The One Move Every NFL Contender Must Make This Offseason

Dec 13, 2020; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams (17) celebrates with quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) after a touchdown during the first quarter against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

With possible retirements of stalwarts Aaron Donald and Andrew Whitworth, the Rams’ quest to defend their title may be nearly impossible. The Rams’ top-heavy approach already stresses health and internal player development. Losing stars would be catastrophic.

There’s no question that Odell Beckham Jr. proved to be quite the playmaker with the Rams despite his previous stint with Cleveland. Beckham changed how the Rams’ passing game operated thanks to his smooth route-running and rare body control on difficult catches. While he may have suffered another torn ACL in the Super Bowl, the Rams must bring him back in 2022.

Los Angeles can withstand Beckham’s expected recovery time frame thanks to their solid receiving depth. The value Beckham can provide once healthy is critical for a roster lacking both cap space and draft resources. Just the return of Robert Woods in 2022 may not be enough for the Rams to repeat.

The bad news for the AFC is the Bengals might just be getting started. They enter the offseason with the fourth-most effective cap space in the league and their mission is clear: improve the offensive line. Joe Burrow will likely have two or three new blockers come opening weekend next season.

The ideal tackle to pair with Jonah Williams is Terron Armstead. The current Saints left tackle has a voidable contract for cap relief, and the Saints’ lack of cap flexibility will cost them their athletic blindside protector. Expect Armstead to be heavily sought after by several powerful offenses.

Moving Armstead to right tackle can be beneficial to the team and player. Armstead is a phenomenal all-around blocker but has missed games in each of his nine-year career. Playing him on the right side would give the Bengals’ staff more flexibility to give him a tight end or running back to help, and limit the exposure to unnecessary contact.

The three-time Pro Bowler carries some injury risk but also a high upside that rarely comes available in free agency. 

The Chiefs’ shocking AFC Championship collapse against the Bengals overshadowed just how good this roster is. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense played as poorly in the second half as they had all year, but their pathway to returning to the Super Bowl is quite clear. They must add a quality second receiving threat, re-sign Orlando Brown and Tyrann Mathieu, and bolster their edge and cornerback room.

The latter is the biggest question mark due to the importance of finding a playmaker at the position. While pending free agent Charvarius Ward played admirably, stealing Pro Bowl corner J.C. Jackson from the Patriots would harm a fellow contender and give the Chiefs a feared presence to lock down one side of the field. The 26-year-old Jackson notched eight interceptions in 2021, giving him 25 in 39 career starts.

The Patriots are under a cap crunch after spending so much last offseason. Kansas City can move a ton of money around with ease and aggressively pursue a No. 1 cornerback. Jackson and Mathieu would combine for a scary tandem in the secondary.

Anyone who watched the Rams since their mid-season trade for Von Miller couldn’t miss his re-emergence as a terrifying pass rusher. Despite turning 33 this spring, Miller played well enough to earn Super Bowl MVP consideration. He should age as gracefully as his former teammate, DeMarcus Ware.

Buffalo is an obvious fit as they lacked defensive playmaking throughout 2021. Their leading sacker was 34-year-old Mario Addison, and their young stable of defensive ends are more geared for stopping the run. Miller would immediately raise the upside for the unit each week.

Such a signing would also be a loud statement to Buffalo’s peers about their ability to draw in marquee talent so long as Josh Allen is present. Miller may have to take less money to fit into Buffalo’s cap situation, but he’d also get another realistic chance to earn a ring. Head coach Sean McDermott would love to unleash an elite talent after Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow.

It’s somewhat comical that Jerry Jones has shown frustration with Amari Cooper and the star’s gigantic contract considering Cooper’s history of uneven production and the fact Jones gave him that deal. The Cowboys are set to lose pass catchers Michael Gallup, Dalton Schultz, and Cedrick Wilson Jr. to free agency due to cap constraints. After Cooper totaled just 865 yards in 2021, they could trade or cut his massive $22 million cap hold.

Trading the 27-year-old would save Dallas $16 million and give desperately needed room to retool the roster. They shouldn’t have too many issues moving the premier route-runner considering it’s a weak free agent crop and a major need amongst the most cash-flush teams. Miami, Jacksonville, LA Chargers, Cleveland, and Indianapolis could easily justify a trade.

Dallas must also decide whether to re-sign Randy Gregory and what to do with the aging and oft-injured Tyron Smith. This veteran roster is almost leveraged as much as they can against the cap. Moving on from Cooper is a necessity. 

Outside of the obvious move to trade Jimmy Garoppolo and begin the Trey Lance-era, the 49ers need more impact talent on defense. Defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans did wonders with a group of decent but overachieving defensive backs. Replacing 34-year-old Josh Norman with Stephon Gilmore would solidify a rapidly developing cornerback room.

Gilmore was traded to Carolina mid-season and played well despite the Panthers’ free fall into oblivion. The 32-year-old has the ideal skill set to age gracefully and won’t break the bank for San Francisco to land. His physical nature and ability to play in zone and man should be highly valuable for Ryans’ malleable scheme.

San Francisco’s corners produced only four interceptions in 2021. Gilmore has averaged almost as many each season throughout his nine-year career. This is as clean of a fit that exists in free agency this year. 

The only way the Packers are considered contenders by this fall is if both Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams are on their roster. The Packers have been making a push to redo Rodgers’ deal as they’ve realized what’s at stake if he retires or demands a trade. Barring a shocking, sudden transformation from Jordan Love, losing Rodgers would slam the Packers’ Super Bowl window shut.

Re-signing Adams to a long-term deal and avoiding the franchise tag would be a massive win as well. Green Bay doesn’t have the space to add significant outside pieces if Adams has a high cap hit in 2022, but there’s a pathway for the team to retain several key free agents if both Rodgers and Adams can hammer out deals by March 1. If both players are set on leaving, the Packers might as well enter a rebuild phase.

Trading both stars could fast-track that effort. But Green Bay can’t worry about the optics of blowing their 2020 first-rounder on Love right now. Going all-out to win with Rodgers and Adams is the only plan that makes any sense until either takes that decision from them.

We’ve seen pass rushers come through Baltimore and leave as soon as their rookie deal expires since former defensive coordinator Wink Martendale could replace them. With Martindale in New York now and Mike Macdonald taking his place, expect the Ravens to move away from zone blitzes and favor more traditional looks. More four-man fronts prioritizes individual talent more than schematic fits.

As veteran Justin Houston’s contract expires, the Ravens could make a splash by signing Cardinals’ edge rusher Chandler Jones. Jones has quietly assembled a potential Hall of Fame resume between his New England and Arizona stints, totaling 10.5 or more sacks in every full season he’s played. Pairing him with rookie sensation Odafe Oweh would give the AFC North nightmares.

Jones has long wanted and deserved a new deal from Arizona. Baltimore has one more year before paying Lamar Jackson a huge extension. Signing Jones would be an excellent splash to revamp their new defensive identity. 

The list of available veteran quarterbacks is quickly dwindling. Aaron Rodgers could be back in Green Bay, Kirk Cousins will remain in Minnesota, and Derek Carr will likely be offered a long-term extension by Las Vegas. Denver could be staring at either Jimmy Garoppolo or Carson Wentz as their best options.

Instead, the Broncos should make the Seahawks an offer they cannot refuse for Russell Wilson. The 34-year-old has been the subject of trade rumors over the last year as the franchise has declined around him. With Wilson still possessing a strong skill set that would boost Denver’s ability to compete with the AFC’s elite, he’d be a great addition to Nathaniel Hackett’s offense.

Few teams would be as attractive to any veteran quarterback as Denver thanks to their young and highly talented cast of playmakers. They could also open significantly more money by restructuring deals to go all-in with Wilson and impactful free agents wanting to play with him. Seattle would save $38 million over the next two years while adding a bevy of draft picks in a Wilson deal.

We mentioned the Bucs as an option for Aaron Rodgers, but Deshaun Watson would be more likely. Houston would love to get Watson out of the AFC, and the star quarterback can control where he goes thanks to a no-trade clause. The opportunity to play for Bruce Arians and with Mike Evans and a star-studded defense should be his most attractive option.

Tampa’s own hopes for a return from Tom Brady would need to be completely dashed for this move to work. Unlike most teams though, Tampa Bay could potentially show more patience while Watson’s legal situation plays out since they’re hoping Brady un-retoires anyway. The possibility of extending their own Super Bowl window with the 26-year-old Watson must be considered either way.

Watson would be a phenomenal fit into Arians’ and Byron Leftwich’s vertical passing game. In some ways, the Buccaneers would be in a better position to compete with Watson’s playmaking throughout his prime years. No team is able to withstand parting with several first-round picks either since Tampa Bay already has a loaded roster on both sides of the ball.