With blockbuster trades and wild bidding wars over free agents, the NFL offseason is an exciting period that can change the landscape of next year’s season.
The frenzy of gearing up for next year’s football season has begun, and this year’s football offseason has not disappointed thus far. With the sudden movement of many great players all around the league, the prospect of the upcoming season is mired in uncertainty. Many teams previously thought of as pushovers could now be forces to be reckoned with, and former NFL powers could become completely obsolete. These moments in March and April are the origins of the trash talk and hype that will at last culminate in the kickoff of the 2015-2016 season in September.
One of the most unusual things about this year’s offseason is the sheer prevalence of trades of both players and draft picks. Football, unlike baseball or basketball, has previously shown itself to be a sport in which trades are simply not as prominent. This trend in NFL transactions, however, has been broken this offseason as fans see coaches becoming more and more aggressive in trying to gain specific weapons for their respective teams.
Chip Kelly, the second-year coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, epitomizes this emerging movement. He kicked the offseason into full swing by making the first notable transaction of the year: dealing the elusive running back LeSean McCoy for Buffalo Bills linebacker Kiko Alonso. In addition, in a rather controversial move, Kelly traded quarterback Nick Foles along with two draft picks to St. Louis for the injury-prone Sam Bradford and a middle-round draft selection.
In other parts of the country, the New Orleans Saints gave All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham and a fourth-round pick to Seattle for center Max Unger and a first-round pick, a real head-scratcher of a trade that could now make Seattle the best team in the league.
The Jets picked up former Chicago Bear Brandon Marshall to put alongside Eric Decker in their offense. These notable trades have accounted for a significant portion of this year’s intriguing offseason moves.
Free agency is often where the most exciting offseason moves take place, and, as many big-name player have hit the market this year, many teams have picked up veritable playmakers via free agent signings. Many notable players who could have become free agents, such as Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant, Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas, Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb, and Patriots safety Devin McCourty, all stayed put– but this did not stop many other stars from finding new homes.
Two of the most talked-about free agents were both defensive anchors: former Detroit Lion Ndamukong Suh and the former Patriot Darelle Revis. Both were signed to some of the most expensive contracts in NFL history, with Suh heading to Miami and Revis going back to New York, where he played just years ago.
The Cowboys, after designating the franchise tag to Dez Bryant, simply could not afford to re-sign star running back DeMarco Murray. After being heavily sought in free agency, Murray finally decided to take his talents to the Cowboys’ division rival, the Eagles; Philadelphia now boasts a backfield rich in talent, including Murray, Ryan Matthews, and Darren Sproles. In addition, one of Peyton Manning’s favorite targets before getting injured this year, tight end Julius Thomas, signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
In more local news, both the Giants and the Jets have made some wise moves in free agency. The Giants designated Jason Pierre-Paul, their defensive leader, with the franchise tag, keeping him off the market for at least one more year, and picked up an underrated and talented punt and kick returner, former Dallas Cowboy, Dwayne Harris. Big Blue also added versatile, pass-catching running back Shane Vereen to their talented offense, giving Eli Manning another weapon alongside Odell Beckham Jr. and Victor Cruz.
The Jets’ lack of success last year was only exacerbated by their poor secondary, but they seemed to have addressed that need and then some this offseason. The reunion of cornerbacks Darelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie and the addition of defensive back Buster Skrine have transformed the Jets’ secondary from being fragile to being formidable. This, paired with, arguably, the NFL’s best defensive line, could potentially give Gang Green the best defense in the NFL.
Slowly but surely, next year’s NFL season is taking shape. Now, with a shake-up of the entire league, every team seems to have high hopes to grab the Lombardi trophy. The anticipation begins, and this season will be the true decider of whose offseason moves benefited them the most. 2015 season, here we come.