The 2016 NFL season doesn’t start for another 4 months, but the NFL offseason is just about over. The draft has come to a close, and all of the notable free agents have been signed. This has been a very busy offseason, and many teams have done a great job with improving their roster. Before we start, let’s look at some of the teams who were honorable mentions to this list.
Honorable Mentions:
Buffalo Bills
I really liked what Buffalo did in the draft. They got two steals in outside linebacker Shaq Lawson and inside linebacker Reggie Ragland. Head coach Rex Ryan is bound to fall in love with the two of them. They also upgraded their defensive line with their selection of Adolphus Washington. However, an idle performance in free agency prevents them from ranking any higher on this list.
Minnesota Vikings
Similar to Buffalo, the Vikings also had a fantastic draft. They picked wide receiver Laquon Treadwell in the first round, who has the potential to be the next Dez Bryant despite a slow 40 time. They also added cornerback Mackensie Alexander, a player who was viewed as a top 10 lock up until about February. Minnesota had great late-round selections in linebacker Kentrell Brothers and German sensation Moritz Boehringer. However, they didn’t do much in free agency either, so they fail to make the list.
New York Giants
The Giants took a huge risk in free agency; getting a lot of great talent, but at the expense of spending a ton of money. Defensive end Olivier Vernon is a great player, but isn’t worth the $17 million a year they spent to get him. Same goes with cornerback Janoris Jenkins: he’s a good cornerback, but $12.5 million a year is a bit too steep of a price. Cornerback Eli Apple was a reach, but they made up for it with wide receiver Sterling Shepard and safety Darian Thompson. The G-Men were incredibly aggressive in the offseason, but it proved to be too aggressive to make the top 5.
2016 NFL Season: 5 Most Improved Teams
Jacksonville Jaguars
Let’s start with the obvious one here. The Jaguars had the most cap space entering free agency, and they definitely made the most of it. Forget making a splash, the Jags did a cannon ball. They signed defensive tackle Malik Jackson, safety Tashaun Gipson, running back Chris Ivory and cornerback Prince Amukamara, among others. As if an impressive free agency wasn’t enough, Jacksonville had to outdo themselves by absolutely nailing the draft. They picked arguably the best player in the entire draft in Jalen Ramsey at #5. The Jags also took advantage of Myles Jack’s slide into the second round, ending up with two top ten talents. They also boosted their defensive line some more with mid-round selections Yannick Ngakoue and Sheldon Day. Still not impressed? The Jaguars already have a young, talented offensive core and they get last year’s first rounder Dante Fowler Jr. back from injury. The media is swirling with speculation that the Jaguars will be a playoff contender. Expect the Jaguars to shed their label as the joke of the league and compete for a playoff spot this year.
Oakland Raiders
Like the Jaguars, the Oakland Raiders came into the offseason with a lot of cap space to surround their young core with talent. Also like the Jaguars, the Raiders succeeded in doing so. The addition of guard Kelechi Osemele helped support an already solid offensive line. The Raiders improved their subpar secondary by adding cornerback Sean Smith and safety Reggie Nelson. Their signing of linebacker Bruce Irvin gives them a three-headed edge rushing monster along with Khalil Mack and Aldon Smith. The Raiders also had a very good draft, bolstering their defense with safety Karl Joseph and defensive linemen Jihad Ward and Shilique Calhoun. They also got a steal in quarterback Connor Cook in the fourth round. With plenty of weapons for Derek Carr and an improved defense, look for the Raiders to steal a wild card spot in a weakened division.
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears entered this offseason with a lot of cap space and plenty of needs to fill. They came out of it looking like a team who can contend for a playoff spot. The Bears had a complete defensive facelift, signing inside linebackers Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman to replace the horrid duo of Shea McClellin and Christian Jones. They also added some help up front in defensive end Akiem Hicks. Their addition of tackle Bobby Massie allowed Kyle Long to move back to his natural right guard position. Chicago never broke the bank, but they spent their money wisely. They also nailed the draft, finding a lot of very good value across the board. Outside linebacker Leonard Floyd has potential to be an elite speed rusher, while guard Cody Whitehair and defensive end Jonathan Bullard were absolute steals. In fact, they managed to trade down to get a first-round value in Whitehair and also add multiple fourth round picks. Don’t be surprised if the Bears put up a fight to make the wild card.
Houston Texans
With the fantastic offseason of Jacksonville, the Houston Texans were under pressure to keep up and retain their AFC South crown. Luckily, they did more than enough to hold their own in the division. Their biggest signing was quarterback Brock Osweiler, who could possibly be the franchise QB the Texans have been looking for. Time will tell if he actually lives up to that hype, but he’s a step up from the hodgepodge of journeymen they had last year. Houston also added running back Lamar Miller, who provides a younger, less injury-prone replacement to Arian Foster who is just as good. It’s clear that the Texans went into the draft wanting to support Osweiler, as their first four picks were all on offense. Wide receivers Will Fuller and Braxton Miller provide fantastic, deep-threat targets to go alongside star receiver DeAndre Hopkins. Guard Nick Martin will help protect their new QB. Scouts see a lot of similarities between Martin and his All-Pro brother, Zack. These new additions make them one of the most improved NFL teams this year.
Washington Redskins
The Redskins had a fairly quiet free agency period at first, but their last-minute snatching of cornerback Josh Norman makes them one of the biggest winners of the offseason. Norman will be a huge factor in covering the NFC East’s elite receivers like Odell Beckham Jr. and Dez Bryant. They retained franchise QB Kirk Cousins, but other than that they didn’t do much else. The Redskins made up for that with a great draft haul. The selection of wide receiver Josh Doctson was surprising at first, but it is a solid pick which will help them down the road. Washington also added safety/linebacker Su’a Cravens and cornerback Kendall Fuller; both of which were fantastic picks. Keep an eye on running back Keith Marshall, who is likely to get some carries in their backfield rotation.
