The Best Addition to Every NFL Team so Far This Offseason

It's been another busy offseason across the National Football League. All 32 teams have new faces galore, whether those newcomers were added via free agency, the draft or trades.

Yes, Virginia...there are trades in the NFL.

Especially in New England.

Now, some of those players were veterans added for depth, or late-round round rookies and undrafted free agents who will struggle just to make the practice squad.

But much more will be asked of some of these additions. Maybe they were big-money signings. Or early-round draft picks being counted on to start.

Whatever the case, every NFL team has a crown jewel—an acquisition that reigns above all others as their best of 2017, whether it's due to their overall impact or just the value they represent to their respective teams.

And these are those acquisitions.

AFC East

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Buffalo Bills

Cornerback Tre'Davious White

Frankly, an argument can be made that the Bills' biggest acquisition of 2017 won't pay dividends for a year. In trading down from No. 10 to No. 27 in the 2017 NFL draft, the Bills picked up an extra first-rounder from the Kansas City Chiefs in a 2018 draft that's expected to be replete with talent.

But rather than look that far ahead, it's the player the Bills took at No. 27 who gets the nod here. With Stephon Gilmore moving on to New England in free agency, the Bills had a significant need in the secondary,

The 5'11" White, who was a four-year starter at LSU, can play both the slot and outside. NFL Network's Mike Mayock called him, "one of the more solid cornerbacks in this draft."

Miami Dolphins

Linebacker Lawrence Timmons

The Miami Dolphins are in a different boat from their AFC East brethren in Western New York. After a surprising 10-win season in 2016, they're more focused on the present than the future.

That was evident in the aggressiveness Miami showed in adding veterans on defense in free agency.

At 31, Lawrence Timmons is on the downslope of his career. And even in his heyday, he was a throwback type—a downhill thumper more adept against the run than in coverage. But Timmons is also a productive veteran inside linebacker who has topped 100 total tackles in six of the last seven seasons.

His addition should help shore up a Dolphins defense that was 30th in the NFL against the run in 2016, allowing 140.4 yards a game.

New England Patriots

Wide Receiver Brandin Cooks

There wasn't a more aggressive team this offseason than the New England Patriots. Fresh off a win in Super Bowl LI, the Pats made a handful of moves that stacked a loaded New England roster that much more.

They even did something they rarely do, paying huge money for cornerback Stephon Gilmore. But while Gilmore and Malcolm Butler will be a formidable duo in the secondary, there was one addition I liked even more.

That was the addition of speedster Brandin Cooks, who the Patriots acquired from the New Orleans Saints in exchange for the 32nd overall pick in the 2017 draft.

Made expendable by the emergence of Michael Thomas last year in New Orleans, Cooks has been a productive downfield threat over the past two seasons—topping 75 receptions and 1,100 receiving yards in each one.

I don't suppose it takes a rocket surgeon to figure out how such a talented young receiver could help an already potent Patriots passing game.

New York Jets

Safety Jamal Adams

Bright spots are few and far between for the New York Jets at the moment. After another bad season in the Big Apple, the Jets have blown up the roster, dumping big-name, high-dollar veterans left and right.

Still, it's not all doom and gloom in 2017. For the second time in three seasons, one of the best defensive players in the NFL draft fell into the Jets' laps with the sixth overall pick. In 2015, it was defensive lineman Leonard Williams. This time, it was LSU safety Jamal Adams, who was the consensus pick as the top player at his position in this year's class.

Simply put, Adams is capable of playing at a Pro Bowl level from the moment he sets foot on an NFL field.

NFC East

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Dallas Cowboys

Defensive End Taco Charlton

Coming off their best regular season in years, the Dallas Cowboys entered the offseason with a pair of glaring needs on defense—and little wiggle room under the salary cap with which to address them.

That left the draft, and the Cowboys wasted no time beefing up their defensive line with the addition of first-round defensive end Taco Charlton of the University of Michigan.

Charlton doesn't have the tremendous athletic upside of No. 1 overall pick Myles Garrett. Or the tenacity setting the edge of Solomon Thomas. But Charlton has a little of both—enough to have the makings of a quality two-way end for years to come in Big D.

Don't look now, but owner Jerry Jones might just be getting good at this whole drafting thing.

New York Giants

Wide Receiver Brandon Marshall

General manager Jerry Reese hasn't been even a little shy about adding "name" free agents the last couple of offseasons. Last year, he overhauled the defense.

This year Eli Manning got a new toy with the addition of veteran wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

Marshall has scuffled of late. In two of the last three seasons he's missed time and failed to hit either 65 catches or 800 receiving yards. But sandwiched between those disappointing seasons was a 1,500-yard campaign—the eighth time Marshall topped 1,000 yards and the sixth time he tallied 100-plus catches.

For the first time in his career, Marshall will play second fiddle in New York as the No. 2 receiver behind Odell Beckham Jr.

But as second fiddles go, this one's pretty danged good.

Philadelphia Eagles

Running Back LeGarrette Blount

In 2016 the Philadelphia Eagles ranked 11th in the National Football League in rushing. But that statistic was a bit misleading—the run game was erratic, especially after lead back Ryan Mathews went down.

The Eagles attempted to stabilize that ground game in 2017 by creating just about the truest "thunder and lightning" backfield you'll ever see.

The thunder will be provided by bruiser LeGarrette Blount, who joined the Eagles in free agency after a career season with the New England Patriots. Blount set career highs across the board, carrying the ball 299 times for 1,161 yards and a league-leading 18 rushing touchdowns.

Blount is 30 years old, and even in last year's career campaign he averaged just 3.9 yards per carry. But combined with scatback extraordinaire Darren Sproles, Blount gives the Eagles the ingredients for a ground game that can take a lot of pressure off young quarterback Carson Wentz.

Washington Redskins

Wide Receiver Terrelle Pryor

Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins told WJFK-FM (via CBS DC) that he's greatly enjoying getting to know the Redskins' new No. 1 receiver.

"He's an enthusiastic guy," Cousins said. "He's always wanting to run another route. 'Let's try it again, let's do it again,' just a positive attitude and he's been a joy to work with thus far."

They say that necessity is the mother of invention. Well, after becoming the first team in NFL history to lose a pair of 1,000-yard wideouts from the previous season to free agency, the Redskins saw it was vitally necessary that they reinvent their passing attack on the fly.

Obtaining a lanky speedster such as Pryor, who's coming off a 1,000-yard season, was about the best the team could hope for in that regard.   

AFC North

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Baltimore Ravens

Wide Receiver Jeremy Maclin

More than a few eyebrows went up when, despite a shaky situation at wide receiver, Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome ignored the position in the 2017 NFL draft.

It turns out "The Wizard of Oz" had a plan all along.

See, Newsome can apparently, in addition to his many other talents, read minds. He knew that the Kansas City Chiefs had an even bigger surprise in store for the NFL—the sudden, unceremonious release of No. 1 wide receiver Jeremy Maclin just one year removed from back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.

I'm being snarky, of course. But there's no denying this…

In addition to being a great acquisition for a Ravens team that badly needed receiver help, Maclin was a gift.

Cincinnati Bengals

Running Back Joe Mixon

It wasn't that long ago that many saw the Cincinnati Bengals as having one of the best up-and-coming tailback duos in the NFL.

But Giovani Bernard is rehabbing a torn ACL this summer, and the play of between-the-tackles pounder Jeremy Hill has declined substantially over the past couple of seasons.

So it was back to the old drawing board for Bengals GM Mike Brown in the 2017 draft with the selection of Oklahoma tailback Joe Mixon in Round 2. In essence, Mixon combines the best qualities of the backs the Bengals already have—the elusiveness and receiving ability of Bernard and the power and toughness of Hill.

If Mixon can stay out of trouble, we may well look back three years from now incredulous that he wasn't the first tailback chosen in 2017.

Cleveland Browns

Guard Kevin Zeitler

The Browns need help all over the place, whether it's at wide receiver, in the defensive backfield or in the front seven.

Oh, and there's a bit of an issue at quarterback. Or so I hear, anyway.

However, rebuilding the Browns offense begins up front—a fact that wasn't lost on the Cleveland brain trust in free agency.

The Browns spent big bucks on the offensive line, adding a pair of veterans in center JC Tretter and guard Kevin Zeitler, whom Cleveland made the highest-paid player at his position in all of the NFL ($12 million average salary).

In Tretter, Zeitler and holdovers Joel Bitonio and perennial Pro Bowler Joe Thomas, the Browns have (on paper, at least), the makings of one of the NFL's better front fives.

That will be a big help to whomever the team trots out under center.

And while Myles Garrett may have been the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft, it's Zeitler's addition that makes the bigger dent for the Browns.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Linebacker T.J. Watt

This is one of the more difficult calls. Whether it was in free agency or the NFL draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers didn't add any instant-impact players in 2017.

If the Steelers are going to get back to the AFC Championship Game this year, it will be with essentially the same crew.

However, there's a reason Pittsburgh made Wisconsin's T.J. Watt its first pick in this year's draft, and it isn't because of his older brother J.J.

OK, it isn't solely because of him.

I've heard the criticisms of Watt. He isn't especially fast off the edge or powerful. But I also know that Watt, much like his brother, plays all-out all the time.

And I'm not going to underestimate him. 

NFC North

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Chicago Bears

Safety Quintin Demps

Fans of the Bears were no doubt hoping to see one of the quarterbacks the team acquired in the offseason listed here. But the reality is that Mike Glennon and rookie Mitchell Trubisky have more questions swirling around them than answers.

Is it possible that Trubisky will one day be looked as the top acquisition in 2017. The Bears certainly hope so. They bet pretty heavily on it.

There's that "H" word again.

The signing of veteran safety Quintin Demps to a three-year, $13.5 million free-agent contract wasn't a deal that made a lot of headlines. But Demps is a capable veteran and will help solidify a Bears secondary that struggled mightily in 2016.

"Biggest" and "best" aren't necessarily the same thing.

Detroit Lions

Tackle Ricky Wagner

The Detroit Lions essentially swapped out the right side of their offensive line in 2017, replacing Riley Reiff and Larry Warford with free agents T.J. Lang and Ricky Wagner.

It wasn't an inexpensive endeavor, either. Per ESPN's Bill Barnwell, Lang received a contract that's mostly guaranteed, while Wagner's deal set the right tackle market squarely on its head. Last year's top free-agent right tackle (Mitchell Schwartz) got $19.6 million over the first three years of his deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Wagner received nearly $10 million more than that from the Lions.

However, Wagner is also a sizable upgrade over Reiff on the strong side of the line—arguably the best player at his position in the NFL and just entering the prime of his career at 27 years old.

Green Bay Packers

Cornerback Kevin King

To say that the Green Bay Packers did not defend the pass well in 2016 is an understatement. Only one team (the New Orleans Saints) allowed more yardage through the air than Green Bay's 4,308.

That made the secondary a big priority in the 2017 NFL draft—a priority general manager Ted Thompson attended to early and often.

In Kevin King the Packers selected a long defensive back who has both the size (6'3", 200 lbs) and speed (4.43-second 40-yard dash) NFL teams covet at the position. And while he still has much to learn, King told ESPN's Rob Demovsky he'll be ready to play a significant role as a rookie.

"Whenever they choose to unleash me," King said. "I'll be ready."

He'd better be.

Minnesota Vikings

Tackle Riley Reiff

The Vikings had all sorts of problems along the offensive line in 2016. Per the rankers at Football Outsiders, they finished in the bottom half of the NFL in both pass protection and run blocking—including third-worst in the NFL in the latter regard.

The Vikes know that as well as anyone, and the team spent big to get better up front in free agency—adding a pair of offensive tackles in Reiff and Mike Remmers.

As Sam Monson wrote for Pro Football Focus, Reiff isn't a home run acquisition: "Riley Reiff's career baseline is certainly far higher than anybody else on Minnesota's roster who could play tackle for the team in 2017, but he is trending the wrong direction and coming off the worst season of his career."

It's that first part that's most important to the Vikings, however. Sometimes beggars can't afford to be choosers, and the Vikings had to improve that line.    

AFC South

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Houston Texans

Quarterback Deshaun Watson

Deshaun Watson didn't have the strongest arm in this year's quarterback class. Or the best 40-yard dash time. Or the most accuracy. Or the most time in a pro-style offense.

And yet as I sit here writing this, I am supremely confident that in five years we will look back on the 2017 NFL draft and wonder aloud how any NFL team could have taken another signal-caller ahead of him.

Because Watson is a quarterback.

He showed that time and again during his days at Clemson. He showed it in last year's College Football Playoff title game, rallying the Tigers back from an early deficit to shock the vaunted Alabama Crimson Tide.

Watson wins football games.

And he's going to win them in Houston.

Indianapolis Colts

Linebacker Sean Spence

Sometimes it isn't the big-ticket free-agent signings that wind up making the largest difference. Or the early-round draft picks.

The Indianapolis Colts spent big money on upgrading their edge-rushers and used their first-round pick to strengthen the back end with ball-hawking safety Malik Hooker. But if the Colts continue to fail to stop the run, that may not matter.

In that regard, inside linebacker Sean Spence is the team's most important addition in 2017.

A rangy, physical linebacker who almost saw his career ended before it started by a horrific knee injury, Spence showed a bit of what he can do last year with the Titans, tallying 54 stops and three sacks in limited duty.

Most importantly, he looked healthy, and this year he'll finally get his shot at playing full time.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Tackle Cam Robinson

For the second straight year, the Jacksonville Jaguars spent a fortune on their defense in free agency. And the Jags used the fourth overall pick on Leonard Fournette, whom they hope will be the team's bell-cow tailback for years.

But if the offense can't sustain drives, that defense will be hung out to dry just like last year's incarnation. If the holes aren't there, Fournette won't have any more success running the ball than T.J. Yeldon and Chris Ivory.

In other words, it all traces back to the offensive line.

The Jaguars added veteran Branden Albert in free agency, but it's second-round pick Cam Robinson who will have the bigger impact. The NFL Network's Mike Mayock called Robinson a "mountain of a man" who can play both tackle spots, and he'll be a force at right tackle in short order.

Tennessee Titans

Cornerback Logan Ryan

The Tennessee Titans made great strides in winning nine games last year, but it was clear entering the offseason that if the team was going to improve in 2017 an overhaul of the secondary was in order.

Mission accomplished.

In addition to drafting a promising youngster, the Titans added one of the top free agents available at the position, luring away fifth-year pro Logan Ryan from the New England Patriots after the best season of his career.

Ryan became expendable in Beantown after the Patriots signed Stephon Gilmore to a megadeal, but he's hardly a castoff. It's no stretch to say that Ryan became the Titans' best cornerback (by a substantial margin) the moment he landed in Nashville.

NFC South

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Atlanta Falcons

Defensive Tackle Dontari Poe

As ESPN's Bill Barnwell noted, as good as the Atlanta Falcons were in their march to Super Bowl LI, the team had weaknesses—it was 28th in the NFL in run defense.

That's apt to change for the better in 2017. In fact, you could say opponents have an added obstacle. A large one.

Dontari Poe might not be able to recapture his six-sack form from a few years ago, and the big free-agent payday he was seeking has eluded him for now as he ended up with a one-year, $8 million deal. But the 346-pounder is a force in the middle who effectively fell into Atlanta's lap thanks to that chilly market.

Some days it's better to be lucky than good.

Carolina Panthers

Running Back Christian McCaffrey

There may not be a rookie in the class of 2017 I'm more interested to see in action than the No. 8 overall pick.

Because if the Carolina coaching staff can figure out how to best utilize the skill sets of Christian McCaffrey and second-round pick Curtis Samuel, we could be in for an offensive show unlike anything we've ever seen.

McCaffrey was a wildly productive offensive weapon at Stanford, in large part because he can do it all—whether it's running between the tackles, taking it outside, catching the ball out of the backfield or even lining up in the slot.

McCaffrey's (and to a lesser extent Samuel's) ability to line up all over the formation has the potential to create all sorts of matchup nightmares. He can run through defensive backs and past linebackers.

I can't wait to see what they have planned for the youngster.

New Orleans Saints

Running Back Adrian Peterson

I have no doubt that Adrian Peterson has heard all the things his doubters have to say.

He's 32 years old and coming off a major injury. Even before he got hurt he averaged 1.9 yards a carry for the Minnesota Vikings. Two of his last three years have been lost.

They're valid criticisms, all. And it's possible the sun has set on "All Day's" NFL relevance.

Of course, I can also remember a time not too long ago when Peterson was coming back from a similarly serious injury when many of the same criticisms were bandied about.

Peterson then went on to come within 10 yards of the NFL's single-season rushing record.

Will Peterson gain 2,000 yards in 2017? Probably not.

But don't rule out 1,400.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Wide Receiver DeSean Jackson

Mike Evans is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. He had a career year in 2016, reeling in 96 catches for over 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns. But at least part of his production was born of necessity.

Evans was the most-targeted wideout in the NFL because he had to be. The Buccaneers lacked a complementary receiver—or at least a dependable one.

They have one now.

It isn't just that the addition of DeSean Jackson will pull coverage away from Evans, either. Jackson may be on the wrong side of 30, but he remains one of the NFL's most feared deep threats. A deep threat who is now playing with a quarterback in Jameis Winston who has a cannon for an arm.   

AFC West

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Denver Broncos

Guard Ronald Leary

The Denver Broncos suffered through a disappointing offensive season a year ago. Part of that was due to subpar play under center.

But part of those struggles at quarterback were due to said quarterbacks' spending most of the year fleeing for their lives.

The Broncos are rolling out a revamped line in 2017—one that should feature at least three new starters in Menelik Watson, rookie Garett Bolles and free-agent addition Ronald Leary.

As tackles, Watson and Bolles have generated most of the attention. But from an effectiveness standpoint, Leary had the best year in 2016. Per Zack Kelberman of 247 Sports, PFF graded Leary as the No. 24 guard in the NFL last season in 12 starts for the Dallas Cowboys.

Kansas City Chiefs

Running Back Kareem Hunt

Texas Tech quarterback Patrick Mahomes is undoubtedly the highest-profile addition the Kansas City Chiefs made in the draft. That's what happens when a team pays an extra first-round pick to acquire a player—especially a quarterback.

However, when it comes to the Kansas City Chiefs' making another playoff run this year, Kareem Hunt will have the bigger say.

Spencer Ware led the Chiefs with 921 rushing yards in 2016, but Ware wore down later in the season. That led ESPN's Adam Teicher to make a bold prediction regarding the rookie from Toledo.

Teicher said he "believed rookie Kareem Hunt not only would wind up leading the Chiefs in rushing in 2017, but also would be their top pass-catcher among running backs."

Los Angeles Chargers

Guard Forrest Lamp

Western Kentucky guard Forrest Lamp wasn't the highest-paid acquisition the Los Angeles Chargers made in 2017. Nor was the rookie the first player the team drafted in April.

But in retrospect, we may look back on him as one of the best values in the entire 2017 draft.

The 6'4", 309-pounder's lasting until Round 2 had as much to do with draft-day bias against interior linemen as it did Lamp's ability.

Lamp's strong as a bull and agile for a man his size. Better yet, he blocks with the proper mentality—meaning he makes every effort to make defenders one with the earth beneath them.

Lamp isn't the next Zack Martin, but there's more than a little Martin in Lamp's game. He was my top offensive lineman in the 2017 draft and a great get for the Bolts.

Oakland Raiders

Running Back Marshawn Lynch

Call this one cautious optimism.

Yes, Marshawn Lynch is on the wrong side of 30 and hasn't played football since the 2015 season—one in which he battled nagging injuries and looked, well, old.

But indications seem to point to Lynch's sabbatical's doing him good. His time away from the game has rejuvenated his body, and the chance to play for his hometown Raiders has rejuvenated his soul.

He even talked to the media, for Pete's sake!

If Lynch can turn back time for even one season, he could be in for a huge year behind the AFC's best offensive line.

And if that happens, the Patriots' stranglehold on the conference might not be as tight as we thought.

NFC West

Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Arizona Cardinals

Linebacker Haason Reddick

When the Arizona Cardinals drafted Haason Reddick in the first round of the 2017 NFL draft, I liked the pick. Reddick oozes speed and athleticism, and his versatility is well-suited to an Arizona defense that likes to mix things up.

However, in light of recent events, I like the pick that much more.

As Jordan Kaye of Arizona Sports reported, Deone Bucannon's ankle surgery has opened up more first-team reps for Reddick in OTAs—reps that Reddick has taken full advantage of, drawing raves from the coaching staff.

I figured Reddick would be good and that he'd start sooner than later.

As it turns out, Reddick may be even better than I thought sooner than I thought.

Los Angeles Rams

Tackle Andrew Whitworth

At 35 years old, offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth is much closer to the end of the line than the beginning. This is not news.

However, it also isn't news that to date Whitworth's age hasn't affected his play even a little bit. In 2016 with the Cincinnati Bengals, Whitworth was a top-five tackle, per the graders at Pro Football Focus.

Now, poor offensive line play wasn't the only reason that 2016 No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff had a miserable rookie season for the Rams. Not by a long shot.

But the Rams were 29th in the NFL in pass protection last season per Football Outsiders.

And for all Goff's faults, it doesn't help his development much if every time he drops back to pass he reflexively winces because he knows he's about to be pureed from behind.

San Francisco 49ers

Linebacker Reuben Foster

You have to say this for new 49ers general manager John Lynch—he didn't sit on his hands during his first NFL draft.

Lynch traded down from No. 2 to No. 3 to get Stanford defensive end Solomon Thomas, and then used some of the picks obtained in that deal to move back into Round 1 and select Alabama inside linebacker Reuben Foster.

Questions about Foster's surgically repaired shoulder, in part, caused a draft-day slide, but head coach Kyle Shanahan told Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle that he expects Foster to be "more than ready" for training camp.

Assuming that's the case and Foster's healthy, he'll be in the starting lineup in no time.

Then the question may become whether the rest of the NFC West is ready for him.

Don't get me wrong: Thomas is going to be a good one. But the 49ers considered Foster at No. 2.

To get him at 31 is steal city.

Seattle Seahawks

Running Back Eddie Lacy

I'm not going to spend a lot of time here pontificating on Eddie Lacy's paunch (or lack thereof). Lacy hit his first weight benchmark, and he has plenty of financial incentives to keep hitting them.

And frankly, unless you think Lacy's weight contributed to his injury a year ago, the fact is a heavy(ish) Lacy was averaging over five yards a carry last year for the Green Bay Packers before a bad ankle ended his season.

If Lacy can stay on the field in 2017, there's hay to be made. We've already seen quite vividly what a punishing downhill runner can do in Seattle's scheme. The damage he can do on inside looks in the zone-read.

A healthy Lacy has the makings of a Comeback Player of the Year candidate.