A flurry of trades and signings made the 2020 NFL free agency one of the more exciting iterations in recent memory. Just as well as the world was on standstill. I can’t tell you how many times I was thankful for Adam Schefter’s updates blowing up my phone. The league will look a lot different in 2020 — DeAndre Hopkins is no longer a Texan, Jason Witten is a Raider, and Tom Brady packed up his bags and headed to the Sunshine State. New faces in new places scatter rosters all over the league as we move into April, but what does is mean for the Eagles and their 2020 opponents?
I’ve done my best to include all additions and losses, but some may have flown under the radar.
Arizona Cardinals
Additions:
DT | Jordan Phillips
DT | Trevon Conley
LB | De’Vondre Campbell
LB | Devon Kennard
WR | DeAndre Hopkins
Losses:
DE | Rodney Gunter
OL | A.Q. Shipley
LB | Brooks Reed
LB | Joe Walker
RB | David Johnson
TE | Charles Clay
WR | Damiere Byrd
WR | Pharoh Cooper
Bottom Line:
In case you missed it, after a promising first year under head coach Kliff Kingsbury, led by rookie QB Kyler Murray, the Cardinals made a huge trade for former Texan DeAndre Hopkins. Outside of the Hopkins trade, they made some nice additions as well, if not nearly as splashy. A visit to Arizona is no longer an easily checked box in the win column. Afforded a second year in the system along with a solidified big three (Murray, Hopkins and Kenyan Drake), the Cardinals could be one of the most improved teams in the NFL.
They may not be a playoff team this season, but they’ll be knocking on the door before you know it. I don’t know if they’re the same caliber team that the Eagles are, but this is not a game the Birds can afford to take lightly.
Baltimore Ravens
Additions:
DE | Calais Campbell
DL | Derek Wolfe
LS | Nick Moore
Losses:
CB | Brandon Carr
DT | Chris Wormley
DT | Michael Pierce
DT | Domata Peko
LB | Patrick Onwuasor
LB | Pernell McPhee
OG | Marshal Yanda
OL | James Hurst
S | Tony Jefferson
TE | Hayden Hurst
Bottom Line:
The Ravens had no trouble causing headaches for opponents last season and will add two very good pieces to their defense. It could have looked even better had the Michael Brockers deal not fallen through. They did lose some important players, which shouldn’t be overlooked. Also, it’s always tough to replicate the kind of success they had last year.
Still, the best regular-season team in 2019 should continue to roll through 2019. Luckily, the Eagles will play host when they face the Ravens. Nevertheless, this will be one of — if not the — biggest test of the season for the Birds.
Cincinnati Bengals
Additions:
CB | LeShaun Sims
CB | Mackensie Alexander
CB | Trae Waynes
DT | D.J. Reader
LB | Josh Bynes
OG | Xavier Su’a-Filo
S | Vonn Bell
WR | Mike Thomas
Losses:
CB | B.W. Webb
CB | Darqueze Dennard
CB | Dre Kirkpatrick
DT | Andrew Billings
OG | John Miller
OT | Cordy Glenn
S | Clayton Fejedelem
TE | Tyler Eifert
Bottom Line:
It’s hard to evaluate just how good the Bengals will be without seeing Joe Burrow (let’s be real here) in action. He’ll be joining what is a very fortuitous and underrated situation for a rookie quarterback. He’ll have the luxury of throwing to a healthy A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd, who seems to have hit his stride as an NFL receiver. The offensive line will still be the major factor to monitor. They did some swapping in the secondary. I don’t think they got better or worse, but they did get younger.
It seems as if the Bengals are at least a year or two away from pushing for a playoff spot. This should be one of the easier games on the schedule and it’s at home. It’s always hard to tell with rookie quarterbacks just how electric the offense will be. Cincinnati’s defense is better than people think, but it’s not enough to carry.
Cleveland Browns
Additions:
CB | Kevin Johnson
DE | Adrian Clayborn
DT| Andrew Billings
FB | Andy Janovich
LB | B.J. Goodson
OT | Jack Conklin
QB | Case Keenum
S | Andrew Sendejo
S | Karl Joseph
TE | Austin Hooper
Losses:
CB | T.J. Carrie
LB | Christian Kirksey
LB | Joe Schobert
QB | Drew Stanton
S | Damarious Randall
S| Eric Murray
TE | Demetrius Harris
WR | Rashard Higgins
Bottom Line:
After a very confusing 2019, the Browns may continue to be one of the league’s most puzzling conundrums in 2020. There is a lot to like about their off-season acquisitions. Jack Conklin was a massive get for a team that’s struggled with inconsistent line play. Austin Hooper is a fun piece for the offense, although I don’t know if they needed him. Adrian Clayborn joins a defensive line that was downright disruptive at times last year. Frankly, I like both Karl Joseph and Sendejo, and they complement each other nicely.
At the same time, their linebacking corps was decimated, they will have an unproven safety duo and then there’s the question mark that may forever be painted over Baker Mayfield’s head. Can the seemingly cursed Browns put it together?
We know that Odell Beckham Jr. will come to play, as he always does against the Eagles. It just depends which Cleveland Browns team show up to play on Sunday. The mental aspect of the game has tortured the Browns for eons and if the Eagles can go up early, that could be all she wrote. However, they cannot afford to let a team with so many electric pieces stick around.
Dallas Cowboys
Additions:
CB | Maurice Canady
DE | Aldon Smith
DT | Dontari Poe
DT | Gerald McCoy
K | Greg Zuerlein
S | Ha Ha Clinton-Dix
TE | Blake Bell
Losses:
C | Travis Fredrick
CB | Byron Jones
DE | Michael Bennett
DE | Robert Quinn
DT | Maliek Collins
OG | Xavier Su’a-Filo
OT | Cameron Fleming
S | Jeff Heath
TE | Jason Witten
WR | Randall Cobb
WR | Tavon Austin
Bottom Line:
Personally, I think the Cowboys got significantly worse this offseason. The verdict is split on Mike McCarthy despite his pedigree, and that should tell you something. They still have likely the best young linebacking duo in football and Gerald McCoy will be a fantastic addition. McCoy seems like the lineman Jerry Jones always coveted, but never had until now. Still, Dallas lost a ton of pieces on defense and I don’t know that a recently reinstated Aldon Smith (if that even happens) is enough to save them.
Their 2020 sack leader walked out the door. They also lost Randall Cobb, who surprisingly tallied 828 yards and 3 touchdowns last season. A lot of that production will go to the very impressive Micheal Gallup, but their passing game has essentially become a two target attack.
At the end of the day, it’s the NFC East, so you can throw the rosters and records out. It will be a dog fight. But, the 2020 iteration of the Cowboys isn’t as good on paper as they were last season.
Green Bay Packers
Additions:
LB | Christian Kirksey
OT | Rick Wagner
WR | Devin Funchess
Losses:
CB | Tramon Williams
LB | Blake Martinez
LB | Kyler Fackrell
OT | Bryan Bulaga
OT | Jared Veldheer
TE | Jimmy Graham
WR | Geronimo Allison
Bottom Line:
The Packers are another team that has dropped off a bit on paper. The Green Bay defense took a big hit losing both Martinez and Fackrell. Christian Kirksey is a nice pickup, but he won’t be able to fill two sets of shoes. Losing Bulaga is also huge. Aaron Rodgers can make any receiver fantasy relevant and Devin Funchess is no exception. He and Davante Adams will be difficult to deal with.
The Eagles squeezed a hard-fought win out last year and the Pack will be coming back with a chip on their shoulder. It doesn’t help that this game will be played at Lambeau.
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Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sport
