This article is part of our NFL Free Agency series.
RW Offseason Resources
Winners
RB Myles Gaskin
Oft-mentioned as a potential fit for Aaron Jones or Chris Carson, the Dolphins instead settled for former Ram Malcolm Brown, who signed a one-year, $1.75 million contract that's fully guaranteed. It's still possible Gaskin and Brown end up battling for backup work behind a highly drafted rookie, but we can at least say Gaskin has dodged the first round of bullets.
RBs Travis Etienne & Najee Harris
The free-agent RB shuffle played out nicely for Etienne and Harris, as the top veterans either re-signed with their original teams (Carson, Jones) or joined a team (Kenyan Drake - Raiders) that was never a realistic fit for the best RB prospects. Meanwhile, the teams most often connected with top RBs in mock drafts did little or nothing to address the position in free agency. The Cardinals, Falcons, Dolphins, Steelers and Jets could all be entering the draft with intent to find a new lead back, and a few other teams like Houston and Denver might also consider spending a top-50 pick on the position.
RB The Cardinals still haven't signed a replacement for Drake, leaving only Jonathan Ward, Eno Benjamin and Khalfani Muhammad behind Edmonds on the backfield depth chart. The situation should be addressed in some fashion during the upcoming draft, though we'll note that
RW Offseason Resources
Winners
RB Myles Gaskin
Oft-mentioned as a potential fit for Aaron Jones or Chris Carson, the Dolphins instead settled for former Ram Malcolm Brown, who signed a one-year, $1.75 million contract that's fully guaranteed. It's still possible Gaskin and Brown end up battling for backup work behind a highly drafted rookie, but we can at least say Gaskin has dodged the first round of bullets.
RBs Travis Etienne & Najee Harris
The free-agent RB shuffle played out nicely for Etienne and Harris, as the top veterans either re-signed with their original teams (Carson, Jones) or joined a team (Kenyan Drake - Raiders) that was never a realistic fit for the best RB prospects. Meanwhile, the teams most often connected with top RBs in mock drafts did little or nothing to address the position in free agency. The Cardinals, Falcons, Dolphins, Steelers and Jets could all be entering the draft with intent to find a new lead back, and a few other teams like Houston and Denver might also consider spending a top-50 pick on the position.
The Cardinals still haven't signed a replacement for Drake, leaving only Jonathan Ward, Eno Benjamin and Khalfani Muhammad behind Edmonds on the backfield depth chart. The situation should be addressed in some fashion during the upcoming draft, though we'll note that the Cardinals don't have any picks in the third or fourth rounds. Will they go RB at No. 16 or No. 49?
RB I figured Murray would be a cap casualty, with the Saints able to clear out $3.19 million by designating him as a post-June 1 release. But here we stand in early April and Murray is still on the team's roster. While that could still change before Week 1, the 31-year-old tentatively appears on track for another season working as Alvin Kamara's backup. At Murray's age (31), that's preferable to entering the unknown of free agency.
WR Williams' fifth-year option became fully guaranteed when he was still on the roster at the beginning of the league year. There was some thought the Chargers might try to trade him, but it was TE Hunter Henry who ended up leaving and was then replaced by 34-year-old Jared Cook.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns poached two high-level starters from arguably the NFL's best defense, luring S John Johnson and CB Troy Hill away from Los Angeles. Both fill huge weaknesses, as Cleveland arguably had the worst safety play in the league last year, and the projected starting CBs (Denzel Ward, Greedy Williams) combined for only 12 appearances. On paper, the Browns now have a top-10 defense to complement their balanced offense.
Other Winners
Tampa Bay Buccaneers — Somehow re-signed every free-agent starter besides Antonio Brown.
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick — Good O-line + McLaurin + Gibson + Samuel.
QB Sam Darnold — Lucky to get a second shot. Even luckier to have those pass-catchers.
QB Drew Lock — So far, so good. Could be a different story after the draft.
RB Mike Davis — Other ATL RBs = Ito Smith, Qadree Ollison, Tony Brooks-James.
RB Melvin Gordon — Charges dismissed, Phillip Lindsay gone.
RB Joe Mixon — Bengals added RT Riley Reiff, released Giovani Bernard.
RB Aaron Jones — Attached to Aaron Rodgers for at least one more year.
WR Mecole Hardman — Sammy Watkins left, but Demarcus Robinson re-signed.
WR Jalen Reagor — Could be Philly's No. 1 WR.
WR Quintez Cephus — With weak competition in Detroit, the 2020 fifth-rounder could start.
TE Dan Arnold — Better than Ian Thomas. Acceptable TE3 for best ball.
TE Irv Smith — Kyle Rudolph's departure has Smith up to ADP 120, TE14.
TE Anthony Firkser — Someone besides A.J. Brown needs to catch passes, right?
Losers
RB AJ Dillon
The dream scenario for Dillon this offseason was both Jones and Jamaal Williams leaving Green Bay. The second-best option was Williams leaving and Jones staying, while the worst-case scenario is what actually ended up happening (unless you believe it was ever realistic for the Packers to sign both Jones and Williams). Dillon will get more work than last season, but given Jones' excellence as a receiving weapon and red-zone rusher, the 247-pounder may be stuck with a lot of low-value touches between the 20s.
RB Josh Jacobs
In addition to signing Kenyan Drake, the Raiders still have Jalen Richard and Theo Riddick on their roster, at least for the time being. Jacobs still has a good shot at 1,000 rushing yards, but the Drake signing reinforces what we maybe should've already accepted — Jon Gruden has no intention of making Jacobs a three-down back. His ADP on BB10s has dropped from early third round at the beginning of March (26th overall) to late third round (32nd) since Drake signed.
Golladay is a winner from a real-life standpoint, getting $18 million per season to spend his mid-to-late 20s in New York. That sounds like a good time, but it's not much consolation to dynasty managers who were hoping to see Golladay paired with a franchise QB this offseason. Maybe Daniel Jones can still be that guy, but I haven't seen it so far.
While I can't really say I'm still a believer at this point, Kirk at least has a chance to reinvent himself, likely shifting to the slot after the Cardinals swapped out Larry Fitzgerald for A.J. Green. It could mean fewer deep shots, but it's not like Kirk has made a fantasy impact in his perimeter role through three seasons. A Year 4 breakout, even of the modest variety, would set him up for a huge payday next offseason.
TEs Hunter Henry + Jonnu Smith
Forget those daydreams about Henry signing with the Bills or Panthers. Instead, he's joining Smith, Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne in New England, where Cam Newton still sits atop the QB depth chart for the time being. The Patriots gave their roster a major facelift this offseason, but it didn't work out so great for Henry and Smith's dynasty managers, as the 2021 New England offense will be highly unlikely to support multiple fantasy-relevant tight ends unless there's a blockbuster trade for a QB in the works.
Other Losers
Indianapolis Colts — No major additions besides Wentz. Still have $20.7 million in cap space.
QB Jared Goff — Joins bad team and could be replaced by draft pick eventually.
QB Teddy Bridgewater — Trade or not, might be a backup this year.
RB Phillip Lindsay — Signed with a bad team... one that has two other veteran RBs.
RB James White — Was hoping he'd link up with Brady and rotate with RoJo. Nope.
RB Ronald Jones & Ke'Shawn Vaughn — Leonard Fournette re-signed with Tampa.
WRs Brandin Cooks + Randall Cobb — You get the idea by now.
WR Gabriel Davis — Likely No. 4 WR again, with Emmanuel Sanders replacing Brown.
WR Preston Williams — Will Fuller signing leaves Williams as No. 3/4 WR with unproven QB.
WRs Nelson Agholor + Jakobi Meyers — Pats also signed Bourne, could have Edelman (knee).
WR Darius Slayton — Golladay is better downfield. Shepard is better underneath.
WR Diontae Johnson — He'll be fine, but the ceiling would be higher if JuJu had left.
TE Evan Engram — You were probably done with him before the Rudolph signing anyway.
