By Rodolfo Garcia

As soon as the Kansas City Chiefs won Super Bowl LVII, teams got to work on building a winner for next season. Here is a round-up of some of the biggest moves of the NFL offseason so far.

•Saints Get Derek Carr after his release from the Raiders

The former Raiders QB Derek Carr had two visits with the New York Jets and the New Orleans Saints this offseason after his release from Las Vegas. Eventually, the Saints picked up Carr, who had a great visit with the team.

It really made sense due to the fact that this team needed a QB. Now they pick him up and have the best QB in their division. Carr has been reunited with his former coach Dennis Allen, who drafted Derek Carr in 2014 in the second round. These really great ties and connections will be helpful with a similar face and game system.

Opinion: This was not shocking at all due to the fact that Carr had two teams interested in him really quickly and just needed a fresh start in his career with a different team. In the NFC South, the Saints have their best QB in Derek Carr. This team has a lot of explosive players from WR to defense.

•Raiders Sign Jimmy Garoppolo  

After losing Carr, the Las Vegas Raiders signed Jimmy Garoppolo away from San Francisco to a 3-year, $67.05 million contract, including $34 million guaranteed. This free agency pick-up makes sense due to the fact that Jimmy Garoppolo was head coach Mike McDaniels’ backup during his time with the Patriots. The Raiders were a team that was in need after releasing Derek Carr. Jimmy Garoppolo has a history of injuries throughout his career but hopefully will stay healthy throughout the new season. Jimmy will throw balls to one of the best wide receivers and route runners in Devante Adams, newly signed former Patriots wide receiver Jakobe Myers, and Hunter Renfrow. This team can really succeed with a couple of more needed positions. 

Opinion: I was really surprised and shocked with this pickup due to the fact that Jimmy Garoppolo has a history of injuries throughout his career. Also, he still hasn’t proven to be a quality starting QB. I believe the Raiders were all in on Jimmy after failing to trade for the number 1 overall pick in this year’s draft.

•Big Money Re-sign: Daniel Jones (NY Giants) 

The New York Giants have re-signed QB Daniel Jones with a huge contract through the 2027 season. After proving to himself that he is a first-round player, he showed the Giants exactly what they expected out of him when they drafted him.

Jones had many ups and downs throughout his career. In the NFL world, some fans were calling him a bust. The Giants were expected to be one of the worst teams last season but the team and Daniel Jones, along with new head coach Brian Doboll, proved that they were a great team going to the playoffs.

Opinion: This is a huge contract reward for one great season. I and NFL fans dislike the contract due to the fact that he didn’t do much in his career and proved himself for 1 season and got a huge contract.

•Franchised Tagged: Saquon Barkley

The New York Giants gave the franchise tag to Saquon Barkley, earning him $15 million this upcoming season. He is a franchised player for the team but couldn’t get through with a long-term contract. He had one of his best seasons coming off a torn ACL with a career high 1,312 yards, averaging 4.4 yards per carry.

Opinion: I believe Saquon does not want to play with a tagged season and wants a contract before the season starts. He’s a really great pick up. NFL fans dislike that tag choice, and NY should have freed Saquon to play for another team with a huge contract. He is a really explosive player in every carry with few long yard plays. 

•Chuck Clark traded to the New York Jets from the Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens are trading safety Chuck Clark to the New York Jets for a 2024 7th round pick. Chuck Clark is a really underrated safety, a hard and explosive player all around, and a class act who was a starter for 4 years. It is a shocking move but makes sense due to the fact that the Ravens drafted Kyle Hamilton from Notre Dame in the first round last year.

Opinion: Clark is a class act and a veteran who is a great player and likable player on the field and off the field. Overall a great person and great player on the field. The Jets did well with this trade.

Broncos Adding and Subtracting

•Ben Power

The Denver Broncos signed former Baltimore Ravens OL Ben Power. The Denver Broncos gave him a 4 year, $52 million deal with $28 million guaranteed. It is a really great pick up for Denver after having the worst offensive line for many years.

Opinion: Power is a great addition to the line with his ability to be great in the run game. He will be a key factor in the run game making huge holes for the backs to gain key yards. Also, he is having an amazing career so far with zero sacks allowed–he is really great on the pass game blocking.

•Mike McGlinchey

The Denver Broncos also signed former 49ers RT Mike McGlinchey to a 5-year deal worth $87.5 million, with over $50 million guaranteed. He is another great addition and badly needed for Denver’s poor O-line in 2022. He brings to the table the ability to make big holes on the run game and a straight menace when running to defend and pancaking his opponents. Watching his film, however, I was shocked at how bad he is in the passing game. The only film I saw that was really good was him locking up Maxx Crosby. He needs to improve a lot on his skill set on the passing game and going one-on-one. He looks scared and his foot work has to be worked on; also when he puts his hands up he looks scared to put his hands on his opponents. When his opponents shift he is too slow and reacts slowly. He has a history of injuries but hopefully for the Broncos he can have another healthy season.

Opinion: I’m really shocked by this pickup. The Broncos really overpaid. I guess Denver will have a run game plan and newly-acquired Samaje Perine will have to carry a big load in the offensive plan.

•Samaje Perine

The Denver Broncos are signing former Bengals RB Samaje Perine to a 2-year, $7.5 million contract that includes $1 million in undisclosed incentives. This is an underrated signing to pick up for the offense until Javonte Williams comes back healthy after tearing his ACL, LCL, and posterolateral corner last season. Perine is a really productive player, going from a backup last year to now taking advantage of his opportunities. Perine averaged 4 yards per carry. He is not a flashy player, but he runs straight to you and uses his physical strength and never gives up, moving his feet while getting tackled. There is an advantage to using him on the backfield and outside of the ball as just a pinch and run player and a great running back. Finally, Perine is a great run blocker who shuts rotational defense of ends and carries a load on the blitzing. 

Opinion: I really like this addition to the Denver Broncos. Perine is an underrated player who doesn’t get much recognition. I believe this is the most underrated signing in free agency this year. After the Broncos picked up two O-line players in Ben Powers and Mike McGlinchey–who both are great running-game protection players–they will help Samaje Perine this year make holes and huge runs.

•Zach Allen

The Denver Broncos signed former Arizona Cardinal Zach Allen to a 3-year, $45.75 million contract that includes a $32.5 million guarantee. This is a move that makes sense in picking up a young rising star. Allen had a ton of success under new Broncos Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph and improved year after year. Zach Allen brings a lot of juice and game play in his skills from looking at his film with the Arizona Cardinals. He brings pass rush ability and was one of the best against the run game last season. Allen is expected to be a core and franchise player moving forward in the defense alongside Jones, Gregory, and Baron Browning.

Opinion: I like the pickup with Zack Allen and his ability to stop the run game. The Denver Broncos also filled a needed position when they nabbed Allen. He is a big help to the defense upfront for a team that also struggled in that spot.

Cincinnati Bengals Make Big Moves

•Germaine Pratt

The Cincinnati Bengals are resigning LB Germain Pratt to a 3-year, $20 million deal. 

It is a really great pickup bringing back Germaine Pratt. I’m not a fan of the Bengals, but my brother is a Bengals fan so we always watch the Broncos and Bengals games; and let me tell you, I believe he is the most underrated linebacker in the league. His skill set is really off the charts. He is a really sticky glue player one-on-one with tight ends and with any one in front of him, and really has great vision on where the QB is throwing–always keeping his eyes on the QB while still being a good run stopper. At worst, he is a top 3 LB, in my opinion. Pratt is a cheat code on this defense–it really shows how much film he watches, and he knows what he is doing. Congratulations, Germaine Pratt.

Opinion: I’m really surprised by his contract. I believe he could have, and deserved, more. But you have to respect the man–loyalty is everything to the team who drafted Pratt in the 3rd round of the 2019 draft.

•Orlando Brown

The Cincinnati Bengals are signing former Kansas City Chiefs LT Orlando Brown to a 4-year, $64 million contract. This was a shocking move, although I’m not surprised due to the fact that the Bengals are in need of a left tackle. The best left tackle in the league in Brown gets a contract that he deserves on a team that has succeeded, and he will make this O-line more explosive. His presence will keep Joe Burrow in the pocket more and not let him scramble too much. There will be many fewer sacks allowed in the upcoming Bengals’ season.

Opinion: I really like this pick up for Cincy. Orlando Brown always succeeded throughout his career, and finally, he gets a contract he deserves. One of the best tackles in the league going to a successful team like the Bengals makes sense.

Carolina Panthers Are Busy

•Von Bell 

The Carolina Panthers are signing former Bengals safety Von Bell to a 3-year, $22.5 million contract that includes $13 million guaranteed. Bell is a really underrated S that plays the inside, and he’s a run stopper from the back field. His technique and great ethics are all-around great. Carolina is doing great things during free agency, making key additions to this team that will be helping the defensive line in this year’s franchise players for their team for years to come, especially with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero (who was really great last year with the Denver Broncos having a top 2 or 3 defense).

•Deshaun Williams

The Carolina Panthers signed former Denver Broncos DT Deshaun Williams. This is an underrated signing since Williams didn’t get much playing time throughout his career. He had ups and downs throughout his career with the Denver Broncos, who signed him to the practice squad then released him. Finally, he got an opportunity to play for the Broncos, who offered him a one-year deal. He was believed to be a starter but didn’t get much opportunity to play as a starter. He got a huge opportunity with the Carolina Panthers, joining his former defensive end coach Ejiro Evero who will help with the defensive ends. Williams’ skillset is really great, he just needs to improve consistently to be successful in the league by making holes to separate the O- line and help his teammates get to the QB.

Opinion: I really like this signing of an underrated player who didn’t get much recognition throughout his career with the Broncos. I wish him a great, successful and healthy season.