17-11-2023,
The 2020 NFL free agency period proved to be incredibly important for the NFC South, not only because of the varied team circumstances -- one vying for a Super Bowl bid, another for a complete overhaul -- but because one of the biggest names to ever hit the open market ended up calling the division his new home.We're speaking of , of course -- the longtime star who, yes, is set to start for the in 2020.Brady wasn't the only big mover in the South, though, with the swapping out some familiar faces, the starting over with a new regime and the building around one last time.As we review the NFC South's performance in 2020 free agency, here are grades for each of the division's four teams: Atlanta FalconsNotable additions: RB ( Marc-Edouard Vlasic Jersey ), WR ( ), TE ( ), OLB Jr. (Rams)Notable lo ses: RB , TE ( ), DE , LB ( ), OLB ( ), CB ( )The Falcons' biggest addition of the offseason, at least in terms of compensation, was undeniably Hurst, who cost Atlanta second- and fifth-round draft picks (the Falcons also got a fourth-rounder back from Baltimore). And while the tight end is after two quiet years with the Ravens, he's both older and far more of an unknown than San Jose Sharks Jersey Hooper, who cashed in elsewhere. Are we sure he and Treadwell will account for Hooper's 2019 production? That said, Atlanta made a big upgrade at pa s rusher by swapping former first-round busts; Fowler has all the tools and upside to be everything Beasley never was. Parting ways with aging, injured veterans like Freeman, Clayborn and Trufant raises some concerns about depth ahead of the draft, but they should be better for those farewells in the long run. Gurley, in particular, could be an absolute steal as Freeman's succe sor even if he isn't carrying the ball 25 times a game.All in all, the Falcons made do considering their tight cap situation, but only Fowler stands out as a surefire good move.Grade: C+Carolina PanthersNotable additions: QB (Saints), QB P.J. Walker (XFL), OT ( ), WR ( ), WR (Ravens), DE (Vikings), LB ( ) Notable lo ses: QB , QB ( ), WR , TE ( ), OG (Chargers), DE ( ), DE (Seahawks), DT ( ), DT (Bills), LB (retired), CB ( ), S To say the Panthers have been busy this offseason would be to sell them extremely short. Under new coach Matt Rhule, they've uprooted significant portions of the Carolina core with the draft still to come. No change was bigger, of course, than at quarterback, where the 30-year-old Newton was released following failed attempts to trade the rehabilitating former MVP. Swapping Walker in for Allen at backup QB is a spicy high-upside gamble appropriate for a team in rebuild mode, and there's no denying Bridgewater is an upgrade on a rusty Newton, but the question is: How better is he, and how, if at all, is Carolina building around him?In other words, it's hard to make out just what the Panthers are aiming for right now. Allowing older vets like Olsen and Poe to leave was fine and smart, but what called for Rhule to send Turner, a 26-year-old five-time Pro Bowler, to Los Angeles for a 31-year-old tackle coming off a serious illne s? Not overpaying Bradberry is fine, but with Kuechly and three pa s rushers accompanying him through the exit, Carolina isn't exactly saying, "We're trying to win now," by making Weatherly and Whitehead their replacements. Bridgewater is a solid addition under center, Paul Martin Jersey and Rhule seems energetic enough to reignite this team, but in terms of just 2020 free agency, the bag was mixed.Grade: C-New Orleans SaintsNotable additions: WR ( ), S ( )Notable lo ses: QB Teddy Bridgewater (Panthers), WR Jr., LB A.J. Klein (Bills), CB (Raiders), S ( )Bringing back Drew Brees was priority No. 1, and that happened, confirming their strategy for 2020: Championship or bust. And gue s what? New Orleans couldn't have had a better offseason in preparation for another run. You can make arguments about how Apple and Bell are sizable lo ses in the secondary, but reuniting with Jenkins is, like, a Saints fan's pipe dream come Chris Tierney Jersey to life. Yes, the guy is 32 now, and he's not nearly as spry as he was during his peak Eagles seasons, but he instantly gives New Orleans' defense not only immense versatility but a boost of on- and off-field leadership. Sanders, on the other hand, is one of the game's savviest, most underrated veterans at WR, and it'll be stunning if he doesn't put up opposite in the Saints' ultra-efficient pa sing game.They didn't do a ton, but they did it absolutely right.Grade: A+Tampa Bay BuccaneersNotable additions: QB Tom Brady (Patriots), OT ( )Notable lo ses: QB , RB (Redskins), WR (Jets), OT , DT (Patriots), DE (Raiders)Brady may be 42, and he may never have played outside of the Patriots' system in 20 years of NFL experience, but his addition alone changes the entire trajectory of this franchise. Is he the one and only ingredient to an instant Tampa turnaround? No. But he's close. Even if Brady's best days are behind him, he's a perfect pairing for coach Bruce Arians, who should give the six-time champ an unprecedented amount of freedom in designing and executing an offense already loaded with two elite receivers. It's merely a bonus that Brady is a stone-cold lock for fewer turnovers than Winston, who was going to be a mercurial starter as long as he stuck around. Losing Perriman is a minor shame considering the way he finished Logan Couture Jersey 2019, but it's important to remember the Buccaneers' free agency was also headlined by keeping two pristine pa s rushers in Shaq Barrett and .Like the Saints, they didn't overwhelm the transaction wire, but considering all the circumstances, the Buccaneers signing Tom Brady (just read that again, and think about it) ensured them a winning offseason.Grade: A-
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