An NFL free-agency period with this kind of star power -- Tom Brady, Philip Rivers and Teddy Bridgewater found new homes, while Cam Newton and Jameis Winston are still on the market -- deserves newsy nuggets on all 32 teams.
So, we made some calls to execs around the league to get their insight on how things have gone through the first wave of free agency, then packed each section with tons of info to help pass the time. Let's get right to it, in alphabetical order.
Jump to:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LV | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
Arizona Cardinals
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: Time to win now
Top addition: WR DeAndre Hopkins via trade with the Texans
Cardinals GM Steve Keim would earn praise for getting anything in return for a benched running back due $10.2 million in 2020 guarantees. Flipping David Johnson and a second-round pick for a top-three NFL receiver in Hopkins? That earned Keim the GM star of the week sticker.
But the Cardinals might not be done. One league exec says he wouldn't be surprised if Keim added even more firepower for Kyler Murray behind a steady three-man receiving core and tailback Kenyan Drake. Perhaps more tight end depth is on the way.
The ammunition: Murray's modest $8.08 million cap hit in the second year of his rookie deal. That number ranks 24th among quarterbacks in 2020.
"They have a window with a talented quarterback on a rookie contract and are all-in right now," the exec said. "As they should be."
Atlanta Falcons
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: Moderate
Top addition: Pass-rusher Dante Fowler Jr. for three years and $48 million
Todd Gurley II has one of the most fascinating free-agency deals not only because of his pedigree, but for his first consultation with team doctors. This was an easy deal for Atlanta, who didn't have to trade for him. They just waited for the Rams to release him, knowing the $7.5 million Los Angeles owed on the way out would lessen his free-agency earnings. Atlanta is paying him $6 million for one year, but that deal won't truly be consummated until the Falcons thoroughly check his maligned knee.
"They have to make sure Gurley is right," one league exec said. "We might not know that for a while."
As for the defense, there was some buzz that Jadeveon Clowney, who's from South Carolina, would have welcomed a return to the South. But the Falcons zeroed in on Fowler, who's coming off a career-high 11.5 sacks. Fowler is considered by one exec as a tremendous athlete with speed and power off the edge but inconsistent against the run.
Baltimore Ravens
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: So Baltimore
Top addition: DE Calais Campbell via trade with Jacksonville
Moves like this show why Baltimore stays consistent. Giving up a fifth-round pick for a high-level lineman such as Campbell without disrupting the compensatory pick formula that Baltimore so covets is a huge win.
"He's the perfect Baltimore guy," one NFC coach said. "He's a consummate pro who can still play. They will have a wall up front with [Campbell] and Michael Brockers."
Buffalo Bills
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: Tom's gone, let's take the division
Top addition: WR Stefon Diggs via trade with Minnesota
The motivation behind the Diggs trade is clear-cut: Buffalo wasn't going to get the top draft-eligible receivers when picking No. 22 overall, and Diggs represented the rare chance to get an elite pass-catcher for Josh Allen. Many around the league thought Diggs proved he can be a No. 1 last year while Adam Thielen was out.
The team's biggest experiment of March might have come before free agency, when they signed Josh Norman to a one-year, $6 million deal. They didn't chase corners last week in part because of Norman, whose presence puts the trusted Sean McDermott-Brandon Beane system to the test. Norman's play in Washington was rough, to say the least. He looked a step slow.
But the Bills believe Norman can excel there for two reasons: one is McDermott, who coached him in Carolina, will minimize risk and put him in positions to succeed; the second is that Norman has an edge to him that younger Buffalo players will appreciate.
Carolina Panthers
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: Thoughtfully non-rhythmic (to quote Mike Tomlin)
Top addition: QB Teddy Bridgewater for three years and $63 million
Knowing they were primed for a reset and letting most of their free agents walk, the Panthers took a measured approach to their quarterback position. They evaluated Teddy Bridgewater and Marcus Mariota. They were open to Cam Newton returning but didn't want to extend his contract, which was set to expire after 2020.
So they entered mid-March with a clear-cut plan: sign Bridgewater to a contract that pays him like a starter but leaves wiggle room if the team finds a first-round pick in the future. And after a trade market didn't develop for Newton, he was released.
"The team is high on the 2021 quarterbacks [in the draft]," an NFL source with knowledge of the situation said. "But Teddy gives them flexibility either way. You don't have to draft a quarterback with him in the fold, but he's a good guy to learn from if you do."
The Panthers didn't waste time adding weapons for Bridgewater, as they signed Robby Anderson to a two-year deal.
Cincinnati Bengals
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: The Bengals are spending for once
Top addition: DT D.J. Reader at four years and $53 million
Not many plays last season were more emblematic of a step-slow Bengals defense than Lamar Jackson spinning through the hands of several Cincinnati defenders on his way to the end zone.
The Bengals, usually inactive in March, knew they had to get quicker and more athletic, spending nearly $100 million on upgrades. Reader, a nose tackle, forms an explosive inside tandem with Geno Atkins, and corners Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander strengthen Cincinnati's youth movement in the secondary.
The Bengals did this knowing the offensive nucleus of A.J. Green, Joe Mixon and Tyler Boyd wasn't going anywhere, and they can get more help for potential No. 1 pick Joe Burrow through a receiver-heavy draft.
Chicago Bears
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: We're one quarterback away? Maybe?
Top addition: QB Nick Foles via trade with Jacksonville
The offseason directive was clear: push the maligned Mitchell Trubisky with a veteran quarterback with extensive starter's experience. So the Bears spent a large portion of the offseason evaluating a multitude of quarterback options: Andy Dalton, Cam Newton, Teddy Bridgewater, Case Keenum and ultimately Nick Foles, whose familiarity and trust with Matt Nagy prompted the Bears to absorb his $15.587 million cap hit despite limited space for it. Foles was with Nagy in Kansas City in 2016 and with quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo in Jacksonville last season.
The search went deeper than expected: Multiple sources say the Bears will essentially hold an open competition for the top quarterback spot, and though the incumbent will have the inside track, nothing is promised.
Cleveland Browns
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: Strong to quite strong
Top addition: TE Austin Hooper for four years and $42 million
Hooper is such a natural fit for new coach Kevin Stefanski's offense that the Browns outbid everybody as soon as the legal tampering period opened. Cleveland is dedicated to maximizing Baker Mayfield's potential in Stefanski's play-action-heavy scheme.
"That offense needs easy yards over the middle and help in the red zone," one NFL exec said. "They had to go out and get him. He's not a superstar but is a quality tight end."
An underrated Browns signing, the exec said, is safety Karl Joseph on a one-year deal. The 14th overall pick in 2016 was supposed to help rebuild the Raiders' secondary. "I liked him a lot coming out," the exec said. "Big hitter who never put it all together in Oakland."
Cameron Wolfe details the "big splash" the Dolphins made in free agency, making Byron Jones the highest-paid CB in the NFL, then looks to the NFL draft, where Miami should target a quarterback.
Dallas Cowboys
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: Moderate
Top addition: WR Amari Cooper for five years and $100 million
Dallas' vaunted offensive line will be watched closely by the rest of the league. All-Pro Travis Frederick's retirement was a shock to the system. But even before that, there was some buzz in league circles that the Cowboys were taking a hard look at a position group that carried a $53.243 million cap hit, second only to the Raiders.
The star-studded line could generate plenty of trade value if the Cowboys want to go that route. The most tradable asset is left tackle Tyron Smith, whose $13.545 million cap hit in 2020 is modest for a player of his skill. He has four years remaining on a deal that pays between $10 million and $13.6 million in salaries. But Smith is still really good, so that might be a non-starter for Dallas.
Regardless, the Cowboys must navigate a win-now window with minimal free-agency options at center and a quarterback on a $30.044 million franchise tag. Front-office creativity will be necessary.
Denver Broncos
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: Buckle up
Top addition: G Graham Glasgow for four years and $44 million
The Broncos leaned into a position that most teams have abandoned in free agency. Buzz grew in late February that the Broncos were interested in running back Melvin Gordon, a workhorse back to complement Phillip Lindsay. Most teams interested in Gordon sought a one-year deal, so the Broncos went two years to sweeten the deal. For a player excoriated publicly for a holdout gone wrong, that meant something.
Detroit Lions
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: Let's build a new roster
Top addition: OT Halapoulivaati Vaitai for five years and $45 million
The Lions spent a dizzying $131.3 million in first-week money with a mix of comfort and risk. Acquiring former Patriots Jamie Collins Sr., Danny Shelton and Duron Harmon give Matt Patricia familiar options to aid a defense that ranked 26th in scoring and next to last in yards allowed. Corner Darius Slay badly wanted out, and though the third- and fifth-round picks they netted in the trade with Philadelphia wasn't ideal, they can replace him with Ohio State's Jeff Okudah in the draft. Desmond Trufant, who joins on a two-year deal, has something to prove.
"The biggest surprise is the Big V signing," an NFL exec said of the five-year deal for Vaitai. "I like him, but that's a lot of money for a guy with so few starts."
And watch for the Lions to add a running back in free agency or the draft. "Carlos Hyde would be a good fit for what they do," one NFL personnel evaluator said.
Green Bay Packers
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: See you in the fall
Top addition: LB Christian Kirksey for two years and $13 million
The Packers surprised many around the league with a quiet March. They successfully rebuilt their defense by spending on Za'Darius Smith and Preston Smith last year. This year, tight end Austin Hooper was there for the taking, but Cleveland needed to be outbid. Green Bay never got that far. The Packers looked into some of the top receivers such as Robby Anderson, but it became clear they wouldn't spend enough to get him.
The Kirksey signing is low-key great for them, though. "If he's healthy, he's a good fit for what Mike Pettine wants to do," one NFC personnel evaluator said. "They are very familiar with each other from Cleveland."
Houston Texans
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: Bill O'Brien on 10
Top addition: CB Bradley Roby for three years and $36 million
The rest of the league doesn't think O'Brien is as wild as social media does. Even the staunchest O'Brien supporters can't endorse dealing Hopkins for a second-round pick and David Johnson. Or giving $9 million a year to Randall Cobb. Or the rumors that negotiations with Laremy Tunsil haven't gone well, prompting O'Brien to look around for tackle help (hello, Trent Williams) a year after giving up two first-round picks for Tunsil.
But there's intrigue -- even appreciation -- in some league circles for O'Brien's chaotic conviction. It's easy to forget O'Brien has five winning seasons and four division titles in six NFL seasons as head coach.
"Do I agree with the moves he's made? No!" one exec said. "But one thing I can respect is that he's doing it his way. He will not go down due to moves made by anybody else."
Indianapolis Colts
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: Surprisingly splashy
Top addition: DT DeForest Buckner for four years and $84 million (acquired via trade with San Francisco)
Adding Philip Rivers was the unsurprising move. League execs had telegraphed that one since early January because of Rivers' past experiences with ex-Chargers offensive coordinator Frank Reich. The Colts zeroed in early in the negotiation period, and the only thing that took time was the execution of a contract. Both sides settled on one year and $25 million as Rivers goes year to year.
Adding Buckner, though, was a deviation for a team that moves quietly in March and builds through the draft. The Colts rarely spent more than $15 million to $20 million on free agents during the Chris Ballard era, and since CBA rules require teams to spend at least 89% of their salary cap over a four-year period, Indy used that money to bypass free agency and get a blue-chip player worth extending early.
Once it became obvious San Francisco couldn't pay both tackles Buckner and Arik Armstead, the Colts acted swiftly with the massive contract offer to facilitate the deal.
"There were only a few guys they would have made that move for," one AFC personnel evaluator said. "Very special circumstance."
Jacksonville Jaguars
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: The kind that creates far more cap space than it absorbs
Top addition: LB Joe Schobert for five years and $54 million
The trades of three high-profile players said that the Jags were, once again, rebuilding. The signing of Schobert to huge money said otherwise. Despite the mixed messages, the Jaguars told Schobert they had a clear plan for the defense and his role in it. Jacksonville brass conveyed to him that he would play the Mike linebacker role while Myles Jack would bump over to the Will spot. Schobert will get the defense lined up, make the calls and play the run and pass the way he did in Cleveland.
Jacksonville has been stripped of talent because of bloated contracts but feels really good about this move.
Kansas City Chiefs
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: The lowest one
Top addition: QB Chad Henne for two years
Don't expect much aggressiveness from the Chiefs until they get two situations figured out: Sammy Watkins, who carries a $21 million cap hit in 2020, and Chris Jones, who isn't eager to play on his $16.1-million franchise tag.
There's a bit of a standoff with Watkins, whose reps have made clear he doesn't want to take a pay cut. He's due $14 million in base salary this season. The Chiefs -- who have made clear to the player they want to keep him -- must decide whether to extend him, keep him at the current number or ultimately trade or release him.
Jones probably won't be taking less than $20 million annually on an extension, so the Chiefs have a major decision to make there, with Patrick Mahomes' down-the-road extension looming large for a team with minus-$661,651 cap space, according to ESPN's Roster Management System.
Las Vegas Raiders
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: Strong like Jon Gruden's coaching style
Top addition: LB Cory Littleton for three years and $36 million
The Raiders accomplished two things in free agency: They rebuilt the middle of the defense with speed, and applied pressure on Derek Carr with the Marcus Mariota signing.
This, I believe, was the order in which Las Vegas prioritized. The Raiders didn't actively shop Carr but kept all options open at quarterback, which led them to a two-year, $17 million deal with Mariota -- just enough money to make training camp competition interesting.
At least eight teams inquired about Tom Brady's services, and the Raiders were believed to be one. But Las Vegas also believes it's not far away and wasn't going to overreact, and the fact other teams would have pounced on a Carr trade reminded the Raiders they had a good player at the position.
After ranking 25th in passing defense a year ago, though, the Raiders needed to adapt to modern NFL offenses with linebackers who could cover, resulting in deals worth nearly $60 million for Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski. They opened free agency hoping for two of the top guys, and they made it happen.
Los Angeles Chargers
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: Moderate
Top addition: OT Bryan Bulaga for three years and $30 million
The Chargers appear content with Tyrod Taylor as a starter after failing to land Tom Brady, but some are skeptical. One NFC exec said Jameis Winston's skill set works well with the Chargers' downfield weapons. Winston could be a bridge starter if the team needs a midfield spark.
Or there's a clear-cut path to Tua Tagovailoa or Justin Herbert in the draft if the Chargers keep the No. 6 overall pick or trade up. Cam Newton, beaten down but still holding an MVP résumé, is available. "They are close," the exec said. "This isn't a rebuild."
Los Angeles Rams
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: Restrictive
Top addition: DT A'Shawn Robinson for two years and $17 million
Pressed up against the salary cap, the Rams were looking to shed bloated deals and find value. Brandin Cooks was safe, but Todd Gurley and Clay Matthews weren't.
After defensive tackle Michael Brockers signed with Baltimore for three years and $30 million, the Rams replaced him with a slightly cheaper option, A'Shawn Robinson.
The idea is Robinson can function as a Brockers-like run-stopper for Las Angeles while aiding the pass rush. One AFC exec says Robinson might not have the motor for that, though he has talent.
"They are going to miss Brockers," the exec said. "[Robinson] might still have some upside, but I was slightly surprised by the contract."
Miami Dolphins
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: We're upgrading every position
Top addition: CB Byron Jones for five years and $82.5 million
Miami worked overtime to address several positional needs through free agency. They have new starters at guard, center, running back, cornerback, pass-rusher and more.
The signing that elicits the biggest reaction is Ereck Flowers, who turned one season as a starting guard in Washington into a $30 million deal over three years.
NFL evaluators are torn over the move for Flowers, the former first-round pick who struggled mightily at the tackle spot for the New York Giants.
"They must not have watched the tape," one NFC scout said about Miami's signing.
An NFC exec understands the move.
"His shortcomings as a pass-protector at tackle were minimized at guard," the exec said. "He's a talented guy and I thought it showed up [in 2019]. Now he has to improve his run blocking at that spot."
Minnesota Vikings
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: Moderate
Top addition: DT Michael Pierce for three years and $27 million
The Vikings were ready to play it cool in March, until forced into action on two very big moves. Minnesota left the NFL combine thinking it could wait on Kirk Cousins' contract extension, as both sides hadn't agreed on the totality of the deal. A team source said the Vikings might have waited until after the draft. But both sides tried again, and numbers came together in the days leading up to free agency to save cap space for a team in need of it.
Then there's Stefon Diggs, whom the Vikings traded to Buffalo for a serious haul (first-, fifth- and sixth-round picks in 2020, and a fourth-round pick in 2021 from Buffalo for the rights to Diggs and a seventh-round pick in 2020). Multiple team sources maintained weeks earlier that Diggs' antics -- including a midseason absence from practice over levels of unhappiness -- were for attention and he was a good team guy when inside the building. Trading him was not the plan. But then Buffalo blew them away. Many around the league believe Diggs would have become combustible in Minnesota eventually and wanted to be a No. 1 elsewhere.
"He left them with no choice," said a source with knowledge of the situation. "The deal was too good to pass up."
New England Patriots
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: Laying down zero hay for the GOAT to eat
Top addition: DT Beau Allen for two years and $8 million
With Jarrett Stidham, a fourth-round pick from a year ago, seemingly in line to succeed Tom Brady at quarterback, with Brian Hoyer at backup -- though I'm not counting out Andy Dalton landing here -- don't be surprised to see New England return to Bill Belichick's throwback days during Brady's early years, one personnel evaluator said.
Run and protect the ball, win with defense. The Patriots ranked ninth in rushing attempts a year ago and could crack the top five in 2020.
"Protect [Stidham] some with play-actions and the run game, play a more complementary style," the evaluator said. "Stidham does have enough skill, the question is all the other things [intangibles]."
New Orleans Saints
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: Typical slick, one-move Saints
Top addition: WR Emmanuel Sanders for two years and $18 million
New Orleans was always going to do something in the first week, but first they had to sort out Andrus Peat, whose $57 million deal is eye-popping. But he holds value in the Saints' offense because Drew Brees needs big guards to keep his pocket clean. Once that deal wrapped up Friday, the Saints went all-in on Sanders, fending off Green Bay and others.
"That's good for them," one exec said. "They've always signed or added a vet. He'll take pressure off Michael Thomas and their lack of presence at tight end."
New York Giants
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: Dave Gettleman's happy
Top addition: CB James Bradberry for three years and $45 million
The NFC East was an arms race for top cornerbacks, and the Giants knew they had to get in on the action. Once it became clear the Redskins wouldn't outbid for Bradberry and pursued slot corner Kendall Fuller, the Giants agreed to get Bradberry close to his $15 million per year asking price. The Eagles couldn't get Miami-bound Byron Jones but swung a trade for Darius Slay.
"[Bradberry] probably has a lower ceiling than Byron Jones, but his traits allow him to stay productive for a sustained period of time," said one NFL defensive backs coach who scouted all the free-agent corners, citing Bradberry's length and technique as positives.
New York Jets
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: Sign one offensive linemen per day
Top addition: OT George Fant for three years and $27 million
The Jets paid for versatility when they gave big money to Fant, a tackle with 24 career starts. He has plus athleticism, but most importantly, the Jets believe he can play either tackle spot. Whether they upgrade in the draft will affect former third-round pick Chuma Egoda's shaky standing.
New York was looking for high-ceiling traits, and Fant's untapped potential -- the former hoops standout started football as a fifth-year senior at Western Kentucky -- was appealing to the team. That Seattle tried to re-sign him also was a good sign.
Philadelphia Eagles
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: Don't doubt Howie Roseman in March
Top addition: CB Darius Slay for three years and $50 million (acquired via trade with Detroit)
The Eagles loaded up on defensive firepower with a Slay trade that didn't require much draft compensation to facilitate (third- and fifth-round picks) and a defensive tackle (Javon Hargrave) they believe will be a force in their attacking style of defense.
But a team that desperately needs receivers is sitting a few plays out in March, applying a lot of pressure to get it right in April.
After making dozens of calls on the receiver market in the last week, the belief is the Eagles want a younger player who will mesh with Carson Wentz rather than a veteran who might have his own style of play. They took a similar approach with the offensive staff, opting not to hire a playcaller from the outside. Philly is all-in on Wentz, obviously, so the pieces around him will be tailored accordingly.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: Black and yellow modesty
Top addition: TE Eric Ebron for two years and $12 million
The Ebron signing is straight from the Mike Tomlin college file. He was high on Ebron coming out of North Carolina and always felt he was a matchup issue for defenses.
Many outlets have pegged Jameis Winston to Pittsburgh, and though perhaps it's possible, the people I've spoken to just don't see it. The team appears set on Ben Roethlisberger, Mason Rudolph and Paxton Lynch in the quarterback room, and it rarely allocates major resources to backup quarterback play. The priority is working Big Ben back into action. Adding Winston -- who led the league with 5,109 yards but lost trust in Tampa because of his 30 interceptions, many coming late in games -- would be an odd wrinkle.
San Francisco 49ers
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: Keep our own only
Top addition: A first-round pick from Indianapolis in the DeForest Buckner trade
The 49ers focused mostly on bottom-tier free agents for two reasons: They have a Super Bowl roster, and two of the high-end players were ones they wanted to keep.
Their plan was all about sustaining excellence, and it worked out about as well as expected. Defensive end Arik Armstead's five-year deal cost $48.5 million in guarantees, but the team got a slight discount on safety Jimmie Ward, who had a $10 million per year offer from another team -- Las Vegas was believed to be interested in him -- yet signed with San Francisco for $9.5 million annually out of familiarity.
As for those Tom Brady rumors, one team source said: "I don't know why that was a thing."
Seattle Seahawks
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: Keep a few, sign a few, ignore the rest
Top addition: G B.J. Finney for two years and $9 million
Seattle might just win free agency without much effort. The Seahawks' Week 1 plan was to make strong but not outrageous offers to key defensive guys Jarran Reed and Jadeveon Clowney, knowing their markets might not heat up as some expected.
It worked with Reed, who settled on a two-year, $23 million deal after a 2019 suspension slowed his impressive production.
The same formula might just work for Clowney, who is looking at all options, including short-term deals. The longer Clowney waits, the better Seattle's chances.
Scoring those two, plus adding a sneaky-good guard in Finney -- one scout says he rarely, if ever, loses a bull rush -- would be an ideal March for a team that must be choosy while building around Russell Wilson's massive contract.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: Fire the cannons!
Top addition: QB Tom Brady for two years and $50 million plus incentives
The story of how Brady got here has crystallized over the past few days. The Bucs locked in on Brady in February. By early March, Jameis Winston eventually got indications that a breakup was possible, if not likely. The Bucs slam-dunked on free agency with the splashiest signing in years.
But the team will be careful in how it places pieces around him. The Bucs won't overreact, I'm told, and are relying heavily on the draft to do just that.
They wanted to re-sign Breshad Perriman as the No. 3 receiver but wouldn't overspend to do so. Perriman ended up with the Jets. Melvin Gordon's reps spoke with Tampa Bay last week about a union, but it ultimately didn't go anywhere.
Part of building around Brady is empowering a defense that got better last year. Expect the team to re-sign linebacker Lavonte David, who has one year left on his deal but is a key leader on that side. And they'd like to bring back Ndamukong Suh at the right price.
Tennessee Titans
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: Reserved splash
Top addition: Pass-rusher Vic Beasley Jr. for one year and up to $12 million
The Titans set a tone for free agency by signing Ryan Tannehill for nearly $30 million a year, but an investment at a third of the price could prove one of the best midtier moves of the cycle.
Beasley has underachieved but is coming off an eight-sack season, and 27-year-olds who've led the league in sacks aren't available often.
"He's the kind of player who plays for the love of the game, so the tough love doesn't really work with him," an NFC coach who knows Beasley well said. "As long as there's a veteran there who sets the path for him as far as professionalism and work, his natural ability will do the rest."
Washington Redskins
Level of free-agency aggressiveness: Just the tip of the Riverboat
Top addition: CB Kendall Fuller for four years and $40 million
The idea of Jameis Winston or Cam Newton here got redirected fairly quickly when speaking to a team source. The Redskins are being careful with second-year quarterback Dwayne Haskins: They are encouraged enough not to replace him outright, but they want him on edge as if competition is coming.
The addition of Kyle Allen, who started 12 games for Carolina last season, gives Washington a capable backup without unseating the first-rounder. As the source put it, Haskins played well late last season, so why start over when Chase Young is available at No. 2 overall?