Crown Em, offseason champs. Every year there rages a great debate, who is the off season champion? Today I bring you three options, with my eye on free agency all week here are three teams, and a sleeper that I think have a chance at the crown.
The Baltimore Ravens: Perhaps no team has added more A1 defensive studs than the Ravens. Through additions of players like Calais Campbell and Michael Brockers. Both of which are pro bowl level NFL line players. Though Campbell had a down year in 2019 he still recorded 6.5 sacks for the Jaguars defense. Where Campbell excels though is what he does on film, he is still one of the best run stuffers in the league. Michael Brockers adds another premier run stuffer to the bunch as well. Though his numbers were down in 2019 as well, the Ravens are gambling but if they hit they could win big on defense. Meanwhile with the defensive holes now plugged the Ravens have added draft capital. That stemming from a trade of Hayden Hurst to the Falcons for a second round pick. The Ravens can now use that capital to look for another RB and a WR to help develop Lamar Jacksons’ passing attack. The Ravens did well this offseason, reason to believe they are the off season champs thus far.
The Arizona Cardinals: The trend of big time trades paying off continues. How can a team that fleeced the Texans for the best receiver in football not be considered off season champs? There is simply no way around it. With the addition of Deandre Hopkins the Cardinals now have one of the most fascinating wide out cores in the league. Hopkins, Larry Fitzgerald, and Christian Kirk, that is one nasty three headed monster. Not to mention developing speed demon Andy Isabella. The Cardinals still have holes on the offensive line. They also have the eighth pick in the draft and are in excellent position to address that need. Off season champs? They are certainly in the running.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Keep your best defensive player, check. Keep a somehow ageless JPP who had 8 sacks last year, check. Sign the biggest free agent in NFL history arguably and become a destination for free agents, check. Three signings, that is it. Tom Brady changes a lot though. The Bucs are not done adding. They are a trade destination defensively; Todd Gurley could make sense as a back up to Ronald Jones 2. Tampa are most certainly in the running for off season champs.
One sleeper, The Philadelphia Eagles: They’ve flown under the radar. Big moves have been made though. They retained safety Rodney McLeod. Cut safety Malcom Jenkins to save cap, McLeod is not a big downgrade on Jenkins. Add a top ten corner back in Darius Slay for less than a second round pick. Continue to strengthen one of the best defensive line units in the league with Javon Hargrave. That is a huge signing. Hargraves had a down year in 2019 but at his peak has been one of the most disruptive defensive line players in the AFC. The Eagles still need to do massive rebooting at wide out. That said Robby Anderson and Emmanuel Sanders are still available and the Eagles have about 35 million in cap to work with. Plus the draft, they are in the picture for off season champs.
The Verdict: I’ll go with the Ravens as off season champs. Simply because they have the best looking all around roster in the NFL now I would argue. They should be looking to reload with young offensive skill players in the draft. Congrats Ravens, thus far, the 2020 off season champs.