB from his draft class.
Last year, he was primarily throwing to guys like running back Denard Robinson and wide receiver Allen Hurns. Now, he gets a huge upgrade with Julius Thomas at tight end, a little more protection up front with tackle Jermey Parnell and a team that looks set to invest even more in the offense throughout the rest of the offseason.
The Jaguars are expecting a jump from year one to year two from Bortles. You know what, I'm starting to expect it, too.
Dez Bryant
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From a football standpoint, it's possible to think that no DeMarco Murray at running back means the Dallas Cowboys will lean a little more on wide receiver Dez Bryant as a touchdown-catching wide receiver. However, the opposite could also be true, and any downgrade in the Cowboys run game could mean a little less room down the field for Bryant.
This slide ignores all that.
The Cowboys made their choice. They franchised Bryant and will look to extend him long term as soon as they can. They chose to let Murray walk and build around Bryant, and because of that Bryant is a huge winner.
Aaron Rodgers
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Coming off an MVP season, it's clear why Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers might want to keep the status quo, but in an NFL built around salary caps and parity, the status quo is so hard for many teams to actually achieve.
As mentioned earlier in regards to general manager Ted Thompson, the Packers found a way to keep both wide receiver Randall Cobb and tackle Brian Bulaga. With a deep draft at receiver coming in just over a month, and the Packers lacking any real huge needs other than inside linebacker, there's a good chance Rodgers and the offense will get a big talent infusion.
Yes, that's right, the Packers offense could be even better in 2015.
Oh, and no more Ndamukong Suh...that's a win, too.
Andrew Luck
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Over the past couple of seasons—with next-to-no running back talent and either aging or raw talent as passing targets—Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck has been asked to do far too much for his team. Yet, it's worked out thanks to both his incredible talent and the lack of quality competition in the AFC South.
Moving forward, he's got receivers like Donte Moncrief a year older, a nice project in Duron Carter and an even better pickup in Andre Johnson to go along with T.Y. Hilton and tight end Dwayne Allen. He also gets to hand off to Frank Gore at running back, which is a huge short-term upgrade over Trent Richardson.
Russell Wilson
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It's not 100 percent clear that the Seattle Seahawks are better—even offensively speaking—after the first round of free agency. They traded away a fantastic young center in Max Unger, and lost promising (if oft-injured) guard James Carpenter. Add in another year of age for running back Marshawn Lynch, and it's possible the offense would take a slight step back in 2015.
With the addition of tight end Jimmy Graham, however, quarterback Russell Wilson is a clear winner. It's the first time he's had a target who can win any one-on-one matchup thrown at him, and it will allow Wilson to command the team from a passing standpoint he's simply never had before.
With that in place, the other missing pieces will be a lot easier to put in place.
Don't Hate the Player...
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We've reached the real meat of our list.
These are the players who "won" free agency. No, it's not just a list of the players who signed for the biggest money deals, nor is it a list simply of the guys who signed with contenders or in starting jobs—though, some of all of those will be represented.
"Winning" free agency for players, in essence, is finding the right fit and being able to control your own market value. Each of the players ahead has done that.
Josh McCown
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In the ideal situation, Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown doesn't start another game in the NFL. He's a savvy veteran who can contribute to wins in the right environment and against the right matchups, but he's clearly not the starting-caliber passer the Tampa Bay Buccaneers thought he was last season.
That's not the kind of situation McCown finds himself in.
Thanks to a subpar free-agency crop and a draft with only two clear potential starters at the position, McCown got to flirt with both the Buffalo Bills and then the Browns before landing in Cleveland, where Johnny Manziel's off-the-field issues could give McCown yet another shot to start in the league.
Michael Johnson and the Cincinnati Bengals
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In 2014, defensive end Michael Johnson was the cream of the free-agency crop, signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a successful stint with the Bengals. Now, a year later, the Buccaneers will pay Johnson to leave after injuries and overall ineffectiveness sapped his play.
He's back with the Bengals, which should be a perfect fit to get him back to tip-top shape, and he'll be paid a boatload by both teams.
Meanwhile, the Bengals are actually in line for a high compensatory pick because of losing Johnson in a rare NFL case of being able to have your cake and eat it too.
Matt Cassel
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Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Matt Cassel is a fringe-starting talent who will be able to utilize and facilitate a talented team, but not quite good enough to make any subpar talent around him that much better.
He was traded to the Buffalo Bills as a placeholder/mentor for EJ Manuel and will have a chance to start this season on a team that just added running back LeSean McCoy and wide receiver Percy Harvin to a group of young, talented pass-catchers like Sammy Watkins and Robert Woods.
He also gets to play for a head coach in Rex Ryan who has emphasized "safe" quarterback play in the past to allow the defense to shine.
Darren McFadden
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It's time to put that Dallas Cowboys offensive line to the test.
There's a bit of a "chicken and egg" discussion about the Cowboys' 2014 efforts. We all know both running back DeMarco Murray and his offensive line were supremely talented, but just how much they helped each other is a mostly subjective argument. Now, although the Cowboys are unlikely to lean on Darren McFadden in quite the same way they leaned on Murray, he'll have the best line in front of him he's ever had.
This could be McFadden's last chance to resurrect a disappointing career, and he's landed in the perfect spot to do it.
Curtis Lofton
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I hesitate to call this a win for the Oakland Raiders.
Linebacker Curtis Lofton had a ton of tackles for the New Orleans Saints last season, but bare tackle numbers are often a stat that means little out of context—especially on a defense that was as terrible as Lofton's crew in 2014. Tape revealed a guy who was picked on in coverage, and often a step slow in pursuit, getting caught up in blocks enough to let backs get that extra yard they never used to get against Lofton.
However, he's on a budding defense that's begging both for a tackle-hound and a leader. He's also got head coach Jack Del Rio, who is adept at wringing every last bit of talent from linebackers.
Lofton could have a bit of a renaissance in Oakland.
Nick Fairley
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New St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Nick Fairley gets to go from playing next to Ndamukong Suh with the Detroit Lions to playing next to Aaron Donald for the Rams. He's also got defensive ends Robert Quinn and Chris Long on what is clearly the best defensive line on paper in the NFL, and Fairley and Donald are likely the best tackle tandem.
It's a defensive scheme that emphasizes pressure up front as well, so Fairley (who is on a one-year deal) could put up huge numbers and sign an even bigger deal next season. He's got his future in his own hands and is in a perfect place to maximize his future earnings.
Kenny Britt
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It wasn't too long ago that injuries and off-the-field issues made it seem that St. Louis Rams receiver Kenny Britt would be out of the league. Now, he's going to get over $4 million guaranteed to stay with the Rams and catch passes from new quarterback Nick Foles.
LeSean McCoy
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Things were not working with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Let's be clear: Running back LeSean McCoy (now with the Buffalo Bills) was putting up huge rushing numbers, but Eagles head coach Chip Kelly didn't trust him in the passing game or on the goal line, and the two of them just didn't see eye to eye.
Now, McCoy goes to the Bills, where the blocking certainly won't be as good as it was in Philadelphia, but he'll have every opportunity to get touches from offensive coordinator Greg Roman and thanks to the game-management style of head coach Rex Ryan.
Good move for the Bills? Time will tell, but it should be great for McCoy.
Byron Maxwell
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Pro Football Focus listed new Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Byron Maxwell as the No. 45 cornerback last season when he was with the Seattle Seahawks. For that campaign, he was rewarded with an incredible $25 million guaranteed, even though he's had injury issues in the past.
It's a high-risk/high-reward signing for the Eagles, but for Maxwell it's a starting position, a huge contract and a clear win.
Shane Vereen
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Newly signed New York Giants running back Shane Vereen isn't a complete game-changer for the Giants, who have a ton of other pressing needs this offseason and a coach in Tom Coughlin who is far too old of a dog to learn many new tricks. In fact, I wrote of this signing after it happened, that the signing just looks like more of the same for a Giants team that is spinning its wheels.
For Vereen, though, he gets potentially over $12 million to do much of the same of what he was doing in New England, with potential to be more of a runner when one remembers the Giants' injury issues at the position.
Nate Allen
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Not to beat a dead horse, but again, this might not be a clear-cut win for the Oakland Raiders, who signed former Philadelphia Eagles safety Nate Allen. Allen was largely a disappointment after being a high draft pick in Philly, but he had a promising end to 2014 and the Raiders are hoping he can do more of that for their defense.
Allen needed to get out of Philly, though.
The fans hated him, and this is a clear case of a player needing new surroundings just to jettison some of the pressure of being a "draft bust." In Oakland, if Allen plays like he did at the end of last season, he'll be seen as a hero, whereas Eagles fans would've found ways to pan his play.
Oh, and hey, he gets almost $12 million guaranteed and will play next to future Hall of Fame safety Charles Woodson.
Haloti Ngata
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With both defensive lineman Haloti Ngata and cornerback Lardarius Webb, it was clear the Baltimore Ravens were looking to keep their valued veterans for a reduced price. Instead of that happening for Ngata, he's headed to the Detroit Lions to replace Ndamukong Suh and will likely get to keep that hefty salary of his.
Rather than being phased out in the twilight of his career in Baltimore, Ngata is going to be a focal point of the Lions defense.
Frank Gore and Andre Johnson
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Longtime friends running back Frank Gore and wide receiver Andre Johnson are reuniting in Indianapolis and are going from Colin Kaepernick and Ryan Mallett, respectively, at quarterback to Andrew Luck. That's a big jump in skill level, and should help both of these guys extend their careers even more than they already have.
This also gives the two of these men the clearest shot they have to a championship.
Ben Roethlisberger
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is getting $31 million guaranteed and is locked up with the team until he's at least 37. This is a huge payday, and give Roethlisberger (and the team) a feeling of consistency as they continue to rebuild on the fly—this time around some pretty impressive firepower.
DeMarco Murray
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The Philadelphia Eagles running back played the game and came out on top.
For a while, it was looking like Murray had overplayed his hand. The Dallas Cowboys used him, abused him and wrung him out with an incredible amount of carries, and had no plans to pay him for what he had done in the past, trying to bring him back on a much smaller deal than the $8.4 million per year he's getting with the Eagles.
In poker parlance, he was behind until the river and took the whole darn pot.
Sam Bradford
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His NFL career was next to over.
The St. Louis Rams were done with the constant injuries and typically mediocre play they've gotten since making quarterback Sam Bradford the No. 1 overall pick, but the terrible QB crop this season led to deals including a potential first-rounder from the Cleveland Browns and eventually the deal they struck that got them Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles.
Bradford now goes to a system that very much mimics what he excelled in at Oklahoma, and if he stays healthy (huge if) he could put up huge numbers.
Julius Thomas
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Tight end Julius Thomas got $24 million guaranteed from the Jacksonville Jaguars after the Denver Broncos clearly threw their hat in the ring with wide receiver Demaryius Thomas instead of him. This is like falling out of a boat and somehow staying dry.
Thomas is going to be a huge piece of the Jaguars' offensive puzzle and should become a favorite target of quarterback Blake Bortles. That's a lot more respect than he was getting in Denver this offseason.
Ndamukong Suh
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Six years, $114 million...'nuff said.
Darrelle Revis
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Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh may have been the biggest money earner in free agency, ever, but newly signed New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis has been owning NFL teams as many times as he's had chances.
He was given big money to come back to New York and gets to pair with with cornerback Antonio Cromartie again in a scheme that's been cornerback-friendly for a coach in Todd Bowles who's appreciative of the cornerback position.
Teams Doin' Work
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Last but not least, some teams who seem to be benefiting from the past month of work they (or others) have been doing.
Let's reiterate some points made in the intro slide, however. Winning in March doesn't mean a darn thing, and this is not meant to pretend that it does. However, this is identifying teams that have been making strides to improve themselves, and my good-faith efforts to identify which teams might actually be doing so.
Arizona Cardinals
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Things could've gone so much worse for the Arizona Cardinals.
Let's start back last season when it wasn't just quarterback Carson Palmer that went down, but his backup and then his backup. The Cardinals were still a playoff team and darn near made the second round. Then, with a number of decisions to make in free agency, the Cardinals were able to bring in guard Mike Iupati, defensive end Cory Redding, offensive lineman A.Q. Shipley and outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley.
None of those is incredibly impactive moves, but they're all shrewd signings that make the Cardinals better at a number of positions.
Carolina Panthers
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Few general managers impress me by what they don't do than the Carolina Panthers' Dave Gettleman.
The Panthers consistently refuse to overreact to their playoff success by mortgaging their future or taking shortcuts. It's similar to what I praised Washington general manager Scot McCloughan for before, but Gettleman has been down this road for years now.
Shrewd moves this offseason like adding safety Kurt Coleman (who was impressive for the Chiefs last year), tackle Michael Oher and wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. are all low-impact moves with minor upside. They also re-signed players like defensive tackle Dwan Edwards and tight end Ed Dickson.
These are not moves that light the world on fire, but the Panthers are better today than they were at the beginning of the month, and not everyone in the NFC South can say that.
Tennessee Titans
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The Tennessee Titans have been a bit of a forgotten team in recent years.
This offseason, however, they were able to convince pass-rusher Derrick Morgan to come back and brought another pass-rusher, Brian Orakpo, along for the ride. This isn't going to win a division title, but it adds teeth to a defense that was already looking at getting seriously better in the draft anyway.
St. Louis Rams
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The St. Louis Rams defensive line is filthy.
Sure, the Seattle Seahawks have an offensive weapon for quarterback Russell Wilson, now. Yes, the Arizona Cardinals have done work this offseason, and sure the San Francisco 49ers...well, they still exist, I guess. Yet, above all of that, the Rams have made one of their strengths even stronger, and that's gotta be scary.
In a division that boasts some mighty defenses, the Rams have arguably the best front seven.
If quarterback Nick Foles can give them anything in 2015, this could easily be a playoff team.
Gus Bradley and the Jacksonville Jaguars
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If the Carolina Panthers have the general manager whose patience I like best, the Jacksonville Jaguars have the head coach and general manager whose unified vision I like best, and that continued on into this offseason.
Tight end Julius Thomas, defensive end Jared Odrick, linebacker Dan Skuta, cornerback Davon House—all of these players got a little extra to come play in Jacksonville, but all of them have a chance to contribute in a big way in 2015. Those defensive players fit into the Seattle Seahawks-style defense head coach Gus Bradley is running, and the team should be better in the coming year than they've been in a while.
Other than Thomas, though, there's no bank-breaking signing.
The Jaguars were able to spend a little more because they've been managing their cap to the bone and had to spend money just to stay above the salary flood. Still, they were shrewd and they got (most of) their targets.
Denver Broncos
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Wait, what?
If I'm John Elway and the Denver Broncos, I'm thanking my lucky stars that Peyton Manning is coming back for another year. Sure, he's not the Manning of old, but he's still one of the top passers in the league. That, alone, would qualify as a big win.
They've made some solid moves bringing in names like guard Shelley Smith, tight end Owen Daniels and safety Darian Stewart. Keeping wide receiver Demaryius Thomas is huge, as well, even if it meant losing tight end Julius Thomas to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Overall, though, which of the teams in the AFC West got any better?
The San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders both teased big splashes prior to free agency looking at defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and wide receiver Randall Cobb—neither team actually had the goods. The Kansas City Chiefs beefed up their receiver corps quite a bit, but that's not a game-changer.
In essence, the Broncos' moves and division rivals' lack of moves mean the Broncos have one last year with Manning at the helm and one more year as a Super Bowl contender.
The New York Jets
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The New York Jets are remaking themselves, but it looks a whole lot like it's in Rex Ryan's image.
Many of the players brought in—especially cornerbacks Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine—are all the types of players Ryan had been coveting. Re-signing linebacker David Harris took a little extra coin just to keep him from Ryan and the Buffalo Bills. They also brought in guard James Carpenter to beef up the offensive line and Ryan Fitzpatrick to provide quarterback insurance.
Many of these are Ryan-like moves!
Yet, they're also setting new head coach Todd Bowles up for success in 2015 and beyond. Immediate success will hinge on the play of quarterback Geno Smith and new wide receiver Brandon Marshall, but the moves this offseason have proven that general manager Mike Maccagnan knows how to do the shopping for his coach.
Michael Schottey is an award-winning NFL National Lead Writer for Bleacher Report and a writer for Football Insiders. Follow him on Twitter.
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