The
Cleveland Browns are trying to build a strong offensive line, and
signing guard Kevin Zeitler was a good place to start. Even though the
Browns had to pay a little bit more money than they probably wanted, Zeitler is a crucial piece to an O-line that just added former
Packers center
JC Tretter and
extended the contract of guard Joel Bitonio. The
Browns still have to solve their quarterback problem, but whoever wins that starting job will be better set up to succeed with this line.
I really hate to take the obvious answer of the
Jacksonville Jaguars, but not enough to keep me from taking it. I feel like my friends in Duval County have been waiting a long time, but this really
is the season it gets going.
Calais Campbell
passing up Denver to head down to Jacksonville is the biggest evidence here.
I also would like to take some time to acknowledge the work the
Eagles did to give
Carson Wentz some major help at wide receiver.
Alshon Jeffery and
Torrey Smith are great additions. Forget what Smith did with the
49ers -- nobody was going to be successful there. Jerry Rice in his prime wouldn't have been successful with that team. (And no, I'm not comparing Smith to Rice, it's just an example.)
But seriously, how are the
Patriots able to add
Stephon Gilmore? Ridiculous. So everybody is
just playing for second place again, right?
I'm a big fan of the
Giants
signing veteran receiver Brandon Marshall. He brings a grown-man attitude to an offense that lacks toughness and some grit to that locker room. The other early free-agent signing
that caught my eye was cornerback
Stephon Gilmore to the
Patriots. This gives the Pats leverage next year in terms of
Malcolm Butler
(if they don't trade him this year). If all else fails, this CB tandem would be solid in 2017.
I'm going to give credit to the
Jacksonville Jaguars today.
They signed A.J. Bouye
and Calais Campbell, who are two of the best players at their respective positions. Bouye will be a good complement to
Jalen Ramsey, while Campbell lining up next to
Malik Jackson speaks for itself.
It's not very often that we get to say that the
Browns are winning, but ... welcome to 2017. It's apparent that Cleveland's brain trust has a plan in place to build the franchise, and those folks started strong by strengthening the offensive line with the signings of
JC Tretter and
Kevin Zeitler. Combine that with
the mind-bending trade for
Brock Osweiler and it's obvious that this group is ready to use methods -- both conventional and unconventional -- to change the output of production at the Factory of Sadness. I'm here for this.
When teams sign free agents at a high price, they want difference makers. Wide receiver
DeSean Jackson will be just that
for the Buccaneers, who already have a good, young quarterback in
Jameis Winston. Jackson's speed will provide a boost in 2017 to an already solid passing game. I also liked that the
Broncos
added guard Ronald Leary, an undrafted player who was outstanding for the
Cowboys last year when he was on the field. For Denver to have any kind of offense this season, it needs to strengthen the offensive line. The
Broncos certainly did Thursday.
