Biggest NFL Offseason Moves Already Backfiring

We are two days away from watching the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots kick off the NFL’s 96th season. And we are less than a week away from the other 30 clubs beginning their own quests to reach Super Bowl 50.

There will still be some tweaking of rosters this week as the teams fine-tune their lineups for the long season ahead. But have all of these franchises done what they needed to do this offseason to put themselves in an advantageous position?

We are taking a look at eight clubs that did their best to try to solve some issues this offseason, but as of this moment, there are still significant doubts regarding the decisions they made earlier this year.

Now the next question on the docket is just how much of a season-long issue will these eight examples become?

Chicago Bears: Trading WR Brandon Marshall

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In recent seasons, the Chicago Bears featured one of the more dynamic wide receiver tandems in Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. This offseason, the duo was broken up when Marshall was dealt to the New York Jets (along with a seventh-round draft choice) for a fifth-round pick in this year's draft.

As we know, the Bears would use the seventh pick in April’s draft to land University of West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White, who unfortunately is currently on the team’s physically unable to perform list. Of course, that opens up the door for some when it comes to second-guessing, be it fair of unfair.

Despite the fact that he missed the final three games of last season, Marshall ranked fourth on the Bears with 61 receptions, good for 721 yards and eight touchdowns. He has always had a good rapport with erratic quarterback Jay Cutler, who continues to have his issues when it comes to turnovers (24 in 2012).

While veteran Eddie Royal was a nice addition via free agency, not having Marshall leaves Cutler with one less weapon and performer he has learned to depend on.

Dallas Cowboys: Not Drafting a Running Back

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This spring, the Dallas Cowboys lost 2014 NFL Offensive Player of the Year DeMarco Murray to the Philadelphia Eagles via free agency.

Now the quartet of Darren McFadden, Joseph Randle, Lance Dunbar and Christine Michael, recently acquired from the Seattle Seahawks, as discussed here by Rainer Sabin of the Dallas Morning News, hope to make up for the 1,845 yards on the ground Murray totaled in 2014.

We understand that a team can’t use the franchise tag twice in one year, and the decision to give that to wide receiver Dez Bryant (NFL-high 16 touchdown receptions in 2014) was arguably the correct move. But not looking to the immediate future and beyond by using any of their eight draft choices on a running back this spring was questionable to begin with. And the recent trade to acquire Michael essentially confirms the lack of confidence the team has in the three incumbents.

The Cowboys ground game, ranked second in the NFL this past season, could have another solid year. But in order to keep their still-suspect defensive unit off the field, someone will have to step up in a significant way.

Denver Broncos: Failure to Secure a Proven Center

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You could perhaps point to the entire offensive line when it comes to the uncertainty surrounding the Denver Broncos these days.

In recent weeks, the team has managed to add some experience to a unit that had made wholesale changes this offseason. But watching what has gone on at center has been somewhat unnerving, especially if you’re a 39-year old quarterback named Peyton Manning.

Just look at what we have seen since the start of 2014. The season began with Manny Ramirez at the pivot and ended with Will Montgomery at center. The former was dealt to the Detroit Lions this offseason while Montgomery signed with the Chicago Bears.

General manager John Elway would later orchestrate a deal to acquire center Gino Gradkowski from the Baltimore Ravens. But he struggled in Denver, as he did with his former team, and when it was all said and done, he was released by the club.

Now the starting job belongs to Matt Paradis, a sixth-round pick from Boise State in 2014 who didn’t play during his rookie year. The recent pickup of guard Evan Mathis and the decisions to deal tackle Chris Clark (to the Houston Texans) and put veteran Ryan Harris at right tackle (where he played in 2014 with the Kansas City Chiefs) help.

Manning will not only be lining up with a rookie at left tackle (Ty Sambrailo), but also the inexperienced Paradis at the pivot. It could be an interesting month or so for the Denver offense.

New England Patriots: Not Re-Signing CBs Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner

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The odds are that the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots will get it all figured out by year’s end. Their track record under head coach Bill Belichick indicates as much.

As we know, this franchise had quite a spell between their third and fourth Super Bowl win (every franchise should have such problems). Was it due to the fact that quarterback Tom Brady struggled? Was it the inability of the team to put points on the board?

Let’s be honest. The team’s defensive issues have been well-documented over too long a span. In 2014, the Patriots used free agency to secure the services of cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, and those additions would pay off in a big way.

Of course, the Pats did not feel it would be worth the price to keep both around for at least one more year. Combine that with the fact that the club also released experienced cornerbacks Kyle Arrington and Alfonzo Dennard (who played in only six games in 2014), and that’s simply a lot of change at one position in one offseason. Bringing back either Revis or Browner may have been a wise move regardless of the price.

Youngsters Logan Ryan and Super Bowl XLIX hero Malcolm Butler are now the team’s starters at the corners. The team also added free agents Bradley Fletcher and Tarell Brown to replace Arrington and Dennard. It will be interesting to see how it all eventually plays out.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Parting Ways with Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau

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Perhaps it was time for a change of scenery for both parties.

For the first time since 2003, Dick LeBeau will not be in charge of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense. It should be noted that was the last time the franchise finished below .500.

The legendary coach and Hall of Fame cornerback is now with the Tennessee Titans, while longtime understudy and former linebackers coach Keith Butler is now in charge of head coach Mike Tomlin’s defensive unit.

If you watched the team play this preseason and your focus was on the defensive side of the ball, you may be scratching your head. Yes, the Steelers defense was more shower curtain than Steel Curtain in 2014 under LeBeau, ranking 18th in the NFL in total yards allowed and 27th against the pass. But was that due to a lack of talent, LeBeau’s failures as a coordinator or both? Should general manager Kevin Colbert be feeling the heat as well?

Fair or unfair, Butler should be prepared for a season full of finger-pointing unless the Pittsburgh defense manages to get its act together by season’s end.

San Francisco 49ers: Parting Ways with Head Coach Jim Harbaugh

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The decision was made well before free agency began in March and the NFL draft in April.

In four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, head coach Jim Harbaugh managed a 44-19-1 regular-season mark and led the team to three straight NFC title games, including a berth in Super Bowl XLVII in 2012. This past season proved to be a down year for numerous reasons, but the team still managed to avoid a losing record (8-8).

The Niners promoted defensive line coach Jim Tomsula to replace Harbaugh and his familiarity with the team is a big plus. But just how well-versed he is with a roster that has undergone numerous departures and retirements is a much different story indeed.

The 49ers have looked anything but inspiring this summer. Of course, it is also a club with a lot of different looks.

Seattle Seahawks: Trading C Max Unger

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We certainly understand the positives for the Seattle Seahawks when it comes to acquiring the talents of a player such as three-time Pro Bowl tight end Jimmy Graham.

In five seasons with the New Orleans Saints, the touchdown lint brush totaled 386 receptions, with 51 of those grabs going for scores.

But the price was former Pro Bowl center Max Unger, a vital cog on the Seahawks offensive line. Combine that with the free-agent departure of guard James Carpenter, and it was easy to see why this club’s offensive front struggled this preseason. The Seahawks open the season against the St. Louis Rams, and they figure to test Pete Carroll’s new line in a big way.

Yes, giving up a first-round draft choice in 2015 was also part of the deal, but it marked the third year in a row that the team did not pick in the first round. The more immediate issue is just how quickly will Seattle’s new-look offensive line come together?

Washington Redskins: Picking Up Option on QB Robert Griffin III

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In hindsight, it is almost hard to believe given the current state of the Washington Redskins' quarterbacking situation.

A few days prior to the 2015 draft, as reported by the Associated Press (via USA Today), the franchise opted to exercise the fifth-year option on quarterback Robert Griffin III.

“He's a good football player,” said Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan back in April. “He’s got good tape out there. Everyone knows what he did in (2012).”

Indeed we do. The onetime Heisman Trophy winner threw for 3,200 yards and 20 touchdown passes, ran for 815 yards and seven scores and turned the football over only seven times in 15 regular-season games. He captured NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and led Washington to the NFC East title. But he suffered a knee injury in the playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and life has not been the same since.

A total of 22 outings over the last two seasons has seen Griffin throw for 4,897 yards and 20 scores. He’s run for just 665 yards and only one touchdown over that span while coughing up the ball a combined 26 times—including 18 interceptions. The talented signal-caller was sacked a combined 71 times in those contests.

Still, the franchise seemed to indicate hope for the often-battered Griffin, who has been under siege both on and off the field the last two-plus years , and some of it has been self-induced. Now he sits third on the depth chart behind anointed starter Kirk Cousins and backup Colt McCoy, and by all indications both he and current head coach Jay Gruden have not been on the same page from the get-go.

While the decision to pick up the option doesn’t affect the team this year, it makes you wonder why the Redskins bothered in the first place. Perhaps there was the hope that Griffin would return to his standout rookie form. The reported power struggle from within makes for an unsettling situation, to say the least.

All free-agent information and player signings/transactions are courtesy of Spotrac. Depth chart information comes via Ourlads. Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics come from Pro Football Reference and ESPN.com.