Entering the 2019 season, fans will see some familiar faces with different uniforms
One of the most exciting and nerve-racking processes for any NFL fan is the offseason. Following Super Bowl LIII, there were several offseason questions that fascinated football fans. Luckily for us, several of these answers came quickly. Here are some of the biggest moves that we have seen so far in the offseason:
Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns:
Beckham, a first round pick in 2014, has become one of the most illustrious wide receivers in the game. After making an unbelievable one-handed grab against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football his rookie year, Beckham placed his name in the history books. However, his five-year tenure with the New York Giants was one to forget thanks to his aging quarterback, Eli Manning.
The Cleveland Browns, the 0-16 laughing stock of the league only a year ago, made a strong choice by picking Baker Mayfield with the first pick in the 2018 draft. Mayfield led his team to a 7-8-1 record during his rookie year. General manager John Dorsey felt the team was one superstar short of being a Super Bowl contender, and they jumped at the chance to trade for Beckham.
The Browns gave up a first and third round pick, along with safety Jabrill Peppers, to acquire the receiver. But what Cleveland got in return was a star that might take them to the playoffs for the first time since 2002.
Le’Veon Bell to the New York Jets:
The Le’Veon Bell-Pittsburgh Steelers drama was well established well before the 2018 season. To put it simply, Bell felt he was worth a good chunk of change, while the Steelers were unwilling to do anything but franchise tag him. Bell felt underappreciated and decided to sit the 2018 season out, leading him to become a free agent and hold his future in his own hands.
Bell is considered one of the best backs in the league, as he has finished amongst the top five in rushing yards in three of his five years as a pro. We all knew there were going to be several teams offering him massive contracts. The team who offered him the most was the New York Jets, who signed Bell to a four-year, $52.5 million deal making him the second highest paid running back in the NFL, second only to Todd Gurley of the Los Angeles Rams.
Much like the Browns, the Jets have been known for their failures over the past several seasons. They have not made the playoffs since 2010. By adding a star like Bell to their squad, the Jets hope their young quarterback, Sam Darnold, will progress and eventually mimic the top quarterback/running back tandems in the league.
Antonio Brown to the Oakland Raiders
The Steelers were in the hot seat again late last season as top receiver Antonio Brown skipped practices and failed to play the final game of the season against the Cincinnati Bengals. Following this, weekly reports emerged about Brown’s disappointment with Pittsburgh, saying he felt undervalued, like Bell. This led to him requesting a trade.
Although Brown is recognized as a top receiver in the league, it was uncertain how many organizations wanted him on their squad, since coaches and players were continually bashing Brown over his primadonna attitude. But the Oakland Raiders, an organization that seems to thrive off of aggressive personalities, made it a priority to trade for him. The Raiders scored a deal, only giving up a third and fifth round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
After an underwhelming debut season for comeback head coach Jon Gruden, the Raiders added a dominant receiver that should pair well with quarterback Derek Carr, which will certainly help them improve their offense, which finished 23rd last year. However, for a team that struggled on both sides of the ball, a lot more will need to be done to make Oakland a legitimate force in the competitive AFC West.
Nick Foles to the Jacksonville Jaguars
Just last year the Philadelphia Eagles shocked the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII, led by backup quarterback Nick Foles. He threw for three touchdown passes and 373 yards, winning the Super Bowl MVP.
So when Foles was set to become a free agent this year, there were questions if the Eagles would stick with the Super Bowl hero or their young star, Carson Wentz. We got our answer when Philly announced they would not be re-signing Foles, and he immediately became a desired asset throughout the league.
Several teams were in need of a quarterback, but none more so than the Jacksonville Jaguars. Despite having a talented roster, Jacksonville has been stuck with Blake Bortles under center for five seasons. So when Foles became available, they quickly offered him a four-year, $88 million contract.
Foles is obviously an upgrade, but after leaving Philly in 2014, his numbers went down tremendously. In 2015 he played for the Rams, and threw seven touchdowns to 10 interceptions. In 2016, Foles started only one game for the Chiefs. Foles has only succeeded when playing under the Eagles’ system, but will that trend continue in Jacksonville? Only time will tell.
Mark Ingram and Earl Thomas to the Baltimore Ravens
With the addition of Beckham to the Browns, the Ravens knew they needed to make some moves to remain relevant in the AFC North. That’s exactly what they did by paying a former member of Seattle’s “Legion of Boom” and New Orleans’ two-headed monster. Earl Thomas was given a four-year, $55 million deal, while Mark Ingram was given a three-year, $15 million contract.
Baltimore is a team on the rise. Lamar Jackson will be the quarterback for the next several seasons, and they finished with the number one defense in the league last season. Even though they lost some key players over the offseason such as Eric Weddle and longtime star Terrell Suggs, the addition of Ingram and Thomas will certainly help them improve and stay relevant in the AFC North.