5. Jaguars swoop in, sign Andrew Norwell
When the new league year arrived on March 14, most NFL experts firmly believed that All-Pro guard Andrew Norwell would sign with the New York Giants. Some even went as far as to “guarantee” the signing, saying it was a mere formality.
Tom Coughlin, who spent over a decade coaching the Giants, had different ideas. And in a wildly unexpected twist, he and the Jaguars swooped in and pulled the rug out from not just the Giants, but a handful of other teams who were chasing Norwell.
Jacksonville landed Norwell on a five-year, $66.5 million deal, making him the highest-paid guard in the NFL. And in the end, it will be money well spent as the Jaguars look to continue their ascension and now feature an interior anchor for years to come.
4. Giants fill two major holes with Nate Solder, Alec Ogletree
The New York Giants had more than a few needs coming off of a 3-13 season in 2017, which included the termination of head coach Ben McAdoo and general manager Jerry Reese.
Under new general manager Dave Gettleman and head coach Pat Shurmur, the Giants entered the offseason with a renewed focus on repairing their damaged offensive line and shockingly thin linebacker corps. It didn’t take very long for them to address both areas.
They were able to acquire veteran linebacker Alec Ogletree from the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for two late-round draft picks, and later added left tackle Nate Solder on a four-year, $62 million deal that made him the highest paid offensive lineman in the NFL.
Although the collective cost for the two players seems extensive on the surface, Gettleman & Co. did what they had to do in order to shore up two extremely weak areas. It won’t fix all of the team’s problems, but it will go a long way in helping to rebound after a franchise-worst season.
3. Jets move up to No. 3 pick in draft
The New York Jets, like many other teams, apparently have their sights set on a franchise quarterback entering the 2018 NFL Draft. Of course, with the No. 6 overall pick, they were on the outside looking in.
In an effort to move up, Gang Green paid a king’s ransom, sending the No. 6 overall pick and three second-round picks to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for the No. 3 overall pick.
The price to move up three spots was remarkably steep, but in a quarterback-rich draft, the Jets knew they’d put themselves in a position to snag one of the top three by moving up. Of course, the downside is that they weren’t able to get the No. 1 or 2 pick away the Browns and Giants, so they’ll ultimately have to pick up leftovers — assuming both Cleveland and New York select a quarterback with their picks.
The good news is that even in such a scenario, the Jets walk away with one of Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen or Josh Allen, and all three appear worthy of such a gamble.
2. Bills swap their way to a great position
The Buffalo Bills aren’t hiding the fact that they’re looking for a franchise quarterback in the 2018 NFL Draft. The only problem entering the offseason was that they weren’t in a great position to land one.
Although they may still be on the outside looking in, a series of very clever March trades have put them in remarkable position to ultimately finish the quest they embarked on the very moment the 2017 season ended.
First, the Bills unloaded quarterback Tyrod Taylor, trading him to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for the No. 65 overall pick. Then, just days later, they traded left tackle Cordy Glenn to the Cincinnati Bengals and swapped first-round picks, moving from No. 25 overall to No. 12 overall.
While that’s not high enough to walk away with one of the draft’s top quarterback prospects, the trades have helped stockpile assets for the Bills, who are now expected to attempt a move up into the top five. And with No. 12 and No. 22 picks in Round 1, as well as picks No. 53 and No. 56 in Round 2, the ammo needed is most certainly there.
It has been an aggressive strategy for the Bills, but their wheeling and dealing has put them in good position to reach their ultimate goal.
1. Vikings make a big splash, sign Kirk Cousins
Entering the offseason, the prized free agent was always expected to be quarterback Kirk Cousins. And even after Case Keenum put up wildly unexpected numbers for Minnesota in 2018, the Vikings intended on entering the Cousins sweepstakes.
With the Jets, Broncos, Browns and others also quarterback-hungry entering free agency, the race was destined to be a tight and expensive one. But in the end, it was the Vikings who came up big, signing Cousins to a three-year, $84 million deal that is fully guaranteed.
Expensive? Without a doubt, but the addition of Cousins immediately turns the Vikings into an even stronger Super Bowl contender and shores up the quarterback position for at least three seasons.
“I would be here a long time if I were to read off the grocery list of reasons why this is the right fit,” Cousins said during his introductory press conference. “But for the sake of time, winning is what I said it would be all about, and it’s true. I came here for the chance to win. Probably the best chance. That is all that matters in this business.”
It’s a match made in heaven for both Cousins and the Vikings because they legitimately provide each other the best chance to win.
