NFL free agency is underway, with the negotiation period kicking off on Monday. That means news of pending free-agent deals and trades, including DeAndre Hopkins off to Arizona, Ryan Tannehill heading back to Tennessee, Drew Brees returning to New Orleans, Tom Brady signing with Tampa Bay, franchise tags being doled out and more.
Our panel of NFL experts will answer several questions this week, from big moves in free agency to trade rumblings and more. Jump to their favorite moves, least-favorite moves, most underrated moves and best fits. Or check out some other topics covered so far:
What is your favorite move so far?
Matt Bowen, NFL analyst: The Ravens trading for defensive end Calais Campbell. Getting Campbell for a fifth-round pick is excellent value for Baltimore. The veteran edge rusher is a great fit with his physical playing style in the Ravens' 3-4 front, and his versatility will show up in sub-package situations as an interior pass-rusher.
Mike Clay, fantasy writer: Giants general manager Dave Gettleman has made some head-scratching moves in recent years, but filling two huge spots via cornerback James Bradberry at three years, $45 million and linebacker Blake Martinez at three years, $30 million was savvy work. Bradberry particularly stands out, as he played well during four seasons in Carolina despite often being tasked with shadowing Mike Evans, Julio Jones and Michael Thomas.
Jeremy Fowler, national NFL writer: The Stefon Diggs trade to Buffalo. The Bills gave up a steep price but added the missing piece to their offense. Diggs will make Josh Allen look great even when the ball is not on target. And the Vikings loaded up on draft capital, saved precious salary-cap space and shed a disgruntled player. Not every deal is a win-win, but this one is.
The Browns and OT Jack Conklin agree to a three-year, $42 million deal to fortify Cleveland's offensive line and provide Baker Mayfield with more protection.
Dan Graziano, national NFL writer: Arizona trading for wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. I don't go full fanboy very often, but depending on what time of year it is, if you ask me who my favorite player in the league is, I'm liable to say it's Hopkins. I just think he's so consistently spectacular to watch. And the Cardinals got him for a second-round pick and an expensive running back they weren't using anymore. It's a monster add for quarterback Kyler Murray.
Jason Reid, senior writer, The Undefeated: The Cardinals' deal for Hopkins. What a super move for Arizona. Murray is a fast-rising superstar, and now he gets to team up with a rock-star wide receiver as his No. 1 target. No offense to David Johnson, but the Cardinals won big here.
Aaron Schatz, editor of Football Outsiders: How can it be anything other than Arizona flipping a second-round pick and a relatively unused running back with a huge contract for one of the top 10 receivers in the league?
Kevin Seifert, national NFL writer: The Vikings trading Diggs to the Bills. Diggs could not have made his displeasure more obvious in Minnesota, where he played in a run-based offense with a quarterback (Kirk Cousins) with whom he did not always seem happy. So the Vikings sent him to the Bills -- who use a run-based offense and have a quarterback who is far less accurate than Cousins. Giddy up!
What is your least favorite move so far?
Bowen: The Bears signing tight end Jimmy Graham. Graham's declining play speed and overall slide in production make this a curious move from general manager Ryan Pace. Even with an obvious need at the position, Graham brings little to the running game as a blocker and will have to be schemed open in Matt Nagy's offense.
Clay: The Panthers signing quarterback Teddy Bridgewater for three years, $63 million. Carolina is in clear rebuild mode with a new coaching staff and roughly 65% of its 2019 defense currently no longer on the roster. Enter Bridgewater, who hasn't been a full-time starter since 2015 and was average (and extremely conservative), at best, in a terrific situation in place of Drew Brees last season. I would've liked to see the Panthers go younger or aim for a higher ceiling.
Fowler: Halapoulivaati Vaitai's five-year, $50-million deal with Detroit. He's a nice player, but $10 million per year for a swing tackle with 20 career starts over four seasons is hard to justify. The Hopkins trade easily could slide into this spot, along with Graham taking his creaky knees to Chicago for $8 million a year.
Graziano: The Texans trading away Hopkins. Yeah, it's the flip side of my favorite move, but that makes sense, no? Houston got smoked here, and obviously something was at work other than football reasons. Even so, in a climate where no one is rushing to pay running backs, you're taking on David Johnson's contract. The 40th pick in the draft doesn't seem like enough for a player like Hopkins, and Johnson is going to have to return to his briefly dominant form in order to even come close to justifying this.
Reid: What were the Texans thinking in trading Hopkins for Johnson? From a football standpoint, there's just no way to justify this. I get that Johnson had a monster season both rushing and receiving in 2016 -- but it was only one season.
Schatz: If trading for Hopkins is the best move, trading him away is the worst. But I'm also not a fan of the Bengals giving a three-year, $42 million contract to Trae Waynes, whose charting stats over the past couple of seasons are not as impressive as those of other free-agent cornerbacks such as Byron Jones and James Bradberry.
Seifert: The Lions giving linebacker Jamie Collins $18 million fully guaranteed. Collins' effort took a big dive the last time he signed a big free-agent contract, in 2017 with the Browns. He returned last season to the Patriots on a prove-it deal, and now suddenly we're supposed to think he'll be a high-energy player after getting paid again in Detroit?
What is the most underrated move so far?
Bowen: The Raiders signing linebacker Cory Littleton. The Raiders signed both Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski to upgrade the linebacker position in Las Vegas. However, I'm more focused on Littleton here because of the run-and-hit traits I see on film to go along with the coverage skills. The speed is there to track the ball at the second level, and Littleton tackles in space.
Clay: The Browns signing offensive tackle Jack Conklin. He is a big name as far as tackles go, but it can't be overstated how important improving the offensive line is for the Browns. When quarterback Baker Mayfield was at his best during the second half of the 2018 season, he rarely dealt with sacks (three during his final seven games). Offensive-line play was a major and underdiscussed concern for Cleveland last offseason, and it proved to be an obvious weak spot. Conklin certainly fills one of the holes.
Field Yates and Louis Riddick applaud Byron Jones for cashing in for a lot of money and heading to Miami to join the Dolphins in free agency.
Fowler: The Bengals signing defensive tackle D.J. Reader. Cincinnati threw some splash into free agency at a crucial time, pairing Geno Atkins with a bruising, three-down defensive tackle. Armed with the first overall pick in the draft, the Bengals might be sneaky contenders in 2020, and they acted as such by throwing a combined $100-plus million at Reader and corner Trae Waynes.
Graziano: The Falcons acquiring tight end Hayden Hurst. This guy was a first-round pick two years ago (oddly enough, one pick before the Falcons, who were worried Baltimore was going to take Calvin Ridley, took Calvin Ridley). Hurst dazzled with his speed in his first training camp, then a variety of issues kind of moved him to the side as Baltimore's offense developed around Lamar Jackson. There's no reason to think Hurst can't play just because Mark Andrews turned out to be better than the Ravens realized. Atlanta has him for just under $3.5 million over two years, then a fifth-year option in 2023 if it wants it. Considering it had to let Austin Hooper go because it couldn't afford him, this is a sneaky-smart replacement plan.
Reid: Washington re-signing versatile defensive back Kendall Fuller. Reluctantly, Washington included Fuller as part of the trade for quarterback Alex Smith. Now it is reunited with a smart, tough defensive back, who can play both outside and at free safety. And Fuller is a good guy in the locker room, which fits well with what new coach Ron Rivera is trying to build in Washington.
Schatz: The Dolphins signing Clayton Fejedelem, a core special-teamer previously with Cincinnati. The Bengals had the No. 1 special teams last season by DVOA. The Fejedelem signing suggests that coach Brian Flores, in the manner of his mentor Bill Belichick, will pay significant attention to special teams by signing players specifically for that unit. The Patriots have had above-average special teams every single year of the Belichick era.
Seifert: The Tom Brady departure from New England, in this sense: We now have a chance to collect data in the debate of this generation. Was the Patriots' success due more to Brady or Belichick? Who will have a better 2020? One season away from each other isn't going to provide definitive proof, but we'll be able to get a few think pieces out of it.
What is the best player-team fit deal you've seen so far, regardless of money given out?
Bowen: The Dolphins signing cornerback Byron Jones. In 2019, Miami played man coverage on 60.8% of opponent dropbacks (fourth most in the league). That's a prime fit for Jones, who has the coverage traits and the 6-foot-1 frame to line up opposite Xavien Howard in Miami's single-high schemes.
Clay: The Bears signing Robert Quinn. It wasn't cheap, but Chicago landing Quinn to bookend with Khalil Mack is extremely intriguing. Quinn is fresh off a 2019 season opposite DeMarcus Lawrence in Dallas in which he produced 11.5 sacks (his most since 2013). Even more important, he beat his man on 21% of his pass-rush attempts, which was best among all players with 55-plus pass-rush snaps (per ESPN Stats & Information's pass rush win rate powered by NFL Next Gen Stats). Quinn also has plenty of experience rushing off the edge as a linebacker, which is what he'll do in Chuck Pagano's 3-4 scheme.
Fowler: The Browns signing tight end Austin Hooper. New coach Kevin Stefanski wants to utilize play-action by giving Baker Mayfield a consistent threat over the middle. Hooper was clearly the best tight end on a distressed positional market, and the team took advantage.
Graziano: Defensive lineman DeForest Buckner joining the Colts. General manager Chris Ballard doesn't love to spend, but the Colts have to spend this offseason to meet salary-floor requirements. No surprise that the outlay came on a game-wrecking defensive lineman. Buckner can play the vital 3-technique role in Matt Eberflus' defense and rush the passer from the inside. Ballard is determined to build his team from the lines out, and this is an in-character bit of prioritizing.
Schatz: Miami signing Jones. If Brian Flores wants to play man coverage like he did in New England, Jones and Howard give him a great pair of cornerbacks to do it with. And Nik Needham, who now moves to the slot, was surprisingly strong as a rookie undrafted free agent in 2019.
Seifert: Teddy Bridgewater with the Panthers. Not only is Bridgewater familiar with offensive coordinator Joe Brady from their time together in New Orleans, but the Panthers' roster is built to maximize the kind of short-range passing game Bridgewater excels at.
Predict Tom Brady's stat line in 2020 with the Buccaneers.
Bowen: 4,196 yards, 34 TDs, 10 INTs. With pass-catching weapons already in place, look for coach Bruce Arians to adapt his system for Brady. Expect more quick passing, play-action, running-back screens and schemed-up verticals.
Clay: 4,474 yards, 29 TDs, 10 INTs. I expect more vertical passing and improved efficiency from Brady with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and O.J. Howard at his disposal.
Fowler: 4,428 yards, 29 TDs, 7 INTs. The adaptation period will be slight for Brady, who can put his own spin on Arians' offense while spreading the ball to several playmakers. He hasn't had this much talent around him since the Randy Moss era of New England.
Schatz: 4,377 yards, 31 TDs, 13 INTs. Going vertical more often means more interceptions than Brady is used to. No risk it, no biscuit still applies.
Seifert: 3,863 yards, 35 TDs, 10 INTs. Arians' teams always throw ... and throw well. They have never thrown for less than 3,600 yards in a season and have averaged 4,161.
What was your gut reaction to Brady's decision to leave the Pats, and does New England have to sign a veteran QB now?
Bowen: In the end, I thought we would see Brady back in New England. I was watching for the Pats to upgrade the tight end position, add more size and speed outside the numbers, and make one more run at a title. However, with Brady now out of the mix in New England, the Patriots should add a veteran to compete with Jarrett Stidham in camp. With efficient QB play, the Patriots can still challenge for the AFC East this season.
Clay: My gut reaction was disbelief. I know we've had plenty of time to prepare for this, but it's still hard to fathom Brady outside of New England. As for the future, I absolutely expect the Patriots to, at the very least, add veteran competition for Stidham, their 2019 fourth-round pick. Even if they think he's the future, Stidham has four career pass attempts. Day 3 quarterbacks rarely pan out, so New England will need to hedge its bet with someone like Andy Dalton or Teddy Bridgewater.
Fowler: The move leaves a lot to process. Though Brady had been leaving clues for months that he was headed elsewhere, I was conditioned to believe both sides would rally and figure it out. But the timing is pretty much perfect. New England was due for a reset and can avoid the awkwardness of managing Brady's inevitable decline. The post-Brady plan seems clear-cut: Continue to develop Stidham, whom the Patriots like, while adding a steady veteran such as Dalton or Bridgewater.
Graziano: Truthfully, I was not surprised at all, but it definitely still feels weird to see it official. And yes, I believe the Patriots have to sign a veteran QB now. Even if they like Stidham, and even if he really can be the 2020 starter, they can't assume that in March, especially with the offseason program already curtailed and likely to shrink more. They need a more reliable option.
Schatz: As a Patriots fan, I'm understandably bummed. As an analyst, I think we're all expecting a bit too much out of a 43-year-old quarterback next season. As for the Pats, yes, there needs to be a veteran QB. Stidham is just a guy.
Seifert: It's easy to say now, but in retrospect it sure looked last season like Brady's time's in New England had run its natural course. If the relationship was strong and healthy, Brady would never have had an expiring contract. And yes, the Patriots must sign a veteran to start. If Stidham beats him out, great.
Where does Kyler Murray-to-DeAndre Hopkins rank among QB-WR connections in the NFL?
Bowen: Hopkins has top-five traits at the wide receiver position, and he will be a high-volume target for Murray in Kliff Kingsbury's offense. Think isolation routes, red-zone matchups and middle-of-the-field throws. The fit is there in an offense that plays fast. However, as much as I like the upside here, this new QB-WR connection isn't in the upper tier with combos like Drew Brees and Michael Thomas.
Fowler: This actually raises another legit question: How many great duos are really left? I'd still put these tandems ahead of just about any first-year group: Brees and Thomas, Matt Ryan and Julio Jones, Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams, Matthew Stafford and Kenny Golladay, and Patrick Mahomes and Tyreek Hill. But Murray-to-Hopkins has major potential to crack the top three in Year 1, assuming their chemistry is on point.
Graziano: We have Murray in a question like this already? I love the guy and think he'll be great, but let's see more than one year first, no? Hopkins is a legit superstar who will make Murray better, as he would any QB. If Kyler is to work his way into those discussions, Hopkins will help him get there.
Adam Schefter reveals that the Texans are trading DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals for David Johnson.
Schatz: Not as high as you might think, simply because it's too early to proclaim Murray one of the top dozen quarterbacks in the NFL, even based on his rookie year plus expected development. Hopkins, of course, is a top-10 receiver.
Seifert: Off the top of my head, I can name 10 better combinations. That's not intended as an insult, but simply a recognition that it's a big jump for Murray to make from promising rookie to high-end star. That said, Hopkins will make it much easier!
Who is the biggest winner of the franchise-tag period?
Bowen: Joe Burrow. With the expectation that Burrow goes No. 1 to the Bengals in this year's NFL draft, the rookie quarterback benefits after Cincinnati placed the franchise tag on veteran wide receiver A.J. Green. When healthy, Green is still a prime target in the route tree. And that will help to boost the development of Burrow in his first pro season.
Clay: Ryan Tannehill. Tannehill entered 2019 free agency looking for a backup job and now he's the recipient of a four-year, $118 million contract. Tannehill is a strong bet for statistical regression to the mean after averaging a league-high 9.6 yards per attempt last season, so dodging the franchise tag and cashing in long term while at his ceiling makes him a major winner.
Fowler: Leonard Williams. He just parlayed a half-sack season into $16-plus million for 2020, with the strong possibility to land a long-term deal at that yearly clip or higher. Dak Prescott is a big winner because of what he'll make over the coming years, but Williams has outkicked his coverage.
Graziano: Byron Jones. The Cowboys had to franchise Prescott, and if they hadn't, they would have had to franchise Amari Cooper. Jones has known for a while that he was going to hit the open market, and early indications are that he could score a massive deal ($16-18 million a year) with several teams interested.
Schatz: Dak Prescott. He's betting on himself and not getting injured. But assuming he continues to play well, he will make plenty of money in 2020 and once again be in line to sign a top-three contract before the 2021 season. The market for quarterbacks never goes down.
Seifert: Dak Prescott. Barring a massive collapse in performance, his eventual price tag will go up as long as he stays unsigned. It's no fun in the short term to get tagged, but as Kirk Cousins showed earlier this decade, it can be a path to a record-setting QB contract.
Who is the biggest loser of the franchise tag period?
Bowen: Derrick Henry. I don't know how strong the market would have been for Henry given his rushing volume over the past two seasons, plus the limited impact he brings in the pass game. And a camp holdout could be looming. However, for now, the Titans running back misses out on a multiyear deal with another season of 250-300 carries on tap.
Clay: The Cowboys. Retaining Prescott with the franchise tag is a positive, but (a) you've yet to manage a long-term extension for your franchise quarterback and (b) as a result of tagging Prescott, star receiver Amari Cooper will hit the open market. Dallas can still right the ship by extending both players, but it'll certainly be cutting it close.
Fowler: Derrick Henry. The $10.2-million franchise tag for running backs made tagging Henry an easy call for Tennessee, but a bum deal for Henry, whose historic late-season production should have earned more. Despite the cautionary tales of running backs struggling to validate big contracts, Henry probably could have earned at least $12 million per year on a new deal. But now Tennessee has that lower number as a built-in market-setter.
Graziano: Anthony Harris. The Vikings' safety was looking at a robust market for his services and instead surprisingly finds himself franchise tagged for about $11.4 million. I'm not sure he could have scored the $14 million-per-year deal some of last year's free-agent safeties did, but there were a number of teams that would have been interested.
Schatz: The Giants. What are they doing paying Leonard Williams as a top-five defensive tackle with a franchise tag? Yes, Williams is underrated as a pass-rusher because his sacks were artificially low last year -- Sports Info Solutions recorded him with 36 hurries despite ending up with just half a sack -- but this is a team with three other quality interior defensive linemen, including last year's first-round pick (Dexter Lawrence). In eight games after being traded to the Giants last season, Williams played more than two-thirds of defensive snaps just once.
Seifert: A.J. Green. This poor guy has been tied to the Bengals for eight years, during which he has experienced zero playoff victories. And now, as he approaches his 32nd birthday and with the team in full rebuild, Green doesn't have a chance to sign with a team closer to winning. All he can hope for is a trade.
What's your gut reaction to Ryan Tannehill's four-year, $118 million deal?
Bowen: OK with it. Tannehill is a scheme-specific quarterback, and the fit is there in Tennessee. He can throw with anticipation off play-action, hit the scripted vertical shots and use his second-reaction ability to get outside of the pocket. And paired with a strong run game, Tannehill is in the right system to produce as an efficient thrower.
Clay: Anxiety for Titans fans. Tannehill was extremely efficient last season, but he also wasn't counted on often, attempting 22 or fewer passes in six of his final 10 games. How will he fare with more pressure inevitably on his arm in 2020? I think the smarter path would have been a one-year deal (or the franchise tag). Of course, if they've seen enough to believe he's "the guy," the deal makes sense.
Fowler: OK with it. Tannehill deserved a substantial deal, and the Titans couldn't not pay him after that performance last season. Plus, they can get out of it after a few years if it doesn't work out. But putting Tannehill No. 7 on the quarterback money depth chart is not easy for any team -- and probably contributed to the team's inquiry into Tom Brady early in the process.
Graziano: OK with it. Tannehill wasn't just a do-no-harm caretaker in 2019. He was, statistically, one of the best and most efficient quarterbacks in the league. Committing $29.5 million per year for a quarterback will look like pennies two or three years from now. This is a fair deal, and great for Tannehill, whose career was starting to look like it might be over this time last year.
Mina Kimes, NFL writer: OK with it. This deal is going to look like an incredible bargain if Tannehill comes close to repeating his 2019 performance, but if he regresses, the Titans can't realistically get out of it for three years. I think he has a decent shot to make Tennessee look smart, given that his success last season wasn't fluky (he was good in a clean pocket and without play-action, which suggests he wasn't entirely the product of circumstances), but I do wonder why they couldn't use the threat of the franchise tag to put together a more team-friendly deal.
Reid: I mean, great for him. He played well at the right time. Obviously, the Titans are betting he has turned a corner for good. At some point, we'll find out if the Titans chose wisely.
Schatz: I'm not a fan. I know how good Tannehill was in 2019, but I'm still scared this is a half-season fluke, a shorter version of what Case Keenum did with Minnesota in 2017. If Tannehill turns back into a pumpkin, the Titans can cut him before the 2021 league year, but that puts them on the hook for $24.5 million in dead money in 2021. I preferred the idea of giving Tannehill the franchise tag and making sure he could do this over another full season, even though that meant a risk of paying him more in 2021 and beyond if he's for real.
Seifert: Don't hate it. In a vacuum, it would be fair to ask for a repeat performance before giving big money to a player who followed six below-average seasons with one really good one. But at least Tannehill's curve is trending upward, which was more than can be said for most of his possible replacements. Some team was going to pay him.
Field Yates, NFL analyst: On board with it. Let's start here: He was about as productive as any quarterback in the NFL other than Lamar Jackson once he took over as Tennessee's starter. But this is about going forward: The Titans believe in his skill set, leadership and character. They saw it every day, not just on Sundays. This deal was earned.
Should the Panthers trade Christian McCaffrey, and if so, which team should make an offer?
Bowen: Yes. Signs point to a rebuild in Carolina, so why not at least explore trade options for the 23-year-old running back given his production output, unique versatility in the pass game and value? If I'm the Panthers, I pick up the phone and call the Steelers.
Clay: If there's a team willing to pay a steep price for a running back, absolutely, they should explore it. Of course, many are likely leery after watching the likes of DeMarco Murray, Todd Gurley, Le'Veon Bell and David Johnson fall off after huge usage in recent years. It's hard not to worry a bit about McCaffrey's future output considering he has a massive 729 touches over the past two seasons.
Fowler: No. Sure, those past megadeals for running backs look awful in hindsight. But this is a top-three overall player in football who can help Carolina tremendously over the next three or four years. Offer McCaffrey something slightly above Ezekiel Elliott's deal after next year, and if he doesn't accept it, let him take handoffs and screens from Trevor Lawrence -- the early favorite to be the No. 1 pick in next year's draft -- on the way to a playoff push in 2021. By then, Carolina will have enjoyed five prime years and gotten out before potential injury issues.
Graziano: Yes. He's a superstar player who'd make any team better. But he's only going to get more expensive, and Carolina looks to be entering a full rebuild. Selling high on a running back is the way to go. Teams that invest in them end up regretting it. Assuming they pick up the fifth-year option, they have to pay McCaffrey more than $11 million over the next two years, which is a low number given his production but leads to far bigger numbers beyond. By the time Carolina's ready to contend again, McCaffrey will be a luxury it won't want to afford. Houston should go get him.
Kimes: Yes, assuming they're actually committed to the rebuilding process (which they should be). This is their chance to sell high; after this year, any buyers might be wary of McCaffrey's impending long-term deal. As far as a trade partner goes ... Carolina probably wouldn't trade McCaffrey in its division, but Tampa Bay could really use him. Otherwise, Miami has the picks and need.
Reid: Yes. It appears the Panthers are looking at a major rebuild, and McCaffrey is a rock star who could bring a huge haul of picks. Miami is a good match.
Schatz: Yes. If the Panthers are tearing it down to the bones to start over, they need to get as much as possible for their No. 1 asset, and that's McCaffrey. By the time Carolina is ready to be good again, McCaffrey is going to be in line for a huge contract. It's going to be interesting to see if it's worth giving a huge second contract to a back who's so good as a receiver, but I'd rather not be the team that takes the plunge.
Seifert: No. It's cold, but the most efficient plan would be to maximize him over the next two seasons -- you could call it running him into the ground -- and then send him into free agency after the 2021 season with five years and maybe 1,500 touches of wear and tear on his body.
Yates: Yes, preferably to all of my fantasy teams. Kidding aside, if the Panthers are committed to a rebuild, anything is on the table. But there are some signs -- the recent trade for Russell Okung included -- that they are tearing up this roster. McCaffrey means so much to the franchise in so many ways, but if a Godfather offer comes its way, I suspect Carolina would be open.
The QB dominoes are starting to fall in free agency. But Andy Dalton is the top QB available in a trade. Which team is the best fit for him?
Bowen: Bears. Mitchell Trubisky simply didn't elevate his level of play in 2019. Adding Dalton would create competition during training camp, while also putting the Bears in a position to play Dalton early in the season if Trubisky fails to show much-needed improvement in September.
Clay: The best fit would be in New England, where he could work with Bill Belichick in the event that Tom Brady moves on. That said, I think the oft-predicted landing spot of Chicago makes a ton of sense, as the Bears' defense is still good, but the team needs better quarterback play to take the next step.
Fowler: Bears. Dalton's reasonable $17.7 million cap hit -- part of which Cincinnati might absorb to facilitate a trade -- helps Chicago secure the established ex-starter they covet without torpedoing the limited cap space it has left. Chicago wants a quarterback who can play and push Trubisky without unseating him in the preseason. Dalton is perfect for that.
Graziano: If Tom Brady leaves the Patriots, I say New England is the best place for Dalton. If not, I think he should go to Chicago for the chance to be to Trubisky what Tannehill was to Marcus Mariota in 2019.
Kimes: Bears. We've seen in the past that Dalton can perform like a top-tier quarterback if he's surrounded by top-tier talent. While the Bears' offense doesn't have the same quality of playmakers that Cincinnati did in 2015, they'll certainly give Dalton an upgrade over the 2019 Bengals.
Reid: It all depends on what happens with Tom Brady and the Patriots. If Brady lands elsewhere, Dalton would make sense with the Patriots.
Schatz: Chiefs. OK, not really. Really, it's in Chicago, where Dalton could push Trubisky to start. Kansas City can find another backup easily. But if you're looking for something different ... both of last year's Kansas City backups are free agents, and can you think of an offensive mind who could highlight Dalton's strengths and hide his weaknesses better than Andy Reid?
Seifert: Bears. Dalton could rescue the careers of general manager Ryan Pace and coach Matt Nagy if and when he overtakes Trubisky. Dalton's benching last season would give the Bears a plausible reason to put him at No. 2 on the depth chart entering training camp. Either Trubisky makes a vast improvement or Dalton does it for him.
Yates: I'll throw another log on the Bears' pile, as Dalton would provide competition for Trubisky at a price -- salary-wise -- that is not completely prohibitive ($17.5 million) given that Trubisky is still on his rookie deal.
Yannick Ngakoue and Chris Jones, both franchise-tagged, could be trade bait this offseason. Whom would you rather have?
Bowen: Jones. The Super Bowl tape tells the story. He's a disruptive force on the interior of the defensive front.
Clay: Jones. Ngakoue is a good pass-rusher, but Jones is one of the league's best defensive players. Despite playing on the interior of the Chiefs' defense, Jones had a better sack rate and similar pass rush win rate to Ngakoue last season, all while also defending the run well.
Fowler: Jones. He's not elite on every snap, but boy, he looks like one of the best players in football for a handful of downs each Sunday. Ngakoue is a high-level pass-rusher but doesn't offer the all-around package of Jones, who can stop the run and play all over the line.
Graziano: Ngakoue, but man, this is a close one. Jones is such a disrupter in the middle of the line. Ngakoue is eight months younger (tiebreaker!) and has been a more consistent sack producer off the edge. But I wouldn't be sad to pick second in this draft.
Kimes: Jones. Ngakoue has been really consistent throughout his (very young) career, but Jones is the second-best interior defender in the NFL, behind Aaron Donald.
Reid: Not surprisingly, I totally disagree with Graziano. If he really thinks this one is close, my old pal is out there: Jones is the guy. The stuff Jones does in the interior is just ridiculous.
Schatz: I would lean toward Jones, in part because of something ESPN analytics writer Seth Walder has pointed out from NFL Next Gen Stats data, which is that Ngakoue gets his pass pressures in part because he's double-teamed less often than other star edge rushers.
Seifert: Jones. In a vacuum, I'll choose a dominant player who lines up inside versus a dominant player who lines up outside.
Yates: Jones. He is the better, more consistent and versatile player.