ESPN Off-Season Grades - Jets Get Top Grade (Only A)

[hobson54]

obviously winning the off-season doesn't necessarily result in winning in the regular season. but still nice to see that macc and co got the top off-season grade from espn's group of experts:



http://espn.go.com/nfl/insider/story/_/id/12913383/offseason-grades-all-32-teams-nfl

The best offseason work assures nothing in the NFL, as Tampa Bay and a few other teams proved again last offseason. But we can still evaluate the jobs teams have done in addressing their roster needs through free agency, trades and the draft, with an eye toward how moves affect outlooks in the short and long terms.

To that end, I've enlisted ESPN analysts Bill Polian, Louis Riddick, Matt Williamson and Field Yates, quoting each extensively in our 2015 NFL offseason grades. I also took into account Mel Kiper's draft grades for every team.

Here are offseason grades for all 32 NFL teams:


New York Jets: A

Re-signed: DE Leger Douzable, LB David Harris, LS Tanner Purdum, OL Ben Ijajana, OL Willie Colon, RB Bilal Powell

Veteran additions: CB Antonio Cromartie, CB Buster Skrine, CB Darrelle Revis, ILB Jamari Lattimore, OT James Brewer, OG James Carpenter, TE Kellen Davis, DT Kevin Vickerson, S Marcus Gilchrist, DE Stephen Bowen, RB Stevan Ridley, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, WR Brandon Marshall, LB Erin Henderson, LB Joe Mays, WR DeVier Posey, RB Zac Stacy

Veteran subtractions: S Dawan Landry, WR Greg Salas, DE Jermaine Cunningham, FB John Conner, DT Kenrick Ellis, CB Kyle Wilson, QB Michael Vick, ILB Nick Bellore, WR Percy Harvin, CB Phillip Adams, TE Chris Pantale, FB Mario Harvey

Draft picks: 1-Leonard Williams (DE), 2-Devin Smith (WR), 3-Lorenzo Mauldin (LB), 4-Bryce Petty (QB), 5-Jarvis Harrison (G), 7-Deon Simon (DT)

Analysis: The Jets commanded the only A grade overall and the only A-plus from an individual voter. Riddick liked their moves that much. He worked with Todd Bowles in Philadelphia and he believes in the Jets' new head coach, calling him a "dynamite" hire. Adding Revis in free agency, Marshall by trade and a luxury first-round choice in Williams separated the Jets.

"It is hard to find a fault with anything they did from coaching to free agency to the draft," Riddick said. "It is all about the QB. Can Chan Gailey get Geno Smith to not be the cause of losing games?"

Polian said the football gods smiled on the Jets when Revis became available and New York was able to sign him away from its top division rival.

"Defensively, there may not be many teams better," Polian said. "You just cannot waste a defense like that with a quarterback who turns it over. The question is, does Geno all of a sudden become a quarterback? Or does it have to be Fitzpatrick?"

Fitzpatrick headed my list of value signings in free agency based mostly on a statistical profile suggesting he has been better than his reputation suggests. Tennessee was certainly worse off without him, and it's fair to wonder if Houston upgraded by swapping out Fitzpatrick for Brian Hoyer. Fitzpatrick has generally been associated with horrible defenses (since 2010, only Tony Romo has gotten less defensive support among players with at least 40 starts).

"Fitzpatrick is not good, but he is a major upgrade," Williamson said.

 

[hobson54]

other divisional rivals' grades:


Buffalo Bills: B-plus

Re-signed: DE Jarius Wynn, DE Jerry Hughes, DT Kyle Williams, Wr Marcus Easley

Veteran additions: DE Alex Carrington, TE Charles Clay, FB Jerome Felton, FB John Conner, WR Justin Brown, WR Percy Harvin, G Richie Incognito, QB Tyrod Taylor, QB Matt Cassel, RB LeSean McCoy

Veteran subtractions: ILB Brandon Spikes, RB C.J. Spiller, OT Chris Hairston, S Da'Norris Searcy, OG Erik Pears, ILB Keith Rivers, QB Kyle Orton, OLB Larry Dean, TE Lee Smith, TE Scott Chandler, OLB Stevenson Sylvester, LB Kiko Alonso

Draft picks: 2-Ronald Darby (DB), 3-John Miller (G), 5-Karlos Williams (RB), 6a-Tony Steward (LB), 6b-Nick O'Leary (TE), 7-Dez Lewis (WR)

Analysis: How much better can a 9-7 team become without necessarily upgrading at quarterback?

"There's been a lot of speculation surrounding Greg Roman and how good of a coordinator and developer he is," Riddick said. "Now we find out for sure. They have not thrown in the towel on EJ Manuel. If they can bring him along, they are legitimate."

The Bills scored no lower than the B grade I gave them. The financial price they paid for McCoy seemed excessive. The manner in which they lost coach Doug Marrone after a promising season also stood out as a negative to me, although the excitement surrounding Rex Ryan seems to have mitigated concerns in Buffalo. Riddick lauded the Bills for taking care of their own players, notably Hughes. He liked the fact that McCoy had reason to be motivated.


LeSean McCoy should be highly motivated in 2015 after being traded away by the Eagles. AP Photo/Gary Wiepert
"The moves they made are really good moves and they are win-now moves, not win-down-the-road moves," Polian said. "That is the right thing to do because that team has some age on it in key spots. But the question is, who plays quarterback, and at what level?"

As Yates put it: "They will be a butt-kicking front seven with an athletic secondary, and on offense they have very intriguing weapons. But this is a team full of shooters with no point guard."

------------------

Miami Dolphins: B

Re-signed: QB Ryan Tannehill, OL Jason Fox, OL Mike Pouncey, P Brandon Fields, QB Matt Moore, S Louis Delmas

Veteran additions: CB Brice McCain, WR Greg Jennings, C J.D. Walton, OG Jacques McClendon, OT Jeffrey Linkenbach, TE Jordan Cameron, DT Ndamukong Suh, OLB Spencer Paysinger, CB Zack Bowman, WR Kenny Stills, QB Josh Freeman

Veteran subtractions: WR Brandon Gibson, WR Brian Hartline, TE Charles Clay, CB Cortland Finnegan, RB Daniel Thomas, OG Daryn Colledge, CB James Wilson, DT Jared Odrick, OLB Jason Trusnik, SS Jimmy Wilson, OLB Jonathan Freeny, RB Knowshon Moreno, OG Nate Garner, LB Philip Wheeler, CB R.J. Stanford, DT Randy Starks, C Samson Satele, G Shelley Smith, WR Mike Wallace, LB Dannell Ellerbe, CB T.J. Heath, CB Lowell Rose

Draft picks: 1-DeVante Parker (WR), 2-Jordan Phillips (DT), 4-Jamil Douglas (G), 5a-Bobby McCain (DB), 5b-Jay Ajayi (RB), 5c-Cedric Thompson (DB), 5d-Tony Lippett (WR)

Analysis: Williamson was highest on the Dolphins' offseason, giving them an A-minus for adding Suh and making moves to strengthen a promising offense. They were a solid B even before reaching agreement with Tannehill on a deal that seemed to work well for both parties.

"It feels weird not going higher than a B-plus after landing Suh and extending Tannehill and Pouncey," Yates said of his Dolphins grade. "You land the pre-eminent free agent available at a huge price. Those deals have not proven to be foolproof in the past. I have a little reservation about roster construction. They have a lot of cooks in the kitchen in the front office after adding Mike Tannenbaum and I'm not sure that is a great thing. Wallace, Clay and Hartline are out. Do they have a better cast of weapons now? Let's not mistake activity for achievement, to quote John Wooden."

Riddick questioned whether Suh could ever live up to his contract. He loved Parker's selection in the first round and thinks Jarvis Landry is one of the NFL's better young receivers, but he wasn't sure about Stills' career trajectory or how much Jennings has left.

"The best way to attack New England is up the middle and Suh gives them that ability," Polian said. "They really need to run the ball effectively. If they do that and protect Tannehill better, then throw it in fourth gear and let's go."


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ew England Patriots: C

Re-signed: DE Alan Branch, DE Rob Ninkovich, K Stephen Gostkowski, LB Chris White, S Devin McCourty, S Patrick Chung, WR Danny Amendola

Veteran additions: CB Bradley Fletcher, WR Brandon Gibson, OLB Jabaal Sheard, OLB Jonathan Freeny, TE Scott Chandler, RB Travaris Cadet, LB Dekoda Watson, LB Brandon Spikes

Veteran subtractions: OLB Akeem Ayers, CB Brandon Browner, OG Dan Connolly, LS Danny Aiken, CB Darrelle Revis, OLB Jonathan Casillas, RB Shane Vereen, RB Stevan Ridley, DT Vince Wilfork, CB Alfonzo Dennard, LB Deontae Skinner, DE Michael Buchanan, CB Kyle Arrington

Draft picks: 1-Malcom Brown (DT), 2-Jordan Richards (DB), 3-Geneo Grissom (DE), 4a-Trey Flowers (DE), 4b-Tre' Jackson (G), 4c-Shaq Mason (C), 5-Joe Cardona (C), 6a-Matt Wells (LB), 6b-A.J. Derby (TE), 7a-Darryl Roberts (DB), 7b-Xzavier Dickson (DE)

Analysis: There wasn't much to get excited about for the Patriots this offseason (keep in mind we're only talking about offseason roster moves, so Deflategate doesn't factor in here), which is exactly how New England likes it, Riddick said. The Patriots lagged in the gradebook after parting with Vereen and Revis, two players key to their success. But all analysts expected them to adapt well, as usual.

"They are the ultimate benefit-of-the-doubt team, like Seattle," Yates said. "Their defense has a totally new form with a pounding front seven. They will be very difficult to run against, and they can generate pressure from different angles. It is fair to question how they will cover. And then losing Tom Brady for up to four games, how can you overlook that?"

The Patriots went from having one of the NFL's very best secondaries to having one that could be a liability. If this was concerning to them, they did not show it in the draft. Polian did think the selection of Malcom Brown in the first round made sense because his ability as an interior pass-rusher would be valuable for a team likely to play zone coverage more frequently.

"They are not close to as good on paper as they were, because of the secondary," Williamson said. "You know Bill Belichick will change how they play. They will be more reliant on their front seven. But they did nothing at the skill positions, one reason why I gave them a C-minus."

 

[Superman55]

riddle me this - how can Pats not get an F? They lost both Cbs, more olineman, and are in the middle of another scandal that cost them a 1st, 4th, and $1,000,000 and their starting Qb suspended 4 games...is it possible to score less than an F for an offseason? It is surely worse than a C.

if we lost next years 1st rd pick for nothing, I'd be pissed...

 

[jets82]

riddle me this - how can Pats not get an F? They lost both Cbs, more olineman, and are in the middle of another scandal that cost them a 1st, 4th, and $1,000,000 and their starting Qb suspended 4 games...is it possible to score less than an F for an offseason? It is surely worse than a C.

if we lost next years 1st rd pick for nothing, I'd be pissed...

I hear you, that's just ESPN kissing NE ass as usual. Not surprised at all. NE should have gotten a F no doubt but they will always cut certain teams breaks. NE, Pittsburgh, NYG, Cowboys, 49ers and GB. The fact they are pretty much the one teams (if I'm correct) to win 3 or more SBs, they are considered dynasties and get that luxury.

 

[jetfan39]

(keep in mind we're only talking about offseason roster moves, so Deflategate doesn't factor in here.

I'm guessing this is the reason that they did not get an F for the offseason.

 

[SackExchange]

I don't think too highly about ESPN, but it's still nice to see them thawing a little on the Jets.

55 is right, though. The offseason has been horrendous for the Pats. Even discounting their deflate picks, they let pretty much their entire secondary go. Their best CB is playing safety (sounds like the 2014 Jets, except it was a S playing CB, instead of a failed CB playing S). They've drafted DL, but their best big body in the trenches walked. Their OL continues its decline, which may be a bigger deal with a young QB having to play some games and a prima donna starter who whines every time he gets touched. And of their additions, they brought back a guy who exposed them last time for their injury report violations.

How could anyone think this has been anything short of a disaster for the Pats?

 

[Green Jets & Ham]

riddle me this - how can Pats not get an F? They lost both Cbs, more olineman, and are in the middle of another scandal that cost them a 1st, 4th, and $1,000,000 and their starting Qb suspended 4 games...is it possible to score less than an F for an offseason? It is surely worse than a C.

if we lost next years 1st rd pick for nothing, I'd be pissed...

The Pats getting a C from a media that lives to kiss their asses is the equivalent of giving them an F. If you ever see the media give them anything lower than a C, its time for the hell-bound to start investing in winter coats and mittens.

 

[Superman55]

I don't think too highly about ESPN, but it's still nice to see them thawing a little on the Jets.

55 is right, though. The offseason has been horrendous for the Pats. Even discounting their deflate picks, they let pretty much their entire secondary go. Their best CB is playing safety (sounds like the 2014 Jets, except it was a S playing CB, instead of a failed CB playing S). They've drafted DL, but their best big body in the trenches walked. Their OL continues its decline, which may be a bigger deal with a young QB having to play some games and a prima donna starter who whines every time he gets touched. And of their additions, they brought back a guy who exposed them last time for their injury report violations.

How could anyone think this has been anything short of a disaster for the Pats?

SE - who is this? I must have missed a report.

 

[hobson54]

how about we do something like focus on the positive reviews the jets are getting instead of yet again lamenting the media love-affair with the pats. it's funny....the jets get the best marks of any team and all people here want to do is bitch that the pats only got a C and not something worse... :hopelessness:

 

[Superman55]

how about we do something like focus on the positive reviews the jets are getting instead of yet again lamenting the media love-affair with the pats. it's funny....the jets get the best marks of any team and all people here want to do is bitch that the pats only got a C and not something worse... :hopelessness:

Always trying to argue. Do you need another high five for the Revis, Skrine, Cro, Williams, and Smith additions? I thought we already ran out of beer from that celebration...did someone go get some more?

 

[Football51]

Always trying to argue. Do you need another high five for the Revis, Skrine, Cro, Williams, and Smith additions? I thought we already ran out of beer from that celebration...did someone go get some more?

 

[SackExchange]

SE - who is this? I must have missed a report.

Brandon Spikes.

 

[hokiejetfan92]

I hear you, that's just ESPN kissing NE ass as usual. Not surprised at all. NE should have gotten a F no doubt but they will always cut certain teams breaks. NE, Pittsburgh, NYG, Cowboys, 49ers and GB. The fact they are pretty much the one teams (if I'm correct) to win 3 or more SBs, they are considered dynasties and get that luxury.

I mean they also had the second lowest grade of all the NFL teams. The only lower team was the 49ers (D+), and they lost their coach and key players to retirement, plus a questionable draft. I wouldn't say they are kissing their ass, maybe their scale was not to give out a grade lower than D+ for whatever reason. They also gave the Jets an A. I mean the only way I think it'd be unfair would be if both the Jets and Pats had the same grade or really close

 

[Superman55]

Brandon Spikes.

heard this on the radio yesterday or the day before...looks like Mayo may be out longer than they initially thought. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[SackExchange]

I mean they also had the second lowest grade of all the NFL teams. The only lower team was the 49ers (D+), and they lost their coach and key players to retirement, plus a questionable draft. I wouldn't say they are kissing their ass, maybe their scale was not to give out a grade lower than D+ for whatever reason. They also gave the Jets an A. I mean the only way I think it'd be unfair would be if both the Jets and Pats had the same grade or really close

Valid point. If it is one of the lowest grades, it's tough to argue.

I don't think the Pats' draft was that bad, by any stretch. Some picks were head-scratchers (a fifth on a long snapper from a service academy?), while others were solid value picks (first rounder).

But their offseason in general, even without deflategate, has been an unmitigated disaster.