MJS

NFL Power Rankings: Browns, Patriots up in free agency; Bears slip Dan Hanzus - Around the NFL Writer https://www.nfl.com/news/nfl-power-rankings-browns-patriots-up-in-free-agency-bears-slip Buffalo Bills Rank - 4 (Previous rank: No. 4) "The Bills have established themselves as a legitimate championship contender, so we liked the move to keep Matt Milano -- a member of the team's defensive core -- on a long-term deal. On offense, Buffalo opted to let John Brown head to Vegas in favor of Emmanuel Sanders, an underrated talent who slots in nicely with Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley to form a rock-solid wide receivers room. The signing of former No. 2 overall pick Mitch Trubisky represents an upgrade over Matt Barkleyat backup QB. Of course, if Trubisky plays meaningful snaps in 2021, you'll know something went terribly wrong." Other AFC East rankings: Miami Dolphins Rank - 15 (Previous rank: No. 12) "On the surface, replacing Ryan Fitzpatrick with Jacoby Brissett feels like a downgrade at backup QB, but it might help the Dolphins in the long run. Fitzmagic played well for Miami, but his far-reaching popularity was also a tricky fit for an organization trying to establish Tua Tagovailoa as a long-term answer under center. Brissett doesn't bring the, well, magic of his predecessor, and that should help Brian Flores refrain from the quick-trigger benchings that came to define Tua's first season." New England Patriots Rank - 20 (Previous rank: No. 23) "The Patriots "won" free agency, if you determine that victory is accomplished simply by cutting the biggest checks. In truth, the expensive deals handed toMatthew Judon, Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith, Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholortell the story of a team paying a premium to cover for its past draft sins. This is typically how bad teams operate, and it's strange to see New England roll the dice in a way that would have been inconceivable during the glory years. The larger context matters, too: The Patriots went 7-9 last year while Tom Brady hoisted a Lombardi Trophy in a different uniform. If you were Bill Belichick, maybe you'd be antsy, too." New York Jets Rank - 29 (Previous rank: No. 31) "The Jets have been active in the free-agent market without spinning into the reckless spending habits that have backfired -- sometimes spectacularly -- in recent years. Carl Lawson could be a huge addition to Robert Saleh's defense, while Corey Davis strengthens an increasingly frisky wide receiver room. The team still needs to address an offensive line that was one of the league's worst in 2020, but the biggest question mark centers on quarterback: Will it be Sam Darnold or a hotshot draft pick under center come September?" --- I think these rankings are spot on (at least in the AFC East). I love the comment about how New England's approach to free agency is typical of how "bad teams operate". I think that is true. You don't generally build a consistent winner by outspending everyone in free agency, and nobody should expect New England to do that either. Losing Fitzpatrick is going to really hurt the Dolphins. We saw what happened in week 17 when they weren't able to bench Tua for Fitzpatrick. Tua will need to majorly step up and show why he was drafted so high if the Dolphins want to go anywhere this season. And ... the Jets are the Jets. As it stands, they are a bottom feeder organization and will need to prove otherwise before anyone ranks them higher. Obviously, power rankings are a bit meaningless, but they are fun to look at and gauge the level of national respect that certain organizations garner. Apparently, largely sticking with last year's team and not bringing in a big free agent is not the disaster that many fans are making it out to be, at least in the eyes of at least one national sports journalist.

That's a weak correlation. The Bills and Sabres haven't been a similar trajectory at all.

Poor guy. He can't even afford good pants.

Actually no, this move DID decrease flexibility in future years.

They should probably just drop "team" and call themselves the "Washington Footballs". Then change their colors to brown on brown.

AJ Green was elite for years, though. Clowney has never been elite. He has 32 sacks in 7 seasons in the NFL. To put that into perspective, Mario Addison has almost 50 sacks over the past 7 seasons. Clowney is just an average defensive end who at times has been above average. But Green has had six 1,000 yard seasons in the NFL, including two over 1,300 yards, and he also has three seasons of double digit TD's. So he was for sure an elite receiver. Clowney has never gotten there as a defensive end.

Fitzgerald is barely a shadow of himself. AJ Green has been hurt and ineffective for years, so it's tough to know how good he'll be. But I would bet he is pretty over the hill.

Holy cow. Tough childhood.

Anyone but Clowney. That dude is the definition of overrated. Hasn't produced in years.

You know, I think the team overall just got better and more consistent. And partly I think it was just happenstance.

Especially since most of these guys are nothing more than average or above players. Paying a guy like he is elite will not turn him into an elite player. A lot of these guys are not huge difference makers, and the ones who are rarely see free agency.

Well I think it is debatable about the coaching staff. The Patriots have Bill Belichick. He is obviously miles above everyone else just based on his history, but looking at full staff, and especially if you consider the front office in that, the Bills have one of the best in the league. But yeah, as long as the Patriots have Belichick it is hard to compare to him as a coach. But let's see what he does the next few years without Brady. Year 1 without Brady was pretty forgettable.

Oh, I think we'll win it again convincingly this year. I don't think any of those teams besides the Bills will be contenders this year. But in a couple years things could get interesting. And how do you figure the Bills got worse? Losing Brown for Sanders is an upgrade. The offensive line is the same and should be better if they stay healthy. The defense is largely the same. How is the team worse?

Just start him vs the Dolphins twice a year and that more than makes up for whatever we are paying him.

Why would I be worried? If Jones does well, good for him. And what do we get if you are wrong?

Are you a Giants fan or something? Predicting a quantum leap for Jones is just wishful thinking.

I wonder if the commissioner's exempt list could come into play.

Well actually they can't have anyone they want. That's the issue. They want only the ones they can't have.

This isn't 1985.

Yeah, we are like a week into free agency and haven't even had the draft yet. Of course the team looks the same. Maybe wait until the preseason to say nothing has changed.

How deep are you going to dig this hole you are in?

You pick at 30 because of the 5th year option, in my opinion. Having the option to keep a guy an extra year if he pans out is valuable.

We're picking at 30. It's impossible to know who will be available at that point.

Yeah, they put in a lot of effort to help him. Like almost a full day's worth, haha.

Good for him. He's a really good receiver. Glad he didn't end up with the Patriots or Dolphins. Wouldn't have cared much if he went to the Jets, though.