Stock Up, Stock Down for Every NFL Team at the Start of 2015 Training Camp

No team ended the 2014-15 NFL season with a higher stock than the New England Patriots, who defeated the Seattle Seahawks to win Super Bowl XLIX. Going into the start of their 2015 training camp, however, the Patriots appear to be among the teams that have taken a step back this offseason, while many other teams have made forward progress toward challenging New England for this year’s championship.

From trades and free-agent signings to suspensions and scandals, the 2015 NFL offseason has been as eventful as expected. For many teams, it has been a time of building momentum and inspiring belief before the games even begin. But there are also other teams—some of whom, like the Patriots, were at or near the top of the 2014 standings and had high stocks to maintain—that go into their summer sessions with greater concerns than they had last season.

We will start to get a better idea of where each team stands as the pads come on and practices begin as training camps open throughout the NFL within the next two weeks. Until then, we can take a look back at what has happened since the confetti dropped on last season and look forward to how it could impact—positively or negatively—each team's chances of doing better or worse than it did last season.

Teams listed in alphabetical order.

Arizona Cardinals: Stock Up

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The Arizona Cardinals’ stock couldn’t have gone much lower than it did in their lone playoff game last season. Third-string quarterback Ryan Lindley and the Cardinals offense managed to muster just 78 total yards, the worst offensive total ever in an NFL playoff game, in a 27-16 loss to the Carolina Panthers.

Going into their 2015 training camp, the Cardinals look ready to bounce back from last year’s season-ending embarrassment.

Most importantly, starting quarterback Carson Palmer is expected to be ready to go when Cardinals veterans report to training camp on July 31. Despite tearing his ACL last November, “Palmer has been doing extra workouts in the dead of the offseason,” according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com.

“I’m not even thinking about my knee,” Palmer told Urban. “I’m still rehabbing just to be on the safe side of things but I don’t need to be at rehab. I’m full go in the weight room, full go on the field, and until it’s brought up, I haven’t thought about what I’m not doing because I’m doing everything I was doing.”

After making some additions to their offensive line this offseason, the Cardinals appear to be in better position to keep Palmer upright and healthy. Mike Iupati, the team’s top free-agent addition this offseason, is one of the NFL’s best left guards. Arizona also brought in veteran A.Q. Shipley, who will compete to replace Lyle Sendlein at center, and first-round pick D.J. Humphries, who will challenge Bobby Massie for the starting right tackle job.

The rest of the roster remains strong. Even with the losses of a few starters on defense, including cornerback Antonio Cromartie and nose tackle Dan Williams, Arizona still appears to be strong on that side of the ball.

Assuming Palmer returns to form and stays healthy, the Cardinals look to be in good position to both make the playoffs and make a stronger push toward advancing once they get there.

Atlanta Falcons: Stock Up

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Even though the Atlanta Falcons came within one game of making the playoffs last season, they never did much to make fans and analysts excited about them. Going into their training camp this summer, there are numerous reasons to believe they could be a more serious contender for 2015.

The most exciting move made by the Falcons this offseason was the hiring of former Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as head coach. Quinn, who has an impressive history of building great defensive lines and defensive units, could be the perfect coach to fix the Falcons defense, which allowed more yards than any other unit in the NFL last season.

Continuing their efforts to fix their defense, the Falcons also added considerable talent on that side of the ball this offseason, specifically within the front seven. No. 8 overall draft pick Vic Beasley should give Atlanta the premier pass-rusher it lacked last season, while free-agent additions Adrian Clayborn, O’Brien Schofield, Brooks Reed and Justin Durant should all have roles within the hybrid, 4-3 under scheme.

The Falcons might still need to depend on their offense in 2015, as rebuilding the defense will take time, but fortunately, they should continue to be strong there.

The tandem of quarterback Matt Ryan and wide receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White should continue to give Atlanta one of the most dynamic passing offenses in the NFL. And while second-year left tackle Jake Matthews should exhibit progress this year after a bumpy rookie season, the Falcons’ first two offensive draft picks this year—running back Tevin Coleman and wide receiver Justin Hardy—have skill sets that should enable them to contribute immediately to the offense.

With no clear favorite in the NFC South, the Falcons appear to be in good shape to contend for a division title this year.

Baltimore Ravens: Stock Down

The Baltimore Ravens have consistently been playoff contenders since the turn of the century, so it will be a surprise if they do not continue to be in 2015. That said, they are not looking as strong going into this season as they did last season, which ended with a divisional-round loss to the eventual champion Patriots in the playoffs.

Baltimore did not retain a number of its key players from 2014 this offseason. Most notably, five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Haloti Ngata was traded to the Detroit Lions, while Torrey Smith, the Ravens’ best deep receiver, left for the San Francisco 49ers in free agency.

Making big moves in free agency has never been the Ravens’ modus operandi, so the lack of activity on the veteran market this offseason was nothing new. But their losses from their own team, which also included outside linebacker Pernell McPhee and tight end Owen Daniels, could hurt them.

With a severe lack of established pass-catching playmakers on the roster following the departures of Smith and Daniels, the Ravens are going to rely on their first- and second-round draft picks, wide receiver Breshad Perriman and tight end Maxx Williams, to provide production as rookies. How much they will be able to impact the team in their debut season, however, is questionable.

Perriman, who has outstanding speed but is a raw player, reportedly struggled with drops during June minicamp, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. Williams, playing a position where rookies tend to start slowly, told Wilson that he has had to learn “a whole different scheme” in Baltimore from what he worked with as a collegiate player in Minnesota.

Overall, the Ravens still have a solid roster on both sides of the ball and should be well within the mix to make their 11th playoff appearance since 2000. If they make a serious push for the Super Bowl, however, it probably won’t have much to do with anything they’ve done since the end of last season.

Buffalo Bills: Stock Up

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Much has been made of the Buffalo Bills’ problems at the quarterback position, where the uninspiring trio of EJ Manuel, Matt Cassel and Tyrod Taylor offers no starting option anyone should feel good about. Outside of the quarterback position, however, the Bills appear to be in a stronger position to make a playoff push than they have been in recent years.

The addition of former division rival Rex Ryan as head coach has brought an energy to Buffalo that the team simply did not have with previous coach Doug Marrone. As Judy Battista of NFL.com noted in April, “Ryan rolls out of bed knowing how to lift the spirits and confidence of a once-moribund organization—its fans and even its employees.”

Whether that will lead to more success on the field remains uncertain, but Ryan’s early results with the New York Jets—they made the playoffs in his first two seasons before missing the postseason in his final four years there—were encouraging.

The offseason additions of running back LeSean McCoy, wide receiver Percy Harvin and tight end Charles Clay should go a long way in livening up the Bills offense. The defense, meanwhile, remains loaded with talent and projects to be one of the best units in the league, as it has been the past two years.

If the Bills can at least get semi-reliable play from their quarterback this season, they will have a shot at snapping the league’s longest playoff drought. They’re not in position to be a Super Bowl contender yet, but there are reasons for the Western New York faithful to go into 2015 with optimism.

Carolina Panthers: Stock Down

The Carolina Panthers limped in the postseason last year with a 7-8-1 record and then took advantage of the Arizona Cardinals’ aforementioned offensive struggles to win their opening-round playoff game. They’ll probably have a tough time getting back there in 2015, however, as long as the NFC South around them performs better.

From an overall standpoint, the Panthers roster didn’t necessarily get worse this offseason. The only major loss in free agency was defensive end Greg Hardy, who is one of the NFL’s most talented pass-rushers but only played in one game last season before spending the rest of the year on the Commissioner’s Exempt list.

The problem for the Panthers is that they also did not do much to get better, especially in their biggest areas of weakness. Specifically at left tackle, where the Panthers really needed to find a franchise solution, they instead settled on Michael Oher, who was waived by the Tennessee Titans this offseason after one year of poor play at right tackle.

With only one established running back with a history of production on the roster in Jonathan Stewart, the Panthers will rely on Cam Newton to be at his best in leading their offense this season. Relying on a combination of Oher, Mike Remmers and/or fourth-round pick Daryl Williams to protect him at offensive tackle, however, is not a great recipe for success.

Carolina did strengthen its receiving corps by signing free agents Jarrett Boykin and Ted Ginn Jr. and trading up for second-round draft pick Devin Funchess. The Panthers also added another playmaker to their defense, Shaq Thompson, who should form one of the NFL’s elite linebacker groups this season in tandem with Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis.

Overall, though, the Panthers look like a team that will probably continue to hover around the .500 mark this season. Their lingering offensive line issues could hinder their progress on that side of the ball, while on defense, their pass rush (outside of Charles Johnson) and secondary are underwhelming.

Chicago Bears: Stock Up

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The Chicago Bears’ stock plummeted over the course of the 2014 season, as they lost eight of their last 10 games and appeared to be a franchise in disarray. Going into 2015, the Bears appear to be in much better shape, with a new coach and general manager who made some significant upgrades to the roster this offseason.

After firing Marc Trestman, who looked to be in way over his head over the course of his two seasons leading the Bears, Chicago landed a huge upgrade by hiring John Fox. In 13 years as a head coach with the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos, Fox has made seven playoff appearances and two Super Bowl appearances.

Chicago’s new general manager, Ryan Pace, also appears to be a huge upgrade over his predecessor, Phil Emery. In his first offseason at the helm, Pace successfully lured a plethora of talented free agents to Chicago, including outside linebackers Pernell McPhee and Sam Acho, free safety Antrel Rolle and wide receiver Eddie Royal.

Through the NFL draft, Pace and the Bears were able to replace their two most significant free-agent losses—wide receiver Brandon Marshall and defensive tackle Stephen Paea—with first-round pick Kevin White and second-round pick Eddie Goldman, who both have the talent to potentially make their mark as rookies.

The offseason wasn’t perfect for the Bears. A dark spot came in May when defensive end Ray McDonald, whose signing in March had been publicly endorsed by owner George McCaskey, was arrested for domestic violence and subsequently released.

The Bears also still have reason for concern at the quarterback position, where Jay Cutler needs to bounce back after throwing a league-high 18 interceptions last season and being benched late in the year.

Chicago is probably still at least a year away from making it back to the playoffs, but it should be in line for a rebound campaign after going 5-11 in 2014. The roster around Cutler is much improved, and so too is the team’s leadership, at least in terms of those who make football decisions.

Cincinnati Bengals: Stock Up

The success or failure of the Cincinnati Bengals’ 2015 season will ultimately be measured by whether they can get past the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, where they have been tripped up for four consecutive years. Whether their coach and quarterback are good enough to get them past there is fair to question, but their roster as a whole is one of the most complete in the NFL.

Marvin Lewis, who is entering his 13th season as the head coach, and Andy Dalton, the Bengals’ fifth-year quarterback, have been symbols of mediocrity throughout their careers. While Dalton has yet to miss the postseason, and Lewis is making his sixth trip to the playoffs, neither has done enough to lead Cincinnati to any wins once the team gets there.

Around those two pillars, though, the Bengals only continued to get stronger this offseason.

While losing virtually no key players they couldn’t easily replace, the Bengals brought back defensive end Michael Johnson, who should help rejuvenate a defense that finished dead last in the NFL in sacks last season. The defensive line could also be bolstered by a return to health for Geno Atkins, who was one of the NFL’s elite defensive tackles in 2012 but struggled last season after tearing his ACL in 2013.

On the offensive side, the Bengals should get sparks this year from wide receiver Marvin Jones, who missed all of last season with an ankle injury, and tight end Tyler Eifert, who played just one game before missing the rest of 2014 with a dislocated elbow.

Jones told reporters this spring that he has no lingering effects from his injury, according to ESPN.com’s Coley Harvey, while Eifert “caught virtually everything thrown his way during open practices, and looked sharp in his routes.”

With a large group of key players set to become free agents in 2016, the Bengals need to go into training camp with a win-now mindset, as 2015 might be the best chance they will have to contend for a Super Bowl. If they can stay healthy throughout the year and make an extra push come January, they have a roster talented enough to do it.

Cleveland Browns: Stock Up

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Although the Cleveland Browns still look like long shots to contend in the AFC North, in which the other three teams made the playoffs in 2014, they still look to be in better position to make a push toward a winning season in 2015.

Quarterback play remains a major concern for the Browns. Projected starter Josh McCown is a journeyman with a history of mediocre play, and to this point, there have been no indications that 2014 first-round pick Johnny Manziel will make a serious push for McCown’s job.

That said, the offense could make positive strides in 2015 if McCown can at least offer adequate play, or if Manziel can break through.

In veteran wide receivers Dwayne Bowe and Brian Hartline, veteran tight end Rob Housler and third-round pick running back Duke Johnson, the Browns added a number of weapons who can help move the ball down the field. Up front, the Browns should benefit from the return of center Alex Mack, who missed the team’s final 11 games last season with a broken leg, and the addition of first-round pick Cameron Erving, who offers versatility to play anywhere on the offensive line.

Defensively, the addition of rookie nose tackle Danny Shelton, the Browns’ other first-round pick, should bolster a run defense that allowed more yards than any other team in the NFL last season. Among their free-agent additions, Randy Starks will bolster the defensive line, while Tramon Williams projects as an upgrade over Buster Skrine at cornerback.

The roster upgrades should help the Browns find more stability, as should the fact that Mike Pettine now has a year of head coaching experience under his belt. So while the Browns are still the most likely team to finish last in the AFC North, they could be ready to pounce if any of their division rivals slip up in front of them.

Dallas Cowboys: Stock Up

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In the typical fashion of owner and general manager Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboys continued to make splashy moves this offseason. And while some of those moves brought scrutiny to the organization that could continue to linger into the season, the Cowboys have also put themselves in position to be heavy favorites to win the NFC East.

The Cowboys suffered a huge loss early in free agency with the departure of running back DeMarco Murray, who led the NFL with 1,845 rushing yards last season. But although they failed to replace him with a running back of similar talent, they made numerous other moves this offseason that could make Dallas one of the teams to beat in 2015.

The most controversial move—signing free-agent defensive end Greg Hardy—might also be the most impactful. While Hardy carries a bad reputation off the field stemming from a domestic violence incident last offseason, he is one of the NFL’s best pass-rushers on the field. While he was initially suspended for the first 10 games of this season as punishment for the incident, that suspension was reduced to four games last week.

The Cowboys’ top two draft picks, cornerback Byron Jones and defensive end Randy Gregory, could also make an immediate impact on the defense. Gregory is a raw talent who fell to the second round of the draft because of off-field concerns of his own. He won’t necessarily play a big role this season with Hardy in the fold, but he was considered by many draft analysts to be one of the most gifted prospects in the 2015 class.

Offensively, the Cowboys have the pieces to survive and continue to thrive without Murray. The signing of franchise-tagged Dez Bryant to a five-year, $70 million contract earlier this week ensures that Dallas will continue to have one of the NFL’s elite wide receivers starring in the offense.

The Cowboys also look to have the NFL’s best offensive line, with a strong group of five returning starters but also the addition of La’el Collins, a first-round talent who went undrafted after being linked to a murder investigation but was ultimately not charged with any crime. Collins is set to compete with Ronald Leary for the starting left guard job in training camp, according to Brandon George of the Dallas Morning News.

Even with quarterback Tony Romo battling through multiple fractures in his back, the Cowboys were good enough to make it to the divisional round of the playoffs last year. If he can stay healthy this season, the Cowboys look to be a legitimate championship contender.

Denver Broncos: Stock Down

No team’s stock has fallen further since the end of last season than the Denver Broncos, who have lost a multitude of key players from their roster because of free-agency departures and an injury, all the while having an aging quarterback who appears to be in decline.

While it would be a mistake to count out Peyton Manning heading into 2015, the future Hall of Fame quarterback’s play down the stretch of the 2014 season was some of his worst play in years. At 39 years old, he appears to have significantly less arm strength than he did in his prime, and he might no longer be a quarterback who can carry an offense on his back.

Perhaps needing help around him more than even before, Manning will have less of it on this year’s Broncos offense than he had in his first three years with the team.

In free agency, the Broncos lost tight end Julius Thomas, who led the team with 12 receiving touchdowns in 2014, and three starting offensive linemen. The Broncos then lost third-round pick tight end Jeff Heuerman to a torn ACL during rookie minicamp and starting left tackle Ryan Clady to a torn ACL during organized team activities.

All of those losses make it unlikely that the Broncos offense will continue to be a unit that scores more than 30 points per game, as it did during each of Manning’s first three seasons with the team.

Defensively, the Broncos did not suffer massive attrition but did lose two starters in nose tackle Terrance Knighton and free safety Rahim Moore. The shift to a 3-4 defense under new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips should be a good fit for the personnel, while first-round pick Shane Ray has the potential to make an immediate impact as a situational pass-rusher, but the Broncos are unlikely to improve to an extent on defense that will make up for a drop-off in offensive production.

By replacing John Fox with new head coach Gary Kubiak, the Broncos hoped to make a spark that would enable them to take the next step from perennial playoff team to Super Bowl champion. The losses throughout the roster, however, will be tough for Kubiak and his new staff to overcome.

Detroit Lions: Stock Down

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After making the playoffs as one of the NFC’s two wild-card teams last season but losing in the first round, the Detroit Lions look to have their work cut out for them to make it back to the postseason in 2015.

Offensively, the Lions have a chance to take a step forward this offseason. Wide receiver Calvin Johnson, who battled an ankle injury for much of last season, told Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News in June that he thinks the Lions offense is almost “100 percent better than last year at this time."

The Lions will be banking on second-year tight end Eric Ebron to bounce back from a disappointing rookie year, while their top two draft picks this year—left guard Laken Tomlinson and running back Ameer Abdullah—could prove to be upgrades at their respective positions.

Unless the offense evolves into an elite unit in 2015, however, the Lions could be beset by the losses suffered by their defense this offseason.

Most notably, they lost one of the NFL’s elite defensive players with the departure of defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh in free agency. While the trade acquisition of Haloti Ngata helps soften that blow, Ngata is not quite the every-down disruptive force that Suh is, and his best years are likely behind him at 31 years old.

The Lions also lost three other key pieces of their defensive line rotation from last season in defensive tackles Nick Fairley and C.J. Mosley and defensive end George Johnson. While Detroit still has some great talent on the defensive front, including defensive end Ezekiel Ansah and weak-side linebacker DeAndre Levy, the losses it incurred this offseason will likely lead to a step back for a defense that ranked No. 1 in rushing yards allowed last season.

Green Bay Packers: Stock Up

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The Green Bay Packers’ 2014-15 season ended in heartbreaking fashion with an overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game. Fortunately for Green Bay, the team appears to be positioned as well as ever heading into training camp to make another push toward a championship.

While the Packers did not make any significant additions in free agency, they retained two of their offensive stars, wide receiver Randall Cobb and right tackle Bryan Bulaga, re-signing them to long-term contracts. With reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers at quarterback and all of their key players from last season back in the lineup, the Packers should be favored to lead the NFL in offensive points per game this year, just as they did last season.

Defensively, they lost a few players from their rotation with the free-agent departures of cornerbacks Tramon Williams and Davon House as well as the release of inside linebacker A.J. Hawk. That said, none of those losses should have major effects on the defense, especially with the draft selections of defensive backs Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins plus inside linebacker Jake Ryan.

If the Packers weren’t already a team with a championship-ready roster, their stock would likely be pegged as down, as they did not make any moves that should make them instantly better in 2015. In this case, however, stability leaves Green Bay in a good position, along with the potential for young players like second-year wide receiver Davante Adams and tight end Richard Rodgers to break out and make the offense even better.

In a set of NFL power rankings released earlier this week, Bleacher Report’s Curtis Calhoun ranked the Packers as the No. 2 team in the NFL.

Houston Texans: Stock Up

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Like numerous other teams already mentioned in this slideshow, the Houston Texans enter their 2015 training camp with questions about their passing offense but still look to be in better shape as a whole going into the season thanks to the hauls they made in free agency and the draft.

The biggest reason for concern in Houston, of course, is determining whether the Texans have a viable starting quarterback between Ryan Mallett and Brian Hoyer. With that being said, Mallett exhibited potential in two starts last season before going down for the year with a torn pectoral muscle, while Hoyer’s reunion with Texans head coach and former New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien could enable him to bounce back from a rough 2014 campaign.

It doesn’t help matters that the Texans released Andre Johnson, their star wide receiver of the past 12 seasons. But by signing veteran wideouts Nate Washington and Cecil Shorts and also drafting Jaelen Strong in the third round, the Texans added a number of solid weapons who should adequately complement DeAndre Hopkins, who emerged as Houston’s leading pass-catcher in 2014.

Given the uncertainty at those positions, however, defensive play will be key to the Texans’ success in 2015. And the reason why Houston’s stock is up going into training camp is that the defense has the potential to be stronger at all three levels this season.

On the defensive line, free-agent addition Vince Wilfork gives the Texans a massive, run-stuffing nose tackle who will help take up blockers and give superstar defensive end J.J. Watt even more matchups that he can expose. At the linebacker level, second-round pick Benardrick McKinney should be an upgrade against the run inside.

The secondary also looks to be stronger this upcoming season with the free-agent addition of Rahim Moore, who should be an upgrade over Kendrick Lewis at free safety. In addition, first-round pick Kevin Johnson should combine with Kareem Jackson and Johnathan Joseph to give the Texans a strong trio at the cornerback position.

On top of those moves, the biggest upgrade to the defense could come from a player who was already on the roster. Jadeveon Clowney, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft, played just four games in his rookie season because of injury. He could make a huge impact for the pass rush in 2015, however, as he has reportedly “progressed so well from microfracture surgery on his knee that the goal is to have him on the practice field when camp begins,” according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.

Indianapolis Colts: Stock Up

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In Andrew Luck’s first three seasons as the quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts, the team has made it one step further in the playoffs each season. After losing in the Wild Card Round in 2012-13 and the divisional round in 2013-14, the Colts made it to the AFC Championship Game last season before suffering defeat to the New England Patriots.

Having made numerous moves this offseason that should make them better on both sides of the ball, at least in the short term, the Colts appear to have the team they need to continue moving forward and make a run at a Super Bowl berth this year.

Knowing they needed only a few more pieces to climb the ladder and be a championship-caliber team, the Colts smartly took a win-now approach to this year’s offseason. While running back Frank Gore, wide receiver Andre Johnson and outside linebacker Trent Cole are all 32 years of age or older, all of them have skill sets that can make them significant upgrades for the Colts in 2015.

Additional free agents signed by the Colts this offseason who could prove to be upgrades at their respective positions include right guard Todd Herremans, defensive end Kendall Langford, inside linebacker Nate Irving and free safety Dwight Lowery.

Having already added Johnson to a receiving corps that includes T.Y. Hilton and Donte Moncrief, the Colts appeared to make a luxury selection when they used their first-round pick to select wide receiver Phillip Dorsett. The move, however, could pay off, as Dorsett drew rave reviews throughout spring workouts and “is going to cut into somebody’s playing time this season” as a result, according to Indy Sports Central’s Mike Chappell.

Another rookie who reportedly appears to be in line to make an immediate impact is fourth-round pick Clayton Geathers. According to ESPN.com’s Mike Wells, Colts coach Chuck Pagano said that Geathers has exceeded expectations and could be utilized as both a safety and sub-package linebacker.

All in all, the roster appears to be stronger in numerous areas on both sides of the ball than it was last season. If Luck continues his improvement and the team stays generally healthy, the Colts have a shot to hoist the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the year.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Stock Up

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Coming off four consecutive seasons in which they have won five games or fewer, the Jacksonville Jaguars could finally be in a position to pull themselves out of the cellar and make a push toward contention in 2015.

They had big money to spend in free agency this offseason and used it wisely.

Jacksonville’s most notable signing was that of tight end Julius Thomas, who is coming off back-to-back seasons with 12 receiving touchdowns. The Jaguars also bolstered their offensive line by signing Jermey Parnell, who has the talent to be a significant upgrade at right tackle, and Stefen Wisniewski, who will compete with Luke Bowanko to start at center and can provide depth at all three interior offensive line positions.

Defensively, the top free-agent addition was Jared Odrick, who provides versatility to play both defensive end and defensive tackle, while outside linebacker Dan Skuta, cornerback Davon House and free safety Sergio Brown should also be solid contributors on that side of the ball.

The Jaguars’ stock took a major hit in rookie minicamp when first-round draft pick Dante Fowler Jr., who was expected to give the team a much-needed premier pass-rusher on the edge, suffered a season-ending torn ACL. Even with that unfortunate loss, however, the Jaguars still look to be moving in the right direction.

If the Jaguars can get improvement from second-year quarterback Blake Bortles and immediate production for rookie running back T.J. Yeldon, the offense should be significantly better than last season. And while the defense’s potential to make a big leap forward is stunted by the loss of Fowler, the Jaguars still have enough new talent on that unit for coach Gus Bradley to continue building the defense.

Kansas City Chiefs: Stock Up

Since the aforementioned likely decline of the Denver Broncos could open the door to a new champion in the AFC West, the Kansas City Chiefs might be positioned to take advantage.

While the Chiefs are unlikely to ever be an aggressive downfield passing offense with Alex Smith at quarterback, they should have a stronger group of wide receivers in 2015 than the unit that caught zero touchdowns in 2014. Free-agent addition Jeremy Maclin gives the team a dynamic No. 1 option, third-round pick Chris Conley brings great size and speed to the position, and second-year receivers Albert Wilson and De’Anthony Thomas could be in line for breakout seasons.

The Chiefs lost their best offensive lineman from 2014 with the departure of center Rodney Hudson but could still potentially be better up front after upgrading at left guard by trading for Ben Grubbs. Meanwhile, the Chiefs return two elite playmakers to their offense in running back Jamaal Charles and tight end Travis Kelce.

On the defensive side of the ball, the Chiefs’ most important move occurred just this past week when they signed franchise-tagged outside linebacker Justin Houston to a six-year contract extension. It is unknown whether star safety Eric Berry will be able to play this season, as he continues to battle Hodgkin’s lymphoma, but the secondary nonetheless looks solid going into training camp following the additions of rookie cornerback Marcus Peters, a first-round pick, and veteran safety Tyvon Branch.

Kansas City’s roster might not have gotten decisively better this offseason, but it also has not taken any losses that the Chiefs should not be able to recover from.

The defense performed at a high level last season, allowing the second-lowest points total in the entire NFL, and has the pieces in place to continue to stifle opponents in 2015. If the passing offense can take a step forward with an improved group of pass-catchers, the Chiefs have a shot at entering the playoff picture this season.

Miami Dolphins: Stock Up

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If the window to the AFC East crown annually slammed shut by the New England Patriots starts to open up in 2015, the Miami Dolphins could be the most well-equipped team in the division to take advantage.

First of all, the Dolphins are the only team other than the Patriots to have a starting quarterback they can trust. While reviews from media analysts of Ryan Tannehill’s performance through three NFL seasons have varied widely, the Dolphins asserted their faith in their signal-caller by signing him to a six-year, $96 million contract this offseason.  

Re-signing Tannehill wasn’t the biggest move the Dolphins made this spring, however, as the Dolphins gave even more money—$114 million over six years, to be exact—to defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, who should make an immediate and powerful impact as the new centerpiece of the defense.

Offensively, the Dolphins acquired numerous new weapons for Tannehill to work with, including a free-agent signee in tight end Jordan Cameron, a trade acquisition in wide receiver Kenny Stills and a first-round draft pick in DeVante Parker. Although Parker’s ability to contribute out of the gate could be limited after he underwent foot surgery in early June, he is reportedly “on track” to be available for the regular-season opener, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

Additionally, the Dolphins might end up with an unexpectedly quick upgrade at the left guard position thanks to their fourth-round selection of Jamil Douglas. According to ESPN.com’s James Walker, “Douglas has shown solid strength and the ability to hold at the point of attack” in offseason workouts, and could beat out Dallas Thomas for a starting job in training camp.

The Dolphins lost some key free agents of their own this offseason, including tight end Charles Clay and defensive tackles Jared Odrick and Randy Starks, but they made strong moves to replace those players. If the new additions can make the impacts they are capable of, Miami has a fighter’s chance of ending up with a postseason berth this year.

Minnesota Vikings: Stock Up

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Of the 13 teams that finished the 2014 NFL season with losing records and missed the postseason, the Minnesota Vikings—who went 7-9 last year—look to be the strongest candidate to leap forward into a playoff berth.

While they finished just 27th in total offense last season, they should be much more dangerous when they possess the ball in 2015.

Second-year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who had the NFL’s second-best passer rating among starters between Weeks 13 and 17 of last season, according to Pro-Football-Reference.com, should only continue to get better in 2015 with a year of experience under his belt.

Meanwhile, the Vikings should also benefit greatly from the return of six-time Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson, who played just one game last year before spending the rest of the season on the Commissioner’s Exempt list.

Furthermore, the team also added a true deep threat to the offense at wide receiver by trading for Mike Wallace. The only major question mark on the offense is the line, where fourth-year left tackle Matt Kalil needs to bounce back from a dismal 2014 season and the right guard position is set for a battle between fourth-round pick T.J. Clemmings, sixth-round pick Tyrus Thompson and veteran Joe Berger.

The Vikings’ first three picks in this year’s draft—cornerback Trae Waynes, linebacker Eric Kendricks and defensive end Danielle Hunter—could all potentially bolster the defense in their rookie seasons. While Kendricks is expected to start and be an upgrade over Jasper Brinkley at middle linebacker, Waynes gives the team two new promising options at cornerback in tandem with veteran addition Terence Newman.

Minnesota probably won’t challenge the Green Bay Packers for the NFC North, but it should come as no surprise if it makes the playoffs as a wild-card team this year. So long as the offensive line can hold it together, the Vikings have the pieces on both sides of the ball to be a double-digit-win team in 2015.

New England Patriots: Stock Down

As previously mentioned in this slideshow, the New England Patriots’ stock had nowhere to go but down this offseason. But despite being the champions of the 2014-15 NFL season, the Patriots might no longer be the team to beat going into training camp this summer.

While it remains uncertain how many games quarterback Tom Brady will actually end up missing, as a decision has yet to be announced on the appeal of his four-game suspension, it is likely that the Patriots will be without their star and leader for at least a game or two as punishment for his “more probable than not” role in deflating balls during the AFC Championship Game.

That might not have much effect on the Patriots’ hopes of defending their championship, as he will return with plenty of time for New England to bounce back from any early-season losses. That said, Brady’s suspension is compounded by the fact the Patriots also lost numerous key players from their Super Bowl roster this offseason.

Most notably, they lost Darrelle Revis, who is arguably the NFL’s best cornerback and played a huge role in stabilizing the defense last season, to the New York Jets in free agency. Having also let go of Brandon Browner and Kyle Arrington this spring, the Patriots enter training camp with major question marks at the cornerback position.

Another key loss to the defense came with the departure of nose tackle Vince Wilfork. While letting him go and replacing him with first-round draft pick Malcom Brown should prove to be a smart move in the long run, it will likely take Brown some time before he replicates the presence Wilfork had on the Patriots’ interior run defense for the past 11 years.

The Patriots added some solid role players in free agency, including pass-rusher Jabaal Sheard and tight end Scott Chandler, but that does not offset their losses, which also included running back Shane Vereen.

Having been perennial contenders with Brady at quarterback and Bill Belichick as head coach, the Patriots remain heavy favorites in the AFC East and should be in the hunt for a Super Bowl title once again this season. The road to a championship just looks as though as it could be a good bit tougher this year, though.

New Orleans Saints: Stock Down

While the New Orleans Saints were as aggressive as any team in the NFL in reshaping their roster this offseason, there’s reason to be skeptical of their strategy actually working out for the better.

Throughout Sean Payton’s reign as Saints head coach, the team’s success has been predicated on its ability to pass the ball downfield. The Saints weakened their roster in that area, however, by trading away star tight end Jimmy Graham and big-play wide receiver Kenny Stills this March, without making any noteworthy additions at those positions.

Furthermore, there’s also reason to question whether 36-year-old quarterback Drew Brees is still capable of being the elite passer he has been for many years. The Saints drafted his potential successor this year with third-round pick Garrett Grayson and are reportedly concerned about a “noticeable decline in his physical ability,” according to Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole.

If the Saints are going to compensate for a likely continued drop-off on offense, their defense—which allowed the second-most yards in the NFL last season—needs to be significantly better.

They made some solid additions on that side of the ball this offseason. Defensive tackle Kevin Williams, edge defender Anthony Spencer, inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe and cornerback Brandon Browner are all veteran acquisitions who should make solid contributions in 2015.

The Saints also added three potential defensive playmakers in the first three rounds of the draft with inside linebacker Stephone Anthony, outside linebacker Hau’oli Kikaha and cornerback P.J. Williams. Additionally, they could get a surprise spark at cornerback from Canadian Football League veteran Delvin Breaux, who worked as a nickel cornerback with the first-team defense in OTAs, according to Larry Holder of the Times-Picayune.

Even with that influx of talent, however, the Saints defense is not yet a unit that can be counted on to carry the team in 2015. It also doesn’t help matters that one of the unit’s star players, pass-rusher Junior Galette, is recovering from a pectoral injury while making headlines for multiple off-field incidents this offseason.

New York Giants: Stock Down

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Having been hit by injuries to multiple key players in the trenches before training camp even begins, the New York Giants are already off to a bad start for the 2015 season.

They are expected to be without left tackle Will Beatty until October or November after he suffered a torn pectoral muscle while weightlifting in May. That injury has forced the Giants to immediately put first-round pick Ereck Flowers, who has terrific size and strength but is technically raw, at the premium position on the offensive line.

An even bigger blow hit the Giants on the Fourth of July when star defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul suffered an injury in a fireworks accident that forced him to have his index finger amputated. While it remains unclear what the timetable is for his recovery, it is difficult to imagine him making a big impact in 2015 with only four fingers on his right hand.

Fortunately for the Giants, they added depth at the defensive end position this spring by signing free-agent George Selvie and drafting Owamagbe Odighizuwa. But neither of those players, nor anyone else on the roster, offers the level of pass-rushing ability that a healthy Pierre-Paul could.

The injuries to Beatty and Pierre-Paul aren’t the only reasons to be concerned about the Giants’ 2015 season. Another is the safety position, where Jeromy Miles—just signed this week after failing to find a team during the first three months of free agency—is the only player on the depth chart to have ever started an NFL game. Second-round pick Landon Collins could make a big impact at strong safety, but the team will miss departed free-agent free safety Antrel Rolle.

New York should get a spark offensively from the return of wide receiver Victor Cruz, who told SiriusXM NFL Radio (h/t Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper) that he is “on track to be ready for training camp” after missing the final 10 games of last season with a torn patellar tendon. The Giants also made some solid additions through free agency this spring, including running back Shane Vereen and linebackers J.T. Thomas and Jonathan Casillas.

None of those players, however, project to make the regular impacts in 2015 that Beatty, Pierre-Paul and Rolle would have.

New York Jets: Stock Up

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Championships are not won in the offseason, but the New York Jets did as much as they could this year to ensure that they will have a better team in 2015 than the one that won just four games in 2014.

The Jets will enter training camp with a new head coach (former Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Todd Bowles), new general manager (Mike Maccagnan) and plenty of new talent.

Maccagnan’s first big move as general manager was a trade for wide receiver Brandon Marshall, a big, strong mismatch-creator who has 9,771 receiving yards and 65 touchdowns in just nine NFL seasons. He should form a terrific triad of wide receivers in tandem with returning veteran Eric Decker and second-round draft pick Devin Smith.

Once free agency began, the Jets turned their attention toward rebuilding their secondary. They reunited an elite outside cornerback tandem of the past by bringing both Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie back to the Big Apple. They also added slot cornerback Buster Skrine and safety Marcus Gilchrist to gain four new playmakers on the back end. The Jets also made an upgrade to their offensive line by signing James Carpenter to start at left guard.

In the draft, they landed arguably the best player in the entire draft class by selecting defensive end Leonard Williams with the No. 6 overall pick. That move will be especially beneficial to the Jets during their first four games of the upcoming season, as it gives them a strong replacement option for starting defensive end Sheldon Richardson while he is suspended for a substance-abuse policy violation.

Like their division counterpart Buffalo Bills, the New York Jets could be held back by their continued lack of a franchise quarterback. However, new offensive coordinator Chan Gailey has a history of achieving moderate success with subpar quarterbacks, including Ryan Fitzpatrick, who was acquired in a trade to be Geno Smith’s backup.

With a first-year head coach and numerous lingering issues still to work through, the Jets are probably still at least a year away from making a serious playoff push, but their offseason roster additions should have them trending in the right direction in 2015.

Oakland Raiders: Stock Up

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Having failed to make the playoffs or even achieve a winning season since 2002, the Oakland Raiders’ stock has been down for a long time. They were as bad as ever in 2014, going just 3-13 for the year, but could be ready to finally get things moving in the right direction in 2015.

The Raiders’ success or lack thereof this upcoming season will be largely contingent upon the development of second-year quarterback Derek Carr, who had struggles but also positive flashes throughout the 2014 season as a 16-game rookie starter.

Carr averaged just 5.46 yards per passing attempt last season—easily the lowest mark in the NFL—but he should be aided in that regard by the addition of numerous pass-catching playmakers.

Amari Cooper, the No. 4 overall pick in this year’s draft, has the tools to be the go-to wide receiver that the Raiders have lacked in recent seasons. The team also added a solid veteran to start opposite Cooper in free-agent signee Michael Crabtree, while third-round pick Clive Walford provides another weapon at the tight end position.

While the Raiders project to have a stronger passing offense in 2015, they also made some solid additions to their defense this spring. Defensive tackle Dan Williams, linebackers Curtis Lofton and Malcolm Smith and strong safety Nate Allen are free-agent additions who should play significant roles this year. So too should second-round pick Mario Edwards Jr., who is raw as a pass-rusher but should make an immediate presence versus the run.

Led by a new head coach in Jack Del Rio—their ninth head coach since 2002—the Raiders need to start working their way out of the NFL’s basement in 2015, and they have put some promising pieces in place to help them do that.

Philadelphia Eagles: Stock Up

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No NFL team’s stock is more difficult to forecast than that of the Philadelphia Eagles heading into training camps this summer. After an offseason full of bold moves with head coach Chip Kelly calling the shots, the Eagles are loaded with talent but also have some major question marks.

The biggest of those question marks comes at the quarterback position, where Sam Bradford has the potential to be an upgrade over Nick Foles but must stay healthy. Bradford, acquired in a trade with the St. Louis Rams this offseason, has not played a regular-season NFL game since Week 7 of the 2013 season, having torn the ACL in his left knee two times since.

Another big area of concern is at the guard position. Even though Evan Mathis was graded as one of the league’s two best guards for each of the past four seasons by Pro Football Focus, the Eagles released him in June. As they also released right guard Todd Herremans in February, the Eagles are now counting on largely unproven players Allen Barbre and Matt Tobin to fill big shoes as starting interior offensive linemen.

On the other hand, there are some positions at which the Eagles have clearly upgraded, especially cornerback, where free-agent addition Byron Maxwell and second-round pick Eric Rowe offer size, physicality and skills that 2014 Eagles starters Bradley Fletcher and Cary Williams simply did not.

Another top-notch addition to the defense could be inside linebacker Kiko Alonso, who was acquired in a trade from the Buffalo Bills. Like Bradford, Alonso carries an injury risk after missing all of last year with a torn ACL. As a rookie in 2013, however, Alonso had outstanding production, as the athletic linebacker recorded 159 total tackles.

Beyond Mathis, the Eagles lost two additional star players on their offense by trading running back LeSean McCoy to the Bills and losing wide receiver Jeremy Maclin in free agency. Those losses might not hurt them, however, as they made strong moves to replace them.

At running back, the Eagles brought in both DeMarco Murray, the NFL’s leading rusher in 2014, and Ryan Mathews, a talented runner when healthy in his own right. At wide receiver, meanwhile, the Eagles used their first-round pick to draft Nelson Agholor, who was “easily” the team’s most impressive rookie this spring, according to Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com.

The Eagles could just as easily crash and burn as make the playoffs, but they have added some great talent this offseason. If Kelly can make his players mesh together and maximize their abilities within his scheme, the Eagles could emerge as serious contenders in the NFC this year.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Stock Down

The Pittsburgh Steelers have rarely generated much excitement before training camp, as they tend to avoid splashy offseason moves and typically do their best work once the pads get popping. Even so, there’s reason to doubt their ability to defend their AFC North title in 2015.

Retaining their own players has always been a priority over signing players from other teams in free agency, and this offseason has been no exception. While the Steelers’ only noteworthy veteran addition was running back DeAngelo Williams, they re-signed quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to a five-year contract extension in March and defensive end Cameron Heyward to a five-year extension this week.

The problem with that strategy is that the Steelers lost a trio of key defensive players—outside linebacker Jason Worilds, cornerback Ike Taylor and strong safety Troy Polamalu—to retirements.

While Worilds was the only one of those players who was still in his prime, the Steelers are going to be heavily reliant on rookies—first-round pick Bud Dupree at outside linebacker, second-round pick Senquez Golson and fourth-round pick Doran Grant at cornerback—to fill their shoes.

Dupree has the talent to be an upgrade over Worilds, who left the game at just 27 years old, while Golson and Grant have the skills to be quality additions to the secondary. The Steelers also have a number of talented young defenders, including defensive end Stephon Tuitt, inside linebacker Ryan Shazier and strong safety Shamarko Thomas, who could all break out as they take on bigger roles in 2015.

Even so, the Steelers enter training camp with huge question marks and a lack of experience on the defensive side of the ball, which could be their demise this upcoming season. Additionally, Pittsburgh could be facing up to three games without running back Le’Veon Bell, who was suspended three games for a marijuana arrest but has yet to have his appeal heard by the league, according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

San Diego Chargers: Stock Up

Gregory Bull/Associated Press

With the Denver Broncos’ aforementioned concerns leaving the AFC West up for grabs, the San Diego Chargers could be in position to seize control of the division after a productive offseason on their part.

The Chargers needed to make moves to bolster their offensive line this offseason, and that’s exactly what they did by signing two free agents—left guard Orlando Franklin and right tackle Joe Barksdale—after re-signing left tackle King Dunlap to a four-year contract extension.

San Diego also added multiple playmakers to the offense this spring, first by signing free-agent wide receiver Stevie Johnson and later by trading up to the No. 15 overall pick in Round 1 of the draft to select running back Melvin Gordon.

All of those moves should enable the Chargers offense, assuming quarterback Philip Rivers bounces back after struggling down the stretch last season, to take a step forward in 2015. While the Chargers will be without tight end Antonio Gates for four games due to a substance-abuse policy suspension, they have an athletic backup in Ladarius Green who should fill some of his production in tandem with wide receivers Keenan Allen, Malcom Floyd and Johnson.

Defensively, the Chargers did not make any major moves to upgrade their roster but have a number of young players who could take their games to the next level in 2015.

After finally starting to make an impact during the second half of last season, 2012 first-round pick Melvin Ingram could be a difference-maker at outside linebacker if he can stay healthy. 2014 second-round pick Jeremiah Attaochu also has big upside as a pass-rusher off the edge, while 2014 first-round pick Jason Verrett could emerge as a star cornerback in 2015 after missing most of his rookie year with a shoulder injury.

The Chargers don’t project as an elite AFC team for 2015, but they certainly look good enough to take advantage of a weakened AFC West and make a run at a division title.

San Francisco 49ers: Stock Down

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By the time you read this post, another San Francisco 49ers player might have retired. I’m mostly kidding, but it would fall in line with a 2015 offseason in which the team lost four star players to retirement along with numerous other key contributors in free agency.

Coming out of last season, the 49ers were supposed to have a surplus of inside linebackers for 2015 with established stars Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman joined by 2014 rookie sensation Chris Borland. That surplus quickly became a deficiency this March, however, when Willis and Borland both shocked the NFL world by retiring.

Since then, two more 49ers starters—defensive end Justin Smith and right tackle Anthony Davis—have also stepped away from the NFL. The retirement of Smith, at 35 years old, was expected; Davis’ decision, however, came as another shock, as the 25-year-old decided to "take a year or so away from the NFL," as reported by ESPN.com’s Paul Gutierrez.

While there seemed to be a clear pattern of 49ers moving on from the NFL this offseason, there were many other 49ers who simply moved on to other teams. Cornerbacks Chris Culliver and Perrish Cox, left guard Mike Iupati and running back Frank Gore were among the players who left San Francisco for new homes this offseason.

Jim Tomsula, the new head coach, now goes into training camp with a roster that features significantly less talent than what Jim Harbaugh had to work with last season.

San Francisco made a number of solid free-agent additions, including wide receiver Torrey Smith and defensive end Darnell Dockett, while it has numerous young players, including 2014 second-round pick Carlos Hyde at running back and 2014 third-round pick Brandon Thomas, who have the talent to break out as they take on big roles in their sophomore seasons.

All in all, though, the depth chart looks significantly weaker than it did at this time last season, especially at linebacker, cornerback and on the offensive line. After sliding out of the playoffs and finishing the 2014 season with a .500 record, the 49ers look destined for a losing campaign in 2015.

Seattle Seahawks: Stock Up

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The Seattle Seahawks won the Super Bowl two years ago, came within one play of defending their title last season and look primed to be the team to beat in the NFL once again in 2015.

Whether they actually got better this offseason is up for debate. They lost two starting interior offensive linemen from last season in center Max Unger and left guard James Carpenter, while they also have to replace Byron Maxwell, the starting cornerback who was the fourth piece in the Seahawks’ Legion of Boom secondary for the past two seasons.

Even so, the Seahawks still appear to have the strongest roster in football. While the debate regarding how good Russell Wilson is has raged on all offseason, he has been more than good enough to lead Seattle to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances while the team remains loaded with around him.

Wilson should continue to progress as a pocket passer as a fourth-year quarterback, and he will have more help this season thanks to the offseason additions of Jimmy Graham, who gives Seattle an elite playmaker and red-zone threat at tight end, and third-round pick Tyler Lockett, a small but explosive wide receiver and return specialist who drew frequent praise in spring workouts.

“He easily has been the most impressive rookie so far in offseason workouts,” ESPN.com’s Terry Blount wrote of Lockett in June.

The loss of Maxwell could hurt the Seahawks defense, as he is a far more talented cornerback than his projected replacement in the starting lineup, free-agent signee Cary Williams. But given the fact that the Seahawks have a talent-laden defensive front seven, plus three superstar defensive backs in Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor, Seattle should be able to mask Williams’ flaws.

Altogether, the Seahawks should be considered the favorites to win Super Bowl 50. In particular, the addition of Graham as a pass-catching playmaker over the middle could play a big role in whether the Seahawks end up being successful.

St. Louis Rams: Stock Up

Michael Thomas/Associated Press

The St. Louis Rams appear to be in a similar situation to where they were last year, in that they have no shortage of young talent on their roster but also still have significant concerns at quarterback and along the offensive line that could hold them back. But as that young talent continues to blossom, it’s possible the Rams did enough this offseason to start getting over the hump in 2015.

From a talent standpoint, new quarterback Nick Foles might not be better than what the Rams gave up in trading for him with Sam Bradford. That said, Foles is a much better starting option than Austin Davis and Shaun Hill, the quarterbacks the Rams were forced to turn to last season while Bradford missed the entire year with injury.

Foles has had some injury concerns of his own—he missed the Philadelphia Eagles’ final eight games last season with a broken collarbone—and struggled while he was healthy early last year. With that being said, he was one of the NFL’s most efficient passers in 2013 and has shown that he can a reliable starter, if not a big playmaker, who largely avoids mistakes.

The offensive line tasked with protecting Foles remains a major question mark, as the Rams have just two returning starters on the unit—left tackle Greg Robinson and left guard Rodger Saffold—and added no proven players to the mix this spring. That said, second-round pick Rob Havenstein should be a solid fix at right tackle, while the team reportedly believes third-round pick Jamon Brown has “Pro Bowl potential” at right guard, according to NFL.com’s Gil Brandt.

A player who could help the offense take a significant step forward is No. 10 overall pick Todd Gurley. While his recovery from a torn ACL could delay or slow the start of his rookie season, he is a powerful, explosive running back who has the tools to be an elite player at his position once healthy.

Defensively, the roster looks much the same as it did last season, but with a couple of key additions in defensive tackle Nick Fairley and strong-side linebacker Akeem Ayers, who should be quality rotational assets within an already-strong defensive front seven in St. Louis.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Stock Up

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ stock for the 2015 season officially went up shortly after 8 p.m. ET on April 30, when the team selected former Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft.

Nothing turns a team’s fortunes around faster than the addition of a franchise quarterback, which is exactly what the Buccaneers should have in Winston so long as he can improve his decision-making on the field and avoid any incidents off the field.

So far, so good. According to ESPN.com’s Pat Yasinskas, “Winston has made huge strides since he was drafted.”

“He has picked up the playbook well and is comfortable making calls at the line of scrimmage,” Yasinskas wrote on June 14. “He has started to build chemistry with wide receivers Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans. Winston still needs to working on not forcing throws into heavy coverage, but the Bucs are very happy with how he has progressed so far.”

Once the games begin, it’s likely that Winston will make his fair share of rookie mistakes. He threw 18 interceptions at Florida State last season and will continue to have problems with turnovers until he learns to be smarter with where he throws the football.

Even so, he should immediately give the Buccaneers a much better chance to be competitive than they were with Josh McCown and Mike Glennon last year. Meanwhile, the team made a number of solid additions to other areas on the roster, including second-round draft picks Donovan Smith and Ali Marpet on the offensive line, trade acquisition George Johnson at defensive end and free-agent signee Bruce Carter at middle linebacker.

Ultimately, the Buccaneers should not be expected to contend for the playoffs this season, as 2015 will be a building year for both Winston and the team around him. But it would also be a surprise if the Buccaneers do not make strides this year considering that they were the worst team in the NFL in 2014.

Tennessee Titans: Stock Up

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The Tennessee Titans’ stock is up for virtually the same exact reason as that of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Like Tampa Bay, the Titans have a new franchise quarterback—No. 2 overall pick Marcus Mariota—who they can build around as they work to bounce back from a two-win 2014 season.

Like Winston, Mariota—who won the Heisman Trophy while leading Oregon to a national championship game appearance last season—has also gotten off to an encouraging start before training camp even begins.

“He and the offense had one really bad day. Other than that I saw a lot of progress and a quarterback who was better at this stage than I imagined he could be,” ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky wrote on June 19 in his review of Mariota’s OTAs and minicamp. “He was the best quarterback on the field and the gap wasn't a small one.”

For Mariota, who is a different style of quarterback than Winston, the biggest struggles to come this rookie season will likely be meshing with Ken Whisenhunt’s pro-style offense in Tennessee after running a spread system at Oregon. Even so, his ability to make plays with both his arm and his legs, and with both accuracy and intelligence, should make an immediate difference on the offense.

The Titans made some solid moves to build up the offense around Mariota this offseason, most notably at wide receiver, where they drafted Dorial Green-Beckham and signed veterans Harry Douglas and Hakeem Nicks. On the defensive side of the ball, the Titans added three quality starters in outside linebacker Brian Orakpo, cornerback Perrish Cox and strong safety Da’Norris Searcy.

On a roster that featured virtually no players to get excited about last season, the Titans now have a star at quarterback and upgrades at many other areas of their roster. They still need more influxes of talent to be a serious playoff contender, but the spark added by Mariota should go a long way in helping them pick up some more wins in 2015.

Washington Redskins: Stock Up

Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Associated Press

If the Washington Redskins are going to have a great offense, they’re going to need quarterback Robert Griffin III to start playing the way he did as a rookie in 2012 before suffering a torn ACL. That might not happen. The good news in Washington, however, is that the Redskins finally appear to have the pieces in place to potentially have a great defense in 2015.

Revamping the defense was a clear priority for general manager Scot McCloughan in his first offseason at the helm. In free agency, the Redskins bulked up their defensive line by signing nose tackle Terrance Knighton and defensive ends Stephen Paea and Ricky Jean-Francois. They also made a big effort to fix their secondary by not only signing cornerback Chris Culliver and strong safety Jeron Johnson but also trading for free safety Dashon Goldson.

They also bolstered the defense through the draft, selecting Preston Smith, who should form a strong rotation with Trent Murphy opposite Ryan Kerrigan at outside linebacker.

Offensively, the Redskins’ only major moves came in the draft, most notably with the first-round selection of right tackle Brandon Scherff. He reportedly struggled early on in offseason workouts, according to CSNWashington.com’s Rich Tandler, with moving to right tackle after playing left tackle at Iowa. That said, he is a strong, athletic and experienced offensive lineman who should be a big upgrade up front once he gets the hang of it.

Additionally, a surprise boost for the offense could potentially come from third-round pick Matt Jones at running back. While Alfred Morris is locked in as the feature back, Jones reportedly impressed in spring workouts, to the point where Redskins coach Jay Gruden said the team “won’t hesitate at all to put Matt in” games when Morris needs rest, according to Jamie Oakes of 247Sports.com.

While Washington does not stand out as a playoff contender for 2015, its improvements on defense could help the team get back into the hunt this upcoming season if RG3 and the offense can get back on track in training camp and carry that through to the games to come.

All measurables and statistics courtesy of NFL.com unless otherwise noted.

Dan Hope is an NFL/NFL Draft Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.

Follow @Dan_Hope