Breaking Down the Most Improved Units After 2016 NFL Free Agency
This year's version of NFL free agency is now more than a month old. Though there are still some quality free agents available for teams to target, most franchises who are going to spend big have already done so.
Does this mean the teams who have shelled out lumps of cash early in free agency are going to be successful in 2016? Of course not. If there's one thing we've learned over the two-plus decades of unrestricted NFL free agency, it's that teams who win the offseason don't always win in the regular season.
However, this doesn't mean teams cannot and do not improve through the open market. The Houston Texans, for example, added a new starting quarterback and a quality starting running back this offseason. It's hard to imagine the Houston offense not being better in 2016.
Now we're going to take a look at the Texans offense and five other individual units that have significantly improved through the 2016 edition of free agency. Our choices are based on factors like moves made, the quality of players involved and the fit of the new additions in their new systems.
Do you agree with our choices? Be sure to let us know in the comments section.
Jaguars Defense
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Notable Additions: DL Malik Jackson, S Tashaun Gipson, CB Prince Amukamara
Since former Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley took over as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2013, fans have been waiting for the team to take a big step forward defensively.
Last year, the Jaguars allowed a whopping 28.0 points per game, second-most in the NFL.
Fortunately, this could be the year the defense in Jacksonville begins to resemble the ones Bradley coached in Seattle. On paper, at least, the team's three big free-agent additions should help transform the defense in a very positive way.
Signing freshly-crowned Super Bowl champion Malik Jackson was one of the biggest headline-grabbing moves of free agency. The Jaguars did have to shell out $85.5 million with $42 million guaranteed to bring Jackson in for a five-year deal, but they're getting a 26-year-old true defensive building block.
Pro Football Focus rated Jackson ninth overall among 3-4 defensive ends in 2105 and third overall among 4-3 defensive ends in 2014. His versatility should be a major asset in Bradley's defense, and his presence should help pass-rusher Dante Fowler in his inaugural pro season.
The Jaguars also helped strengthen their defensive backfield by adding cornerback Prince Amukamara and safety Tashaun Gipson. This is important because Jacksonville—which allowed an average of 268.2 yards per game through the air—fielded one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL in 2015.
Amukamara, who Pro Football Focus rated 37th overall among cornerbacks in 2015, gives the Jaguars an upper-level starter at the cornerback position. Gipson, who has 13 interceptions over the past three seasons, gives the team a potential game-changer on the back end of the defense.
Adding three new quality starters to the defense should drastically help the Jaguars complement their rapidly improving offense in 2016. It might even be enough to make Jacksonville a legitimate contender in the AFC South this season.
Texans Offense
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Notable Additions: QB Brock Osweiler, G Jeff Allen, RB Lamar Miller
The Houston Texans may have made the biggest move of free agency this year by adding fifth-year quarterback Brock Osweiler.
Osweiler, as you are probably aware, started seven games for the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos in 2015 and appeared to be the successor there to the now-retired Peyton Manning. Instead, the Texans lured him away with a four-year, $72 million deal.
While we don't know if Osweiler has peaked, what we do know is that Houston's best option at quarterback last season, Brian Hoyer, axed the team's hopes with a five-turnover performance in the opening round of the postseason.
We also know that the ground attack, rated 25th overall by Pro Football Focus, was underwhelming in 2015. The addition of running back Lamar Miller should improve the ground game and give Osweiler a legitimate offensive weapon to go with star receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
Miller racked up 872 rushing yards, 397 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns in 2015 while averaging 4.5 yards per carry. Pro Football Focus rated him fifth overall among running backs for the season.
Osweiler and Miller are grabbing the attention out of Houston's free-agent class this offseason, but we shouldn't overlook the addition of guard Jeff Allen.
"Offensive guard is not a position a lot of people spend a lot of time talking about, but you need guards, and you need good guards,” NFL Films' Greg Cosell said before free agency, per Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star. "I think [Allen is] a quality guard. If you sign him, you can run a multiple run game and you’d be set for the length of his contract. He’d be a solid guard for you."
Houston fielded the league's third-best defense in 2015 (310.2 yards per game allowed) and should again be a playoff team with some positive strides on offense. Osweiler, Murray and Allen all appear to be fits for head coach Bill O'Brien and steps in the right direction.
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/nfl/kansacity-chiefs/article63719812.html#storylink=cpy
Raiders Defense
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Notable Additions: LB Bruce Irvin, S Reggie Nelson, CB Sean Smith
The Oakland Raiders appear to be one of the most rapidly improving teams in the NFL. Last season, the offense was rated ninth overall offensively by Pro Football Focus and yielded three Pro Bowlers at key positions—quarterback Derek Carr, wideout Amari Cooper and running back Latavius Murray.
This year, the defense could be making a similar rise to the upper levels of the NFL.
Perhaps the biggest defensive move of the offseason for Oakland is the team's latest one. Nearly a month into free agency, the team added veteran safety Reggie Nelson, who had eight interceptions in 2015. He should help the Raiders overcome the offseason retirement of star safety Charles Woodson, as Nelson is a legitimate ball hawk and is familiar with head coach Jack Del Rio.
The two spent time together with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“I’m excited, man,” Nelson said per Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com. “I was a different dude when (Jacksonville) drafted me. I’m a veteran now, wiser. I’m just excited to see what (Del Rio) has going on in Oakland."
By bringing in edge-rusher Bruce Irvin, the Raiders have added a complement to rising sensation Khalil Mack. Mack was also a Pro Bowler this past season and finished the year with 15.0 sacks. Irvin had 5.5 sacks in 2015 and finished the year rated 15th overall among 4-3 outside linebackers by Pro Football Focus.
Adding cornerback Sean Smith further improves an Oakland pass defense ranked 26th against the pass (258.8 yards per game allowed) in 2015, and it also weakens a divisional rival. Smith started 13 games for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2015 and finished the season rated 17th overall among cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus.
The Oakland defense should be noticeably improved this season, especially against the pass.
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Patriots Offense
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Notable Additions: TE Martellus Bennett, WR Nate Washington, WR Chris Hogan, OL Jonathan Cooper, RB Donald Brown
The New England Patriots fielded the league's third-best scoring offense (29.1 points per game) in 2015, but injuries and a lack of offensive depth cost the team down the stretch. This is why the Patriots' moves in free agency—though relatively under the radar—make this unit even more formidable heading into 2016.
The most significant move is the addition of tight end Martellus Bennett. Though injuries limited Bennett to 11 games last season, he was still an effective weapon for the Chicago Bears. He racked up 53 receptions, 439 yards and three touchdowns in his 11 appearances, and finished the season rated 30th overall among tight ends by Pro Football Focus.
The potential pairing of Bennett and Rob Gronkowski in two-tight-end sets should be a frightening concept for opposing defensive coaches around the league.
The addition of wideouts Chris Hogan and Nate Washington helps strengthen a receiver corps that was severely hampered by last year's injury to Julian Edelman. The addition of running back Donald Brown helps bolster a backfield that lost both Dion Lewis and LeGarrette Blount to season-ending injuries in 2015.
By trading to acquire interior lineman Jonathan Cooper, the Patriots have also strengthened the depth along a line that was constantly reshuffled a year ago. A highly motivated Cooper may even be able to provide the Patriots with a potential building block on offense.
"I just want to come in and work as hard as I can and help wherever I can,” Cooper said last month, per the Patriots' official website. “Wherever the coaches tell me, I’m willing to work to be there."
At worst, the acquisitions of Cooper, Hogan, Washington and Brown provide injury insurance for a unit that could have used it a season ago. The addition of Bennett is the X-factor that could put the group over the top.
Giants Defense
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Notable Additions: DE Olivier Vernon, CB Janoris Jenkins, DT Damon Harrison
The New York Giants were one of the biggest spenders in free agency this offseason, and much of their money went to the defensive side of the football. This shouldn't be a surprise, as no team allowed more than the 420.3 yards per game New York did in 2015.
The biggest move the Giants made—and one of the most significant moves of the entire offseason—was the signing of defensive end Olivier Vernon. The Giants did give Vernon a whopping five-year, $85 million deal, but they're getting an elite defender in return.
Vernon is just 25 years old and has amassed an impressive 25.5 sacks over the past three seasons. Pro Football Focus rated him first overall among 4-3 defensive ends for the 2015 season. Vernon's addition should significantly improve New York's pass rush, and he should have a nice complement in Jason Pierre-Paul, who was retained in free agency.
Helping to defend the pass this season will be cornerback Janoris Jenkins. At just 27 years old, Jenkins is another young player who can be a Giants centerpiece for the foreseeable future. Pro Football Focus rated him 24th overall among cornerbacks in 2015.
The addition of veteran defensive tackle Damon Harrison is probably one of the more underrated moves of free agency. Harrison is also young at 27 years old and is coming off a season in which Pro Football Focus rated him sixth overall among defensive tackles.
The additions of Vernon and Jenkins should help improve the pass defense of the Giants in 2016, while adding Harrison should help improve the run defense and the defensive front as a whole. The fact that all three significant defensive signings are in the early stages of their careers means this offseason sets the Giants up for the future.
Titans Offense
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Notable Additions: RB DeMarco Murray, C Ben Jones, WR Rishard Matthews
Though the jury is still out on quarterback Marcus Mariota, it does appear that the 2015 first-round draft pick will provide the Tennessee Titans with a franchise signal-caller. The trick now for Tennessee is to surround the Oregon product with talent.
Three notable player moves are steps in the right direction.
The biggest move was probably the trade to acquire running back DeMarco Murray. It may be a bit cliche to say a strong running game is a young quarterback's best friend, but it generally holds true. If defenses have to respect the ground game, they cannot focus solely on attacking the quarterback.
For Mariota, who suffered 38 sacks and a season-ending knee injury last season, Murray should be a welcome addition. Sure, he had a down season in 2015, but he's two years removed from leading the NFL with 1,845 yards rushing. Tennessee's running game was 25th in the NFL in 2015, with an average of just 92.8 yards per game on the ground.
That the Titans got Murray to agree to a four-year, $25 million restructuring is another offseason win.
Further protecting Mariota is the addition of center Ben Jones, who was rated 12th in pass blocking among centers by Pro Football Focus in 2015. The addition of wide receiver Rishard Matthews gives Mariota another legitimate receiving option. He racked up 662 yards and four scores in 11 games last season.
It also doesn't hurt that the Titans added offensive line coach Russ Grimm in January. He isn't a player addition, of course, but he should help make Jones and the other guys in front of Mariota into a more cohesive unit.
Titans fans, and Mariota himself, should be thrilled with Tennessee's moves this offseason.
*Contract information via Spotrac.com.
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