![]() He's looking to be among the highest-paid tight ends (Jimmy Graham signed a four-year, $40 million deal last offseason). ![]() It's likely, assuming the Broncos use the franchise tag on Demaryius Thomas, that Julius Thomas will get a bigger offer to play elsewhere. Tight end: The top three players on the depth chart - Julius Thomas, Green and Tamme - are all scheduled to be unrestricted free agents. Ideally, the Broncos would come out of free agency and the draft with a swing tackle, guard and center. Franklin will likely attract a bigger offer elsewhere and Montgomery isn't expected to be re-signed, so it's clear they'll have to expend a premium pick, or two, to find some reinforcements up front. Offensive line: Two starters - Franklin and Montgomery - are prospective free agents this offseason. Even if the Ravens re-sign Torrey Smith, they need to add a young wideout who can make an immediate impact. No other Ravens receiver had more than 25 catches this season. Wide receiver: Torrey Smith (49 catches) is an unrestricted free agent, and Steve Smith (79 catches) turns 36 before the season starts. Pierce had a second straight disappointing season, which could push the Ravens to upgrade. It's unknown whether he can withstand the wear-and-tear of a full season if given a bigger role. Taliaferro, a rookie fourth-round pick, showed flashes (four TDs in 68 carries) before suffering a season-ending foot injury. The only running backs under contract for 2015: Lorenzo Taliaferro, Bernard Pierce and Fitzgerald Toussaint. Running back: The Ravens are hopeful they can re-sign free-agent-to-be Justin Forsett, but there's no guarantee the NFL's fifth-leading rusher will be back. The lack of depth in the secondary cost Baltimore in the AFC divisional playoff loss in New England. The Ravens' top priority this offseason needs to be finding a third cornerback who can step into a starting role if called upon. The problem is, Smith and Webb have extensive injury histories, missing 11 games combined this season. The team will be in decent shape if Jimmy Smith comes back strong from a season-ending foot injury, and the team decides to bring back Lardarius Webb ($12 million cap number in 2015). The Cowboys like Randle's potential, but he still has a lot to learn.Ĭornerback: When listing the Ravens' top three needs, you could put cornerback down twice. If he doesn't, then they will need to find an every-down back, or somebody to pair with Joseph Randle. If Murray re-signs, then the Cowboys will not look at a runner. Running back: This will depend on what the Cowboys do with free-agent to-be DeMarco Murray. As much as the Cowboys overachieved defensively in 2014, they can't bank on it happening again. Orlando Scandrick continues to play at a high level, but the Cowboys need depth - and quality depth at that - in the secondary. Brandon Carr carries a $12.7 million salary-cap figure in 2015, and, despite his improved play down the stretch, is still a candidate to be released. At tackle, they will not keep Henry Melton at the $9 million option, but they found a keeper in Tyrone Crawford.Ĭornerback: Morris Claiborne is going into the last year of his contract, coming off major knee surgery and has yet to live up to his potential as the No. Anthony Spencer and George Selvie could be stopgap free agents as the Cowboys look to revamp the group up front. Jeremy Mincey, who led the Cowboys in sacks with just six during the regular season, is the only regular in the DE rotation under contract next season besides 2014 second-rounder DeMarcus Lawrence. They have to make a similar effort on the defensive line. Amazingly, Claiborne, who played just 151 snaps on the year, accounted for three of those by himself, before going down with a season-ending knee injury.ĭefensive line: In three of the last four drafts, the Cowboys rebuilt their offensive line with first-round investments in Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin. Carr and Morris Claiborne allowed nine combined passing touchdowns no other Dallas CBs gave up any. Top cornerback Brandon Carr continued to struggle, surrendering a 116.6 passer rating when targeted, tied for ninth-worst in the league. And he showed well on the blitz, too, earning 15 total pressures on just 39 rushes.īad News: One of the reasons the Cowboys were so good this year? There wasn't a whole lot to hate on their roster. He notched a run stop on 15.2 percent of his run snaps, second among all inside linebackers and almost double the league average. At the time, bringing in Rolando McClain reeked of desperation, but McClain had a fine season, proving why he was such a highly touted prospect out of Alabama. ![]() Good News: The Cowboys looked in real trouble when they lost Sean Lee again for the year before the season began. ![]()
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