Stock Up: NFL’s Most Improved Teams in March

Miami Dolphins

Miami continued to fill out their roster with useful low-budget additions as well. Emmanuel Ogbah will provide a much-needed presence off the edge, after tallying 5.5 sacks in ten games for Kansas City last year. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick led the Dolphins rushing attack in 2019. That’s not a good thing, whatsoever. That should change in 2020, now that Miami added Jordan Howard on a 2-year deal. Howard is not an exceptional runner, but he came at a very reasonable price. In addition to Flowers, Miami signed center Ted Karras to bolster their offensive line. Compared to last March, the Dolphins stock is way up and could rise even more with three first-round draft picks on deck.

Los Angeles Chargers

Aside from signing Tom Brady, the Los Angeles Chargers did everything right this March. The primary issue in 2019 was protection upfront. LA addressed this need by trading for guard Trai Turner and also adding veteran tackle Bryan Bulaga to the mix. If Tyrod Taylor is the Chargers quarterback in week one, he’ll be well protected. An already loaded roster talent-wise could have stopped there, but they didn’t. After the Vikings cut ties with nose tackle Linval Joseph, Los Angeles added the 31-year-old for two years, $17 million. Despite his age, Joseph can still stymie opposing backs and apply decent pressure on the quarterback.

However, perhaps the flashiest signing for the Chargers was cornerback Chris Harris Jr. After nine stellar seasons in Denver, Harris decided to stay in the AFC West with the Chargers. While he does turn 31 in July, Harris is still capable of playing on a very high level. Los Angeles needed a number two corner behind Casey Hayward Jr, and they got their guy. Even with the departure of Philip Rivers, the Chargers stock is clearly on the rise.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Buccaneers are one of the NFL’s most improved teams on the strength of one significant move. By now, you know that quarterback Tom Brady has joined Tampa on a 2-year $50 million deal. After 20 seasons and six championships with the Patriots, Brady will now don a Buccaneers uniform. It’ll be a weird sight, but it’s an excellent sight for Buccaneers fans. Tampa went 7-9 a year ago with a quarterback who threw 30 interceptions, so a playoff berth with Brady seems logical.

Tampa didn’t make many deals this March, but they did retain a couple of their key defensive pieces. Shaquil Barrett was franchised tagged after totaling 19.5 sacks in 2019, which led all of football. Also, the Buccaneers re-signed Jason Pierre-Paul, keeping him in Tampa for at least two more years. Even at 31 years of age, Pierre-Paul finished with 8.5 sacks and two forced fumbles a season ago. Ndamukong Suh was brought back on a 1-year deal, giving Tampa a great rush defense once again. The Buccaneers are loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, and Tom Brady could very well bring out the best in everyone. Tampa’s preseason stock is the highest it’s been in quite some time.

Buffalo Bills

I now present your 2020 AFC East Champions. Ok, they still have to play the games, but Buffalo’s stock is soaring right now. Josh Allen needed a legitimate number one receiving threat, and John Brown is better off as a number two. The Bills addressed this need by trading for Stefon Diggs, who was ready to move on from Minnesota. The price tag wasn’t cheap, as Buffalo surrendered a total of four draft picks to acquire Diggs. Will it be worth it? That remains to be seen, but the speedy wideout collected 1,130 receiving yards and six touchdowns wearing the purple and gold last year. Allen will now be throwing to a talented trio of receivers featuring Diggs, Brown, and Cole Beasley.

The Bills defense was stout in 2019, but that didn’t stop them from beefing up their defensive front. Quinton Jefferson was added into the mix on a steal of a deal for two years, $13.5 million. Jefferson is a terrific run stuffer, but he can also generate pressure on opposing QB’s. At only 27 years old, he could continue to get better. Buffalo also signed Mario Addison to a 3-year contract. Addison will soon turn 33 but racked up 9.5 sacks off the edge for Carolina last season. Tom Brady is out of town, and a rising Buffalo roster should be the division favorite in 2020.

Arizona Cardinals

Bill O’Brien’s incompetence allowed Arizona to pull off a stunning trade. Electric wideout Deandre Hopkins now takes his talents to the desert after seven terrific seasons in Houston. Hopkins will be an immediate help for second-year quarterback Kyler Murray, who took home rookie of the year honors in 2019. The pairing of D-Hop with Larry Fitzgerald gives the Cardinals one of the most reliable receiver duos in the NFL. A season ago, the two combined for 1,969 yards and eleven trips to the end zone. The Cardinals also retained Kenyan Drake, so expect a lot of points on the board for Kliff Kingsbury’s offense.

Arizona needed to improve their defense, which struggled mightily at times last year. They addressed this issue by first agreeing to terms with linebacker De’vondre Campbell on a 1-year deal. Campbell isn’t great in coverage, but he’s only 26 and finished the 2019 campaign with two sacks, two interceptions, and three forced fumbles. Next, Arizona picked up another linebacker, Devon Kennard, after Detroit surprisingly cut ties with him. Kennard will join Arizona coming off a seven sack season in the Motor City. The Cardinals defense still needs an upgrade at corner if they hope to compete with San Francisco, but their overall stock continues to climb.

Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns have no more excuses! Wait, didn’t we say that in 2019? Nonetheless, the Browns gave Baker Mayfield yet another weapon in the form of tight end Austin Hooper. Hooper was having a career year for Atlanta before an MCL sprain slowed him down. The Stanford product now joins Odell Beckham Jr, Jarvis Landry, Nick Chubb, and Kareem Hunt in a loaded attack. The Hooper signing may have been the most high-profile, but Cleveland quietly made several otherwise additions.

To give Baker Mayfield added time in the pocket, Cleveland signed the best offensive lineman on the market this year. Jack Conklin left Tennessee in favor of a 3-year contract with the Browns and should be a brick wall at the right tackle position. The Browns added to their line on the opposite side of things, by signing defensive tackle Andrew Billings. Billings is a great run stuffer who could have gotten a much bigger payday. Yet, the Browns snagged him for only $3.5 million! That wasn’t all, as Cleveland continued to make moves by adding Karl Joseph, and Andrew Sendejo for safety depth. If this isn’t Cleveland’s year, I don’t know if it ever will be. But for now, the offseason hype and stock are soaring yet again.

Which NFL team improved their stock the most this March?

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