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. First up today is the Chargers, who upgraded their offensive line with Trai Turner and Bryan Bulaga (pictured).
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Key gains: RG Trai Turner (trade), RT Bryan Bulaga (G.B.), CB Chris Harris (Den.), DT Linval Joseph (Minn.), LB Kenneth Murray (1st), LB Nick Vigil (Cin.), QB Justin Herbert (1st).
Key losses: QB Philip Rivers (Ind.), RB Melvin Gordon (Den.), LT Russell Okung (trade), DT Brandon Mebane (cut), LB Thomas Davis (cut).
Grade: B
Moving on from 38-year-old Rivers is understandable. But will they be better at quarterback with either Herbert or Tyrod Taylor? Probably not in 2020. Most likely Taylor will start in Week 1, with Herbert playing later. … The offensive line should be a lot better with Bulaga and Turner, although the team still looks one tackle short. … The defense gets a boost from Joseph, Vigil and especially Harris. Murray will start right away.
LOS ANGELES RAMS
Key gains: RB Cam Akers (2nd), OLB Leonard Floyd (Chi.), OLB Terrell Lewis (3rd), WR Van Jefferson (2nd).
Key losses: RB Todd Gurley (cut), WR Brandin Cooks (trade), LB Cory Littleton (L.V.), OLB Dante Fowler (Atl.), LB Clay Matthews (cut), S Eric Weddle (retired), PK Greg Zuerlein (Dall.).
Grade: D
This defense underachieved last year, leading to dramatic changes. Wade Phillips is gone, and so are many starters. Perhaps the moves will play long-term dividends, but it might take a year before that begins to happen. Floyd looks like the most noteworthy defensive addition (and even he was inconsistent in Chicago). … Gurley wasn’t an elite performer in 2019, either because of a bum knee or the line in front of him (or both). Optimistic, though, to think Akers will be better this season. He’s about the likeliest Week 1 starter of the rookie running backs, at least.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
Key gains: LB Cory Littleton (LAR), WR Henry Ruggs (1st), LB Nick Kwiatkoski (Chi.), QB Marcus Mariota (Tenn.), DT Maliek Collins (Dall.), DB Damarious Randall (Clev.), WR Nelson Agholor (Phil.), S Jeff Heath (Dall.).
Key losses: LB Will Compton, S Karl Joseph (Clev.), RB DeAndre Washington (K.C.), LB Vontaze Burfict.
Grade: B+
Like second chances? The Raiders are giving them to a pair of first-rounders who disappointed with their original teams. Mariota will get a chance to push and possibly replace Derek Carr at some point, while Agholor joins a wide receiver corps most notable for high-profile missteps (Martavis Bryant, Antonio Brown) in recent years. The team has higher hopes for its own first-rounder, Ruggs, though he might not make an immediate impact. … The defensive additions should be upgrades, especially Littleton.
MIAMI DOLPHINS
Key gains: CB Byron Jones (Dall.), DE Shaq Lawson (Buff.), LB Kyle Van Noy (N.E.), OT Austin Jackson (1st), QB Tua Tagovailoa (1st), OG Ereck Flowers (Wash.), RB Jordan Howard (Phil.), RB Matt Breida (trade), C Ted Karras (N.E.), CB Noah Igbinoghene (1st).
Key losses: DB Reshad Jones (cut), C Daniel Kilgore.
Grade: A
No one can accuse the Dolphins of not trying this year. They handed out four contracts averaging at least $10 million per year on the first day of free agency, and added three first-rounders via the draft. Most of those players will start this year, making them an easy choice for having added the most talent. There was nowhere to go but up, of course. … The Dolphins didn’t lose anyone of note, at least not since the season ended (they traded away Laremy Tunsil just before the season and Kenyan Drake during it).
MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Key gains: WR Justin Jefferson (1st), NT Michael Pierce (Balt.), CB Jeff Gladney (1st), WR Tajae Sharpe (Tenn.).
Key losses: WR Stefon Diggs (trade), DE Everson Griffen, CB Trae Waynes (Cin.). Cut: DT Linval Joseph, CB Xavier Rhodes, RG Josh Kline.
Grade: D
Minnesota shipped off a disgruntled Diggs in its highest-profile move. Maybe the locker room will be better, but on the field it would be optimistic to think Jefferson, Sharpe or incumbent Bisi Johnson can fill that void. Jefferson is the future, so maybe they’ll let him learn on the job. … Minnesota also let four defensive starters go. Griffen is still unsigned, so maybe he’ll return. The money is similar for Joseph and Pierce, so that might be a lateral move.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
Key gains: QB Cam Newton (Car.), S Kyle Dugger (2nd), LB Josh Uche (2nd), WR Marqise Lee (Jac.), TE Devin Asiasi (3rd), PK Justin Rohrwasser (5th).
Key losses: QB Tom Brady (T.B.), LB Kyle Van Noy (Mia.), LB Jamie Collins (Det.), PK Stephen Gostkowski (cut), DT Danny Shelton (Det.), TE Benjamin Watson (retired), WR Phillip Dorsett (Sea.), FB James Develin (retired).
Grade: D+
If Newton is healthy, the Patriots will have a potential difference-maker at quarterback. If not, it will be Jarrett Stidham, who played well last preseason. But realistically, there’s nowhere to go but down from first-ballot Hall of Famer Brady. … New England said goodbye to a large number of veteran starters, particularly on defense, while adding very little. They’ll likely be counting on rookies at both tight end and kicker, as well. The team seems destined to take a significant step backward.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Key gains: S Malcolm Jenkins (Phil.), WR Emmanuel Sanders (S.F.), C Cesar Ruiz (1st), QB Jameis Winston (T.B.).
Key losses: LB A.J. Klein (Buff.), WR Ted Ginn, S Vonn Bell (Cin.), QB Teddy Bridgewater (Car.).
Grade: C+
No. 2 wideout hasn’t been a big producer for this team in recent years, but Sanders is one of the better players they’ve had in that spot. Some chance he’ll be a top-40 type of wideout, upgrading the offense. He’s better than Ginn, certainly. … Bridgewater gave the team strong play when Drew Brees got hurt last year, but Winston is a more talented – albeit more error-prone -- quarterback. Potentially the offense would be fine if Brees misses time (Taysom Hill is another option). … The defensive losses don’t look significant.
NEW YORK GIANTS
Key gains: LB Blake Martinez (G.B.), CB James Bradberry (Car.), OT Andrew Thomas (1st), S Xavier McKinney (2nd), RB Dion Lewis (Tenn.).
Key losses: LB Alec Ogletree (cut), FS Antoine Bethea, LB Markus Golden, C Jon Halapio.
Grade: B
Martinez and Bradberry were two of the top players on the market at their positions, and were paid accordingly: three years and $30 million for Martinez, three years and $45 million for Bradberry. They’ll upgrade a defense that struggled last year. Golden is listed as a loss, but there’s a decent chance he’ll be back with the team after finding a cool free agent market. … New York considered Thomas the top tackle in the draft. Offensive line has been a sore spot in recent years; they’ll look for him to anchor left tackle for years to come.
Next: N.Y. Jets through Washington.
--Andy Richardson