2017 NFL OFFSEASON: WINNERS AND LOSERS

BY: Peter DiPaola

WINNERS

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

New England was able to retain linebacker Dont'a Hightower, signed cornerback Stephon Gilmore, trade for Brandon Cooks along with plenty of other moves to add talent.  This just over a month after the biggest comeback in Super Bowl History, New England still has to figure the Malcolm Butler situation out but they are winning this offseason. 

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS  

Calais Campbell, A.J. Bouye and Barry Church have been signed by the Jaguars and will be welcomed additions to the Jacksonville defense.  Jacksonville also traded for offensive tackle Branden Albert to help fortify the offensive line which should hopefully open up the run game and give Blake Bortles more protection.  Jacksonville is having another busy offseason before the draft starts, and if their division is wide open again in 2017 they may have a chance to win it.

NEW YORK GIANTS 

Brandon Marshall will join a talented Giants receiving corp, they also added help along the offensive line by signing tackle D.J. Fluker, tight end Rhett Ellison has also been signed.  The Giants are working on their offense, as for the defensive side of the football Jason Pierre-Paul signed a 4 year contract with the Giants after being franchised for the second straight year. (UPDATE)

HOUSTON TEXANS AND CLEVELAND BROWNS 


I put both of these teams here because they both won in the Brock Osweiler trade, Houston is a winner because they no longer have to carry Brock on their roster and can move on in a different direction.  Cleveland won because they acquired a 2nd round pick in the 2018 draft from the Texans along with Brock, they are looking to shop him for a mid-round pick.  Cleveland continues to stockpile picks and could obtain one more with a trade partner for Brock Osweiler. 

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Carson Wentz is entering his second year in the league, the young quarterback will have more help at the receiver position this year with Alshon Jeffrey and Torrey Smith coming to the Eagles via free agency.  Those signings help the Eagles offensively and will benefit Wentz by giving him more options in the passing attack, Philadelphia ranked 24th in pass yards per game last season, with the talent they have now they should see a rise in that category in 2017.
 

LOSERS 

KIRK COUSINS

Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson have both left Washington meaning that Cousins will be without two of his biggest weapons in 2017.  Washington did manage to sign Terrelle Pryor, but he has just one full season under his belt at wide receiver and this is a new system for him to learn.  Cousins will have to work with a thinner receiving corp. in 2017 to prove himself worthy of a long term deal since he has been franchised for the second straight season. 

DALLAS COWBOYS 

Dallas have lost both Brandon Carr and Morris Claiborne, their cornerbacks which hurts because Dallas was ranked 25h in passing yards allowed in 2016.  If they had lost one they might not be on this list, but losing both Carr and Claiborne could mean Dallas gives up more passing yards in 2017.  Not only did they lose their corners but also lost safety Barry Church, Dallas has some work to do this offseason to help acquire talent to bolster their secondary.  

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 

You can also include Andrew Luck here, the Colts offensive line issues continued last season and they have only signed one offensive lineman, center Brian Schwenke.  The Colts have focused on the defensive side of the football, it is not bad to bulk up a defense, but Andrew Luck could face another long season unless the Colts help him with more talent on the offensive line.  They paid him like an elite quarterback, it is time for them to give him the protection an elite quarterback needs.  

TONY ROMO

Simply because Tony is still a Cowboy, he was supposed to be cut, then the Cowboys decided to keep Romo in hopes of finding a trade partner.  

LOS ANGELES RAMS

L.A. went 4-12 and struggled on offense in 2016 and have not done much to fix that issue.  They lost Kenny Britt in free agency to the Browns, Britt was the Rams leading receiver in 2016 and the only Ram to have over 1,000 yards receiving.  The Rams do not pick until the 2nd round in the upcoming draft because of their blockbuster trade to move up to the top spot in last years draft to pick Jared Goff. 

STATS AND TRANSACTION INFORMATION FROM WWW.NFL.COM