NFL Free Agency '21: 10 Biggest Pre-Draft Winners

Bill Belichick spent like a man possessed this March, but will it make a difference for the New England Patriots this season? Image: Boston Sports Journal/Getty Images

As we find ourselves a week away from the highly anticipated 2021 NFL Draft, it seems as good a time as any to recap the NFL offseason to this point (April 22). People often forget that the NFL calendar's new year occurs in March, not August or September, but it's a crucial time period for the general managers of this sport. Coupled with the aforementioned NFL Draft, championship football teams are built in Spring. From there, they are developed in Summer, deployed and evaluated in Fall, and finalized as we head into Winter. That's the road to an eventual championship, and our 10 biggest winners of free agency in March and April have taken the first step on that path.

Of course, that's not to say that any teams absent from this list cannot win a Super Bowl. Some of 2021's top contenders are not listed below, but winning the free agency period does help. Last year's Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers ranked fourth on my 2020 10 Biggest Winners of March article (not to mention the entire top five made the playoffs), but the AFC challenger Kansas City Chiefs did not make my list at the time. I will say that the 2021 offseason was much more measured than normal. Outside of a few wild trades, most teams spent wisely after feeling the effects of pandemic hits, a lowered NFL Cap, and an uncertain future. This has created a stingy buyer's market for players, causing many free agents to settle for one-year deals, or wait until after the draft to make a decision.

Based on all that, I was not overly impressed by too many NFL offseasons thus far, but I did find 10 that I thought showed legitimate improvement, and here they are.

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Grade: A-

Notable Additions- RB Gio Bernard

Notable Re-Signings- WR Chris Godwin, MLB Lavonte David, EDGE Shaq Barrett, DT Ndamukong Suh, TE Rob Gronkowski, RB Leonard Fournette, LT Donovan Smith, DT Steve McLendon, K Ryan Succop

Notable Losses- WR Antonio Brown(UFA), RB LeSean McCoy(UFA), OT Joe Haeg, S Andrew Adams, QB Blaine Gabbert(UFA)

Chris Godwin (and pretty much everyone else) is back in pewter in 2021, and the Bucs are Super Bowl favorites as of now. Image: Icon Sportswire/Getty Images

Normally when a team makes no effort to bring in any new personnel, my grade would probably be closer to a C+, but when that team just won a Super Bowl, it's a totally different story. Championship rosters usually get picked apart, especially when you have as many big-name free agents as the Bucs had this offseason. I for one thought there was NO WAY they could bring back Godwin, David and Barrett. One would sign elsewhere I thought, most likely Godwin or Barrett. Not only did they bring back all three, they brought back Suh, Fournette, Gronk and Smith too! A few of these returns were expected, like Gronk or Smith, but the fact that Tampa lost nobody is absurd. A large part of the praise goes to GM Jason Licht of course, but Tom Brady also deserves some credit after once again agreeing to a team-friendly extension/restructuring. I know, annoying right? At least Patriots fans now see what the rest of us have been dealing with for the past 20 years. As for the people arguing that this was only a Wildcard team last season, keep in mind that Brady learned an entirely new system in one offseason. Also keep in mind that the New Orleans Saints have gotten much worse. The Bucs are the team to beat for at least one more NFL season, and once Antonio Brown re-signs (cause why wouldn't he?), the entire gang will be back together.

2. New England Patriots, Grade: B+

Notable Additions- EDGE Matt Judon, TE Jonnu Smith, TE Hunter Henry, LT Trent Brown, LB Kyle Van Noy, WR Nelson Agholor, WR Kendrick Bourne, DT Davon Godchaux, LB Raekwon McMillan, S Jalen Mills, DL Henry Anderson, C/G Ted Karras, DL Montravius Adams, K Roberto Aguayo

Notable Re-Signings- QB Cam Newton, C David Andrews, CB J.C. Jackson, DL Lawrence Guy, RB James White, EDGE Deatrich Wise, S Cody Davis, K Nick Folk

Notable Losses- G Joe Thuney, WR Julian Edelman, RT Trent Cannon, DT Adam Butler, S Patrick Chung, CB Jason McCourty(UFA), DE John Simon, RB Rex Burkhead(UFA), WR Damiere Byrd(UFA), EDGE Brandon Copeland, TE Ryan Izzo, DT Beau Allen, G Jermaine Eluemunor

Well, I guess we all finally know how Bill Belichick reacts to a losing season, he goes out and spends every dollar he has. There definitely weren't any cap concerns in New England, and although the haul was predominantly positive, the Pats sorely overspent on a few of their acquisitions. They also had a ton of holes to fill as the old guard in Foxboro continues to be replaced. Thuney, Chung, Edelman, Cannon, Butler and possibly Jason McCourty were amongst the Patriots that left the former dynasty, as a littany of players will journey to the Boston area to replace them. I thought the Pats best signing was stealing Judon from Baltimore, an obvious pass-rushing upgrade on Simon and Copeland. The dual-tight end approach could also pay massive dividends for the New England offense, in both the passing and rushing attack. Brown and Van Noy even return to plug up two need areas (and Dont'a Hightower should be back from his opt-out as well). I did think Belichick reached at both wide receiver and safety, awarding Agholor and Mills with boatloads of cash when neither have really done enough throughout their careers to deserve it, but overall it's hard to see this as a negative offseason as of now. NFL free agent signings do tend to bust sometimes, but Belichick's track record identifying and utilizing talent also speaks for itself (remember Danny Woodhead and Wes Welker?). Two things I know right now; this defense is legitimately scary again and this offense certainly gained both weapons and structure. At the end of the day though, how far the Patriots go in 2021 may come down to Cam Newton and the quarterback position, the only thing keeping them from the "A" grade plateau.

3. Cleveland Browns, Grade: B

Notable Additions- EDGE Jadeveon Clowney, S John Johnson, DT Malik Jackson, LB Anthony Walker, CB Troy Hill, EDGE Takk McKinley

Notable Re-Signings- WR Rashard Higgins, DT Sheldon Day, LB Malcolm Smith, K Cody Parkey

Notable Losses- DT Larry Ogunjobi, DT Sheldon Richardson, S Karl Joseph, EDGE Olivier Vernon, EDGE Adrian Clayborn, CB Terrance Mitchell, S Andrew Sendejo(UFA), LB B.J. Goodson(UFA), CB Kevin Johnson, LB Tae Davis, OT Kendall Lamm, DT Vincent Taylor, WR Taywan Taylor(UFA)

Imagine facing this edge rush two times per year, sorry AFC North tackles and QBs. Image: ClutchPoints

See, last season I had about three "A" grades and at least three or four more "B+" ones, but just two teams in and we're already down at "B" in 2021. That just goes to show that very few franchises nailed the free agency window this season, and the Cleveland Browns really didn't strike pay dirt until signing Clowney late in the process. Of course, they made some nice moves before that, adding John Johnson at safety (a problem area last season) and Anthony Walker in the linebacking crew. Overall, the Browns did a lot of replacing this March and April, rather than adding, but the reasoning behind this "B" grade is two-fold. First off, this is a rising franchise that is sturdily built off draft capital and acquistions, so they didn't need all that much. Second and more importantly, they improved in every trade-off this offseason. Clowney/McKinley over Vernon/Clayborn, Johnson over Joseph/Sendejo, Walker over Goodson, Hill over Mitchell. The one area they may have regressed is at defensive tackle, where Ogunjobi AND Richardson depart as Malik Jackson partially fills the void (but that was the price of signing Clowney). When you consider that Odell Beckham Jr. is also returning at some point, it's another strong offseason for the win-now Browns.

4. New York Jets, Grade: B

Notable Additions- WR Corey Davis, EDGE Carl Lawson, DT Sheldon Rankins, RB Tevin Coleman, S Lamarcus Joyner, EDGE Vinny Curry, LB Jarrad Davis, WR Keelan Cole, TE Tyler Kroft, G Dan Feeney, CB/ST Justin Hardee

Notable Re-Signings- S Marcus Maye, WR Vyncint Smith, RB Josh Adams, WR Jeff Smith

Notable Losses- QB Sam Darnold, WR Breshad Perriman, EDGE Jordan Jenkins, CB Brian Poole(UFA), EDGE Tarrell Basham, DL Henry Anderson, S Bradley McDougald, LB Neville Hewitt(UFA), LB Patrick Onwuasor(UFA), RB Frank Gore, G Pat Elflein, LB Harvey Langi(UFA), LB Frankie Luvu, CB Arthur Maulet(UFA), C/G Josh Andrews, QB Joe Flacco

Another franchise that had a ton of turnover this offseason, but mostly positive turnover. As most of you know, I myself am a diehard Jets fan, and I have been waiting for some of these scrubs to lose their roster spot for years now (Luvu, Maulet, Anderson to some extent). Even players like Jordan Jenkins and Poole can be upgraded on, despite their service over the past three to five seasons. Jets GM Joe Douglas did just that, enhancing this team with young talent at multiple areas of need. Lawson, Davis and Rankins are obviously the huge signings, but Coleman improves upon Gore as the veteran back and players like Joyner, Curry, Kroft and Cole slot in as role players in this new Jets scheme. I wouldn't mind them bringing back either Hewitt or Onwuasor later on in the process, and Douglas MUST still sign at least one veteran cornerback at some point this Spring/Summer, but overall the Jets acquire a lot of players that have room to grow, with plenty of draft capital to build around them. I also personally agreed with the decision to move on from Darnold. What some Jets fans have to realize is; it's not about Sam as a player, but resetting the rookie quarterback clock. NYJ isn't winning a Super Bowl in 2021, so keeping Darnold one more year serves no purpose unless you're sure he's better than a Zach Wilson or Justin Fields (and I personally think he has a lower ceiling than both). Could they have gotten a better return for him? It's hard to say, but I was fine with a 2nd and three draft picks total. Last word on Gang Green, the best acquistion of all was quite possibly head coach Robert Saleh, the top candidate on the market by most accounts. If they can hit on a quarterback at No. 2 overall, the Jets future could be very bright.

5. Washington Football Team, Grade: B

Notable Additions- WR Curtis Samuel, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, CB William Jackson, WR Adam Humphries, CB Darryl Roberts

Notable Re-Signings- G Brandon Scherff, WR Cam Sims, QB Taylor Heinicke, QB Kyle Allen, RB Lamar Miller, K Dustin Hopkins

Notable Losses- QB Alex Smith, CB Ronald Darby, LB Thomas Davis, EDGE Ryan Kerrigan(UFA), EDGE Ryan Anderson, CB Fab Moreau, LB Reuben Foster, LB Kevin Pierre-Louis, RB Bryce Love

I thought Washington had an intelligent, exciting offseason. This defense was one of the most explosive in football last season, with hungry pass rushers and competent corners. Although they lose one in Darby, they immediately replace him with William Jackson out of Cincy. They really don't lose all that much on the defensive side otherwise, besides depth and veteran experience (but they could still use some help at linebacker). I also believe Fitzmagic gives WFT more versatility on offense than Smith, Allen and Heinicke combined. Unlike the rival New York Giants (more on this below), Washington wisely elects to keep their top offensive lineman Brandon Scherff with yet another tag, and they also bolster a receiving core that needed help around Terry McLaurin. This is the key of the offseason so far, and my bad for burying the lead, as playmakers like Samuel and Humphries join Scary Terry, Antonio Gibson, Cam Sims, Logan Thomas and J.D. McKissic. Watch out for Washington Football Team in 2021.

6. New York Giants, Grade: B

Notable Additions- WR Kenny Golladay, CB Adoree' Jackson, DT Danny Shelton, LB Reggie Ragland, EDGE Ifeadi Odenigbo, EDGE Ryan Anderson, TE Kyle Rudolph, OL Zach Fulton, RB Devontae Booker, WR John Ross, QB Mike Glennon

Notable Re-Signings- DE Leonard Williams, LB Devante Downs, DT Austin Johnson

Notable Losses- DT Dalvin Tomlinson, G Kevin Zeitler, WR Golden Tate, EDGE Jabaal Sheard(UFA), RB Wayne Gallman(UFA), RB Devonta Freeman(UFA), OL Cameron Fleming(UFA), RB Dion Lewis(UFA), QB Colt McCoy, CB Ryan Lewis, S Adrian Colbert(UFA), WR Cody Core, LB David Mayo, RB Alfred Morris(UFA), S Nate Ebner(UFA)

To me, Kenny Golladay was the best WR to hit the open market this March, and the Giants landed him. Image: Elite Sports NY/Getty Images

Big Blue GM Dave Gettleman ended up having an ultra successful free agency last season, but he faltered in the draft (especially at offensive line). After another nice job in free agency, bringing in Golladay as a WR1 and Adoree' Jackson as a possible CB2 across from James Bradberry (both slam dunks), the fate of the Giants heavily-criticized GM will likely fall on his 2021 draft. Gettleman's picks have frustrated fans in the past, taking Saquon Barkley over quarterbacks like Sam Darnold and Josh Allen, or his reach on Daniel Jones the following year. He also drafted Deandre Baker with a first, the same CB who was cut after one season due to legal issues. Then in 2020 it was LT Andrew Thomas, and he didn't look great either. In terms of free agency, I really liked the role players brought in for Patrick Graham on the defensive side, and while they did have to choose between Williams and Tomlinson as expected, I was pleased by the complementary Shelton signing at DT. The one move I hated was the cap sacrifice of Zeitler. This O-Line was the Giants greatest weakness, and they just tossed aside their best blocker for nothing. Even if Gettleman has hit on FA again, this franchise will either rise or crumble based on the shaky core that he's constructed, and that Barkley-Jones group must make the postseason in 2021.

7. Buffalo Bills, Grade: B -

Notable Additions- WR Emmanuel Sanders, EDGE Efe Obada, TE Jacob Hollister, RB Matt Breida, QB Mitchell Trubisky, OT Bobby Hart, OL Forrest Lamp, P Matt Haack

Notable Re-Signings- RT Daryl Williams, LB Matt Milano, CB Levi Wallace, G Jon Feliciano, WR Isaiah McKenzie, LB Tyler Matakevich

Notable Losses- WR John Brown, EDGE Trent Murphy(UFA), CB Josh Norman(UFA), TE Tyler Kroft, TE Lee Smith, WR Andre Roberts, OT Ty Nsekhe, CB E.J. Gaines, DL Quinton Jefferson, RB T.J. Yeldon, QB Matt Barkley, P Corey Bojorquez

I've noticed a lot of analysts grading out Buffalo as a top performer in free agency this year, but it's really only because they're a playoff team that didn't lose anyone. I graded the Bills as the best free agency in football last season, so I'm not biased, but this one didn't impress me all that much. I do like Sanders better than John Brown, but is it all that big of a difference? Obada is pretty much just taking over Murphy's rotational role in the pass rush, and Hollister/Breida replaces Kroft/Yeldon. Some of the re-signings were more key, especially Williams and Milano, but Wallace has also become an important part of this secondary. It's good to get the O-Line back together, no doubt, but I would have actually rather seen the Bills upgrade on someone like Feliciano at guard. This offseason was fine, and I still expect Buffalo to win the AFC East in 2021, but with the Patriots, Jets and Dolphins all getting better, I would have liked to see GM Brandon Beane have some more urgency in his bid for a Super Bowl.

8. Miami Dolphins, Grade: B -

Notable Additions- WR Will Fuller, LB Benardrick McKinney, CB Justin Coleman, DT Adam Butler, C Matt Skura, G D.J. Fluker, EDGE Brennan Scarlett, LB Duke Riley, RB Malcolm Brown, QB Jacoby Brissett, DT John Jenkins

Notable Re-Signings- LB Elandon Roberts, EDGE Vince Biegel, WR Mack Hollins

Notable Losses- LB Kyle Van Noy, EDGE Shaq Lawson, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, DT Davon Godchaux, C Ted Karras, RB Matt Breida, LB Kamu Grugier-Hill, WR Isaiah Ford(UFA), P Matt Haack

Personally, I wasn't crazy about some of Miami's choices this offseason, but I'm still giving them the positive grade because they did fill needs (something many other NFL franchises punted on in March). I wanted no part of Fuller on the Jets, but GM Chris Grier snagged the speedy wide-out to supplement the weapons around Tua Tagovailoa (plus the Dolphins are expected to add another offensive playmaker in the first round of the draft). I also didn't understand the McKinney for Lawson trade, followed by the Van Noy release. The former Pats linebacker (now back with them) was one of the Dolphins best defensive leaders when on the field, and I know he missed some time but that decision seemed rash. Aside from those moves, Skura probably upgrades on Karras at center, and Butler/Godchaux is almost a straight swap by New England and Miami. Fitzmagic does depart, but Brissett is a well-suited backup to take on the role should Tua regress. My favorite move was the Justin Coleman signing at nickelback. He's an under the radar corner that always shuts down the slot when healthy. Overall it's a positive offseason for the Fins, but with the Deshaun Watson trade off the table for now, can this franchise win with Tua at quarterback?

9. Arizona Cardinals, Grade: B -

Notable Additions- DE J.J. Watt, WR A.J. Green, C Rodney Hudson, CB Malcolm Butler, RB James Conner, S Shawn Williams, QB Colt McCoy, K Matt Prater

Notable Re-Signings- EDGE Markus Golden, OT Kelvin Beachum, CB Robert Alford, LB Tanner Vallejo, S Chris Banjo, P Andy Lee

Notable Losses- WR Larry Fitzgerald(UFA), CB Patrick Peterson, EDGE Haason Reddick, RB Kenyan Drake, LB De'Vondre Campbell(UFA), G J.R. Sweezy, TE Dan Arnold, DT Corey Peters(UFA), DB Jonathan Joseph(UFA), CB Dre Kirkpatrick(UFA), CB Kevin Peterson(UFA), C Mason Cole, DT Angelo Blackson, DT Domata Peko(UFA), DL Josh Mauro(UFA), QB Brett Hundley(UFA), K Zane Gonzalez

Leave it to J.J. Watt to announce his FA decision on leg day. Image: J.J. Watt/Instagram

Surprisingly, the Arizona Cardinals were big spenders this March, and they did it right out of the gates by winning the J.J. Watt sweepstakes. I thought they overpaid by a longshot in this move, but it does help them in 2021 (2 years $31 million, $23 million guaranteed). From there the Cardinals had to look for value in their acquisitions, and I thought they found some in A.J. Green, Rodney Hudson and James Conner. I'm less confident in Butler as a starting corner, and the secondary definitely takes a hit with Patrick Peterson leaving, but overall I liked GM Steve Keim's moves AFTER Watt. Prater was another really key signing, as Zane Gonzalez may have actually been responsible for the Cardinals missing the postseason in 2020. There are still holes to fill in the draft, and that's why the grade is only a B-, but Arizona has a solid foundation around Kyler Murray as a playoff contender in 2021... and this offseason may even entice one more year out of Larry Fitz.

10. Carolina Panthers, Grade: B -

Notable Additions- QB Sam Darnold, DT DaQuan Jones, CB A.J. Bouye, EDGE Haason Reddick, LB Denzel Perryman, G Pat Elflein, CB Rashaan Melvin, WR David Moore, TE Dan Arnold, OL Cameron Erving, LB Frankie Luvu, DL Morgan Fox

Notable Re-Signings- LT Taylor Moton, G John Miller, WR Keith Kirkwood, WR Brandon Zylstra

Notable Losses- WR Curtis Samuel, DT Kawann Short, OT Russell Okung(UFA), EDGE Efe Obada, RB Mike Davis, LB Tahir Whitehead(UFA), S Tre Boston, CB Rasul Douglas, DL Stephen Weatherly, CB Corn Elder, DT Zach Kerr, LB Adarius Taylor(UFA), G Michael Schofield(UFA), G Chris Reed, TE Seth Devalve(UFA), WR/ST Pharoh Cooper(UFA), P Michael Palardy

Despite the trade for Sam Darnold at quarterback, the heavy emphasis was clearly on fixing the defense based on the Panthers actions this March/April. To do that, Carolina had to purge themselves of larger contracts like Short, or uneffective talent like Whitehead and Douglas. The reinforcements may not end up fairing better than the 2020 Panthers, with high-risk fliers taken on upside players like Bouye or Melvin at CB, and Reddick on the EDGE, but for now the optimism is there. DaQuan Jones was my favorite signing (occurring just this week), and it actually bumped Carolina into my top 10 winners over Baltimore. The run-stuffer more than fills the void left by Short. The offense also loses a 100-plus touch weapon in Curtis Samuel, and does little to replace him (deep-threat David Moore, receiving TE Dan Arnold). I think the Panthers are headed in the right direction under the Rhule/Brady coaching staff, but their entire future may be hedged on this search for a franchise quarterback. Teddy Bridgewater was strike one, and by announcing that they may still draft a QB in a week, are they admitting that the trade for Darnold could be strike two? One thing's for sure, this should be a very interesting franchise to watch the next year or two.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Baltimore Ravens, C+: Re-sign a majority of the defense and add offensive gamechangers for Lamar Jackson in Sammy Watkins and Kevin Zeitler, but lose out on the EDGE after Judon and Ngakoue sign elsewhere.

Dallas Cowboys, C+: Dak Prescott wins the Cowboy stand-off, but Jerry Jones will breathe a sigh of relief as a healthy Dallas looks to rebound after a quiet offseason with minor upgrades in the secondary (Keanu Neal and Damontae Kazee come over from Atlanta).

Denver Broncos, C+: Von Miller is back and the Broncos stack their secondary with Kyle Fuller and Ronald Darby in front of Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson, but the D-Line, O-Line and RB core take hits and MLB/QB still remain as the most glaring issues.

Seattle Seahawks, C+: Chris Carson/Carlos Dunlap return, Shaquill Griffin/Quinton Dunbar leave, Gabe Jackson/Gerald Everett join, K.J. Wright still unsigned, and Russell Wilson stays.

Jacksonville Jaguars, C+: With a ton of money to spend, Urban Meyer's front page signings are Marvin Jones and Shaquill Griffin?? Minor improvements for the Jags, but an underwhelming offseason besides Trevor Lawrence.

San Francisco 49ers, C: On the plus side, the Niners bring back Trent Williams among many others, get healthy again, and sign Alex Mack at center. On the down-side, they lose half their coaching staff, a handful of role players and veterans, and start a public controversy at the quarterback position by trading most of their draft capital to move up.