Why 3 NFL teams have been quiet during free agency
Follow the money!
Earlier this week, I surveyed three teams that were among the most active in the first part of the free agency window. The Bears moved their rebuild into the next stage. The Lions are taking another step toward playoff contention. The Dolphins have their sights set on the Super Bowl.
But what about the teams on the other end of the spectrum? As a follow up, I decided to single out three franchises that have been much more reserved at the start of the new league year. They all have reasons for their lack of signings, though they share one commonality: limited cap space.
You can’t call it a rebuild: Los Angeles Rams
In 2021, LA went all-in to try to win a Super Bowl, and it worked. However, the bill was always going to come due. That time is now, when the Rams’ movement this offseason has not been signing players, but dumping them for salary cap reasons.
First, they released their leading tackler from 2022, Bobby Wagner. Then Leonard Floyd, who finished with a team-high nine sacks, got his walking papers. After that, they dealt three-time All-Pro Jalen Ramsey to the Dolphins, for only a third-round pick and a tight end with exactly one career catch:
So just like that, the Rams’ three most productive defensive playmakers from this past season are gone. As are almost all of their unrestricted free agents and pretty much the entire special teams unit. The only pending UFA they’ve brought back so far is offensive lineman Coleman Shelton. Unsurprisingly, no team has spent less during free agency than the Rams.
But, in a sense, Los Angeles will be getting a roster boost in 2023. The Rams’ three main stars — Aaron Donald, Matthew Stafford, and Cooper Kupp — will all be back after seeing their 2022 season cut short. So will coach Sean McVay, who flirted with retirement before ultimately deciding that he wanted to see this thing through.
With that foundation, LA can’t be considered a rebuilding team, but the Rams are going through somewhat of a “remodel,” as GM Les Snead put it. For once, they have an appreciable number — 11! — of draft picks (no first-rounders yet, though). If they have better injury luck this year, then McVay can get the offense back on track and the team itself can compete for a playoff spot again.
What’s next: The Rams might be a little more active during the second and third waves of free agency, depending on who’s available and how much money they’ll command. LA doesn’t have a lot of cap space to spend on veterans, considering it will still have an entire draft class to sign.
Still, the Rams need reinforcements at … well, almost everywhere but especially at the OL, cornerback, and pass rusher positions. There are several younger free agents (Rock Ya-Sin, Shaquill Griffin, Isaiah Wynn) who might be willing to sign prove-it deals or older vets (Bryce Callahan, Nelson Agholor) who want to show they still have something to offer — with the benefits of playing in nice weather and for a player’s coach.
Otherwise, Snead and McVay can address many of their needs in the draft, on Day 2 but mostly Day 3 (they’ve found good value there before). Some of the prospects mocked to the Rams include cornerbacks like D.J. Turner and Garrett Williams, linebackers Drew Sanders and Daiyan Henley, and edge rushers Will McDonald IV and B.J. Ojulari.
Handcuffed by themselves: Baltimore Ravens
Even if the Ravens had managed to negotiate a long-term deal with Lamar Jackson, they probably wouldn’t have a ton of cap space this offseason. Yet, they would have had more room to work with than in their current situation. As things precariously stand, Jackson's $32.4 million nonexclusive franchise tag takes up a whopping 15 percent of Baltimore’s salary cap — even after the team freed up some space by releasing Calais Campbell.
That’s if Jackson ends up signing the tender. Right now, he hasn’t warmed to that idea. And so far, no team has given the former MVP an offer sheet (which the Ravens would have a chance to match). With things at an impasse, Baltimore hasn’t brought in any outside free agents, though it has re-signed running back Justice Hill, long snapper Nick Moore, and safety Geno Stone.
The Ravens have also hosted a few players at positions of need, including receiver (Nelson Agholor), safety (Adrian Amos), and cornerback (Rock Ya-Sin). A current member of the team is also campaigning for/hinting about/wishcasting the addition of Odell Beckham Jr.:
Alas, they wouldn’t be able to sign OBJ without more money, and they won’t have that until they settle the quarterback position, whether that means working out an extension with Jackson or not. The deadline to do that isn’t until July 17, and the Ravens, who only have five draft picks, can’t wait that long to try to improve the roster. I dunno, maybe Baltimore should’ve just sucked it up and paid Jackson like I suggested a few weeks ago?
What’s next: The Ravens might have done irreparable damage to their relationship with Jackson, so without the aid of a time machine, they don’t have much of a choice but to continue to try to find a way to meet him in the middle. In the meantime, they can restructure a couple more contracts to free up cap space.
They can still draft a high-quality receiver or cornerback, their two biggest concerns, with the No. 22 pick. That might be too late for prospects like Ohio State’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Penn State’s Joey Porter Jr., but not for TCU’s Quentin Johnston, Boston College’s Zay Flowers, or Maryland’s Deonte Banks.
No matter what, the Ravens almost certainly need Jackson under center if they have any chance of making it back to the playoffs this year.
This year is about the draft: Jacksonville Jaguars
In the first week of the new league year, the Jaguars and Ravens were the only two teams that hadn’t added any new faces. Jacksonville then got in on the fun with the signing of former Browns running back D’Ernest Johnson, shoring up one position:
After that, defensive linemen Henry Mondeau and Michael Dogbe came on board as depth pieces.
Like the Rams and the Ravens, the Jaguars entered free agency low on cap room. Unlike those two, however, the Jags spent big on free agents last year to help Trevor Lawrence make a second-year jump, which paid off with an AFC South title and a trip to the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Most of Jacksonville’s roster will return, plus Calvin Ridley — notable exceptions include right tackle Jawaan Taylor and edge rusher Arden Key — which means the team never intended to be super active this free agency period, especially early on.
The Jaguars aren’t necessarily done making moves, though. One-time “Mayor of Sacksonville” Calais Campbell stopped by his old stomping grounds on a free agent visit. The 36-year-old’s days of double-digit sacks are over, but he can still be an important veteran presence in the locker room and on the field, particularly after Key’s departure.
What’s next: Whether the Jags bring back Campbell or not, their main focus will be on the upcoming draft. They have nine picks, including the No. 24 overall selection, to try to continue their upward trajectory. Landing a pass rusher in the first round seems like a popular idea; Iowa’s Lukas Van Ness and Iowa State’s Will McDonald IV are two possible choices. Cornerback is also a position to target after the Jags parted ways with Shaquill Griffin. Deonte Banks and South Carolina’s Cam Smith have also been mocked to Jacksonville.
After that, the Jaguars can use their other eight picks — two of which will come on Day 2 — to deal with other potentially weaker spots, such as the OL. I wouldn’t expect them to use their first-rounder on an offensive lineman, but I wouldn’t blame them if they did, not with a young franchise quarterback to protect for a team on the rise.