For essentially the most half, the 2023 NFL free company interval has come and gone. There are nonetheless some high quality gamers on the market ready for brand new contracts, and a few trades could materialize within the lead-up to the 2023 NFL Draft, however a lot of the shifting and shaking that groups will do that offseason to place themselves for subsequent yr has already been performed.
After three weeks of free company signings, it is time we take inventory of what every crew has gained and misplaced, roster-wise, and grade their efficiency through the early portion of the player-acquisition section of the offseason. Throughout this week, you have seen us have a look, division by division, and what has been performed. We’re ending up that train as we speak, and beneath, you will discover out grades for the NFC West.
Players misplaced: WR A.J. Green, WR Chosen “Robbie” Anderson, TE Max Garcia, LG Justin Pugh, RG Cody Ford, ED Markus Golden, IDL J.J. Watt, IDL Zach Allen, IDL Trysten Hill, IDL Michael Dogbe, CB Byron Murphy, P Andy LeePlayers added/retained: QB David Blough, RB Corey Clement, WR Zach Pascal, WR Greg Dortch, RG Dennis Daley, RG Hjalte Froholdt, RT Kelvin Beachum, IDL Jonathan Ledbetter, IDL L.J. Collier, IDL Kevin Strong, LB Kyzir White, LB Krys Barnes, LB Zeke Turner, CB Antonio Hamilton, CB Nate Hairston, Ok Matt Prater
Arizona’s roster nonetheless has some severe points. Plenty of the gamers the Cardinals “misplaced” are both retirees (Green, Watt) or gamers who nonetheless haven’t signed elsewhere, however seeing each Zach Allen and Byron Murphy go away the constructing left new head coach Jonathan Gannon with a protection that’s nearly fully bereft of expertise. Gannon introduced linebacker Kyzir White together with him from Philadelphia, in addition to broad receiver Zach Pascal, however many of the different additions and retentions right here should not high-impact gamers. This is a crew that badly must stockpile draft picks and take into consideration how finest to encompass Kyler Murray (who appears more likely to miss at the least a part of subsequent season, if not all of it) with expertise. Because what they did through the Steve Keim and Kliff Kingsbury period ain’t it.
Players misplaced: QB Baker Mayfield, RB Malcolm Brown, WR Brandon Powell, RG David Edwards, ED Leonard Floyd, IDL A’Shawn Robinson, IDL Greg Gaines, LB Bobby Wagner, CB Jalen Ramsey, CB David Long, S Taylor Rapp, S Nick Scott, Ok Matt Gay, P Riley Dixon, LS Matthew OrzechPlayers added/retained: TE Hunter Long, C Brian Allen, RG Coleman Shelton, IDL Michael Hoecht, IDL Marquise Copeland, CB Shaun Jolly
There has been a severe expertise drain right here, and it may not be over with. The Rams are clearly retooling, if not outright rebuilding. In Floyd, Robinson, Gaines, Wagner, Ramsey, Long, Rapp and Scott, the Rams are down EIGHT gamers who at one time or one other have been vital contributors or outright stars on their protection. And they didn’t do all that a lot to switch that group of gamers. Among the offensive losses, solely Edwards seems like considered one of nice significance, however even he performed solely 4 video games final season. Much as was the case for Arizona, not one of the gamers the Rams have added or retained by way of free company or commerce seems like a significant piece. They’re going to be relying on Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp and Aaron Donald returning to full well being for many of their improved efficiency in 2023, assuming these guys stay on the crew. There’s a variety of work to do to get again to the Super Bowl-caliber crew they have been for many of the Sean McVay period previous to final season.
Players misplaced: QB Jimmy Garoppolo, RT Mike McGlinchey, RG Daniel Brunskill, ED Charles Omenihu, ED Samson Ebukam, ED Jordan Willis, IDL Hassan Ridgeway, IDL Maurice Hurst, LB Azeez Al-Shaair, CB Emmanuel Moseley, S Tarvarius Moore, S Jimmie Ward, Ok Robbie GouldPlayers added/retained: QB Sam Darnold, LT Matt Pryor, LT Colton McKivitz, LG Jon Feliciano, C Jake Brendel, WR Jauan Jennings, TE Ross Dwelley, ED Clelin Ferrell, IDL Javon Hargrave, IDL Austin Bryant, IDL Kevin Givens, IDL T.Y. McGill, LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, CB Isaiah Oliver, CB Myles Hartsfield, S Tashaun Gipson, LS Taybor Pepper, Ok Zane Gonzalez
Before actually going by means of and cataloguing who the Niners have signed and misplaced, I used to be prepared to offer them an A grade right here. But then I noticed precisely how a lot expertise had walked out the door. They have a alternative or two for Garoppolo in Brock Purdy and Trey Lance, introduced in Feliciano to switch Brunskill and Oliver to hopefully assist exchange Moseley. Losing Omenihu, Ebukam and Willis is hopefully mitigated by the addition of Hargrave, even when that modifications the look of the protection a bit. But there’s nonetheless some including to do on the again finish of the protection, with Al-Shaair and Ward being the obvious guys for whom the Niners might want to discover enough replacements. They’re not practically in disaster mode on protection, clearly, however there’s slightly bit extra work to be performed than what I had initially thought. San Francisco ought to once more be among the best groups within the NFC, however this yr’s roster does look a bit thinner at sure spots than it has been lately — at the least in the mean time.
Players misplaced: RB Rashaad Penny, RB Travis Homer, WR Marquise Goodwin, C Austin Blythe, RG Gabe Jackson, IDL Poona Ford, IDL Al Woods, IDL Quinton Jefferson, IDL L.J. Collier, LB Cody Barton, S Johnathan AbramPlayers added/retained: QB Geno Smith, QB Drew Lock, LG Phil Haynes, C Evan Brown, IDL Dre’Mont Jones, IDL Jarran Reed, IDL Myles Adams, LB Bobby Wagner, LB Devin Bush, LB Nick Bellore, LB Jon Rhattigan, CB Mike Jackson, S Julian Love, S Ryan Neal, Ok Jason Myers
With Kenneth Walker breaking out final season and DeeJay Dallas nonetheless on the town to work in some apparent passing conditions, the Seahawks have been simply high-quality letting each Penny and Homer go away. They shuffled some issues alongside the inside offensive line and introduced in a giant improve on the inside defensive position by including Jones in free company, and so they fully overhauled the linebacker room, which most likely wanted to be overhauled — particularly with Jordyn Brooks working his means again from a torn ACL. I like what they did in bringing again Jackson, who had a terrific 2022 season, and supplementing the security room with Love, who brings wanted versatility on the second stage of the protection. But the construction of the Geno Smith contract is admittedly what places this offseason excessive for me. Geno received paid, and deservingly so, however Seattle didn’t tie itself to him for all that lengthy, and has the power to maneuver on if it finds a QB of the long run sort within the draft and/or Geno struggles to copy final yr’s success. That’s very sturdy work.
