The "Offseason Report Card" has been a feature of the magazine since 1993. It didn't make it into this year's edition, but we'll be offering that content here at the website.
We'll post it in sections over the next couple of weeks, then string it all together in one document for those who want to have it all in one place.
DALLAS COWBOYS
Key gains: WR CeeDee Lamb (1st), DT Dontari Poe (Car.), DT Gerald McCoy (Car.), S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (Chic.), PK Greg Zuerlein (LAR), QB Andy Dalton (Cin.), CB Trevon Diggs (2nd).
Key losses: C Travis Frederick (retired), CB Byron Jones (Mia.), DE Robert Quinn (Chic.), WR Randall Cobb (Hou.), DT Maliek Collins (L.V.), TE Jason Witten (Oak.), S Jeff Heath (L.V.).
Grade: D
No credit for keeping one’s own, so Dallas’ ability to hang onto Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper doesn’t count as gains. The losses were significant, with Frederick one of the game’s best centers and Jones a top cornerback. When Frederick missed the 2018 season, Prescott was sacked 56 times, compared to just 23 last season. Most of that shift can be attributed to the offense changing and Prescott doing a better job of getting the ball out of his hands, but Frederick will be missed. … Witten and Cobb aren’t notable losses. Witten is running on fumes at this point, and the Cowboys probably will be better in the slot (Lamb isn’t as experienced but is a lot more explosive than Cobb.) … Dallas wanted to improve its defense up front, with Poe and McCoy the additions. They were part of a bad Carolina run defense last year, however, so expectations should be modest.
DENVER BRONCOS
Key gains: RB Melvin Gordon (LAC), WR Jerry Jeudy (1st), CB A.J. Bouye (Jac.), OG Graham Glasgow (Det.), OC Lloyd Cushenberry (3rd), DT Jurell Casey (trade), WR KJ Hamler (2nd).
Key losses: CB Chris Harris (LAC), OC Connor McGovern (NYJ), DE Derek Wolfe (Balt.), OG Ronald Leary.
Grade: A-
Denver is going all in on second-year quarterback Drew Lock. They spent their top 2 picks on wide receivers, including arguably the draft’s best at the position in Jeudy. Alabama wideouts have made an early impact in recent years. … Gordon seemed an odd investment for a team that already had Phillip Lindsay, but few would dispute he gives Denver one of the better running back duos in the league. … Glasgow can play center or guard. Ideally Cushenberry will handle center, and the line will be better at two spots.
DETROIT LIONS
Key gains: LB Jamie Collins (N.E.), CB Desmond Trufant (Atl.), RB D’Andre Swift (2nd), LB Jeff Okudah (1st), OT Halapoulivaati Vaitai (Phil.), DT Danny Shelton (N.E.), DT Nick Williams (Chi.), WR Geronimo Allison (G.B.).
Key losses: CB Darius Slay (traded), DT A’Shawn Robinson (LAR), RT Rick Wagner (cut), LB Devon Kennard (Ariz.), CB Rashaan Melvin (Jac.), S Tavon Wilson.
Grade: B
The Lions remade their defense with several new bodies, including a couple of ex-Patriots familiar to Matt Patricia. But it looks like they lost about as much as they gained, with Slay the noteworthy departure. … Vaitai was a backup on Philadelphia’s excellent line, but should be an upgrade from Wagner, who didn’t prove worthy of his big free-agent deal. … Swift might start out in a tandem with Kerryon Johnson, but is the more talented back (and Johnson has struggled with injuries).
GREEN BAY PACKERS
Key gains: LB Christian Kirksey (Clev.), RT Rick Wagner (Det.), WR Devin Funchess (Ind.), RB AJ Dillon (2nd), QB Jordan Love (1st).
Key losses: LB Blake Martinez (NYG), RT Bryan Bulaga (LAC), TE Jimmy Graham (cut), CB Tramon Williams.
Grade: C-
Perhaps Love will be the team’s future franchise quarterback. In 2020, though, he’s unlikely to get on the field. Dillon is a more likely contributor as a change-of-pace. … Kirksey averaged 143 total tackles in 2016-2017; the Packers apparently view him as an upgrade on Martinez, and they’re paying him slightly less. But injuries have limited the former Brown to 9 games total the last two seasons, so there’s some risk. … Wagner (who the Lions released) is a downgrade from Bulaga – arguably a significant one. He’ll make half about half as much ($5.5 million) as the player he’s replacing. … Funchess is a worthwhile flier, but won’t necessarily emerge as one of the top 3 wideouts.
HOUSTON TEXANS
Key gains: RB David Johnson (trade), WR Brandin Cooks (trade), WR Randall Cobb (Dall.), DT Ross Blacklock (2nd).
Key losses: WR DeAndre Hopkins (trade), DT D.J. Reader (Cin.), CB Johnathan Joseph, RB Carlos Hyde (Sea.), S Jahleel Addae, RB Lamar Miller.
Grade: D
Houston didn’t want to give Hopkins a new deal, but didn’t get enough value in that trade (second-round pick and a running back with a bad contract). Cooks has a worrying concussion history, making for a shaky tandem with oft-injured Will Fuller. Cobb comes off his best season since 2015, at least, but the receiving corps will likely be worse. … Johnson hasn’t done much the last few seasons, but should be a workhorse in the offense. … With the exception of Reader, the defensive departures didn’t attract much interest on the market. Blacklock should start right away.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
Key gains: QB Philip Rivers (LAC), DT DeForest Buckner (trade), RB Jonathan Taylor (2nd), WR Michael Pittman (2nd), CB Xavier Rhodes (Minn.).
Key losses: WR Chester Rogers, PK Adam Vinatieri, S Clayton Geathers, DE Jabaal Sheard.
Grade: A-
The Colts are gambling that Rivers, in Frank Reich’s system and working behind one of the game’s better offensive lines, will look more like his 2018 version (32 TDs and 12 interceptions) than 2019 (23 and 20). … He cost a first-round pick, but Buckner is a franchise tackle who’s only 26 years old, and dramatically upgrades the interior of this defense. San Francisco couldn’t afford to pay everyone on its talent-rich line. … The Colts call Marlon Mack and Taylor a “one-one punch.” Eventually it should be Taylor’s backfield, but the two will probably share carries this year.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
Key gains: LB Joe Schobert (Clev.), TE Tyler Eifert (Cin.), CB C.J. Henderson (1st), DE K’Lavon Chaisson (1st), WR Laviska Shenault (2nd).
Key losses: Traded: DE Calais Campbell (Balt.), CB A.J. Bouye (Den.), QB Nick Foles (Chi.). DT Marcell Dareus, LB Jake Ryan (cut).
Grade: D
Schobert wasn’t cheap (5 years, $54 million), but looks like a nice upgrade to what was one of last year’s worst run defenses. Otherwise, this looks like a tank job, with the team dumping several defensive starters (especially Campbell and Bouye) and looking to rookies as replacements. … Shenault could fill a variety of offensive roles, including running back and Wildcat quarterback, but should primarily be a wide receiver.
KANSAS CITY
Key gains: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (1st), RB DeAndre Washington (Oak.), TE Ricky Seals-Jones (Clev.).
Key losses: DE Emmanuel Ogbah (Mia.), CB Kendall Fuller (Was.), RB LeSean McCoy, OL Cameron Erving.
Grade: C+
The Super Bowl champs didn’t need a lot of upgrades. They didn’t lose anyone significant, so the offseason went well enough. Ogbah and Fuller are good players but the defense will manage without them. McCoy was a healthy scratch down the stretch. … Most likely, the team will bring Edwards-Helaire along slowly, relying on Damien Williams to start. But the rookie’s role should expand as the year goes along, and none of the other additions is any more likely to contribute.
NEXT: L.A. Chargers through N.Y. Giants.
--Andy Richardson