NFL Teams That Have Risen And Fallen So Far This Offseason  

The new NFL calendar year is less than a week old, but we are seeing trends develop. Some teams are getting better and some teams are taking a step back.

Let’s look at these risers and fallers:

RISERS

Buffalo: This offseason may be remembered for the Bills’ trade for Antonio Brown falling through because he refused to go to Buffalo. But the Bills rebounded nicely and had a nice free-agency haul. Buffalo clearly wanted to give second-year quarterback Josh Allen help. After the Bryant whiff, the Bills signed free-agent receiver Josh Brown and Cole Beasley. It wasn’t a great receiver free-agent class, but Brown and Beasley are nice chain movers and should help Allen. The Bills also added key offensive-line pieces, center Mitch Morse and guards Ty Nsekhe and Jon Feliciano, running Frank Gore and cornerback Kevin Johnson. It was quite the haul. Buffalo is now in good position to complement free agency in the draft. Allen received weapons and production. He is poised to get better.

Cleveland: The Browns are the darlings of the NFL. That’s what happens when a young, improving team adds a superstar like the Browns did with Odell Beckham Jr. last week. He is the perfect pairing for second-year quarterback Baker Mayfield. The Browns are the betting favorite to win the AFC North. That’s heady stuff for a team that hasn’t been to the playoffs in 17 years, won a playoff game in 25 years and hasn’t won a division in 30 years. The Browns are a legitimate playoff contender right this minute.

Green Bay: The Packers spent money in free agency. We repeat, the Packers spent in free agency. The Packers went on a wild spending spree (for their stands) last week when they added linebackers Preston Smith, pass-rusher Za’Darius Smith, safety Adrian Amos and offensive lineman Billy Turner. They are expected to start. The Packers traditionally didn’t spend in free agency under former general manager Ted Thompson. But that approach has changed under Brian Gutekunst. If three big defensive pieces can stay healthy and quarterback Aaron Rodgers can stay on the field, these moves should help the Packers bounce back from a 6-9-1 record in 2018.

FALLERS

New York Giants: Giants general manager Dave Gettleman can passionately defend his moves and his roster all he wants, but it won’t change the fact that the Giants are a long way away from being a contender. Many in the league believe the Giants could have gotten much more for Beckham. And the plan to stick with Eli Manning is befuddling. The Giants are mess and it seems like they will be staying a mess for awhile.

Miami: The Dolphins seems like they’re in tear-down mode. The fact that Mami replaced the traded Ryan Tannehill (he went to Tennessee) with Ryan Fitzpatrick shows this team is just biding team. The Dolphins are a few years away. It’s a tough spot for new head coach Brian Flores, who was not used to losing while with AFC East foe New England.

Pittsburgh: Teams can’t lose talent like Brown and running back Le’Veon Bell and expect to remain a contender. The Steelers still have talent, but it seems like this a franchise in a state of flux.