Fansided

Each team’s best offseason addition pre-NFL draft

By Russell S. Baxter

Credit: Rey Del Rio/Getty Images
Credit: Rey Del Rio/Getty Images /
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – OCTOBER 27: Trey Hendrickson #91 of the New Orleans Saints in action during a game against the Arizona Cardinals at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on October 27, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – OCTOBER 27: Trey Hendrickson #91 of the New Orleans Saints in action during a game against the Arizona Cardinals at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on October 27, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Carolina Panthers: QB Sam Darnold

After giving quarterback Teddy Bridgewater a sizable contract last offseason, the club went out this year looking for more quarterback help and were able to pry Sam Darnold away from the Jets for a relatively reasonable price (see Spotrac). The three-year signal-caller has played and started in 38 games and has more turnovers (46) than touchdown passes (45). But a change of scenery could be quite good for the third-overall pick in the 2018 draft.

Chicago Bears: CB Desmond Trufant

You could argue that quarterback Andy Dalton or perhaps wide receiver Marquise Goodwin (who opted out for 2020) would be better choices here, especially the former as the Bears allowed Mitch Trubisky to test free agency. But the club will miss certainly miss standout cornerback Kyle Fuller in numerous ways. The team has relied on its defense during Matt Nagy’s tenure and Desmond Trufant, released by Detroit, has some very big shoes to fill.

Cincinnati Bengals: DE Trey Hendrickson

It’s been a rough five- year stretch for the team from the Queen City. And much of the issues have had to do with the defensive side of the ball. Last April, the Bengals used the first overall pick on quarterback Joe Burrow and he showed plenty of promise before going down with a knee injury. This club spent most of free agency trying to fix a unit that managed an NFL-low 17 sacks – a total Trey Hendrickson (13.5) nearly reached with the Saints in 2020.

Cleveland Browns: S John Johnson III

Kevin Stefanski was the 2020 NFL Coach of the Year and the Browns were in the playoffs for the first time since 2002. They stunned the Steelers in the wild card round and gave the Chiefs a run for their money. But the defense struggled to slow down opposing passing games, hence general manager Andrew Berry focusing on that side of the ball in free agency. John Johnson III was a big reason the Rams allowed the fewest yards and points in the NFL this past year.

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