Atlanta Falcons

What they needed to do

The Atlanta Falcons weren’t flush with salary-cap space entering free agency, so the goal should have been to keep as many key in-house free agents as possible. In a perfect world, they’d also bolster an offensive line that was weak at both guard spots.nfl authentic nike jerseys

What they did right nike nfl jerseys authentic

They hit key defensive tackle Grady Jarrett with the franchise tag and brhi-res-dcb12475711142ee35008965d02aa635_crop_exactought in veterans James Carpenter and Jamon Brown to compete with Brandon Fusco, Wes Schweitzer and Sean Harlow. That’s better than nothing when you can’t afford someone like Rodger Saffold. cheap authentic nike nfl jerseys free shipping The Falcons checked the most important boxes this month.

Where they went wrong

They lost Robert Alford as well as Bruce Irvin, Brooks Reed and Brian Poole on defense, and they could miss departed running back Tevin Coleman. They might have been able to land a better guard had they been able to work out a long-term deal with Jarrett. authentic nfl nike jersey And they also might have been smart to capitalize on the emergence of Calvin Ridley at wide receiver by shopping veteran Mohamed Sanu, but we’re nitpicking.

What they should do now nfl nike authentic jerseys

Shop Sanu as well as the disappointing Vic Beasley, and use early draft picks on an offensive lineman and one of the many superb pass-rushers in this class.

Grading Every NFL Team’s Free-Agency Performance

Peak free agency for the NFL’s 99th offseason is over, and more than 200 players signed contracts with a combined value of $2.4 billion in the last nine days.

More moves are coming, and they’ll matter, authentic nike nfl jersey but those transactions will be part of a second wave that doesn’t shape rosters as much as those in the early stages of free agency.

With that in mind, it’s time to issue report cards on the free-agency performance of every NFL team with the following grade scale:fd1c5c1a36050df564b4f9877d47a566_crop_exact

A+: It was pretty much perfect.cheap nike authentic nfl jerseys

A: The good drastically outweighed the bad.

B: The good slightly outweighed the bad.

C: The bad slightly outweighed the good.

D: The bad drastically outweighed the good.authentic nike nfl jerseys wholesale

F: Anything that could go wrong did go wrong.new nike authentic nfl jerseys

Here’s how the class fared.

What they needed to do

Still rebuilding after a roster overhaul and a three-win season, the Arizona Cardinals had one job: Add as much support as possible for young quarterback Josh Rosen authentic nike nfl jerseys china (or Kyler Murray, if they go that route). Arizona can afford to build up its defense through the draft, but the offense needs experience and proven talent. The offensive line was a bloody mess last season.

What they did right

The Cardinals acquired solid and reasonably priced offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert in a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and they added depth at guard by signing veteran J.R. Sweezy.

Where they went wrong nfl authentic jerseys nike

They focused far too much on defense. The contract they gave linebacker Jordan Hicks isn’t bad, but that $8.5 million average annual salary could have gone to a stronger guard like Rodger Saffold or Billy Turner. Why spend even a dime on 36-year-old Terrell Suggs? And they’re inexplicably giving cornerback Robert Alford $7.5 million authentic nike nfl jerseys for sale a year on the wrong side of 30. New pass-catchers Charles Clay and Kevin White aren’t likely to do much to help Rosen or Murray either. It’s unclear what general manager Steve Keim is thinking.authentic nike nfl jerseys stitched

What they should do now

The rub with using a first-round pick on Murray is you’d better get a first-rounder back for Rosen. If not, you’re setting Murray up to fail immediately. The Cardinals have to use a first-round pick on a receiver, tight end or offensive lineman who can make an impact right off the bat.

Memphis Grizzlies

Biggest 2018 NBA draft question for the Memphis Grizzlies: Is it time to move on from Marc Gasol with a 2018 rookie? cheap nfl jerseys china nike

The Grizzlies could pick in the top two and will be looking at Ayton and Doncic but also Bagley, Michigan State’s Jaren Jackson Jr. and Texas’ Mohamed Bamba. Except for Doncic, those bigs each project best at center, where Marc Gasol patrols the paint.

Gasol could be under contract until 2020 if he opts in to his final season. If Doncic is gone, the Grizzlies must decide if they want to draft a center and move on from Gasol. Or they could take Ayton or Bagley and play their selection at the 4, where they played in college, even though it’s not their ideal position.china nike nfl jerseys cheaphi-res-85a335b30eb89a698ac8724c63fc56d8_crop_exact

B/R’s answer: If the Grizzlies can’t get Doncic, they should draft one of the bigs, look to trade Gasol and hit the reset button nike nfl jerseys cheap china  altogether.

Biggest 2018 NBA draft question for the Atlanta Hawks: Is it problematic to pair John Collins with a big man who plays poor defense?

Luka Doncic would fill a need for the Hawks, but he might not be there if they’re picking at No. 3. Ayton and Bagley could be in the conversation as best-player-available options for Atlanta. But neither prospect looked good this season defensively.

The Hawks have to ask themselves whether pairing John Collins with a weak defensive center will be a problematic building strategy, even if Ayton and Bagley turn out to be exciting NBA scorers.

Jackson or Bamba make more sense in terms of fit. Both averaged at least three blocks per game and flashed enormous potential in rim protection with cheap nfl nike jerseys from china  their mobility, length and instincts.

B/R’s answer: Draft Doncic or Ayton if available, but take Jackson over Bagley because of Jackson’s superior defense.

Houston Texans: Sign a Starting-Caliber Offensive Tackle

Here’s another bargain-bin signing that would likely fly under the radar.cheap nfl nike jersey  Offensive tackle Cameron Fleming has served as a reserve for the New England Patriots the last four seasons, starting 20 games.

Looking at Fleming’s snaps, the perimeter offensive lineman flashed as a solid pass-blocker in a limited role. The Houston Texans traded left tackle Duane Brown to the Seahawks midway through the previous season, and Chris Clark isn’t a candidate to return on a new dea2f067b697a06ef14ee5fe07afd969555_crop_exactl.

The Texans expect to see quarterback Deshaun Watson fully recover from an ACL injury to start the 2018 season, per John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, so it’s important to protect him once he’s back on the field.

In this scenario, Fleming would have to adjust to blocking for a mobile quarterback, but the Texans don’t have to cheap nfl jerseys china nike  overspend to acquire him as a backup with starter potential.

Offensive guard Jack Mewhort battled triceps and knee injuries over the past two seasons. He only suited up for five contests in 2017. It’s reasonable to allow him to hit free agency, but general manager Chris Ballard should eventually reopen the doors for the fifth-year lineman.

Before Ballard arrived on the scene in January 2017, nike nfl jerseys cheap china the previous regime tinkered with the offensive line to trot out the best combination to protect quarterback Andrew Luck. The Colts franchise signal-caller still took a beating in the pocket.

In 2015, Mewhort put together a standout season, primarily at left guard, through a 16-game slate. After appearing in 15 outings since that year, you wonder if injuries have caught up to him.

Potential suitors will approach the 26-year-old on the market with caution, but the Colts should hoard offensive linemen until they’re set on a starting five in front of Luck, assuming he’s under center in 2018.china nike nfl jerseys cheap