The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Key storylines will add intrigue to offseason
Browns have No. 1 pick; free agency likely to be active.
Now that the Super Bowl is over, and the New England Patriots have had what seems to be their annual parade, it’s time to switch gears to the NFL offseason.
And it’s going to be a busy one.
From free agency to the draft, the NFL landscape will change completely over the next seven months. Here are the biggest storylines to watch.
Super rematch already?
There won’t be a long wait for a rematch between the Patriots and Falcons. The teams are scheduled to face each other next season, and after their epic Super Bowl it seems like a foregone conclusion that they will meet in Week 1, most likely to start the season on Thursday night – just as the Broncos and Panthers did to start 2016 after playing Super Bowl 50.
Either way, when the schedule is released in April, expect the Patriots and Falcons to be prominently featured.
What will the Browns do with No. 1?
The Browns have the first pick in April’s NFL draft — again — and there are plenty of directions they could go for this one. Defensive end Myles Garrett out of Texas A&M is widely regarded as the most talented player in this draft, so the Browns could bolster their pass rush by taking him first overall. Cleveland could take a gamble on a quarterback such as Clemson’s Deshaun Watson or North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky. Or the Browns could trade down for a potentially big haul.
Where will Tony Romo land?
The Cowboys’ backup quarterback is 36 years old, has a history of back injuries, and has played just five games in the last two seasons – a span which saw him get benched in favor of rookie Dak Prescott. Yet, Romo is likely to be the most-talked-about quarterback this offseason, because of his strong history when healthy. He’s owed $14 million next year, so there’s no way the Cowboys will keep him to be Prescott’s backup. He’ll be traded or released and likely land with a contender — sorry, Jets fans.
Who will become free agents?
There are several big names on the verge of becoming unrestricted free agents — and teams will have to decide by March 1 if they want to use the franchise tag, or let them hit the open market. The list includes Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins, Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell, Chiefs safety Eric Berry, Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery, Panthers defensive tackle Kawann Short and Cardinals outside linebacker Chandler Jones. All of these players could make an instant impact for a team trying to get things fixed in a hurry.
Veteran players moving on?
Several veterans could be looking for new homes this offseason, including the Jets’ Darrelle Revis. The future Hall of Famer will likely have to take a big pay cut to stay with the Jets, and Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is in the same position and could be moving on from the only NFL team he’s ever known. Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, Buccaneers running back Doug Martin and Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles are also in danger of being cut, along with longtime Jets center Nick Mangold.