Buying or Selling Every NFL Team's Improvement Efforts for 2015
Every offseason, every NFL team makes an effort to improve. Every offseason, every coach or team executive in the league is going to tell you that his team, in fact, did improve.
Unfortunately, not every team can improve every offseason, no matter how optimistic organizations try to present themselves to the public. Injuries, retirements, player aging and the flow of talent in free agency simply make it impossible for everyone to get better.
Every team is going to try, though, with varying degrees of improvement and decline being the end result.
How have the 32 NFL franchises fared this offseason? Well, we are about to take an individual look at each organization and "buy" or "sell" its efforts to improve since the start of the 2015 league year.
Since the excitement of free agency and the draft can often make it feel like every team has come out a winner, we're going to focus on each team's effort to actively improve. Efforts to minimize losses or remain competitive are not going to carry as much weight here as moves that attack weaknesses or build upon strengths.
Teams are listed in alphabetical order.
Arizona Cardinals: Buy
1 of 32
To be perfectly fair, the Arizona Cardinals did not need to make a ton of moves this offseason, other than ensuring starting quarterback Carson Palmer is healthy and back on the field.
Arizona was an 11-5 team a season ago and managed to reach the playoffs even with Palmer on injured reserve.
Arizona helped address its offensive line by adding free-agent guard Mike Iupati and drafting tackle D.J. Humphries in Round 1. The Cardinals were rated 29th overall in run blocking and 23rd overall in pass blocking last season by Pro Football Focus.
Rookie pass-rusher Markus Golden and first-year running back David Johnson also help address needs.
Perhaps the best move of the offseason, however, was promoting linebackers coach James Bettcher to replace the departed Todd Bowles (now head coach of the New York Jets) at defensive coordinator.
By promoting from within, the Cardinals will ensure there is a sense of continuity on the defensive side of the ball.
Atlanta Falcons: Sell
2 of 32
The Atlanta Falcons seem to have a sensible long-term game plan in place, which is great. New head coach Dan Quinn (formerly defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks) will bring some much-needed focus to the defense, which was ranked 26th overall last season by Pro Football Focus.
However, the Falcons made no real effort to grab a game-changing defender to help the transition in free agency. Linebacker Brooks Reed is a nice addition, but Atlanta left free agency with more than $14 million in available cap space.
The Falcons did focus on defense in the draft, grabbing pass-rusher Vic Beasley in Round 1 and cornerback Jalen Collins in Round 2. If these two emerge as rookies, then we could see a greater improvement on defense.
Overall, though, it feels more like the Falcons are headed to a bigger improvement in 2016 than in the coming season.
Baltimore Ravens: Sell
3 of 32
Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome believes in building through the draft and adding value free agents rather than chasing the headline players on the market. This keeps the team contending long-term, but doesn't always do a lot to make an immediate improvement.
This offseason, the Ravens allowed receiver Torrey Smith and tight end Owen Daniels to leave as free agents. Newsome then replaced them with rookie receiver Breshad Perriman and rookie tight end Maxx Williams in the draft.
This gives quarterback Joe Flacco younger weapons while minimizing the loss of Baltimore's free agents. However, Flacco's new targets are also very inexperienced.
Re-signing running back Justin Forsett to a three-year, $9 million extension was a brilliant move. Yet, it is another case of maintaining the status quo.
The bottom line with Baltimore is that the team did an absolutely stunning job of making sure the team doesn't decline. The team was rated second in overall defense and fourth in overall offense by Pro Football Focus in 2014, so maintaining is terrific.
We're looking at improvement efforts here, however, and it's just hard to buy that the Ravens will be even better in 2015 than they were a year ago.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Buffalo Bills: Buy
4 of 32
It's hard not to like what the Buffalo Bills have managed to do this offseason. Bringing in head coach Rex Ryan and offensive coordinator Greg Roman gives Buffalo a coaching staff with both NFL and playoff experience.
The Bills defense was already a standout unit; it was rated eighth overall by Pro Football Focus last season. Adding the defensive-minded Ryan to the mix is like adding extra fudge to a triple chocolate brownie sundae.
Revamping the offense was the goal this offseason, and the Bills brought in quite a few new pieces. Running back LeSean McCoy came to Buffalo via trade, and tight end Charles Clay, wide receiver Percy Harvin and guard Richie Incognito were all added via free agency.
Despite not having a first-round draft pick, the Bills also managed to add two potential contributors in guard John Miller and running back Karlos Williams. Second-round cornerback Ronald Darby will help add talent and depth to the other side of the football.
The biggest issue for this team is at quarterback. Kyle Orton retired after last season, so the team brought in journeyman Matt Cassel and former Ravens backup Tyrod Taylor to compete with EJ Manuel.
Quarterback is likely to be a weakness for Buffalo, but without a first-round pick and with few enticing options on the free-agent market, the Bills could do little to improve the position.
Carolina Panthers: Sell
5 of 32
The Carolina Panthers managed to win the NFC South last season despite producing a mere 7-8-1 regular-season record.
The problem is that Carolina appeared to approach this offseason like a defending division champion instead of a sub-.500 football team.
The team's "haul" in free agency was headlined by offensive tackle Michael Oher, who was rated 75th overall among offensive tackles by Pro Football Focus in 2014. The team didn't add a pass-catcher for regressing quarterback Cam Newton aside from Ted Ginn, and didn't bring in a back to replace the departed DeAngelo Williams.
The draft strategy for Carolina made a little more sense, at least. Pass-rusher Shaq Thompson should be a regular contributor on defense, and receiver Devin Funchess should do the same on the other side of the football.
However, the team just signed Newton to a five-year, $103.8 million deal after the worst statistical season of his career. Carolina could have done a heck of a lot more to ensure he has the talent around him to rebound in 2015.
Chicago Bears: Buy
6 of 32
The Marc Trestman experiment has been put to rest, and the Chicago Bears have brought in former Denver Broncos head coach John Fox to lead the team.
Fox led his team to the playoffs in each of the past four seasons, so this alone feels like a notable improvement. However, offensive coordinator Adam Gase and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio also bring a wealth of knowledge and experience.
Chicago traded away starting receiver Brandon Marshall, but replaced him with seventh overall pick Kevin White out of West Virginia.
The Bears also strengthened the defense in free agency by adding guys like linebacker Pernell McPhee and safety Antrel Rolle. The team also used a second-round draft pick on talented defensive tackle Eddie Goldman.
Defensive additions will be critical, as the Bears ranked 31st in scoring defense (27.6 points per game allowed) a season ago.
Overall, things are looking up in Chicago from where they were at the end of the regular season.
Cincinnati Bengals: Buy
7 of 32
The Cincinnati Bengals traditionally refrain from going wild in free agency. For a team coming off of four straight playoff appearances, it wouldn't seem that there would be a need to do so this offseason.
However, the Bengals have been ousted in the opening round of the playoffs in each of the past four years. This is probably why the team was a little more active than usual.
Cincinnati brought in linebacker A.J. Hawk and former Bengals pass-rusher Michael Johnson to help boost the defense. Cincinnati was ranked 29th in overall defense by Pro Football Focus last season and amassed a league-low 20 sacks.
The Cincinnati draft class largely looks like a group picked for the future. The Bengals took offensive tackles in each of the first two rounds, and starting tackles Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith are each entering the final year of their current contracts.
Third-round tight end Tyler Kroft, though, could be a contributor this year.
The biggest thing Cincinnati accomplished was retaining its key free agents. Guard Clint Boling, linebacker Rey Maualuga and backup running back Cedric Peerman were all re-signed.
Cleveland Browns: Sell
8 of 32
On paper, the Cleveland Browns look like a better team than the one that went 7-9 a year ago.
The team brought in free agents like receiver Dwayne Bowe, cornerback Tramon Williams, receiver Brian Hartline and defensive tackle Randy Starks.
Cleveland also landed talented nose tackle Danny Shelton and center Cameron Erving in the first round of this year's draft. The team finally drafted a wide receiver too, Washington State's Vince Mayle, albeit in the fourth round.
Unfortunately, it's difficult to buy into what the Browns are selling until the franchise finally gets something right at the quarterback position. Johnny Manziel showed very little last season (on the field, anyway), so once again Cleveland is turning to another team's castoff.
This year's journeyman answer is Josh McCown, who was rated 35th overall among quarterbacks by Pro Football Focus in 2014.
Cleveland's defense has the makings of a potentially elite unit, and there is a ton of overall talent on this team—there just doesn't appear to be much of it at the quarterback position.
Dallas Cowboys: Sell
9 of 32
The Dallas Cowboys came within a few plays of reaching the NFC title game last season. A big reason for the team getting as far as it did was running back DeMarco Murray, who led the NFL with 1,845 yards rushing.
Murray's hard-nosed, no-quit attitude (he played with a broken hand in Week 16) set the tone and created an attitude for the team all season long.
The Cowboys allowed Murray to walk in free agency, replacing him with....Oakland Raiders castoff Darren McFadden.
There's always the chance that McFadden has a resurgence in Dallas, but that feels about as likely as Chris Tucker having a revival on Broadway.
The Cowboys didn't land a promising veteran back, and the team didn't even bother to grab one in the draft.
Dallas did make some savvy decisions, like taking a chance on pass-rusher Randy Gregory in Round 2 and signing La'el Collins as an undrafted free agent. However, the total lack of regard this team has given to its running game during the offseason makes it hard to buy that the team is going to be better than it was a season ago.
Denver Broncos: Sell
10 of 32
Denver Broncos executive John Elway obviously felt that head coach John Fox was never going to lead his team to a Lombardi Trophy. Fox was let go after the season and was replaced by Gary Kubiak.
Kubiak is likely to bring a more balanced and run-oriented offense to Denver, which may help keep pressure off the shoulders of quarterback Peyton Manning. In theory, this is a fantastic idea, as Manning (nine first-game losses in the postseason) has a tendency to fold like an overcaffeinated origami artist under playoff pressure.
It's hard not to wonder if Kubiak—who just so happened to be Elway’s coordinator back in the mid-'90s—is really an upgrade over Fox, who led Denver to four straight postseason appearances (even the one with Tim Tebow under center).
Its also worth noting that the team allowed tight end Julius Thomas, defensive tackle Terrance Knighton and safety Rahim Moore to leave in free agency.
Knighton and Moore were big pieces of Denver's defense last season, which was rated first overall by Pro Football Focus.
Denver grabbed some nice draft picks in pass-rusher Shane Ray and offensive tackle Ty Sambrailo. Overall, though, this team doesn't seem any better than it was last year.
Detroit Lions: Buy
11 of 32
The Detroit Lions have not had a particularly great offseason, but the organization has done a good job of trying to improve where possible.
Losing starting defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley in free agency is going to hurt the defense, there's no getting around that fact. The team traded for former Baltimore Ravens nose tackle Haloti Ngata, but that move creates more freedom to change up the defensive front than it does minimize the loss of Suh and Fairley.
Where things are likely to be really different is in the running game. Detroit drafted guard Laken Tomlinson in Round 1 and running back Ameer Abdullah in Round 2.
Tomlinson has the talent to start as a rookie, and Abdullah can be an every-down back. The combination can bring some much-needed balance to the offense.
The defense, which was rated third overall by Pro Football Focus in 2014, is likely to take a step back. However, the offense is likely to be even more lethal and the team more well-rounded in the coming season.
Green Bay Packers: Sell
12 of 32
As is almost always the case, Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson spent most of the offseason re-signing regular contributors and focusing on the draft.
Considering Green Bay nearly made it to the Super Bowl last season (there was that whole onside kick thing), this strategy seems to pay off for the Packers more often than not. The Packers have made the playoffs in seven of 10 seasons since Thompson arrived.
Thompson did an absolutely brilliant job of working the offseason this year with one notable exception.
Green Bay's run defense was just awful in 2014. It was rated 31st overall by Pro Football Focus, and the team allowed an average of 119.9 yards per game on the ground (23rd in the NFL). The Packers did almost nothing to address this issue.
This is why we can't buy into the Packers being an improved team. This doesn't mean that Green Bay won't be a contender in 2015, or that the team can't win a Super Bowl. It's just difficult to believe the team will be significantly better than last year's group.
Houston Texans: Buy
13 of 32
The Houston Texans went 9-7 last season and finished with the seventh-best scoring defense (19.2 points per game allowed) in the league.
Starting running back Arian Foster rushed for 1,246 yards and was rated 12th overall among running backs by Pro Football Focus.
The only thing keeping this team from playoff contention appears to be solid quarterback play. With few real options on the veteran market, the Texans did the best they could by bringing in Brian Hoyer to compete with Ryan Mallett under center—Hoyer is 10-7 in his career as a starter.
Houston added free-agent receiver Cecil Shorts and drafted Arizona State product Jaelen Strong to help offset the loss of longtime starter Andre Johnson.
Adding veteran defensive tackle Vince Wilfork was a great value move. He, along with rookie additions corner Kevin Johnson and linebacker Benardrick McKinney, should make the defense even better than it was a year ago.
Indianapolis Colts: Buy
14 of 32
Like the Packers, the Indianapolis Colts fell short in their conference title game. However, their game wasn't a nail-biter—Indianapolis lost to the New England Patriots 45-7.
Despite the outcome of the AFC Championship Game, the Colts were not a terrible defensive team in 2014. They actually ranked 11th in total defense (342.7 yards per game allowed).
Indianapolis did address its defense during the offseason. The team signed linebacker Trent Cole and drafted cornerback D'Joun Smith in the second round. However, the plan this offseason was making the offense unstoppable.
General manager Ryan Grigson brought in former San Francisco 49ers star running back Frank Gore, longtime Texans receiver Andre Johnson and former CFL standout receiver Duron Carter. He also used a first-round draft pick on wideout Phillip Dorsett.
Considering the Colts ranked third in total offense (406.6 yards per game) in 2014, it's almost scary to think how dangerous the improved offense could be.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Sell
15 of 32
The Jacksonville Jaguars made a splash in free agency by signing Pro Bowl tight end Julius Thomas to a mammoth five-year, $46 million deal.
Jacksonville also spent big on defensive tackle Jared Odrick (five years, $42.5 million) and tackle Jermey Parnell (five years, $32 million). Simply spending money, however, isn't going to bring improvement.
The Jaguars still have more salary-cap space than any other team, and probably should have spent more of it trying to set up second-year quarterback Blake Bortles for success.
Bortles was a disaster as a rookie starter. He completed less than 60 percent of his passes, tossed more interceptions (17) than touchdowns (11) and finished with a passer rating of 69.5. He was ranked 75th overall among all quarterbacks by Pro Football Focus for the season.
That's 29 spots lower than Johnny Manziel, who looked good as a rookie, according to exactly no one.
The team can't help that first-round draft pick Dante Fowler suffered a torn ACL in minicamp. Rookie back T.J. Yeldon should help improve the offense. Still, this is a team that needed to take big steps to improve—and had the cap room to do so—but didn’t.
Kansas City Chiefs: Buy
16 of 32
We've probably said it a hundred times since the end of last season, but we're going to say it again.
No Kansas City Chiefs receiver caught a touchdown pass in 2014.
A struggling receiving corps may have been the biggest reason why the 9-7 Chiefs couldn't push for a playoff spot a year ago. There simply wasn't enough of a vertical threat to bring balance to the offense.
Rookie receivers Chris Conley and Da'Ron Brown can help in this area. However, the real offseason prize is former Philadelphia Eagles standout Jeremy Maclin, who is already familiar with Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. Maclin is also a Missouri native.
Reid recently said the following of Maclin, via Adam Teicher of ESPN.com: "To have an opportunity to come back home and play, that’s kind of a special thing. At the same time he’s making good money, and he’s very close with [receivers coach] David Culley and he knows the offense. It’s familiar territory from that standpoint."
Adding some offensive firepower will help balance out this team. The Chiefs have a stud running back in Jamaal Charles and fielded the league's second-best scoring defense (17.6 points per game allowed) in 2014.
Miami Dolphins: Buy
17 of 32
The Miami Dolphins made the decision this offseason to give fourth-year quarterback Ryan Tannehill a four-year, $77 million extension.
The team also took steps to set him up for success in 2015.
Miami signed former Pro Bowl tight end Jordan Cameron and wide receiver Greg Jennings in free agency. The team also traded for receiver Kenny Stills and selected Louisville's DeVante Parker in the first round of the draft.
The Dolphins also made a major move to improve their defense by signing superstar defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh to anchor their front. Miami ranked a respectable 12th in total defense last season (343.4 yards per game allowed), and Suh should make that side of the football even more dominant.
It will be up to Tannehill, who has a 23-25 career record, to prove he deserves his contract. However, Miami has given him weapons and should be an improved team in 2015.
Minnesota Vikings: Buy
18 of 32
The Minnesota Vikings didn't go crazy this offseason chasing after players to help improve the team. Instead, much of the team's effort was spent retaining key players guard Joe Berger, running back Matt Asiata and guard Mike Harris.
However, the Vikings have made a few moves to make the team better in 2015. Trading for speedy receiver Mike Wallace should help second-year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Drafting the likes of cornerback Trae Waynes and linebacker Eric Kendricks should help bolster the Minnesota defense, which was already rated ninth overall last season by Pro Football Focus.
The biggest move of the offseason, however, was convincing star running back Adrian Peterson to come back back to the team after a complicated and prolonged absence.
According to Bleacher Report's Jason Cole, Peterson informed the Vikings at one point that he wanted to play for Dallas. The Vikings didn't relent and never really considered trading Peterson. Now the six-time All-Pro is back on the practice field.
New England Patriots: Sell
19 of 32
Let's forget for a moment that New England Patriots star quarterback Tom Brady is facing a four-game suspension for his alleged role in a plot to illegally deflate footballs for competitive advantage.
With or without Brady's situation, the Patriots failed to improve this offseason. This, of course, would be a difficult thing to do for a defending Super Bowl champion.
New England lost big in free agency, however. Both starting cornerbacks, Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, are gone. Defensive tackle Vince Wilfork is gone as well.
The team did add pass-rusher Jabaal Sheard in free agency and drafted a bevy of talented defenders. However, losing Revis, Browner and Wilfork hurts this defense immensely.
This isn't to suggest that New England can't be a contender in 2015, but this year's team definitely isn't better than last year's. How could it be?
New Orleans Saints: Buy
20 of 32
The New Orleans Saints are in an interesting situation because the team is undergoing a rebuilding effort of sorts.
Head coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis are still in charge. However, the team seems to be moving away from the pass-based offense they have utilized in years past, opting to put more focus on the running game and the defense.
The team traded away its top two receivers from last season, tight end Jimmy Graham (85 receptions) and wideout Kenny Stills (63). Giving up Graham yielded a first-round draft pick and Pro Bowl center Max Unger.
New Orleans also brought in free-agent corner Brandon Browner and running back C.J. Spiller. Offensive tackle Andrus Peat and linebacker Stephone Anthony were selected in the first round of the draft.
There is a lot of risk involved with the Saints' game plan. However, the NFC has been dominated in recent years by teams that have balance on offense and that play tough defense. New Orleans deserves credit for chasing the formula.
New York Giants: Sell
21 of 32
The New York Giants posted their worst regular-season record since 2004 last year, but they haven't done a lot this offseason to reverse their course.
The addition of running back Shane Vereen was a very underrated move, but the rest of free agency made little sense for the Giants. New York brought in a pair of expensive backups in receiver Dwayne Harris (five years, $17.5 million) and linebacker J.T. Thomas (three years, $10 million). These may end up being great value moves, but they certainly don't scream "instant impact."
New York's draft was good, but not spectacular by any stretch of the imagination. First-round pick Ereck Flowers will likely be thrust into a starting role as left tackle Will Beatty is out for an extended period with a torn pectoral muscle. Rookie safety Landon Collins and first-year defensive end Owamagbe Odighizuwa may become early contributors.
Overall, though, it feels like the most improvement is going to come thanks to the return of receiver Victor Cruz rather than from New York's offseason strategy.
New York Jets: Buy
22 of 32
The New York Jets did a tremendous job of keeping the team's identity while revamping both the coaching staff and the roster.
Defensive-oriented head coach Rex Ryan was replaced by defensive-oriented head coach Todd Bowles. This should make for an easy transition on the defensive side of the football. The Jets were ranked fifth overall defensively by Pro Football Focus last season.
The defense should be even better in 2015, though. General manager Mike Maccagnan brought back star cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie while adding underrated slot corner Buster Skrine. He then drafted defensive tackle Leonard Williams, regarded by some as the best player in the draft, sixth overall.
To help the offense, New York traded for wide receiver Brandon Marshall and drafted former Ohio State wideout Devin Smith. Journeyman quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was also brought in to compete with Geno Smith for the starting job.
The Jets could be a surprise playoff contender in 2015.
Oakland Raiders: Sell
23 of 32
The Oakland Raiders have done a tremendous job of building for the future in each of the past two offseasons.
Last year's draft saw the addition of quarterback Derek Carr and linebacker Khalil Mack. Each is quickly becoming the centerpiece on his respective side of the football.
General manager Reggie McKenzie brought in young free agents like defensive tackle Dan Williams, running back Roy Helu and center Rodney Hudson this offseason to add to the growing core of young players. Rookies like receiver Amari Cooper, tight end Clive Walford and defensive tackle Mario Edwards are likely to become league standouts sooner than later.
However, the Raiders did not spend for a quick turnaround. This will likely come next year, as the team still has more than $21 million in cap room. Oakland ranked 31st in scoring offense (15.8 points per game) and 32nd in scoring defense (28.2 points per game allowed) last season.
Change isn't going to happen overnight.
One has to love what the Raiders are building, but immense improvements aren't likely to come in 2015.
Philadelphia Eagles: Buy
24 of 32
The Philadelphia Eagles took a lot of risks this offseason, but there is reason to believe they will pay off.
Quarterback Nick Foles and running back LeSean McCoy were traded away to the St. Louis Rams and Buffalo Bills, respectively. However, the team got veteran quarterback Sam Bradford and promising young linebacker Kiko Alonso in return.
The team then signed the reigning NFL rushing leader, DeMarco Murray, away from the division rival Cowboys as a free agent.
Starting receiver Jeremy Maclin left as a free agent, but the Eagles drafted USC's Nelson Agholor in the first round to replace him.
Free agent corner Byron Maxwell and second-round cornerback Eric Rowe should help improve the Eagles pass defense, which ranked 31st in the NFL last season (264.9 yards per game allowed).
A lot will depend on Bradford's health and performance in 2015, but right now, this team looks better than last year's 10-6 unit.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Sell
25 of 32
The Pittsburgh Steelers rarely go for the splashy move in free agency. Instead, general manager Kevin Colbert always seems to concentrate on value signings and the draft.
This offseason was no different for the Steelers. The big free-agent addition was veteran running back DeAngelo Williams, who will likely back up Le'Veon Bell after he serves his three-game suspension.
The team lost safety Troy Polamalu, cornerback Ike Taylor and linebacker Jason Worilds to retirement in the offseason, but they haven't panicked to replace them. Draft picks like linebacker Bud Dupree and cornerback Senquez Golson will likely replace them in time.
Rookie receiver Sammie Coats will also eventually help the offense, which was rated third overall by Pro Football Focus.
There always seems to be a sense of long-term, slow-and-steady planning with the Steelers. It has worked in the past, so it's hard not to buy into the team's game plan. However, it feels like the team is putting more focus on maintaining what it has than improving upon it.
When you add in the fact that longtime defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau is no longer with the team, it's hard to believe this team will really be better in 2015.
San Diego Chargers: Buy
26 of 32
The San Diego Chargers narrowly missed the postseason last year with a 9-7 record. They spent the offseason making sure the team has the talent to get over the hump in 2015.
General manager Tom Telesco retained a number of key free agents while adding pieces to upgrade a rushing offense that was ranked just 28th overall by Pro Football Focus last season. The Chargers signed guard Orlando Franklin and drafted former Wisconsin star rusher Melvin Gordon in the first round of the draft.
San Diego already had the league's sixth-best passing offense, according to Pro Football Focus. With an improved rushing attack, the offense should be both balanced and potent.
Free-agent safety Jimmy Wilson will help on the defensive side, as will second-round linebacker Denzel Perryman.
It is the addition of Gordon, who has the potential to be an NFL star, that makes the coming season worth getting excited about.
San Francisco 49ers: Sell
27 of 32
When the offseason first began, it almost felt like the San Francisco 49ers weren't trying to get better.
The team parted ways with head coach Jim Harbaugh, who had taken the 49ers to the NFC title game in three of his four seasons in charge. He was replaced by defensive line coach Jim Tomsula.
We can't fault San Francisco for the retirement of linebacker Patrick Willis, defensive end Justin Smith, linebacker Chris Borland or offensive lineman Anthony Davis. However, general manager Trent Baalke did let running back Frank Gore, cornerback Perrish Cox and cornerback Chris Culliver walk in free agency.
Bringing in free-agent receiver Torrey Smith and drafting defensive tackle Arik Armstead in Round 1 both look like sound moves. Unfortunately, they don't make up for the collective losses this team has suffered this offseason.
Tomsula and his staff may get things back on track down the road, but they'll likely have their hands full in 2015.
Seattle Seahawks: Sell
28 of 32
We're probably in the minority here, as most seem to believe the Seattle Seahawks' move to acquire star tight end Jimmy Graham was a stroke of genius.
However, giving up Pro Bowl center Max Unger and a first-round pick to get Graham feels like a bit much.
The Seahawks also allowed starting left guard James Carpenter to leave in free agency, which means two-fifths of the starting line are no longer with the team. Starting cornerback Byron Maxwell is also gone.
The selection of wide receiver Tyler Lockett in the third round of the draft was a smart move, but second-round selection Frank Clark brought some controversy along with his pass-rush ability. Clark was reportedly involved in a domestic violence incident last November, and drafting him hasn't sat well with people outside the organization.
"What I can’t for the life of me understand is why the Seahawks didn’t sprint away from Clark, a player that many teams had reportedly dropped down to the bottom of their draft boards, if not off it completely," Larry Stone of The Seattle Times recently wrote.
Seattle general manager John Schneider has also failed to secure a long-term deal with quarterback Russell Wilson to this point. While this won't necessarily affect the 2015 season, it could create issues in the near future.
St. Louis Rams: Buy
29 of 32
There is some very real risk with the St. Louis Rams' offseason moves because the team traded away quarterback Sam Bradford in exchange for former Eagles starter Nick Foles.
Bradford, of course, has only started seven games over the past two seasons, so maybe calling the move a "risk" is unnecessary.
In addition to Foles, the Rams have brought in rookie running back Todd Gurley and tackle Rob Havenstein to help improve the offense. Free-agent defensive tackle Nick Fairley and linebacker Akeem Ayers should help do the same for the defense.
The Rams were forced to start second-string quarterback Shaun Hill and third-stringer Austin Davis last season. If Foles can provide a steady presence under center, it should be enough to make St. Louis better in 2015.
With the other offseason additions, the Rams could realistically compete in the tough NFC West.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Sell
30 of 32
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers went 2-14 last season, so the team should improve in 2015. However, the team's strategy for doing so seems to lack any sort of direction or focus.
The Buccaneers fell into No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston by failing to win in 2014. It's tough to call Tampa's acquisition of their new signal-caller an effort.
More troublesome is the face that general manager Jason Licht had to know his team was leaning toward a quarterback with the first overall pick in the draft, yet he did absolutely nothing to make his new quarterback's transition easier.
Tampa's "big" free agents were defensive tackle Henry Melton and linebacker Bruce Carter. Licht got no help for the league's 29th-ranked rushing attack (85.9 yards per game). He also ignored the offensive line, which was rated dead last in pass blocking by Pro Football Focus.
Thanks to Licht's misguided free-agency plan, Winston may be forced to start behind two rookie linemen.
The entire lack of player movement makes even less sense when you consider that the team still has more than $20 million in cap space.
Tennessee Titans: Buy
31 of 32
It would be pretty darn difficult for the Tennessee Titans to not improve upon last season's 2-14 debacle. Still, the team deserves a lot of credit for working to make this team better in 2015.
Bringing in veteran defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau was a wonderful first step. Arming LeBeau with free-agent additions like linebacker Brian Orakpo and safety Da'Norris Searcy was the perfect follow-up.
The big question for this team, of course, is at quarterback. Second overall pick Marcus Mariota will be given every opportunity to win the starting job, though a quick transition is not guaranteed.
The good news for Mariota is that general manager Ruston Webster got him a little help in the offseason. Free-agent receiver Harry Douglas and second-round wideout Dorial Green-Beckham should give the Titans muscle in the passing game.
It's hard to believe that the Titans will be contenders in 2015, but the team should definitely be better than it was last year.
Washington Redskins: Buy
32 of 32
If Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III and head coach Jay Gruden fail to mesh again this season, then we're probably going to look back on 2015 as another wasted season for the franchise. In terms of trying to improve for the 2015 season, however, the team has done a solid job of addressing key needs.
Washington was ranked dead last in overall defense by Pro Football Focus last season. In response, the team added defensive tackle Terrance Knighton, cornerback Chris Culliver and defensive tackle Ricky Jean Francois in free agency. Defensive end Preston Smith was also added in the second round of the draft.
Washington averaged just 105.7 rushing yards per game last season (19th in the NFL), so the team drafted guard Brandon Scherff (Round 1) and running back Matt Jones (Round 3) to help in this area.
The trick now is to get Griffin to play like the franchise savior he appeared to be as a rookie a few short seasons ago.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
