NFL Free Agency Assessments Part 2: Eagles Boogaloo
In which I make the Eagles' free agent choices look better by rearranging them, compartmentalize the Jets and take on the three-aspirin Commanders headache.
If you missed the first-half of this year’s NFL free agency performance assessments, here they are.
And now for the spine-tingling conclusion.
Las Vegas Raiders
Status: Rebuilding
Key Arrivals: DT Christian Wilkins, TE Harrison Bryant, QB Gardner Minshew, RB Alexander Mattison
Key Departures: QB Jimmy Garoppolo, tackle Jermaine Eluemunor, RB Josh Jacobs, DT Bilal Nichols
One smart way to launch a rebuild is to create one strong unit. Focusing on, say, the pass rush can help a team build an identity and create a way to become competitive right away. Such a plan also prevents the front office from throwing resources in a dozen different directions.
The pass rush/defensive front is a great unit to focus upon at the start of a rebuild: top D-line players are usually easy to identify, their performance is relatively consistent from year to year, and a healthy pass rush can make life easier for everyone else.
Finally, grabbing one Pro Bowl-caliber in-his-prime free agent is usually preferable to grabbing a dozen rank-and-file veterans, because it’s easier to draft and develop rank-and-file players than blue-chip starters.
Wilkins has never made the Pro Bowl, but he plays at that level. He and Maxx Crosby form a defensive front that can help the Raiders notch victories over Chargers/Broncos-caliber opponents. Wilkins can still be a core contributor when the Raiders finally become relevant again.
For the Raiders in free agency, less can be more, and it's encouraging to NOT see some busy-looking “culture change” after Jon Gruden and Josh McDaniels spent the last offseasons surrounding themselves with veteran binkies.
We know what the Raiders will be good at in 2024. They have plenty of other problems to solve, but it’s refreshing to see that they realize that.
Assessement: A-minus.
Los Angeles Chargers
Status: Rebuilding
Key Arrivals: center Bradley Bozeman, DT Poona Ford, RB Gus Edwards, TE Will Dissly
Key Departures: WR Keenan Allen, WR Mike Williams, RB Austin Ekeler, TE Gerald Everett, center Corey Lindsay, LB Erik Kendricks, LB Kenneth Murray
Key Retentions: Edge Khalil Mack, edge Joey Bosa
Much has happened since I wrote about the Chargers last week, most of it weirder than I anticipated.