Super Bowl Mania | NFL Fan Blog

Oakland Raiders Just Removed Their Chances for the Super Bowl XLIX

2014-11-20T17:02:00.000+08:00

Now standing 0-10 as the only win-less team in the NFL today, the Oakland Raiders will try to focus more on the upcoming draft than to the annual Super Bowl championship match-up this February 1, 2015.

After firing then-head coach Dennis Allen, the team couldn't change their fate of losing despite having an interim head coach who has experience handling a team for overturning losing mindset to a competitive mindset every week. Coach Tony Sparano, a guy who had been admired for his bravado throughout the team, can never change the culture of losing. At 0-10, the Raiders will have a chance to redeem themselves in Thursday Night Football, with the visiting division rival Kansas City Chiefs.

In the upcoming draft class, there is no true no.1 player right now that can claim that he is the no. 1 rated football player out of college. Based on 2015 NFL mock drafts, Leonard Williams is likely what the Oakland Raiders trying to pick if he is eligible to draft. Oakland needs another game changer or another disruptive force to be reckoned with to draft and that's what transpires on Khalil Mack. It's not about drafting another defensive player for the first round where it became a trend for the Raiders draft history, dating back to 2010 where the Raiders took middle linebacker Rolando McClain out of Alabama.

While all other teams are trying to get a playoff spot, the Oakland Raiders will try to prove their worth on their remaining games throughout this season.

San Francisco 49ers 2014 NFL Draft Picks

2014-05-30T15:28:00.000+08:00

The San Francisco 49ers 2014 draft have 12 new draft picks to fill some of their needs and provide some depth to their special teams department. Jimmie Ward, the safety out of Northern Illinois, can be used like Tyrann Mathieu of the Arizona Cardinals. The versatile defensive back will be the nickel back in passing downs and also the third safety along with Antoine Bethea and Eric Reid.

The 49ers is obviously building through the draft and let their rookies learn behind the veterans. They drafted 7 defensive players and 5 offensive players emphasizing a better defense to rival the reigning champs Seattle Seahawks. Let's take a look at San Francisco 49ers 2014 NFL draft picks:

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 2014 NFL DRAFT PICKS
Round	Pick	Player	Position	School
1	30	Jimmie Ward	S	Northern Illinois
2	57	Carlos Hyde	RB	Ohio State
3	70	Marcus Martin	C	USC
3	77	Chris Borland	ILB	Wisconsin
3	100	Brandon Thomas	G	Clemson
4	106	Bruce Ellington	WR	South Carolina
4	129	Dontae Johnson	CB	North Carolina State
5	150	Aaron Lynch	OLB	South Florida
5	170	Keith Reaser	CB	Florida Atlantic
6	180	Kenneth Acker	CB	SMU
7	243	Kaleb Ramsey	DL	Boston College
7	245	Trey Millard	FB	Oklahoma

After the draft, the 49ers signed undrafted free agents like Shayne Skov, a highly-touted inside linebacker from Stanford, to partner him with the drafted Chris Borland to form a Willis-Bowman type of tandem. Here are the San Francisco 49ers 2014 undrafted free agents:

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 2014 UNDRAFTED FREE AGENTS
Position	Player	School
LB	Morgan Breslin	USC
TE	Asante Cleveland	Miami
G/C	Dillon Farrell	New Mexico
QB	Kory Faulkner	Southern Illinois
G	Fouimalo Fonoti	Michigan State
S	James McCray	Catawba College
LB	Shayne Skov	Stanford

The roster of the San Francisco 49ers is the most talented team on paper after the 2014 NFL draft, let us see how their rookies will translate coming into the next season and see them contribute to their another super bowl run.

Seattle Seahawks 2014 NFL Draft Picks

2014-05-29T09:28:00.000+08:00

The Seattle Seahawks draft always have low grades from draft experts around the league but, the tricky part here is the way they develop their talent to become a valuable asset for their team and eventually be a reliable starter even in big games; see: Malcolm Smith.

With Golden Tate gone, their receiving corps took a hit even though Percy Harvin will take the receiving end for the Seahawks. Drafting Paul Richardson in the second round may look like a reach because of talents that are still on the board with the likes of Davante Adams, Cody Latimer, Allen Robinson, and Jarvis Landry which are highly regarded receivers than him. Justin Britt on the other hand, is regarded as the biggest reach in the draft commented by draft experts referring him as mid-to-late round draft pick on their boards. Let's take a look at Seattle Seahawks 2014 NFL draft picks:

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 2014 NFL DRAFT PICKS
Round	Pick	Player	Position	School
2	45	Paul Richardson	WR	Colorado
2	64	Justin Britt	T	Missouri
4	108	Cassius Marsh	DE	UCLA
4	123	Kevin Norwood	WR	Alabama
4	132	Kevin Pierre-Louis	LB	Boston College
5	172	Jimmy Staten	DE	Middle Tennessee
6	199	Garrett Scott	OL	Marshall
6	208	Eric Pinkins	DB	San Diego State
7	227	Kiero Small	FB	Arkansas

After 2014 NFL Draft, the Seahawks pursuit the talented yet not drafted Jackson Jeffcoat out of Texas. This 2014 NFL draft marked the first time since 1937 that no Texas Longhorns were drafted. Here are the Seattle Seahawks 2014 undrafted free agents:

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 2014 UNDRAFTED FREE AGENTS
Position	Player	School
S	Dion Bailey	USC
LB	Brock Coyle	Montana
TE	Chase Dixon	Central Arkansas
OT	Garry Gilliam	Penn State
OG	Bronson Irwin	Oklahoma
DE	Jackson Jeffcoat	Texas
QB	Keith Price	Washington
DT	Andru Pulu	Eastern Washington

We know how deeply talented the Seahawks the year before, now with the new reinforcements coming in we will see a lot of healthy competition to make their team a lot better than last year.

San Diego Chargers 2014 NFL Draft Picks

2014-05-28T20:01:00.000+08:00

The San Diego Chargers draft strategy in 2014 focus heavily on defense as their offense handled the load on their last year's success for qualifying into the post-season. Mike McCoy drafted some wide receiver and running back to groom under current starter wings and could potentially start at some point this coming season.

Jason Verrett, a standout cornerback from TCU, gives Chargers a starting caliber cornerback to man opposing no. 1 wide receiver for their defense. Jeremiah Attaochu, oustide linebacker from Georgia Tech, brings another pass rush element to their defense and will give depth to their linebacker rotation. Here are the San Diego Chargers 2014 NFL Draft Picks:

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 2014 NFL DRAFT PICKS
Round	Pick	Player	Position	School
1	25	Jason Verrett	CB	TCU
2	50	Jeremiah Attaochu	OLB	Georgia Tech
3	89	Chris Watt	G	Notre Dame
5	165	Ryan Carrethers	DT	Arkansas State
6	201	Marion Grice	RB	Arizona State
7	240	Tevin Reese	WR	Baylor

After the draft, the Chargers continue to collect talented players through undrafted free agency market. Take a look at San Diego Chargers 2014 undrafted free agents:

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS 2014 UNDRAFTED FREE AGENTS
Position	Player	School
RB	D.J. Adams	Portland State
WR	Torrence Allen	West Texas
WR	Brelan Chancellor	North Texas
S	Alden Darby	Arizona State
CB	Chris Davis	Auburn
CB	Greg Ducre	Washington
TE	Michael Flacco	New Haven
WR	Micah Hatfield	Oregon State
WR	Javontee Herndon	Arkansas
OG	DJ Chase Tenpenny	New Mexico
DL	Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe	Boise State
LB	Colton Underwood	Illinois State
OT	Ian White	Boston College

The San Diego Chargers surprisingly stingy defense on the last quarter of last season will become a disruptive defense with the help of their new core players on defense.

Kansas City Chiefs 2014 NFL Draft Picks

2014-05-27T18:37:00.001+08:00

The Kansas City Chiefs under Andy Reid version 2014 will be under pressure to repeat their type of success last season to make it to another playoff spot this next season. The Chiefs 2014 NFL draft picks focus on drafting developmental prospects rather than plug-and-play starters right off the bat.

Dee Ford, a pass rushing outside linebacker for the Chiefs, did not fill any void to their already bolster pass rushing department with Justin Houston and Tamba Hali. Phillip Gaines on the other hand, might replace Brandon Flowers which is a candidate for a trade for scheme-fit issues to their new defense. Here are the Kansas City Chiefs 2014 NFL draft picks:

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 2014 NFL DRAFT PICKS
Round	Pick	Player	Position	School
1	23	Dee Ford	OLB	Auburn
3	87	Phillip Gaines	CB	Rice
4	124	De'Anthony Thomas	RB	Oregon
5	163	Aaron Murray	QB	Georgia
6	193	Zach Fulton	G	Tennessee
6	200	Laurent Duvernay-Tardif	T	McGill

After they have drafted players who were high on their draft board, they signed the best remaining players on their draft board through undrafted free agency market. Here are the Kansas City 2014 Undrafted Free Agents:

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 2014 UNDRAFTED FREE AGENTS
Position	Player	School
S	Daniel Sorensen	BYU
WR	Darryl Surgent	Louisiana-Lafayette
DB	David Van Dyke	Tennessee State
RB	Charcandrick West	Abilene Christian
LB	Ben Johnson	Northwestern
WR	Albert Wilson	Georgia State
DT	Kona Schwenke	Notre Dame
FB	James Baker	Idaho
C	Ben Gottschalk	SMU
K	Cairo Santos	Tulane
LB	DeRon Furr	Fort Valley State

The Kansas City Chiefs will hope that their draft and undrafted free agents can fill the shoes of the free agent players who leave through free agency. The Chiefs lost as much as they gain this offseason but Andy Reid will have enough tricks under his sleeve to pull out another surprising contending team this next season.

Denver Broncos 2014 NFL Draft Picks

2014-05-26T18:36:00.000+08:00

The Denver Broncos first two draft choices focused on replacing their previous starters in Champ Bailey and Eric Decker with Bradley Roby and Cody Latimer even though they have signed players through free agency like Aqib Talib and Emmanuel Sanders to fill their immediate needs.

Bradley Roby, a speedy cornerback from the Ohio State brings fresh legs to their veteran-filled secondary and will groom under Aqib Talib wings before John Fox throw him into the fire. Cody Latimer, a first round pick talent before injury suppressed his draft stock, was taken by the Broncos by going up in the second round and secure his talent. Let's take a look at the Denver Broncos 2014 NFL draft picks:

DENVER BRONCOS 2014 NFL DRAFT PICKS
Round	Pick	Player	Position	School
1	31	Bradley Roby	CB	Ohio State
2	56	Cody Latimer	WR	Indiana
3	95	Michael Schofield	T	Michigan
5	156	Lamin Barrow	ILB	LSU
6	207	Matthew Paradis	OL	Boise State
7	242	Corey Nelson	LB	Oklahoma

After they have drafted for their need as well as the depth for their roster, the Broncos continue to build some competition throughout their players by signing undrafted free agents; those who were not drafted in the 2014 NFL draft. Here are the Denver Broncos 2014 Undrafted Free Agents:

DENVER BRONCOS 2014 UNDRAFTED FREE AGENTS
Position	Player	School
DE	Kenny Anunike	Duke
LB	Shaquil Barrett	Colorado State
RB	Kapri Bibbs	Colorado State
WR	Isaiah Burse	Fresno State
P	Steven Clark	Auburn
RB	Brennan Clay	Oklahoma
DT	Mister Cobble	Kentucky
WR	Bennie Fowler	Michigan State
WR	Greg Hardin	North Dakota
DE	Greg Latta	Purdue
QB	Bryn Renner	North Carolina
T	Aslam Sterling	Kansas
CB	Jordan Sullen	Tulane
RB	Juwan Thompson	Duke
CB	Louis Young	Georgia Tech

The Denver Broncos signed a lot of skill position players to find another weapon for Peyton Manning arsenal and to find fresh legs for their Special Teams for their kicking game.

Oakland Raiders 2014 NFL Draft Picks

2014-05-25T08:20:00.000+08:00

The Oakland Raiders 2014 draft is the most highly graded draft they've had in years. This is the first time that Reggie McKenzie drafted in his spot to get the best available players in the board. Signing veterans through free agency to fill the void for starters in offense and defense, Reggie has more flexibility in the draft to pick for a future starter and groom them under the supervision of a veteran. Here are the 2014 Oakland Raiders draft selections:

OAKLAND RAIDERS 2014 NFL DRAFT PICKS
Round	Pick	Player	Position	School
1	5	Khalil Mack	OLB	Buffalo
2	36	Derek Carr	QB	Fresno State
3	81	Gabe Jackson	G	Mississippi State
4	107	Justin Ellis	DT	Louisiana Tech
4	116	Keith McGill	CB	Utah
7	219	Travis Carrie	CB	Ohio
7	235	Shelby Harris	DL	Illinois State
7	247	Jonathan Dowling	S	Western Kentucky

After the 2014 NFL Draft, the Oakland Raiders persistently signed undrafted collegiate players eligible to play in the NFL. Players which they have on their boards but the Raiders doesn't have the capacity to pick one of them due to limited draft picks. Here are the 2014 Oakland Raiders undrafted free agents:

OAKLAND RAIDERS 2014 UNDRAFTED FREE AGENTS
Position	Player	School
RB	George Atkinson III	Notre Dame
WR	D.J. Coles	Virginia Tech
WR	Mike Davis	Texas
LB	Carlos Fields, Jr.	Winston-Salem State
WR	Noel Grigsby	San Jose State
OT	Danny Kistler	Montana
TE	Jake Murphy	Utah
TE	Scott Simonson	FIU
FB	Karl Williams	Utah

Now that the Oakland Raiders have finished their offseason moves addressing their needs and quality depth on offensive and defensive side of the ball, they are now well-equipped to win games despite the difficult schedule ahead of them.

Viking Stadium Hosting Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis, Minnesota

2014-05-24T18:46:00.003+08:00

The new home for Minnesota Vikings, Viking Stadium, is projected to be opened in year 2016, two years before they are scheduled to host the Super Bowl LII in Minnesota. The Viking Stadium has 65,000 seat capacity but can be expandable on big events like Super Bowl to 73,000 seats.

It was made official by the NFL, announced in May 20, 2014, that Minneapolis, Minnesota will host Super Bowl LII over New Orleans and Indianapolis.

The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, the recent home stadium for the Vikings has been torn down to pieces in favor of their new stadium. It also has 65,000 seat capacity like the new stadium but the age of the stadium could be the factor for the City of Minneapolis to change their 32 year old stadium.

AFC North 2014 Free Agency Signings

2014-05-02T04:37:00.001+08:00

The AFC North division features three teams that finished at least .500 record season but only represented one playoff team in Cincinnati Bengals for having 11-5 record last season. Baltimore Ravens, the last year's defending champs, failed to qualify for the post-season and still on the process to find the replacements for key players in their last super bowl run.

The Cleveland Browns change of scenery in front office and coaching staff could held them back for another year as they are currently on the hunt for another quarterback in the future in this year's draft. They have two first round picks in pick 4 and 26 and the most likely scenario is to pick the best player available at 4 and pick the quarterback of the future in 26.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have aging players at their starting key positions leading to this year's regular season. Troy Polamalu and the Steelers defense lost some of their reputations when it comes to intimidating the opponent's offense and didn't bring some takeaways for their offense which resulted to a borderline playoff contender last season.

The Cincinnati Bengals balance attack in offense and defense lead them to another playoff berth for the third consecutive time under Marvin Lewis. Andy Dalton and A.J. Green tandem seems effective for this Bengals franchise but a little help or upgrade can bring this franchise to a deeper run on the playoffs.

With that said, let's take a look at AFC North 2014 free agency additions from the free agent market.
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CLEVELAND BROWNS

The Cleveland Browns is now on the hand of head coach Mike Pettine and will be the overall in-charge of Browns turnaround this next season. Having a head coach with a defensive background experience will give this talented defensive starters to reach their potential and be a top 10 defense around the league. Let's take a look at their recent free agency signings:

Alex Mack
Billy Cundiff
Jim Dray
Ben Tate
Donte Whitner
Andrew Hawkins
Paul McQuistan
Nate Burleson
Chris Pressley

Alex Mack intrigues the public when he signed with Jacksonville Jaguars without consulting with the Browns management about his pending contract with the team. Technically, the Browns have the rights to match any offer to their center because of the transition tag they put on Mack before the free agency began. Mack will be on the Browns roster for another five years and will help Joe Thomas to anchor their offensive line in years to come.

Ben Tate is now the starting running back on paper for the Browns this coming regular season. Drafting a running back to compete with Tate will boost their offensive backfield and to forget the damage Trent Richardson left for their hometown fans.
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BALTIMORE RAVENS

The Baltimore Ravens were the super bowl defending champions last year but failed to execute the way they rolled in their last super bowl run. This is the first time John Harbaugh missed the playoffs and finished the season with an 8-8 season for the last 6 years. Expect the Ravens and Harbaugh make a quick fixes to their roster with this recent acquisitions this offseason:

Terrell Suggs
Dennis Pitta
Eugene Monroe
Jacoby Jones
Daryl Smith
Steve Smith
Justin Forsett

Terrell Suggs extension might be their best move this offseason and their worst move might have been not giving priority to their star running back Ray Rice contract extension. Ray Rice has been productive since he entered the league with the Ravens and having a backup behind him in Bernard Pierce makes Ozzie Newsome think twice about the future of Ray Rice in Ravens organization.

Steve Smith is their latest addition to their powerhouse roster and will give some leadership which vacated by Ray Lewis and Ed Reed last season. Having a proven star player to their roster will give Joe Flacco and his offensive weapons some boost of confidence to get things done next season.
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PITTSBURGH STEELERS

The Pittsburgh Steelers aging roster can be filled with some capable rookies in this upcoming draft. Player like Polamalu, Roethlisberger, and Miller are still providing the same impact they gave for the Steelers but eventual successive starters should be groomed now under their wings. Let's take a look at their free agency additions:

Jason Worilds
Troy Polamalu
Heath Miller
Cody Wallace
Will Allen
Greg Warren
Cam Thomas
Guy Whimper
Arthur Moats
Brice McCain
Darrius Heyward-Bey
Adam Podlesh

Troy Polamalu and Heath Miller were offered contracts that can make them as a Steeler for the rest of their careers. With LaMarr Woodley being released from the roster, Jason Worilds was expected to handle Woodley's role as a primary pass rusher and successive starter for their defense.

Darrius Heyward-Bey gets another chance to start for his third team in his sixth year in the league. With Ben Roethlisberger cannon arm, expect Heyward-Bey to go deep and burn his defenders next season.
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CINCINNATI BENGALS

The Cincinnati Bengals are the crown jewel of this AFC North division as they are the only playoff representative for their division last post-season. Marvin Lewis' ability to improve players to meet their full potential makes the whole Bengals roster have some depth at all positions. Here are their free agent signings in the first wave of free agency:

Brandon Tate
Jason Campbell
R.J. Stanford
Domata Peko
Danieal Manning
Dane Sanzenbacher
Sam Montgomery
T.J. Conley

The signing of Jason Campbell makes Andy Dalton on the hot seat for not creating more plays down the field. Having a competitor that has a lot of arm strength than Dalton made him more conscious about protecting the football and throwing accurate deep balls.

Sam Montgomery is the next Marvin Lewis experiment of taking troubled players to his wing and groom them to be legitimate starters in this league, see: Vontaze Burfict. Burfict and Montgomery is very common when it comes to talent and having a low reputation for the lack of work-ethic. Now that Montgomery will have an offseason together with Lewis and Burfict, he will see the ropes on how to discipline himself the way Burfict did to himself under Lewis.
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OVERALL

The Baltimore Ravens won the free agency signings throughout AFC North for taking care of their starters' future and Bengals for their high-risk, high-reward signing of Sam Montgomery. The Steelers were able to sign proven players to compete for their training camp while the Browns change their philosophy about signing big contract for unproven starters on free agency.

NFC South 2014 Free Agency Signings

2014-04-27T19:53:00.001+08:00

The NFC South is the division where all of the team's head coaches won the AP NFL Coach of the Year Award, most recently won by Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera. Riverboat, as they call him, has been effective for his third and crucial season for the Panthers, finishing 1st in NFC South and a playoff berth where they eventually lost to San Francisco 49ers in NFC Divisional game.

The Atlanta Falcons remains faithful to Mike Smith after a disastrous season where everyone expected that they are Super Bowl-bound in Tony Gonzales' last season with the Falcons. A horrible offensive and defensive line made them more vulnerable to opponents smash-mouth gameplan over them.

The New Orleans Saints' hoped that they can lock up Jimmy Graham in a long-term contract after they franchise tag him before free agency. Three years after bounty scandal, Coach Sean Peyton will be back again for another season and that means another competitive and contending season for the Saints towards the Super Bowl.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers another coaching change may held the team another year for a setback but with a veteran coach like Lovie Smith handling the team, things can easily turnaround for a team loaded in talent. Expect the Buccaneers turnaround like what we just saw from the Chiefs last season, in part of that, let's take a look at each team's offseason moves last month.
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TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished last in the NFC South race tying with Atlanta Falcons with a 4-12 record last season. With a new head coach in Lovie Smith, expect the Buccaneers to solidify their defense while their offense will take care of the football more with game manager like Josh McCown under the center. Let's take a look how Lovie Smith changes the culture of the Bucs with his recent signings:

Alterraun Verner
Jonathan Casillas
Josh McCown
Anthony Collins
Evan Dietrich-Smith
Dane Fletcher
Oniel Cousins
Jeremy Cain
Mike Jenkins
Josh Baker
Jorvorskie Lane
Major Wright
Lavelle Hawkins

Alterraun Verner and Mike Jenkins could start at both cornerback positions and give the Bucs a formidable secondary with Dashon Goldson and Mark Barron on the safety spots. Their secondary depth consists of a promising rookie with Johnthan Banks and a veteran like Major Wright, a current trend in the NFL emphasizing the defensive backfield to beat a pass-happy team for the regular season.

Evan Dietrich-Smith and Anthony Collins join All-Pro Guard Carl Nicks to anchor their offensive line to make Josh McCown comfortable in the pocket and to give some running lanes to Doug Martin for their offensive production. With a high draft pick in May, a talented offensive tackle can be the last missing piece for the Bucs offensive line.
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ATLANTA FALCONS

The Atlanta Falcons create a buzz on bringing Jadeveon Clowney on their facility and let him display his athleticism in a cutting-edge drills set up by the Falcons. The Atlanta Falcons and Silicon Valley-based Sparta Software Corp., the sister company of Sparta Performance Science, uses force plate technology to measure the athletic grade of Jadeveon Clowney in his drills for the team. With a team partnering with a sports science group, the Falcons will also use their technology in this off-season and regular season to enhance their players performance in the field. With that said, let's take a look on their recent signings to join their team:

Gabe Carimi
Corey Peters
Mike Johnson
Jonathan Babineaux
Joe Hawley
Jon Asamoah
Tyson Jackson
Paul Soliai
Javier Arenas
Devin Hester
Dwight Lowery
Josh Wilson

Jonathan Babineaux, Paul Soliai, and Tyson Jackson will now form a run-stuffing defensive line that can wreck havoc to their opponents passing and running game. With Osi Umenyiora providing their pass rush, a more productive defensive line will now take place to seal the deal to their defensive woes.

Devin Hester and Javier Arenas were signed to compete for their returning jobs this offseason. Devin Hester, a possible hall of fame kick returner will prove teams that he can still be a capable returner for this Atlanta Falcons kicking game. Javier Arenas on the other hand, will try to prove his worth in special teams and willing to learn the secrets behind Devin Hester kick returning game.
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NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

The New Orleans Saints exercised their rights to franchise tag Jimmy Graham for retaining him as the no. 1 weapon for Sean Payton and Drew Brees arsenal. Graham was a little disappointed for not receiving a long-term contract but happily to play again for the Saints. Jairus Byrd is their biggest splash signing on the free agency, locking him up to a six-year contract to be their starting free safety. Bringing veterans to their roster, here are their free agency signings so far:

Jimmy Graham
Jairus Byrd
Ramon Humber
Zach Strief
Erik Lorig
Joseph Morgan
Parys Haralson
Luke McCown
Marcus Ball
Champ Bailey
Rafael Bush
Robert Meachem

Champ Bailey and Jairus Byrd will team up with Kenny Vaccaro and Patrick Robinson to form a defensive backfield backed with experience. Keenan Lewis and Rafael Bush will provide as a backup remedy for this starting unit and could start both at nickel and dime packages.

The Saints' prodigal son, Robert Meachem, is now back for another season for the Saints. With Marques Colston and Kenny Stills running the show, Robert Meachem could be their slot receiver on some of their packages.
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CAROLINA PANTHERS

The Carolina Panthers finished strong in their last regular season with 12-4 under head coach Ron Rivera. The Panthers exercised their fifth-year option on Cam Newton to retain him as their starting quarterback on his rookie deal. On the wake of Steve Smith's released, the Panthers seem desperate to have a legitimate no. 1 receiver on their disposal. The draft can fill some of their holes, but some of their recent free agent signings will provide some depth to their current roster:

Greg Hardy
Graham Gano
Richie Brockel
Garry Williams
Mike McNeill
Jason Williams
James Dockery
Roman Harper
Jerricho Cotchery
Jason Avant
Colin Cole
Thomas DeCoud
Ed Dickson

Greg Hardy being franchise-tagged by the Carolina Panthers is their best move this off-season as Hardy is now considered as one of the top five players at his position. The signing of Roman Harper and Thomas DeCoud will be an upgrade to their incumbent starters last season.

Jerricho Cotchery and Jason Avant was not a no-name receivers but not yet proven of handling the offensive load being the starting wide receivers for the Carolina Panthers. Take note of the Panthers drafting two defensive tackles in last year's draft in Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short to fill their needs at both positions. It might happen again this time with the wide receivers group, to draft a sure-fire receivers to be their starting wideouts.
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OVERALL

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Atlanta Falcons are the winners for this off-season signings so far. They showed immediate improvement based on paper alone and will try to compete against the powerhouse teams in Saints and Panthers. While the Buccaneers start over again with a new head coach and the Falcons faith on Mike Smith strengthened, the battle of the proven head coaches in the NFC South will once again put their division atop in NFL's most competitive divisions around the league.

NFC North 2014 Free Agency Signings

2014-04-21T21:18:00.000+08:00

The NFC North division currently hosts two previous NFL MVPs in Aaron Rodgers and Adrian Peterson but still doesn't conclude as one of the best division in football last season.

Green Bay Packers failed to reach the mark of 10-win season yet they won the NFC North crown to represent their division for the post-season.

Adrian Peterson was slightly disappointed from his performance last season but never failed to reach 10-touchdown runs in each season for the Vikings.

Megatron gave a 12-touchdown season for the Lions but overall performance of the team made Megatron's effort unnoticed and lead to another coaching change.

The loss of Julius Peppers for the Chicago Bears removed some of their team's prestige around the league for creating havoc for offensive line of the opposing teams. Apparently, Jared Allen and Lamarr Houston came in to fill the presence of Peppers for Bears' defensive line.

All of the teams participating in the NFC North have their own face of the franchise players that their team can build around with. Let's take a look of each teams 2014 free agency pickups.
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MINNESOTA VIKINGS

The Minnesota Vikings finished last in NFC North division leading to Leslie Frazier firing and another rebuilding mode for the Vikings franchise. Rick Spielman will now work with his newly hired head coach Mike Zimmer to refocus their philosophy on defense.

Leslie Frazier era ends with Jared Allen era for the Vikings. Jared Allen has been the face of the franchise for the Vikes and the emergence of Everson Griffen and Brian Robison made Jared Allen expandable to Mike Zimmer's defense. After all of free agency moves, let's take a look of Minnesota Vikings additions so far:

Marcus Sherels
Larry Dean
Matt Cassel
Everson Griffen
Linval Joseph
Jasper Brinkley
Joe Berger
Captain Munnerlyn
Jerome Simpson
Derek Cox
Fred Evans
Charlie Johnson
Tom Johnson
Corey Wootton
Vladimir Ducasse
Lestar Jean
Allen Reisner
Terrell Manning
Kurt Coleman

The signing of Linval Joseph completes their defensive line along with Shariff Floyd, Everson Griffen and Brian Robison. Derek Cox and Captain Munnerlyn will be an upgrade for their starting cornerbacks that features young stud in Xavier Rhodes.

Matt Cassel will provide veteran leadership to Christian Ponder and to the upcoming quarterback draft pick on May. With Toby Gerhart gone, expect General Manager Rick Spielman to fill the void for a second-string running back behind Adrian Peterson.
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DETROIT LIONS

The Detroit Lions just shy from a .500 record for the season finishing 7-9 record leading to Jim Schwartz firing. Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford will now be coached by an offensive minded head coach in Jim Caldwell. The new head coach has been the last rookie head coach to lead his team in Super Bowl back in 2010 with Indianapolis Colts. With Martin Mayhew still running the show for the Detroit Lions, let's take a look at their recent free agent signings this offseason:

Corvey Irvin
Joique Bell
Golden Tate
Darryl Tapp
Brandon Pettigrew
Jed Collins
James Ihedigbo
Dan Orlovsky
J.B. Shugarts
Cassius Vaughn
Kourtnei Brown
Rashean Mathis

The signing of Golden Tate to complement their passing game that features the best wide receiver in football today in Megatron. Outside of the two, there has been no reliable backup to step up in their receiving game and a pick for another receiver in the draft could come in May.

Rashean Mathis' presence in their secondary boosts some confidence for young studs in Darius Slay and for the incoming cornerback from the draft as they are currently thin at defensive backfield. Even in the emergence of Joseph Fauria, Brandon Pettigrew will provide some depth and competition for the starting spot and could be use in two tight end sets for coach Caldwell.
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CHICAGO BEARS

The Chicago Bears free agency bonanza highlighted by the signings of Lamarr Houston and Jared Allen which made the Bears stacked at defensive end position. Signing Willie Young, Austen Lane, Israel Idonije and Trevor Scott proves that Marc Trestman will relentlessly pressure the opposing quarterback. With Henry Melton gone as their starting defensive tackle, General Manager Phil Emery will try to fill the void for the Defensive Tackle spot and other minor holes to their roster in this draft and offseason. Let's take a look at their free agent signings this last month:

Jay Cutler
Joe Anderson
Austen Lane
Derricus Purdy
Taylor Boggs
Derrick Martin
Roberto Garza
Kelvin Hayden
Jeremiah Ratliff
Trevor Scott
Nate Collins
Jordan Palmer
Lamarr Houston
Ryan Mundy
D.J. Williams
Jordan Senn
Willie Young
Domenik Hixon
Charles Tillman
Israel Idonije
Danny McCray
Craig Steltz
Sherrick McManis
Eben Britton
Brian de la Puente
Chad Rempel
Matthew Mulligan
Josh Bellamy
Jared Allen

Signing plug and play veteran players fill some roster deficiencies for the Bears roster. The releasing of Julius Peppers saved them some salary cap and replace him with much cheaper veteran players at his position and bring some players in for depth and competition.

Jared Allen will easily fulfill some of the promises left by Peppers, while Houston and Young will provide rotational roles to the other side of the defensive line. Brian de la Puente will upgrade their passing and running offense and D.J. Williams is back for another season to start at Middle Linebacker spot.
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GREEN BAY PACKERS

The Green Bay Packers made a splash in free agency in signing Julius Peppers at this point of his career. The last best signing of the Packers was Reggie White that made them an instant Super Bowl contender and won the Lombardi Trophy accordingly. Notable pieces like B.J. Raji, Sam Shields, and John Kuhn were back for another Super Bowl campaign with a healthy Aaron Rodgers next season. Ted Thompson signing of his homegrown players always do it in a 'Packers Way', let's take a look at their recent signings this offseason:

Raymond Webber
Michael Hill
Chris Banjo
Sam Shields
Mike Neal
Andrew Quarless
B.J. Raji
Julius Peppers
Letroy Guion
James Starks
John Kuhn
Matt Flynn

Sam Shields contract made him one of the highest paid cornerback around the league. B.J. Raji is back for another season after turning down his previous contract proposal by Thompson which offers more money than his recent contract signing this offseason.

John Kuhn and James Starks stayed relevant to Mike McCarthy running schemes even though Eddie Lacy is running the show for their running game. The signing of Matt Flynn is a no-brainer move by the Packers for the backup quarterback spot, and will give a great competition for second string quarterback in Scott Tolzien and other incoming quarterbacks for the Packers.
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OVERALL

The Chicago Bears won the free agency race for the NFC North while the Packers signed the Bears' best player after they released him. Packers philosophy of building the team through the draft and sign their homegrown talents was displayed this offseason. Expect them to garner more developmental players to be their eventual starters in this year's draft. While the Vikings and Lions have their new head coach in place, which means another system for the same roster, will make them the underdogs of this NFC North division.

NFC East 2014 Free Agency Signings

2014-04-18T19:14:00.000+08:00

The most marketable division in the NFL made a lot of big news in this year's free agency. Starting off with the Dallas Cowboys letting go of their star defensive linemen in DeMarcus Ware, Jason Hatcher, and Anthony Spencer. Jerry Jones' salary cap figure for the Cowboys lead the franchise to step backward toward their quest for the Super Bowl.

The Philadelphia Eagles' release of DeSean Jackson made a lot of people wonder how Chip Kelly runs the Eagles Franchise. Some of the players don't see anything that makes Jackson and Kelly uncomfortable inside their facilities. That makes everyone in the roster in their hot seat of not committing any violations of Chip Kelly' house rules.

The New York Giants spending this offseason didn't make a lot of buzz before they signed Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie from the Denver Broncos. They outbid the New York counterpart in Jets which needs a physical cornerback to play Rex Ryan's scheme. The Giants underachieved last season and could continue to struggle after not signing their leader in Justin Tuck and the retirement of David Diehl.

The Washington Redskins wide salary cap space thanks to the lifted penalty that holds their franchise backwards in previous years. Robert Griffin III is now 100% healthy having a new coach that trusted him to be the starting quarterback and a new system that will fit their recent signings in Andre Roberts and DeSean Jackson.

Let's take a look at each teams 2014 free agency additions.
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WASHINGTON REDSKINS

Jay Gruden and Bruce Allen brought some good players from the 2014 free agency pool. Even better, resigning their homegrown talent Brian Orakpo, Perry Riley, and Rob Jackson solidified their linebacker corps for seasons to come. The rehabilitation of RG3 is their offseason priority as well as getting more players to compete for the teams' starting position in this coming training camp. Here are the Washington Redskins recent signings this free agency period:

Chris Baker
Brian Orakpo
Santana Moss
Perry Riley
Shawn Lauvao
Adam Hayward
Clifton Geathers
Andre Roberts
Jason Hatcher
Darryl Sharpton
Jake Rogers
Tracy Porter
Brandon Meriweather
Akeem Jordan
E.J. Biggers
Mike McGlynn
Ryan Clark
DeSean Jackson
Colt McCoy
Rob Jackson
Blake Clingan
Akeem Davis

A mix of star players, proven veterans, and under-the-radar prospects are signed by the Redskins to compete for the open NFC East divisional crown. Signing their rivals stars in DeSean Jackson from the Eagles and Jason Hatcher from the Cowboys made them more invulnerable by taking off their weakness from other team's strength.

Teaming up DeAngelo Hall with proven veterans in Tracy Porter, Brandon Meriweather, and Ryan Clark patrolling their secondary gives more flexibility to their defensive coordinator Jim Haslett to call blitz to create some turnovers for their team.
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NEW YORK GIANTS

The New York Giants didn't spend on big name free agents and failed to sign some of their homegrown players but doing so made them more flexible in signing more free agents that will give some upgrade to their previous starters. An offseason away from messed season for Tom Coughlin and Jerry Reese, bringing some legitimate starters to build their franchise with came in this free agency period. Let's take a look of their free agency signings so far:

Josh Brown
Stevie Brown
Peyton Hillis
Trumaine McBride
Curtis Painter
Geoff Schwartz
J.D. Walton
Jon Beason
Jameel McClain
Quintin Demps
Walter Thurmond
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
Trindon Holliday
Mario Manningham
Zack Bowman
Mike Patterson
Charles Brown
Robert Ayers
Kellen Davis
Travis Harvey

Stevie Brown, Walter Thurmond and DRC filled the needs of their secondary despite not signing Terrell Thomas in the first wave of free agency. Helping Prince Amukamara to handle their pass coverage will give their front seven some split second to pressure the quarterback.

Even though they offered Justin Tuck a contract that determined his value in this point and time of his NFL career, Robert Ayers came in on a cheaper deal and will take place of Tuck's assignments on pressuring the quarterback.
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DALLAS COWBOYS

The Dallas Cowboys offseason headlined the releasing of their star players than actually signing their new players like Brandon Weeden and Jeremy Mincey. Releasing DeMarcus Ware and Miles Austin will yield a lot of dead money and will make their franchise step backwards a year or two. With their recent signings this free agency, we will see a lot more of players come to replace their incumbent starters in the draft and undrafted free agents this offseason. Here are their current acquisitions in the first wave of free agency:

Chris Jones
Terrell McClain
Jeremy Mincey
Will Herring
Henry Melton
Brandon Weeden

Brandon Weeden will backup Tony Romo and will compete with Kyle Orton for second string quarterback. Weeden will now have time to seat behind the veteran and learn from Romo and Orton on how to manage the game which was never happened for him in the Cleveland Browns.

Jeremy Mincey, Terrell McClain, and Henry Melton will try to replace DeMarcus Ware, Jason Hatcher, and Anthony Spencer to their starting defensive line. Now that Rod Marinelli is the defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys, their defensive line should bring more production than ever before.
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PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

The Philadelphia Eagles was the NFC East division champs last season and their lone representative for the post-season. Chip Kelly and his spread offense fits nicely to the Eagles personnel and became an instant success for the franchise. The release of DeSean Jackson cleans up any distraction they had in the regular season. Let's take a look of their free agency additions this free agency:

David Sims
Jason Peters
Riley Cooper
Jason Kelce
Jeremy Maclin
Cedric Thornton
Donnie Jones
Malcolm Jenkins
Nolan Carroll
Nate Allen
Mark Sanchez

Jason Peters and Jason Kelce were locked up to future contracts in order to secure their talented offensive line in place. Riley Cooper and Jeremy Maclin will have bigger roles on the wake of Jackson's release. Signing their own guys for future contracts give some stability to their locker room and Chip Kelly's success for the next seasons to come.

The signing of Mark Sanchez will give Nick Foles a healthy competition for the starting quarterback. It may yield as a distraction for Kelly's locker room but Sanchez knew what happened to Jackson's place in the Eagles roster if he didn't behave like a professional football player in Kelly's house.
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OVERALL

The NFC East will always bring excitement for their fans because each team is competitive to gain some bragging rights over their divisional rivals. The Washington Redskins is the most improved team this offseason and the less talented team right now is the Dallas Cowboys for releasing some of their household name players due to their salary cap issues. Chip Kelly's Eagles will be consistent on what they do best for retaining their star players and Tom Coughlin's Giants redemption for his third Super Bowl quest will happen this next season. For this tight competition, each team is capable enough to bring NFC East divisional crown for their franchise.

NFC West 2014 Free Agency Signings

2014-04-16T05:25:00.003+08:00

NFC West Division is the most competitive division in National Football League, currently hosting the Super Bowl 48 Champions Seattle Seahawks. Second to their NFC West Crown is the San Francisco 49ers, which were their eventual conference championship foes. Seahawks players thought that their conference championship matchup between the 49ers was way better than the actual Super Bowl battling with the Denver Broncos. The Arizona Cardinals finished 10-6 last season but come up short stepping into the post-season to compete once again to their prized rivals. St. Louis Rams boast their talented defense yet failed to have a winning season, some of the concerns might be the absence of their franchise quarterback in Sam Bradford. Overall, any team that participates here in NFC West has the potential to beat any team in any given season around the league.
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ARIZONA CARDINALS

Bruce Arians' first season as a head coach in NFL comes smoothly as he guided the 'Cards to a 10-6 season. Bringing Carson Palmer as his starting quarterback to handle his offense that features big arm quarterback and deep threat receivers. Larry Fitzgerald might not possess the fastest legs on the team but he is the hands-down possession receiver for Carson Palmer emergency throws. Letting go of Andre Roberts will haunt them soon if they don't draft any talented receivers in this coming draft. Michael Floyd will always be the sidekick for Fitzgerald and has been effective to Arians' offensive scheme. These are the latest signings for the Arizona Cardinals:

Jared Veldheer
Jake Ballard
Jay Feely
Frostee Rucker
Ted Larsen
Jonathan Dwyer
Marcus Benard
Ted Ginn, Jr.
Matt Shaugnessy
Bryan McCann
Antonio Cromartie
LeQuan Lewis
Eddie Whitley
Dave Zastudil

Bruce Arians said that he was shocked that the Raiders let Jared Veldheer go in the free agency and that news made up their minds to grab Veldheer to be their next left tackle to anchor their offensive line. Arizona Cardinals was known for having poor offensive line before Bruce Arians era and this Veldheer move and last season's draft pick Jonathan Cooper reminds their fans that Arians is there to change that culture.

Picking up Antonio Cromartie for some veteran leadership throughout their secondary is a plus for youngsters like Tyrann Mathieu and Patrick Peterson. Picking up a strong and free safety in the middle rounds would complete their needs around their defensive backfield.
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ST. LOUIS RAMS

Jeff Fisher's Rams draft positions in this year's draft came favorable to them because of the Washington Redskins standing in last regular season. That draft pick, second overall pick, could have been more useful for the Redskins in this year's rebuilding mode under Jay Gruden. The St. Louis Rams could pick the best player available at pick #2 after the Texans made their decision towards the future of their franchise at draft pick #1. Jadeveon Clowney created a lot of buzz for the #1 overall pick but the Texans might choose the other way, and the Rams will be on the hot seat if Clowney was still on board at #2. Picking him, will or will not make sense depends upon their satisfaction of getting pass rushers to the quarterback. With Robert Quinn and Chris Long anchoring their edges, Clowney will be a liability or their greatest asset for Rams future. But for now, let's take a look to their recent signings in the free agency market:

Rodger Saffold
Kenny Britt
Alex Carrington
Shaun Hill
Etienne Sabino
Greg Reid

Rodger Saffold to the Raiders didn't come successful after he failed the physical requirements after he signed for the Raiders to join them in their roster. Saffold was expected to replace Jared Veldheer for their vacant left tackle spot, but other teams consider him as a guard or a better fit at right tackle spot.

Kenny Britt second chance came from his former head coach at Tennessee Titans, Jeff Fisher. Now, the reuniting of Britt-Fisher to this Rams offense will resurrect Britt's playmaking ability as well as being the no. 1 wide receiver for a team.
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SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

The 49ers only fear this offseason is the drama between the front office and Jim Harbaugh about the future of the coach in this team. The executives pressuring Harbaugh to win a Super Bowl could result to Harbaugh forcing a trade to another team but as Jim said, he will not try to dump the team and won't go anywhere beyond San Francisco. 49ers are still one of the most talented teams despite some allegations around Aldon Smith and his Bomb Threat scandal which could result to another Aldon Smith-less season for the 49ers. After all of that scandal, the 49ers try to improve at least this offseason. Here are their recent signings in the free agency:

Phil Dawson
Antoine Bethea
Chris Cook
Bruce Miller
Kassim Osgood
Perrish Cox
Daniel Kilgore

Through Trade:
Blaine Gabbert
Jonathan Martin

Bringing Antoine Bethea to replace Donte Whitner is better for the team looking for veteran leadership who won a Super Bowl back in his glory days in Colts. Signing Phil Dawson and Kassim Osgood would stabilize their kicking game and bringing back Daniel Kilgore will give depth to their offensive line.

Trading for Blaine Gabbert to replace Colt McCoy as a backup for Colin Kaepernick will give some insurance to their quarterback position if the 49ers cannot extend the contract for Kaepernick heading to the next season. The reunion of Jonathan Martin and his Stanford Coach Jim Harbaugh will give some confidence to Martin and his troubled past in Miami. Giving Martin a responsibility to their offense will make Martin feel belong to his newly joined team.
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SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

The Super Bowl Champions of 2014 have been one of the underdogs in the league before Pete Carroll took control of this roster by bringing some talented players from the draft and hone their talents and reach their fullest potential to compete among the NFL best players. Seahawks boast the best secondary the league has ever seen for years and even though the original members of their Legion of Boom has gone to another teams, the Seahawks managed to replace them through their talented pool of players and step up and be part of the Legion of Boom's finest players. Here are the latest signing for the Seattle Seahawks this last free agency period:

Michael Bennett
Lemuel Jeanpierre
Jeron Johnson
Anthony McCray
Taylor Price
Tony McDaniel
Steven Hauschka
Stephen Schilling
Jorgen Hus

Contract Extension:
Head Coach Pete Carroll (through 2017)

Resigning Michael Bennett is their top priority this offseason and that makes some of their players leaving or releasing for the sake of their prized pass-rusher. Signing kicker Steven Hauschka will give them stability to their kicking game and bringing some depth and competition to their starters will only make them better this coming OTAs and Mini Camp this offseason.

Extending Pete Carroll to coach the Seahawks through 2017 will not only bring blessings to this Seahawks Franchise but can also bring a whole dynasty to build for their recent Super Bowl win. The Seattle Seahawks despite having a lot of under-the-radar guys from the draft, still manage to bring the best out of their talent and have that chemistry to lift each other up for the betterment of their whole team.
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OVERALL

Every division hopes that their division will not encounter this NFC West throughout the season as they are capable of beating any teams and give horrible standings for those teams trying to reach the post-season. Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers still boast their young-yet-talented pool of player which were developed by their great head coaches and will give another taste to their storied rivalry in their recent matchups in the post-season. As for the Cardinals and Rams, notable draft and free agency moves can give them a chance to compete for the NFC west crown next season.

AFC West 2014 Free Agency Signings

2014-04-12T09:41:00.002+08:00

The AFC West hosted 3 Playoff teams last season in Broncos, Chiefs, and Chargers. The Oakland Raiders came up short in talent and salary cap space to compete against Peyton Manning, Jamaal Charles, and Philip Rivers and to their respective teams. Now that the Oakland Raiders had their own signings and bringing Matt Schaub as their starting quarterback, this will be tightest competition AFC West in years to come.

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DENVER BRONCOS

John Elway and the Denver Broncos constant pursuit of superstar players was evident in their latest signings. DeMarcus Ware, a household name from Dallas Cowboys, has been the face of the franchise for the 'Boys in his prime years of his career. Coming back from an elbow injury he suffered last season, the Cowboys chose to cut ties with Ware and been in search for his replacement through Free Agency and Draft this offseason. These are Denver Broncos' recent acquisitions this offseason:

DeMarcus Ware

Aqib Talib

T.J. Ward

Emmanuel Sanders

Andre Caldwell

Winston Justice

Chris Harris Jr.

Aqib Talib was a surprise signing by the Broncos by pulling him from the Patriots but the Patriots have their Plan B and sign Darrelle Revis to man their starting cornerback spot. T.J. Ward, the hard-hitting free agent safety from the Cleveland Browns, has been in the recent Pro Bowl in Hawaii. A second-team All-Pro last season, Denver Broncos' secondary is on the rise to rival Seahawks' Legion of Boom.

Even though they lose some of their starters in Eric Decker and Champ Bailey (released), they managed to sign their sidekicks in Andre Caldwell and Chris Harris Jr. Bringing Emmanuel Sanders is a plus, not depriving Peyton Manning a single weapon to his arsenal will make this Denver Broncos a legitimate contender once again for the Super Bowl. Winston Justice signing provides Offensive Line depth now that their long time starter Chris Kuper has gone for retirement.

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KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

The Kansas City Chiefs have overachieved last regular season under the reign of Andy Reid and his coaching staff. This roster was always been in good shape and the right kind of coaching is what they need for this talent to show up and compete for post-season and be a legitimate contender for the Super Bowl. These are Kansas City Chiefs' recent acquisitions this offseason:

Richard Gordon

Weston Dressler

Husain Abdullah

Joe Mays

Jeff Linkenbach

Frank Zombo

Vance Walker

Cory Grissom

The Kansas City Chiefs didn't sign any big names in Free Agency but they didn't have to do so because of talent they have in both sides of the ball. Letting go of Dexter McCluster is a surprise move for the Chiefs as McCluster has been in this year's Pro Bowl and should have been the priority to keep their Special Teams atop in AFC West division.

Bringing low-tier guys like Vance Walker, Husain Abdullah, and Joe Mays could help their defense to give some of their defensive starters some breathing room and be an effective role players playing rotational roles for the Chiefs' defense.

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SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

The San Diego Chargers unleashed their offensive prowess under Head Coach Mike McCoy. Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers' Offense rival Peyton Manning's Broncos Offense as the top offensive power in AFC West. Keenan Allen exceeded expectations and prove his doubters wrong for not picking him up in first round of last year's draft. Ryan Mathews excels also to McCoy's offensive scheme and benefited also to Philip Rivers' passing attack as Mathews' running attack became more efficient and effective in his core runs. These are San Diego Chargers' recent acquisitions this offseason:

Darrell Stuckey

Chad Rinehart

Donald Brown

David Johnson

Kavell Conner

Reggie Walker

Brandon Ghee

Seyi Ajirotutu

Rich Ohrnberger

Resigning Donald Butler before he hits the Free Agent Market was their best move this offseason as he became an effective starting linebacker to Chargers' Defense. Signing Donald Brown backs up Ryan Mathews and his injury history and be an insurance for a consistent ground game for Mike McCoy and Philip Rivers.

Defensive Coordinator John Pagano needs some more play makers out of his defensive nucleus. Eric Weddle, their star defensive player, needs a sidekick for his play making abilities. Manti Teo and Donald Butler builds a nice tandem for their linebacking corps while Kwame Geathers and Corey Liuget builds a stone wall defense for this Chargers defensive line.

General Tom Telesco signed several players for their depth and competition they will give for their starters. Having a young offensive nucleus and an eye for a quarterback of the future in this year's draft, good things can only happen in this Chargers Franchise this coming season.

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SUMMARY

I have a different blog post for the Oakland Raiders Acquisitions, and based on all of AFC West signing so far, Oakland Raiders have been the most improved in terms of previous talent and current talent they have before 2014 NFL Draft begins. Signing superstars like the Broncos did, is not they way the Chiefs and Chargers want to build their rosters. As of Oakland Raiders signing, proven veterans that was dumped by their franchises became an opportunity for both Oakland and the veteran players to prove their worth in this league and be a contender in this coming regular season.

Oakland Raiders 2014 Free Agency Signings

2014-04-10T16:40:00.003+08:00

Reggie McKenzie and Dennis Allen Era is now capable of recruiting and grooming players that they actually like for this Oakland Raiders Roster. Not having a much needed salary cap space and draft picks in their first two seasons leading the Raiders put them on their current hot seat all throughout this next season. With the fifth overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, and a bunch of salary cap space to spend for the free agency market, Let's take a look on some of their signings and current additions through trade that can affect their 2014 NFL Draft Big Board.
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OFFENSE

At the time when the Free Agent Market opens up, the communication that Reggie McKenzie had towards his best offensive lineman Jared Veldheer gone so fast when Veldheer was force to commit to his highest bidder in the market in Arizona Cardinals. McKenzie was sold to Rodger Saffold to fill Jared Veldheer's shoes in Left Tackle spot but eventually failed to past his physical after signing his contract with the Raiders. From there on, McKenzie's moves became more savvy by signing proven veterans that he knew based on their productions in the past, won't make McKenzie felt any buyer's remorse. These are the Oakland Raiders' offensive players additions on the first wave of free agency:

Darren McFadden
Khalif Barnes
Kory Sheets
Austin Howard
James Jones
Kevin Boothe
Donald Penn
Jamize Olawale
Maurice Jones-Drew
Jeremy Stewart

Through trade: Matt Schaub

Darren McFadden was signed for one-year 4 Million Dollar contract to prove that he can be a feature back and be the focal point of this offense. With him in the backfield, Maurice Jones-Drew, Kory Sheets, and Jeremy Stewart, will try to push him and compete for a starting job this next season. Signing back Jamize Olawale to backup Marcel Reece was a good move too.

Matt Schaub's arrival to Raiders mark as another outside quarterback brought in to be the starting quarterback just like Matt Flynn's case last season. Schaub's production and leadership won't be comparable to Flynn's but bringing a quarterback to know a system right away won't yield much production starting his first year in a new system. Drafting a quarterback in this upcoming draft will make sense as to why McKenzie brought a veteran quarterback to mentor young quarterbacks of the future in this roster.

Offensive line depth was addressed this offseason with the signing of Khalif Barnes, Austin Howard, Kevin Boothe, and Donald Penn. Penn, Boothe, and Howard was brought in to start and an indication of that is the release of Mike Brisiel. Raiders OC Greg Olson wants to bring guys that fits to his power blocking scheme. Mike Brisiel was a fit for a zone blocking scheme that was used by Dennis Allen in his first year as a Head Coach.
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DEFENSE

Lamarr Houston was in the same case with Jared Veldheer, not franchise-tagged and not having a kind of contract that he wants from Reggie McKenzie this offseason. As a result, Houston signed with Chicago Bears and be part of a line that was anchored by Jared Allen to form a formidable pass rush for the Bears. Tracy Porter's performance should be compensated but Reggie chose to sign another nickel cornerback in Carlos Rogers. Improving the pass rush was the priority of the Raiders this season and having players that have proven track records in pressuring the quarterbacks make sense to Dennis Allen and Jason Tarver multiple-faceted 4-3 base scheme. These are the Oakland Raiders' defensive player additions on the first wave of free agency:

Justin Tuck
LaMarr Woodley
Tarell Brown
Antonio Smith
Usama Young
Charles Woodson
C.J. Wilson
Pat Sims
Carlos Rogers

Forming a defensive line that is capable of rushing the quarterback in every position it has, makes the defense look good. Having Tuck and Woodley in rotational roles as pass rushing defensive ends will bring more production than playing them in every snap of defense. Antonio Smith will fill Vance Walker's shoes and the resigning of Pat Sims gives Raiders a run-stopper on running downs. C.J. Wilson was brought in to be a rotational run stopper to give all the defensive lineman a breathing room throughout the season.

Charles Woodson and Usama Young were signed in after their one year deals manning the free safety spot. Drafting a free safety in this year's draft will benefit the Raiders' rookie for seating behind two veterans and learn from a future hall of famer like Woodson. Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown were from the bay area rival San Francisco 49ers' secondary and having veterans with experience of Super Bowl will give another edge to this Raiders Secondary.
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SPECIAL TEAMS

Giving three year extension to Gunner Taiwan Jones indicates that the Raiders are committed to Special Teams improvement this offseason. Having Sebastian Janikowski, Marquette King, and Jon Condo manning the Special Teams, the chemistry that they will have in their year two of being together will make them more effective in the kicking game. Giving a competition even in Special Teams will bring fruit to any team, having sign another punter will make Marquette King on watch in his roster spot. This is the only Special Teams addition as of now for the Oakland Raiders:

Daniel Zychlinski

This is not the last signing for the special teamers for this offseason as McKenzie and Allen will also give competition to Janikowski and Condo during their training camp.

So that's it, what is your favorite Oakland Raiders signing this offseason? Write down your thoughts on the comment section below.

Super Bowl Favorites After First Wave of 2014 NFL Free Agency

2014-04-06T12:34:00.000+08:00

The 2014 NFL Free Agency brought some really good players from their previous team to their new team in order to resurrect their career or survive at least a year or two before call it quits. An example of that is Champ Bailey, a respected shutdown cornerback from Denver Broncos, got dumped by Broncos and hope to make a push for at least two years of his contract in his new team in New Orleans Saints that will make him team up with Drew Brees, Jimmy Graham, and newly acquired safety in Jairus Byrd. Saints and Broncos by the way, are two of the Super Bowl Favorites after the first wave of 2014 NFL Free Agency so let's where they stand around in Top 4 teams this off-season.

1. Seattle Seahawks - The reigning Super Bowl Champion brought back their free agent in Michael Bennett but eventually cut ties with Sidney Rice and Golden Tate. Seahawks still boast the best roster in spite of loses of some key players like Brandon Browner and Walter Thurmond, because their ability to find gems in later rounds of draft every single year makes them so completely dangerous in every aspect of their game.

2. Denver Broncos - John Elway and John Fox made big moves this off-season bringing perennial pro bowlers to their roster starting with T.J. Ward, DeMarcus Ware, Aqib Talib, and Emmanuel Sanders. Eric Decker role was filled by Sanders, DRC's with Talib, and good ol' Dumervil last season's shoe is now can be fill with Ware's productivity, and Ward will be an upgrade for the safety position. Overall, this newly acquired players could bring some confidence to Peyton Manning and Broncos Fans to keep believing that Elway and Fox will bring home the Lombardi Trophy for next seasons to come.

3. New England Patriots - Tom Brady's patience and time for another Super Bowl run could come close eventually if Bill Belichick and his staff could not bring any difference maker to this Patriots team. Bringing back Julian Edelman is a plus and replacing Aqib Talib with Darrelle Revis is an A+ move for Belichick even though his contract lasts for one year. Letting go of Brandon Spikes could hurt but retaining Vince Wilfork to his urging release in Patriots was now cool down and eventually gave him an extension to settle things down.

4. New Orleans Saints - Sean Payton and Drew Brees tandem is now back in full speed and that is evident to the chemistry they have in playing football games. This tandem attracts free agent superstars like Jairus Byrd and Champ Bailey to help them complete the puzzle in figuring out how to beat teams and win the Super Bowl for the second time for this franchise. Trading Darren Sproles to Eagles will hurt but bringing Jimmy Graham is their key move this off-season. Bringing back the best tight end in a football team makes them a perennial contender for the Super Bowl.

Leave your thoughts for your Super Bowl favorites after first wave of 2014 NFL Free Agency. Don't forget to share it to your friends and fantasy colleagues.

March 2014 AFC East Power Rankings

2014-03-28T11:28:00.000+08:00

In the midst of the first wave of free agency for AFC East rivals, the shuffling of cornerbacks hurt Rex Ryan and his Jets team watching Darrelle Revis sign with the rival New England Patriots. Signing a one year deal for $12 million dollar for a rival than to think Revis can comeback to the Jets to help their ailing secondary could make this rival more intense than it was before.

The Buffalo Bills had their share of rival rumble for signing Brandon Spikes from the Patriots and could haunt Patriots for letting him go and bring his vengeance for their 2 divisional games this next season. Brandon Spikes was let go because of his lack of coverage skills in passing downs and always been considered as a 2-down linebacker for stopping the run. Even though Patriots treat him the way they think he always was, the Bills can experiment Spikes and make a risk in putting him in third down and make a play on his own. There, he will find his Pro-Bowl potential as he can gather more stats in a lesser talented team than the Patriots.

The Miami Dolphins are slowly regaining their lost chemistry while signing few notable free agents in the name of Cortland Finnegan, Louis Delmas and Earl Mitchell. Their shopping spree last off-season made their pockets tied up for this year's free agency. The biggest free agent they have signed in this first wave of free agency is Branden Albert the left tackle from Kansas City Chiefs. He will be the anchor and the leader of this troubled offensive line which features upcoming star like Mike Pouncey. The trade for Jonathan Martin to 49ers and unsigned free agent Richie Incognito, will make this offensive line feel brand new.

The New England Patriots made a splash in signing Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner, keeping Julian Edelman and extending Vince Wilfork for 3 years who made a request for release before they made that extension. Letting go of Brandon Spikes will not only be stab for their run defense but also to their defensive leadership on and off the field. Tom Brady only have a couple of shots to the Super Bowl before calling it quits and maybe that's why Bill Belichick made the transactions that will make them a contender not only on paper but also on the field.

The New York Jets are the most active in the free agency among their rivals in the AFC East with the signing of another quarterback in Michael Vick and the release of Mark Sanchez that was considered their franchise quarterback way back in his glory days winning playoff games for the Jets. The release of Antonio Cromartie will make their secondary more vulnerable for big plays as their young cornerbacks seek leadership and confidence from a proven veteran in this league. Signing Eric Decker to man their wide receiving core group will help them forget the release of Santonio Holmes. Two of their notable skilled players were released and a quarterback who was regarded as the savior of the franchise being released, New York Jets have a long way to go for their Super Bowl run.

March 2014 AFC East Power Rankings:
1. New England Patriots
2. Buffalo Bills
3. Miami Dolphins
4. New York Jets

Everson Griffen Signed Extension Contract Worth $42.5 Million

2014-03-10T04:25:00.000+08:00

The Minnesota Vikings and Everson Griffen reached a deal worth $42.5 Million that will keep him playing for the Vikings in five years. The deal reportedly will give Griffen a $20 Million guaranteed money and will net him $8.5 Million annually.

Everson Griffen was a backup of Jared Allen and Brian Robison in base defensive end position, and a situational pass-rusher to make both Allen and Robison have some breathing room. A highly-coveted defensive lineman if he's not signed back by the Vikings, the 2010 4th rounder can find a new place to start with the same amount of money he had received.

The move looks like Griffen was favored more than Allen, as he brings more room for improvement and skills that Allen no longer capable of. Having Robison and Griffen signed for multi-year contracts will make Vikings defensive line anchored on the long run. What are your thoughts on Everson Griffen signing? Tell us in the section below.

Sam Shields Signed Extension Contract Worth $39 Million

2014-03-09T20:24:00.000+08:00

The Green Bay Packers and Sam Shield agreed to a deal that will keep him for four years more as the starting cornerback for the Packers Defense. Sam Shields was initially offered worth $6 Million per year but as the Free Agent Market coming in a few days, the Packers organization offered more or less $10 Million annually for their homegrown talent.

Sam Shields was a member of Super Bowl winning squad back in year 2011, where he played alongside Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams. He suffered an injury to that game and saw limited snaps in the second half. With Charles Woodson gone to their roster, he recognizably step up and fill the shoes of C-Wood and be a reliable tandem of Tramon Williams back in the secondary.

Green Bay Packers is known for signing their homegrown talents first and didn't risk any high-priced free agents that were a product of other organization's system. What are your thoughts of Sam Shields resigning to the Green Bay Packers? Write it down on the section below.

Denver Broncos 2014 NFL Draft and Free Agency Wish List

2014-03-06T09:18:00.000+08:00

The Denver Broncos' journey to the Super Bowl with Peyton Manning was at first in smooth ways but in the end, all that matters is winning the Lombardi Trophy for the Denver Broncos Organization. Peyton Manning's second loss to the Super Bowl couldn't serve as another painful experience when their opponent doesn't have that experience in competing for the Super Bowl. When Peyton Manning is in your roster, you know that there should be no excuses and only great expectations as he can lead any organization into greatness. With the retirement conversation still on the rocks, John Elway and the Denver Broncos should not fail Peyton Manning again in their run for next year's Super Bowl journey.

In the free agency, they could fill Eric Decker's shoes with under-the-radar guys who can be x-factor in some games and provide some help in Special Teams. With Von Miller starting to play again for the next season, other positions should step up in order to compete not only in no. 1 offense of the league but also for the no. 1 disrupting defense in the league rivaling Seattle Seahawks imposing defense.

In the draft, their first round pick could be on either safety or cornerback as they need to replace Champ Bailey in the near future and produce turnovers with pass rushers in place. A solid defensive line can be found on their day 2 picks, with Dee Ford and other defensive linemen proving their worth at least a second round draft grade. In the third day of the draft, a quarterback in the future can be found as Zac Dysert and Brock Osweiler didn't prove more than just a backup quarterback for their organization. Wide receivers and tight ends could be found later in the round to bring some depth to their productive passing offense.

John Elway should not ignore their holes in defense as Peyton Manning handles their offensive game. It's like a tandem of John Elway and Peyton Manning providing a good show not only for Denver Broncos' fans but also to whole National Football League. What are your thoughts with Denver Broncos off-season moves? Write it down on section below.

San Diego Chargers 2014 NFL Draft and Free Agency Wish List

2014-03-05T19:36:00.000+08:00

The San Diego Chargers capitalized their offensive potential with the hiring of their new head coach in Mike McCoy last season. Philip Rivers and Ryan Mathews raised their stocks and regain their reputation of being a dominant offensive players when the right plays are called. A solid offensive line can elevate their production and meet their potential to be an offensive powerhouse for the AFC.

In the free agency market, they can acquire the struggling Hakeem Nicks and restore his potential as a possession receiver. Jonathan Martin from Miami Dolphins can be a good trade too or grab Branden Albert off the market to solidify Philip River's blind side. A backup quarterback like Matt Flynn would give Philip Rivers some competition and to make him strive more to be a top quarterback for his team.

In the draft, they could pick a cornerback late in first round and they couldn't come up short with supply as the cornerback position is one of the deepest pool in this year's draft. An offensive tackle and a wide receiver in the second day will help their offense store some weapons they can use for their future. In the third day, they could grab tight ends and safeties with aging stars starting to leave the peak of their careers.

San Diego Chargers' long wait is over for them to be a perennial playoff contender as Mike McCoy's offensive strategies are clicking to defeat some of the best defenses in the league. And now, their only problem is to manage to keep their defense stingy and be creative with new pieces coming to their roster. What are your thoughts for San Diego Chargers off-season moves? Write it down on the section below.

Kansas City Chiefs 2014 NFL Draft and Free Agency Wish List

2014-03-04T12:45:00.000+08:00

Andy Reid's coaching experience helped this Kansas City Chiefs squad to attain their maximum potential and become a perennial contender for AFC West Crown now that we know Peyton Manning has a little left on his tank to make it couple of runs for his Super Bowl journey with the Denver Broncos. Kansas City Chiefs is always been known about the talent they have in both sides of the ball, just like San Francisco 49ers, and it takes a right coaching and motivation to make things done on their way. Jamaal Charles MVP run last season dictates how Andy Reid put his players in the right positions to be successful. Derrick Johnson, a proven linebacker, should have been in All-Pro if others ain't marketed so much for their stuff. This Kansas City Chiefs squad has a lot left to prove and this just a start of Andy Reid's remodeling of the franchise to make it a respectable one.

In the free agency, Andy Reid and John Dorsey can get another wide receiver talent to help Alex Smith manage his offense and play a secure ball handling in order to make it every time in the Playoffs. Signing back their three offensive line starters, Branden Albert, Jon Asamoah, and Geoff Schwartz, could bring some stability to their dynamic offense that features Jamaal Charles and his elusiveness out on the open field. A wide receiver like Hakeem Nicks can come in and compete for no. 2 spot as Dwayne Bowe locked up the no. 1 right receiving slot. A dynamic slot receiver could bring another dimension to this offense as Alex Smith prefers more on Bubble Screens to make him release the ball fast and not to make any turnover for this offense. A lock down Strong Safety and Right Cornerback in free agency will bring this Chiefs Defense into the discussion to rival Seattle Seahawks' Legion of Boom. As they have the best tandem of pass rushers in Tamba Hali and Justin Houston, a good secondary can only benefit on hurried throws and swatted pass made by pass rushing linebackers.

In the draft, they could grab a solid tight end in Jace Amaro out of Texas Tech to add another safety blanket for Alex Smith and his offensive game. All they have to do is lessen the pressure from Jamaal Charles and let him make plays in the receiving game and play miss-tackling moves out of the open field to touchdown. In the second day of the draft, picking a quarterback would not hurt Alex Smith ego as he will be serving as a mentor for the quarterback and let him show the ropes until his ready to lead the franchise like he does. A.J. McCarron out of Alabama is the perfect fit here, as they are game managers at best and not to down them as they are but that's what Kansas City Chiefs need and that's what their coach prefer into. A backup running back in the third round could make sense and the rest of the rounds should go to fill the secondary and the offensive line to continue their trend in winning the special teams game.

A quick turnaround is not expected to this Kansas City Chiefs squad but because of all the talents that are in there, success is a must for Andy Reid and the rest of his staff for Kansas City Chiefs last regular season. This coming season will test Andy Reid and the Chiefs that their success is not a fluke and be a contender for AFC Crown for the next years to come. What are your thoughts about Kansas City Chiefs? Write it down in section below?

Indianapolis Colts 2014 NFL Draft and Free Agency Wish List

2014-03-02T12:14:00.000+08:00

Andrew Luck and his Indianapolis Colts sustained their offensive power through Playoffs even without Bruce Arians calling the plays. Pep Hamilton, the new offensive coordinator for Indianapolis Colts, was also the offensive coordinator of Andrew Luck back in Stanford, the familiarity was there and that means no hindrances for Andrew Luck's growth and his offensive game. Chuck Pagano's health does not become an issue throughout last season and post-season and that gives Indianapolis Colts roster and front office a relief to prepare and fight every game with their head coach.

In the free agency, Ryan Grigson and Chuck Pagano will try their best to pursuit a good player to complete their puzzle into the Super Bowl. Reggie Wayne's age will be a concern in time and signing a proven wide receiver will help Andrew Luck come out of his breaks. A solid offensive line will be the key to a solid running game that features Trent Richardson and his punishing running game. They should sign Donald Brown and Vontae Davis back to sustain their power in offensive and defensive backfield.

In the draft, for their first round pick they could get Brandin Cooks out of Oregon State. A tandem of T.Y. Hilton and Brandin Cooks make Andrew Luck throw bubble screens in order to have another offensive dimension to Andrew Luck's game. In the second day, they could get an offensive lineman that will help them to a productive running game. A pass-rusher that will take over Robert Mathis in time could be develop in their off-season training camp. In the third day, they could pick a bevy of defensive backfield players and be part of their special teams group.

What are your thoughts for Indianapolis Colts' state of the off-season? Will Andrew Luck be an AFC Champ this coming next season? Will Chuck Pagano's progression of health be a source of motivation for this football club? Write your thoughts in the section below.

Tennessee Titans 2014 NFL Draft and Free Agency Wish List

2014-02-27T10:27:00.000+08:00

The Tennessee Titans 2013 NFL season did not show any signs of urgency for improvement as they posed average numbers in every category of the competition. They can get a pass in pass defense as they have the best young duo of cornerbacks in Alterraun Verner and Jason McCourty and proven safeties with Michael Griffin and Bernard Pollard, the former Super Bowl-winning safety of Baltimore Ravens. The Jake Locker experiment will make-or-break this season as the Tennessee Titans Front Office hired a new Head Coach in Ken Whisenhunt, who favored an efficient quarterback inside the pocket.

In the free agency, they should sign their own free agents like Alterraun Verner and Bernard Pollard to keep their defensive players intact in spite of having new head coach who will prioritize more on his offensive scheme. Having a proven no.1 wide receiver will help their offensive game meet their true potential. This team doesn't have many holes to fill but still they under-performed in most of the games. An exciting special team game could bring spark for their momentum while they are playing. Good special teams depth could rest some of their starters to concentrate more on their true positions on base offense or defense.

In the draft, they could pick Kony Ealy as an every down defensive end and to help Kamerion Wimbley and Derrick Morgan anchor their defensive line. A pick like Anthony Barr, if he's still on the board, could also make sense here for another pass-rush star-power for their front seven. In the second day of the draft, they could draft a quarterback who fits Ken Whisenhunt scheme and develop him to be the quarterback in the future. A wide receiver for third round could fill Kenny Britt's role to form a set of dynamic receivers led by Justin Hunter and Kendall Wright. In the third round, the best available tight end will bring another dimension to their offense and also in some sort of special teams. Defensive backfield depth should be drafted in later rounds and develop them as a quality starter for Tennessee Titans.

What are your thoughts for the Tennessee Titans 2014 NFL off-season changes? Write it down in section below.

Jacksonville Jaguars 2014 NFL Draft and Free Agency Wish List

2014-02-25T18:55:00.000+08:00

The Jacksonville Jaguars' quest for stability in ownership, coaching staff, and franchise quarterback could happen in this 2014 NFL off-season. With a favorable draft position at no. 3 spot, the Jacksonville Jaguars will not waste any time to grab one of the best signal-callers in the draft. Gus Bradley, the Head Coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars should work his tail off to gather the best available players in their draft positions. They also have salary cap space in place to sign highly-coveted free agent players to put a different identity for this franchise.

In the free agency, they should sign Jared Allen to lessen the pressure on Jason Babin's side (if they make him stay) and create a dominant defensive line they dreaming of. Signing proven veterans can make this Jaguars Team compete at least a second place in tight AFC South division.

In the draft, their first round pick should go to a quarterback if ever Jadeveon Clowney has gone to their board. Jaguars cannot go wrong in a quarterback as they are not currently happy of their quarterbacks' performances this past season. Blaine Gabbert, a 2011 first round pick proves to be overrated coming out of college and serves as an experience for the Jaguars to choose wisely on picking a player that high in the draft. In the second day of the draft, they could draft the best available pass rushers out on the field. In the third day, they could find a gem at running back to replace Maurice Jones-Drew and draft receivers to help their young quarterback excel in the league.

What are your thoughts and suggestions for the Jacksonville Jaguars this 2014 NFL off-season? Write it down on the section below.