How seven NFL teams turned weaknesses into strengths: Offseason additions that mattered

Offseason acquisitions in the NFL are often designed to fix a team weakness. A free-agency acquisition or a draft pick for need can theoretically fill a hole, or an area that was well below average in the previous season.

No, it doesn't always work out. Maybe the change of scenery doesn't help, or the player doesn't translate from college the way the front office imagined. But sometimes the move pays off exactly as intended, and there is statistical evidence of that new player's impact on a given prior area of weakness.

Today, we're taking a look at seven teams' specific areas of improvement in 2020 that were fueled by a new acquisition through free agency, trade or the draft. Seth Walder points out the statistical surge and how the numbers show a player's contribution, while Matt Bowen dives into the tape and indicates why that player's skill set has played a big part in the boost in that area. One important qualifier: We should emphasize that multiple factors impact any area of the game, and while these players have helped create upgrades, they aren't the sole reasons for them.

Note: All stats are through Week 10 of the season.

Pass defense: Xavier Rhodes, CB, Indianapolis Colts

Statistical surge: The Colts rank seventh best in expected points added (EPA) per pass play allowed this season, a big jump from their No. 21 ranking in the same category last season. The biggest reason? Rhodes, whom they picked up from the bargain bin after the former star's play dropped off in 2019.

OK, that's putting it generously. Rhodes' completion percentage over expectation allowed last season in Minnesota was plus-18%, per NFL Next Gen Stats, meaning opponents completed passes at a rate 18 percentage points higher than we would expect for average players, given the throws made against him. That was the worst number for an outside corner by a mile (the next highest was plus-11%). This year? He's at minus-15%, the best number among outside corners. Indianapolis' gamble on him paid off. Big-time. -- Seth Walder

How he's doing it: In the Colts' zone-heavy coverage system -- one that protects Rhodes' declining recovery speed at this stage of his career -- the veteran utilizes his physical play style to generate on-the-ball production. This season, Rhodes has already registered eight pass breakups and two interceptions, including a pick-six.

He's a long corner with competitive coverage traits, and he can still match up in man situations and finish plays at the point of attack. However, I see Rhodes as a prime fit for the Colts' foundational split-safety schemes, with disruptive interior defenders who speed up the process for opposing quarterbacks. -- Matt Bowen

Passing efficiency: Stefon Diggs, WR, Buffalo Bills

Statistical surge: Buffalo's improvement from 20th in EPA per pass play last year to fourth this year is obviously in large part due to quarterback Josh Allen's breakout. But it's hard to underestimate how much Diggs has been a part of that, too.

When Allen has targeted a non-Diggs receiver this season, his completion percentage over expectation is plus-1%, an improvement from last season but hardly elite. But when targeting Diggs? Try plus-9%. That is elite. Diggs has accumulated the second-most completed air yards over expectation of any receiver this season, behind only Arizona's DeAndre Hopkins. -- Walder

How he's doing it: With high-level route-running traits that speak to his body control, foot speed and sudden separation ability, Diggs has elevated the game of Allen in Brian Daboll's offense. In addition to Daboll's ability to scheme up Diggs on crossers and deep over routes off play-action -- which create open coverage voids for Allen to deliver rhythm throws -- the Bills wide receiver can also win isolation matchups on speed outs, curls and in-breakers. A high-volume target when facing either man or zone schemes, Diggs leads the NFL in both receptions (73) and receiving yards (906) in a system that caters to his strengths within the route tree. -- Bowen

Deep passing: Nelson Agholor, WR, Las Vegas Raiders

Statistical surge: The Raiders recorded a total of 18 expected points added on passes thrown at least 20 yards downfield in 2019, good for 23rd most in the NFL. Already in 2020, such passes targeting just Agholor alone have been worth 19 expected points added. Overall, the Raiders' 34 expected points added are the third most among all teams this season.

Are we talking about a tiny sample size here? Sure. But an average receiver would have been expected to complete just 33% of Agholor's five 20-plus-air yard targets -- and he caught all five, four of which went for touchdowns. -- Walder

How he's doing it: With much more nuance and suddenness to his route running this year, the former Eagles first-round pick brings much-needed vertical juice to Jon Gruden's offense. Agholor provides a deep-ball target for quarterback Derek Carr on both play-action schemes and one-on-one matchups outside of the numbers. And given Agholor's ability to manipulate defenders through the route stem, he provides Carr -- a quarterback with inconsistent deep-ball accuracy -- a much larger throwing window down the field. Adding Agholor, as well as the track speed of rookie Henry Ruggs III, to the mix out in Vegas has created more opportunities for Carr to cut it loose as a deep-ball thrower. -- Bowen

Production after the catch: Antonio Gibson, RB, Washington Football Team

Statistical surge: Washington has flown past 31 other teams in this area from last season to this, climbing from dead last to No. 1 in yards after catch per game. It has been a multipronged effort with Terry McLaurin, J.D. McKissic and Gibson all racking up more than 200 yards of YAC apiece (with obviously some of that coming from behind the line of scrimmage).

So why did we give Gibson this headline instead of McKissic, who actually has more YAC than the rookie and also is a new arrival? Because Gibson's yards after reception were more impressive based on the situation in which he caught his passes. According to NFL Next Gen Stats' expected yards after catch model -- which is based on factors such as a receiver's speed and defenders' locations -- Gibson earned 3.4 yards after the catch over expectation per reception (71 total) this year. -- Walder

How he's doing it: The rookie -- who is averaging 9.35 yards after the catch this season -- is a versatile piece in the Washington offense with the dynamic playmaking ability to produce in the open field. Gibson can get loose on screen targets, release from the backfield or align as a receiver when flexed from the formation.

There's juice and twitch to his game, with the ball-carrier vision to set up defenders in space and the physicality to break tackles. He's an easy fit here with veteran quarterback Alex Smith on short, high-percentage throws that allow Gibson to threaten defenses as a three-down back. -- Bowen

Run blocking: Mike Onwenu, OL, New England Patriots

Statistical surge: New England finished last season ranked 23rd in run block win rate, an ESPN metric powered by NFL Next Gen Stats. That wasn't going to cut it this season as the team shifted toward an offense that relied more heavily on the ground game.

While no single lineman can do it on his own, Onwenu has been part of the solution, as the Patriots surged to seventh in the category. When he has played at guard, Onwenu has been exceptional in the run game, ranking third among guards with at least 200 run-block plays. But full disclosure, he hasn't been as successful at tackle, ranking 41st out of 71 qualifiers. Regardless, he is showing incredible value for a sixth-round pick. -- Walder

How he's doing it: Onwenu's best fit is at the guard position given his 6-foot-3, 350-pound frame, his movement ability and the nastiness with which he plays. Onwenu is running his feet on contact and creating movement off the ball. That allows Onwenu to drive defenders on combo blocks and climb to the second level in the Patriots' old-school gap run schemes. He's a classic mauler with the physicality to finish blocks in an offense that is leaning heavily on the downhill run game in its offensive structure this season. -- Bowen

Pass blocking: Jack Conklin, OT, Cleveland Browns

Statistical surge: The Browns have worked hard to put quarterback Baker Mayfield in the best possible position to succeed. Part of that was improving his pass protection, which is why they shelled out for Conklin in free agency. Pass block win rate didn't think Cleveland's pass blocking was a massive problem last year, but it does think the Browns are elite now. They rank second behind only the Packers. And Conklin? He ranks third in pass block win rate among offensive tackles.

It's worth nothing that another acquisition is not far behind Conklin: Jedrick Wills Jr. While Mekhi Becton got the early-season love, it's Wills who has been the most effective of all the rookies in pass block win rate, ranking seventh overall among tackles. -- Walder

How he's doing it: With some tightness in his hips and average lateral agility, Conklin can struggle at times versus premier edge rushers. However, the Browns' offseason addition is an easy fit in Kevin Stefanski's play-action-heavy pass game. It allows Conklin to cut off on the edge and redirect defenders on their rush path on boot and misdirection throws for Mayfield.

In the dropback passing game, Conklin is aggressive with his hands and plays under control, winning with balance to prevent over-setting. That allows Conklin to mirror in pass protection and use his football awareness to pick up stunts and twists. -- Bowen

Pass rush: Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Miami Dolphins

Statistical surge: It has been a team effort, but it's a truly remarkable pass-rush turnaround. Miami ranked 31st in pass rush win rate last season, and it has rocketed up the board to No. 6 this season. A higher blitz rate is part of that, but so is Ogbah, who signed as a free agent during the offseason after a single-year stint in Kansas City.

The pass-rusher has recorded 7.5 sacks and ranks 18th among edge rushers in pass rush win rate. Ogbah has the highest PRWR among Dolphins qualifiers, but Jerome Baker, Andrew Van Ginkel and Kyle Van Noy have all been solid on fewer pass-rush plays. -- Walder

How he's doing it: Playing in a Miami defense that uses multiple fronts and ranks fifth in the NFL with a blitz rate of 37.0%, Ogbah benefits from schemed pass-rush matchups. While he doesn't display top-tier bend or closing speed on tape, his active hands allow him to create an edge or counter off contact. There's some power to his game, too, and the effort level shows when Ogbah has to retrace his path to finish on the quarterback. Playing in a defensive system that will scheme one-on-ones off pressure and alignment, Ogbah can add to his sack total over the final stretch of the season. -- Bowen