One week into the 2023 free agency period and it’s already been a busy one. There are still a few stars who haven’t signed with a new team, but most GM’s have already had a busy March.
Dolphins
Well, they’ve signed 17 players, so, if nothing else, they mean business. Most importantly they’ve found a suitable backup for Tua. Mike White may have only won one game in 2022 but he averaged 298 passing yards per game at 11.6 yards per completion.
Miami also traded for Jalen Ramsey. Ramsey should provide their defensive backfield with a leader they seemed to be missing last season.
Giants
They lost Jon Feliciano to the 49ers but they have retained Daniel Jones, Isaiah Hodgins, Sterling Shepherd and Saquon Barkley. They added Darren Waller via a trade and speedster Jeff Smith who was previously a Jet. As if that didn’t give Daniel Jones enough receiving options they also signed Parris Campbell to a one year deal.
On the defensive side of the ball they have invested in linebackers. Signing former Colt Bobby Okereke on a four year contract worth $40 million. They also retained the services of Jihad Ward and Jarrad Davis (who only started one game for them last year). Wink Martindale could do with a bit more depth on his defensive line. They currently have six defensive linemen on their roster and just one of them is a defensive end.
Bengals
Cincinatti appearing to bolster their offensive line should probably be taken with a pinch of salt. Last season everyone thought they’d done it but they proceeded to allow Joe Burrow to be sacked 29 times in the first eight games of the season. By the end of the season they’d improved, he was only sacked nine times in the last six games of the regular season. But it again seems the Bengals have improved their offensive line by signing one of the best left tackle in football. Zeus, or Orlando Brown Jr to his friends.
Brown has started every game in the last four seasons. In 2022 he played 1133 snaps, allowing only four sacks whilst conceding just six penalties. The Bengals are currently the proud owners of 13 offensive linemen so there should be plenty of competition during training camp.
Samaje Perine headed to Denver, but they re-signed Trayveon Williams. Williams has been used very sparingly, but has been in Cincinatti since 2019 so he should be ready to make the step up. Cincinatti have also retained the services of four other players and bought in safety, Nick Scott to replace Jessie Bates III.
Losing both Bates and Von Bell is a blow, but the Bengals have plenty of money to spend (over $14 million). With the likes of Taylor Rapp and Adrian Amos on the market they could still bring in some experienced defensive backs. The Bengals currently have nine defensive backs but five of them had injury problems last season.
Jets
The biggest problem the Jets had last season was injuries but other than that they really needed a reliable quarterback. It seems like they have filled that need with Aaron Rodgers. They’ve definitely signed Allen Lazard so Aaron will have a friendly face to chat to on the sideline before he throws a whole load of touchdown passes to Garrett Wilson.
On the defensive side of the ball the Jets traded for Chuck Clark from the Ravens. Clark made 101 tackles in 2022. He joins a backfield with Sauce Gardner, DJ Reed and Jordan Whitehead. Those three combined for 244 tackles and five interceptions in 2022. They could use more depth at linebacker where they currently only have five players signed.
Panthers
Scott Fitterer traded four picks and DJ Moore for the first pick in the upcoming draft, so provided they don’t use it on a total bust they should be exponentially better in 2023. Carolina also signed Andy Dalton to a year two-year contract so presumably they’ll draft a young quarterback who can pick up some tips from the old guy. Carolina also signed Miles Sanders, Adam Thielen and Hayden Hurst, so whoever starts at quarterback will have some experience around them. They also re-signed centre Bradley Bozeman; Bozeman missed the start of the 2022 season but played the final 11 games. While he was injured the Panthers managed just one win. Once he returned to the starting lineup, they won six of the final 11.
The Panthers have bolstered the defense too, signing former Bengal Von Bell. Shy Tuttle joined from the Saints and former Bengal DeShawn Williams signed after a spell in Denver. Former Giants safety Julian Love has also signed up for Frank Reich’s all-star roadshow.
They could probably do with upgrading the pass rush in Carolina but after finishing second in their division last season they’re one judicious draft pick away from a successful 2023.