2019 NFL Free Agency: What holes do teams have left to fill?

Oakland Raiders

Mr. Big Chest is in Raider colors. Antonio Brown has had no less than 1250 receiving yards and 8 TD’s since 2013. And despite being 30 years old, he has shown no signs of slowing down.

So the wide receiver position has been solidified in Oakland. The problem, however, is that’s about all that’s solidified in Oakland. Hell, the QB isn’t even guaranteed to be the starter when they make the move the Vegas.

We all know the draft is a lottery, and the Raiders have the most $25 dollar tickets available. Three first round picks in one draft is their chance to hit on three impact players. Or pull a Cleveland Browns circa 2012: Trent Richardson #3 overall, Brandon Weeden #22 overall, Mitchell Schwartz #37 overall (all of whom were off the Browns roster by no later than 2015).

I expect Gruden & Mayock to swing big with all three first round picks. They need a pass rusher first, DB second, OT third.

Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles didn’t do much in terms of bringing in new free agents, apart from Malik Jackson. However they made a conscious effort in retaining the services of pivotal players for them. Guys like Brandon Graham, Jason Peters, Jason Kelce, and Paul Worrilow.

So, unlike majority of the NFL, the Eagles won’t be dealing with too much roster turnover. Though they will most likely lose Ronald Darby from an already desolate defensive backs group.

But sitting all the way down at pick 25 means, unless you really like Rock Ya-Sin out of Temple, the Eagles go either RB with Josh Jacobs or take a shot at a guy like Jeffrey Simmons.

Pittsburgh Steelers

What an off season for Steelers faithful.  You lose the best receiver the franchise has ever had (no offense to Hines Ward or Lynn Swann) and you lose Le’Veon bell. But as long as Big Ben is still there doing weekly radio hits talking critically about his teammates things should feel right at home in Pittsburgh.

As for the draft, they always seem to take a WR even when it seems like they don’t need one. But the move at #20 has to be a cornerback. If they don’t take a corner at #20, expect to see a TE taken here with the loss of Jesse James to Detroit.

I know they like what they’ve seen out of Vance McDonald, but they typically rotate two TE’s anyways.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers made a splash by trading for edge rusher Dee Ford from Kansas City, and despite his injury history and tendency to line up offside in crucial situations, I think it’s a great move.

They have spent copious amounts of picks on pass rushing to only produce run stuffing defensive lineman. So, why not bring in a guy who strictly rushes the passer?

As for the draft, I don’t think this removes them from contention to take another d-lineman here. Though I do believe it opens them up to trading down in the draft, with their two biggest holes on the defensive end; DE & LB now filled with Dee Ford and Kwon Alexander.

One things for sure, they need a wide receiver badly.

Seattle Seahawks

One year removed from an offseason in which majority of the national media expected Seattle to regress, they are coming off a 10-6 season. Placing the franchise tag on DE Frank Clark at least delays the inevitable contract extension, or lack there of, just one more season.

This is a football team that’s number #1 WR is still Doug Baldwin, which no disrespect to the Stanford legend, but I think they might be able to do better. However, this team has bigger priorities as of now. Like getting Bobby Wagner some help on that defense so he isn’t such a one man band.

Starting with the replacement of Earl Thomas. Look for Seattle to use their early pick on either a safety or an edge rusher.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bruce Arians has his hands full, and not because the roster has a tone of problem areas, but because the verdict is still out on their former #1 overall pick.

Now, assuming that Bruce Arians took this job with the intentions of bringing out what he believes is the full potential of Jameis Winston, let’s pass on the QB position.

We know Arians is a hot shot offensive coordinator, with a ton of personality. BUT with the loss of Kwon Alexander in free agency, I wouldn’t feel comfortable entering a season with Deone Bucannon as my starting inside linebacker. Therefore I can’t imagine they pass on a player like Devin White there at 5th overall.

After that, they need interior O-line help bad.

Tennessee Titans

First off, I have to take a minute to throw some fire on what I beleive to be the worst signing of the 2019 NFL free agency. The Tennessee Titans gave 37-year-old defensive end a 3 year deal worth up to $23M. I understand that just $10M of that is guaranteed, but still this is a tough pill to swallow if I’m a Titans fan.

Now that that’s out of the way, I think majority of the concerns coming out of Nashville revolve around that offense. Delanie Walker went down early in the season last year and they became entirely too dependent upon the run game. So, I believe they either take a chance on a player like D.K. Metcalf if he’s available at #19 or draft any of the Iowa tight ends that is available there.

Washington Football Team

Are there any more former Alabama players available? I repeat, last call for all former Alabama players. All good? Alright.

As far as holes in this roster in Washington, I think the first glaring issue resides in the fact that the QB you gave $94M, $55M of which is guaranteed money, may never play football again. I think they outta do something at that position in the draft. And just like trading for Joe Flacco ain’t keeping Elway from taking another stab at getting “his QB”, Case Keenum ain’t stopping nobody from drafting over him.

That being said, defensively it’s safe to assume that the signing of Landon Collins removes them from the running for re-singing Ha-Ha Clinton Dix. Which I guess they could re-sign him, but if that’s not the spider man meme in real life I don’t know what is. They are both “box safeties.”

So, I think they go QB with their 15th pick, then hope to hit on a later round WR or safety.